The Seven Seal, Trumpet and Bowl Judgments.doc

The Seven Seal, Trumpet and Bowl Judgments Introduction During the last three and a half years of Daniel’s Seventieth Week, the Lord Jesus Christ will break seven seals, which contain judgments that will be poured out upon the earth at that time. These seven seal judgments are recorded in Revelation 6:1-17 and 8:1-5. The seventh seal triggers seven trumpet judgments, which are recorded in Revelation 8:1-9:21 and 11:15-19. The seventh trumpet judgment triggers seven bowl judgments, which are recorded in Revelation 16. These bowl judgments complete the third and final portion of God’s program to exercise His wrath, i.e. righteous indignation during the last three and a half years of Daniel’s Seventieth, which is also called by students of prophecy as the “Great Tribulation.” The Scriptures plainly teach that the wrath poured out during the Great Tribulation period originates with God and is therefore a time of God’s wrath upon a Christ rejecting a world that is deceived by the devil (See Isaiah 34:1-2; Joel 1:15; Obadiah 15; Revelation 15:1, 7; 16:1; Revelation 19:11-21). The Scriptures plainly reveal that Daniel’s Seventieth Week, also known as the Great Tribulation period is distinctly the time when God’s wrath and judgment fall upon the earth. This is not wrath from men, nor from Satan, except as God may use these agencies as instruments for the execution of His will, thus the wrath during Daniel’s Seventieth Week is tribulation from God. This period differs from all preceding tribulation, not only in intensity but also in the kind of tribulation, since it comes from God Himself. The pouring out of God’s Wrath will be administered by the Lord Jesus Christ when executes the seven seal judgments. One of the purposes of the tribulation is to pour out judgment on unbelieving man and nations. Joel 3:2, “I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat. Then I will enter into judgment with them there on behalf of My people and My inheritance, Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations and they have divided up My land.” The seven seal judgments are directly related to this judgment of the world’s inhabitants who are deceived by the devil. The divine judgments that will fall on the inhabitants of the earth are designed to lead men to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ since God desires all men to be saved. 2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” The divine judgments that will fall on the earth are also designed to destroy Satan’s cosmic system and establish Christ’s millennial rule. Revelation 11:15, “Then the seventh angel sounded; and there were 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.’” The Seven Seal Judgments In Revelation chapter five, the apostle John under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit records for us the events in heaven that immediately precede the great judgments executed against the inhabitants of planet earth during Daniel’s Seventieth Week. In this chapter, John has a vision of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ taking from the Father a seven-sealed book that contains the prophecy of events to be unfolded during Daniel’s Seventieth Week. Revelation 5:1, “I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a book written inside and on the back, sealed up with seven seals.” The one who is sitting on the throne is God the Father and not the Lord Jesus Christ since the latter takes the seven sealed scroll from the hand of the Father according to Revelation 5:7. “Seven” is the number of perfection or completeness. Therefore, the number in relation to the seals expresses the perfection with which the hidden counsels of God are securely hidden until they are disclosed by God Himself as here. This seven sealed document is actually the title deed to planet earth. Genesis 1:26-30, Psalm 8 and Hebrews 2:7-8 teach that mankind was designed to rule over the works of God’s creation. Genesis 1:26, “Next, God decreed let Us model man in Our image, according to Our likeness. Consequently, they will rule over the fish in the various bodies of water and over the birds in the earth’s atmosphere and over the animal kingdom and over the entire earth and over each and every creeper-crawler, those which crawl upon the earth.” So Adam was created and designed in the image and likeness of God in order that he might exercise sovereign authority over all creation. Psalm 8, “O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth, Who have displayed Your splendor above the heavens! From the mouth of infants and nursing babes You have established strength Because of Your adversaries, to make the enemy and the revengeful cease. When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained; What is man that You take thought of him, and the son of man that You care for him? Yet You have made him a little lower than God, and You crown him with glory and majesty! You make him to rule over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea, whatever passes through the paths of the seas. O LORD, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth!” The rulership of the creation was lost by Adam and the Woman in the Garden of Eden when they disobeyed the Lord’s prohibition to not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 3). Satan usurped the rulership of the first Adam over the earth when he deceived the woman into disobeying the Lord’s prohibition to not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and getting Adam to do so as well. However, the Last Adam, the God-Man, the Lord Jesus Christ has regained that rulership over the earth with His obedience to the Father’s will in going to the Cross in order to die a substitutionary spiritual death in the place of all of sinful humanity. Hebrews 2:6-9, “WHAT IS MAN (mankind in general), THAT YOU REMEMBER HIM? OR THE SON OF MAN, THAT YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT HIM? YOU HAVE MADE HIM (mankind) FOR A LITTLE WHILE LOWER THAN THE ANGELS; YOU HAVE CROWNED HIM (mankind) WITH GLORY AND HONOR, AND HAVE APPOINTED HIM (mankind) OVER THE WORKS OF YOUR HANDS. For in subjecting all things to him (mankind), He left nothing that is not subject to him (mankind). But now we do not yet see all things subjected to him (mankind). But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.” That Satan is the temporary authority over the earth is indicated in that 2 Corinthians 4:4 says that he is the “god of this world.” The Lord Jesus Christ’s death on the Cross gained the rulership of the earth back for mankind according to Philippians 2:5-11 and Hebrews 2:9. In Hebrews 2:6-8a, we have the record of God’s purpose for mankind decreed whereas in Hebrews 2:8, we have this purpose delayed due to the Fall and in Hebrews 2:9, 14 and 17 we have this purpose accomplished through the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, this scene in heaven recorded in Revelation chapter five is the presentation of the title deed to planet earth to the Lord Jesus Christ. J. Hampton Keathley III makes the following insightful comment regarding these seals, he writes, “The Roman Custom: The Roman custom of making a will included a ceremony involving a testator and seven witnesses. For each of the seven witnesses there was a seal. In addition, a very reliable friend was selected who would, for a coin, purchase the property for the family. In this way the property would become the property of the reliable friend, however, upon the death of the testator, the very reliable friend would return the property to the rightful heirs. For such a document, a long scroll of parchment was used. The writer of the document would begin writing and after a period, he would stop, roll up the parchment enough to cover his words, and then seal the scroll with wax. He would then resume writing, stop, seal another portion, and so on until the entire scroll was sealed with seven seals. In this way, the scroll would read a section at a time after each seal was broken. In the analogy, the Lord Jesus is the reliable Friend who has purchased our redemption and is here seen opening the seals which provide us with our inheritance. In this case, He is reclaiming that which was lost by Adam. Further, this procedure was used to keep unauthorized persons from opening the seven-sealed scroll. Only a “worthy” person, the one with the right credentials, could open the seals, read the inheritance, and give it to the inheritors. The Jewish Custom: Criswell points out that if a Jewish family were to lose its property or possessions by some kind of misfortune or distress, their property could not be permanently taken from them (the Old Testament law of jubilee and the kinsman redeemer protected them against this). However, their losses were listed in a scroll and sealed seven times. Then the conditions necessary to purchase back the land and their possessions were written on the outside of the scroll. When a qualified redeemer could be found, who could meet the requirements of reclamation (a kinsman like Boaz as in the story of Ruth), the one who had taken the property was required to return it to the original owner. (Studies in Revelation-Christ’s Victory Over The Forces Of Darkness, page 98; Biblical Studies Press; www.bible.org; 1997) Revelation 5:2-5, “And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, ‘Who is worthy to open the book and to break its seals?’ And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the book or to look into it. Then I began to weep greatly because no one was found worthy to open the book or to look into it and one of the elders said to me, ‘Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals.’” The “Lion that is from the tribe of Judah” is a reference to the Lord Jesus Christ and is a reference to Israel’s prophecy regarding Judah’s descendants recorded in Genesis 49:8-10. Genesis 49:8, “Judah, your brothers shall praise you; Your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies; Your father's sons shall bow down to you.” “Judah” (hd*Why+) (yehudhah) (yeh-hoo-daw) was the fourth child that Leah bore to Jacob and his name means, “I will praise the Lord” and his birth is recorded in Genesis 29:35. Both King David and the Lord Jesus Christ descended from the tribe of Judah. Hebrews 7:14, “For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah.” Genesis 49:9, “Judah is a lion's whelp; From the prey, my son, you have gone up. He couches, he lies down as a lion, and as a lion, who dares rouse him up?” “Lion’s whelp” is composed of the noun gur (rWG) (goor), “young lion” and the noun `aryeh (hy@r+a^) (a-ree), “mature lion” and so therefore, this expression literally reads, “a young lion of a mature lion.” This expression does “not” refer to a young cub but rather a young lion that has finally mature and is able to capture prey for itself. In the ancient world, the lion was a proverbial symbol of courage, strength and kingship because of its majestic appearance with its mane and swift, powerful movements and prowess as a fearless predator. The lion was used as a figure in Israel for the Messiah and was applied by the Holy Spirit to the Lord Jesus Christ who is called “the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah” in Revelation 5:5. Therefore, in Genesis 49:9, the phrase “Judah is a lion’s whelp” is a prediction meaning that the tribe of Judah would have a lion-like nature, which refers to its military prowess. This was fulfilled in a near sense when the tribe of Judah became the leader of the other tribes militarily (See Numbers 2:1-3; Judges 1:1-2; 3:9; 20:18) and it was fulfilled through the military successes of King David. In a far sense it will be fulfilled through the lion of Judah, the Lord Jesus Christ at His Second Advent when He will destroy Israel’s enemies including antichrist and the Tribulational armies (See Revelation 19:11-21; Zechariah 12 and 14). Genesis 49:10, “The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes, and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.” The “scepter” in the ancient world was a symbol of authority, sovereignty and kingship (See Numbers 24:17) and “the ruler’s staff” refers to the one who establishes laws and decrees. The expression “from between his feet” is a reference to kings who were seated on their throne with a ruler staff between their feet. “Until” is the preposition `adh (du^), which does “not” mean that the kingship in Israel will change from the tribe of Judah “until” the Messiah has arrived but rather indicates that kings would arise from the tribe of Judah right “up to” the arrival of the Messiah. “Shiloh comes”: (1) Conjunction ki (yK!) (kee), “when” (2) 3rd person masculine singular qal imperfect form of the verb bo (aoB) (3) “He comes” (4) Relative particle `asher (rv#a&) (ash-er), “which belongs” (5) Preposition le (l+) (lamed), “to” (6) 3rd person masculine singular pronominal suffix, “him.” With the exception of the RSV and NIV, most English translations incorrectly translate the Hebrew expression hOyv! as “Shiloh” since the expression is almost identical to the spelling of the proper noun Shiloh, which is hOv!. The proper noun Shiloh refers to a Canaanite city captured by the Israelites but in Genesis 49:10, the reference is to a person since the context is speaking of the rulership or kingship in Israel coming from the tribe of Judah. “Peoples” is the noun `am (<u^), which is used to denote all the inhabitants of the earth. The conjunction ki is used in a temporal sense meaning “when” referring to the moment the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ assumes the Davidic throne at His Second Advent to establish His millennial reign. Therefore, the preposition `adh when coupled with the conjunction ki means, “up to the moment when.” The relative particle `asher means “which belongs” referring to possession of the scepter and ruler’s staff mentioned in the previous clause, which must be inserted into the translation in order for it to make sense in the English. Corrected translation of Genesis 49:10, “The scepter shall not depart from Judah nor the ruler's staff from between his feet up to the moment when He (the Messiah) comes, which to him belongs the scepter and ruler’s staff and to him the obedience of all the inhabitants of the earth.” In Genesis 49:10, Israel is prophesying that the kingship in Israel shall come out of the tribe of Judah and this will continue up to the time that the Messiah arrives. This prophecy has been fulfilled once the tribe of Judah under David assumed the leadership over the nation, the kingship in Israel has never departed from Judah up to time of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ’s First Advent who will establish His millennial reign at His Second Advent. The inhabitants of all the earth will be subjugated to the Lord Jesus Christ during His millennial reign since God the Father bestowed upon Him the rulership of the entire earth because He obeyed the Father’s will in going to the Cross and dying for the sins of the entire world (See Philippians 2:5-11; Ephesians 1:20-23; Colossians 1:18; Psalm 89:27; Zechariah 14:9). Israel’s prophecy in Genesis 49:10 is a reference to the “Davidic” covenant, which was an unconditional covenant and deals with the dynasty that will rule the nation of Israel as indicated in 2 Samuel 7:16 where God promised David that a descendant of his would sit on his throne forever. The “Davidic” covenant is reconfirmed throughout the Old Testament (Psalm 89:24-27; Isaiah 9:6-7; Jeremiah 23:5-6; 30:8-9; 33:14-17, 20-21; Ezekiel 37:24-25; Daniel 7:13-14; Hosea 3:4-5; Amos 9:11; Zechariah 14:4, 9) and the Lord Jesus Christ will literally fulfill this covenant during His millennial reign. The description of the Lord Jesus Christ as a “lion” refers to His Second Advent since the lion in the ancient world spoke of majesty whereas as the description of Him as a “lamb” is a reference to His First Advent since the lamb spoke of meekness. The description of the Lord Jesus Christ as a “lion” emphasizes His sovereign authority and His role as Judge of the earth and speaks of His theocratic government. The description of Him as a “lamb” emphasizes His Saviorhood and that He was judge by the Father as a substitute for sinful humanity and it speaks of the grace of God. Revelation 5:5, “and one of the elders said to me, ‘Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals.’” “The Root of David” is another title for the Lord Jesus Christ and is a reference to the prophecy of Isaiah 11:1, 10. Isaiah 11:1, “Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse, and a branch from his roots will bear fruit.” Isaiah 11:10, “Then in that day the nations will resort to the root of Jesse, who will stand as a signal for the peoples; And His resting place will be glorious.” Revelation 5:6, “And I saw between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth.” The “seven horns” represent the perfection of the Lord Jesus Christ’s omnipotence and authority since the number seven represents spiritual perfection and the horn in the ancient world was used to symbolize power and governmental authority. The “seven eyes” denotes the spiritual perfection of the Lord Jesus Christ’s knowledge and wisdom and speaks of His omniscience since again the number seven speaks of spiritual perfection and the eyes in the ancient spoke of knowledge of events. The Lord Jesus Christ is omnipotence and omniscient is expressed through the Holy Spirit whom He sent into the world according to the statement “which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth.” Revelation 5:7, “And He came and took the book out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.” The act of the Lord Jesus Christ taking the book out of the Father’s right hand indicates that all power, authority and judgment have been given to Him. Daniel speaks of this event in Revelation 5:1-7. Daniel 7:13, “I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven (Reference to the revelation of Christ’s deity; Exodus 13:21-22; 19:9; 1 Kings 8:10-11; Isaiah 19:1; Matthew 24:30; Mark 13:26) one like a Son of Man (Title for human nature of Jesus Christ; Matthew 24:30; Mark 26:64; Luke 5:24; 6:5; John 1:51) was coming, and He came up to the Ancient of Days and was presented before Him.” The expression “one like a Son of Man was coming and He came up to the Ancient of Days” is a reference to the Lord Jesus Christ’s ascension (Acts 1:9-11; Ephesians 4:10; Hebrews 4:14; 9:24) and session (Ephesians 1:20; Hebrews 1:3) at the right hand of the Father 40 days after His resurrection. Revelation 5:8-14 record all the elect angels and redeemed men in heaven worshipping the Lord Jesus Christ. Worship is adoring contemplation of God as He has been revealed by the Holy Spirit in the Person of Christ and in the Scriptures and is also the loving ascription of praise to God for what He is, both in Himself and in His ways and is the bowing of the soul and spirit in deep humility and reverence before Him. Warren Wiersbe defines worship, “Worship is the believer’s response of all that they are –mind, emotions, will and body-to what God is and says and does. This response has its mystical side in subjective experience and its practical side in objective obedience to God’s revealed will. Worship is a loving response that’s balanced by the fear of the Lord, and it is a deepening response as the believer comes to know God better” (Real Worship, 26). The believer is to worship the Father spiritually by means of truth, i.e. the Word of God. John 4:23-24, “But an hour is coming and now is when the true worshippers, will worship the Father spiritually, yes, by means of truth. In fact, the Father intensely desires such worshippers of Himself. God, as to His nature, is spirit and those worshipping Him must worship spiritually, yes, by means of truth.” The Church’s destiny is to worship the Lord, as revealed in Revelation 4-5. Revelation 5:8-14, “When He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying, ‘Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.’ You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth. Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, ‘Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.’ And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, ‘To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.’ And the four living creatures kept saying, ‘Amen.’ And the elders fell down and worshiped.” Revelation 6:1-8:6 records of the seven seal judgments that will take place during the final prophetic week of Israel’s history called “Daniel’s Seventieth Week.” The following chart is an outline of the seven seal judgments. Seal Passage 70th Week Description Interpretation First Seal Revelation 6:1-2 First 3 ½ years White Horse Rider Antichrist comes as a peacemaker Second Revelation 6:3-4 Last 3 ½ years Red Horse Rider War Third Revelation 6:5-6 Last 3 ½ years Black Horse Rider Famine as a result of World-War Fourth Revelation 6:7-8 Last 3 ½ years Ashen Horse Rider Death through war, famine, pestilence and wild beasts Fifth Revelation 6:9-11 Last 3 ½ years Martyred Souls of Saints Underneath the Altar Martyrdom of Saints Sixth Revelation 6:12-17 Last 3 ½ years Great Earthquake Disturbances in the Stellar Universe and the Wrath of the Lamb Seventh Revelation 8:1-5 Last 3 ½ years Silence in Heaven Beginning of Seven Trumpet Judgments The First Seal Revelation 6:1-2 records the Lord Jesus Christ in heaven breaking the first of the seven seal judgments, which results in the appearance of the Antichrist on the stage of history as a peace maker and who is depicted as riding on a white horse. The rise to prominence of the Antichrist as a man of peace is the result of the breaking of the first seal judgment recorded in Revelation 6:1-2. Revelation 6:1-2, “Then I saw when the Lamb broke one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, ‘Come.’ I looked, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.” The rider in this passage is not the Lord Jesus Christ since this occurs too early in Daniel’s Seventieth Week since at this time Christ is in heaven rewarding His bride while at the same time pouring out wrath from the throne mentioned in Revelation 4:2. Christ’s coming on a white horse is at the end and is the culmination of the Tribulation. Also, Revelation 6:16 records the Lamb as still in heaven. Furthermore, the white horse rider is not Christ since the other three horses are instruments of judgment with each rider an instrument of evil and judgment on the world. The Lord Jesus Christ is also the one who opens the seals allowing the riders to go forth and would not be one of the riders. He also puts an end to the Tribulation judgments. Here, in Revelation 6:1-2, the judgments of the entire Tribulation have yet to take place. Lastly, the crown this first rider is wearing is the stephanos crown, a single crown and a victor’s crown, not the diadem crown of a sovereign. Revelation 19, the white horse rider wears many crowns, and they are the diadem crowns or in other words, the crowns of sovereignty. That the rider sat on a white horse is significant since white is a symbol of peace, thus the symbolism is that Antichrist will come as a peacemaker. Daniel 9:27 teaches that the Antichrist will establish a peace treaty with the leadership of Israel, which begins Daniel’s Seventieth Week. One of Antichrist’s first accomplishments will be to find a solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict with a peace treaty with Israel according to Daniel 9:26-27, which begins Daniel’s 70th week, the unprecedented time of Jacob’s distress (Jer. 30:7). Daniel 9:27, “And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate.” The statement “he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week” refers to Antichrist making a 7 year covenant with Israel, which actually begins Daniel’s 70th week (See 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4). The expression “firm covenant” means that Antichrist will not renew an existing treaty but will establish an original one that contains strong and firm guarantees with the Israeli leadership ensuring Israel’s security. “The many” does “not” mean that Antichrist will make this covenant “with all” since the definite article in the Hebrew text that precedes the adjective rav (br^) (rav), converts the adjective into a noun and means, “the leaders” which is a reference to the military and political leadership of the nation of Israel at that time. Therefore, Daniel 9:27 teaches that Daniel’s Seventieth Week comes after the rapture but does “not” begin with the rapture. Therefore, while the rapture will precede Daniel’s Seventieth Week (Great Tribulation period), it does “not” begin it but rather the signing of the peace treaty between Antichrist and the leadership in Israel will begin it. Daniel 9:27a indicates that he will pretend to be Israel’s benefactor and make a treaty with her but will turn against her in the mid way point of Daniel’s Seventieth Week and will persecute Israel and occupy Jerusalem for three and a half years. Revelation 6:1-2, “Then I saw when the Lamb broke one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, ‘Come.’ I looked, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.” Notice in Revelation 6:1-2 that the rider’s weapon is a bow, yet no arrows are mentioned. The bow is a symbol of distant victory and since no arrows are mentioned it seems to indicate that he gains his victory by bloodless tactics. That all this is true is indicated further by the fact that peace isn’t taken from the earth until the second seal. Antichrist will have a hidden agenda since his purpose is not world peace, but rather world domination since Revelation 6 goes on to say that he goes out conquering and to conquer. This covenant between Antichrist and Israel is a peace treaty, which will guarantee Israel’s safety in the land and suggests that Israel will be in her land but will seek support that she had previously. The United States is nowhere in prophecy and is thus no longer a superpower at the time of Antichrist’s rise to power. The United States is the greatest benefactor of Israel since her return to the land in 1948 and so it is easy to see why Israel would seek an alliance with a superpower with the United States no longer a major player on the world stage. Therefore, it appears that she will seek a treaty with the Revived Roman Empire, the United States of Europe headed by Antichrist and she will welcome the peacemaking role of Antichrist and the Revived Roman Empire. So early in the 1st half of the Tribulation a ten-nation federation will be arrayed in the west with headquarters at Rome and is designated in Scripture “ten horns” in Daniel 7:7-8, 23-24, Revelation 13:1-10, and 17:8-10, and is sometimes called the Revived Roman Empire. The ruler of this federation is the Antichrist, who is referred to in Scripture as “the beast” (Rev. 13:1-2), the “little horn” (Dan. 7:8), the “prince that will come” (Dan. 9:26-27), the “man of lawlessness” (2 Th. 2:3-10), and the “scarlet beast” (Rev. 17:3). The agreement between Israel and Antichrist stipulates that he will rush to the aid of Israel in the event of an enemy attack (Dan. 9:27; cf., 11:38-39). The Lord Jesus Christ’s prophecy in His Olivet Discourse of the appearance of false Christ’s during the first three and a half years of Daniel’s Seventieth Week recorded in Matthew 24:5-6, parallels the first seal judgment recorded in Revelation 6:1-2. Matthew 24:4-5, “And Jesus answered and said to them, ‘See to it that no one misleads you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many.” The Second Seal Revelation 6:3-4 records the second seal judgment. Revelation 6:3-4, “When He broke the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, ‘Come.’ And another, a red horse, went out; and to him who sat on it, it was granted to take peace from the earth, and that men would slay one another; and a great sword was given to him.” This second seal judgment will begin the last three and a half years of Daniel’s Seventieth Week. This judgment says that red horse rider will take peace from the earth. While the white horse was symbolic of a victorious conqueror and one who primarily gained his power by cold war and bloodless peace maneuvers, red is a clear symbol of bloodshed or warfare and the rest of the verse clearly shows this to be the case (Rev. 12:3; Isa. 63:2f). The events of Ezekiel 38:1-39:24 coincide with second seal judgment recorded in Revelation 6:3-4 and record the Russian led invasion of Israel that precedes Antichrist breaking his treaty with Israel and proceeds after Satan’s expulsion from heaven. At the time of this invasion, it must be remembered that Michael and the elect angels have just cast Satan and the fallen angels out of heaven. The first thing that Satan and his legions do once cast to the earth is that they influence Gog, the prince of Russia to invade Israel. Satan wants Israel destroyed in order that Christ will not be able to fulfill the unconditional covenants to Israel (Abrahamic, Palestinian, Davidic and New), and thus by doing so, he can accuse God of not keeping His promises. Satan knows his time is short and that Christ’s Second Advent and His subsequent millennial reign and his incarceration for a thousand years are imminent. Remember, the Tribulation period is divided into two three and a half year sections: (1) Cold war (2) Hot war. This invasion of Russia touches off the hot war period, which is known as the Armageddon campaign. The Lord Jesus Christ’s prophecy in His Olivet Discourse of world war during the last three and a half years of Daniel’s Seventieth Week recorded in Matthew 24:6 parallels the second seal judgment recorded in Revelation 6:3-4. Matthew 24:6-8, “You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.” The Third Seal Revelation 6:5-6 records the third seal judgment. Revelation 6:5-6, “When He broke the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, ‘Come.’ I looked, and behold, a black horse; and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard something like a voice in the center of the four living creatures saying, ‘A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not damage the oil and the wine.’” The third seal judgment brings famine to the world as the result of the second seal judgment, which brought world war to the earth. The “black horse” speaks of suffering and death and the “balances” of the careful rationing of food because of its scarcity. J. Hampton Keathley III commenting on this third seal, writes, “The denarius, as a Roman coin, in ancient times was a normal day’s wage. In New Testament times this coin would purchase eight quarts of wheat, or eight measures (one measure equals about one quart) or 24 quarts of barley. Wheat was the better grain and barley was normally used only for livestock except in times of scarcity. During the Tribulation, however, one denarius (a full day’s wage) will buy only one measure (about one meal) of wheat, or three meals of barley with nothing left. Of course, the larger the family, the worse it will be. But note the words, “do not harm the oil and the wine.” These were luxury items which will apparently be unharmed at this point. There will be plenty of luxury items but only the super rich will have them. The average man will spend all he has on the bare essentials. Barnhouse has an interesting comment from his own experience on this. ‘Just after World War I, I spent a few days in Vienna at the time when misery was very great.…There was a shortage of coal and the police had ordered everyone off the streets by nine o’clock. The city was filled with wealthy refugees from Russia and other countries. Walking along the boulevard one afternoon as the crowds were coming out of the opera which began early to conform with the curfew regulations, I saw men with bare feet in the snow, their skeletons covered with rags, their ribs seen through the holes in the cloths with which they attempted to cover their bodies. From time to time there was blood on the snow from their feet. Out of the opera came men escorting women with fortunes in jewels upon them. Never have I seen more wonderful displays in any of the capitals of the earth. The beggars blocked the way to the fine limousines that came for the rich. I saw the men striking the beggars with their canes to clear the way for the women. Poor girls not clad in the gaudy finery of prostitutes, but with poor clothing and in wooden shoes, clattered about clutching at the passerby and offering to sell themselves for a coin which at that moment could be purchased for one five hundredth part of a dollar. Mark well, there was no famine in Vienna. There was scarcity in the midst of plenty, but there was no hurt to the luxuries.’ The picture here is scarcity in the midst of plenty. This will be accentuated in the times of the Antichrist, especially in the last half of the Tribulation via his buying and selling policies. (Studies in Revelation-Christ’s Victory Over The Forces Of Darkness, page 98; Biblical Studies Press; www.bible.org; 1997) The Lord Jesus Christ’s prophecy in His Olivet Discourse of world-wide famine during the last three and a half years of Daniel’s Seventieth Week recorded in Matthew 24:7 parallels the third seal judgment recorded in Revelation 6:5-6. Matthew 24:6-8, “You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.” The Fourth Seal Revelation 6:7-8 records the fourth seal judgment. Revelation 6:7-8, “When the Lamb broke the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, ‘Come.’ I looked, and behold, an ashen horse; and he who sat on it had the name Death; and Hades was following with him. Authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by the wild beasts of the earth.” The color of this horse is ashen, a pale or yellowish green since the word for “ashen” in the original Greek text of Revelation 6:8 is the word chloros which denotes a yellowish green, the light green of a plant, or the paleness of a person who is critically ill. We are told the name of this horse is death and that Hades follows. This is the aftermath of war, famine and death. “Death” refers to physical death and “Hades” refers to the prison and temporary quarters of the souls of unbelievers between their death and the time of the Great White Throne Judgment. This is the compartment called “torments” in Luke 16:23. “Hades” is the name given in the New Testament for the temporary quarters for the souls of unbelievers and “Sheol” is the name given in the Old Testament. This place contains four compartments: (1) Paradise: the place of the departed souls of believers before the resurrection of Christ (Lk. 23:39-43; Eph. 4:8-9) who were transferred to heaven after the resurrection and ascension of Christ (Eph. 4:10). (2) Torments: the temporary fire for the souls of unbelievers from all dispensations (Lk. 16:19-31) who will be transferred to the Great White Throne Judgment that concludes human history and from there will be cast in the Lake of Fire forever (Rev. 20:11-15). (3) Tartarus: the abode of the fallen angels of Genesis 6 who had sex with woman in order to corrupt the human race and prevent the incarnation of the Son of God (1 Peter 3:18-22; 2 Peter 4; Jude 6). (4) The Abyss: the place of imprisonment for the demons who violated certain rules for angelic creation and will be released during the Tribulation (Lk. 8:30-31; Rom. 10:7; Rev. 20:1-3). Prior to the resurrection, ascension and session of the Lord Jesus Christ, Old Testament saints when they died did not go to the third heaven but rather to Paradise. These Old Testament saints such as Abraham ascended with Jesus Christ into heaven as part of our Lord’s triumphal procession as victor in the angelic conflict and were part of the booty from our Lord’s victory that was accomplished through His death and resurrection. Ephesians 4:8, “Therefore it says, ‘WHEN HE ASCENDED ON HIGH, HE LED CAPTIVE A HOST OF CAPTIVES, AND HE GAVE GIFTS TO MEN.’” “He led host a host of captives” refers to Old Testament saints that were temporarily residing in the second compartment of Hades called Paradise (Lk. 16; 23:43). Revelation 6:7-8, “When the Lamb broke the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, ‘Come.’ I looked, and behold, an ashen horse; and he who sat on it had the name Death; and Hades was following with him. Authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by the wild beasts of the earth.” “Authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by the wild beasts of the earth” is an amazing statement since it tells us that nearly a billion people by today’s population figures, will be killed by these means mentioned by John. According to present figures and estimations this is about 800,000,000, a staggering figure. In Revelation 6:8, John records four means by which nearly a billion people will be killed. The first is “the sword,” which refers to death by war and perhaps by the cruelty of the beast and his godless system under the domination of the Red Dragon, Satan. The second is “famine,” which of course, anticipates death on an even greater scale by starvation. The third is “pestilence,” which speaks of death by disease and plagues. The fourth is “wild beasts,” perhaps, as an aftermath of the above, anticipates the fact that people will be weak, unprotected and easy prey for wild animals. These first four seal judgments are a unit and a general description of the last three and a half years of Daniel’s Seventieth Week. Jeremiah 30:5-7, “For thus says the LORD, ‘I have heard a sound of terror, of dread, and there is no peace. Ask now, and see if a male can give birth. Why do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in childbirth? And why have all faces turned pale? ‘Alas! for that day is great, there is none like it; And it is the time of Jacob's distress, but he will be saved from it.’” Matthew 24:21-22, “For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will. Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.” The Lord Jesus Christ’s prophecy in His Olivet Discourse of the massive loss of human life during the last three and a half years of Daniel’s Seventieth Week recorded in Matthew 24:7-9 parallels the fourth seal judgment recorded in Revelation 6:7-8. Matthew 24:7-10, “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs. Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.” The Fifth Seal Next, we come to the fifth seal judgment, which is recorded in Revelation 6:9-11. Revelation 6:9-11, “When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?’ And there was given to each of them a white robe; and they were told that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, would be completed also.” The fifth seal judgment concerns itself with the martyrdom of both Jewish and Gentile believers during the last three and a half years of Daniel’s Seventieth Week. The souls underneath the altar are not Old Testament martyrs but rather those who were martyred during the Tribulation since their persecutors are still alive on the earth. They were killed “because of the Word of God” meaning that anyone who believes the Bible during the last three and a half years of Daniel’s Seventieth Week and proclaims its message of faith alone in Christ alone will persecuted and killed. These believers will witness for Christ by their life as they hold fast to the Word of God in the midst of a degenerate world, but they will also witness for Christ by their death. John sees these martyrs very much alive. Men may destroy our bodies, but they cannot kill the soul or the person who indwells the body, the house for the person. At death, the soul or the person goes to be with the Lord (Phil. 1:2122; 2 Cor. 5:68). The body “sleeps” but the soul or the person is conscious, awake. “Slain” is the Greek sphrazo, which was a sacrificial term used for the slaughtering of the animals for sacrifice. The emphasis seems to be on the fact they were not just killed, but slaughtered. These martyred saints are in heaven, with no sinful natures and in God’s presence. They are seen crying out for justice but this is not a cry for revenge, but for God’s justice and righteousness to prevail on earth against the sin and the atrocities of man in rebellion to God. As in the disciples’ prayer, “Your kingdom come,” they are praying for the Second Advent which ushers in millennial reign of Christ. The martyrs are each given a “white robe” to symbolize their fully redeemed state and the gift of righteousness by Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ’s prophecy in His Olivet Discourse of the martyrdom of believers during the last three and a half years of Daniel’s Seventieth Week recorded in Matthew 24:9-10 and 16-22 parallels the fifth seal judgment recorded in Revelation 6:9-11. Matthew 24:9-10, “Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another.” Matthew 24:15-22, “Therefore when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. Whoever is on the housetop must not go down to get the things out that are in his house. Whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his cloak. But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! But pray that your flight will not be in the winter, or on a Sabbath. For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will. Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.” The Sixth Seal The sixth seal judgment is recorded in Revelation 6:12-17. Revelation 6:12-17, “I looked when He broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became like blood and the stars of the sky fell to the earth, as a fig tree casts its unripe figs when shaken by a great wind. The sky was split apart like a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. Then the kings of the earth and the great men and the commanders and the rich and the strong and every slave and free man hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains and they said to the mountains and to the rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb for the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?’” The breaking of the sixth seal judgment results in a tremendous earthquake that will rock the entire world (Compare Luke 21:11). It will also result in the darkening of the sun (Compare Isaiah 13:10; Ezekiel 32:7-8; Joel 2:10, 31; Amos 8:9; Matthew 24:29; Mark 13:24-25; Luke 21:25). The moon will also turn red (Compare Joel 2:31; Acts 2:20) and there will be an enormous disturbance in the stellar universe so that there will great meteor showers. The sixth seal results in the direct intervention of the Creator upsetting the normal order of His creation. The Lord used human agencies in the first five judgments but with the sixth, He intervenes Himself. The nature and effect of this judgment is such that it causes all of mankind from kings to slaves to recognize that God the Creator is acting in human history in righteous indignation. This enormous cosmic disturbance that is the result of the breaking of the sixth seal is a direct intervention of God in history. Revelation 6y:12-17 emphasizes that men see it as the direct hand and action of God. When the sixth seal occurs God shakes the universe like a rag doll and all the world will know without a doubt not only that there is a God, but that He is acting catastrophically in righteous indignation against man’s rebellion. This judgment affects the creation, which from the beginning of time has manifested God’s divine nature and is evidence of His existence. However, mankind has rejected creation as evidence of God’s existence and has attributed creation to evolution (Rom. 1:1922). The Lord Jesus Christ’s prophecy in His Olivet Discourse of great disturbances in the stellar universe during the last three and a half years of Daniel’s Seventieth Week recorded in Matthew 24:29 parallels the sixth seal judgment recorded in Revelation 6:12-14. Matthew 24:29, “But immediately after the tribulation of those days THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED, AND THE MOON WILL NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT, AND THE STARS WILL FALL from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.” Our Lord’s prophecy in His Olivet Discourse of God’s judgment upon the inhabitants of the earth at the end of Daniel’s Seventieth Week recorded in Matthew 24:32-25:26 parallels the sixth seal judgment recorded in Revelation 6:15-17. The sixth seal is now over on earth and silence in heaven follows for about a half an hour according to Revelation 8:1. However, then suddenly a new wave of judgments will begin to be poured out on the earth, which are called the “seven trumpet” judgments (8:1f). The Seventh Seal Revelation chapter seven is parenthetic and does not carry the chronological sequence forward, but adds some important details regarding the saved of the Tribulation, many of whom are martyred. Revelation 8:2-5 records the Lamb of God, the Lord Jesus Christ breaking the seventh seal, which results in silence in heaven for about half an hour and the introduction of the seven trumpets judgments. Revelation 8:1-5, “When the Lamb broke the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. Another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a golden censer; and much incense was given to him, so that he might add it to the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel's hand. Then the angel took the censer and filled it with the fire of the altar, and threw it to the earth; and there followed peals of thunder and sounds and flashes of lightning and an earthquake.” Trumpets play a major role in God's dealings with His people (cf. Exod. 19:16; 20:18; Isa. 27:13; Jer. 4:5; Joel 2:1; Zeph. 1:16; Matt. 24:31; 1 Cor. 15:51-52; 1 Thess. 4:16). The blowing of the trumpet was significant in Israel. They were part of her ceremonial processions (e.g., Josh. 6:4, 13-16; 1 Kings 1:34, 39; 1 Chron. 15:24). Trumpets were used to assemble the Israelites for war, journeys, and special feasts (e.g., Num. 10:9-10). They also warned of the coming day of the Lord (e.g., Joel 2:1), and they announced the new year in Israel (e.g., Num. 29:1). Here they announce divine judgment in the day of the Lord (cf. Zech. 1:14-16). The seven trumpets mentioned in Revelation chapter 8 are all related to the nation of Israel during Daniel’s Seventieth Week. Trumpets are never used in Scripture in relation to the church but rather Israel. The trumpet mentioned in 1 Thessalonians 4:16 is used to sound the alarm to Israel that the worst period of her history, the Great Tribulation period is about to begin. The apostle Paul indicates that at the rapture of the church, the trumpet will blow marking the beginning of God’s dealing once again with the nation of Israel and in particular giving to Daniel’s Seventieth Week. These seven trumpet judgments are administered by seven elect-angels. In the 21st century there is a lot of misinformation regarding the nature of angels and their activities. This is to be expected since we do live in the devil’s world. He has been from the beginning and continues to deceive the entire world regarding his existence, and the nature of himself and his objectives for becoming like the Most High. The only place where we can find the truth about the angels and concerning Satan himself is the infallible Word of God. The Bible teaches that angels are temporarily superior to mankind (Heb. 2). In terms of power and ability, the present angelic superiority to mankind is obvious in every passage of scripture in which they are described. This current angelic superiority significantly also extends to the area of longevity. While mankind is enjoying a sequential residence on earth (generation following generation), angelic kind has been experiencing a continuum of existence in heaven, even before the creation of Man. This longevity, combined with the fact that angels (though creatures like Man) are not subject to the same degree to the restraints and necessities of time and space that encumber mankind, undoubtedly contributes to their superior knowledge and wisdom as well. By its very essence, therefore, the angelic nature is superior to our present earthly human nature in terms of appearance, intellect, power, mobility and authority (2 Pet.2:11). Angels will ultimately be inferior to mankind. Angels will not always be superior to mankind. Just as our Lord's humanity is, in resurrection, superior to angels in every way (Heb.1:4-2:18), so also we are destined to share that superiority with Him in our resurrection (1 Cor.6:3; Heb.2:5). Angels are acutely aware of and involved in human affairs. The involvement of angelic beings in human affairs is part and parcel of their role in promoting (or, in the case of the fallen angels, opposing) God's plan for human history. On a more personal level, however, angels are also apparently extremely interested in observing human behavior in general and in the playing out of God's plan in particular (1Tim.3:16; 5:21; 1Pet.1:10-12). The observation of human behavior is particularly true in the case of the Son of Man, our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Timothy 3:16, “By common confession, great is the mystery of godliness: He who was revealed in the flesh, was vindicated in the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.” They were present at His birth (Lk.2:13-14), temptation (Matt.4:11), resurrection (Lk.24:4), ascension (Acts 1:10-11), and return (2 Thes.1:7), evidence which underscores angelic interest in the most crucial phase of God's plan, namely the life and work of the Messiah. By observation, angels are learning (to their joy in the case of the elect angels, to their sorrow in the case of the fallen angels) about the wisdom, the power, the grace and the mercy of God (cf. Lk.15:10; 1Cor.4:9; 11:10). Angels should neither be worshiped nor disrespected. In any discussion of angels, it is important to keep in mind both their present superiority and their eventual subordination to us. Angels are not to be disrespected (Lk.10:20; 1 Pet.2:10-12; Jude 8-10; cf. Rom.13:7), but neither angels are to be worshiped (Rev.19:10; 22:9; cf. 2 Kng.17:16; Jer.19:13; Col.2:18). This is especially important in regard to fallen angels. God counterbalances their evil efforts with the work and ministrations of His holy, elect angels. Therefore, although we are to have a healthy respect for the Adversary and his potential to oppose us (2 Cor.2:11; Eph.6:11; 1 Pet.5:8), we are not to be unduly terrified by him and his minions. While we are to have an awareness and appreciation for the positive function of the elect angels on our behalf, we are not to be inordinately fixated upon them (especially since both their persons and their work are invisible to us). In neither case should we "go beyond what is written" in the Bible about angels, whether through excessive fear of Satanic influence or an exorbitant fascination with the ministrations of the holy angels. The service performed by the elect-angels can be summarized as follows: (1) Worship of God (Isa. 6:3; Rev. 4:8). (2) Messengers of God (Dan. 9:22; Lk. 1:11, 26; 2:9; Rev. 1:1). (3) Soldiers in spiritual combat (Dan. 10:13f; Rev. 12:7). Angels: (1) Protect (2) Provide (3) Proclaim the Word of God (4) Execute God’s Judgments. As God’s servants who are dispatched from the throne room of heaven to execute God’s purposes, we may observe that the ministry of the elect-angels falls into several categories. In Relation to God the elect-angels perform the following services: (1) Attendants around the throne of God, and are waiting to serve Him and do His bidding (Ps. 103:20; Isa. 6:1f; Job 1:6; 2:1; Rev. 5:11; 8:1f). (2) Worshippers in praise of Him (Isa. 6:3; Ps. 148:1-2; Heb. 1:6; Rev. 5:12). (3) Observers who rejoice over what the Lord does (Job 38:6-7; Luke 2:12-13; 15:10), Soldiers in battle with Satan (Rev. 12:7). (4) Instruments used by the God to execute judgments (Rev. 7:1; 8:2). In Relation to the Nations, the elect-angels and non-elect angels perform the following services: (1) Michael, the archangel, is the guardian of the nation of Israel (Dan. 10:13, 21; 12:1; Jude 9). (2) The non-elect angels rule over the Gentile nations (Dan. 4:17; Eph. 6:11-16) and seek to influence their human leaders (Dan. 10:21; 11:1). (3) In the Tribulation the elect-angels will be the agents God uses to pour out His judgments (see Rev. 8-9 and 16). In Relation to Christ, the elect-angels perform the following services: (1) They prophesied of the birth of Christ (Matt. 1:20; Luke 1:26-28). (2) They announced his birth (Luke 2:8-15). (3) An angel warned Joseph to take Mary and the baby Jesus and flee into Egypt (Matt. 2:13-15), and an angel directed the family to return to Israel after Herod died (vv. 19-21). In relation to His suffering, the elect-angels performed the following services: (1) They ministered to the Lord after His temptation (Matt. 4:11). (2) They administered to the Lord in the Garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22:43), and Jesus said He could have called a legion of angels who stood ready to come to His defense if He so desired (Matt. 26:53). In relation to His resurrection, the elect-angels performed the following services: (1) An angel rolled away the stone from the tomb (28:1-2). (2) Angels announced His resurrection to the women on the Resurrection morning (vv. 5-6; Luke 24:5-7). (3) Angels were present at His ascension and gave instruction to the disciples (Acts 1:10-11). In relation to His coming again, the elect-angels perform the following services: (1) The voice of the archangel will be heard at the rapture of the church (1 Thess. 4:16). (2) They will accompany Him in His glorious return to earth (Matt. 25:31; 2 Thess. 1:7). (3) They will separate the wheat from the tares at Christ’s second coming (Matt. 13:39-40). In Relation to the unbeliever, the elect-angels will perform the following: (1) Angels not only announce but will inflict judgment (Gen. 19:13; Rev. 14:6-7; Acts 12:23; Rev. 16:1). (2) They will separate the righteous from the unrighteous at the 2nd Advent (Matt. 13:39-40). In Relation to the Church: Hebrews 1:14 describes ministry of the elect-angels “servant-spirits who are divinely commissioned and repeatedly dispatched for service on behalf of those who are destined to inherit salvation.” In this, however, Scripture points to a number of specific ministries: (1) The elect-angels bring answers to prayer (Acts 12:5-10). (2) They help in bringing people to the Savior (Acts 8:26; 10:3). (3) They may encourage in times of danger (Acts 27:23-24). (4) They care for God’s people at the time of death (Luke 16:22). In Relation to the introduction of a new dispensation, angels are actively involved when God institutes a new epoch in history: (1) They Joined in Praise When the Earth Was Created (Job 38:6-7) (2) They Were Involved in the Giving of the Mosaic Law (Gal. 3:19; Heb. 2:2) (3) They Were Active at the First Advent of Christ (Matt. 1:20; 4:11) (4) They Were Active During the Early Years of the Church (Acts 8:26; 10:3, 7; 12:11) (5) They Will Be Involved in Events Surrounding the Second Advent of Christ (Matt. 25:31; 1 Thes. 4:1). The Seven Trumpet Judgments Introduction The breaking the seventh seal results in the introduction of the seven trumpet judgments, which will take place during the last three and a half years of Daniel’s Seventieth Week, which are recorded in Revelation 8:2-9:21, 11:15-19. With the breaking of the seven seals, we have the first portion of God’s judgment program with the sounding of the seven trumpet judgments we have the second portion of this program. Revelation 8:1-5, “When the Lamb broke the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. Another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a golden censer; and much incense was given to him, so that he might add it to the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel's hand. Then the angel took the censer and filled it with the fire of the altar, and threw it to the earth; and there followed peals of thunder and sounds and flashes of lightning and an earthquake.” In Revelation 8:2, the trumpets are used to announce divine judgment, which signify the judgments of the day of the Lord and precede the Second Advent of Christ and the establishment of His millennial reign (cf. Zech. 1:14-16). Joel 2:1, “Blow a trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm on My holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the LORD is coming; Surely it is near.” Revelation 8:1-5 indicates quite clearly that the seven trumpet judgments proceed out of the seventh seal judgment. The word for “trumpet” in Revelation 8:2 is the noun salpinx (savlpigc). The origin of the trumpet seems to be Oriental based on drawings found on the Mari Temple, which date to 2700 B.C. The trumpet was made from a number of materials including bone, shell, bronze, iron or copper. Its limited range in that had only two or three notes, suggests it was not used as a musical instrument or in conjunction with other instruments. Rather its use was limited to that of signals such as military signals or as a signal to call a civic or religious assembly or to call sheep (Friedrich, “salpinx” Kittel’s Theological Dictionary of the New Testament volume 7, pages 73-76). The Hebrews used two major kinds of trumpets. The shophar, made originally from a curved ram’s horn, was blown at Sinai to signal Israel to approach the Lord (Exodus 19:16). It also announced the arrival of the new moon and the new year (Psalm 81:3 [LXX Psalm 80:3]) and the enthronement of a new king (1 Kings 1:34 [LXX 2 Kings 1:34]; 2 Kings 9:13 [LXX 4 Kings 9:13]). This trumpet was also sounded in the temple to accompany the expression of worship of the Lord (Psalm 98:6 [LXX Psalm 97:6]). It was used in a military sense in signaling Israel to war (Judges 3:27; 2 Samuel 20:1 [LXX 2 Kings 20:1]) and was instrumental in Joshua’s victory at Jericho (Joshua 6) and in Gideon’s victory over the Midianites (Judges 7). Shophar was used in a figurative sense for the prophet of God since he was God’s instrument to signal Israel to worship and warn of danger (Ezekiel 33:3-6; Isaiah 58:1; Jeremiah 6:17). Then, the Hebrews used the chatsotsrah, which was a tube of straight narrow bore, often made of metal (2 Kings 11:14 [LXX 2 Kings 11:4]; 2 Chronicles 23:13; 2 Samuel 6:15 [LXX 2 Kings 6:15]; 1 Chronicles 13:8). It produced two or three pitches and was used primarily for religious purposes. Then, there was the yovel, which means, “ram” and gave its name to both an instrument and to a year whose beginning it signaled, Jubilee. Trumpets were used by Israel on all their national occasions: for assembly to battle, public assembly, to signal important events of the calendar year and almost any important occasion. Numbers 10 gives us information regarding the sounding of trumpets in Israel. Numbers 10:1-10, “The LORD spoke further to Moses, saying, ‘Make yourself two trumpets of silver, of hammered work you shall make them; and you shall use them for summoning the congregation and for having the camps set out. When both are blown, all the congregation shall gather themselves to you at the doorway of the tent of meeting. Yet if only one is blown, then the leaders, the heads of the divisions of Israel, shall assemble before you. But when you blow an alarm, the camps that are pitched on the east side shall set out. When you blow an alarm the second time, the camps that are pitched on the south side shall set out; an alarm is to be blown for them to set out. When convening the assembly, however, you shall blow without sounding an alarm. The priestly sons of Aaron, moreover, shall blow the trumpets; and this shall be for you a perpetual statute throughout your generations. When you go to war in your land against the adversary who attacks you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets, that you may be remembered before the LORD your God, and be saved from your enemies. Also in the day of your gladness and in your appointed feasts, and on the first days of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; and they shall be as a reminder of you before your God. I am the LORD your God.’” In Revelation 8 and 9 and 11:15-19, the seven trumpets blown by elect angels symbolize the announcement of judgment and the number seven signifies the completeness or perfect accomplishment of these judgments. In Revelation 8, an elect angel is an instrument used by the God to execute judgments (Rev. 7:1; 8:2). The seven trumpets mentioned in Revelation chapters 8 and 9 and 11:15-19 are all related to the nation of Israel during Daniel’s Seventieth Week and have no connection whatsoever to the church. Some expositors have tried to associate the “trumpet of God” in 1 Thessalonians 4:16 and the “last trumpet” in 1 Corinthians 15:52 with the last or seventh trumpet of the Tribulation and with the trumpet of Matthew 24:31. By doing this, they attempt to put the rapture either in the Tribulation or at its end, when the Lord returns to earth. 1 Thessalonians 4:16, “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.” 1 Corinthians 15:51-52, “Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.” In both of these passages, this trumpet is followed by the resurrection of the church, i.e. the rapture. There are obvious differences that exist between the “trumpet of God” in 1 Thessalonians 4:16 and the “last trumpet” in 1 Corinthians 15:52 and the last or seventh trumpet of the Tribulation in Revelation 8:7f. and with the “great trumpet” of Matthew 24:31. The trumpet in 1 Thessalonians 4:16 and 1 Corinthians 15:22 should not be equated with Joel 2:1 or with Revelation 8:7f since there are many differences between them. In 1 Corinthians 15:22 the trumpeter is not stated whereas the trumpet in Matthew 24:31 and the trumpets of Revelation 8 are blown by angels. In 1 Thessalonians 4:16 the trumpeter is Christ whereas the trumpet in Joel is a human being, an Israelite. The purpose of the “great trumpet” in Matthew 24:31 is to have the elect angels gather the living elect on the earth whereas the purpose of 1 Corinthians 15:52 is to gather the living church age believers. With the blowing of the trumpet in 1 Thessalonians 4:16, Christ Himself and not the elect angels gathers living church age believers to Himself whereas in Revelation purpose of the blowing of the trumpet by angels to execute judgment during the last three and a half years of Daniel’s Seventieth Week. The purpose of the trumpet in Joel 2:1 to assemble Israel and warn them against danger. The trumpet in Joel is an alarm to the nation of Israel that signals that the day of the Lord has begun. In Joel 2, the armies of Israel and her people are being warned of an impending attack. The result of the blowing of the “great trumpet” in Matthew 24:31 results in entrance into the kingdom or millennial kingdom of Christ whereas the result of the blowing of the trumpet in 1 Corinthians 15:52 is the resurrection of church age believers. The result of the blowing of the trumpet of God in 1 Thessalonians 4:16 is also the resurrection of church age believers whereas the result of the blowing of the trumpets by elect angels in Revelation 8 is the execution of judgments during the last three and a half years of Daniel’s Seventieth Week. The result of the blowing of the trumpet in Joel 2 is war and an invasion from an enemy. Therefore, because of these obvious differences between these trumpets, the trumpets of Revelation 8 and the “great trumpet” in Matthew 24:31 and the trumpet of Joel 2:1 do not take place at the same time as the trumpets mentioned by Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:52 and 1 Thessalonians 4:16. The “last trumpet” of 1 Corinthians 15:52 is thought by some expositors of the Bible to be associated with the trumpet judgments that appear in Revelation 8. Consequently, they place the rapture at the end of the Tribulation period, i.e. Daniel’s Seventieth Week. However, a comparison of the differences between the various trumpets mentioned in Revelation 8, Joel 2:1, Matthew 24:31, 1 Corinthians 15:52 and 1 Thessalonians 4:16, indicates quite clearly that the “last trumpet” in 1 Corinthians 15:52 is the very voice of the Lord Jesus Christ calling out the church in resurrection. The “last trumpet” of 1 Corinthians 15:52 and the “trumpet of God” in 1 Thessalonians 4:16 both result in the resurrection of the church and the purpose of both are to gather the church to Christ and they are not blown by elect angels. Whereas, the trumpet judgments of Revelation 8 and the “great trumpet” in Matthew 24:31 are blown by elect angels and the result of the former is the execution of judgments during the Tribulation whereas the result of the latter is entrance into Christ’s millennial kingdom. Commenting on the meaning of the “last trumpet” in 1 Corinthians 15:52, J. Hampton Keathley III, writes, “But what does the Apostle mean by “the Last Trump”? Because of the adjective “last,” some seek to associate this with the seventh or last trumpet of Revelation 8 and thus place the rapture at the end of the Tribulation. But as the above comparison shows, this is a distinct signal, evidently the very voice of the Lord Himself for the church. It is not blown by angels and is not for the world. John Eadie, a well-known scholar who wrote at the end of the 1800s wrote: The phrase, ‘the last trump’ (1 Cor. XV, 52), is supposed … to imply previous trumpets, at the last of which the Judge descends, while others identify it with the seventh trumpet of the Apocalypse; but these notions, the second especially, are exceedingly precarious—the phrase, ‘the last trump,’ being apparently a popular one, and meaning the trumpet in connection with the End. John Eaide, A Commentary on the Greek Text of the First Epistle of Paul to the Thessalonians (Reprint by James and Klock Christian Publishing Co., Minneapolis, 1977), p. 165) Of course the issue is the end of what? Since this is written to believers of the church age who are waiting for His imminent return, the end is that of the church age, not of the end of the age of Israel, or of all things. In the Old Testament, the blowing of the trumpet was used to accompany the Theophanies, the manifestations of God, as in Exodus 19:16. There it signaled the approach of the Lord at the giving of the Law. For the church this is the end and involves the Christophany, the manifestation of Christ, but at the same time, it will form the beginning of the end in that afterwards (how soon is not revealed), the Tribulation will begin which will be culminated just seven years later by the manifestation of Christ’s parousia, His presence openly revealed to the world as He descends with His church as described above. (1 Thessalonians: An Exegetical and Devotional Commentary, page 91; Biblical Studies Press, 1998) Now, the blowing of the seven trumpets by elect angels are to be taken literally and the signal literal judgments from God that will be executed upon the unsaved inhabitants of planet earth. They are literal just like the judgments upon Egypt were literal. Dr. Thomas L. Constable commenting on the seven trumpet judgments, writes, “These are the judgments that the angel ascending from the rising of the sun held back until the bond-servants of God were sealed on their foreheads (7:3). Therefore, they are more severe than the first six seal judgments. Their object is to lead hostile unbelievers to repentance, but few will repent (9:20-21).” (Notes on Revelation, page 84). The first four trumpet judgments are separated from the last three in that the latter are specifically called “woe” judgments. First Trumpet Judgment Revelation 8:6-7 records the first of the seven trumpet judgments and is directed at the earth and results in a third of the inhabitants of planet earth are killed. Revelation 8:6-7, “And the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound them. 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.” The blowing of the first trumpet results in hail and fire being cast to the earth mingled with blood. Consequently, a third of the earth is burned up meaning that the trees and the grass are burned up as well as various crops of the earth like wheat, barley, rice, and corn. The destruction of pasture land would also devastate the meat and milk industries. Of course, this would result in a devastating world-wide famine. This first trumpet judgment reminds us of the seventh plague that God sent against Egypt (Exodus 9:18-26). The prophet Joel also predicted that “blood and fire” would take place during the day of the Lord (Joel 2:30). The Second Trumpet Judgment Revelation 8:8-9 records the second of the seven trumpet judgments and is directed at the sea and results in a third of the sea becoming blood and a third of aquatic life dying and a third of the ships being destroyed. Revelation 8:8-9, “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, and a third of the creatures which were in the sea and had life, died; and a third of the ships were destroyed.” The statement “something like a great mountain with fire was thrown into the sea” refers to an asteroid hitting one of the oceans on the earth since an asteroid is literally a huge mountain hurling through space and when it hits the earth’s atmosphere it would burn. This would result in tremendous earthquakes and tsunamis bringing tremendous devastation to the earth. Evidently sea life is killed by the change in the water and the ships are destroyed by the impact of the burning object, probably by both the shock waves and tidal waves, whatever the cause. J. Hampton Keathley III makes this excellent comment on this second trumpet judgment, he writes, “Let’s be careful to note exactly what this says and what it does not say. It does not say that a great mountain, burning with fire was cast into the sea. Rather, it says ‘Something like a great mountain…’ The object which is cast into the sea is compared to a great burning mountain. It was a huge mountainlike ball of fire which was cast into the sea. It is the perfect picture of what we know today about asteroids. Asteroids are literally mountains hurling through space. There is one family of asteroids called the Apollo group with an orbit that crosses directly across the Earth. These asteroids are masses of rock which vary in size from just a few miles to several hundred. ‘About 3,500 asteroids have been cataloged, and more are discovered each year. Their orbits are generally very elliptical, with one end closer to the sun than the other. The largest asteroid, Ceres, is about 620 miles (1,000 kilometers) in diameter. Next in size are Pallas, about 332 miles (534 kilometers); and Vesta, about 240 miles (386 kilometers)’ (Excerpted from Compton’s Interactive Encyclopedia. ©1994, 1995 Compton’s NewMedia, Inc. All rights reserved). What would happen if even a small asteroid struck the earth? First, as it entered our atmosphere, as with shooting stars, it would begin to heat up and glow white with fire by friction. It would actually begin to burn. Then, when it hit the sea (as this object will if this is something like an asteroid) it would cause tidal waves and devastation for hundreds of miles. The meteorite which fell in Siberia in 1908 devastated over 1,000 square miles. The shock was felt as far away as Europe while trees up to 20 miles away were blown down. Yet the 1908 meteorite was only about 200 feet across—a far cry from one mile across! (Studies in Revelation-Christ’s Victory Over The Forces Of Darkness, page 98; Biblical Studies Press; www.bible.org; 1997) Warren Wiersbe commenting on this second trumpet judgment writes, “As of January 1, 1981 there were 24,867 ocean-going merchant ships registered. Imagine the shock waves that would hit the shipping industry if 8,289 valuable ships were suddenly destroyed! And what about their cargoes!” (The Bible Exposition Commentary, volume 2, page 593; Victor Books) The Third Trumpet Judgment Revelation 8:10-11 records the third of the seven trumpet judgments, which involves a large star called “Wormwood” falling upon the rivers and springs of water making them bitter. Revelation 8:10-11, “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. 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.” This star enters the earth’s atmosphere and begins to burn and break up affecting a very large area of land and especially the lakes, rivers and streams. This will cause a chemical change making the waters bitter. The star is called “wormwood.” The Bible teaches that God numbers His stars and gives them names. Isaiah 40:26, “Lift up your eyes on high and see who has created these stars, the One who leads forth their host by number, He calls them all by name; Because of the greatness of His might and the strength of His power, not one of them is missing.” “Wormwood” was a type of wood growing in Palestine that had a very strong and bitter taste. It is mentioned only seven times in the Old Testament where it represents sorrow and bitter judgment (Deuteronomy 29:18; Proverbs 5:4; Jeremiah 9:15; 23:15; Lamentations 3:15, 19; Amos 5:7). In Revelation 8:11, the star is called “wormwood” because of the affect the star has on the water. It makes the water like wormwood, i.e., bitter, but it appears that while the wormwood in Palestine is not poisonous, this star will poison the water because those who drink this water die. Thus one-third of the fresh water supply of the Earth is made unfit for human consumption. John Walvoord makes the following comment, he writes, “The reference to wormwood seems to draw the parallel of the experience of the children of Israel at the waters of Marah (Exodus 15:23-25). There the tree cast into the bitter waters made them sweet. Here the wormwood cast into the sweet water made it bitter. Such also is the contrast between Christ on the cross atoning for sin and making that which is bitter sweet and Christ coming in judgment which turns the vain hopes and ambitions of men into bitterness and despair. The result of this trumpet is to inflict a divine judgment from God upon men themselves.” (The Revelation of Jesus Christ, Moody Press, Chicago, 1966, page 155) Warren Wiersbe commenting on the third trumpet judgment writes, “The National Geographic Society lists about 100 principal rivers in the world, ranging in length from the Amazon (4,000 miles long) to the Rio de la Plata (150 miles long). The U.S. Geological Survey reports thirty large rivers in the United States, beginning with the mighty Mississippi (3,710 miles long). One third of these rivers and their sources, will become so bitterly polluted that drinking their water could produce death.” (The Bible Exposition Commentary, volume 2, page 593; Victor Books) If ecologists are worried today about water pollution, what will they think when this trumpet judgment takes place? Not only would people be affected by this in that they would die if they drank the water but also fish and other creatures that live in these waters will be adversely affected, not too mention the vegetation by these rivers. The Fourth Trumpet Judgment Revelation 8:12-13 records the fourth of the seven trumpet judgments that is directed at the sun, moon and stars of the stellar universe, which results in a third of them being darkened so that the day would not shine for a third of it and the night in the same way. Revelation 8:12-13, “The fourth angel sounded, and a third of the sun and a third of the moon and a third of the stars were struck, so that a third of them would be darkened and the day would not shine for a third of it, and the night in the same way. Then 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!’” The first three trumpet judgments affected only a third part of the land and various bodies of water on the earth. However, the fourth judgment will affect the entire earth because this judgment is directed at the source of the earth’s life and energy, namely, the sun. With one third less sunlight on the earth, there will be obviously one third less energy available to support life systems of man and nature. This judgment parallels the ninth plague executed against Egypt (Exodus 10:21-23), which lasted three days. There will be vast changes of temperature, which will affect human life and food growth. It is interesting that this fourth judgment affects the sun, moon and stellar universe since it was on the fourth day that God created and made visible to the Earth the sun, the moon and the stars. Genesis 1:14-19, “Next, God commanded, ‘let there be luminaries located in the space region of the heavens in order to cause a division between the day and the night and as a result they will be permanently for signs and for appointed seasons and for days and years. Consequently, they will be permanently for luminaries in the space region of the heavens and as a result they will be a cause of illumination upon the earth,’ thus it came to pass as previously described. Next, God restored the two great luminaries, the greater luminary in order to rule the day and the lesser luminary in order to rule the night. Also He restored the stars. Consequently, God placed them permanently in the space region of the heavens so that as a result they would be a cause of illumination upon the earth. And with the result that they rule over the day and the night and with the result that they cause a division between the light and the darkness and then God observed that it was perfect. And so it was evening and so it was morning, the fourth day.” In Revelation 8:13, the triple “woe” announcement by the eagle indicates that the remaining trumpet judgments will be far more severe in character than the previous four. As the ass spoke to Balaam, so this eagle, by the power of God, will speak from heaven as it flies about the earth like a flying soundtruck giving warning of the coming last three trumpets. The first four trumpets seem to serve not only as judgments, but as warnings of the last three trumpets since they are far worse. This is supported by the effects of the fourth on the heavens which the Lord referred to as “great signs in the heavens” (Luke 21:11), and by the warning of the eagle flying in heaven. Then, by the cry of the eagle, “Woe, woe, woe,” these last three trumpets are designated as woes because of their severity. As bad as the first four will be, these last three will be even worse. It’s as if the eagle is saying, “you think the last four judgments were rough, wait to go through the last three!” The Fifth Trumpet Judgment Revelation 9:1-12 records the fifth of the seven trumpet judgments, which is the first woe, and results in the release from prison of fallen angels who look like locusts and are energized by Satan and are not permitted to kill men but only to torment them. Revelation 9:1-12, “Then the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star from heaven which had fallen to the earth; and the key of the bottomless pit was given to him. He opened the bottomless pit, and smoke went up out of the pit, like the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by the smoke of the pit. Then out of the smoke came locusts upon the earth, and power was given them, as the scorpions of the earth have power. They were told not to hurt the grass of the earth, nor any green thing, nor any tree, but only the men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. And they were not permitted to kill anyone, but to torment for five months; and their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it stings a man. And in those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will long to die, and death flees from them. The appearance of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle; and on their heads appeared to be crowns like gold, and their faces were like the faces of men. They had hair like the hair of women, and their teeth were like the teeth of lions. They had breastplates like breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots, of many horses rushing to battle. They have tails like scorpions, and stings; and in their tails is their power to hurt men for five months. They have as king over them, the angel of the abyss; his name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in the Greek he has the name Apollyon. The first woe is past; behold, two woes are still coming after these things.” In Revelation 9:1-2, John describes Satan as a fallen star who has been given by God the key to the Abyss, which is a prison for fallen angels. The “star from heaven which had fallen to the earth” is a symbolic reference to Satan. There are several reasons that substantiate this interpretation. First of all, the perfect tense of the verb pipto, “had fallen” is an “intensive” perfect, which emphasizes the present state produced by a past action. It emphasizes the present state of Satan that is the result of the past action of rebelling against God (Ezekiel 28:12-19; Isaiah 14:12-14) and his being expelled from heaven by Michael and the elect angels, which is recorded in Revelation 12. That this star in Revelation 9:1 is not literal but symbolic for person is indicated in that the star is called a “him,” which is the intensive personal pronoun autos. It is correctly translated since it is describing a person. Also, that this star is not a literal one but symbolic for a person is indicated in that the star is seen performing the actions of personality. For example, he opens the abyss (verse 2) which would indicate that the star is in charge of these creatures of the abyss and somehow related to them. Also, the star is given the ascriptions and appellatives of a person as seen in verse 11, which describes the star’s specific relationship to the demonic creatures of the abyss. This star is not a literal one but symbolic for a person because this star is spoken of not only as a person but also as a king. Specifically, he is called the “angel of the Abyss,” and he is given the names, “Abaddon” and “Apollyon.” That the star of verse 1 is the king and angel of verse 11 seems clearly indicated in that the mention of this fallen star in verse one would be meaningless unless he is the personage who opens the pit. Unless this is the case, why call attention to a fallen star. Furthermore, the fact the star was given the key and authority to open the pit in order to bring destruction on the world also fits with the names given to this angel of the abyss. Both names, “Abaddon” and “Apollyon,” mean “destruction,” which is supported by the fact that, in Scripture, angels are called “stars” (Job 38:7). In fact, Satan is specifically referred to as a star (cf. Isa. 14:12 with Luke 10:18). Other Scriptures teach us that Satan is the ruler or king of the fallen angels since they are viewed as under his authority (Matt. 12:24, 26; Eph. 2:2; Rev. 12:4, 7). The locusts mentioned in connection with this fifth trumpet judgment are not literal locusts but rather demons as indicated in that many of the fallen angels are incarcerated at this point in history in the “bottomless pit” (translates the Greek expression to phrear tes abussou, which means literally, “pit of the abyss”) according to a comparison of Luke 8:31; Revelation 9:11, 11:7, 17:8, 20:1 and 3. In fact, Satan during the millennial reign of Christ will be imprisoned in the abyss according to Revelation 20:1 and 3. The “Abyss” or “bottomless pit” is one of four compartments of Hades, which is located underneath the earth: (1) Paradise: the place of the departed souls of believers before the resurrection of Christ (Lk. 23:39-43; Eph. 4:8-9) who were transferred to heaven after the resurrection of Christ (Eph. 4:10). (2) Torments: the temporary fire for the souls of unbelievers from all dispensations (Lk. 16:19-31). (3) Tartarus: the abode of the fallen angels of Genesis 6 who had sex with woman in order to corrupt the human race and prevent the incarnation of the Son of God (1 Peter 3:18-22; 2 Peter 4; Jude 6). (4) The Abyss: the place of imprisonment for the demons who violated certain rules for angelic creation and will be released during the Tribulation (Lk. 8:30-31; Rom. 10:7; Rev. 20:1-3). The fact that these locusts are not literal locusts but rather fallen angels is indicated in that locusts do not have scorpionlike stings in their tails. Also, locusts do not have a leader according to Proverbs 30:27 whereas in Revelation 9:11, John describes these locusts as having a leader. Furthermore, real locusts are destroyers but this army in Revelation 9:1-12 only tortures those who are unbelievers. Also, notice that these demons are not called scorpions, nor are we told that they look like scorpions, just that they have the power (vs. 3), and torment (vs. 5) of a scorpion. This means they have the power to cause tremendous pain, short of death, but extending for five months. In Revelation 9:3-6, John records these demon armies attacking human beings but they cannot kill anyone but only torment people. Revelation 9:3-6, “Then out of the smoke came locusts upon the earth, and power was given them, as the scorpions of the earth have power. They were told not to hurt the grass of the earth, nor any green thing, nor any tree, but only the men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. And they were not permitted to kill anyone, but to torment for five months; and their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it stings a man. And in those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will long to die, and death flees from them.” In Revelation 9:7-10, John describes the characteristics of this demon army. Revelation 9:7-10, “The appearance of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle; and on their heads appeared to be crowns like gold, and their faces were like the faces of men. They had hair like the hair of women, and their teeth were like the teeth of lions. They had breastplates like breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots, of many horses rushing to battle. They have tails like scorpions, and stings; and in their tails is their power to hurt men for five months.” In Revelation 9:11, John writes that these demons have a king over them and in verse 12, there is the announcement of two more woes. Revelation 9:11-12, “They have as king over them, the angel of the abyss; his name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in the Greek he has the name Apollyon. The first woe is past; behold, two woes are still coming after these things.” The Sixth Trumpet Judgment Revelation 9:13-21 records the sixth of the seven trumpet judgments, which is the second woe. Revelation 9:13-21, “Then the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, one saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, ‘Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.’ And the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released, so that they would kill a third of mankind. The number of the armies of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them. And this is how I saw in the vision the horses and those who sat on them: the riders had breastplates the color of fire and of hyacinth and of brimstone; and the heads of the horses are like the heads of lions; and out of their mouths proceed fire and smoke and brimstone. A third of mankind was killed by these three plagues, by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone which proceeded out of their mouths. For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails are like serpents and have heads, and with them they do harm. The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, so as not to worship demons, and the idols of gold and of silver and of brass and of stone and of wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk; and they did not repent of their murders nor of their sorceries nor of their immorality nor of their thefts.” This judgment results in the release of four fallen angels bound under the Euphrates river, which is located in southern Mesopotamia and rises in the mountains of Armenia Major and flows through Assyria, Syria, Mesopotamia, and the city of Babylon, from 1,700 to 1,800 miles into the Persian Gulf. It is by far the longest and most important river of western Asia and was the natural boundary separating the nations of the east from Palestine. That these angels are non-elect is indicated in that elect angels are never bound. John is describing a demon army numbered at 200 hundred million, which is indicated in that they are led by four fallen angels who are bound at the Euphrates River. Many commentators believe that this massive army is a reference to the Chinese because the Chinese claim that they can put an army of this size in the field for battle. However, the description of this army makes clear that it is not that of a human army or men who are Chinese. Furthermore they are led by four fallen angels. This army is completely different than the army led by the “kings of the east” mentioned in Revelation 16:12-16 since this army is related to the sixth bowl judgment whereas the army of 200 million of Revelation 9:16 is connected to the sixth trumpet judgment. The fourth seal (Revelation 6:7-8) resulted in a fourth of the earth’s inhabitants being killed whereas the sixth trumpet judgment results in a third of the remainder being put to death. This means the earth’s total population is reduced by onehalf by these two judgments alone and these judgments do not account for all the deaths that will occur. The other judgments also will result in widespread destruction of human life. As Walvoord says, “Never since Noah has such a substantial proportion of the earth’s population come under God’s righteous judgment.” (The Revelation of Jesus Christ, Moody Press, Chicago, 1966, page 165) Revelation 9:1719 describes this massive army and its tactics or method of warfare, which indicate that this army is demonic rather than human. This passage clearly indicates these are not ordinary horsemen or horses since this refers to a demonic army. Revelation 10-11:14 is parenthetical providing additional information as a background to the seal, trumpet and bowl judgments. The Seventh Trumpet Judgment Revelation 11:15-19 records the seventh and final trumpet judgment, which is the third woe and results in the Second Advent of Christ. Revelation 11:15-19, “Then the seventh angel sounded; and there were 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.’ And the twenty-four elders, who sit on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying, ‘We give You thanks, O Lord God, the Almighty, who are and who were, because You have taken Your great power and have begun to reign. And the nations were enraged, and Your wrath came, and the time came for the dead to be judged, and the time to reward Your bond-servants the prophets and the saints and those who fear Your name, the small and the great, and to destroy those who destroy the earth.’ 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.” The Second Advent is the visible return of Christ to planet earth with the elect angels and the Church in order to save the nation of Israel from her enemies and establish His 1000-year millennial reign resulting in the fulfillment of the 4 unconditional covenants to Israel. At that time, the Lord and His armies will orbit the earth before landing on the Mount of Olives, which was the site of His Ascension (Acts. 1:9-11). There will be a great earthquake when our Lord’s foot touches the Mount of Olives (Zech. 14:1-8) and will be a unique day having neither day nor night (Zech. 14:7). The rapture of the church is distinguished in Scripture from the Second Advent of Christ. The Rapture delivers the church while the Second Advent delivers Israel. It is seen only by the church and is therefore invisible while the Second Advent is the visible manifestation of Christ on the earth. The Lord meets the church in the earth’s atmosphere at the Rapture, whereas the Lord physically lands on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem at the Second Advent. Signs do not precede the Rapture whereas visible signs precede the Second Advent. The Lord claims His Bride at the Rapture but He returns with her at the Second Advent. The Rapture completes God’s program for the church while the Second Advent is related to God’s program for Israel. The Rapture is a mystery, not known to Old Testament saints whereas the Second Advent is prophesied throughout the Old Testament canon. The Rapture leaves creation unchanged whereas the Second Advent entails a change in creation. The Rapture does not fulfill God’s covenants to Israel whereas the Second Advent marks the beginning of their fulfillment. The Rapture precedes the Tribulation whereas the Second Advent follows it. The resurrection or rapture of the church was a mystery that was not known to Old Testament saints. The Second Advent of Christ will result in the establishment of our Lord’s millennial reign. The Scriptures make clear that the world government during the millennium will be under the rule of the Lord Jesus Christ (Is. 2:2-4; 9:3-7; 11:1-10; 16:5; Dan. 2:44; 7:15-28; Obad. 17-21; Mic. 4:1-8; 5:2-5; Zeph. 3:9-10; Zech. 9:10-15; 14:16-17). The thousand-year reign is the direct administration of divine government on earth for one thousand years by our Lord and His church. Its earthly center will be Jerusalem and the nation of Israel, though Christ and the overcomers of the church age will rule in resurrected bodies and will take the place now occupied by the kingdom of darkness. The millennial reign of Christ will be the public earthly honoring by God the Father of His Son Jesus Christ where men dishonored Him on this earth 2000 years ago. It will be the execution of God’s promises to His Son and the prophecies concerning the Lord Jesus. The Messianic reign will be God’s answer to the prayer, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” The Lord Jesus Christ will finally receive the kingdom that He was promised by the Father, which in turn allows the Son to fulfill His promises to those who were faithful to Him while under the persecution of the kingdom of darkness. During the Millennium: (1) Israel will be regathered (2) The Covenants will all be fulfilled literally (3) All of creation will be at peace (Rom. 8:19-20) (4) There will be no deserts on the earth (Isa. 35:1-3) (5) The animal kingdom will be changed (Isa. 11) (6) There will be International prosperity. The life of a man being during the Millennium will be greatly increased. There will be a perfect world government under the rule of Christ (Isa. 11:1-2; Zech. 14:9). During this thousand-year period the four great unconditional covenants to Israel will be fulfilled: (1) Abrahamic (Gen. 12:1-3; 13:16; 22:15-18; 26:4; 28:14; 35:11; Ex. 6:2-8). (2) Palestinian (Gn. 13:15; Ex. 6:4, 8; Num. 34:1-12; Dt. 30:1-9; Jer. 32:36-44; Ezek. 36:21-38). (3) Davidic (2 Sam. 7:8-17; Psa. 89:20-37) (4) New (Jer. 31:31-34; cf. Heb. 8:8-12; 10:15-17). The entire expectation of Old Testament Israel is involved with its earthly kingdom, the glory of Israel and the promised Messiah seated in Jerusalem as ruler of the nations. The millennial reign of Christ cannot begin until the beast (antichrist) and the false prophet being thrown alive into the Lake of Fire (Rev. 19:20-21). Furthermore, Satan must be thrown into prison at the Second Advent of Christ according to Revelation 20:1-3 before the millennial reign begins (Rev. 20:1-3). All unbelievers will be removed from planet earth at the Second Advent of Christ and will be throne into the Lake of Fire with the beast and the false prophet (Jews: Ezek. 20-33-38; Gentiles: Matt. 25:31-46). These judgments are designed to produce perfect government and environment on planet earth. All of creation will be at peace during the Millennium (Rom. 8:19-20) and there will be no war for 1000 years during the Millennium. The Seven Bowl Judgments Introduction Following the trumpet judgments are the bowl judgments, which are recorded in Revelation 16 and like the seven seal judgments and seven trumpet judgments will take place during the last three and a half years of Daniel’s Seventieth Week. Chronologically, these seven bowl judgments follow the seven trumpet judgments that are recorded in Revelation 8:1-9:21 and 11:15-19 and which will follow the seven seal judgments that we noted last month in Revelation 6:1-17 and 8:1-5. These seven bowl judgments complete the third and final portion of God’s program to exercise His wrath, i.e. righteous indignation during the last three and a half years of Daniel’s Seventieth, which is also called by students of prophecy as the “Great Tribulation.” The Scriptures plainly teach that the wrath poured out during the Great Tribulation period originates with God and is therefore a time of God’s wrath upon a Christ rejecting a world that is deceived by the devil (See Isaiah 34:1-2; Joel 1:15; Obadiah 15; Revelation 15:1, 7; 16:1; Revelation 19:11-21). The divine judgments that will fall on the inhabitants of the earth are designed to lead men to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ since God desires all men to be saved. 2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” The divine judgments that will fall on the earth are also designed to destroy Satan’s cosmic system and establish Christ’s millennial rule. Revelation 11:15, “Then the seventh angel sounded; and there were 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.’” The trumpet judgments are very similar to the bowl judgments. For example, in both, the first series deals with the earth (cf. 8:7 with 16:2). The second series deals with the sea (cf. 8:89 with 16:3) while the third series deals with the rivers and fountains of water (cf. 8:1011 with 16:4). The fourth series deals with the sun (cf. 8:12 with 16:8) while the fifth series deals with darkness (cf. 8:12 with 16:10). The sixth series deals with the Euphrates (cf. 9:1314 with 16:12), and the seventh series deals with lightnings, thunders, and earthquakes (cf. 11:19b with 16:1721). However, there are major differences between the two. For example, the first four trumpets deal with only one-third of the earth while the bowl judgments are universal in scope. Secondly, the bowl judgments are also much greater in intensity as well as in degree of coverage and effect. They fall quickly as a liquid poured out of a bowl and in rapid succession just like trip hammer blows. It is best, therefore, to see the bowls as different from the trumpets judgments. The seven bowl judgments cause the further hardening of the hearts of men instead of humbling them. They have the same result on the world as the plagues of Egypt had on Pharaoh. These plagues will reveal the total rebellion and independence of the creature to his Creator. These judgments will result in anger and blasphemy from the heart and mouths of unregenerate men rather than respect, reverence and trust in Christ as Savior. They are hardening plagues which God uses to His own glory (See Revelation 16:9, 11, 21). However, they will crush man’s rebellion and remove the rebellious from the earth. The completion of this will be accomplished by the return of Christ with His armies (Ezek. 20:38; Joel 3:217; Matt. 13:4043; Rev. 19:1121). The seven bowl judgments will perfectly accomplish God’s righteous purposes for the Seventieth Week of Daniel. J. Hampton Keathley III speaking in regards to this writes, “Here we have the last and final judgments of the Tribulation, but they will also perfectly accomplish God’s righteous purposes through this seven-year period. (1) As the time of Jacob’s trouble. The Tribulation is first of all God’s discipline on the Jews for their willful rejection of Christ as their Messiah and for their stubbornness. It will purge out the rebels and cause the rest to turn to Christ (cf. Ezek. 20:33-44; Zech. 14:9-10). (2) The Tribulation will bring God’s judgment on the Gentiles for anti-Semitism. It will be a strong source of motivation for men to repent and turn to faith in Christ, and judge the rest for their unbelief and rebellion. (3) As to Satan the Tribulation is to demonstrate the true character and program of Satan as the source of sin, misery, war and murder. (4) It will demonstrate to mankind as a whole (Jew and Gentile) the true rebellion and spiritually corrupt nature of man and the depths to which he will go when given the chance. Remember, at this time the restraint of the Holy Spirit who is at work today through the church, the body of Christ, will have been completely removed. The Tribulation, without this special restraint, will be a time of unprecedented lawlessness and unrighteousness, which will demonstrate the failure of man and how desperately he needs the Lord Jesus Christ. (5) As to God and Christ it will demonstrate their absolute holiness, grace, faithfulness to their promises, and that God is still on the throne and He is just in his decisions against Satan and unbelieving man. So these last seven plagues will complete these purposes as well as bring an end to the judgments (16:911, 1314, 21).” (Studies in Revelation-Christ’s Victory Over The Forces Of Darkness, pages 218-219; Biblical Studies Press; www.bible.org; 1997) The seven bowl judgments like the seven sealed judgments and seven trumpet judgments are designed to vindicate the holiness of God and are by no means vindictive, rather they are vindicative. They demonstrate the wrath of God or in other words, His righteous indignation towards sin and rebellion. God’s wrath is an expression of His holiness. “Wrath” in the Greek New Testament is the noun orge, which refers to God’s attitude of “righteous indignation” in response to any thought, word, or action of His moral rational creatures, whether mankind and angels, that is opposed to His holiness and manifests itself in actions that judge and punish the guilty. Every unbeliever will experience the righteous indignation of God forever in the eternal Lake of Fire. In Romans 1:18, Paul teaches that the wrath of God is being revealed “at the present time” in human history but in Romans 2:5, he declares that the wrath of God is “eschatological” meaning that it is “yet future.” This speaks of the Great White Throne Judgment of every unbeliever in history that will take place at the end of human history and is the judgment of all unregenerate humanity in human history for their rejection of Jesus Christ as Savior (Rev. 20:11-15). Revelation 20:11-15, “Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” Unbelievers will “not” be judged according to their sins at the Great White Throne Judgment since Jesus Christ died for all men, Jew and Gentile and for every sin that they have committed-past, present and future. The unbeliever will be judged according to their self-righteous human good works, which do not measure up to the perfect work of the impeccable Christ on the Cross (Rev. 20:11-15). The unbeliever goes to the lake of fire because of his rejection of Christ as his Savior since 1 Timothy 2:4 and John 3:16-17 clearly indicates that God desires all men to be saved, thus, He has made provision for all men to be saved through the Person and Work of Jesus Christ on the Cross. Those who reject Jesus Christ as Savior will be thrown into the eternal Lake of Fire forever and ever at the conclusion of human history. The difference between righteous indignation and anger is that the former is based upon concern for the holiness of God whereas the latter is emotional, selfish, self-centered, vindictive and intent on harming another. Nahum 1:2, “A jealous and avenging God is the LORD; The LORD is avenging and wrathful. The LORD takes vengeance on His adversaries, and He reserves wrath for His enemies.” 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10, “For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him.” Revelation 19:15, “From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty.” Normally, anger expressed by human beings is emotional and selfish but sometimes human beings manifest righteous indignation as in the case of the Lord Jesus Christ who displayed righteous indignation towards the moneychangers in the Temple whose actions stood in opposition to the holiness of God (Jn. 2:13-17). In fact, in Ephesians 4:26-27, the apostle Paul commands believers to display righteous indignation towards injustice, sin and evil and to reject the emotional, selfish, self-centered, vindictive and revengeful form of human wrath and anger. Ephesians 4:26-27, “BE ANGRY, AND YET DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity.” God’s righteous indignation is the legitimate anger towards evil and sin since both are contrary to His holiness or perfect character and nature. In fact, God’s righteous indignation expresses His holiness. The holiness of God pertains to the absolute perfection of God’s character or expressing the purity of His character or moral perfection and excellence and means that God can have nothing to do with sin or sinners. He is totally separate from sin and sinners unless a way can be found to constitute them holy and that way has been provided based upon the merits of the impeccable Person and Finished Work of the Lord Jesus Christ on the Cross. The presence of evil, sin and injustice is totally absent in the character of God, thus God does not tolerate evil or sin because it is contrary to His character, i.e. His inherent moral qualities, ethical standards and principles. Webster’s New Universal Unabridged Dictionary defines “holiness” as “the quality or state of being holy; sanctity” and they define “sanctity” as, “sacred or hallowed character.” One of the definitions that Webster’s New Universal Unabridged Dictionary gives for the adjective “holy” is, “entitled to worship or profound religious reverence because of divine character or origin or connection with God or divinity.” One of the definitions for the noun “character” that Webster’s New Universal Unabridged Dictionary provides that applies to the context of our passage is the following: “the aggregate of features and traits that form the apparent individual nature of some person or thing.” If we paraphrase these definitions, we would say that the God’s holiness refers to “the aggregate (i.e. sum total) of perfect features and traits that form the divine nature of God.” Therefore, God’s holiness refers to the absolute perfection of His character, expressing His purity of His character or moral perfection and excellence and intolerance and opposition and rejection of sin and evil, thus God is totally separate from sin and sinners. Thus, God’s holiness is related to all of His divine attributes or in other words, it is simply the harmony of all His perfections or attributes. Therefore, God’s wrath, which is in reality, righteous indignation is an expression of His holiness, righteousness and love in opposition to sin and evil. God’s wrath or righteous indignation is used of God’s settled opposition to and displeasure against sin meaning that God’s holiness cannot and will not coexist with sin in any form whatsoever. It is not the momentary, emotional, and often uncontrolled anger to which human beings are prone and does not refer to an explosive outburst but rather it refers to an inner, deep resentment that seethes and smolders, often unnoticed by others as in the case of God’s wrath. God hates sin so much and loves the sinner so much that He judged His Son Jesus Christ for every sin in human history-past, present and future and provided deliverance from sin through faith in His Son Jesus Christ. The only way to avoid God’s righteous indignation is to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. John 3:36, “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” Also, the seven bowl judgments, like the seven sealed judgments and seven trumpet judgments demonstrate the omnipotence of God. “Omnipotence” is an attribute of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. It is a compound word from the Latin meaning “all powerful,” and is composed of the following: (1) Omni, “all.” (2) Potence, “power.” “Omnipotence” is one of the characteristics of the divine essence (Father: Mark 14:36 and Luke 1:37; Son: Col. 1:16-17; Heb. 1:3; Spirit: Rom. 15:13). God has limitless and infinite ability to do something (Gen. 18:14a; Psa. 147:5a; Isa. 40:26; Lk. 1:37). There is power in the Word of God (Psa. 33:6a; Heb. 1:3a; 4:12a; 11:3a; 2 Co. 6:7; Heb. 4:12; 2 Pet. 3:5). Hebrews 4:12, “The Word of God is alive and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of the soul and the spirit, and of the joints and the marrow, and is a critic of thoughts and intents of the heart.” The cross of Christ is the power of God, which delivers the believer from the sin nature, the cosmic system of Satan and Satan himself. 1 Corinthians 1:18, “ For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” The Gospel is the power of God for salvation. Romans 1:16, “For I am never ashamed of the gospel for it is as an eternal spiritual truth God’s power resulting in deliverance for the benefit of everyone who as an eternal spiritual truth believe, to the Jew first and then to the Greek.” All three members of the Trinity are omnipotent since they are co-equal, co-infinite and co-eternal: (1) God the Father is omnipotent (Eph. 1:17; 2 Pet. 1:2-3). (2) Holy Spirit is omnipotent (Acts 1:8; Rm. 15:13, 19; Eph. 3:16; 1 Th. 1:5). (3) Word of God is omnipotent (Ro. 1:16; 1 Co. 1:18, 24; Heb. 4:12). Preparation for the Bowl Judgments Now, Revelation chapter 15 is introductory or a prelude, preparing the reader for the execution of the seven bowl judgments described in chapter 16. It is similar to Revelation 8:1 in that it prepares the reader for the next set of judgments, the seven bowls. It prepares for the resumption of the chronological progression of events on earth that ended temporarily in Revelation 11:19 with the seventh trumpet judgment. In chapter 15, the seven bowl judgments are first described as the seven last plagues and then as seven bowls full of the wrath of God (Revelation 15:7; 16:1). These seven plagues will chronologically bring to an end the ordered events of the judgments during the last three and a half years of Daniel’s Seventieth Week in a dramatic crescendo. Remember, the seven plagues and seven bowls used in Revelation 15 refer to the same judgments. The use of different terms is designed to display the different aspects and character of these last judgments. They are plague-like calamities, and each is poured out suddenly, all at once as the contents of a bowl when it is turned over. Now, chronologically speaking, John under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit gives a graphic description of six seals (6:117), but the seventh (8:1) is never described. We are only told that when it is broken, there is silence in heaven (8:1). The implication is that the seven trumpets come out of the seventh seal and actually express the content of the seventh seal (8:19:21; 11:1519). This seventh trumpet takes us up to the return of Christ and includes within its judgments the events of the seven last plagues or bowls of chapters 15 and 16, which occur rapidly at the end. The final great event is the Second Advent of the Lord Jesus Christ in glory (Revelation 19:1121). Also, we must remember that Revelation 10:111:4; 1314; and 17:119:10 are interludes or parenthetical in that they do not advance the Tribulation events chronologically. They simply fill in the picture of the Tribulation giving important details about key personages, events and concepts. Revelation 15, “Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels who had seven plagues, which are the last, because in them the wrath of God is finished. And I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, holding harps of God. And they sang the song of Moses, the bond-servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, ‘Great and marvelous are Your works, O Lord God, the Almighty; Righteous and true are Your ways, King of the nations! Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy; For ALL THE NATIONS WILL COME AND WORSHIP BEFORE YOU, FOR YOUR RIGHTEOUS ACTS HAVE BEEN REVEALED.’ After these things I looked, and the temple of the tabernacle of testimony in heaven was opened, and the seven angels who had the seven plagues came out of the temple, clothed in linen, clean and bright, and girded around their chests with golden sashes. Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever. And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power; and no one was able to enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished.” Again as was the case with the seven trumpet judgments, elect angels are used to execute the seven bowl judgments. Now, in Revelation 16, the apostle John employs the adjective megas (mevga$), “great” eleven times (1, 9, 12, 14, 17, 18 twice, 19 twice, 21 twice). In verse 1, it is used to describe the voice from the temple that issues the orders to the elect angels to execute the seven bowl judgments as “great” or “loud.” In verse 9, it is used to describe heat proceeding from the sun after the fourth bowl judgment. In verse 12, it is used in relation to the sixth bowl judgment and to describe the Euphrates River. The word appears in verse 14 in relation to the sixth bowl judgment and to describe the day of God Almighty and the battle of Armageddon. It is used in relation to the seventh bowl judgment in verse 17 and describes the voice again coming from the temple of God in heaven. The word appears twice in verse 18 to describe the earthquake that will be the result of the seventh bowl judgment. It again appears twice in verse 19 to describe the city of Babylon and is also used in relation to the seventh bowl. Lastly, the word appears twice in verse 21 to describe the hail that will fall upon the earth as a result of the seventh bowl judgment. The frequent use of megas in Revelation 16 in connection with the seven bowl judgments indicates the unusual severity and intensity of these judgments. Revelation 16:1, “Then I heard a loud voice from the temple, saying to the seven angels, ‘Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God.’” The “loud voice from the temple” is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself since no one else will be allowed to enter the temple until the bowl judgments have all been executed. Also, the word order emphasizes the power and authority of the voice. Furthermore, if you recall, in Revelation 5, we saw that the Lamb, the Lord Jesus Christ was the only one in heaven and on earth who was worthy to open the seven sealed scroll, which is the title deed to planet earth. The Lord Jesus Christ was the only one in heaven and earth who was worthy to break the seven sealed scroll, which resulted in the execution of judgments upon the unsaved inhabitants of planet earth. Now, the seventh seal introduces the seven trumpet judgments and they are followed by the seven bowl judgments. Thus, since these three categories of divine judgment are interconnected with each other and since Christ began the execution of these judgments by breaking the seven sealed scroll, we can infer that Christ’s voice is the one speaking to the seven elect angels in Revelation 16:1. Furthermore, Revelation 15 records the preparation of the seven bowl judgments and the elect angels singing the praises of the Lamb, who is the Lord Jesus Christ. Thus, we can see that the voice from heaven in Revelation 16:1 speaking to the elect angels and instructing them to execute the seven bowl judgment is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. The First Bowl Judgment The first bowl judgment is recorded in Revelation 16:2 and is directed at those unsaved inhabitants of the earth who received the mark of the beast, i.e. the Antichrist and who worship his image. Therefore, this indicates that the bowl judgments take place during the last half of Daniel’s Seventieth Week since Antichrist will not order everyone on earth to receive this mark until after he proclaims himself God and demands the worship of the world as world-ruler, which takes place in the middle of Daniel’s Seventieth Week (See Revelation 13:11-18). Revelation 16:2, “So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth; and it became a loathsome and malignant sore on the people who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his image.” This bowl judgment is reminiscent of the sixth plague in Egypt (Exodus 9:8-12; note also Deuteronomy 28:27, 35). The Second And Third Bowl Judgments The second bowl judgment is recorded in Revelation 16:3 and is directed at the sea as was the case with the second trumpet judgment in Revelation 8:8. Revelation 16:3, “The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became blood like that of a dead man; and every living thing in the sea died.” The third bowl judgment is recorded in Revelation 16:4-6 and is directed at the inland waters such as rivers and fountains. Revelation 16:4, “Then the third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of waters; and they became blood.” The second and third bowl judgments parallel the first plague in Egypt (Exodus 7:14-25). The second bowl judgment centers upon the oceans while the third focuses upon the rivers of the world turning them into blood. When the second trumpet judgment took place, a third part of the sea became blood. However, with the second bowl judgment the entire system of seas and oceans will be polluted. The third trumpet make a third part of the inland waters bitter as wormwood. However, the third bowl judgment will turn all bitter inland waters in the world into blood. Therefore, since water is essential in order to sustain human life, these two judgments demonstrate that there is no life in following the Devil and Antichrist. The second and third bowl judgments results in a global catastrophe. Under the second trumpet one-third was affected, but now, in keeping with the nature of this judgment, the rest of the sea and marine life is struck. It will wreck fishing and it is bound to affect ocean navigation, transportation and shipping. The fresh water supply on the earth will be destroyed. In Revelation 16:5-7, an elect angel proclaims the vindication of these judgments upon a Christ rejecting world. Revelation 16:5-7, “And I heard the angel of the waters saying, ‘Righteous are You, who are and who were, O Holy One, because You judged these things for they poured out the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink. They deserve it.’ And I heard the altar saying, ‘Yes, O Lord God, the Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments.’” The Fourth And Fifth Bowl Judgments The fourth bowl judgment is recorded in Revelation 16:8-9 and is directed at the sun. The blowing of the fourth trumpet judgment dealt with a third part of the stellar universe resulting in the darkening of a third part of the day and of the night. However, in contrast to this, the fourth bowl judgment is directed only at the sun and increases the sun’s intensity and does not decrease it as was the case with the fourth trumpet judgment. Revelation 16:8-9, “The fourth angel poured out his bowl upon the sun, and it was given to it to scorch men with fire. Men were scorched with fierce heat; and they blasphemed the name of God who has the power over these plagues, and they did not repent so as to give Him glory.” The fifth bowl judgment is recorded in Revelation 16:10-11 and like the fifth trumpet judgment, it results in darkness, which is reminiscent of the ninth plague of Egypt (Exodus 10:2123). Revelation 16:10-11, “Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became darkened; and they gnawed their tongues because of pain, and they blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores; and they did not repent of their deeds.” This fifth bowl judgment is executed against the Antichrist’s center of power, which anticipates the destruction of his kingdom. Again, these unregenerate individuals refuse to repent and trust in Jesus Christ as Savior. J. Hampton Keathley III makes an excellent commenting regarding the fifth bowl judgment, he writes, “First, we are told the bowl is poured out ‘upon the throne of the beast.’ The Greek construction of this phrase (the preposition epi with the accusative case) refers to motion in a direction which completely attains its goal. Regardless of his apparent power, he will not be able to escape God’s judgment. Second, the beast refers to a person as well as to a political system, therefore, his throne is a definite place. I believe it will be rebuilt Babylon on the Euphrates River, the ancient capital of Satan’s wickedness in the land of Shinar (Zech. 5:510). This is the land beast of Revelation 13 who will receive his power from Satan and who will become the object of man’s worship. Men will marvel at the beast and proclaim ‘who is like the beast, and who is able to make war with him’ (Rev. 13:4). Remember, he will be seen as the solution to the world, the answer to mankind, the hope of the world. Due to world conditions on every front and in every area of the globe, things will look hopeless. People will be in despair or certainly very fearful prior to the Tribulation. For the varied problems of the world, man will have turned to a variety of sources looking for hope. These will come in many forms and sizes. There will be the false prophets of modern science, scholarship and research, false religions, the occult, the cults, false prophets like Mr. Moon, the new world views, social ideologies and finally, the world will look for answers in some new and great world leader whether political, religious, or both. Such a man will come, but he will be “the man of lawlessness” and “the son of perdition who opposes and exalts himself above every socalled god…displaying himself as God” (2 Thess. 3 and 4). He will also be ‘the one whose coming (his historical ascendancy to power) is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders’ (2 Thess. 2:9). Now suddenly at this point in the Tribulation, like a bowl poured out, a judgment of darkness is poured out on the beast’s throne, the very place of his rule, and neither Satan nor this man can alleviate this judgment. This will clearly illustrate that there is only one hope, the Eternal God and Creator, the Lord Jesus Christ whom the world has by-inlarge rejected; the One who alone is the Light of the world. What irony strikes here (John 1:35, 911)! This judgment also anticipates the doom and eternal prospects of the beast and his subjects; they will be cast into outer darkness because they have turned away from the true Light of the world. The first effect is seen in ‘his kingdom became darkened.’ The verb ‘became’ in the Greek text suggests suddenly. It looks at the sudden envelopment of the throne of the beast in total darkness. Of course, we are reminded of the ‘thick darkness’ in Egypt which was so thick it could be felt (Exodus 10:21). ‘Darkened’ is an intensive perfect which stresses the existing results of the blackout over the earth. Since the beast rules practically the entire world, and since these are the last plagues of the Tribulation which complete the wrath of God to establish God’s rule on earth, this darkness is undoubtedly worldwide. As you read this, do not lose sight of the fact that this is a brief forecast of the outer darkness, pain, and torment that men will face in the lake of fire (Matt. 5:30; 22:13; 8:12). It is a literal taste of hell. But it is also designed to symbolize the nature of the beast and his kingdom, his power, and Satan who gives him his power. It is a kingdom of great darkness (Col. 1:13a; 2 Cor. 4:4; 11:1315). The second effect: ‘And they gnawed their tongues because of the pain.’ We have in this an accumulated effect of the preceding bowls, the sores, the seas smitten, the fresh water turned into blood, the scorching of the sun, and now total darkness. Men are shut up in their quarters with their sores and pain and there is no alleviation, no hope—only constant torment. Literally the Greek says ‘they kept on gnawing their tongues out of agony.’ Here is a graphic picture of the most intense and excruciating agony and pain, and a pain that cannot be alleviated. In 9:21 the word ‘sorceries’ is the Greek pharmakeia from pharmakeuo„ ‘to administer drugs.’ In connection with the witchcraft of that day there will be widespread use of drugs. Nearly everyone will have access to drugs to deaden their pain. But even this will have no effect to relieve their pain. The third and final effect: ‘And they blasphemed the God of heaven…and they did not repent of their deeds’ (vs. 11). In these words we are clearly told that the world will be conscious that the ‘God of heaven’ is the source of these judgments. There will, at this time, be no more atheists or agnostics. All men will know, like the demons, that God exists, but they remain stubborn in their rebellion. Oh, the hardness and stubbornness of the human heart! These verses clearly refute the idea of a final universal salvation of all men who will finally repent when faced with God’s judgment. (Studies in Revelation-Christ’s Victory Over The Forces Of Darkness, pages 226-227; Biblical Studies Press; www.bible.org; 1997) The Sixth Bowl Judgment The sixth bowl judgment is recorded in Revelation 16:12-16 and is directed at the Euphrates river in Iraq and dries it up. The Euphrates River is located in southern Mesopotamia and rises in the mountains of Armenia Major and flows through Assyria, Syria, Mesopotamia, and the city of Babylon, from 1,700 to 1,800 miles into the Persian Gulf. It is by far the longest and most important river of western Asia and was the natural boundary separating the nations of the east from Palestine. The Euphrates is mentioned in Revelation 9:14 when the sixth trumpet was sounded resulting in the release of the fourth non-elect angels and a massive demonic army. This river formed the Eastern boundary of ancient Rome and its conquests and it also forms the Eastern boundary of the land as promised to Abraham (cf. Gen. 15:18; Deut. 1:7; 11:24; Josh. 1:4). Both David and Solomon extended their authority to the Euphrates (1 Kings 4:21; 1 Chron. 18:3; 2 Chron. 9:26). The purpose of this sixth bowl judgment is to prepare the way for the invasion of Israel by the kings from the east to do battle with the armies of the Antichrist so that God might bring them into judgment at Armageddon. Revelation 16:12-16, “The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river, the Euphrates; and its water was dried up, so that the way would be prepared for the kings from the east. And I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs for they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them together for the war of the great day of God, the Almighty. (‘Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his clothes, so that he will not walk about naked and men will not see his shame.’) And they gathered them together to the place which in Hebrew is called Har-Magedon.” “The kings from the east” in the original Greek text is literally “the kings from the rising sun.” This is a poetical expression signifying the kings from where the sun rises, as China, Japan, India, Persia, and Afghanistan. So here we see God’s divine activity; God acting in His sovereignty using the wrath and rebellion of Satan and man to carry out his own purposes. Knowing the mind of Satan and man, the Lord will dry up this natural barrier to an invasion of the land of Palestine. The word “war” in Revelation 16:14 is the Greek word polemos (povlemo$), which signifies a war, an entire campaign and not merely one isolated conflict or battle. This indicates that this conflict described in Revelation 16:14 is a major war as in World War II. Thus, assuming it is the next world war, John is describing World War III, which will extend over the entire last half of Daniel’s Seventieth Week and will involve several phases or invasions of Palestine and conflicts. This will finally culminate in the gathering of all nations at the very end of the Tribulation at HarMagedon. Ezekiel 38; Daniel 11:4045; Zechariah 14:13 and Joel 3:117 all describe these military events that will culminate in the Second Advent of the Lord Jesus Christ. “Har-Magedon” is the name Armageddon ( )Armageddwbn), which is a Greek transliteration of two Hebrew words, har and Megiddo, “the hill of Megiddo.” The word Megiddo means “place of troops or “place of slaughter.” It is also called the Plain of Esdraelon and the Valley of Jezreel. The area is about fourteen miles wide and twenty miles long and forms what Napoleon called “the most natural battlefield of the whole earth.” John Walvoord makes the following comment, he writes, “There has been considerable discussion concerning the meaning of the term ‘Armageddon,’ taken by some to mean ‘Mount of Slaughter.’ Geographically, it relates to the Mount of Megiddo located adjacent to the plain of Megiddo to the west and the large plain of Esdraelon to the northeast. Megiddo is the Hebrew word corresponding to the Greek word Armageddon. This area was the scene of many of the great battles of the Old Testament such as that of Barak and the Canaanites in Judges 4 and the victory of Gideon over the Midianites in Judges 7. Here also occurred the deaths of Saul and Josiah. The area, though it is a large one, is not sufficient for the armies of all the world, though the valley of Esdraelon is fourteen miles wide and twenty miles long. What this Scripture seems to indicate is that this area is the central point for the military conflict which ensues. Actually the armies are deployed over a 200-mile area up and down from this central location (cf. 14:20). At the time of the second coming, some of the armies are in Jerusalem itself (Zech. 14:1—3). (The Revelation of Jesus Christ, Moody Press, Chicago, 1966, page 155) Titus and the Roman army used this natural corridor and so did the Crusaders in the Middle Ages. In recent history, the British General Allenby used it when he defeated the Turkish armies in 1917. The battle of Armageddon appears to be the result of the armies of the nations of the earth gathering on their own initiative, which is true. However, this is according to God’s plan from eternity past. Satan, Antichrist and the false prophet, the Satanic trinity, through demonic powers, will influence the nations and cause their rulers to assemble their armies for battle. This assembling of the world’s armies for World War III is designed by God to bring an end to Satan’s rule of planet earth and to establish His Son’s millennial reign. Zechariah 12 and 14 describes this war from Israel’s perspective. Revelation 19 records the outcome of this war. The Seventh Bowl Judgment The seventh and final bowl judgment is recorded in Revelation 16:17-21 and is poured out into the earth’s atmosphere resulting in an unprecedented earthquake, the greatest to ever take place on the earth since man has been on it. As in the case of the final seal judgment and seventh and final trumpet judgment the seventh and final bowl judgment is introduced by the sound of voices, peals of thunder, lightening and a great earthquake. This massive world-wide earthquake will reduce the cities of the Gentiles to rubble and change the topography of the earth and will also result in tremendous tsunamis. Also, the city of Babylon will be split into three parts as a result of this earthquake. Some interpret this city to be Jerusalem. However, Revelation 16:19 makes clear that this city will be Babylon since the cup of the wine of God’s fierce wrath is poured out on this city. This city of Babylon located on the Euphrates River will be rebuilt and will be the capital of the final world government. Revelation 16:17-21, “Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl upon the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple from the throne, saying, ‘It is done.’ And there were flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder; and there was a great earthquake, such as there had not been since man came to be upon the earth, so great an earthquake was it, and so mighty. The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. Babylon the great was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of His fierce wrath. And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. And huge hailstones, about one hundred pounds each, came down from heaven upon men; and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, because its plague was extremely severe.” The supernaturally formed huge hailstones that will weigh one hundred pounds each will destroy anything left standing from the earthquake and would no doubt kill or seriously injure those they hit. Again, instead of this judgment leading to repentance and trust in Jesus Christ as Savior, the unsaved continue to blaspheme the person of God instead. This seventh bowl judgment is reminiscent of the seventh plague in Egypt (Exodus 9:22-26). Just as Pharaoh and the Egyptian leaders refuse to humble themselves before the Lord and trust in Him, so the unsaved inhabitants of the earth during this seventh bowl judgment will do the same. This seventh bowl judgment, which results in this unprecedented, massive world-wide earthquake completes God’s judgment program for the final three and a half years of Daniel’s Seventieth Week and will result in the Second Advent of Christ. Satan’s masterpiece, his world-wide system is destroyed, reduced to rubble as a result of these seven bowl judgments. PAGE 1 2009 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries