7 Trumpets

Last week Mrs Budke helped us understand the word Declaration. Who remembers what a declaration is? [An announcement followed by action.]

Last week we saw 7 seals opened, and each one led to the next. The 7th seal was opened, the plan was told, but before the plan could be completed, 7 angels are each given an opportunity to blow a trumpet. The thunder, rumblings, lightning and earthquake in 8:5 are now explained in greater detail.

This week we see 7 attention-getters, The first 4 lead right into action; and the last 3 Trumpet blasts are associated with declarations.

Transition: The final 3 are different because they have direct impact upon man. The first 4 are signs that happen to creation, which leaves an impact secondarily upon man. The first four may sound familiar because we’ve seen them all before in the book of Exodus.

Four Plagues Revisited

Earthly Destruction (8:7 cf. Ex 9:17-26)

The rumblings from heaven lead to devastation of vegetation.

The 7th plague in Egypt caused hail to destroy plants and lightning to ignite fires.

We’ve seen what a couple weeks of drought can do to forests, pastures and livestock. After the first Trumpet blows and God sends hail after the 1st Trumpet, we won’t be talking about thousands of acres. They’ll be moaning about thousands of counties and provinces: a 1/3 of the earth!

3. If the 2nd horseman (war) led to famine, how much more when wild fires destroy a third of the earth!

Saltwater Destruction (8:8-9 cf. Ex 7:20-25)

The 2nd trumpet is likely describing a meteor that strikes the sea.

Some of us recall the Tsunami of 2004. An earthquake on the Ocean floor caused the huge waves that devastated Indonesia and killed hundreds as the waves swallowed beachside property. The following year Hurricane Katrina swept ashore in Louisiana and killed over 1800. In 2010 the Deepwater Horizon well exploded, causing damage to the fishing and tourism industry for years. It is not difficult for us to imagine the waves, the damage to vessels, wells and coastlines following a huge meteor crashing that causes a 1/3 of the saltwater to flow red.

Fresh Water Destruction (8:10-11 cf. Ex 15:23-25)

We have had our share of boil advisories in our region. I believe this 3rd trumpet is the boil advisory to end all others.

The contrast found in the Cross of Christ is symbolized in the sweetening of the waters of Marah (Ex. 15:23–25) and the turning of bitter judgment into sweet mercy, bringing life and hope[i]

There is no remedy for the wormwood of the 3rd Trumpet!

Celestial Destruction (8:12 cf. Ex 10:21-29)

1/3 missing light = 1/3 missing heat energy. What does this mean if the world moves from carbon fuels to solar?

Politicians and climate activist get excited about ozone and 1 degree change in average temperature over a decade, what will they say when a third of the solar light, heat and energy suddenly disappear?

Transition: in 8:13 an eagle announces that things are about to get much worse.

Some ancient manuscripts change the word from Eagle to Angel to coincide with Rev. 14:6 since the words sound very similar in the language John would have been writing. But the oldest, most reliable manuscripts have eagle.

Some see the Eagle and are eager to connect it to the USA, but…

You will find the eagle (either bald or golden) or two-headed eagle in the state emblem of Russia, Poland, Germany, Liechtenstein, Austria, Czech Republic, Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, Romania, Moldova, Armenia, United States, the Philippines, Mexico, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Namibia, Nigeria, Zambia and Ghana.

An Eagle that talks is not a normal eagle, so it is either supernatural or symbolic. Since we are not provided with a definitive answer, it is best just to claim it is some messenger sent by God.

Three Woes to Heed

Demons from the Pit (8:13-9:12)

I’ve heard some speculate that locusts were simply John’s best attempt at using his vocabulary to describe modern (Apache) helicopters.

The dust storm caused by dozens of helicopters could surely look like smoke rising.

9:4 seems to describe the precision capable of laser guided armament and locusts that attack men rather than plants surely is not a normal locust.

Before we settle into a purely human attack, remember that these locusts operate at the bidding of a star which had fallen, which is a reference to Satan in Isaiah 14:12

9:11 gives the name Destroyer to this leader - The demons had a ruler over them whose Hebrew name is Abaddonand whose Greek name is Apollyon. Both words mean “destroyer.” Though Satan is sometimes portrayed as an angel of light (2 Cor. 11:14), here Satan and his demons are seen for what they really are, destroyers of people[ii]

The enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy. Satan reveals his hand against humanity, the very one who are aligned with him against God.

Regardless of if these are a supernatural breed of real locusts or some form of modern warfare, the result is the same – 5 months of pure agony on those who are not sealed by God.

Death from the East (9:13-21)

1. Man vs. Man violence

2. The same interpreters who see locusts as helicopters also see horses as tanks that shoot both forward and behind like this M24.

Nazi & Pre-born holocausts, Ethnic “cleansing” and genocide: Before we discount the possibility of 2 million soldiers killing a large percentage of humanity, consider how humans have taken millions of human pre-born lives in the name of convenience or “reproductive health”

Transition: By announcing in 8:6 that there are 7 angels with 7 trumpets, then taking this 2-chapter detour after making 6 announcements, it increases the anticipation for the 7th.. this is John’s way of saying, “but wait, there’s more…!”

Dominion Established (11:15-19)

1. We see wickedness seem to multiply with new perversions that could hardly be imagined a generation ago. The spread of wickedness can be disheartening.

It was during our Civil War when Henry Wadsworth Longfellow penned the poem that contains, “And in despair I bowed my head "There is no peace on Earth, " I said For hate is strong and mocks the song Of peace on Earth, good will to men Then rang the bells more loud and deep God is not dead, nor doth He sleep The wrong shall fail, the right prevail With peace on Earth, good will to men

2. Following the 6th Seal, Heaven breaks out with fire being poured out on earth. Following the 7th Trumpet, the one who was proclaimed in Rev. 5:12, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” Now we see that He is not only worthy, but he actually accomplishes it!

Revelation 11:15–18 ESV:2016

15 Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” 16 And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying, “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, who is and who was, for you have taken your great power and begun to reign. 18 The nations raged, but your wrath came, and the time for the dead to be judged, and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints, and those who fear your name, both small and great, and for destroying the destroyers of the earth.”

Transition: Now that I’ve eased the anxiety about what the 7th declaration was, your mind is free to consider what was said in the detour.

Two Perspectives to Keep in Mind

Things are not always as they seem (chapter 10)

1. For reasons known only to God, He reveals something unknown to John but prohibits John from telling us.

2. We do not have access to all that God knows. His wisdom prevents us from claiming that we have Him all figured out.

This got Moses into trouble in the Wilderness. The people were thirsty, God pointed to a rock, Moses thought to himself, “Been here, done this” and he proceeds to take matters into his own hands and strikes the rock. But God did not intend to get water from the rock this time the same way He did it last time.

3. Our faith must rest in a God who knows better than us!

4. God’s ways are distinct from our wisdom!

Illustration: Dehydrated while floating on water

5. The common knowledge would seem to be, if one is thirsty, he should drink. But drinking that water will only accelerate thirst and increase dehydration.

6. There is something that God says that seems pleasant to John’s taste, but has an after effect that reminds us things are not always as they seem!

Things don’t always stay as they appear (11:1-14)

1. By God proclaiming through these witnesses, He is telling those who are experiencing the plagues, demons and death, that there is a better option coming!

2. God protects these witnesses until their testimony is complete, then in a scene reminiscent of the crucifixion, when the world thinks they have won, God performs a resuscitation.

Illustration: It was less than a month ago when Symphony in the Flinthills began a day of festivity with beautiful blue skies. When the event promoters thought one thing, things ended very different.

3. Revelation 11 tells that while the world thinks the witnesses of God have been permanently silenced, God still rules and has other plans.

Conclusion:

As we read about terrible wrath that will be poured out on the human experience, yet we live in a day when evil seems to go unchecked, it is good for us to remember that:

Things are not always as they seem!

Things don’t always stay as they appear!

We have opportunity today to align ourselves with the side that ultimately wins.

Song of Response #477. “Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus”

Benediction:

[i] John F. Walvoord, “Revelation,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 952. [ii] Ibid., 953.