sf856 - THE FOUR TRUMPETS OF WAR - 1 of 2 THE SEVENTH SEAL THE TRUMPET JUDGEMENTS (Revelation 8)
Revelation 8; Key 8:1-6
INTRODUCTION
We are in the Great Tribulation
A series of judgements - Seven sealed scroll - each one representing a separate type of judgement.
Six broken in chapter 6 - One left, the worse
The Trumpet Judgements are contained in this last seal!
Six are found in chapters 8 & 9
Number seven found in 11:15 - ff
1A. THE SEVENTH SEAL IS OPENED (8:1-6)
1B. God’s Judgement Postponed (8:1-2)
The Silence in heaven (8:1) - all heaven held its breath
The Trumpets (8:2)
Ø Used to call God’s people to Work, worship, war.
Ø Means that God is getting ready to interfere in the affairs of men.
Numbers 10:9 (NKJV) 9“When you go to war in your land against the enemy who oppresses you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets, and you will be remembered before the LORD your God, and you will be saved from your enemies.
2B. God’s Judgement Prepared (8:3-6)
The prayers of the saints (8:3-5)
Ø God has not forgotten the prayers of His people. God is about to fulfill the prayer for His kingdom to come!
When the prayers ascend the judgement descends (6)
Ø Fire from the altar on the earth, the fire represents the judgement of the earth.
The Altar was the place of sacrifice. The sacrifice was to receive the judgement of God. The fire fell on Jesus, if you refuse Jesus’ sacrifice the fire must fall on you.
The altar is both a place of salvation and judgement. The fire is going to fall the question is where and on whom.
2A. THE FOUR TRUMPETS OF WAR (8:7-13)
The first four trumpets brings judgement on the natural world - WAR
The last three trumpets deal with mankind - THREE WOES
1B. The First Trumpet - The Brewing Storm (8:7)
The literal interpretation
Ø 1/3 of the vegetation destroyed = tremendous ecological crisis.
Symbolic interpretation
Ø Grass = people
Ø Trees = leaders
Ø Major upheaval among the nations
2B. The Second Trumpet - The Boiling Sea (8:8-9)
The sea refers to godless mankind
Isaiah 57:20 (NKJV) 20But the wicked are like the troubled sea, When it cannot rest, Whose waters cast up mire and dirt.
The mountain refers to a rebellious nation
Jeremiah 51:25 (NKJV) 25“Behold, I am against you, O destroying mountain, Who destroys all the earth,” says the LORD. “And I will stretch out My hand against you, Roll you down from the rocks, And make you a burnt mountain.
Ø The result is the revelation of the Beast
Revelation 13:1 (NKJV) 1Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name.
3B. The Third Trumpet - The Banished Star (8:10-11)
Literal interpretation
Ø Third ecological disaster - Fresh water destroyed
Symbolic interpretation
Ø “Wormwood” = bitter – the fallen star is Satan
Revelation 12:12 (NKJV) 12Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.”
Ø Pictures Satan’s intensified efforts during the Tribulation.
Ø “Water” = people
Revelation 17:15 (NKJV) 15Then he said to me, “The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues.
Satan’s fall to earth results in the immediate poisoning of human life and society. The peoples of the earth take on the character of the evil one and become “wormwood” too. Satan is bitter because he has been cast out to heaven. Men become bitter and many people die.
4B. The Fourth Trumpet - The Blackened Sky (8:12-13)
Literal interpretation
Ø Could result in part from other three i.e. smoke from fires
Ø Could be wholly supernatural
Symbolic interpretation
Ø “Sun, moon and stars..” = ruling authorities
Would represent the confusion and final fall of government, as we know it.
This could be the time of the rise to power by the beast in Europe and the world. It could also represent the consolidation of his power before his betrayal of Israel.
Application
The events depicted in the four trumpets of war lead up to the full revelation of the beast.
Men will flock to the beast and will believe that he is the messiah.
God will continue His judgement on sinful mankind until sin is completely destroyed.
THE FOUR TRUMPETS OF WAR
The Seventh Seal: The Trumpet Judgements, Part 1 of 2
September 26, 1999 - Revelation 8
1A. THE SEVENTH SEAL IS ________________ (8:1-6)
1B. God’s Judgement _____________________ (8:1-2)
The ________________________ in heaven (8:1)
The _________________________ (8:2)
Numbers 10:9 (NKJV) 9“When you go to war in your land against the enemy who oppresses you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets, and you will be remembered before the LORD your God, and you will be saved from your enemies.
2B. God’s Judgement _____________________ (8:3-6)
The __________________ of the saints (8:3-5)
Ø God has not forgotten the prayers of His people. God is about to fulfill the prayer for His kingdom to come!
When the prayers ascend the judgement descends (6)
2A. THE FOUR TRUMPETS OF ____________ (8:7-13)
1B. The First Trumpet - The Brewing _________ (8:7)
2B. The Second Trumpet - The Boiling ______ (8:8-9)
The sea refers to ______________________ mankind
Isaiah 57:20 (NKJV) 20But the wicked are like the troubled sea, When it cannot rest, Whose waters cast up mire and dirt.
The mountain refers to a __________________ nation
Jeremiah 51:25 (NKJV) 25“Behold, I am against you, O destroying mountain, Who destroys all the earth,” says the LORD. “And I will stretch out My hand against you, Roll you down from the rocks, And make you a burnt mountain.
Ø The result is the revelation of the ______________
Revelation 13:1 (NKJV) 1Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name.
3B. The Third Trumpet - The Banished ____________ (8:10-11)
Literal interpretation
Symbolic interpretation
Ø “Wormwood” = bitter – the fallen star is ______________
Revelation 12:12 (NKJV) 12Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.”
Ø “Water” = ____________________
Revelation 17:15 (NKJV) 15Then he said to me, “The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues.
4B. The Fourth Trumpet - The Blackened __________ (8:12-13)
Symbolic interpretation
Ø “Sun, moon and stars..” = ___________ authorities
Would represent the confusion and final fall of government, as we know it.
This could be the time of the rise to power by the beast in Europe and the world. It could also represent the consolidation of his power before his betrayal of Israel.