Revelation, the Grand Finale of God’s Word
Lesson 5
Revelation 8-11
The Trumpets of Judgment and
Proclamation of the Word
When my kids were little they used to make up songs. Almost all of them were about God or church. We video taped one of them where they all sang, “Trumpets will sound and I will be floating up with my God!” Even then they knew that heaven’s trumpets were a good sound for God’s people. But in our study this week we will also see that heaven’s trumpets are a terrible sound for those who do not have the seal of God that marks them as His people. One thing we will see in this study is that the prayers of the saints and the judgments of God are connected. After God hears his children’s cries he sounds the trumpets of judgment, sends his message to be proclaimed and vindicates the messengers with his power.
In everything that happens, God is involved, and if God is working in it, dear student, you can be sure that its purpose is for good. Just imagine that behind everything that happens before our eyes, there is an unseen reality involved and in control. While we do not have all the answers to every question of why, we can hold on to the Bible’s answer of who is in control.
Our God is the great creator of all things. He has absolute authority over all, and nothing can happen without His knowledge and permission. Jesus said, “Not a sparrow falls to the ground apart from his will.” (Matt. 10:29). This is not to blame God for evil, but to assure us that evil is not in charge! Tragic events and terrible suffering are everywhere and always have been. But are these things just meaningless happenings with no reason or purpose? God’s word answers that question. The purposes of God are in the world events to call people to repentance. Can you see the hand of God in your life? Have you come to trust in his grace even when the hour is dark and the way steep and you are weary and hurting? You can, you know. God will ultimately vindicate his people and judge all who trouble us, meanwhile we must trust in him.
Day 1
Read chapter 8:1-13
This book mentions seven earthquakes. Three of them are in chapters 8-11. The earth is shaking with judgments all through this chapter. But notice as chapter 8 opens, what happens in heaven right after the opening of the seventh seal?
It appears that everyone is listening, but what for? Read verses 3-4. What is going on here?
Read verse 5. What happens next?
Dear student, do you realize that all of heaven listens as your prayers are offered up before God? The seven angels receive their trumpets of judgment and then they wait as another angel presents our prayers to God. Just think of it! Heaven is quiet so that your prayers may be heard! How important are your prayers to God? Never underestimate the response of God to your prayers. Prayer precedes this entire section of events. Are you a person of prayer?
This section is about the sounding of seven trumpets and the events that follow. Notice the trumpets in the Bible. The Hebrew words for trumpet are shophar, a horn (for blowing):-- horn(4), horns(1), ram’s horn(1), trumpet(m)(46), trumpeter*(m)(1), trumpets(19). And chatsotsrah, (an ancient) trumpet:-- trumpet(1), trumpeters(3), trumpets(22). And teruah, trumpet, to blow the battle sound.
The Greek word for trumpet is salpigx, a trumpet:-- bugle(1), trumpet(8), trumpets(2).
This word for trumpet occurs 11 times in the New Testament and 6 of those times is in Revelation.
Read Exodus 19:1-25, Then read chapter 20:18-20. Notice the trumpets here. These were sounded as God began to give the ten commandments to Israel. What did the people think about this sound? What else do you see happening here that is similar to the first 5 verses of Rev. 8?
Look in a concordance at the word trumpet and notice the context of its use. Trumpets in the Bible were used to signal something. They typically were not used to play a tune and entertain an audience. Most of the time trumpets performed two major tasks: They called the people to worship, and they sounded the signals for war.
Read Matthew 24:29-31, 1 Cor. 15:52, 1 Thess. 4:16. (You might also read the contexts of these verses.
How are the trumpets used here?
What are they signaling?
Are you ready to hear the sound of the trumpet of God? For all who are in Christ, this will be a joy filled sound and call to eternal worship in the presence of our great God and King. For all who are not in Christ, it will be the terrifying sound of certain doom and destruction in the eternal place of punishment for all who do not follow the Lamb in faith and are marked with the seal of God.
Oh, may God bless us to hear that sound with joy! May our hearts and minds be tuned in to heavens voice here and now so that when the trumpet call comes, we rejoice in glory everlasting!
As you read verses 6-13 notice the words “a third.” How bad can it get? Underline all the thirds that are effected by these judgments.
8:6 And the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound them.
7 And the first sounded, and there came hail and fire, mixed with blood, and they were thrown to the earth; and a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.
8 And 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 creatures, which were in the sea and had life, died; and a third of the ships were destroyed.
10 And 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 waters;
11 and the name of the star is called Wormwood; and a third of the waters became wormwood; and many men died from the waters, because they were made bitter.
12 And the fourth angel sounded, and a third of the sun and a third of the moon and a third of the stars were smitten, so that a third of them might be darkened and the day might not shine for a third of it, and the night in the same way.
13 And I looked, and I heard an eagle flying in midheaven, saying with a loud voice, "Woe, woe, woe, to those who dwell on the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!"
Why is only one third of everything affected?
Is this the final judgment of God or something else?
Thus far we cannot discern the purposes of these trumpet judgments, but at the end of chapter 9 we see that they are aimed at specific people to warn and give them opportunity for repentance. Does God send judgments today to this earth? What are his purposes?
Day 2
Read chapter 9.
We ended chapter 8 with a warning cry from an eagle flying and crying, “Woe, Woe, Woe!” Now we see two more judgments of God that are sounded by the fifth and sixth angels blowing their trumpets. Things are getting worse than ever! These monsters who come up from an abyss appear to be spiritual creatures with terrible powers to inflict pain and suffering on people. This almost looks like a modern science fiction film. Only this is not a fiction book… This is the Word of God! What do you see? Locusts and horses and riders from hell?
Look again at verses 1-12. Answer the questions: Who? What? When? Where? Why? And How?
Who are these plagues aimed at? (Notice verse 4).
What is the plague like?
When is this taking place?
Where is it all occurring?
Why is it happening?
How does the plague affect men?
Notice that verse 12 says that this woe is passed. What does that mean?
Repeat the same process for verses 13-21.
Who are these plagues aimed at?
What is the plague like?
When is this taking place?
Where is it all occurring?
Why is it happening?
How does the plague affect men?
Can you even imagine such events as these actually happening in this world?
Notice that when we move from the fourth trumpet to the fifth, we enter the world of the spirit. We see unbelievable wickedness and bloodshed but from a spiritually beastly perspective. We do not know if the men on earth see what is happening to them or if they simply suffer the consequences of the evil that has been released upon them. We do know that there is great agony and death involved. We also know that God is summoning sinners to repentance! Dear student, can you see that the hand of God is behind even the horrors that occur on this planet? Do you know that evil must get its permission from the throne to do anything it does?
Notice Rev. 9:1-2...(See also, Rev. 11:7, 17:8, 20:1,3).
Read Luke 8:26-31. What do the demons that Jesus will do to them in this passage?
Read 2 Peter 2:4 Where are the sinful angels held according to this verse?
What all is in that Abyss or bottomless pit?
Why are they there?
Who put them there?
How does God use them?
When?
Reread this chapter carefully and notice that all these evil forces are given certain parameters and limitations. What does this tell us about evil in this world and its authority in our lives? Dear student, as a Christian, you serve a higher authority than all the evil forces in this world combined. They have no power beyond that which is given them. We can rejoice in Jesus and know that even if he allows us to suffer, he will not make us fall, and in fact, will work for our good even in the trials of life. I hope you noticed that this time the protection of God was on his people, those who are sealed as his. We will see later that God does allow his saints to be slain, but he will vindicate us and reward us for faithfulness unto death. We will receive a crown of life!
When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie
My grace all sufficient shall be thy supply.
The flame shall not harm thee, I only design
Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine!
When through the deep waters I cause thee to go
The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow.
For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.
Day 3
Read chapter 10
This chapter introduces an interlude before the final trumpet is sounded. Revelation does this between the sixth and seventh seals as well. Here we meet a giant angel with a little book that John is told to eat. Someone has said that chapter 10 speaks of the New Testament and chapter 11 speaks of the Old. Perhaps this is overly simplified, but these chapters do seem to refer to the Word of God.
Verses 1-4
How is this angel described?
Where is this taking place?
What does John hear and why doesn’t he write it down?
What does this tell us about how much information we have? Is there anything we are not allowed to know? Why?
Verses 5-7
What are we told to expect when the seventh angel sounds his trumpet?
What prophecy is to be fulfilled and accomplished?
Verses 8-11
What is John told to do?
What will happen to him when he does it?
After John obeys the first command what must he do?
Read Ezekiel 2:8- 3:7
Notice that the prophet here is also told to eat a scroll and notice what he is to do when he eats it. Also notice what God says the results will be. How does this seem to be similar to what we are reading here in Rev. 10?
Dear student, we also are to feed on the Word of God and be spiritually nourished by it. 1 Peter 1:22 Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart, 23 for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and abiding word of God. 24 For, "ALL FLESH IS LIKE GRASS, AND ALL ITS GLORY LIKE THE FLOWER OF GRASS. THE GRASS WITHERS, AND THE FLOWER FALLS OFF, 25 BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD ABIDES FOREVER." And this is the word which was preached to you. 2:1 Therefore, putting aside all malice and all guile and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, 2 like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, 3 if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.
Not only are we to feed on the Word, but we are also to proclaim it! 1 Peter 2:9 But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
It was not enough that John ate the little book, he then was called to prophecy again! This is a spiritual process for us as Christians: we are nourished by the word of God, and we are to share that Word with others.
Day 4
John has eaten the little scroll and has been commissioned to prophesy to many. Now we enter one of the most difficult places in the Revelation to interpret. Dear student, do not forget our objective to let the Word of God speak for itself. What is said is not difficult to understand, but we are left to wonder what it specifically means since it does not tell us. Just remember, while there are some good guesses, we should remain humble enough to admit that we do not know for sure. What we can say, and stand on, is what it clearly says… no more and no less. The lessons drawn and the principles given are more clear than the specific meanings of the details.
11:1 And there was given me a measuring rod like a staff; and someone said, "Rise and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and those who worship in it.
2 "And leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the nations; and they will tread under foot the holy city for forty-two months.
The only other place in the Bible where a comparable scene is recorded is in Ezekiel chapters 40 –48. These chapters are all about the measuring of the temple and the allotments for Israel. You may wish to read them to see. Everything is measured and recorded. The purpose seems to be to cleanse and restore God’s way for the worship and the nation.
List the three things is John told to measure?
1.
2.
3.
What is he told to leave out and why?
In this section (Rev. 11:1-14), mark all the references to time. Notice how specific these are. Does this mean that there are precise limits set on these things? Who sets these limits?
3 "And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth."
4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.
5 And if anyone desires to harm them, fire proceeds out of their mouth and devours their enemies; and if anyone would desire to harm them, in this manner he must be killed.
6 These have the power to shut up the sky, in order that rain may not fall during the days of their prophesying; and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood, and to smite the earth with every plague, as often as they desire.
7 And when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them and kill them.
8 And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which mystically is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified.
9 And those from the peoples and tribes and tongues and nations will look at their dead bodies for three and a half days, and will not permit their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb.
10 And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and make merry; and they will send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.
11 And after the three and a half days the breath of life from God came into them, and they stood on their feet; and great fear fell upon those who were beholding them.
12 And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here." And they went up into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies beheld them.
13 And in that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell; and seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.
14 The second woe is past; behold, the third woe is coming quickly.
The two witnesses are introduced. Are these two symbolic of Moses and the Prophets? Are they literal men that stand on the earth and speak and bring plagues on the earth and burn up all those who try to hurt them? What on earth is happening here?
I would humbly submit that this is symbolic. This section seems to represent the work of proclaiming the Word of God that has been done through out history (and continues to be done). It was introduced by John’s command to eat the scroll and prophesy to the world. Here we see what looks like the Law and Prophets as two witnesses. God has always used powerful works to confirm his Word. The Word of God also comes against all that do evil and resist God. While God’s protection on his servants and punishments for those who oppose them are certain. It is not the case that his servants cannot suffer harm. God allows his witnesses to be killed, but notice that they are vindicated and the earth is judged for it. Dear student, look carefully at this description of the work of proclaiming the Word of God. Whose side would you want to be on?
Answer the questions of Who, What, When, Where, Why and How, as best you can in this section.
Who are the characters in this section?
Are there any hints for who they may represent?
What sides are represented?
What are the different characters in this section doing?
When do these events seem to be occurring?
Where are they happening?
Why do the things that happen in this section occur?
How does the section begin, progress and end?
What overall message seems to be given in this section about God, his Word, his witnesses, those who oppose them, the great enemy from the abyss, the way the world views the workers of God, and the way God vindicates his workers?
If you and I are on the Lord’s side, we will stand against the ways of the world and will face opposition. Jesus said, “Beware when all men speak well of you.” The servants of the Lord who bear his Word in this world must stand strong. You, dear student, are being trained in this Word for the work of the Lord in this world. Do not fear, do not shrink back, be faithful unto death and Jesus Christ will reward you with the crown of eternal life!
Day 5
Read chapter 11:15-19
15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there arose loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever."
16 And the twenty-four elders, who sit on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshipped God,
17 saying, "We give Thee thanks, O Lord God, the Almighty, who art and who wast, because Thou hast taken Thy great power and hast begun to reign.
18 "And the nations were enraged, and Thy wrath came, and the time came for the dead to be judged, and the time to give their reward to Thy bond-servants the prophets and to the saints and to those who fear Thy name, the small and the great, and to destroy those who destroy the earth."
19 And the temple of God which is in heaven was opened; and the ark of His covenant appeared in His temple, and there were flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder and an earthquake and a great hailstorm.
Did you hear that? The final trumpet sounded and what happened?
What was promised by the great angel in chapter 10 about what would happen at the sounding of the seventh trumpet?
Circle the word “time” in this section. What two things occur at this time?
How is this a “woe” for those who inhabit the earth?
Who are the earthlings that this seems to refer to?
Notice how this scene closes. What great events mark the end of this section?
Read chapters 8-11 together now.
As you read these together pay attention to the progression when each trumpet is sounded. Make a brief note of what stands out most as each one is sounded:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
If you only had this much of the book of Revelation to know and study, what would be your overall impression of this message?
How does this section line up with the previous section of the seven seals?
What is similar?
What are the main differences?
Dear student, you are working to understand God’s message from this amazing book. I hope and pray that you can see the great theme of God’s power over all things. Do not get lost in the details and miss the most important message of the book. Remember who authorizes the sounding of each trumpet and who directs the courses of each character in the visions. Men are given the opportunity to learn from both blessings and punishments. The clearest opportunity to learn of God comes from the proclamation of his word. Yet what do we discover about the willingness of people to repent? Who is at fault for the failure of man to come to repentance? Is God not active in every way working to get our attention and direct our hearts back to him? Those evil creatures who are released to punish those who are not sealed by God, where do they come from and where are they going? Would anyone wish to join them in their eternal destiny? All who resist God are headed for the eternal dwelling of all of these horrible creatures of the abyss. All who are sealed by God are headed for eternal glory with Jesus Christ the King of kings and Lord of lords. Rejoice, dear student! You and I share an eternal destiny in glory with our victorious Redeemer!
