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Revelation 8:1 When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.

The 7th Seal

Sounding of seven Trumpets And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets. Revelation 8:2

Sounding of seven Trumpets A. The trumpet had special significance in the O.T. i. As a warning. ii. Used in connection with the time of judgment If a trumpet is blown in a city, will not the people be afraid? If there is calamity in a city, will not the Lord have done it? Amos 3:6

Sounding of seven Trumpets The trumpet had special significance in the O.T. iii. The last trumpet will accompany the Lord’s return and the end. in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 1 Corinthians 15:52

Sounding of seven Trumpets The trumpet had special significance in the O.T. iii. The last trumpet will accompany the Lord’s return and the end. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 1 Thessalonians 4:16

Sounding of seven Trumpets The trumpet had special significance in the O.T. iv. The seven trumpets are trumpets of warning and Judgment (especially upon the enemies of God.)

Sounding of seven Trumpets A description of Worship 3 Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. 4 You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. Revelation 3:3-4

Sounding of seven Trumpets A description of Worship a. The description of worship includes an aspect from the Old Testament, the altar of incense. b. The “much incense” represents the help given – perhaps Christ’s intercession added to the saints prayers. He is an advocate My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 1 John 2:1

Sounding of seven Trumpets A description of Worship c. The prayers go up to go God here (v.3-4) and are answered when they are cast down in verse 5 and following.

The preparation & sounding of the 7 Trumpets

Sounding of seven Trumpets 5 Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And there were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake. 6 So the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound. 7 The first angel sounded: And hail and fire followed, mingled with blood, and they were thrown to the earth. And a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up. Revelation 8:5-7

Sounding of seven Trumpets 1. The seven trumpets, like the seven seals, divide themselves into two groups. a. The first four are similar to the plagues of Egypt. b. The last three are of a more terrible and unique aspect. 2. These are partial judgments a. Partial judgment gives men the opportunity to repent. These sounds and events are symbolic indicators of the divine judgments about to fall upon the earth.

Sounding of seven Trumpets 2. These are partial judgments He also gave up their cattle to the hail, And their flocks to fiery lightning. Psalms 78:48

Sounding of seven Trumpets 3. Like Egypt of old, the world today is in opposition to God. a. Such warnings are to make men realize that God is the sovereign ruler of the universe and wicked men need to repent and do God’s will. b. There are two passages that indicate God’s judgment on people. Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. Galatians 6:7

Sounding of seven Trumpets 3. Like Egypt of old, the world today is in opposition to God. The wicked shall be turned into hell, And all the nations that forget God. Psalms 9:17

Sounding of seven Trumpets 4. Trumpet 1 – Natural disasters of land ought to call men to repentance. a. Land destruction could be destruction of crops by famine. So there was hail, and fire mingled with the hail, so very heavy that there was none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation. Exodus 9:24

Sounding of seven Trumpets 4. Trumpet 1 – Natural disasters of land ought to call men to repentance. c. One-third part is partial destruction; therefore, men are given the opportunity to repent. A fraction means partial, not final destruction.

Sounding of seven Trumpets 4. Trumpet 1 – Natural disasters of land ought to call men to repentance. 8 And it shall come to pass in all the land,” Says the Lord, “That two-thirds in it shall be cut off and die, But one-third shall be left in it: 9 I will bring the one-third through the fire, Will refine them as silver is refined, And test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will answer them. I will say, “This is My people’; And each one will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’ ” Zechariah 13:8-9

Sounding of seven Trumpets 2nd Trumpet – Sea Then the second angel sounded: And something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood. 9 And a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed. Revelation 8:8-9

Sounding of seven Trumpets 2nd Trumpet – Sea a. The mountain cast into the sea ought to call men to repentance.

Sounding of seven Trumpets 2nd Trumpet – Sea b. A mountain ablaze or being moved in O.T. times symbolized great trouble. The mountains quake before Him, The hills melt, And the earth heaves at His presence, Yes, the world and all who dwell in it. Nahum 1:5 For the mountains shall depart And the hills be removed, But My kindness shall not depart from you, Nor shall My covenant of peace be removed,” Says the Lord, who has mercy on you. Isaiah 54:10

Sounding of seven Trumpets 3rd Trumpet – Fresh Water Then 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 water. 11 The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the water, because it was made bitter. Revelation 8:10-11

Sounding of seven Trumpets 3rd Trumpet – Fresh Water a. The fresh water supply is contaminated. b. A flaming star fell from heaven like a blazing torch. The name is Wormwood. i. Consider the pestilence and plagues sent on the Romans ii. The bitterness of wormwood always stood for the bitterness of the judgment of God upon the disobedient.

Sounding of seven Trumpets 3rd Trumpet – Fresh Water a. The fresh water supply is contaminated. b. A flaming star fell from heaven like a blazing torch. The name is Wormwood. iii. Wormwood is used as a metaphor for injustice and unrighteousness and is a synonym for poisonous water as a metaphor of God’s punishment for idolatry.

Sounding of seven Trumpets 3rd Trumpet – Fresh Water a. The fresh water supply is contaminated. You who turn justice to wormwood, And lay righteousness to rest in the earth!” Amos 5:7 Do horses run on rocks? Does one plow there with oxen? Yet you have turned justice into gall, And the fruit of righteousness into wormwood, Amos 6:12

Sounding of seven Trumpets 3rd Trumpet – Fresh Water iv. Wormwood is a symbol of suffering for evil-doing (poison, bitter contamination). It is used in the O.T in this way (Jer 9:15; 23:15).

Sounding of seven Trumpets 4th Trumpet – Darkness Then the fourth angel sounded: And a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them were darkened. A third of the day did not shine, and likewise the night. Revelation 8:12

Sounding of seven Trumpets 4th Trumpet – Darkness i. Sun, Moon, Stars – This symbolism stands for the violent overthrow of rulers and governments. Then he dreamed still another dream and told it to his brothers, and said, “Look, I have dreamed another dream. And this time, the sun, the moon, and the eleven stars bowed down to me.” Genesis 37:9

Sounding of seven Trumpets 4th Trumpet – Darkness ii. The whole of God’s universe is used of God to warn and call men to repentance

Sounding of seven Trumpets 4th Trumpet – Darkness 8 And it shall come to pass in all the land,” Says the Lord, “That two-thirds in it shall be cut off and die, But one-third shall be left in it: 9 I will bring the one-third through the fire, Will refine them as silver is refined, And test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will answer them. I will say, “This is My people’; And each one will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’ ” Zechariah 13:8-9

Sounding of seven Trumpets 4th Trumpet – Darkness iii. “One Third” means it is not a final overthrow. iv. It seems the entire universe is to be used by God to call man to repentance and warn him.

Lessons for us today

The Key to Understanding the Trumpets. 1. God uses many different means to call men to repentance. (v.7-12) 2. Through out the pages of the Bible we find again and again how God calls mankind to repentance in many different ways. i. The ways may change but the message/warning is the same “repent or perish”.

There was more to come And I looked, and I heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, “Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!” Revelation 8:13

There was more to come 1. God’s wrath does not relent until repentance or destruction 2. The woes were yet to come and their message is the same as before, repent.

Conclusion 1. God was calling them to repentance to prevent their destruction. 2. He still calls me to repentance today. a. We must take advantage of His call and repent before it is too late.