THE OPENING OF THE SEVENTH SEAL Revelation 8 Series #8 11/9/14PM

KEY VERSE:  Revelation 8:2- “And I saw the seven angels which stood before God and to them were given seven trumpets.”

INTRODUCTION:  We are watching, in prophecy, the opening of the title deed to the earth, the 7 sealed scroll of chapter 5.  The first six seals are open (chapter 6).  The second half of the Tribulation is underway.  The parenthesis of chapter 7 has shown us God’s mercy in the midst of judgment in saving those who will believe- a great number!  Chapter 8 takes up after 6:17- the opening of the 7 th seal.  The judgments of this seal are more severe than those of the others despite the fact that one-fourth of the world’s population died in the opening of the fourth seal.

 Notice now the events of the opening of the 7 th and final seal of the book.

I. THE PREPARATION FOR JUDGMENT (VS. 1-6)  The Silence (vs. 1) This silence of one-half hour indicates that something tremendous is about to take place. (Mark 4:39)  The Sounders (vs. 2 and 6)  “seven angels”- 7 not symbolic here  “stood before God”- prominent angels- as Gabriel (Luke 1:19)  “seven trumpets”- Trumpets were sounded in Scripture:  At times of public assembly  To direct soldiers in war  To signal important calendar events  At the giving of the law  On the first of the month  Here they will announce great and terrible judgments.

 The Symbols (vs. 3-5) Two symbols are mentioned being administered by a special angel. That this angel is seen serving as a priest here and that Christ is seen as the Angel of Jehovah in the Old Testament indicates this Angel is Christ- our High Priest.  The Symbol of Prayer- the “incense” (vs. 3 and 4)  Composed of four spices in Old Testament worship (Ex. 30:34-38)  Regarded as too holy for common use in Old Testament  Seen as the perfections of Christ  Symbolizes the ministry of intercession  Indicates the necessity of praying in the name of Christ  Shows that our prayers are carefully and efficiently delivered to the presence of God.

 The Symbol of Judgment- the “censor” (vs. 3 and 5)  Used to offer incense in Old Testament worship  Made of gold (Ex. 37:25-28; Heb. 9:4)  Used to take fire off the altar to be carried into the Holy Place when the incense was added.  Here the angel fills it with fire, but then casts it to the earth. Definitely symbolizing judgment, possibly directly as a result of the prayers of the suffering saints in the midst of great tribulation.

II. THE PROCESS OF JUDGMENT (VS. 7FF)  The First Trumpet (vs. 7)  “hail and fire”- or hail and lightning  “mingled with blood”- though this judgment is directed to the destruction of vegetation, man and beast are caught in it and destroyed.  “third part of trees and all green grass”- this is not just a symbol of divine judgment, but a literal destruction!  The Old Testament parallel, Ex. 9:23-28, occurred to teach Egypt the existence of a supreme God Who controls nature. End-time man will need the same lesson taught him because of unbelief.

 The Second Trumpet (vs. 8 and 9)  “as it were a great mountain burning with fire”- John uses a simile, possibly a great meteor or volcano, but not symbolic for the destruction of a great world government.  “sea”- a great body of water, perhaps the Mediterranean Sea.  Notice the destructiveness of this event.  A third part of that sea will become blood (Ex. 7:17-21)  A third part of that sea life will die  A third part of the vessels will be destroyed  This disaster will be sent because of the hardness of men’s hearts (Ex. 7)

 The Third Trumpet (vs. 10 and 11)  “There fell a great star from heaven, burning…” – a burning body from outer space.  “fell upon the third part of the rivers and upon the fountains…”- the fresh water supplies of the earth are contaminated.  “called Wormwood”- because of what it does to the fresh water it is given this name.  Note the Parallels: Wormwood has a strong bitter taste.  Here wormwood cast into the sweet water makes it bitter. In Ex. 15:23-25, the tree cast into the bitter water made it sweet.  Christ on the cross made the bitter sweet, but in judgment turns the hopes of heathen men bitter.  “many men died”- this judgment also results in death.

 The Fourth Trumpet (vs. 12 and 13)  “the third part of the sun… moon… stars… was darkened”  Christ said (Luke 21:25; Mt. 24:29) that celestial bodies would become signs during the Tribulation.  Whether or not this speaks of an eclipse, a polluted atmosphere, or a shortening of a 24-hour day to a 16-hour day is not known,  But this literal judgment serves as a sign to mankind that a greater judgment is coming,  For in connection with the darkness comes an “eagle” (in most manuscripts), the symbol of judgment (Deut. 28:49; Jer. 48:40) with a message of woe; a warning for men to avail themselves of the grace of God being preached by those 144,000 and others.

 Conclusion: The trees, grass, water, sea, rivers, fountains, springs, and lights of heaven are all blessings granted by a loving God and taken away by the same God, a God of Holiness and judgment. In that day men will no longer ignore the fact that God is dealing with them.