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In Revelation 5 we saw the Lamb take the scroll which is the title deed of the earth. In chapter 6 we saw the Lord beginning to take back the earth as His rightful possession to rule, a process that is initiated with the opening of seven seals. Chapter six records six of the seven seals being opened. In the seventh chapter we saw an interlude in which we met 144,000 Jews who during the tribulation period will proclaim the gospel of the kingdom with great results. John saw a “great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues” (7:9) which will be converts of the preaching and witness of the 144,000.
As we move into the eighth chapter we see opening of the seventh seal. With the opening of the seventh seal, we hear the sounding of seven trumpets. With the seven trumpets the intensity of God’s judgment increases. In this study we want to consider the sounding of the first four trumpets.
Let’s begin by noticing:
1. THE PERIOD THAT IS DESCRIBED
Prior to the sounding of the first trumpet we read of an unusual scene in heaven. That scene is described in verse one: “And when He had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.” As we look at this scene we see:
A) The Silence That Overcomes Heaven
Someone has said that this is a heavenly scene without women. I’m not sure that we have a theological basis for that theory, but I must confess it is a strong possibility. In all seriousness, it presents to us a scene that we have never seen in heaven. Throughout Revelation we have seen several heavenly scenes, and in each we have seen scenes of great celebration and jubilation. In our last study we saw a multitude that “cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb” (7:10). In that scene all the angels, elders, and the four beasts joined in, “Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen” (7:12). Such activities are common in all the heavenly scenes in Revelation.
However, as we open chapter 8 there is no shouting or singing, only silence. What is the reason for this sudden silence in heaven? There is:
B) The Severity That Overwhelms Heaven
The inhabitants and of heaven and John watch as “the seven angels which stood before God” and were “given seven trumpets.” The definite article indicates that these seven angels were a select group of angels. You find various ranks of angels in the Bible such as cherubims, seraphims, and archangels. There are some who call these the “presence angels” because it is said that they “stood before God.” The word “stood” is in the perfect tense which indicates they had stood before God in the past and had done so for some time.
There was given to these seven angels “seven trumpets” (Vs. 2). Trumpets have a significant place in the Bible. Trumpets were used to summons the congregation of Israel, sound the alarm in a time of war, at certain religious feasts, announce news, and to acclaim a new king. In the New Testament we find that the trumpet will announce the rapture. Now we see seven trumpets sounding to usher in a series of God’s judgments upon the earth. As we look at each of these trumpets we will see that each one unleashes specific judgments of greater intensity than those brought by the opening of the first 6 seals.
It is the intensity of the judgments brought by the trumpets that brings about the silence that occurs in heaven. The severity of these judgments silences the praises of the saints in heaven. The grim reality of what is about to happen overwhelms them. As believers we are filled with gladness as we think about our salvation and all that is in store for us. Yet, as we think about those that are lost and what is in store for them, it fills our heart with sadness. These saints in heaven have rejoiced that the Lamb is about to take back that which belongs to Him, but when they see what is about to take place on earth and on those who are unsaved, its grim reality silences their praises.
Secondly, we see:
2. THE PRAYERS THAT ARE DEFINED
In chapter 5 we saw the prayers of the saints. There we saw that when the Lamb took the book “the four beasts and four and twenty elders fells down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of the saints” (5:8). Once again we see the prayers of the saints having a part in the end time events.
As we consider their prayers we see:
A) The Prayers That Are Ascending To God
We read in verse 3, “And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.” This altar in heaven is the heavenly counterpart to the altar of incense in the temple, which was also made of gold. The angel held in his hand a “golden censer” which is similar to the fire-pans used by the priests of the Old Testament. They would take hot coals from the off the brazen altar twice a day (morning and evening) and carry them to the incense altar. These hot coals ignited the incense which would rose toward heaven, symbolic of the prayers of the saints.
We read in verse 4, “And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand.” We see these prayers ascending to God. We also see:
B) The Prayers That Are Answered By God
We often feel like our prayers get no higher than the ceiling, but they rise to God and are kept by God. These Revelation scenes remind us that our prayers are being stored in heaven in a golden censer. We read in verse 5, “And the angels took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it to the earth; and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.” The casting of the prayers of the saints to the earth indicate that these prayers are being answered.
All proper prayer has the element of seeking the will of God. All those prayers have been saved and stored and God’s will, the establishing of His rule and reign upon the earth, is about to happen. Saints have often prayed, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done.” Those prayers are not unheard or unheeded. We now see them being answered.
Thirdly, we see:
3. THE PART THAT IS DESIGNATED
We read in verse 6, “And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.” The seven angels are getting ready to sound their trumpets. I want us to look at the first four as we see them sounded in Revelation chapter 8.
An interesting feature of the first four trumpets is the description of a third-part of certain things being affected by these trumpets:
Vs. 7, “the third part of trees were burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.”
Vs. 8, “third part of the sea became blood.”
Vs. 9, “third part of the creatures which were in the sea … the third part of the ships.”
Vs. 10, “it fell upon a third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters”
Vs. 11, “the third part of the waters became wormwood”
Vs. 12, “third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars, so as the third part of them was darkened, and day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.”
In the sounding of the seven trumpets it is a third-part of certain things that are affected by God’s judgment. As we look at these events we see that the earth is affected ecologically. Let’s look at the first four trumpets. First, you see:
A) The Desolation Caused by the First Trumpet
We read in verse 7, “The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were case upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.” John sees a combination of hail and fire. Hail is that which falls from the sky, while fire describes volcanic eruptions triggered world-wide spewing vast quantities of flaming lava.
John sees them both mingled with blood. Henry Morris speaks of the blood as, “The blood of entrapped men and animals mingled with them, or possibly showers of liquid water drops might be so contaminated with dust and gases as to appear blood-red.” What ever the meaning, the destruction resulted in a third part of trees and grass being burnt. The word “trees” is used to speak of fruit trees. John is describing a destruction of crops and plant life on a massive scale. Imagine, a third part of fruit trees and crops being destroyed. It will result in ecological disaster.
We have already seen a world-wide famine. The conditions are only worsened by these events. The first trumpet results in a desolation of the whole world. Notice also:
B) The Destruction of the Second Trumpet
We read in verse 8, “And the second angel sounded and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and a third part of the sea became as blood.” The first trumpet judgment fell on the land. The second falls on the sea. John sees some massive object plunging into the sea wreaking havoc on the seas of the world. John no doubt saw a giant meteorite or asteroid striking somewhere in the world’s oceans with explosive power, far greater than that of an atomic bomb. Because of the oceans are the world are connected, one-third of the sea becomes blood.
This results in a third of the creatures of the sea dying, which no doubt explains the sea becoming as blood. John says in verse 9, “And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life died.” He also adds that a “third part of the ships were destroyed” by the catastrophic event. Ships destroyed at sea and ports that are swamped cause a destruction of a third of shipping commerce. You can imagine the economic chaos that is caused by such destruction.
Furthermore, we see:
C) The Death of the Third Trumpet
In verses 10-11 we read, "And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters; [11] And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter." The word “star” can refer to any celestial body other than the moon or sun. Another massive object from heaven seems to disintegrate as it reaches the earths atmosphere. The word "lamp," sometimes used to speak of a torch, was used in ancient times to describe meteorites and comets. This fiery debris from the star falls on a third part of the rivers and springs of the world polluting the fresh water of the water.
The star is called "Wormwood" which is a shrub whose leaves are used in the manufacture of absinthe, a liqueur so toxic that its manufacture is banned in many countries. Very bitter in its taste. As it falls into the waters it makes the waters poisonous that many die from drinking the water.
Finally, we see:
D) The Darkness of the Fourth Trumpet
We read in verse 12, "And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise." The word translated “were smitten” gives us our word “plague.” A plague hits the heavenly bodies so as third part are darkened. Imagine the sudden change in temperature and the havoc it causes in weather patterns, sea tides, unpredictable storms further the ecological chaos on the earth.
All these events are bad, but the worst is yet to come. We read in verse 13, "And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!" The imagery is that of a strong bird rushing to consume its victim. It speaks of the rapid approach of God’s final vengeance.
It not describes the rapid approach of the things that are still yet to come, but also a woe for each of the remaining trumpets is given. If someone thinks things have been bad thus far, hang on for it is only going to get worse.
As we move through the book of Revelation we will see many scenes of God's judgment being poured out on the earth. As we come to each expression of God's wrath, things will only intensify. It makes a person glad that they were hear the trumpet that will be sounded when the Lord returns for His children. When that trumpet sounds everyone who is saved will be taken out of this world. They will not be hear when the seven trumpets sound bringing God's wrath. Are you ready? |
