Revelation for Now & Future Part 20

So tonight, we pick up with the sixth trumpet.

If you remember last week, we spoke on the 5th trumpets.

We should note that these trumpets continue an idea of judgement.

The ideas discussed are very much literal, but the language is still somewhat metaphorical.

For instance, we have to remember John describes as he sees.

John is more than likely seeing things he has never fathomed.

His mind is probably fearful and in awe simultaneously.

Try to put yourselves in the shoes of one seeing a vision of a multitude of present/future events that are rocking your world.

Now try and note you have to write down the things you see.

It cant be easy.

Words may seem hard to find which adequately describe the vision, but nevertheless the vision must be displayed for the reader.

One also may consider the great awe of being in the presence of the heavenly beings.

One may further try and grasp one’s own family/friends/associates who may fall into the categories of those facing the judgement being displayed.

Read with me tonight with those ideas in mind...

Revelation 9:13–21 ESV

13 Then the sixth angel blew his trumpet, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar 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, the day, the month, and the year, were released to kill a third of mankind. 16 The number of mounted troops was twice ten thousand times ten thousand; I heard their number. 17 And this is how I saw the horses in my vision and those who rode them: they wore breastplates the color of fire and of sapphire and of sulfur, and the heads of the horses were like lions’ heads, and fire and smoke and sulfur came out of their mouths. 18 By these three plagues a third of mankind was killed, by the fire and smoke and sulfur coming out of their mouths. 19 For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails, for their tails are like serpents with heads, and by means of them they wound. 20 The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands nor give up worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk, 21 nor did they repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.

God has complete power.

Revelation 9:13 ESV

13 Then the sixth angel blew his trumpet, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar before God,

4 = Completeness in the Bible

Horns = power

Complete Power- from the altar

The vision displays a picture of the completeness of God’s power coming from His being/presence.

In essence, we have a picture of God’s ability and being coming from that which represents Him-the golden altar.

We see Him utilizing His might in judgement and in response to the Saints who have been martyred.

Remember back in 6:10, how the saints who had been martyred and were under the altar had cried out for The Lord to take vengeance on their behalf.

So we can see that this seems to be further response to that judgement.

His Power over even the Angelic and the Judgement

Revelation 9:14 ESV

14 saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.”

Notice that the Word says “who are bound”.

We can note that they are bound and are being held back by the power and might of God.

Think of the idea of raging animals corralled in a pen to keep them from bringing the damage that they are capable of .

Think of the demonic here and the desire of the demonic to destroy.

Think of God’s hand which in His long-suffering has held the demonic back until it is time.

We should recall the first three verses of this chapter and the idea of the demons being held in the abyss and being released.

So who are these?...

Wicked Angels

How Do these connect to the OT prophecy?

Many times in the OT the words “the North” is connected with judgment or judgement that will be brought.

Jeremiah 46:10 ESV

10 That day is the day of the Lord God of hosts, a day of vengeance, to avenge himself on his foes. The sword shall devour and be sated and drink its fill of their blood. For the Lord God of hosts holds a sacrifice in the north country by the river Euphrates.

So in vs. 14 we have this picture of God removing His hand and allowing great judgement to fall.

Most likely we can equate this Sixth Trumpet and the Sixth Bowl as the same event.

A Prepared Multitude for A Prepared Time

Revelation 9:15–16 ESV

15 So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour, the day, the month, and the year, were released to kill a third of mankind. 16 The number of mounted troops was twice ten thousand times ten thousand; I heard their number.

Here we have the understanding of the angels being held for a specific or prepared time.

The Lord had held them back until the point of His purpose.

Notice the detail of the exact hour in vs. 15

Also notice the size of the army

200,000,000

10,000 x 10,000= 100,000,000 times 2

Note - some will try and use news and media to explain this a the army of China.

We should take these numbers as most likely not human soldiers, but angelic/demonic.

Th:e Vision on Display

Revelation 9:17–21 ESV

17 And this is how I saw the horses in my vision and those who rode them: they wore breastplates the color of fire and of sapphire and of sulfur, and the heads of the horses were like lions’ heads, and fire and smoke and sulfur came out of their mouths. 18 By these three plagues a third of mankind was killed, by the fire and smoke and sulfur coming out of their mouths. 19 For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails, for their tails are like serpents with heads, and by means of them they wound. 20 The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands nor give up worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk, 21 nor did they repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.

A description of the riders:

Breastplates

Fire

Sapphire/hyacinth/blue

Sulfur-yellow or brimstone

A description of the “horses”:

heads = lions

mouths-

fire, smoke, brimstone

Further description:

Power- in their mouths & tails

Tails like serpents- with heads

These descriptions should allude to judgement and destruction.

Why does this appear to be figurative language:

Fire, smoke, and sulfur = three plagues

Notice: they kill a third of mankind.

We are brought to the question:

Is This the final judgement or just a precursor?

The answer: A judgment, but just a preparation of what is to come.

They cause the physical death of those who are already spiritually dead.

We usually hear the old adage: “where there is smoke there is fire.”

Well we can connect the fifth and sixth trumpets with this adage.

In the fifth there was smoke, but in the sixth there is fire.

The judgement is growing.

Revelation 9:19 ESV

19 For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails, for their tails are like serpents with heads, and by means of them they wound.

The tails of the creatures in the fifth trumpet had the ability to harm for 5 months in their tails.

The creatures here have tails with heads of serpents.

Most likely we are referring to a physical torment brought before death.

For consideration’s sake: what if we are referring to false teachers?

the power of the horse is in the mouth

maybe the ability to continue to mislead or push in an evil direction.

In this case we would say the tails are inflicting or continuing to lead falsely.

Thus, we should greatly consider that this is not referring to warfare in the physical sense, but in the spiritual sense.

Revelation 9:20–21 ESV

20 The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands nor give up worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk, 21 nor did they repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.

Notice that those who saw these things did not turn from their ways to The Lord.

Instead, they continue on as if nothing happened.

Why would God bring a partial judgement in the sixth trumpet and not a full?

This is a great demonstration of the idea of the long-suffering nature of God and of His sovereignty.

Walking away, but in...

We should not miss the illusion to the destructive nature and influence of false teaching prevalent today.

We should be keenly aware of the measure of struggle brought about by the idols we make in this life.

We should be careful not to allow ourselves to allow “things” to take our focus.