This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him. - 1 John 5:14-15
Good morning. In today’s sermon we will wrap up our discussion of the seal judgments and begin our exploration of the trumpet judgments. As I’ve previously stated, John’s vision of the tribulation is generally structured around 3 series of judgments - 7 seals, followed by 7 trumpets, and finally 7 bowls. By following this general outline, we can easily track our progress as we study through the book of Revelation.
I. THE 7TH SEAL: ANSWERED PRAYERS (Revelation 8:1-5)
John watched as Jesus, the Lamb of God who was slain to ransom mankind, broke the 7th and final seal of the scroll. When He did so, a silence fell upon the heavenly throne room that persisted for half an hour. The angels, the 4 living creatures, the 24 elders, and all the others present became silent and still. Even their praise and worship ceased. Their prolonged silence spoke to the significance of the moment. Something monumental was about to happen, which commanded their undivided attention and reverence.
There are various opinions among scholars as to the reason for their silence. Personally, I think that these were the final moments before the Second Coming of Christ. Everyone in Heaven was awestruck and grew completely quiet, all filled with wonder and anticipation as Jesus prepared to return to the earth. This was it! Jesus was coming again!
After the long silence John saw an angel come and stand at the altar, before the throne of God. The angel carried a golden censer and was given “much incense” above and beyond that which he already had. This great quantity of incense represented the collective prayers of all the saints. These included the prayers of the Church (represented by the 24 elders) first introduced back in Revelation 5:8 as well as those of the Tribulation Saints mentioned in Revelation 6:9-11. The scent of the burning incense rose from the altar, depicting their prayers rising to the LORD.
Then, in obedience to God’s command, the angel filled the censer with hot coals from the altar and hurled it toward the earth, initiating peals of thunder, loud rumbling noises, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake. These signs are quite similar to those associated with the 6th seal, which we’ve already identified as “The Day of the LORD”. As previously stated, I believe this scene is associated with Jesus’ Second Coming. Having heard the prayers of the saints for many generations longingly crying out “Come, Lord Jesus” (see Revelation 22:17,20), God finally, in accordance with His perfect and providential timing, grants their request.
Therefore, I place the timing of the 7th seal at the very end of the Great Tribulation. It includes the return of Jesus, the defeat and final condemnation of the Antichrist, and the binding of Satan. All of these things, together, provide complete and eternal vindication for the saints.
When I read the description of the 7th seal, I can’t help but think of Proverbs 25:21-22 and Romans 20:19-20. These verses say, in a nutshell, that being kind to your enemies heaps fiery coals upon their heads. In like fashion, we as believers are commanded to pray for our enemies and for those who persecute us knowing that one day, should they refuse to repent, the same burning coals that gave rise to the incense of our prayers will be poured out upon them in judgment.
II. THE 1ST TRUMPET: SCORCHED EARTH (Revelation 8:6-7)
John saw 7 angels (some say these are the archangels) standing before God and each was given a trumpet. They prepared to blow them. Like the seals, each of these trumpets would bring about a new judgment upon the earth. Having completely opened the scroll, Jesus now watched as the remaining events were about to unfold.
When the 1st trumpet was sounded, John saw “hail and fire mixed with blood” hurled to the earth. Some have interpreted this figuratively as a military invasion or massive missile attack. Others read it more literally as a terrible hailstorm or destructive meteor shower. This judgment is quite similar to the 7th plague of Egypt during the days of Moses, during which the LORD sent thunder, hail, and fire to rain down upon Pharaoh and his kingdom (Exodus 9:23-25).
As a result of the hail, fire, and intense heat, ⅓ of the earth was scorched and ⅓ of its trees and grass were consumed. We can reasonably assume that this destruction included other types of plant life and vegetation, such as crops and produce. Imagine the economic and agricultural ramifications of such an event. Farmers would lose a substantial portion of their harvests, ranchers would be unable to feed many of their animals, drought and heat would dominate, and the food supply would be greatly diminished. The famine that began earlier with the 3rd seal (the black horseman) would be amplified significantly.
Here is another consideration. Though hard to quantify specifically, a loss of trees on this scale would undoubtedly be detrimental to the world’s oxygen supply. Trees remove harmful carbon dioxide from the air and produce breathable oxygen. If ⅓ of them were suddenly destroyed, the air quality would certainly diminish, making it more difficult for humans and animals to breathe.
III. THE 2nd TRUMPET: BLOODY SEAS (Revelation 8:8-9)
Then, when the 2nd angel blew his trumpet, something like “a great mountain burning with fire was hurled into the sea”. Notice that John said “like”, meaning that in this instance he was definitely making a comparison and wasn’t absolutely literal. Some have equated this “mountain” symbolically to an earthly kingdom or heresy within the church. Others have suggested that it refers to a massive volcano which erupts and spills its lava into the seas.
Although the exact manner of this judgment was indescribable, its results were perfectly visible. ⅓ of the seas were turned to blood, ⅓ of the marine creatures in them died, and ⅓ of the ships were destroyed. There is a resemblance between this disaster and the 1st plague of Egypt (Exodus 7:17-18), when God turned the Nile River into blood. However, this time the destruction came on a much larger scale.
Again, take a moment to consider how such an event would impact the world’s economy and affairs. Shipping fleets would be crippled and international trade between nations would be greatly limited. Imports and exports would decline, leading to increased economic isolation and hardship. Food supplies would become even more scarce without salt-water fish and other sea creatures. Whatsmore, the contaminated waters might contribute to widespread sickness, disease, pollution, and other problems. This would intensify the pestilence brought earlier by the pale horseman (4th seal).
CONCLUSION
In closing, let’s take a moment to recall a passage from last week’s message. We read that there were 4 angels stationed at the 4 corners of the earth who temporarily held back the winds while the 144,000 Messianic Jews were being sealed. These angels had been given authority to destroy the earth, trees, and sea (Revelation 7:1-3). Notice that the objects of their looming destruction perfectly match those affected by the 1st and 2nd trumpets. So, after the 144,000 were sealed, these winds were unleashed.
With this in mind, I believe that these 2 initial trumpet judgments will likely occur early on during the Great Tribulation, soon after the 144,000 are sealed (at the midpoint). They are part of the accelerating disasters which will unfold during the final 3 ½ years before Christ’s return. The Great Tribulation will be a time of unprecedented persecution and catastrophe, not just against God’s children but also against the entire world.
Next week we will take a look at the 3rd and 4th trumpet judgments. We will also preview the 3 “woes”, which are synonymous with the 5th, 6th, and 7th trumpets. I hope you’ll join us then, and bring a friend...
Good morning. In today’s sermon we will wrap up our discussion of the seal judgments and begin our exploration of the trumpet judgments. As I’ve previously stated, John’s vision of the tribulation is generally structured around 3 series of judgments - 7 seals, followed by 7 trumpets, and finally 7 bowls. By following this general outline, we can easily track our progress as we study through the book of Revelation.
I. THE 7TH SEAL: ANSWERED PRAYERS (Revelation 8:1-5)
John watched as Jesus, the Lamb of God who was slain to ransom mankind, broke the 7th and final seal of the scroll. When He did so, a silence fell upon the heavenly throne room that persisted for half an hour. The angels, the 4 living creatures, the 24 elders, and all the others present became silent and still. Even their praise and worship ceased. Their prolonged silence spoke to the significance of the moment. Something monumental was about to happen, which commanded their undivided attention and reverence.
There are various opinions among scholars as to the reason for their silence. Personally, I think that these were the final moments before the Second Coming of Christ. Everyone in Heaven was awestruck and grew completely quiet, all filled with wonder and anticipation as Jesus prepared to return to the earth. This was it! Jesus was coming again!
After the long silence John saw an angel come and stand at the altar, before the throne of God. The angel carried a golden censer and was given “much incense” above and beyond that which he already had. This great quantity of incense represented the collective prayers of all the saints. These included the prayers of the Church (represented by the 24 elders) first introduced back in Revelation 5:8 as well as those of the Tribulation Saints mentioned in Revelation 6:9-11. The scent of the burning incense rose from the altar, depicting their prayers rising to the LORD.
Then, in obedience to God’s command, the angel filled the censer with hot coals from the altar and hurled it toward the earth, initiating peals of thunder, loud rumbling noises, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake. These signs are quite similar to those associated with the 6th seal, which we’ve already identified as “The Day of the LORD”. As previously stated, I believe this scene is associated with Jesus’ Second Coming. Having heard the prayers of the saints for many generations longingly crying out “Come, Lord Jesus” (see Revelation 22:17,20), God finally, in accordance with His perfect and providential timing, grants their request.
Therefore, I place the timing of the 7th seal at the very end of the Great Tribulation. It includes the return of Jesus, the defeat and final condemnation of the Antichrist, and the binding of Satan. All of these things, together, provide complete and eternal vindication for the saints.
When I read the description of the 7th seal, I can’t help but think of Proverbs 25:21-22 and Romans 20:19-20. These verses say, in a nutshell, that being kind to your enemies heaps fiery coals upon their heads. In like fashion, we as believers are commanded to pray for our enemies and for those who persecute us knowing that one day, should they refuse to repent, the same burning coals that gave rise to the incense of our prayers will be poured out upon them in judgment.
II. THE 1ST TRUMPET: SCORCHED EARTH (Revelation 8:6-7)
John saw 7 angels (some say these are the archangels) standing before God and each was given a trumpet. They prepared to blow them. Like the seals, each of these trumpets would bring about a new judgment upon the earth. Having completely opened the scroll, Jesus now watched as the remaining events were about to unfold.
When the 1st trumpet was sounded, John saw “hail and fire mixed with blood” hurled to the earth. Some have interpreted this figuratively as a military invasion or massive missile attack. Others read it more literally as a terrible hailstorm or destructive meteor shower. This judgment is quite similar to the 7th plague of Egypt during the days of Moses, during which the LORD sent thunder, hail, and fire to rain down upon Pharaoh and his kingdom (Exodus 9:23-25).
As a result of the hail, fire, and intense heat, ⅓ of the earth was scorched and ⅓ of its trees and grass were consumed. We can reasonably assume that this destruction included other types of plant life and vegetation, such as crops and produce. Imagine the economic and agricultural ramifications of such an event. Farmers would lose a substantial portion of their harvests, ranchers would be unable to feed many of their animals, drought and heat would dominate, and the food supply would be greatly diminished. The famine that began earlier with the 3rd seal (the black horseman) would be amplified significantly.
Here is another consideration. Though hard to quantify specifically, a loss of trees on this scale would undoubtedly be detrimental to the world’s oxygen supply. Trees remove harmful carbon dioxide from the air and produce breathable oxygen. If ⅓ of them were suddenly destroyed, the air quality would certainly diminish, making it more difficult for humans and animals to breathe.
III. THE 2nd TRUMPET: BLOODY SEAS (Revelation 8:8-9)
Then, when the 2nd angel blew his trumpet, something like “a great mountain burning with fire was hurled into the sea”. Notice that John said “like”, meaning that in this instance he was definitely making a comparison and wasn’t absolutely literal. Some have equated this “mountain” symbolically to an earthly kingdom or heresy within the church. Others have suggested that it refers to a massive volcano which erupts and spills its lava into the seas.
Although the exact manner of this judgment was indescribable, its results were perfectly visible. ⅓ of the seas were turned to blood, ⅓ of the marine creatures in them died, and ⅓ of the ships were destroyed. There is a resemblance between this disaster and the 1st plague of Egypt (Exodus 7:17-18), when God turned the Nile River into blood. However, this time the destruction came on a much larger scale.
Again, take a moment to consider how such an event would impact the world’s economy and affairs. Shipping fleets would be crippled and international trade between nations would be greatly limited. Imports and exports would decline, leading to increased economic isolation and hardship. Food supplies would become even more scarce without salt-water fish and other sea creatures. Whatsmore, the contaminated waters might contribute to widespread sickness, disease, pollution, and other problems. This would intensify the pestilence brought earlier by the pale horseman (4th seal).
CONCLUSION
In closing, let’s take a moment to recall a passage from last week’s message. We read that there were 4 angels stationed at the 4 corners of the earth who temporarily held back the winds while the 144,000 Messianic Jews were being sealed. These angels had been given authority to destroy the earth, trees, and sea (Revelation 7:1-3). Notice that the objects of their looming destruction perfectly match those affected by the 1st and 2nd trumpets. So, after the 144,000 were sealed, these winds were unleashed.
With this in mind, I believe that these 2 initial trumpet judgments will likely occur early on during the Great Tribulation, soon after the 144,000 are sealed (at the midpoint). They are part of the accelerating disasters which will unfold during the final 3 ½ years before Christ’s return. The Great Tribulation will be a time of unprecedented persecution and catastrophe, not just against God’s children but also against the entire world.
Next week we will take a look at the 3rd and 4th trumpet judgments. We will also preview the 3 “woes”, which are synonymous with the 5th, 6th, and 7th trumpets. I hope you’ll join us then, and bring a friend...