Revelation 8:1–13

Review…

• OUTLINE…
  • THREE sections – Revelation 1:19
  • THREE events…
    • The RAPTURE – Revelation 4-5
    • The WRATH – Revelation 6-18
    • The RETURN of Jesus Christ – Revelation 19-22
  • THREE judgements…
    • The seven SEAL judgments – Revelation 6-8
    • The seven TRUMPET judgments – Revelation 8-14
    • The seven BOWL judgment – Revelation 15-18
    • Tribulation Saints…
  • AFTER – Jesus [Lamb] opens the first SIX seals – there is a PAUSE in the JUDGEMENT of God…
    • FOUR angels who have power of the weather – SIXTH trumpet – are told to WAIT…
    • FIRST God needs to SEAL 144 thousand Jews [twelve thousand from each tribe]
    • Who will be the FIRST fruits of those SAVED in the Tribulation – then tell others about Jesus!
  • AFTER – the 144 thousand are SEALED
    • John saw an innumerable multitude in HEAVEN worshiping before the THRONE…
    • One of the ELDERS told John – these are those who have been saved from the Great Tribulation!

Seven Trumpets…

• 1^st – Seventh Seal… vs. 1–2
  • 1^st – Silence in Heaven… vs. 1
    • When He opened the seventh seal!
      • Having SEALED the 144 thousand Jewish EVANGELISTS…
      • With an INNUMERABLE multitude already SAVED and worshiping in HEAVEN…
      • God still wanting to get the ATTENTION of the remining unbelievers on earth…
      • Continues the JUDGEMENTS – and Jesus opens the SEVENTH and final SEAL!
    • There was silence in heaven for about half an hour!
      • In a strong TYPHOON – there will always be an EYE in the middle of the STORM…
      • As the EYE gets closer – the winds increase doing maximum damage…
      • Then suddenly there is SILENCE – the wind STOPS – there is an EERIE calm…
      • But after a short time [half an hour] – the STORM pick back up at the PEAK level!
      • This SILENCE in heaven takes place in the midst of the JUDGEMENT…
      • It is an eerie calm – because we know the JUDGEMENT is NOT done…
      • The LAST of the SEALS – marks the beginning of the SECOND set of JUDGMENTS!
      • There is a BAD joke – that I feel compelled to share called the PARTIAL rapture theory…
      • It states that MEN are raptured a just a little before the WOMEN…
      • Because there is SILENCE in heaven for a HALF hour!
  • 2^nd – Seven Trumpets… vs. 2
    • I saw the seven angels who stand before God – and to them were given seven trumpets!
    • In the midst of the SILENCE – John saw SEVEN angels who STOOD [perfect] before God…
    • Like a somber ceremony – each was handed a TRUMPET – in preparation for what came next…
    • TRUMPET – [σάλπιγξ] same as [שׁופָר] – first mentioned in the Bible at Mount Sinai!
    • Exodus 19:13 – “When the TRUMPET [שׁופָר] sounds long – they shall come near the mountain.”
    • The PURPOSE of the TRUMPET was to call people to come HEAR the LORD…
    • Because God WANTS to speak to MEN – He desires for them to LISTEN…
    • But SIN has made it hard for MEN to hear what God has to say…
    • It hardens their HEARTS to the GOSPEL – keeps them from His GRACE…
    • So God breaks out the TRUMPETS – very LOUD – to try and get their attention!
• 2^nd – The Golden Censer… vs. 3-6
  • 1^st – The Altar… vs. 3
    • Then another angel – having a golden censer – came and stood at the altar!
    • With the SEVEN angels – now holding the SEVEN trumpets…
    • Another angel came having a GOLDEN censer – and stood before the ALTAR…
    • CENSER [λιβανωτός] – comes from the word frankincense…
    • It was a golden pot used to hold INCENSE that was burnt to give off a sweet aroma…
    • The ALTAR – was the altar of INCENSE – like the one inside the TABERNACLE – Exodus 30:1-6
  • 2^nd – The Incense… vs. 3-4
    • [The angel] was given much incense that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints…
      • Upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense…
      • [which is] the prayers of the saints – ascended before God from the angels hand!
      • The angel took a LOT of incense – and offered it with the PRAYERS of the SAINTS [ἅγιος]
      • This is NOT talking about SPECIAL saints – this is the ALL believers on earth…
      • Those who have gotten SAVED – and are praying to God in the TRIBULATION…
      • Their prayers are HEARD – they come up BEFORE God…
      • Believers who are in the TRIBULATION – can always call out to God…
      • He is LISTENING to their prayers – and is there to HELP them in their time of TROUBLE!
    • Pray to God…
      • The ALTAR of INCENSE was inside the Tabernacle – next to the VEIL – Exodus 30:6
      • The Lord told Moses that He would meet with him there at the ALTAR…
      • Because even Moses could not go inside into the HOLIEST of ALL [throne room]
      • But as the INCENSE was burned – it would carry through the veil – into presence of God!
      • I Peter 3:12 – “Eyes of the LORD are on the righteous – His ears are open to their prayers.”
      • We may not have to go through the GREAT tribulation – but we still have TRIALS…
      • The question WHERE do we go when they come – WHO do we turn to…
      • We are told we should [subjunctive] COME to the THRONE of GRACE – Hebrews 4:16
      • God is AVAILABLE – He is ABLE to HELP – we just have to choose to PRAY to Him!
  • 3^rd – The FIRE… vs. 5
    • Then the angel took the censer – filled it with fire from the altar – and threw it to the earth.
    • The CASTING of the CENSER to the earth seems like an act of ANGER…
    • But it actually might be a picture of being CLEANSED from sin!
    • This FIRE from the ALTAR – is perhaps the same as what Isaiah saw…
    • When Isaiah had a VISION of heaven – he was terrified because he was UNCLEAN…
    • But one of the CHERUBIM took FIRE from the ALTAR and cleansed him!
    • Isaiah 6:6-7 – “One of the seraphim flew to me – having in his hand a live coal [fire] which he had taken with the tongs from the ALTAR. And he touched my mouth with it… Your iniquity is taken away and your sin purged.”
  • 4^th – Mount Sinai… vs. 5
    • [The censer was cast down] and there were noises – thundering – lightning – an earthquake!
    • This is an EXACT picture of what happened on Mount Sinai…
    • When God came down to speak with Israel – to give them His WORD!
    • Exodus 19:16–19 – “There was thundering and lightning – a thick cloud on the mountain – the sound of the trumpet was very loud… the mountain quaked greatly… and God [spoke].”
    • The WORD that God gave to Moses and Israel – was the TEN commandments…
    • Not so they could be GOOD – but so they could see they were BAD – and needed SALVATION!
    • We come back to this SIMPLE truth – the MOTIVE behind the TRIBULATION…
    • God SPEAKS to men – brings His WRATH to the earth…
    • In an effort to show them they are NOT good – NO one is – Romans 3:23
    • Because until we see the PROBLEM – we are sinners – we will not look for the SOLUTION…
    • God is still trying to SPEAK to people – get them to see they NEED Jesus!
  • 5^th – Seven Angels… vs. 6
    • And the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound!
    • The SEVENTH seal is done – the PRAYERS of the saints have been HEARD…
    • The SEVEN angels – prepared their SEVEN trumpet to be blown…
    • God is ready to SPEAK again – SEVEN more judgements – to get the attention of rebellious men!
• 3^rd – Trumpet Judgements… vs. 7-13
  • 1^st – First Trumpet… vs. 7
    • The first angel sounded!
      • Hail and fire followed – mingled with blood – and they were thrown to the earth.
      • A third of the trees were burned up – and all green grass was burned up!
      • The FIRST trumpet brings devastation to the PLANTS on earth…
      • A HAILSTORM – accompanied by LIGHTENING [fire]
      • That HAIL is so devastating that it had the potential to KILL [blood]
      • FIRES that are the result of the STORM burn down a THIRD of the trees and ALL the grass!
    • The SEVENTH plague…
      • Exodus 9:24-25 – “There was fire mingled with the hail… and the hail struck every herb of the field and broke every tree of the field.”
      • This is NOT the first time we have HAIL and FIRE as a judgment of God…
      • The SEVENTH plague that God brough on EGYPT – was HAIL and FIRE!
      • God WARNED those in EGYPT – do NOT go outside during the STORM…
      • If they obeyed the WORD of the LORD – they would be safe…
      • But if they IGNORED what He said – then they would lose their life!
      • Deuteronomy 30:15 – “Now listen! Today I am giving you a choice between life and death – between prosperity and disaster.” [NLT]
      • The book of REVELATION is a WARNING – we need to LISTEN to God…
      • If we reject His message of salvation – then there will be death…
      • God does not send ANYONE to hell – they CHOOSE to go there – by not listening to His Word!
  • 2^nd – Second Trumpet… vs. 8-9
    • Then the second angel sounded!
      • Something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea!
      • The SECOND trumpet brings devastation to the OCEANS…
      • Something LIKE a great [μέγας] mountain – that was on FIRE – was cast into the SEA…
      • Recall when Revelation uses KEY words – such as LIKE or AS…
      • John is trying to DEFINE something that is difficult for him to DESCRIBE…
      • This is most likely a METEOR [rock on fire] that comes crashing down into the SEA!
    • A third of the sea became blood – a third of the living creatures in the sea died…
      • And a third of the ships were destroyed!
      • There are over one MILLION METEORS in our solar system [most between Mars and Jupiter]
      • A SIXTY meter rock – would hit earth with an impact of a nuclear bomb [25 megaton]
      • This METEOR would be even larger – hitting the OCEAN – causing mass devastation…
      • So many animals will DIE [one third] – the SEA will become filled with BLOOD…
      • And the TSUNAMI that results from the impact will destroy one THIRD of all boats!
      • This is NOT the FIRST time God sent ROCKS from heaven onto earth….
      • When Joshua was fighting the FIVE kings of the SOUTH – Joshua 10:1-14
      • God sent ROCKS [hail] down onto his enemies killing many of them!
      • God does not fight fair – He has control over a whole UNIVERSE…
      • He has a MILLION rocks He can send at any moment crashing down on earth…
      • When we put it into that perspective – how foolish it is to think we can WIN against the Lord!
  • 3^rd – Third Trumpet… vs. 10-11
    • Then the third angel sounded. A great star fell from heaven – burning like a torch…
      • It fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water!
      • The THIRD trumpet brings devastation to the fresh [drinking] WATER supply…
      • A great [μέγας] STAR fell from heaven – that looked LIKE a burning torch [λαμπάς]
      • STARS are BIG – the SUN [star] is over a MILLION times larger than the Earth…
      • Therefore is seem unlikely the STAR here – is a literal STAR…
      • Instead something that is BRIGHT – with a trail of FIRE [torch] coming from it!
    • The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood…
      • Many men died from the water because it was made bitter!
      • This STAR has a NAME – it is called WORMWOOD…
      • WORMWOOD [ἀψίνθιον] – the name of a PLANT – Artemisia absinthium…
      • It is commonly found in north Africa and Eurasia – and has a very BITTER taste…
      • The RESULT of the water supplies being contaminated by WORMWOOD – many will DIE!
      • The word WORMWOOD in Ukrainian is Chernobyl [чорно́биль]
      • For those not familiar – Chernobyl was the site of a NUCLEAR disaster in 1986…
      • Although only FIFTY people officially died in the immediate aftermath…
      • One of the major consequences of the disaster – was a contaminated WATER supply…
      • Which raised the total death tole up to over FOUR thousand from radiation exposure…
      • This has led some to speculate the STAR that falls from heaven – might be NUCLEAR…
      • There is even a monument of an Angel with a Trumpet – set up in the ruins of the city today!
    • Thirsty World…
      • John is describing a future event – seen TWO thousand years ago…
      • We need to be CAUTIOUS reading too much of our world into his description…
      • While I do find the potential connection to Chernobyl interesting…
      • The arrogance of MEN – toying with POWER they cannot control – leading to DISASTER…
      • I would not say definitively – this is a reference to a NUCLEAR disaster!
      • The point is not HOW God will take away the FRESH water on the earth…
      • The point is THAT God will make men THIRSTY – show them this world is POISON…
      • Because the ONLY thing that can every truly satisfy us – is Jesus!
      • John 7:37 – “If anyone thirsts – let him come to Me and drink.”
  • 4^th – Fourth Trumpet… vs. 12
    • Then the fourth angel sounded!
      • And a third of the sun was struck – a third of the moon – and a third of the stars.
      • A third of them were darkened. A third of the day did not shine – and likewise the night!
      • The FOURTH trumpet brings devastation to the LIGHT…
      • One THIRD of the sun – moon – and stars goes DARK…
      • Both during the DAY and NIGHT – the LIGHT does not shine one THIRD of the time…
      • We are NOT told HOW – only that they are STRUCK – so they do not SHINE!
      • Ecclesiastes 1:14 – “I have seen all the works that are done under the sun – and indeed – all is vanity and grasping for the wind.”
      • Men believe the answers to life can come from something UNDER the SUN…
      • They look for LIGHT to come from something in this life…
      • But the LIGHT of this world is fading – it is passing away…
      • It is only when we look to Jesus – the true LIGHT – that we will find the answers!
      • John 8:12 – “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness…”
    • One THIRD…
      • THIRD – appears ELEVEN times just in this chapter [half of all occurrences in the book]
      • Which brings up the obvious question – why only one THIRD!
      • If God wanted – He COULD wipe out the WHOLE world…
      • God destroyed the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah with fire in a day – Genesis 19:24-25
      • God killed 185 thousand Assyrian solders with ONE angel in a night – Isaiah 37:36
      • Yet in the devastation of the SEVEN trumpets – NOT all – never even HALF perish…
      • God does pour out His JUDGMENT and WRATH – but there is still HOPE!
  • 5^th – Three Woes… vs. 13
    • I looked – and I heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven saying with a loud voice…
    • Woe – woe – woe to the inhabitants of the earth…
    • Because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!
    • Then John SAW and HEARD another angel who was flying through HEAVEN…
    • Saying LOUDLY [μέγας] – WOE [οὐαί] THREE times – to those who DWELL [κατοικέω] on earth…
    • Because there are still THREE more TRUMPETS about to sound…
    • Whereas the first FOUR trumpets bring disaster to NATURE: Trees – Oceans – Water – Light…
    • The last TRUMPETS will unleash hell – the DESTROYER [Abaddon] on MEN!
    • When TRIBULATION comes – our first reaction is to think we can handle it…
    • And perhaps we can – but that does not mean that God is done…
    • He can turn up the HEAT – till our circumstances move beyond anything we can take…
    • NATURAL disasters not enough – OK – then how about the armies of hell…
    • God does not hold back – so we would learn not to trust in ourselves – but instead trust in Him…
    • Because He loves us too much – to give us an easy life – if it means we will miss eternal life!