Revelation 8

The Trumpet Judgments

Background

The Book of Joshua as a prophetic model? Joshua = Yehoshua = Jesus. Joshua leads God’s people to dispossess the usurpers on behalf of His people (Originally 10 nations: 3 down, 7 left). He crossed over the Jordan on the 10th of Nisan; circumcised, 14th of Nisan (Triumphal Entry: 10th of Nisan; Crucifixion: 14th of Nisan).

Who really fought the battle of Jericho? Jesus (Josh 5:13-15)

Laws of the Torah ignored ? •; Ark itself goes to war •; Levites lead march; (exempt from military duties) •; 7 days of trumpets: 7 times on the sabbath ?

Why “two witnesses” sent: certainly not for military intelligence to develop this battle plan! ...to save a Gentile woman.

Silence preceded the engagement; Cf. Rev 8:1.

Adversary leader: Adoni-Zedek—“Lord of Righteousness”— who was defeated with hailstones from Heaven, and Signs in the Sun and Moon (Josh 10).

Kings hide in caves (Josh 10:15 vs. Rev 6:15)

Jubilee Year: Begins after Joshua’s conquest. Debts forgiven, land returns to original owners, slaves go free: “The time of the restitution of all things.” Acts 3:21. (Why does this begin on Yom Kippur rather than Rosh Hashanna?) Are we about to enter the 70th Jubilee Year? Will it prove to be prophetically significant?

Exposition

[1] “And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour”: Why “silence” before the “7 Trumpet” judgments? [Cf. Silence after Handel’s Messiah ...The Scroll is completely open; lull before the storm?]

Zeph 1:7, 14-18. Trumpet of God when law given (Exd 19:16-19); 7 trumpets at Jericho (Josh 6:13-16).

[2] “And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets”: [These angels have names in the Apocrypha: Uriel, Raphael, Raguel, Michael, Sarakiel, Garbirel, and Phanuel.]

[Don’t confuse the 7th trumpet judgment with the “last trump” of 1Cr 15:52. There will be trumpets in the Millennium.]

[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 saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne”:

“Censer”: Cf. frankincense; priestly duty.

“All saints”: None lost (Jhn 6:37-40; Jhn 17:12; Heb 10:26-31).

“Altar”: Tabernacle and Temple are but “figures” of the true altar in heaven (Heb 9:23-24; Heb 8:5).

[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.”

Adam, Noah, Abraham, David, and Paul prayed this prayer: “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done.” Indeed (Cf. Psa 7; Psa 26; Psa 35; Psa 52; Psa 55; Psa 58, et al.). The purpose of prayer is not to get man’s will done in heaven, but God’s will done on earth.

[5] “And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast [it] into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake”: Cf. Isa 6:5-7, the Vision of Jesus (Jhn 12:41).

[6] “And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.”

[7] “The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth...”:

“Hail” = always used of judgment (Isa 28:2; Job 38:22-23; Cf. Egypt, Exd 9:23-25). Also compare with the 7th plague against Egypt (Exd 9:18-26; Joel 2:30).

“Trees”: Greek word, dendron = “fruit trees.”

[8] “And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood”: Cf. 1st Egyptian plague (Exd 7:19-21; Psa 105:29; Cf. Jer 51:25; (Mat 21:21).

More than 3/4 earth’s surface is ocean. [Atlantic = 1/3?]

[9] “And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed”: A few years ago, there were over 25,000 ocean-going merchant ships registered; Hos 4:3; Zeph 1:3; Isa 2:16.

[10] “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”: Figurative? Jhn 4:13-14; Psa 84:6-7 (Heb). Literal: Exd 15:23, 25; Jer 9:14-15; Jer 23:15.

[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”:

Greek: absinthe. Undrinkable without harm. OT: Synonymous with sorrow, calamity; hemlock, bitterness (Jer 9:15; Jer 23:15; Lam 3:15, 19; Amos 5:7). [Figurative? Deu 29:18; Prov 5:4; 1Ti 4:1; 2Th 2:10-11.]

[Russian word for “wormwood” = Chernobyl ? (Stedman)]

National Geographic Society lists about 100 principal rivers. U.S. Geological Survey: 30 large rivers in U.S.

[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”:

Ninth plague on Egypt: Exd 10:21-23 (3 days); Amos 5:18; Cf. Rev 16:8-9; Mat 24:29-30; Luk 21:25-28.

Luke 21:25-26: “Powers of the heavens be shaken” = ouranos (“uranium”), dunamis, (“dynamite”), saleo (“to be set off balance”); Cf. Heb 12:26-28; Isa 30:26; Joel 2:1-2, “Darkness.”

[13] “And I beheld, and heard an [eagle] 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!”

aietos = eagle (Rev 12:14; Mat 24:28; Luk 17:37).

“Inhabiters of the earth” (12X): Rev 3:10; Rev 6:10; Rev 8:13; Rev 11:10; Rev 12:12; Rev 13:8, 12, 14; Rev 14:6; Rev 17:2, 8. [Opposite of citizens of heaven: Phil 3:18-21.] Earth-dwellers are not born again: Rev 13:8.

The First 4 Trumpet Judgments

(1st four are “natural”; the next two are “demonic”...)

“Judgment of the Thirds”

• 1st Trumpet: Aimed at the earth; 1/3 trees, grass dies.
• 2nd Trumpet: Aimed at the Sea; 1/3 of fish, ships destroyed.
• 3rd Trumpet: Aimed at the waters; 1/3 part dies. Star called “Wormwood.”
• 4th Trumpet: Aimed at the Sun, moon, stars: 1/3 sky darkened.

The final 3 Trumpets are also called “3 Woes.” [Rev 9.]

There appears to be a “logarithmic” progression in the various judgments: Seals (Rev 6), Trumpets (Rev 8 & Rev 9), and Bowls (Rev 15 & Rev 16).

Compare:

Supplemental Background: The Plagues of Egypt

Judgment against the gods they worshipped (Num 33:4; Judg 10:14); public display of power (Exd 9:16); warning to other nations (Josh 2:8-9); Philistines (1Sa 4:8; Cf. Gen 12:3).

Patterns

Other Patterns:

Prophetic Aspects of Judgment

1. Jacob’s trouble: affliction Isa 60:14; Jer 30:5-8
2. Cry to God; heard: Jer 31:18-20
3. God will command oppressors: let them go: Isa 43:6
4. 2 witnesses, with miracles before enemies: Rev 11:3-6
5. Enemies will also perform: Rev 13:14-15
6. Sore judgements from God: Jer 25:15-16
7. God will protect His people: Rev 7:4; Rev 12:6; Rev 14; Rev 15; Rev 16
8. Water turned to blood: Rev 8:8; Rev 11:6; Rev 16:4-5;
9. Satanic frogs: Rev 16:13
10. Plague of locusts: Rev 9:2-11
11. Boils and blains: Rev 16:2
12. Hailstones from heaven: Rev 8:7
13. Darkness: Isa 60:2; Rev 16:10
14. Hearts hardened: Rev 9:20-21
15. Death to multitudes: Rev 9:15
16. Israel to be delivered: Zech 14:3-4; Rom 11:26

Idioms of Judgment

(Suggestive only; use your own concordance, etc.)

Judgment frightens us. (It is supposed to.)

Sobers us...

Humbles us...

Corrects us...

Reassures us...

Homework for Next Session: Read Rev 9; Rev 16 (Trumpets vs. Bowls); Joel 2; Joel 3