The Woes of Demonic Judgments in the Earth

So GOd’s judgment on land and sea. ut now look what human evil in our lives, in our society can do in the heavens!

But voice of God’s servatns Third major block of visions cycles in Rev of 6 cycles… interlock with seals, (and bowls).

Between the silence after 7th seal and the prayers = 7 angels given trumpets… which they blow after prayers are made = answer! Therefore the way silence and prayers taken together = reason for the plagues the follow!

But seventh trumpet not usual cycal … now announce heavenly kingdom, elders declare time to judge the dea, reward God’s servants, and to destory the destoryers of the earth… 11:15-18 intro to demise 11:19-15:4

Seal, Trumpet, Bowl, death only in seal four and trumpet six, … war in many, eco hardship only 3rd seal, wormwood trumpet three, demoniic beings at trumpets 5,6

Either - linear - civil order, food shortages… BUT how can sun dark, stars fall, sky vanish in deals, but are still in place in trumpet series.. or Trumpet grass burned up, but still growing 1st -5th trumpet.. INTENSIFICATIONS of divine wrath… o seal telescope areas to trumpets to bowls - develop the themes…

Seals begin with threats brought by human sin (conquest, vioelnce, eco hardship), the trumpets show God actively punishing the wicked!!!

Koester = three plague sequences are INTERRUPTED JUDGMENT… first 6 seals cause people to ask WHO CANT STAND, then show redeemed;

‘People refuse to repent though… SO 6 trumpets… refuse to repent THEREFORE INTERUPTTED FOR WITNESS … BOWLS continue to show divine wrath… so resitance intensifies and followin ghe beast they too CURSE GOD! Only when repeated opportunities for repentance have been refused does God bring judgment by turning evil against itself so Babylon falls.

Imagery of Rome vs. Christ = this imagery in John’s context can be seen by comparing it with an imperial triumph. When Vespasian and Titus prepared to celebrate their victory in Judea, a “countless multitude” stood everywhere in the city of Rome. When the conquerors took their seats before the people, the troops raised their voices in acclamation until the emperor gave the signal for silence so that “amidst profound and universal stillness” he might offer prayers (Josephus, J.W. 7.122–28).

In Revelation, a different kind of crowd celebrates a different kind of victory. The Lamb’s triumph came through sacrifice (Rev 5:5–6 ), and the salvation he offers culminates in resurrection (7:12). Now, as praises fall silent, the prayers include not only those of the victors, but those of the victims, who have suffered violence from others (8:3; cf. 6:10). In the new vision cycle, God will disclose his response. Not specific events but God’s judgments and interruption for repentance! focus on question of repentance .as evidence of divine wrath throughout the Greco-Roman world

= all these events show of heavnes power calling people to make amends because of wrath conveyed in disaster!

BUT and hear is the critical thing, can’t repent unless get witness of who, which God they are to repent towards, therefore they need WITNESS of JOHN AND TWO!!

Reverse Thunder is our prayer = Herbert achieves his effect by a sudden reversal of perspective, much as we saw in the Heaney poem, epitomised here in the phrase ‘reversed thunder’ We think of God in Heaven thundering down on us, but in prayer we are at liberty to thunder back at him as indeed in our desperation we sometimes do and perhaps those are our best prayers. The ‘Engine against the Almighty’ is almost certainly intended to conjure the image of a canon shot at God, since the other ‘engine’, the siege tower, is already covered in the phrase ‘sinners tower’. Herbert uses this image even more explicitly in his poem ‘Artillery’

Trumpets = not just voice of Christ, signal during battles, = first 6, bring down destruction and summon demonic armies from the underworld!!! 7th Trumpet of worship too of Lamb and His God hosts of heaven celebrate!!!

2 Thessalonians 2 man of lawlessness , heretic in church, not a rebuilt temple of the Jews… temple and holy city are symbols of the church!! 42 months as either future period of persecution or entire church period!!!! Reed of measuring is orthodox teaching!! ! but slow in coing , therefore not 1260 years of papacy, but days of hald seven year period of tribulation at the end of present age! = dispensational teaching

death and plague