REVELATION 8-9 //

Hector Mora

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LAST WEEK

We looked at the interlude between the 6th and 7th Seal

We were introduced to two more groups of people

We saw the 144,000 Jews that were sealed on their foreheads by the Angel of the Lord

We saw an innumerable multitude from every tribe, tongue, nation.

Standing before the throne of God

Dressed in White Robes

Carrying Palm Branches

The Elder that was there with John said

Revelation 7:14 NKJV

14 And I said to him, “Sir, you know.” So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

It seems like God made a distinction between these two people groups

One is exclusively Jewish

The Other is very much Gentile

But they both have been sealed by God for Salvation.

THIS WEEK

We are going to look at the 7th Seal and the subsequent 7 Trumpets

For Clarity, lets recap The First 6 Seals

The First Seal

We saw the first horsemen who was on a white horse

Who had a bow in hand, a crown on his head

And he went out conquering and to conquer.

The Second Seal

We saw a Fiery Red Horse

This Rider was given the right to remove peace from the earth

The Third Seal

We saw a Black Horse

This Horsemen had scales in his hand

And detailed for us the economical imbalance that would spread throughout the world

The Fourth Seal

We saw a Pale Horse

Whose rider was named Death, and whom was followed by Hades.

This horsemen had the power to kill 1/4 of the world

The Fifth Seal

We saw under the altar those who had been slain for the Word of God.

They were crying out for God to vindicate them

Longing for Justice

But God told them to rest a little longer

To wait for the rest of the martyrs to be killed for their faith in the Lamb.

The Sixth Seal

We saw cataclysmic events

Earthquake

Sun became like sackloth

The Moon became like blood

Stars fell from heaven

Men of great positions hid themselves

Asking the rocks to hide them from the wrath that is to come.

NOW WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE 7TH SEAL

WHAT DID THE 7TH SEAL CAUSE?

LET’S LOOK AT THE TEXT

Revelation 8–9 NKJV

1 When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. 2 And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets. 3 Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. 4 And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand. 5 Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And there were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake. 6 So the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound. 7 The first angel sounded: And hail and fire followed, mingled with blood, and they were thrown to the earth. And a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up. 8 Then the second angel sounded: And something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood. 9 And a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed. 10 Then the third angel sounded: And a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. 11 The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the water, because it was made bitter. 12 Then the fourth angel sounded: And a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them were darkened. A third of the day did not shine, and likewise the night. 13 And I looked, and I heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, “Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!” 1 Then the fifth angel sounded: And I saw a star fallen from heaven to the earth. To him was given the key to the bottomless pit. 2 And he opened the bottomless pit, and smoke arose out of the pit like the smoke of a great furnace. So the sun and the air were darkened because of the smoke of the pit. 3 Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth. And to them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. 4 They were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. 5 And they were not given authority to kill them, but to torment them for five months. Their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it strikes a man. 6 In those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will desire to die, and death will flee from them. 7 The shape of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle. On their heads were crowns of something like gold, and their faces were like the faces of men. 8 They had hair like women’s hair, and their teeth were like lions’ teeth. 9 And they had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots with many horses running into battle. 10 They had tails like scorpions, and there were stings in their tails. Their power was to hurt men five months. 11 And they had as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, but in Greek he has the name Apollyon. 12 One woe is past. Behold, still two more woes are coming after these things. 13 Then the sixth angel sounded: And I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, 14 saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” 15 So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released to kill a third of mankind. 16 Now the number of the army of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them. 17 And thus I saw the horses in the vision: those who sat on them had breastplates of fiery red, hyacinth blue, and sulfur yellow; and the heads of the horses were like the heads of lions; and out of their mouths came fire, smoke, and brimstone. 18 By these three plagues a third of mankind was killed—by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone which came out of their mouths. 19 For their power is in their mouth and in their tails; for their tails are like serpents, having heads; and with them they do harm. 20 But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk. 21 And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.

PRAY

Revelation 8:1–6 NKJV

Rev 8:1-

WHEN HE OPENED THE SEVENTH SEAL

THERE WAS SILENCE IN HEAVEN FOR ABOUT HALF AN HOUR

Think about it:

It went from a full blown praise session in the interlude between the 6th and 7th Seal

To Silence for about a half hour.

THEN JOHN SAW THE 7 ANGELS THAT STOOD BEFORE GOD

AND EACH ONE OF THEM WAS GIVEN A TRUMPET

WHY TRUMPETS?

Trumpets all throughout the Bible are seen as instruments of Declaration

The blowing of trumpets would get the peoples attention

Sometimes the combination of the blowing of trumpets and a shout would cause walls to fall to the ground.

Being Mexican, and celebrating Birthdays and Baptisms,

I have the privilege of being around Mariachis a few times a year.

The first thing that gets your attention is the sound of the trumpets as the Mariachis make their entrance

To this day, that sound brings me chills.

It is like “Game On”

IN THE BIBLE

We see the trumpet being blown, causing God’s people to come worship on the mountain.

Jesus speaks to how God the Father will send His Angels with the great sound of a trumpet

They will gather his elect from the four winds, from all ends of the world.

It seems identical to what John is seeing.

Paul in speaking of the coming of the Lord

Said in

That in a moment, in a twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet

The Trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised incorruptible

And both the dead and the living will be changed.

THEN ANOTHER ANGEL, WHO HAD A GOLDEN CENSER, CAME AND STOOD AT THE ALTAR

HE HAD A LOT OF INCENSE TO OFFER UP WITH THE PRAYERS OF ALL THE SAINTS

WHAT IS A CENSER?

It was a round Vessel with burning coals at its base and incense on top

This would give a sweet smelling aroma

But would also represent prayers rising to the father.

NOW THAT THE PRAYERS HAD ASCENDED TO THE FATHER

THE ANGEL THEN FILLED THE CENSER WITH FIRE FROM THE ALTAR AND THREW IT TO THE EARTH.

BACK HERE ON EARTH, THIS EVENT CAUSED VARIOUS SUPERNATURAL DISASTERS:

Noises

Thunderings

Lightnings

Earthquakes

Doesn’t this seem like the result of the 6th seal?

What happens?

Very Similiar

It is said that the three sets of judgement are like Russian Dolls

AS THE EARTH IS GOING THROUGH IT

The last event leads to the next set

THE SEVEN ANGELS WHO HAD THE SEVEN TRUMPETS PREPARED THEMSELVES

Revelation 8:7 NKJV

7 The first angel sounded: And hail and fire followed, mingled with blood, and they were thrown to the earth. And a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.

THE FIRST TRUMPET

Hail and Fire followed the fire from the censer.

It was mingled with Blood

It hit the earth

A third of the trees were burned up

ALL the green grass was burned up

OUR INSTINCT IS TO SAY: “WHY WOULD GOD ALLOW THIS?”

Some can look at the devastation and shake their fists at God.

“WHAT DOES GOD NEED TO DO TO GET OUR FULL ATTENTION?”

Some can look at the devastation and shake their fists at God.

Some can shift the blame and seek to be justified by opinions.

Some have used natural disasters to push their own agenda.

MY ENCOURAGEMENT TO THOSE WHO ARE PRESENT DURING THESE EVENTS IS THIS:

Place your trust in Jesus

His Kingdom has no end

Trials and Tribulation may come

But He is faithful to at minimum, be with those who put their trust in Him.

Rev 8:

Revelation 8:8 NKJV

8 Then the second angel sounded: And something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood.

Revelation 8:8–9 NKJV

8 Then the second angel sounded: And something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood. 9 And a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.

THE SECOND ANGEL SOUNDED:

Something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea

A Third of the Sea became blood

A Third of the Living Creatures in the sea died.

A Third of the Ships were destroyed.

UPON READING THIS, MANY JEWS RELATED THIS JUDGEMENT TO THE ERUPTION OF MT. VESUVIUS IN AD 79

They saw it as God’s judgement upon Rome for the destruction of the Temple in 70AD

IMAGINE BEING A LONGSHOREMAN

Rev 8:10

MY BUDDY TIM BURAN WHO IS A TUG BOAT CAPTAIN

His whole industry is going to get rocked.

Luckily, He’s believed in Jesus and the blessed Hope of His return

Now, he has the privilege of sharing that good news with his team

Hopefully resulting in many coming to Jesus

Yielding a focus that surpasses what this world may bring.

Revelation 8:10–11 NKJV

10 Then the third angel sounded: And a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. 11 The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the water, because it was made bitter.

THE THIRD ANGEKL SOUNDED:

A great star fell from Heaven

Burning like a torch

It fell on a third of the Rivers and on the Springs of Water.

The name of this star is Wormwood

This star caused a third of the waters to become wormwood

Which caused many men to die because the water was made bitter.

WHAT IS WORMWOOD?

Wormwood is a leafy plant that causes water to become bitter

IN SOME VERSIONS OF THE BIBLE, WORMWOOD IS REPLACED WITH BITTERNESS.

When it is combined with other elements

It is both literal and symbolic

Bitter water is connected with judgement all throughout Israel’s History.

We see it in , , and & 23

Here WORMWOOD descends on the waters and causes them to be bitter.

Revelation 8:12–13 NKJV

12 Then the fourth angel sounded: And a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them were darkened. A third of the day did not shine, and likewise the night. 13 And I looked, and I heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, “Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!”

Rev 8:12-

THE FOURTH ANGEL SOUNDED

A third of the sun was struck

A third of the moon,

A third of the stars

They were all struck in a way that they all lost their light

They were all darkened

A third of the day did not shine, and likewise the night.

It almost seems that the orbit of the Earth has been effected because of these events.

Not only a cultural imbalance

But a scientific imbalance

THEN JOHN LOOKED AND HE HEARD AN ANGEL FLYING THROUGH THE MIDST OF HEAVEN

SAYING WITH A LOUD VOICE:

“WOE, WOE, WOE TO THE INHABITANTS OF THE EARTH” WHY?

“BECAUSE OF THE REMAINING BLASTS OF THE TRUMPET OF THE THREE ANGELS WHO ARE ABOUT TO SOUND”

If they thought the first 4 angels brought calamity

The next three would be unbearable.

Rev 9:1-

Revelation 9:1–12 NKJV

1 Then the fifth angel sounded: And I saw a star fallen from heaven to the earth. To him was given the key to the bottomless pit. 2 And he opened the bottomless pit, and smoke arose out of the pit like the smoke of a great furnace. So the sun and the air were darkened because of the smoke of the pit. 3 Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth. And to them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. 4 They were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. 5 And they were not given authority to kill them, but to torment them for five months. Their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it strikes a man. 6 In those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will desire to die, and death will flee from them. 7 The shape of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle. On their heads were crowns of something like gold, and their faces were like the faces of men. 8 They had hair like women’s hair, and their teeth were like lions’ teeth. 9 And they had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots with many horses running into battle. 10 They had tails like scorpions, and there were stings in their tails. Their power was to hurt men five months. 11 And they had as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, but in Greek he has the name Apollyon. 12 One woe is past. Behold, still two more woes are coming after these things.

Revelation 9:1–5 NKJV

THE FIFTH ANGEL SOUNDED. THIS IS THE FIRST WOE.

JOHN SAW A STAR FALLEN FROM HEAVEN TO EARTH

TO HIM WAS GIVEN THE KEY TO THE BOTTOMLESS PIT

THIS STAR, WHICH CAN ALSO BE SEEN AS AN ANGEL

Because this angel is given the keys to the bottomless pit

One can say it is either a fallen Angel

Or an Angel who was over this realm

AS HE OPENED THE BOTTOMLESS PIT

Smoke arose out of the pit like smoke from a Great Furnace

The Sun and the Air were darkened because of this smoke

Out of the Smoke

Came locusts

They were given power as the scorpions of the earth

They had specific instructions:

Inflict Pain

Do not harm the grass, or any green thing, or any tree

But to inflict pain on those who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads.

But they could not kill them.

However for 5 months, they would make their lives a living hell.

HOW WOULD YOU RESPOND TO THIS?

Revelation 9:6 NKJV

6 In those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will desire to die, and death will flee from them.

Revelation 9:7–12 NKJV

7 The shape of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle. On their heads were crowns of something like gold, and their faces were like the faces of men. 8 They had hair like women’s hair, and their teeth were like lions’ teeth. 9 And they had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots with many horses running into battle. 10 They had tails like scorpions, and there were stings in their tails. Their power was to hurt men five months. 11 And they had as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, but in Greek he has the name Apollyon. 12 One woe is past. Behold, still two more woes are coming after these things.

THESE EVENTS ARE VERY SIMILIAR TO THE EXODUS JUDGEMENTS

JUDGEMENTS THAT WERE A RESULT OF PHAROAHS UNREPENTANCE.

JOHN GOES ON TO DESCRIBE THESE LOCUSTS

It seems as though he is describing an army

HE EVEN CLUES US INTO WHO THEIR KING IS

Their marching orders are given by Abaddon aka Apollyon

Abaddon: Is a place of Death. Literally Destruction

Apollyon: Destroyer.

Interestingly enough.

The Greek God Apollo often used a locust as his symbol

Domitian

Who was the emperor during the time that John wrote this

Considered himself Apollo Incarnate.

Revelation 9:13–21 NKJV

13 Then the sixth angel sounded: And I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, 14 saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” 15 So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released to kill a third of mankind. 16 Now the number of the army of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them. 17 And thus I saw the horses in the vision: those who sat on them had breastplates of fiery red, hyacinth blue, and sulfur yellow; and the heads of the horses were like the heads of lions; and out of their mouths came fire, smoke, and brimstone. 18 By these three plagues a third of mankind was killed—by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone which came out of their mouths. 19 For their power is in their mouth and in their tails; for their tails are like serpents, having heads; and with them they do harm. 20 But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk. 21 And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.

Rev 9:13-

THE SIXTH TRUMPET SOUNDED

JOHN HEARD A VOICE FROM THE FOUR HORNS OF THE GOLDEN ALTAR, WHICH WAS BEFORE GOD.

THIS VOICE SAID TO THE 6TH ANGEL

“RELEASE THE FOUR ANGELS WHO ARE BOUND AT THE GREAT RIVER EUPHRATES.”

SO THESE ANGELS WHO HAD BEEN RESERVED FOR THIS SPECIFIC TIME

1/3 OF MANKIND GONE.

THIS 200 MILLION ARMY TOOK OUT 1/3 OF MANKIND

SO WHO IS THIS ARMY?

WE CAN’T CORRECTLY DEFINE IT. WE KNOW WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE. BUT THATS ABOUT IT.