The Trumpet Interlude

Intro

Almost every song we sing in church has a bridge

Or an interlude, or solo; related to the song but uniquely different

In Revelation 10 - 11 we have two unique visions that are the bridge/interlude/solo of the seven trumpets

Similar to the interlude we saw in the seven seals

Happens between trumpet 6 and 7

Tells us what happens before the very end

Visions are unique, but still related to the rest of the song (trumpets)

Together we will read these visions, try to rightly understand the meaning, and then apply it to our lives

Pray

The Angel and the Little Scroll (Read Rev 10)

The angel

Mighty because he comes from the very presence of God

Wrapped in a cloud

Face like the sun

Legs like a pillars of fire

Sent from God’s presence to Creation

Rainbow = remider of God’s covenant with Creation

Right foot in sea and left foot on land = message concerning all of Creation

The little scroll

What is this scroll? What is the message?

NOT the same scroll as the one being unsealed by the Lamb (in Rev 6 & 7)

COULD be the book of Revelation (John receives it and then sends it on)

It is a message from God sent to all of Creation

The nature of this message becomes more clear in Revelation 11.

The mystery

John hears the seven thunders say something

7 = perfect, complete

Thunder = God (presence)

A message directly from the LORD

John is commanded to seal up this Word

Remember to always leave room for mystery in Revelation (this time its directed)

Eating the scroll

The angel swears by the LORD Almighty that the seventh trumpet is the end (v. 7)

“No more delay” = answers the prayers of the martyrs in Rev. 5.

First six trumpets = God’s partial judgements played out on the stage of history. Now to the end

John is commanded to take the little scroll… and eat it

Think symbolically! John is taking a message from God (Word of God) and internalizing it

Cf. Jeremiah 15:16 “Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts.”

Not just to keep God’s Word close to his heart, but to share far and wide:

Re-read Rev. 10:11.

John was given a prophetic message to share concerning all the people of Creation (keep that in mind)

The Two Witnesses (Read Rev 11)

Measuring the Temple

Measure the Temple for protection (Cf. Zechariah 2:1-5 “And I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, a man with a measuring line in his hand! Then I said, “Where are you going?” And he said to me, “To measure Jerusalem, to see what is its width and what is its length.” And behold, the angel who talked with me came forward, and another angel came forward to meet him and said to him, “Run, say to that young man, ‘Jerusalem shall be inhabited as villages without walls, because of the multitude of people and livestock in it. And I will be to her a wall of fire all around, declares the Lord, and I will be the glory in her midst.’ ””

Can NOT mean the physical Temple

First, it was destroyed in AD 70 (Rev. written in early 90s)

Instead, this now refers to God’s people… WE are the Temple!

1 Cor. 3:16 “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?”

1 Cor. 6:19 “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you?

2 Cor. 6:16 “What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”

1 Peter 2:5 “you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood”

Therefore, measuring the Temple means God is in our midst, and we are protected (consistent with other trumpets)

But the outer court is NOT protected

Instead given over to the nations to trample for 42 months

42 months = 1,260 days = 3.5 years

Found in Daniel 7:25 and later Dan 12:7 (time, time, time and a half)

Amount of time it did not rain while Elijah called the nations to repentance (James 5:17)

Stands for the whole time the new Temple (people of God) are under pressure

Time that the dragon pursues the Messiah after birth in Rev. 12.

Symbolical of the entire time between the first coming and second coming of Christ (seventh trumpet); great trouble (tribulation)

Two witnesses

Two olive trees and two lampstands

Cf. Zechariah 4:1 - 6 “And the angel who talked with me came again and woke me, like a man who is awakened out of his sleep. And he said to me, “What do you see?” I said, “I see, and behold, a lampstand all of gold, with a bowl on the top of it, and seven lamps on it, with seven lips on each of the lamps that are on the top of it. And there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.” And I said to the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?” Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” I said, “No, my lord.” Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.”

Olive trees/oil = HS

Refers initially to 2 anointed, historic witnesses (likely Joshua and Zerubbabel)

Lampstands, hmmm… Rev. 1.

Lampstand are the church (refer back to ground rule)

2 = number of witnesses needed for complete and true testimony (Deut. 17:6 and John 8:17)

“The image of the two lampstands/two olive trees/two witnesses, is, therefore, a picture of the church, under pressure in the world, full of the olive oil of the Holy Spirit, burning brightly with the fire of God” (Darrell Johnson, p. 216)

3 scenes of life for the witnesses/church/believers

Present life and message (v.

God grants His people power and protection (v. 5-6)

Cf. Matthew 16:18-19 “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.””

Humiliating death and defeat

When the witness of the church is complete, it APPEARS that evil wins

The beast first appears (see that character more later)

Symbolizes opposition to God

The witnesses (church) are conquered, slain and their bodies are viewed for 3.5 days

Symoblic; this time is much shorter than the 3.5 years of the great trouble

The world rejoices, it loos like evil has won… not the end

Resurrection and triumph

Re-read verse 11

The witnesses live again! (Ezekiel 37; dry bones coming to life)

The witnesses (church) will live again; evil has not triumphed

They ascend to heaven in a cloud

Then comes more judgment

Partial; with the end result that people “gave glory to the God of heaven” (v. 14)

What it Means for Us

The church is the witness of Jesus Christ to the world

John is given a Word of God to prophecy to the nations (little scroll)

“Prophesy” = proclaiming the truth of God much more than predicting the future

The 2 witnesses (the church) also prophesy for 1,260 days (symoblic of the time between the first and second comings of Christ)

Therefore, the church (and you) are rightly called ambassadors of Christ

Cf. 2 Corinthians 5:20 “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”

Prophet; witness; ambassador = all different ways to explain the core truth that the church is the witness of Jesus Christ to the world

One more important question: What is the message that John and the church were told to proclaim?

The solution is in the wardrobe: prophesying while wearing sackcloth

Sackcloth and ashes were used as a sign of mourning and repentance

Jonah 3:1-10 (Ninevah putting on sackcloth and ashes)

God is empowering and protecting the church to call the world to repentance

Partial judgements not enough (related); the church is the voice to follow and help make sense

Repent! The end is near!

What tools do you need for calling the world to repentance?

Not a bullhorn, or a soapbox, or a sandwhich board *Model these things*

We need sackcloth and ashes....

.... because we call the world to repentance through our own repentance

Not by being loud, or obnoxious, or self-righteous or judgemental

But by being open, honest and relying on Jesus

You aren’t perfect? Then you will fit right in at SBF...

The last piece of the puzzle = what Biblical repentance is

First, we confess our sins

To God, and to someone else you trust

Second, we turn from our sins

Cf. Proverbs 26:11 “Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly.”

*Share story of Zoe puking in the grass*

Turn around! Don’t look back!

Third, we pursue things of God

The most effective way to leave sin behind is to ACTIVELY pursue something else God-honouring

*Like smokers quitting by chewing gum or keeping hands busy*

When we live as people who confess, turn away from sin and run to Jesus, we live in the truth of Revelation 10 - 11.

Conclusion

All of this (witnessing, repentance, changing the world) is only possible by the power of Jesus Christ

Remember the 3 scenes of life for the 2 witnesses?

Empowered and protected ministry

Humiliating death and defeat

Resurrection (after 3 days), triumph and ascension into heaven on a cloud

In EVERYTHING, we follow Jesus Christ

As we do, our lives are transformed by him, which has the power to call the world to repentance

Pray