THE SEVENTH (7th) SEAL WAS A PRELUDE TO THE SEVEN (7) TRUMPETS
When He (Jesus Christ) opened the seventh seal, there was silence (The calm before the storm) in heaven, for about half an hour.
And then we read, I (John) saw the seven angels, who stand before God, and to them were GIVEN seven trumpets.
Look at Revelation 8:1-6 And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets. 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. And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand. 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. And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.
This is where the judgments of God began in the book of Revelation.
In Revelation chapter 8 we have looked at four of the seven trumpet judgments already. We have looked at so far…
THE FIRST TRUMPET (Rev. 8:7): THE VEGETATION STRUCK
Revelation 8:7 The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.
THE SECOND TRUMPET (Rev. 8:8-9): THE SEAS STRUCK
Revelation 8:8-9 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; 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.
THE THIRD TRUMPET (8:10): THE WATERS STRUCK
Revelation 8:10 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.
THE FOURTH TRUMPET (Rev. 8:12): THE HEAVENS STRUCK
Revelation 8:12 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.
Tonight we are going to look at two more trumpet judgments in Revelation 9:1-21
THE FIFTH TRUMPET (Rev. 9:1): THE LOCUSTS FROM THE BOTTOMLESS PIT
Revelation 9:1 And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.
THE SIXTH TRUMPET (Rev. 9:13): THE FOUR (4) ANGELS FROM THE EUPHRATES
Revelation 9:13-15 And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates. And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men.
THE SEVENTH TRUMPET will be in (Rev. 11:15-19): THE KINGDOM PROCLAIMED
Let get started with the fifth trumpet.
I. THE FIFTH TRUMPET
Look at Revelation 9:1 "And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit."
Notice these words, “I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth”.
WHO IS THIS STAR?
This is the expulsion of Satan falling from heaven. The Word of God makes this clear.
Isaiah foresaw this development in exactly the same manner described by John. Isaiah 14:12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
Many people mistakenly believe that throughout human history, Satan has already been banished from heaven, or that he reigns in some kind of kingdom in hell. That isn't true!!!
What if I told you that satan has never PUT FOOT IN HELL YET!!!
Satan and the lost will not be cast into hell until later date after the tribulation period.
The reason that some make this assumption that satan is already in hell is because they think the Abys (Bottomless Pit) in Revelation chapter nine is hell…IT IS NOT!!!
The abyss (Bottomeless pit) should not be confused with hell.
In the visions, eternal hell or "the second death" is seen as a "lake of fire and brimstone", that is to say a lake of burning fire (Revelation 20:1-2,10). IT IS NOT THE BOTTOMLESS PIT!!!
That fiery lake is what Jesus called "the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his angels" (Matthew 25:41).
NOTE: It might help you to know that, in the Greek:
1)The temporary dungeon for fallen angels (until Judgment Day) is called Tartarus. This is where the fallen angels are kept until they are released in Rev. chapter nine.
2)The hiding place of the dead (Sinners until Judgment Day) is called Hades.
3)The final and eternal abode of the wicked (after Judgment Day) is called Gehenna. To avoid confusion, some translators reserve the word "hell" that we are familiar with.
Satan is not in hell today, but one day he will be cast into hell, with his angels and sinners.
Until satan and the unbeliever is cast into hell satan has always had access to the Throne of God, where he serves as the principle accuser of the saints of God.
Remember how he accused Job of not really loving God. He accused Job before God that Job did not really love God.
Look at Job 1:6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.
Now Revelation chapter nine satan's entry into God's presence changes here. Now in Revelation 9:1 he is kicked out of heaven, and he is furious!!!
It is significant to note also that he carries with him the key to the bottomless pit (Rev. 9:1).
He didn't have it before; it was given him by the One who holds the keys to heaven, hell and death (Jesus).
Satan can not do anything unless God allows him to do it. Remember, God allowed him to attack Job, he could not until God gave him permission.
We know that Jesus Christ holds the key to the bottomless pit. In Revelation chapter nine Lucifer is given the keys to the bottomless pit.
Later we will find the Lord will take the keys from satan after his resurrection where he went to paradise preached, and brought captivity captive out with Him (Eph. 4:8).
Question: "Where did Old Testament believers/saints go when they died?"
Answer: The Old Testament believers went to a place of comfort and rest called “paradise” when they died.
Luke 16:19–31 shows that, prior to Christ’s resurrection…
• Hades was divided into two realms: a place of comfort where Lazarus was (Abraham’s bosom or Abraham’s side) and a place of torment where the rich man was in (hell). Lazarus’s place of comfort is elsewhere called “paradise” (Luke 23:43).
• The place of torment is called “Gehenna” in the Greek in Mark 9:45. Between paradise and hell (the two districts of Hades) there was “a great chasm” (Luke 16:26). The fact that no one could cross this chasm indicates that, after death, one’s fate is sealed.
Today, when an unbeliever dies, he follows the Old Testament unbelievers to the torment side of Hades.
At the final judgment, Hades will be emptied before the Great White Throne, where its occupants will be judged prior to entering the lake of fire (Revelation 20:13–15).
On the other hand, when a believer dies today, he is “present with the Lord” in heaven (2 Corinthians 5:6–9). There, he joins the Old Testament saints who have been enjoying their reward for thousands of years.
After the resurrection the Lord went to paradise and raptured all of these old testament believers and they are in heaven today with the New Testament believers who have died in Christ.
It is believed they will not receive their GLORIFIED BODIES until the dead in Christ will get their GLORIFIED BODIES at the end of the tribulation period.
A resurrection awaits everyone—either a resurrection to eternal life or a resurrection to “shame and everlasting contempt” (Daniel 12:2).
The Bible clearly states that New Testament saints who have died will be resurrected at the event we call the rapture of the church (1 Thessalonians 4:16–17).
Notice, the "key of the bottomless pit" was given to the fallen star (Satan) to open the shaft of the abyss (Revelation 9:1-2).
The star (satan) did not keep the key or have charge of it, for in a later vision an angel holds the key, and locks the abyss (Bottomless Pit) having chained Satan and cast him in the pit.
The last part of the Millenial period he is released for a thousand year so that those who are born during this period can be tested for their love of the Lord Jesus.
Only Christ has a right to the keys of all spiritual realms, and nobody can open what he shuts or shut what he opens except they borrow the key from him (Revelation 3:7).
Here is represented the fact that Christ allows Satan to be active within limits while the world lasts
Revelation 9:2, And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.
This vision introduces us to "the bottomless pit" (Revelation 9:1).
This BOTTOMLESS PIT will be mentioned in later visions.
Let’s look at some Facts About the BOTTOMLESS PIT:
• The BOTTOMLESS PIT has an angel (Lucifer) as its ruler. He is called Apollyon, the angel of destruction (Revelation 9:11).
• This is the sense in which the Dragon is "the beast that comes up from the Abyss" (Revelation 11:7, Revelation 17:8) although originally he came down from the heavens (Revelation 12:7-9).
• The BOTTOMLESS PIT portrays the temporary restraining of the Devil while he is in this world, and resembles the spiritual dungeon where fallen angels await Judgment Day (2Peter 2:4, Jude 1:6).
Notice out of this pit smoke came out of it AS THE SMOKE OF A GREAT FURNACE. 1/3 of the angels that was cast out of heaven with Lucifer flew out.
Illus: Have you ever been to a bird sanctuary. At a certain time of the day millions of birds come out for their evening flight. They fill the sky and when satan opened this bottomless pit these fallen angels filled the sky like a GREAT FURNACE.
God commanded Satan to carry out the punishment here by giving him the keys to the bottomless pit.
Just as Satan had to have permission from God to afflict Job, God now gives him permission to attack the inhabitants of the earth that does not have the seal of God on them.
Notice, they have such a vicious nature that God had to bind them to keep the human race from being annihilated before the appointed time, but now all the restraints are off.
Revelation 9:3-6 And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. 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. And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man. And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.
Anytime a person is suffering so badly that they are begging to die they are in a lot of pain. Five months is a long time to suffer if you are suffering so bad that you want to die.
The appearance of these locusts is both frightening and repulsive.
Look at Revelation 9:7-10 And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men. And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions. And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle. And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months.
Notice, they are “not” allowed to “kill” anyone at this point. (No suicides)
They only “torment unbelievers for “five months”. The pain will be like that of a “scorpion”.
Again, part of the judgment will be that men cannot die to escape it. Men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads
They have orders not to hurt the vegetation or the 144,000 who have been sealed in their foreheads.
Notice, the vegetation is not to be touched. Locust and such creatures thrive on grass and etc. But now their attack is not on the grass but on the ungodly inhabitants of the earth.
(Rev. 9:3-5). God's instructions are in essence:
1) "You may torment those who have the Antichrist's mark, but you may not kill them."
2) Also, "You may not touch those who belong to Me.(Sealed by God)"
Though this will be a period of great anguish, it is really the grace of GOD at work during this five months of suffering. I'm sure that the LORD is seeking to make mankind think because of this terrible torment and to decide to come to Him.
Note: It is interesting to note that “Five months” is the normal life cycle of locusts from May to September.
Revelation 9:6 "And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them."
“Seek death, and shall not find it.”
The tormented will find no relief. Even their unimaginable attempts to end their misery in suicide will be unsuccessful.
Death would be a welcome relief to all this suffering.
This was the first of the three Woes!
But the next judgment is even worse.
Look at Revelation 9:7 "And the shapes of the locusts [were] like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads [were] as it were crowns like gold, and their faces [were] as the faces of men."
Here John describes the locusts (demons), as he gives a detailed description of their appearance in his vision. They are described as locusts as they will bring massive and devastating judgment from God.
This demon host will be virtually unstoppable and man will have no weapon that can harm them or cure for the terrible torment they will inflict.
Their “faces of men” is probably a reference to these demonic creatures as rational, intelligent beings, not insects.
Look at Revelation 9:8 "And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as [the teeth] of lions." (How would you like to invite them home for dinner!!!)
Having “hair as the hair of women” emphasizes their seductiveness. Perhaps to lure unsuspecting unbelievers to come close to them before striking them. (Jeremiah 51:27), refers to locusts having bristles like hair.
Having teeth like the teeth of lions means they will be more fierce, powerful and deadly than lions.
Revelation 9:9 "And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings [was] as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle."
We have looked at THE FIFTH TRUMPET, but now we want to look at…
II.SIXTH TRUMPET
Look at Revelation 9:13-14 And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.
Notice, this angel receives orders from a voice that was there at the horns of the golden altar. It is the voice of Christ.
He has now ripped off the seventh seal which led into the trumpet judgments and which will lead into the seven PERSOANLITES and the seven BOWLS of God’s wrath.
The angels who are bound are evidently evil. Why would they be bound if they were not evil? Releasing them turns loose a flood tide of destructions on the earth.
WHY WERE THEY BOUND AT THIS LOCATION AT THE EUPHRATES RIVER?
The prominence of this place in the scriptures can not be over looked. For example:
• The Garden of Eden was somewhere in this location.
• Sin started here.
• The first murder was committed there.
• The first war was started here.
• Here is where the first flood began.
• The Euphrates marks the division between East and West.
This is where it all started and this is where it all is going to end.
But look at Revelation 9:15-16 And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men. And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them.
Notice, during this time one-third of the population will be killed.
We have already have seen one-fourth of the world’s population killed.
OVER ONE-HALF OF THE WORLD’S POPULATION WILL BE DESTROYED DURING THE TRIBULATION PERIOD.
Matthew 24:22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
We have never had a world war but during the tribulation period every nation in the world will be fighting and killing each other for power, food, and gas.
In Revelation 9:17-21 we have a descriptive account of these creatres. And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone. By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths. For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt. And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.
Notice, in all that these people will go through they still will not repent of their evil.
These are evil people:
• The goodness of God will not lead them to repentance.
• Nor the wrath of God will lead them to repentance.
Conclusion:
God can not allow them to enter heaven because if He did they would do the same thing that satan did when he was there…THEY WOULD CORRUPT HEAVEN.
The Bible tells us that hell is prepared for the devil and his angels and that is where they must spend eternity. ISN’T THAT SAD!!!
In Revelation nine, we have looked at…
I. THE FIFTH TRUMPET
II. THE SIXTH TRUMPET
