Revelation Study Series 13 - God’s Mysterious Plan Fulfilled ch. 8
01.23.22
Message…
Revelation 8:1
When the Lamb broke the seventh seal on the scroll, there was silence throughout heaven for about half an hour.
Today, we focus on the seventh seal of the scroll that one day the Lamb of God will break. It begins a number of events, all predetermined by God and allowed by God. All will bring ultimate final glory to God.
The seventh seal of the scroll contains what are called the Seven Trumpet Judgments (out of the seventh trumpet judgment comes the seven bowl judgments)...all of this will occur during the final 3 1/2 years of the Tribulation period...
I’m titling this Message “The Sound of Silence” from this verse.
That was also a song by Simon & Garfunkel (1963). I was going to quote you a lyric from that song. But, the song doesn’t make any sense. Simon wrote it in his bathroom with the lights off and he can’t even tell you what it means.
God is clear in what He means. God was clear with what He had John record for us to know…
A half hour of silence in heaven...thirty minutes…
Some of you mothers and wives would love 30 minutes of silence wouldn’t you?
It probably never happens in your house, and it never happens in heaven...but, it will...at least this once.
This half hour of silence in heaven tells us that silence isn’t normal.
Think about that. All the praise and worship going on in heaven...right now.
Heaven is a busy place. Construction...new arrival orientation...something is happening in heaven!
But, all of that stops…
*(30 minutes, 1,800 seconds of silence)
What is this half hour of silence all about?
Maybe it's calm before the storm. Something is about to happen! Something significant/big is about to take place!
“As someone has said, “The steps of God from mercy to judgment are always slow, reluctant, and measured.” God is reluctant to judge for He is slow to anger. …
... “For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD ...” (Ezek. 18:32). This silence marks the transition from grace to judgment.”
McGee, J. Vernon, Thru the Bible with J. Vernon McGee, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers) 2000, c1981.
Revelation 8:2
2 I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and they were given seven trumpets.
Trumpets in the Bible were typically used to assemble people for worship. They would warn of impending danger...assembling people to action including a call to war.
Our text says, “the seven angels who stand before God”...apparently they are not there just for these trumpets. They stand in His presence.
When Gabriel announced the birth of John the Baptist to Zechariah he said…
... “I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. It was He who sent me to bring you this good news! Luke 1:19
Gabriel announced Christ's birth. It stands to reason that he must be one of the seven!
These angels will blow their trumpet one by one ushering in events/judgments during the Tribulation time…
Revelation 8:3-5
3 Then another angel with a gold incense burner came and stood at the altar. And a great amount of incense was given to him to mix with the prayers of God’s people as an offering on the gold altar before the throne.
4 The smoke of the incense, mixed with the prayers of God’s holy people, ascended up to God from the altar where the angel had poured them out.
5 Then the angel filled the incense burner with fire from the altar and threw it down upon the earth; and thunder crashed, lightning flashed, and there was a terrible earthquake.
The OT tabernacle and temple had a golden altar of incense.
It was fairly small...about 1.5 ft square x 3’ tall. It was made of acacia wood and then overlaid with gold.
It stood in the Holy place before the veil that separated the Holy place from the Holy of Holies.
That is where the ark of the covenant was with God’s presence.
“God commanded the priests to burn incense on the golden altar every morning and evening, the same time that the daily burnt offerings were made. The incense was to be left burning continually throughout the day and night as a pleasing aroma to the Lord. … (Exodus 30:34-38).”
http://the-tabernacle- place.com/articles/what_is_the_tabernacle/tabernacle_altar_of_incense
Remember that the tabernacle and temple were patterned after things in heaven.
So, this angel with the golden incense burner represents the prayers of believers who have been waiting for the Kingdom of God to come. Their prayers offered have gone unanswered. However, when the angel casts the fire from the altar to the earth...they will be answered!
As a side note it is interesting to see how our prayers work and encouraging…
When you pray…
-Your prayer is captured
-Your prayer is held/protected
-Your prayer is offered at just the right time
-Your prayer is heard
-Your prayer is acted upon (all of Heaven is involved when you pray!)
Revelation 8:6-7
6 Then the seven angels with the seven trumpets prepared to blow their mighty blasts.
*(If you were to compare some of the plagues that Egypt suffered in the OT because of their disobedience to God and opposition to His people...they are repeated in these trumpet judgments, but on a much larger scale.)
7 The first angel blew his trumpet, and hail and fire mixed with blood were thrown down on the earth. One-third of the earth was set on fire, one-third of the trees were burned, and all the green grass was burned.
This is a literal judgment, with literal destruction...just as it is described.
Research tells us…
“Globally, there are estimated to be 3.04 trillion trees.
This is according to a study published in the journal Nature. This means that there are roughly 422 trees for every person on earth. Dec 24, 2021”
How Many Trees Are in The World? (2022 New data)https://www.gotreequotes.com › how-many-trees-in-world
“Of the land area: ~20% is covered in grass. ~29.6% is covered in trees.”
https://www.answerbag.com/q_view/27304
Sources: http://www.earthrestorationservice.org/page/87/grassland.htm http://www.ecology.com/feature-stories/quiet-evolution-of-trees/index.htm
1/3rd of the earth’s vegetation will be destroyed as hail and fire are cast to the earth.
Revelation 8:8-9
8 Then the second angel blew his trumpet, and a great mountain of fire was thrown into the sea. One-third of the water in the sea became blood,
9 one-third of all things living in the sea died, and one-third of all the ships on the sea were destroyed.
What is this “mountain of fire”?
It could be a meteor, or an asteroid...it is unknown.
We know what it does! It causes 1/3rd of the marine life to be destroyed along with 1/3rd of the world’s ships.
One of the busiest seaports is the area of the Mediterranean. If this destruction took place there, it alone could probably knock out that number of the world’s shipping vessels. (“Revelation”, Tim LaHaye, p. 130)
Revelation 8:10-11
10 Then the third angel blew his trumpet, and a great star fell from the sky, burning like a torch. It fell on one-third of the rivers and on the springs of water.
11 The name of the star was Bitterness. It made one-third of the water bitter, and many people died from drinking the bitter water.
This star may be a comet. As it falls it destroys 1/3rd of the earth’s waters by polluting them, killing many who drink it.
“Bitterness” – “Wormwood” other translations.
That word is often tied in scripture to “sorrow and calamity” as well as with those that pollute themselves with idolatry.
Deuteronomy 29:18
18 so that there may not be among you man or woman or family or tribe, whose heart turns away today from the Lord our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations, and that there may not be among you a root bearing bitterness or wormwood;
Revelation 8:12
12 Then the fourth angel blew his trumpet, and one-third of the sun was struck, and one-third of the moon, and one-third of the stars, and they became dark. And one-third of the day was dark, and also one-third of the night.
Bible Commentator Warren Wiersbe states…
“...The judgments from the first three trumpets affected only a third part of the land and waters, but this fourth judgment affects the entire world. Why? Because it gets to the very source of the earth's life and energy, the sun.
With one third less sunlight on the earth, there will be one third less energy available to support the life systems of man and nature.
This judgment parallels the ninth plague in Egypt (Ex. 10:21-23), which lasted three days. "The Day of the Lord is darkness, and not light" (Amos 5:18). Think of the vast changes in temperatures that will occur and how these will affect human health and food growth.”
—Bible Exposition Commentary - New Testament, Warren Wiersbe
This judgment will reverse the time of day and night in that there will be 16 hours of night/darkness, with only 8 hours of day/light.
Luke 21:25-26
25 “And there will be strange signs in the sun, moon, and stars. And here on earth the nations will be in turmoil, perplexed by the roaring seas and strange tides.
26 People will be terrified at what they see coming upon the earth, for the powers in the heavens will be shaken.
Revelation 8:13
13 Then I looked, and I heard a single eagle crying loudly as it flew through the air, “Terror, terror, terror to all who belong to this world because of what will happen when the last three angels blow their trumpets.”
“Terror, terror, terror” - other translations use “Woe”.
Our texts says, “eagle”...other translations say “angel”...the literal translation is “eagle”.
It could be one of the four living creatures which the Bible describes as having the face of an eagle.
It isn’t as important to know who delivers this message, but what the message is…
Three more trumpets are about to blow...and as horrible as the judgments have been with the first four trumpets, none of that will compare with what is to come with these remaining three…
So, here we are again with what do I take from what we’ve read?
How do I put into practice what God’s Word/His Spirit is speaking/revealing to me?
Revelation 8:13
13 Then I looked, and I heard a single eagle crying loudly as it flew through the air, “Terror, terror, terror to all who belong to this world because of what will happen when the last three angels blow their trumpets.”
Revelation 8:13 “...refers to a kind of people: those who live for the earth and the things of the earth. These are just the opposite of people who have their citizenship in heaven…”
-Warren Wiersbe
Philippians 3:18-21
18 For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ.
19 They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth.
20 But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for Him to return as our Savior.
21 He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like His own, using the same power with which He will bring everything under His control.
1 John 2:15-17
15 Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you.
16 For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.
17 And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.
Who do you “belong” to?
Does the way you live show it?!
