“THE SOUNDING OF THE SEVEN TRUMPETS” (REV. 8)

INTRODUCTION:

1. I have never seen a tornado up close.

2. Some who have experienced this have reported an eerie silence.

3. Just before a tornado strikes the air may become very calm.

4. There is an unusual silence.

5. Then all of a sudden the tornado appears.

I. THIS PROCESS MAY BE VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT WE HAVE IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION.

A. In Revelation 6 we were introduced to 6 seals.

(1) John saw a book (scroll).

(2) This scroll had 7 seals that were opened.

B. We have dealt with the opening of 6 of the 7 seals.

C. The opening of seal #7 (final seal) is described in Rev. 8.

D. There is a pause between the opening of the 6th and 7th seals.

E. Let’s pick up the point in Rev. 6:12A. READ.

F. Seal #6 was opened.

(1) After this seal was opened, we read about the 144,000.

(2) This number and Rev. 7 were studied two weeks ago.

G. I proposed that the 144,000 designated the saved on the earth.

H. God knew who His enemies were. He knew who the righteous people were.

I. Since the church was made aware of this information, i.e. since the church was told that God knew who His people were, John wrote some more about the Roman Empire.

J. Rome had been brutal in her treatment of Christians.

K. I am contending that seal #7 was also tied to the Roman Empire.

L. This seal begins to describe the punishment Rome would face.

(1) This 7th seal is unique.

(2) John will continue to talk about it from Rev. 8:1 – 11:18.

(3) This seal takes up an extended amount of space in this book.

M. Seal #7 contains some special information.

(1) As Revelation continues, John will describe trumpets.

(2) 7 trumpets will be introduced.

(3) The 7 seals and the 7 trumpets are not the same. There are differences between the two things.

(4) As John sees seal #7 being opened, he and we are introduced to the 7 trumpets.

N. A general overview of the seals and trumpets may be helpful.

O. With the 7 seals, John had a basic message: God is concerned about His people; God knows about the persecution.

P. This material has already been covered.

Q. As John comes to the 7 trumpets, a different idea is introduced.

R. John will be showing that some judgments against Rome were to begin … some of the Caesars were going to be punished.

S. John shows that this punishment is going to be by degrees.

T. That is, instead of God doing what was done to Sodom and Gomorrah – instead of instant and complete destruction – God would show some restraint.

U. Judgment would be gradual.

V. Even though judgment was coming, it would be accompanied by grace.

W. Rev. 8:1-2 – READ.

(1) We now see that the final seal was opened.

(2) There was silence in heaven for “half an hour”.

(3) As I said earlier, this sounds like calm before the storm.

(4) Just like a tornado, judgment was coming.

(5) This judgment was going to be packed with power.

(6) There were angels before God’s throne. The number of angels is listed as “7”.

(7) This could be a literal number.

(8) We have already seen that a number often expresses an idea.

(9) The number “7” indicates completeness, wholeness, fullness.

(10) The point could be that there was sufficient power for the judgment.

X. The judgment begins in verse 5. READ.

(1) This begins to describe punishment. It was time for Rome to pay for what she had done.

(2) John attributes the punishment to forces in heaven.

(3) He makes it clear that heaven was ready to act. V. 6 – READ.

(4) The angels were “prepared to sound”.

(5) The plan of God was about to begin.

II. LET’S LOOK AT SOME OF THE SPECIFICS OF THE JUDGMENT THAT ARE DESCRIBED.

A. Verse 7 – READ.

B. One of the angels inflicted punishment. Notice how this punishment is described.

C. The punishment was partial (a third part of the earth).

D. God showed some mercy in this judgment. It was limited to the environment.

(1) This retribution did not directly involve human beings.

(2) The devastation was limited to the trees and grass.

(3) What John says indicates a subtle truth – sin can affect man’s environment (the earth).

(4) Paul made this very point in Rom. 8:22. READ.

(5) We have people concerned about the environment/earth.

(6) The starting point to a better earth is dealing with sin.

(7) Sin, especially when it is against Christians, can cause God to harm the earth.

(8) What John describes would have affected agriculture.

(9) This damage would have resulted in crop loss. The food supply would be affected.

(10) Hail and fire are efficient methods of destruction.

(11) I would be hesitant to affirm that this was literal.

(12) The key point appears to be there would be great destruction.

(13) However, this destruction would have some limitations. Though it was substantial, it was not total.

(14) These 7 trumpets (judgments) might be compared to a wake up call.

(15) Rome could wake up, see what was happening and repent, OR she could continue to sin, persecute the church and die.

(16) History tells us that she did not repent.

E. From this information we can make the observation – even for the wicked God has extended

mercy.

F. Though Rome was brutally cruel, God was offering a reprieve.

G. A second angelic judgment is found in Rev. 8.

H. Judgment #2 is given in verses 8-9. READ.

(1) Some have come to these verses and said, “Look, here is nuclear war in the Bible.”

(2) That is an interesting thought but it lacks proof.

(3) A better explanation may come from the mountain.

(4) Only God is capable of putting a mountain into the sea.

(5) Thus these verses again suggest divine activity.

(6) God is the one behind this judgment.

(7) A burning mountain reminds us of Mt. Sinai. That mountain “burned with fire”.

(8) Different explanations have been proposed for verses 8-9.

(9) None of these are free from difficulties.

(10) The one that I prefer is economic distress.

(11) The reference to seas and shipping may point to commerce.

(12) Rome was master of the Mediterranean Sea for a long time.

(13) This sea, to a large degree, was Rome’s lifeline.

(14) Since the sea was so important to Rome (if Rome is being described), pronouncing

judgment on the sea makes sense.

I. What about trumpet and judgment #3? This is in verse 10 – READ.

J. In this judgment, inland waters and springs are affected.

(1) If this were literal, it would not be something new.

(2) God had affected the drinking water in Egypt.

(3) This happened with the first plague when water was turned to blood.

(4) The Hebrews in the wilderness came to bitter water.

(5) With the Hebrews, the bitter waters were healed.

(6) No such relief would come to the Romans.

(7) Whether this is literal or figurative, the point is the same – more punishment was coming.

(8) Each of these judgments describes increasing punishment.

(9) The punishment was not a small slap on the wrist.

(10) These trumpets and judgments were serious. V. 11 – READ.

(11) People were going to die as a result of the judgments.

K. What else is going to happen to those who had persecuted the church? V. 12 – READ.

L. Here is one more judgment.

M. Four types of judgment have been expressed. Significant devastation has been described.

N. John says this in the final verse of the chapter. V. 13 – READ.

O. The inspired man said the worst is yet to come.

(1) We have seen people affected by hurricanes/tornadoes.

(2) After the initial damage, people hope the worst is over.

(3) Sometimes that is not the way things work.

(4) The disaster continues and as time goes by things get worse.

(5) This is exactly what John said would happen to Rome.

III. LET’S TAKE THE REMAINDER OF OUR TIME TO UNDERSTAND ONE OF THE REASONS WHY THESE JUDGMENTS CAME UPON ROME.

A. This information comes from Rev. 8:3-4. READ.

B. We do not know all the things the brethren were praying for but we can be pretty certain they were

praying about the oppression.

(1) This can be said because of Rev. 6:10. READ.

(2) These first century people were suffering.

(3) God’s people were being killed for their faith.

(4) Christians were victims of discrimination.

(5) Believers were hated and opposed.

(6) Christians cried out in prayer – “How long, O Lord?”

(7) “God, will you not do something? What are you doing?”

C. Rev. 8 shows that God heard the prayers of His people.

(1) Not only did God hear the prayers of His people, Rev. 8 clearly shows that God had a

plan.

(2) God used the forces of heaven to carry out His plan.

(3) God came to the rescue when His people called for help.

(4) Christians did not have the power to overcome Rome but God did and He used that power.

D. When God came in judgment, it was like the waves of the ocean.

E. In came the first wave of judgment.

F. Then there was another wave and another wave.

G. The waves, John says, not only kept coming, they got bigger.

CONCLUSION:

1. God wiped out those who were not with Him; He came to the aid of those who are saved.

2. God has not changed His operating policy.

3. Thus, the most important question we can ask ourselves, “Am I with the saved?”