Revelation 8: 1 – 13
They Are Not Playing Our Song
1 When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. 2 And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets. 3 Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. 4 And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand. 5 Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And there were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake. 6 So the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound. 7 The first angel sounded: And hail and fire followed, mingled with blood, and they were thrown to the earth. And a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up. 8 Then the second angel sounded: And something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood. 9 And a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed. 10 Then the third angel sounded: And a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. 11 The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the water, because it was made bitter. 12 Then the fourth angel sounded: And a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them were darkened. A third of the day did not shine, and likewise the night. 13 And I looked, and I heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, “Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!”
Certain things that occur in our lives are cherished. To help us reflect on that special time we accumulate certain items, such as
. Your first baseball glove
. The first valentine given to you
. Your first picture in the newspaper
. An item from your first love
. Pictures of love ones
. Your first bible
Another item which we might keep is a copy of a song that brings back sweet memories. Do you have such a song? Well, in today’s study we are going to go over some songs we do not want to hear. The Lord’s selected musicians are going to play some scary music.
1 When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.
The seventh seal is the last of the seven seals which keeps the content of the scroll hidden. Now the content of this scroll can be known. In addition, the seventh seal is of the nature of the last three seals where the ‘Wrath of God is in focus. The fifth seal requests the pouring out of the Wrath of God. The sixth seal announces the imminent outbreak of the Wrath of God. Now the seventh and final seal depicts the actual beginning of God’s Wrath in the form of seven trumpet judgments.
The seventh seal is chronologically parallel to the occurrences in the first six seals (as we have noted the sixth seal ends with the second coming and the final judgment. The seventh seal could not follow that). Its content thus occurs at the same time as the events in the first six seals, at the same time as the four horsemen are riding. It helps to explain the meaning of the apocalyptic language in seal 6.
Here in Revelation we are seeing present history from heaven’s point of view. Dreadful things have happened throughout history and we now discover their source. While they are the result of man’s sinfulness, they are also the result of heavenly activity
Each seal represents different aspects of the activities of men and of the judgments of God. They are opened one after another simply because there is no other way of opening them in a deliberate way, but what is in the seven-sealed book is an overall record of future history from the time of John onwards, seen as a whole, but leading up to the end. Thus most of what is presented occurs in parallel. The events are to a certain extent overlapping each other.
The silence in Heaven must probably be seen as one of trust and awe in the light of what comes from it. As Jeremiah says in Lamentations 3.26, “it is good that one should hope and wait in silence for the Lord’s deliverance”. God’s judgments are about to be revealed in fuller measure, and the prayers of God’s people are reaching their climax and are about to be answered. Thus Heaven waits in expectant and awestruck silence. The opening of the seventh seal results in the sounding of the seven trumpets. So the seven trumpets are contemporary with the seven seals.
The first five seals referred to man’s activity throughout history at the command of God, the latter fact reminding us that God is always in control. In the same way the first five trumpets represent the more specific direct judgments of God during the same period. History is full of God’s judgments, intended to bring men to repentance. The sixth seal and the sixth and seventh trumpets describe the consummation of the age.
2 And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets
The seven angels are the ones mentioned in 1.4 and 4.5. They have been waiting for this very moment. The blowing of the seven trumpets, like the opening of the seven seals of which they are a part, will cause God’s purposes to go forward. Like the seven seals, the trumpets overlap with each other, so that the events described in one may occur while others are going on, although also to some extent consecutively. They announce publicly God’s next actions. Their being seven indicates the divine completeness of the judgments they cover.
3 Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. 4 And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand. 5 Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And there were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake.
The angel, who is not identified, stands at the heavenly altar of incense ready to make his offering before God. The golden altar of incense is before the throne, just as the altar of incense in the Tabernacle was before the veil behind which was the mercy seat, the throne of God. The incense is thus offered directly to God. Incense is a spice that produces a pleasing odor when burnt. The purpose of an incense offering was to please El Shaddai, Almighty God, in the hope that He would respond with favor regarding an individual’s prayer request.
The ‘saints’ refers to believers. Some teach that only ‘living believers’ prayers are indicated here. Please notice that John states that the prayers are ‘all’ the saints are on this altar. Something to stop and think about is what prayers are these? Are they every saints total prayers throughout time or are they specific prayers? I believe as reflective in the martyrs under the altar these prayers are unanswered prayers for God’s vengeance on evil people.
Having offered up the incense by burning it in the fire on the altar, thus effectively assisting God’s people, the angel fills the censer with the fire from the altar, which has been used to offer up the prayers of God’s people, and casts it on the earth, thus applying their prayers directly and ensuring their fulfillment. What will now happen on earth is God’s response to the prayers of God’s people. He is about to carry out His righteous judgments. In Ezekiel a similar action is performed by the man clothed with linen who had sealed God’s people to secure their protection (Ezekiel 10.2). In that case it would result in the carrying out of God’s righteous judgments in the devastation of the city of Jerusalem.
‘There followed thunders, and lightnings, and voices and an earthquake’. As mentioned previously on 4.5 the first three of these indicate something of the glory and mystery of God. They declare that something very important is about to happen. To these are added the earthquake to draw attention to the fact that God’s judgments are in process and that there will be earth shaking events. Earthquakes are depicted in Revelation as indicators and reminders of the judgment of God, and as part of those judgments.
6 So the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.
Like the seven seals, the trumpets can be divided into two cycles. Like the first four seals, the first four trumpets are alike in nature. Similarly, the final three trumpets are alike as were the final three seals. As the final three seals dealt with the wrath of God, the final three trumpets will deal with an intensified expression of God’s Wrath which are the three woes.
Trumpets were used for some very distinct purposes;
. To call God’s people together
. A call to repentance
. To announce Judgment
. A call to salvation
. A call to the king’s coronation
Some people believe that the seventh trumpet is the call regarding our Lord Jesus’ 2nd Coming? The trumpets clearly indicate judgment instead.
While the six seals were only indirectly the judgments of God in that they involved the activities of men, these are the more direct judgments which go alongside them, more intensified and more devastating, and yet more restricted in effect. When were they released? - In the days of John and onwards.
The ideas behind the consequences of the seven trumpets are based to some extent on the plagues of Exodus 7. Take a look at the comparisons
1. Hail and fire mixed with blood compares with the seventh plague (Exodus 9.22 ),
2. the sea becoming blood compares with the first plague, as does the undrinkable water (Exodus 7.17)
3. The darkness which follows the fourth trumpet blast compares with the ninth plague (Exodus 10.21 )
4. The locusts parallel Exodus 10.4.
Just as God was then preparing for a great deliverance of His people, and to lead them into the land of promise, so now God is seen as preparing a new and greater deliverance for His people and is leading them into the heavenly Promised Land.
It is very probable that we should see the first four trumpets as resulting from the release of the ‘winds’ by the four angels of 7.1. These winds are to be released to carry out their work on earth with devastating consequences. Each releases something which affects a part of mankind. Every occurrence of such events can be seen as the continual working of these ‘winds’ of God.
7 The first angel sounded: And hail and fire followed, mingled with blood, and they were thrown to the earth. And a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.
The first wind of earth has been released, specifically affecting trees (7.1). In Exodus 9.24 there was ‘hail, and fire mingled with hail’ and plants of the earth were smitten (Exodus 9.31-32), indicating a great storm with hail and lightning and possibly thunderbolts, and the resulting fires burn up trees and vegetation.
This whole picture suggests a procession of great storms, their devastating effects resulting in pestilence and death, and the mention of fire and brimstone stresses that they are to be seen as a judgment of God
The mention of blood over against pestilence in Ezekiel chapter 14 refers to ‘death’ and includes the storm’s effects as it causes death and destruction. Pestilence and death are closely related, “Or if I send a pestilence into that land and pour out My fury on it in blood, and cut off from it man and beast,”
Such great and devastating storms, and huge fires caused by lightning and thunderbolts, burning up swathes of countryside, occurred in John’s time and have occurred through history, and will continue to do so, exacting death tolls sometimes of great magnitude, although not many have reached this magnitude. Here we learn that such storms should be seen in their own way as judgments of God, as the releasing of the winds of earth, a further step towards and reminder of Christ’s Second Coming. There will no doubt be more. Every such severe catastrophe in nature is a pointer to the end. The whole message of Revelation is that however much things seem out of control, God is in control and working His purposes out.
‘And the third part of the earth (or land area) was burnt up, and the third part of the trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up’. This is apocalyptic language to bring out the severity of the situation and is a deliberate increase on ‘the fourth part’ in Revelation 6.8, stressing an even greater increase in death and devastation through these great fires and storms in the areas where they occur.
God would have been justified in destroying all, but he limits it to a third. Nature and man are both seen as controlled by God. It may be seen as occurring over time, with the devastation not all occurring at once. The mention of the destruction of trees and grass stresses that there will be resulting shortages for both man and beast.
8 Then the second angel sounded: And something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood. 9 And a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.
The second wind of heaven affects the sea (7.1). We are not told which sea is involved, (‘in Spirit’ John could be anywhere) but the description may be of a meteor or asteroid crashing to earth producing great devastation and even changing the color of the sea. Because it hits the sea its worst effects are avoided, but it still causes great devastation around it.
This is possibly not seen as being as widespread as the first disasters, for it affects only one sea, but it is deeper in intensity. God’s judgments are sometimes widespread, and sometimes deeper in intensity. Whether such an event which meets all these criteria has specifically happened in history we may not be able to identify (so much of history is a blank to us), but we do know of devastation caused by meteors and other spatial objects, some of which have caused quite considerable devastation, and there are early records of such events. Once again ‘the third part’ is apocalyptic language for great devastation.
10 Then the third angel sounded: And a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. 11 The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the water, because it was made bitter.
The third wind of heaven affects the land (the earth) (7.1). In Jeremiah 9.13-15 God declared of those who had forsaken His law and walked in the way of Balaam, ‘Behold I will feed them, even this people, with wormwood, and give them water of gall to drink’ and in Jeremiah 15.6 God declares of the false prophets of Jerusalem, ‘I will feed them with wormwood, and make them drink the water of gall’. Thus the partaking of wormwood is a recognized judgment of God because men have forsaken His ways.
This was fulfilled in Jeremiah’s case by the taking into exile in Babylon of the people of Judah and Israel, described in Lamentations 3.15 as, ‘He has filled me with bitterness, He has sated me with wormwood’. Their exile was an exceedingly bitter thing to swallow, and was like drinking wormwood and gall. So this judgment has in mind the punishment of God for disobedience to His law and to His word and the bitter experiences that result. Because people reject His word they will ‘drink’ bitter and deadly water, in other words they will experience bitter things, including death, resulting from heavenly activity.
Please note that the name of the star is called ‘Wormwood’. There is no historical evidence that any star has this name. Wormwood is a medicinal herb used to dispel worms from the intestines. It is very bitter.
There may be here an intended contrast with chapter 7.17 where the fountains of waters of life are spiritual. Thus, as it was with the exiles, the wormwood and bitterness may largely be seen as spiritual and not physical, a bitterness of mind and heart, resulting from bitter experiences. Here the Scripture illustrates the pollution of water supplies. There are no springs of living water but only death.
As ‘falling stars’ are regularly angels in the book of Revelation. This is what must seem more probable here. Thus it is more likely the case that we are to see in this the activity of a fallen angel, described partly in terms reminiscent of the plagues in Egypt. If this be so it may again be seen as happening over a period of time. That is that a fallen angel comes down and continues to bring about certain effects resulting in bitterness in men’s spirits. John is not thinking of occurrences in the distant future, for he is anticipating the near coming of the Lord. But we who see things from a different perspective are entitled to see things differently, and possibly as something that reoccurs. History is full of this activity of the fallen angel.
While physical pollution through man’s sinful activities may be in mind, we learn here that it is probably also to be seen as being a result of God’s judgments resulting in distressed souls, as well as in distressed bodies, as ‘drinking wormwood’ is in Lamentations. A polluted world should remind us of the pollution in men’s souls, and is allowed by God so as to awaken us to our need for Him.
So the first three trumpets are relatively localized and speak of devastating activities in nature in those areas, including possibly a falling meteor and other natural catastrophes, and angelic activity and heavy pollution of man’s environment, causing bitterness in men’s souls. When these things occur, says John, (and they have occurred numbers of times throughout history) they are to be recognized as part of God’s judgments, as calls to repent and turn back to God, and as reminders that Christ is coming again.
12 Then the fourth angel sounded: And a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them were darkened. A third of the day did not shine, and likewise the night.
This directly connects with the description under the sixth seal previously commented on, which see. The language vividly portrays times of uncertainty and distress. Thus while it at first appears that it is the heavens that are affected it is really the earth. It is indicating repercussions on earth. This is confirmed by the fact that this is the fourth wind of earth. It blows on the earth. The descriptions of the heavenly bodies are as seen from earth.
It is describing a period when men are at their wit’s end and living in great fear, (not so unusual a phenomenon in history).
It has occurred through the ages. History is sadly strewn with activities of men that have made it seem to those affected as though the very heavens were being affected. It may deepen as time goes on. But once again we are reminded that it is part of the judgments of God on a sinful world, and a continual call to repent
‘The third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars, that the third part of them should be darkened, and the day should not shine for the third part of it, and the night in the same way.’ Note how it is earth that is seen as affected, and the length of days and nights. There is to be darkening on earth, with the length of days and nights being seen as altering. Such things can happen when there are large natural catastrophes. It may indicate the light of sun and moon being diminished as seen from parts of the earth (e.g. by smoke and ashes and cloud). I was watching the History Chanel and it spoke about a nuclear winter. Because of the fallout everything was darkened.
13 And I looked, and I heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, “Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!”
The eagle flying in Heaven presumably refers to the living creature that was in the form of a flying eagle (4.7). (When a flying eagle is specifically described earlier in the book it is surely unnecessary to look elsewhere). Just as the living creatures were the ones who sent out the four horsemen, so it is one of them who declare the earth’s woes. The last three trumpets are being prepared for, and an indication is given of the awfulness that will result, beside which what has happened before will be as nothing. The woes are upon the ‘earth-dwellers’, a term regularly used in Revelation of non-Christians. The Christians are sealed against them.
The fact that the last three trumpets are described as ‘woes’ in contrast with the remainder stresses their awfulness and the fact that supernatural agencies are more fully involved. It is saying that what has been previously described is as nothing compared with what is now about to be described. Here we have an intensification of all that has been described before, but taking the form of direct spiritual attack.
You would think someone would be crying out now ‘Stop the music!’ But now because of mankind’s sins the same old song is played over and over again.
I mentioned that the falling star is probably spiritual and not an actual star falling to the earth. Looking at these cataclysmic events I have a problem. I know that our Great God can do anything, but the events described here would seem to have to totally destroy everything and not be selective in its damage. We read about a great mountain and star falling to the earth. Either one would totally destroy man and earth. Wormwood is a herb which in most cases not kill anyone, especially if you mixed it with water, even though it is quite bitter.
So, I would like to share with you what I see happening here is spiritual. So, we will look at these verses again and I will give you scripture to back up my position.
Let’s first look at the statement –A third of the trees were burned up. Trees equal leaders. We read in the book of Judges 9: “And when they told it to Jotham, he went and stood in the top of mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said unto them, Hearken unto me, ye men of Shechem, that God may hearken unto you. The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us. But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honor God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?
The words ‘burned up’ mean ‘To Irritate or Inflame’ ;.’To Harden or Impact’. We understand this to be as we find in the book of 2 Kings 17: 14, “Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their necks, like to the neck of their fathers, that did not believe in the LORD their God.
We next read about the green grass. You know that the color green talks about vibrant life while grass refers to people. Look at these portions of scripture.
. Job 8: “(For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing because our days upon earth are a shadow:) Shall not they teach thee, and tell thee, and utter words out of their heart Can the rush grow up without mire? can the flag grow without water? Whilst it is yet in his greenness, and not cut down, it withereth before any other herb. So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite's hope shall perish Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust shall be a spider's web He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand: he shall hold it fast, but it shall not endure. He is green before the sun, and his branch shooteth forth in his garden.
. Revelation 9; 4,” And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.
. Isaiah 40, “The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever
Mountains signify celestial things (which also were called the highest), consequently love and charity, and thereby the goods of love and charity, which are celestial. And in the opposite sense those also are called mountains who are vain glorious; and therefore a mountain stands for the very love of self.
The mountain and star refer to Lucifer.
. Zechariah 3: 1, “And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?
. Zechariah 4: 7, “Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.
. Jeremiah 51: 35, “Behold, I am against thee, O destroying mountain, saith the LORD, which destroyest all the earth: and I will stretch out mine hand upon thee, and roll thee down from the rocks, and will make thee a burnt mountain.
We will read about the beast coming out of the ‘sea’. This refers to people, tongues, and nations.
. Revelation 13, “And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.
. Revelation 17, “And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.
. Revelation 20, “And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
The sea becoming blood has to do with our Lord Jesus Christ’s Sacrifice. His gave His life and shed His blood. The tradition of Sacred Blood of the Christ, the ultimate sacrificial lamb, as the means of redemption of the entire human race, brings to the front the importance of this vital physical element in our understanding of ourselves, our beliefs systems and our abilities to heal and to be healed. Aside of the practice of the scapegoat (subject of other analyses), the significance of the blood as a deep commitment is also easily perceived through the ritual of meaningful valid blood pledges or vows.
. Hosea 6, “After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.
. Zechariah 13, “And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.
Next look at the verse - And a third of the living creatures in the sea died’. Earthly Creatures mean humans
James 1: 17-18” Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures”
Revelation 3, “And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.”
A third of the ships were destroyed is telling us that ‘Ships’ are Ambassadors who promote false doctrine
Job 9: They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hasteth to the prey.
Isaiah 18” that sends ambassadors in swift boats down the river. Go, swift messengers! Take a message to a tall, smooth-skinned people, who are feared far and wide for their conquests and destruction, and whose land is divided by rivers.
Matthew 23, “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.
As I have said the great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch is referring to Satan.
Ezekiel 28: “Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire
Throughout the bible ‘rivers’ are the life source of nourishment. Mostly all civilizations were established near rivers.
Psalm 1: 3, “And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
. Ezekiel 36, “Prophesy therefore concerning the land of Israel, and say unto the mountains, and to the hills, to the rivers, and to the valleys, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I have spoken in my jealousy and in my fury, because ye have borne the shame of the heathen.
Habakkuk 3 , “Was the LORD displeased against the rivers? was thine anger against the rivers? was thy wrath against the sea, that thou didst ride upon Thine horses and Thy chariots of salvation
On the springs of water refers to Refreshment & Satisfaction.
Isaiah 35, “And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes.
Isaiah 41, “I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.
Isaiah 49, “They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them.
Name of the star is Wormwood which means ‘Bitter’ [False preaching]
Jeremiah 9:14 à 15 "But (they) have walked after the imagination of their own heart, and after Baalim, which their fathers taught them; Therefore thus saith the Lord of host, the God of Israel; Behold, I will feed them even this people, with WORMWOOD, and give them WATER of gall to DRINK“
Jeremiah 23:15 "Therefore thus saith the Lord of Hosts concerning the prophets; Behold, I will feed them with WORMWOOD, and make them DRINK THE WATER of gall: for from the prophets of Jerusalem is profaneness gone forth into all the land."
People will die in their sins because they have been mislead by false prophets. Remember Adam was told by our Holy God that in the day he would eat the fruit of the tree of knowledge in the garden he would die. When he did eat the fruit he died spiritually and after many years later he would die physically.
Genesis 2, “And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
Genesis 5, “And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died.
We will find out in our study of Revelation of the sun and moon which the book of Genesis chapter 37 talks about. It refers to the nation of Israel. These false teachers will also impact the nation of Israel with their lies.
“And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more. And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed. For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf. And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words. And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me.”
‘A third of the stars’ are the angels who joined Satan in his rebellion. Revelation 12, “And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.
Light [God’s Truth] always involves the removal of darkness
Ephesians 4:18, “They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart.
In our last study we read how our Holy Master and King, our Lord Jesus Christ will pick out 144,000 Jewish evangelists to serve him. Not to be outdone Satan is going to send his ambassadors.
So, to put it all together we see that this prophecy appears to describe the eviction of Satan from heaven. He is thrown to the Earth with one third of the angels, which had rebelled and are now his demons. They actively attack the Christian community, which comprises one third of the people on Earth by spewing out their poisonous venom using a false message designed to pervert and counterfeit the true gospel and the true message of the Kingdom of GOD.
