These sealed 144,000 jewish missionaries are protected by as they preach and converting people to the Lord by the thousands and perhaps even by the millions.
These jewish missionaries have been telling these tribulations saints that the anti-christ is not the Christ and do not take the mark of the beast.
Many have refused to take the mark of the beast and has had to die horrible deaths because they are not willing to take the mark of the beast.
They have suffered greatly and been killed and we read about them in heaven without their glorified bodies.
Of course, the reason they do not have their glorified bodies is because they missed the rapture when the church was raptured in Revelation chapter four.
We mortals are a trichotomy, we are body, soul and Spirit. The soul and the spirit of these tribulations saint have gone to be with the Lord.
This is what happens to the saints before the rapture, but when the rapture takes place the Bible tells us they will return with the Lord.
Look at 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
When the rapture in Revelation 4 takes place all of this will happen!!!
But these tribulation saints will receive their glorified body at the SECOND COMING of Christ but in Revelation 8 they are praying for justice for what the anti-christ who has brutally killed them.
In chapter 8 we are going to be talking about God bringing judgment in response to the prayers of these tribulation saints which are in heaven without their glorified bodies.
Actually, one of the reasons for the trumpet judgments is God’s answer to the prayers of these tribulation saints.
Before we get into the trumpet judgments we need to look at…
I. THE ANGELS IN THIS CHAPTER
Before we get into the trumpet judgments we are introduce to some very special angels which are going to be introduced to us.
Now a lot of folks in studying Revelation chapter 8 over look verses 1-6 but I really enjoy reading these verses because it shows us how organized God is in assigning different angels for different missions.
Look at Revelation 8:2-6 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.
The judgment of Jesus is going to be carried out for the way these tribulation saints have been treated on earth.
This is the great moment of justice for which suffering believers have been praying.
Even today God is displeased with the saints of God today who are mistreated…God still punish those who punish His children.
Luke 17:1-2 Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come! It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.
Look how God use these angels in heaven.
We have already been introduced to the twenty-four elders (angels) and the four beast which are angels around His throne.
However, the seven angels in verse two are specific angels ready to carry out God’s judgment against on those who have persecuted and killed these tribulation saints.
(1) God is fixing to pour out His wrath using these special seven angels.
Look at verse 2 again, And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets
We cannot positively identify these seven angels.
• For example, one theory is that these are special angels; also known as “the angels of the presence.”
• Not all “angels” are said to “stand before God in His presence.”
Gabriel, was one who did, as we are told in Luke 1:19 And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.
There were “seven” of these angels representing the full power of God in judicial judgment the power to execute the trumpet and bowl judgments.
Jewish literature names “seven” specific archangels, so these may be the ones referred to here. Their names are:
1) Uriel,
2) Raphael,
3) Raguel,
4) Michael,
5) Sariel,
6) Gabriel
7) Remiel.
They are called “the angels of the presence” means two things.
(1) FIRST, they enjoyed a special honor.
In an oriental court it was only the most favored courtiers who had the right at all times to the presence of the king; to be a courtier of the king was a special honor.
(2) SECOND, although to be in the presence of the king meant special honor, even more it meant immediate readiness to be dispatched into service.
• Notice, they are not like the twenty four elders (angels) in Revelation 4:4 And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.
• These special seven angels that is given the seven trumpets are STANDING. Look at Revelation 8:2 again, And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets
The twenty-four elder angels job had to do with God assigning them to answering prayers.
These seven standing before God are ready to carry out God’s judgments on the inhabitants of the earth.
Speaking of these very special angels the Bible tells us “And to them were given seven trumpets.”
“Seven trumpets” were given to the angels, who then took their positions as directed, and prepared to sound their “trumpets.”
But before the sounding of the “trumpets,” John saw another angel with a golden censer in his hand, and he came and stood before the golden incense altar.
Look at Revelation 8:3 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.
We are told that this angel was given much incense, and that he offered the incense with the prayers of “all saints.”
These saints here were the saints of the Tribulation Period.
They have been praying for justice what was done to them.
When the fire was cast into (down to) the earth, there were voices, thunderings, lightnings, and a great earthquake.
The silence was broken in verse 1.
Remember, when the seventh seal judgment took place it was different from the first six seal judgments.
HOW WAS IT DIFFERENT?
It is that no specific judgment is mentioned when the seventh seal is broken? The narrative moves directly to the seven trumpet judgments.
• During chapters six and seven chapters, mankind and nature are having their way.
• During this eight chapter vision of the trumpets, it is the angels who have been given the role of executing the judgment of God on earth.
These tribulation saints who have been brutally killed…In this chapter we are introduced to praying IMPRECATORY PRAYERS.
That is, these tribulation saints have been brutally killed and now in heaven they are praying for justice.
That is, they are praying God will punish those who have punished them!!!
WHAT IS AN IMPRECATORY PRAYER?
To imprecate means “to invoke evil upon or curse” one’s enemies.
Look at their prayer, Revelation 6:10-11 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
They are praying what is known as an IMPRECATORY PRAYER, wanting God to punish them who punish them.
Some people misunderstand IMPRECATORY PRAYERS.
Illus: They think of God as a bull dog and when someone does them wrong they tell God, SICKEM GOD!!!
This is not how this prayer is to be prayed!!!
WHO IN THE BIBLE PRAYED IMPRECATORY PRAYERS.
(1) These tribulation saints prayed such a prayer in Rev. 6:10-11.
(2) King David, the psalmist who was greatly persecuted by his enemies prayed imprecatory prayers. Psalm 55:15, 69:28, Psalm 35:6, Psalm 58:6.
(3) Paul prayed imprecatory prayers. Galatians 1:9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
Many are quick to pray for harm to someone because they are filled with hate. GOD WOULD NOT HEAR SUCH A PRAYER!
Jesus exhorts us to pray for our enemies (Matthew 5:44–48; Luke 6:27–38), but praying for their death or for bad things to happen to them isn’t what the Bible teaches. Instead, we are to pray for their salvation first and foremost. There's no greater blessing than a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and that’s what Jesus means by praying for and blessing those who curse us.
But there are situation when IMPECATORY PRAYERS should be prayed.
Illus: Let me give you an example of how this prayer should be prayed.
Paul wrote to the church at Corinth and said 1 Corinthians 5:1-5 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife (Step Mother). And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
Paul is saying pray this imprecatory prayer that this individual that is a child of God that is dishonoring the name of God, PRAY FOR GOD TO KILL HIM!
In other words it would be better for him to die and go to heaven than remain on earth disgracing the name of God.
HOW DO WE KNOW THIS MAN WAS A CHRISTIAN?
Look at the last part of verse 5, That the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
Also, we need to understand something else about this passage, that is, this passage is not teaching us that loved ones in heaven are praying for us here on earth.
One of the difficult things for us to understand about heaven is, ONCE WE LEAVE THIS LIFE ALL HUMAN TIES ARE BROKEN!
Remember when the Lord was dying He told John in John 19:27 Then saith he to (John) the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.
He is telling John she is now your mother, he had no more need for a mother. And he refers to her in a respectful calling her woman.
The term woman was used like we use the term ma’am. By addressing Mary this way, He was exerting His independence—but in no way was it a rude manner of speaking.
When we leave this life and go to heaven there will be no marriages, no individual families, it will be only one family and that is God the Father and his family.
The Lord broke all HUMAN TIES to Mary when He told John, SHE IS NOW YOUR MOTHER!!!
In fact after His resurrection He refers to Mary as woman.
Once we leave this life ALL HUMAN TIES ARE BROKEN…ALL!!!
We do not need loved ones in heaven praying for us, we have the Lord Jesus sitting at the right hand of the father making intercession for us.
• Catholics do not need to pray to Mary which is not scriptural.
• 1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.
We do not need loved ones in heaven praying for us we have the Lord Jesus sitting on the right hand of the father making intercession for us.
Heaven could not be heaven if we had all these ties we have on earth, such as:
• Families ties
• Race ties
• Social ties
We have one mediator praying for us and the Bible tells us it is JESUS!!!
During this time there seem to be some special considerations for these who died these horrible deaths like the world has never seen before.
These tribulation saints were told they must remain there without their glorified bodies because there are more tribulation saints that must suffer and die for their faith.
In Revelation, “trumpets” primarily announce impending judgment. We have looked at the angels that God will use to carry out these judgments.
Let’s now look at…
III. THE JUDGMENTS
The “trumpet judgments” are of greater intensity than the “seal judgments,” but not as destructive as the final “bowl judgments” which will be in Revelation 16:1-21.
A. THE FIRST FOUR TRUMPET JUDGMENTS
The first four trumpet judgments announce the divine destruction of earth’s ecology.
Look at Revelation 8:6-12 And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.
As the angel dumps these judgments on earth look what happens…
(1) 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.
(2) 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.(Tidal wave)
(3) 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; And the name of the star is called Wormwood (Bitter) and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.
(4) 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.
B. The final three trumpet judgments involve demonic devastation of earth’s inhabitants (9:1-21; 11:15).
This is the silent (Rev. 8:1), solemn preparation for the most awful judgments ever to come upon the world.
Romans 1:18 “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness”.
Conclusion:
Look at Revelation Revelation 8:13 And I beheld, and heard an angel 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!
This is where we will start next week in chapter 9.
In Chapter 8 we have looked at:
I. THE ANGELS
A. The seven angel
B. Another angel
II. THE JUDGMENTS
