Revelation 9.13-21 and 11.15-19-The Sixth and Seventh Trumpet Judgments (Doctrinal Bible Church in Huntsville, Alabama)

Doctrinal Bible Church

Pastor-Teacher Bill Wenstrom

Wednesday July 3, 2024

The Day of the Lord Series: Revelation 9:13-21 and 11:15-19-The Sixth and Seventh Trumpet Judgments

Lesson # 30

Revelation 9:13-21 records the sixth of the seven trumpet judgments, which is the second woe.

Revelation 9:13 The sixth angel sounded his trumpet, and I heard a voice coming from the horns of the golden altar that is before God. 14 It said to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” 15 And the four angels who had been kept ready for this very hour and day and month and year were released to kill a third of mankind. 16 The number of the mounted troops was two hundred million. I heard their number. 17 The horses and riders I saw in my vision looked like this: Their breastplates were fiery red, dark blue, and yellow as sulfur. The heads of the horses resembled the heads of lions, and out of their mouths came fire, smoke and sulfur. 18 A third of mankind was killed by the three plagues of fire, smoke and sulfur that came out of their mouths. 19 The power of the horses was in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails were like snakes, having heads with which they inflict injury. 20 The rest of mankind that were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk. 21 Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts. (NIV84)

The sixth trumpet judgment results in the release of four fallen angels bound under the Euphrates river, which is located in southern Mesopotamia and rises in the mountains of Armenia Major and flows through Assyria, Syria, Mesopotamia, and the city of Babylon, from 1,700 to 1,800 miles into the Persian Gulf.

It is by far the longest and most important river of western Asia and was the natural boundary separating the nations of the east from Palestine.

That these angels are non-elect is indicated in that elect angels are never bound.

John is describing a demon army numbered at 200 hundred million, which is indicated in that they are led by four fallen angels who are bound at the Euphrates River.

Many commentators believe that this massive army is a reference to the Chinese because the Chinese claim that they can put an army of this size in the field for battle.

However, the description of this army makes clear that it is not that of a human army or men who are Chinese.

Furthermore, they are led by four fallen angels.

This army is completely different than the army led by the “kings of the east” mentioned in Revelation 16:12-16 since this army is related to the sixth bowl judgment whereas the army of 200 million of Revelation 9:16 is connected to the sixth trumpet judgment.

The fourth seal (Revelation 6:7-8) resulted in a fourth of the earth’s inhabitants being killed whereas the sixth trumpet judgment results in a third of the remainder being put to death.

This means the earth’s total population is reduced by one-half by these two judgments alone and these judgments do not account for all the deaths that will occur.

The other judgments also will result in widespread destruction of human life.

Revelation 9:17-19 describes this massive army and its tactics or method of warfare, which indicate that this army is demonic rather than human.

This passage clearly indicates these are not ordinary horsemen or horses since this refers to a demonic army.

Revelation 10-11:14 is parenthetical providing additional information as a background to the seal, trumpet and bowl judgments.

Revelation 11:15-19 records the seventh and final trumpet judgment.

Revelation 11:15 The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever.” 16 And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying: “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign. 18 The nations were angry; and your wrath has come. The time has come for judging the dead, and for rewarding your servants the prophets and your saints and those who reverence your name, both small and great— and for destroying those who destroy the earth.” 19 Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant. And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a great hailstorm. (NIV84)

The seventh and final trumpet judgment is the third woe and results in the Second Advent of Christ.

At His “Second Advent,” the Lord Jesus Christ will terminate the seventieth week and the Times of the Gentiles.

He will destroy the Tribulational armies, have Antichrist and the False Prophet thrown into the Lake of Fire (Rev. 19:11-19), will imprison Satan for a thousand years (Rev. 20:1-3) and will establish His millennial reign on planet earth (Rev. 20:4-6).

At that time, the Lord and His armies will orbit the earth before landing on the Mount of Olives, which was the site of His Ascension (Acts. 1:9-11).

There will be a great earthquake when our Lord’s foot touches the Mount of Olives (Zech. 14:1-8) and will be a unique day having neither day nor night (Zech. 14:7).

The Lord Jesus Christ describes the Tribulation period in detail and His Second Advent in Matthew 24:29-31 and Luke 21:25-28.

The “Second Advent” of Jesus Christ is taught in both the Old and New Testaments (Deuteronomy 30:3; Psalm 2:1-9; 24:7-10; 96:10-13; 110; Isaiah 9:6-7; 63:1-6; Jeremiah 23:1-8; Daniel 2:44-45; 7:18-27; Zechariah 12; 14:1-9; Matthew 19:28; 24:27-31; Mark 13:24-30; Luke 12:35-40; 17:24-37; 18:8; 21:25-28; Acts 1:10-11; 15:16-18; Romans 11:25-27; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10; 2:8; 2 Peter 3:3-4; Jude 14-15; Revelation 1:7-8; 2:25-28; 16:15; 19:11-21).