Whereas, the damage done by the opening of the seals was mainly limited to humanity the damage from the trumpets will affect the entire world: the earth, the oceans, fresh waters, heavenly bodies, and humans. Commentators have likened the trumpet judgments to Moses and the plagues of Egypt. Let’s see what you think?
The first angel sounds his trumpet and hail and fire mingled with blood is thrown upon the earth, causing the third part of trees and all green grass to burn up. Thus, vegetation, fruit trees, and products obtained from trees are affected.
The second angel sounds his trumpet and a great mountain burning with fire is cast into the sea, causing a third part of the sea to become blood. It is believed the great mountain could be a volcano eruption that will kill a third of the creatures which are in the sea, and destroy a third of the ships that are in the sea. I can only assume that the blood will come from both human and marine creatures that have been touched by this volcano. Water transportation, food, cargo ships, ships of war, marine life are affected.
The third angel sounds his trumpet, and a great star named Wormwood falls upon a third part of the rivers and streams of fresh waters. This star is gigantic for it falls and affects a third part of the rivers and streams. Also, the Wormwood plant that is grown on earth is known to be a bitter extract. This Wormwood star has a similar effect; however, it poisons the waters, causing death to those that consume it. The waters are now polluted, and sanitation has been compromised.
The fourth angel blows his trumpet, and a third part of the sun, moon, and stars became dark. Also, there was no light for a third of the day and night. This means there will be less energy available to support man and nature.
Sci-fi movies often display unbelievable events, but no one could write this script except God. If you think these four trumpets are bad, the next three trumpet judgments are more grievous. Keep reading!
In previous chapters of Revelation, scenes in heaven were of praise and worship to our Savior. However, chapter eight begins with the final seal being broken and silence in heaven for about thirty minutes. The silence signifies the seriousness concerning what is about to happen. There were no sounds, no movement, just a hush.
Then seven trumpets are given to seven angels. In biblical times trumpets were made from a ram’s horn and were used for: worship, a call to war, warning of danger, proclaiming festivals, beginning pilgrimages, installing new kings, the assembling of the people and judgment.
Before the first trumpet is blown, John is shown the effects of the praying tribulation converts. He sees another angel offering up the prayers of converts with incense upon a golden altar which stood before the throne of God. Commentators believe these convert’s prayers requested deliverance and vindication from their enemies. In response, this angel, who also had a golden censer, fills it with the fire off the altar and hurls it down to earth in judgment.
As believers, please know there is a sweet smell that accompanies our prayers as they ascend before God. No doubt, this is one of the reasons the devil loves prayerlessness and attempts to prevent us from realizing the power of our prayers. The devil knows prayer is God’s plan for people to communicate with Him. Thus, prayer accomplishes God’s purpose and gives Him pleasure. Also, the devil knows the destination of our prayers, and he tries to hinder our prayers from being answered. Our prayers may be delayed, but they are answered as seen in this chapter of Revelation.
The next occurrences are voices, thundering, lightening, and another earthquake, which are the prelude for the trumpet judgments. The first four trumpet judgments affect the environment, and the last three affect people. Also, the first three trumpets judgments affect a third part of the land and waters; while the fourth affects the whole world.
Keep reading this blog to learn about the trumpet judgments.
Chapter seven covers three different events in three different locations. First, the chapter begins with a short description of the activities of angels in our atmosphere. We learn angels are territorial and on assignment. They have extraordinary strength for four of them are holding back the four winds from harming the earth. These same angels, when instructed will cause destruction to the environment.
Secondly, on earth, there will be twelve thousand servants of God from each tribe of Israel, totaling one hundred forty-four thousand. Notably missing was the tribe of Dan; however, it was replaced with the tribe of Manasses. The reason why this was done was not given. These servants are sealed on their forehead by an angel, which will supernaturally prevent them from being harmed during their tribulation ministry. Further discussion on these servants will be given in chapter fourteen.
Thirdly, in heaven there will be no ethnic division, social status, or racial prejudice, for we see a great number of people that came out of the great tribulation (the second half of the tribulation) from all nations, cultures, socioeconomic groups praising God together with the four beast, angels and twenty-four elders. The bible says God will meet all the needs of this great multitude of people, and they will not experience any discomfiture.
Revelation 6:12 – 17 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
Out of all the seals, the sixth seal will be the most dramatic judgment to take place. When the sixth seal is opened, the earth will experience a great earthquake. Some of the known side effects of an earthquake are fires, floods, tsunamis, landslides, volcanic activities, and soil liquefaction which cause structures to tilt, sink, or collapse. The earth becomes dark for the sun and moon are not providing their natural light. Stars and meteors will fall to earth, causing catastrophic damage, destruction, and craters. Stars are big. Can you imagine one falling on your house? Every mountain and island, will shift. I believe for the shifting of every mountain and island; this earthquake will be somehow global and not localized.
All of these occurrences will affect crops, transportation, energy, housing, healthcare, military, emergency services, communication, and the list goes on. My mind has difficulty grasping the magnitude of this event. All I can say, “Thank God, I will not be there.”
Social status will not protect people from the wrath of God. The earth inhabitants will fearfully try to hide in caves. Repentance is not sought, but they requested death with the realization that the day of reckoning is upon them. Unfortunately, this shows us the hardness of man’s heart, that amid turmoil, they are still too stubborn to seek and turn to God.
Revelation 6:9 – 11 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: 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 fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
The opening of the fifth seal reveals under the altar the newly, slain, believer’s soul which were killed for their belief in Christ. Unfortunately, they will not have the religious freedom of speech as we experience today. Remember, these believers will be saying they believe in Jesus Christ who raptured those millions of people and who will be coming back to earth to set up His kingdom. The world will see Jesus as the cause of the calamities happening to the planet. Thusly, expressions of faith toward Jesus will not be welcomed, but seen as treason leading to persecution and death. Some of the slain will be new converts, while others probably heard the gospel message preached before the rapture, but rejected it, and now realized they made a big mistake, repented and accepted Jesus.
Finally, the voices of the slain are heard crying over the inhumane treatment they received while on earth. They were given a white robe which symbolizes their victory and right standing with God, and told to rest until the end of the tribulation for many more would be joining them. For the scripture reveals throughout the tribulation there will be continued persecution and martyrdom; this means, however long the tribulation maybe believer’s lives will not be spared from death.
Revelation 6:3 – 8 “And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword. And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine. And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.”
While praying believers were on earth, their prayers diverted many calamities from happening, but now they are raptured. Yes, some of the people who in the past rejected salvation along with new converts will turn to Christ and start praying, but will it be enough?
The second seal is open, and peace is taken from the earth. The red horse symbolizes the blood and the sword symbolizes war. Besides the usual racial strife, labor feuding, organized crime, murders, civil wars, etc., the world will be engulfed in wars of unbelievable magnitude. The usual military conflict will not only be nation against nation but also involve dissatisfied nations revolting against the Antichrist. There will be no peace anywhere.
The opening of the third seal reveals a black horse and rider with a scale in his hand. The black horse represents famine, and the scale rationing in a failing economy. No doubt, the earth will become polluted by the wars resulting in inflation, driving the cost of produce sky high. What does not suffer is oil and wine. These commodities belong to the wealthy. Due to the exorbitant cost of food, poor people will starve while the rich continue to eat. The human starvation that we see in third world countries will visit our land.
The opening of the fourth seal reveals a pale horse whose rider was called Death with a companion called Hell. This fourth seal is the outcome of the compilation of the events of the previous seals: famine, war, and pestilence. The spread of disease will ravage the land. With so many people dying at the same time, corpses will be rotting in the streets, and the wild beast who roams the earth will have a human feast.
One-fourth of the world population will die within the first few years of the tribulation. Since our world census changes each day, and I do not have an actual date for the beginning of the tribulation, I am not able to give the exact number of deaths. Just know it will be in the millions.
Revelation 6:1 – 2 “And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.”
The first seal is opened, and it reveals a man riding on a white horse with a crown on his head and a bow in his hand. Eventually, in his rise to power, the crown which represents authority is given to him. The bow does not have arrows, meaning he conquers by diplomacy rather than warfare. This man has a plan which is world domination: he is the Antichrist. Many predictions have been made about the Antichrist, such as who is he, what is his nationality, and is he presently alive? What we know about the Antichrist is that he will come on the scene when the world is looking for answers. Environmental disasters, economic problems, the disappearance of millions of people,and the rapture aftermath to name a few things have left the world in a state of chaos and mass confusion. The Antichrist is brilliant, charismatic, diplomatic, and persuasive. He will be able to convince world leaders that he has the answers.
More insight into this man is given by Paul in II Thessalonians 2: 2 – 12
“Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”
Paul states in this scripture that there will be a widespread rebellion against God and His Word. At God’s set time, the Antichrist who is referred to as the man of sin or son of destruction will be revealed. He, like Satan, will attempt to exalt himself as God, crave man’s worship, and carry out dastardly deeds until the second coming of Christ to the earth. Also, God will allow the world to accept the lies and deceit of the antichrist because of their rejection of the truth.
As we continue the study of Revelation, more of the diabolical plans of the Antichrist will be exposed. I am glad I will not be here; how about you?
As we begin to share events that will occur during the tribulation, I think a quick review of the seven dispensations is needed to help identify where we are in biblical time. A dispensation is a period of time during which God interacts with a man concerning sin and man’s responsibility.
The Seven Dispensations are:
- Innocence which began with the creation of man and ended with his expulsion from the Garden of Eden. (Genesis 1:16 – 3:24)
- Conscience which began after the expulsion of man from the Garden of Eden and ended with Noah and the flood. (Genesis 4:1- 8:24)
- Human Government which began after the flood and ended with the construction of the tower of Babel and the confusion of man’s language. (Genesis 8:15 – 11:9)
- Promise which began with the call of Abram and ended with the children of Israel exodus out of Egypt. (Genesis 12:1- Exodus 14:31)
- Law which began with the given of the law to Moses ended with the Birth of Jesus Christ. (Exodus 15:22 – Matthew 1:18)
- Grace which began with the birth of Jesus, and will end at the end of the tribulation. (Matthew 1:18 – Revelation 19:21)
- Millennium Kingdom which begins with Jesus setting up His kingdom reign on earth and ends with the new heaven and earth. (Revelation 20:1 – 15)
Israel was the nation of people that God choose under the leadership of Abraham for Himself in the dispensation of Promise. As from the beginning with Adam, men fail to meet the requirements of their dispensation. Finally in the Dispensation of Grace, Jesus was born and with his birth came salvation for mankind.
For years after Jesus’ resurrection, His disciples preached to the Jews alone. Approximately ten years after the resurrection in Acts 10, Peter ministered to Cornelius and his family who were Gentiles. After that, Paul was the chosen vessel selected to minister to the Gentile nations (Acts 18:5 – 6; 9:15; Galatians 1:15 – 16). These men up to our present day ministers, through the preaching of the gospel, helped fulfilled John 1:11 – 12, “He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” So, it is in this present, Grace dispensation that we have been permitted the opportunity to be saved. Hallelujah!
During the tribulation, as revealed in the book of Revelation, most of the ministry emphasis is on the Jews. Many Jews will accept Jesus as their Savior and King. There will also be Gentiles that come to accept Jesus; however, the main focus will be on the salvation of the Jews. Remember, the Jews are God chosen nation of people, and the many prophetic promises given to them has yet to be fulfilled. As we listen to the news and see opposition escalating toward Israel by Arab nations and their alliances the stage is being set for the tribulation in the near future. Despite the hardships, they will experience the grace of God will sustain and help them.
Finally, for those of you who want more information on the seven dispensations, a search on the internet will provide you with helpful insight on this topic.
In Revelation, chapter five, as in chapter four, John is still in the spirit having a vision of events that are happening in heaven. He sees a book with seven seals that no one was able to open. This upsets John, and he weeps until He sees Jesus as the Lamb of God who was slain for our sin, comes forward and is able to open up the book. The Lamb is also seen with seven eyes: that represent the sevenfold spirits of God (Isaiah 11:2) Revelation 5:6 states these spirits are sent out to every part of the earth. From this, I conclude these spirits are present everywhere to assist believers. Even as we continually see them with Jesus in the book of Revelation, know they need to be with us.
Chapter five ends with the twenty-four elders, the four living creatures, and millions of angels singing a new song unto the Lord. Then John heard every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth, and in the sea speaking praises to the Lamb of God.
In Mark 13:5-27, Jesus told His disciples about occurrences that will take place during the tribulation. I suggest reading this scripture as an overview of what the scriptures will reveal in the following chapters of Revelation. Come along with me as we see the outcome of the twenty-one judgments (7 seals, 7 trumpets and 7 bowls) that is going to happen to the inhabitants of the earth. Get ready; this is not going to be nice!
In Revelation 4:10, the twenty-four elders were able to cast their crowns before the throne, which they had obtained for the works that they had done on earth. There are five attainable crowns of the believer that are found in the scripture. It is believed that believers will receive their crown at the judgment seat of Christ, which will take place in heaven. The crowns are as follows:
- Imperishable Crown is obtained for completing the race and obtaining mastery over the “old man.” It is also known as “Victor’s crown.” I Corinthians 9:25
- Crown of Life is given to those who persevere under afflictions, pressures, problems, etc. It is also known as the “Martyr’s Crown.” James 1:12; Revelation 2:10
- Crown of Rejoicing is given to soul-winners. II Thessalonians 2:19; Philippians 4:1
- Crown of Glory is given to those servants who tend to the flock of God. This is the “Pastor’s or Elder’s Crown.” I Peter 5:2-4
- Crown of Righteousness is given to believers who long for Christ return. II Timothy 4:7
In Revelation 3:11, Jesus exhorts the believer not to allow anyone to take their crown. Let us heed the instruction of Jesus and strive to obtain all the crowns that we can, so we can be one of the crown casters.
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