February 5, 2023

7th Seal & 7 Trumpets #

Revelation 8:1-6

Introduction

Book of Sevens – 7 letters to the churches Rev 1-3

Remember we started looking at the 7 seals in Revelation chapter 6. The 1^st^ Seal (6:1) was that of a White horse (represented a conquering, unified, one world government) 2^nd^ Seal (6:3) – Red Horse – Nation will turn on nation in a great struggle for power. No man wants to be ruled, but all men want to rule. 3^rd^ Seal (6:5) – Black horse – that of famine which will come as a natural result of war. 4^th^ Seal (6:7) – Pale horse – Death & Hell, ¼ part of the earth (Population) 8million, 2million die! 5^th^ Seal (6:9) – Vision of the martyrs under the altar, crying for Justice. 6^th^ Seal (6:12) earthquake, darkening of moon, and sun. -

Chapter 7 is a parenthetical - 2 groups of people introduced

I. Seventh Seal #

God keeps the timeline of things, by announcing the 7^\ ^trumpets, out of the 7^th^ Seal. You cannot move these.

A. Silence (1) #

Silence, amazing, or terrifying. A grade school teacher, mother of young, may love silence
Silence=comtemplative think, meditate.
Silence can be terrifying! - When you are in a crowd of people, like this scene before us, and 30 minutes of silence… that is a long time! - I want everyone to be quiet for 30 seconds…. Here in the church, at home, in your livestream, 30 seconds starting now.

B. Seven Trumpet (2) #

1. Given by God – The judgment may seem like it is coming from the angels, but it was handed down from God! #

2. Seven trumpets… #

There were seven seals, 4 of which were opened right away Rev 6:1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12, 8:1 – which opens into 7 trumpets!

3. Sound of trumpets. Usage of trumpets in Bible is used as a sound to call, rally, or send. It is very significant in Scripture. Here are some parallels #

War – this is of course significant in end times

“And if ye go to war in your land against the enemy that oppresseth you, then ye shall blow an alarm with the trumpets; and ye shall be remembered before the LORD your God, and ye shall be saved from your enemies.” (Numbers 10:9)

Festivals! - We think of the rejoicing in heaven

“Also in the day of your gladness, and in your solemn days, and in the beginnings of your months, ye shall blow with the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; that they may be to you for a memorial before your God: I am the LORD your God.” (Numbers 10:10)

Announcing a new King!

“And let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there king over Israel: and blow ye with the trumpet, and say, God save king Solomon.” (1 Kings 1:34)

Attack & destruction - Trumpets were blown when Jericho was overthrown! (Joshua 6)

II. Another Angel (3-4) #

This is separate from the seven. There are many angels in heaven that do the bidding of God.
Some argue that this is in deed Jesus Christ, and it could be. There are times in the OT that Jesus did appear in the form of an Angel.

1. Ascending Prayers! #

We ought to take the ministry of prayer as a matter of great importance!
- Here it shows how important God takes them, that there is an angel, ushering these prayers to God!
- “God keeps a file for our prayers – they are not blown away by the wind, they are treasured in the King’s archives” – HOW Big is your file??? How big is your faith??
- 7 days without prayer, makes one weak! -

John 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

2. Descending Judgment (5) #

Someone said, "Salvation and condemnation begin at the altar of sacrifice"
We see the judgement of God fall from heaven, poured out on the earth again, in the form of natural disasters.

3. Seven trumpets (6) #

Much like the seven seals, the first four open in rapid succession, while the following three are described in great detail.
We find the 4 listed here in 7, 8, 10, and 12.

III. 1st Angel - (7) #

A. Hail, Fire with blood #

This was foretold in the Book of Joel, which also mentions multiple times the trumpets!

Joel 2:30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.

It is well documented that Captain Ross noted blood red snow, and brought it back to analysis. It was determined to be from a meteor that fell from space.
Well, there you have hail and fire mingled with blood! - Not that we have to prove it, the Bible states it, and so it will be!
Plague in Egypt hail, was destructive!
1/3 trees, green grass burnt up!
Some do note that these trees could be symbolic of men.

IV. 2nd Angel (8) #

A. Great mountain #

Psa. 46:2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

Could be volcano, could be just God moving/melting mountains,

Mic. 1:4 And the mountains shall be molten under him, and the valleys shall be cleft, as wax before the fire, and as the waters that are poured down a steep place.

Nah. 1:5 The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein.

verse 9 - 1/3 sea made became as blood in color. 1/3 sea animals died, 1/3 ships destroyed. 900 ships, 300 destroyed!

V. 3rd Angel (10-11) #

A. Fell a great star from heaven #

There is no problem to take this literal, and see a meteorite falling from heaven to the earth, and causing great destruction!
water sources destroyed! Rivers, fountains, they become bitter because of the water.
The Name of the star, Wormwood... Again, I have no problem taking this as literal.

Psa. 147:4 He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names.

God has the stars named... if he knows how many hairs are on your head, and that changes daily... why is it hard to imagine God knows the stars names???
Men die because of the water

VI. 4th Angel (12) #

A. Sun 1/3 part #

What happens if we loose 1/3 of the suns light? - You will want global warming then!
You lose the warmth, you lose the growing effects of the sun on plants

B. Moon 1/3 part #

Moon affects the tide... with that be affected?
Moon light, less light at night

C. Stars 1/3 part #

Perhaps they are falling??? perhaps this would have an affect on those in space... whether in earth or in space, all will be affected!