The Seventh Seal And The First Four Trumpets Series

Alpha and Omega, Part 32, Revelation Part 9

The Seventh Seal and the First Four Trumpets

Revelation 8:1-13

Introduction

- Been study together, chapter by chapter, to understand God’s plan for creation

- Last week, we discussed the 144,000 and their primary mission: Evangelize

-- These would be 144,000, of Jewish descent, who come to Christ by faith

-- Chapter 7 was a bit of a parenthesis, and interlude to the judgments

-- The purpose was to show God’s continued mercy, even during His wrath

-- Why? 2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.”

- Today we will resume the events with Jesus opening the seventh seal

-- Note: This unveils what is contained within the scroll (the one God held)

-- It is God’s plan for humanity, imp for us to lean in and understand this

-- CHART: Timeline wise, this is just before the mid-point of the Tribulation

-- It is also referred to as the “Wrath of the Lamb”

- Read Revelation 8:1-13 / Pray

Point 1 – Jesus opens the Seventh Seal

- When the 7th seal is broken, there is a time of deafening silence in Heaven

-- But see this – when the seal is opened … nothing actually happens! Instead …

-- Heaven stands in amazement of the Lamb! Think: nearly afraid of what’s next

-- This is reverence response to Jesus – they are in awe at His great authority

- Consider: Trembling before Him, they see His wrath being prepared

-- APP: The holiness of God ought to cause us to pause; to check ourselves!

-- Habakkuk 2:20, “But the Lord is in his holy Temple. Let all the earth be silent before him.”

- When it’s opened, prepared are two instruments of judgment for the world:

• First: Seven angels come from the scroll in Christ’s hand

- As they appear, they’re handed seven trumpets (to announce His judgment)

-- After all that Heaven has witnessed, it’s nothing compared to what’s coming

-- The power they possess is clearly in their position – stand before God

-- But not just before Him, with His authority to act being handed to them

- Greek: salpigx; trumpet. (pronounced Sal-Pinx)

-- Trumpets always signify God stepping into intervene in human history

-- God is about to move against the godless, the rejectors of His Son / salvation

-- The psalmist captured God’s judgment in these words: Psalm 58:11, “Then at last (when God’s avenges) everyone will say, “There truly is a reward for those who live for God; surely there is a God who judges justly here on earth.”

• Second: The prayers of the believers / saints are prepared to be used

- These are the prayers of ALL the saints (important that we see this)

--- Some are in Heaven, and some are on Earth – all the prayers are gathered

-- Why? Because all have suffered or been through trials – God knows them all

- Consider: Who has caused the suffering? The father of lies – the deceiver

-- RE: Garden of Eden, He put these things into motion by intervening

-- He introduced sin into the world, and while we have our part, here we are…

- APP: The day is coming when God will answer the prayers of all His people

-- All those who have rejected, denied, cursed, or ignored Jesus will be judged

- Why? Because we have a consistent command about we are to live:

-- Leviticus 19:2, “Give the following instructions to the entire community of Israel. You must be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.” (repeated in)

-- 1 Peter 1:16, “For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”

- An angel takes the fire from the altar, and mixes it with the prayers of saints

-- These are the prayers of those who are calling out for rescue, for vindication

-- Incense is mixed with fire; they are presented as an offering to God

-- Greek: libanótos; frankincense, a censer (think catholic church, incense)

-- Then … they are then thrown down upon this godless society!

- APP: Don’t miss this: God will not allow mankind to mock Him forever

-- He will avenge His name, and His commands, purposefully with His creation

-- This is the launching of the “great” tribulation – mankind’s punishment for sin

-- Jude 1:14-15, “Enoch, who lived in the seventh generation after Adam, prophesied about these people. He said, “Listen! The Lord is coming with countless thousands of his holy ones to execute judgment on the people of the world. He will convict every person of all the ungodly things they have done and for all the insults that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”