6-16-19 Heavy Metal Revelation 8:1-13
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Introduction:
Today is Father’s day. One aspect of being a father is disciplining your own kids. There are just a few times in each of my kids lives that I can recall where they have let me down--they made a wrong decision or two. Perhaps the most frustrating part to that moment is when you know that they are capable of performing better--they know better! I have gotten angry at my kids; I think most fathers can relate. However, somehow my blood boils even hotter when I see other kids belonging to someone else commit a grievous offense toward my own kid. To be brutally honest, I usually desire to see revenge in that scenario. All of a sudden, when other kids are involved in horrendous sin, I somehow forget about the faults of my own child.
Transition:
I wonder if God, the Father, experiences these feelings. Our passage this morning portrays the wrath of our Father against those that are not his own children. His wrath is against those who have done harm to his own children. but unlike my wrath, His is perfect. In fact it is so perfect, He uses musical instruments to display His wrath:
Scripture Reading:
1 When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.
2 Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.
3 And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer, and he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne,
4 and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel.
5 Then the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and threw it on the earth, and there were peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.
6 Now the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to blow them.
7 The first angel blew his trumpet, and there followed hail and fire, mixed with blood, and these were thrown upon the earth. And a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.
8 The second angel blew his trumpet, and something like a great mountain, burning with fire, was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood.
9 A third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.
10 The third angel blew his trumpet, and a great star fell from heaven, blazing 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 people died from the water, because it had been made bitter.
12 The fourth angel blew his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, and a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of their light might be darkened, and a third of the day might be kept from shining, and likewise a third of the night.
13 Then I looked, and I heard an eagle crying with a loud voice as it flew directly overhead, “Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth, at the blasts of the other trumpets that the three angels are about to blow!”
The seventh seal opening brings a dramatic pause of silence in heaven--the scroll is finally completely open. The heavenly chorus of praise won’t resume again until the seventh angel blows his trumpet in Chapter 11. These trumpet judgments are part of The Father’s response to the prayers of His children, who apparently continue to cry out to Him in prayer for deliverance and justice.
. The heavenly chorus of praise won’t resume again until the seventh angel blows his trumpet in Chapter 11. The trumpet judgments (8:7–9:21) are part of God’s response to the prayers of his people, who continue to cry out to him for deliverance and justice (8:2–6).
Transition:
The world hates Christ and all that he stands for. So The Father’s chosen children suffer and some are put to death, but YHWH is still in total control. He allows his children to suffer, but no suffering can go beyond what The Father has allotted. When suffering results in His children being put to death for their faith, those who die are richly rewarded. AND, the wicked are facing severe judgement from which God’s sealed people are exempt, and this produces awe among God’s children.
Transition:
The seventh seals ended in heaven (8:1). Now, seven angels are assembling. Each one has a trumpet to blow, and the trumpets take us back to the earth. But before that, there is serious preparation:
I. Prepping for the Music (vv.1-6)
I. Prepping for the Music (vv.1-6)
When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.
Rev
The hymn of heaven falls silent, reminding us of the prophetic announcement in [[]].
But the Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him.”
Be silent, all flesh, before the Lord, for he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.
Then in [[ ]]
Then in [[ ]]
Be silent before the Lord God! For the day of the Lord is near; the Lord has prepared a sacrifice and consecrated his guests.
the Old Testament often associates silence with divine judgment, and such is the case here in Revelation
In addition, the silence creates this setting for our Father to hear the prayers of the saints (8:2–6).
is setting for our Father to hear the prayers of the saints (8:2–6), which in turn lead into the trumpet judgments (8:7–9:21).
Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.
Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.
Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer, and he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne,
These angels “were given” PASSIVE VOICE seven trumpets, indicating God as the ultimate source of the judgments to come. Trumpets appear in the Old Testament to signal an attack or retreat in war, to sound an alarm, to announce a victory or good news, to enthrone a king, to celebrate sacred days. In the New Testament trumpets are often associated with the return of Christ. The trumpets of usher in the coming judgments of God.
These angels “were given” PASSIVE VOICE seven trumpets, indicating God as the ultimate source of the judgments to come. Trumpets appear in the Old Testament to signal an attack or retreat in war, to sound an alarm, to announce a victory or good news, to enthrone a king, to celebrate sacred days. In the New Testament trumpets are often associated with the return of Christ. The trumpets of usher in the coming judgments of God.
3 And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer, and he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne, 4 and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel. 5 Then the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and threw it on the earth, and there were peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.
3 And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer, and he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne, 4 and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel.
ESV
Another angel, distinct from the seven angels, approaches God’s presence. Before the blowing of the trumpets begins, the prayers of the saints go up before the Lord
The angel then receives incense and prayers of all God’s people (not just the martyrs) along with a censer (firepan) used to carry burning coals. This scene portrays the coals of prayer being sprinkled with incense and ascending to God as a fragrant aroma
Then the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and threw it on the earth, and there were peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.
This pause implies that God’s answer to the prayers for the avenging of the blood of the martyrs (6:10) upon the earth dwellers, the focus of the hour of testing (3:10), begins with the trumpet judgments.
Illustration:
Our prayers matter
Scenario: For a moment, imagine you have received an invitation for a private audience with a wealthy, generous individual—Bill Gates, for instance. The purpose of this meeting is clearly stated—he wants to hear you share about a cause near and dear to your heart and potentially provide resources for it. Would you consider your words? Would you prepare yourself and do all you could to take advantage of your interview? Of course you would! For a moment, consider this: YHWH has written your prayers into His plan for history. Your prayers are intimately involved in ushering God’s purposes into being. The God of infinite power and unfathomable love is waiting to hear from you. Our prayers matter.
Transition:
Now the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to blow them.
In the book The Old Testament in Contemporary Preaching, by Walter Kaiser. Old Testament scholar Walter Kaiser writes,
“North American society is headed for destruction and judgment. And we had better believe it’s coming, because there is no sign that repentance is near. It is coming, or else God is a liar and His word is not true. The prophet’s message must be preached again today.”
Let’s now listen to that trumpet sound:
II. Listening to the Music (vv.7-12)
II. Listening to the Music (vv.7-12)
The first five trumpet judgments are patterned after the plagues inflicted by God upon the Egyptians.
[[CHART]]
The first angel blew his trumpet, and there followed hail and fire, mixed with blood, and these were thrown upon the earth. And a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.
Rev
The first trumpet recalls the seventh plague where God sends lightning, thunder, and a huge hailstorm that devastates the land. Revelation adds fire and blood to the mix, elements that are often associated with judgment (e.g., ; ; ). As a result, a third of the earth and trees are burned up and all the green grass, a natural disaster of epic proportions. The figure of “a third” occurs repeatedly throughout this series to indicate the limited nature of God’s judgment. The intensity has increased from the “one-fourth” of the seal judgments, but it has not yet progressed to the fullness of the bowl judgments, where no fractions are used.
8 The second angel blew his trumpet, and something like a great mountain, burning with fire, was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood. 9 A third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.
[[CHART]]
Exodus
1st trumpet (8:7)
Hail and fire mixed with blood
7th plague (9:22–25)
2nd trumpet (8:8–9)
Burning mountain turns sea to blood
This judgment alludes to the first Egyptian plague in which God turns the Nile River into blood. The mention of a fiery mountain might have reminded John’s readers of a devastating volcanic eruption, such as the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79, which destroyed the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Beale argues for , where Babylon is described as a burning mountain, as the primary background of the image, suggesting that the image refers to the judgment of a wicked kingdom (cf. ). This judgment results in the destruction of one-third of the sea life and ships, a dire situation for a society such as Rome, which was heavily dependent on the sea for its survival.
1st plague (7:14–24)
3rd trumpet (8:10–11)
Blazing star makes fresh water bitter
1st plague (7:14–24)
10 The third angel blew his trumpet, and a great star fell from heaven, blazing 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 people died from the water, because it had been made bitter.
4th trumpet (8:12)
Sun, moon, and stars darkened
9th plague (10:21–23)
5th trumpet (9:1–11)
While some take the star to refer to a fallen angel, the context doesn’t seem to support this conclusion. This judgment consists of a blazing star falling from the sky into the fresh water supply, a star named for its effect. The “wormwood” (apsinthos) shrub produced a bitter, dark green oil that was used to kill intestinal worms.5 Consequently, the term “wormwood” came to symbolize bitterness and sorrow. God’s judgment turns a portion of the water supply poisonous, thereby killing many people.
Hoard of scorpion-locusts
12 The fourth angel blew his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, and a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of their light might be darkened, and a third of the day might be kept from shining, and likewise a third of the night.
8th plague (10:1–20)
The fourth trumpet parallels the ninth Egyptian plague, which brought dense darkness over the land. Throughout the Scriptures, darkness serves as a symbol of divine judgment and hell. Here God judges the whole world, leaving it in total darkness for a third of each day and night.
Illustration:
this Exodus typology demonstrates at least three realities:
First, through the plague judgments God is demonstrating that he is Lord over creation and human history and will reign victoriously over every competing god or idol.
Second, God responds to the cries of his people by punishing wickedness, but he does so in a manner that allows for unbelievers to repent (e.g., ).
Third, the plague judgments also serve as a prelude to God’s deliverance of his people.
Transition:
So as you listen to the tune of these trumpets, you really can’t help but respond in some way.
III. Responding to that Trumpet Sound (v.13)
III. Responding to that Trumpet Sound (v.13)
Unlike a symphonic piece, these trumpets are really scary, and verse 13 warns it will get worse!
Then I looked, and I heard an eagle crying with a loud voice as it flew directly overhead, “Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth, at the blasts of the other trumpets that the three angels are about to blow!”
Rev
The remaining three trumpet judgments will intensify the terror lying upon the earth dwellers, whom God has spotlighted for judgment and vengeance of the martyrs’ blood (6:10) during the hour of testing (3:10). We’ll see later that the seventh trumpet is open-ended, to include the bowls of divine wrath (15:1–19:6), these terrors extend to the second coming of Christ in chapter 19.
The three series of judgments -seals, trumpets, and the bowls-- cover similar ground but they clearly increase in intensity (from ¼ in the seals to a ⅓ in the trumpets to everyone on earth in the bowls). Also we’ll see soon that between the sixth and seventh trumpets there is an interlude but no interlude after the sixth bowl judgment, showing the nearness of the end of the age.
Illustration:
Transition:
So how are you going to respond? will you be that child who disobeys his father and stirs up his wrath? or will you run into the hands of our Father and allow Him to take care of the bullies Himself.
My Father wants you to be in peace with this family. This family is like no other family, because outsiders can become family through the blood of Christ, trusting in His salvation in order that the wrath of our Father cannot and will never hurt you.
So What?
So What?
Two things to walk away with
God is going to physically judge this wicked world.
Our world wants to live as if nothing will ever change. But the fuse on history has been lit. Jesus has promised that he will come back again to judge the living and those who have gone before, and each passing moment brings us closer to that day.
1. God will judge wickedness.
Our world wants to live as if nothing will ever change. But the fuse on history has been lit. Jesus has promised that He will come back again to judge the living and those who have gone before, and each passing moment brings us closer to that day. This passage provides a good opportunity to remind people that God alone is the TRUE God and that turning against Him will only prove eternally fatal. YHWH demonstrates His supremacy in both the plagues of Egypt and the trumpet judgments of Revelation. His lordship over creation and human history reminds us that evil will not go unpunished. Sin has consequences, and wickedness has no chance of winning. In American churches today the pendulum has swung far in the direction of a God of grace and love, and this is true. But believers who are suffering throughout the world can also take comfort in God’s character as a holy and righteous God who will judge their persecutors and pour out His wrath on them.
Our world wants to live as if nothing will ever change. But the fuse on history has been lit. Jesus has promised that he will come back again to judge the living and those who have gone before, and each passing moment brings us closer to that day. This passage provides a good opportunity to remind people that God alone is God and that turning against him will only prove disastrous in the end. God demonstrates his supremacy in both the plagues of Egypt and the trumpet judgments of Revelation. His lordship over creation and human history reminds us that evil will not go unpunished. Sin has consequences, and wickedness has no chance of winning. In our day the pendulum has swung far in the direction of a God of grace and love, and this truth should never be diminished. But believers who are suffering throughout the world may also take comfort in God’s character as a holy and righteous God who will judge their persecutors and pour out his wrath on evil. When individuals or societies turn their backs on God, they are headed for judgment. New Testament scholar Craig Keener writes,
Judgments have already come to seize our attention; but surely greater judgments lie in store. Those who study both Scripture and the moral state of secular society can hardly think otherwise, though in our day, as in Jeremiah’s, there will surely remain false prophets of peace merely telling people what they wish to hear (; ; ; ; ; ; ).6
2. God hears the cries of his people for justice and deliverance.
Our Father supremely loves His children and He listens! The fire from the altar is hurled to earth in response to the prayers of God’s people. God’s judgments come here in response to the cries of His children. This is a reminder for those who are suffering that their prayers really do make a difference. God does not wait until the final day of judgment to begin judging evil. We need to remind people that prayer is more than thanking God for our food or asking for a general blessing. Cries for justice and deliverance have their rightful place in the life of a believer. Such a prayer seems odd with Jesus’s call to love our enemies. There is a balance, but the two are not irreconcilable. As we love our enemies, we may also cry out to God to bring justice in the face of unjust suffering. How God answers such prayers is up to him. Our role is to love our enemies and pray for justice. God is the loving and righteous Judge, who alone is capable of offering people salvation while also holding them accountable for their actions.
In His transcendent sovereignty, our Father somehow allows for our prayers to affect the outcome of history. Our prayers really do matter!
Conclusion:
▪God demonstrates his sovereignty by pouring out His just and perfect wrath on a wicked world.
God Responds to Prayer
▪God’s judgments are, at least in part, His response to the prayers of His children for justice and deliverance.