Print this article

A Study in Revelation

The Seven Trumpets

 

In the previous chapter, seven seals were opened. and the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for one half hour. And then the seven angels were given trumpets. And another angel stood in the middle with a golden sensor. John’s vision continues with the sounding of the seven trumpets.

 

 

The First Trumpet

The first angel sounded, 

 

and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.

 

Revelation 8:7

 

The first angel sounded the trumpet. And there was hail and fire mixed with blood. And the hail and fire was thrown down upon the earth. And they burned one-third of the trees and all the green grass.

 

The Second Trumpet

And the second angel sounded, 

and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood;  And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed.

Revelation 8:8-9

 

The second angel sounded. And there was a huge object like a great mountain of fire which was thrown into the sea.  And one-third of the sea became blood, one-third of the creatures in the sea died, one-third of the ships were destroyed.

 

The Third Trumpet

And the third angel sounded, 

and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters;  And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.

Revelation 8:10-11

 

The third angel sounded. And a great star fell from heaven. And this star was burning like a lamp and it fell upon one-third of the rivers, and upon the water fountains.

 

The star was named wormwood, and this star made one-third of the waters bitter. The Greek  word for wormwood is apsinthos, which means undrinkable. Many men died from  the waters because the they were undrinkable.

 

The Fourth Trumpet

And the fourth angel sounded,

and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.

Revelation 8:12

 

The fourth angel sounded. And one-third of the sun, one-third of the moon, and one-third of the stars were struck and  darkened. Which causes one-third of the day not to shine and one-third of the night not to give light.

 

And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!

Revelation 8:13

 

And after the fourth trumpet sounds, an angel flying in the midst of heaven sounded with a loud voice to earth’s inhabitants. And the angel gave the inhabitants with a loud voice three woes because the remaining three trumpets were yet to sound by the remaining three angels.

 

The Fifth Trumpet

And the fifth angel sounded, 

and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.  And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit. And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.

Revelation 9:1-3

The fifth angel sounded. And John saw a star from heaven fall on the earth. And the star was given a key to the bottomless pit, which is hell. This star refers to a demonic influence, Satan himself, and he opened the pit. And out of hell came smoke as smoke from a great furnace. And the sun and the air were darkened, and locusts came upon the earth. And they were given great power like the scorpions of the earth.

And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads. And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man. And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.

Revelation 9:4-6

And the locusts were commanded not to hurt anything on the earth except those who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. And the locusts were not allowed to kill those without the seal of God, but to torment them for five months. And their power was like the torment of a scorpion, when they inflict men. These scorpions from the pit are not allowed to hurt those who have the seal of God on their foreheads. In the old testament, Satan requested to test Job. And God allowed him to do so. However He gave Satan this command:

Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand.

Job 1: 8

And later,

Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.

Job 2:6b 

In the same way God permitted and restricted Satan in Job, Satan will be restricted from doing harm on those with the seal of God on their foreheads during these five months. However, the ones without the seal will be tormented and will seek ways to die, but will be unable.

And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men. And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions.  And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle. And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months.

Revelation 9:7-10

John gave a description of the locusts from the pit. They were like horses unto battle. They have heads like crowns of gold, with faces of men. Their head was like hair of a women. They had teeth like lions. They had breastplates as of iron, their wings were like chariots of many horses for battle. And they had tails like scorpions, which stings. And they were given power to hurt men for five months [except those who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads (verse 4)].

And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon. 

One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter.

Revelation 9:11-12

The scorpions had a king over them, who is the angel of the bottomless pit whose name in Hebrew is "Abaddon" and in Greek "Apollyon," meaning ruin, destruction, or perdition. 

After these five months, the first woe is past, and two more woes occur during the last two trumpets.

The Sixth Trumpet

And the sixth angel sounded,

and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God,  Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates. 

And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men. 

And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them.

Revelation 9:13-16

When the sixth angel sounded the sixth trumpet, John heard a voice from the four horns from the alter commanding the the sixth angel to unbind the four angels which were bound in the Euphrates River. As these four angels were released they were prepared for a year, a month, a day and an hour to slay one-third of mankind. The angels used a army of 200 million horsemen to accomplish this assignment.

And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone. By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths.  For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt.

Revelation 9:17-19

In John’s vision, John saw the ones who sat on the horses.  The horsemen and the horses had powers to kill one-third of mankind by the fire, smoke and brimstone which came out of their mouths. Their powers were like the serpents' heads and tails.

And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.

Revelation 9:20-21

The rest who were not killed by the army of horseman did not repent of their wicked ways. They did not repent from their worship of demons, and idols. None of the wicked repent. Pre-tribbers give a picture of  a great multitude who will come to Christ Jesus during the tribulation. But Revelation gives an entirely different picture, especially after the sixth trumpet.

And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire: And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth, And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices. And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.

Revelation 10:1-4

John saw another mighty angel come down from heaven. And he had a little open book. As the angel cried out with a loud voice, seven thunders spoke. John was about to write in his book. However a, voice from heaven told John do not write them in the book and seal up the things the seven angels said.

And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven,1 And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:  But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.

Revelation 10:5-7

And John saw the angel who stood upon the sea and the earth and lifted his hand up to heaven and swore by God who lives forever that the time shall be no longer. But in the days the seventh angel sounds the trumpet, the mystery of God will be finished as he declared to His servants and prophets.

And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth. And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.  And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter. And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.

Revelation 10:8-11

The angel who had the little book spoke again to John. And he went to the angel and asked him to give him the little book. And the angel commanded John to take the book and eat it. The book was sweet as honey in John’s mouth. But As soon as John ate the book, it became bitter. And the angel told John that he must prophesy again before many people from many nations and tongues and kings. This is the purpose for writing the book of Revelation. And earlier, John was instructed by Jesus to write this book and send it to the seven churches.2

And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.

Revelation 11:1-2

John was given a device to measure the temple of God, the alter and those who worship therein. But he was commanded by the angel to not to measure the court, because it was given to the Gentiles. And Jerusalem, the holy city will be tread under foot for forty-two months.

On the Olivet instructions, before His death, Jesus gave these instructions to the Disciples Privately:

And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh...For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled...for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people....and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

Luke 21:20, 22,24b

Therefore, the description given to John in Revelation, and the instructions Jesus gave to John and three other disciples on the Mount of Olives. Jerusalem will be trodden down by the Gentiles during the time of great distress, and of great tribulation.

The Two Witnesses

And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. 

 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.

Revelation 11:3-4

The voice in verse one told John He will grant authority to his two witnesses. and they will prophesy for 1260 days and they will be clothed in sackcloth. The two witnesses are the two olive trees and the two lamp stands (candlesticks) who stand before God of the earth.

Who are these witnesses? Many believe one of these witnesses are Elijah. Others are divided between Moses and Enoch as the other witness. Elijah and Enoch did not die, they were sent up into heaven. Therefore, many believe they must be sent back to earth as witnesses. In Malachi, God says:

Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

Malachi 4:5-6

If Elijah is one of the two witness, He is sent before the day of the Lord. And pre-tribbers insist the day of the Lord is the tribulation.3 And these two witnesses are on earth during the great tribulation. Now this presents a dilemma for pre-tribbers. Because God said Elijah will be sent before the day of the Lord. Either one of the witnesses isn’t Elijah, or the Day of the Lord is not the Tribulation. I tend to believe the day of the Lord is after the tribulation. And there will be more comment regarding this later in this chapter.

These witness are the two olive trees as said by the one who spoke to John "who stand before God of the earth." In the old testament, angel revealed to Zechariah the two men with the lampstands and olive trees:

These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.

Zechariah 4:14

And these two witnesses are the two candlesticks. Earlier in Revelation, Jesus said the seven candlesticks are the seven churches: "the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches."5

And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.  These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.

Revelation 11:5-6

These two witness are given great power to protect themselves during the 1,260 days. Fire comes out of their mouths to devour their enemies. If anyone tries to hurt them, then they will be hurt in the same manner as they tried to hurt the witnesses. The witnesses have power to shut off heaven so that it may not rain, and they have power to turn the water into blood, and to smite the earth with plagues.

And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.

Revelation 11:7

And after 1,260 days when they finished their testimony, the beast who comes out of the bottomless pit will war against them and will kill them.

And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.

Revelation 12:8-10

And when these two witnesses are slain, their bodies will lie in the great city, which is called ‘Sodom and Egypt, where Jesus was Crucified. This great city is literally Jerusalem, and can not be any other city. Many people from many tongues and many nations will see their dead bodies for three and one-half days. And the dead bodies will not be put in graves. During these three and one-half days, The ones who dwell over the earth will rejoice and celebrate and send gifts to each other because the two witnesses that tormented them are now dead.

And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them. And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.

Revelation 11:11-13

After the three and one-half days passed, the Spirit of life entered into their bodies, and the two witnesses stood on their feet. And the ones who beheld them became full of great fear. And the two witnesses heard a great voice from heaven that commanded them to "come up hither." And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud. And at the same hour, there was a great earthquake, and one-tenth of the city fell. The earthquake killed seven thousand men. The ones who remained gave glory to the God of heaven.

When does this great earthquake occur? It occurs the same time as the sixth seal in Revelation 6:12. And this will happen just before the seventh trumpet. And it happens at the seventh bowl. It’s at this time the remnant gave glory to God, after the tribulation. 

As we look back at verses 2 and 3, the court which is outside of the temple has been given to the nations to tread under foot for 42 months, which is approximately 1260 days, and the two witnesses prophesy for 1260 days. And Jesus referred this time as the time of of great distress. And  Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled which is 1260 days. Jesus further said:

And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

Luke 21:25-27

It is after the time of the Gentiles and when the two witness finish their prophesying and their resurrection Jesus will come in a cloud with power and glory.

The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly.

Revelation 11:14

After the two witnesses are raptured into heaven, the second woe is past. And the third woe happens at the seventh trumpet.

The Seventh Trumpet

And the seventh angel sounded; 

and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

Revelation 15:15

The seventh angel sounded the seventh trumpet. And a voice from heaven said "The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord..." At this trumpet, the kingdoms change to the kingdom of the Lord and His God. This is referring to none other than the millennial Kingdom. In First Corinthians, Paul said flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. And he continued further by saying that our bodies will be changed at the last trumpet.6 And as seen at the seventh trumpet in revelation, the kingdoms of the earth will become the Kingdom of God. 

And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.

Revelation 11:16-18

The twenty four elders7 that sat before God worshiped Him. And gave thanks to Him because of His great power and has reigned. They continue to say to God the nations were angry and His wrath is come, and the time has come to Judge the dead, and the time to give the saints and prophets and the ones who fear Him their reward and to destroy those who destroy the earth.

As we examine the past verses closely, the twenty-four elders say His wrath has come. When is the time of wrath? Referring back to the sixth seal, the multitudes who hid in caves shouted to the mountains of the rocks: "Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: "For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?"8  This happens on the day of the Lord, which is after the tribulation.

As we look further, the twenty-four elders say "and the time is come to Judge the dead..." When is the time for the dead to be judged? In one of His epistles, Paul wrote to Timothy:

"I CHARGE thee therefore God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom..."

2 Timothy 4:1 KJV 

Jesus comes to judge the quick and the dead at His appearing which happens after the tribulation.

And as we continue the twenty four elders said: "the ones who fear Him their reward..." Paul also wrote to Timothy:

Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge shall give me that day; but all to them also who love his appearing."

2 Timothy 4:8  

This crown of righteousness the Lord will be Given to him on that day and to all of those who love His Appearing after the Tribulation. And Jesus said in the Last Chapter of Revelation:

And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

Revelation 22:12

The rewards that Jesus will give to every man will happen at His coming after the Tribulation.

And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.

Revelation 11:19

Then the Temple of God in heaven will open. And the ark of His Testament will be seen. And then came lightning, thunder, hail and a great earthquake. This happens the same time as the seventh seal: "...and there were voices, and thundering, and lightning, and an earthquake."9

Footnotes

1-See also Daniel 12:5-7ff.

2-Revelation 1:19.

3-See Day of the Lord (http://tribulationcentral.com/day.html).

4-Please read the description of the sixth seal--Revelation 6-12-17.

5-Revelation 1:20.

6-1 Corinthians 15:50-55.

7-For further Discussion on the 24 elders, please read Come Up Hither (http:www.tribulationcentral.com/revelation/hither.html).

8-Revelation 8:16b-17.

9-Revelation 8:5b.

 

   Print this article

   E-Mail            

    

The Woman, the Child, And The Beasts

Home