The Seventh Seal
Revelation, Part 9, Revelation 8:1-13
Ω Introduction
- Last week, we saw the role of 144,000, from the 12 tribes of Israel
-- There are 12,000 each of the 12 tribes of Jacob (Israel)
-- Represent a select group, descendants of Jacob
-- Are appointed to preach the Gospel to the world during the Tribulation
-- They are NOT appointed before the Tribulation begins …
- They fulfill the role planned for Israel, to be a light to the nations
- APP: Out of all the nations of the Earth, God has chosen the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob to be a light to the nations, to be his witnesses
-- Isaiah 43:10-12 says "You are my witnesses," declares the LORD, "and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me. I, even I, am the LORD, and apart from me there is no savior. I have revealed and saved and proclaimed— I, and not some foreign god among you. You are my witnesses," declares the LORD, "that I am God.”
- When they are finished preaching, the final souls who have been martyred for their belief will be brought from under the altar and before the throne
- These souls receive their reward, their glorified bodies, and God’s judgment on humanity is about to begin
Read Revelation 8:1-13
Pray
Ω Point 1 – A pause in heaven
Ω - The pause in time is Heaven actually holding its breath!
-- APP: The awe of God’s power is breath-taking to Heaven’s inhabitants
-- This also allows the earth to think about what it has done; consequences!
-- Even today, your (our) actions have consequences we must consider
- FACT: The first six seals bring about horrible judgment to all of the earth
-- Now humans are given one more option to think about their mortality
- Remember the first 6 seals brought about the death of ΒΌ of the humans
-- Certainly this would be WIDELY publicized on the news, internet, etc.
-- APP: This pause also allows the inhabitants of the Earth to think
-- IMP: Again, God’s grace is offered regarding their eternal choice
- Imagine Heaven actually holding its breath in awe of God’s power!
Ω - I want to examine the real world implication here:
-- If Heaven is silent at God’s power … maybe we should take note?
-- Perhaps we should consider our own response BEFORE a righteous God?
-- Maybe we should consider how we treat one another ... in light of this?
-- Nitty-gritty: gossip, backbiting, spiteful remarks, rumors, etc. – Stop it!
--- No action goes without God noticing; even Heaven pauses before Him
-- We cannot fool God (Galatians 6:7 …)
- APP: If Heaven is silent at the awesomeness of God … can we be?
Ω Point 2 – Angels at the Throne
- We now see that there are 7 angels standing at the throne of God
-- They are waiting God’s command to carry out the trumpet judgments
- The censor would hold the fire when combined with incense
-- This produced a fragrant smoke which would ascend upward
-- This was a picture of the priestly office
-- The smoke represented the prayers and worship going toward heaven
- The altar of incense before the holy of holies
-- It was a picture of the original one located in Heaven
-- In ancient times, the high priest would go before the altar of the Lord
-- He would offer up the prayers of the repentant and ask for forgiveness
-- APP: This same act is being demonstrated here in Heaven
- During this time, many of the new believers are being pursued and killed
-- Their prayers have come before God’s throne, and God has heard them
- God is about to respond to our rebellion with His judgment on the Earth
-- This pause (again) reflects this; it is a tremendous show of respect to Him
- We need to understand that God created it all (creation study)
-- Therefore, He can most certainly destroy it all (He is Alpha and Omega)
- Thought: If you are in Heaven during this time, I somehow feel according to this text … that we will see God’s judgment on the Earth, in order to fully understand his power and authority.
- Re-read Revelation 8:6-13
Ω Point 3 – The Sounding of the Trumpets
- Trumpets are loud – they are jarring – and they get your attention
-- God is using these trumpets to get the attention of the Earth
- A trumpet is also used to signal the rapture of the church
-- 1 Thess 4:16-17, “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.”
-- APP: God will use these trumpets to get attention of those on the Earth!
- The First Trumpet
-- The first 4 trumpets are judgments are on the physical earth
-- In the first trumpet, we see hail, fire and blood!
-- John witnesses the very foundation of the Earth being destroyed
--- Perhaps volcanoes erupting further from the opening of the 6th seal?
-- Heaven is raining hail, fire, and blood on the Earth
-- Why? It is punishment for the wicked that continue to disobey God!
- The Second Trumpet
-- The second trumpet brings a giant meteor to the Earth!
-- This meteor (or mountain as John sees it) lands in a body of water
-- Sends a tidal-wave that destroys another 1/3 of the sea and its inhabitants
- Barrington Meteor Crater, Arizona
-- The crater is about 1 mile wide and 570 ft deep.
-- The explosion was equal to 2.5 megatons of TNT!
-- Estimated to have been about 45 meters (150 ft) across, weighing about 270,000 metric tons (300,000 tons).
Ω - The Third Trumpet
-- A great star; an asteroid; giant rock from the heavens through atmosphere
-- Wormwood is translated to mean bitter or bitterness
-- This asteroid could be part of the first that broke off
-- Result: It will be toxic in nature: destroying all drinking water
- FACT: No one can live without water.
-- Our body is 98% water, we thrive on water
-- Death from dehydration will take approx. 3-4 days
- APP: Bitter water is NOT going to be something you want to drink!
-- Therefore, without water, death will follow (v11)
- The Fourth Trumpet
-- Because of the first three trumpets, the Earth will be in a terrible state
-- Volcanic ash, debris, and smoke will fill the skies
-- v12 says that 1/3 of the Heavenly bodies will be darkened out
- We used the example of Mt St Helens exploding:
-- In minutes darkness fell for days/weeks in some areas
-- Now, this is happening on a global level
- Notice the eagle (NIV) flying about through the sky
-- Rev 4:7, “The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle.”
-- This could be an angel as well (KJV); the appearance is how John sees it
-- What does he proclaim? “Woe to the Earth”
- This angel is talking to those on the Earth: PAY ATTENTION!
-- This angel is talking specifically to those who are still disobeying God
-- This angel’s mission is specific: He’s warning the people (God giving another chance for folks to turn) that the next judgments will be worse!
-- The first 4 were on the Earth … and the last will be against … YOU!
- APP: Certainly, you would think that this final warning would cause others to turn to the Lord … but for many, it does not!
Ω Big Ideas
- IMP: Reverence before God (silence) is critical for a believer today!
- This destruction on the Earth is horrible
-- IMP: Many will see it because they have not given their life to the Lord
-- Because of pride, sin, rebellion, etc. there will be still be those cursing God and turning their backs on Him.
- IMP APP: Many in this world will believe what they are told – that these are natural disasters. CNN will have the greatest scientists on to explain these disasters, and it will be accepted. No one will believe the Bible anymore, even though they have witnessed millions disappearing, it will be out of sight and out of mind.
- Do you want to see this judgment that will fall upon the Earth?
-- The choice is yours!
-- We can see what the future holds for those rebelling: nothing good!
1. Salvation (2 Cor 6:2, “For he says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation.) … stop playing games!
2. Repentance (get your life right) – Acts 3:19, “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.) … stop playing games!
3. Devotion to God (1 Kings 8:61, “And may your hearts be fully committed to the LORD our God, to live by his decrees and obey his commands, as at this time.) … stop playing games!
Pray
