DAY TWO (Revelation 7 -9)

 

INTRODUCTION

 

Parenthesis – 7:1-17

 

This is the beginning of the end for mankind. After the end of the time when the antichrist rules on earth for a brief moment, the wrath of God will descend upon man in ways that man will have no choice but accept and acknowledge.   The destruction of the heaven and earth as we now know it will soon bring about a world of total and complete annihilation.   Air, water and the food chain that we have been enjoying for millenniums will be destroyed worldwide.  

 

Man will experience the full might and impact of the vengeance of the God Almighty for the second time on a global scale.   Unlike the first global destruction by water, this destruction by fire will be final.   The conclusion of this destruction will usher in the period of the millennium where Jesus Christ will rule on earth for 1, 000 years.

 

Chapter seven of Revelation begins with an elaboration of seal number five.   The focus is now on the believers.   There will be two groups of believers, the first will be those who are alive at the end of the great tribulation and the second will be those who are killed for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

 

“Chapter 7 forms a parenthetical section between the sixth (Rev 6:12-17 ) and seventh ( 8:1 ) seals to answer that question, introducing two groups who will survive the fury of divine judgement. The first, those described in verses 1-8 , and the Jewish evangelists who will be preserved on earth. They will survive the holocaust of divine wrath unleashed by the seal, trumpet, and bowl judgements. God will also protect them from the murderous effort of Antichrist and his henchmen to wipe out believers in the true God. Having survived the wars, famine, unprecedented natural disasters, rampant unchecked sinfulness, and savage persecution of the Tribulation, they will enter the millennial kingdom alive. The second group to escape divine fury (v 9-17 ) includes those who will be martyred and thereby ushered into the blissful rest of heaven, where they will be preserved. After the horrific events of the sixth seal, and before the opening of the seventh seal in RE 8 , the Holy Spirit provided this chapter as an interlude for the reader to catch his breath. It is also a reminder that in the midst of His wrath, God will remember mercy (cf. Hab 3:2 ). ” [ 1 ]

 

That God protects and preserves His children is taught throughout the Bible.   David was providentially watched over by God through his many years as a fugitive, fleeing from the wrath of king Saul. Psalm 34 attests to this truth.

 

The words of Malachi confirm this truth in Malachi 3:16-18 , " Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name. And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not . "   So too in the last few words of the Old Testament in Malachi 4:1-6 , " For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts. Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel , with the statutes and judgments. 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 . "

 

a. A Momentary Restraint – 7:1-8

 

Revelation 7:1 , " And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree . ”  

 

“ After these things ” – refers to the shift from the scene of judgement of the ungodly to protection of the godly.  

 

“ Four angels standing on the four corners of the earth ” – this is not a reference to the wrong notion that John believed that the earth was flat and that it has four corners!   This is a reference to the four primary points on the compass (north, south, east and west), from which the direction of the four winds of the earth originates.   As Henry Morris observed correctly, “This verse has long been derided as reflecting a naïve ‘prescientific’ concept of earth structure, one that supposedly viewed the earth as flat with four corners..... In terms of modern technology, it is essentially equivalent to what a mariner or geologist would call the four quadrants of the compass, or the four directions.   This is evident also from the mention of the ‘four winds’ which, in common usage, would of course be the north, west, south, and east winds. Parenthetically, accurate modern geodetic measurements in recent years have provided that the earth actually does have four ‘corners. ’ These are protuberances [ 2 ] standing out from the basic ‘geoid, [ 3 ] ’ that is, the basic spheric shape of the earth.   The earth is not really a perfect sphere, but is slightly flattened at the poles.   Its equatorial bulge is presumably caused by the earth’s axial rotation, and its four ‘corners’ protrude from that. ” [ 4 ]

 

The act of standing means that they were ready to unleash the wrath of God upon sinful man.  

 

“ and holding the four winds of the earth ” – The four winds often refers to the judgement of God.  

 

Jeremiah 49:36 , " And upon Elam will I bring the four winds from the four quarters of heaven, and will scatter them toward all those winds; and there shall be no nation whither the outcasts of Elam shall not come . "

 

Daniel 7:2 , " Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea . "

 

Hosea 13:15 , " Though he be fruitful among his brethren, an east wind shall come, the wind of the LORD shall come up from the wilderness, and his spring shall become dry, and his fountain shall be dried up: he shall spoil the treasure of all pleasant vessels . "

 

The wrath of God was held back for a brief moment of time.  

 

 

b. The Sealing of the 144,000 – 7:2-8

 

“ And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,   Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.   And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel . Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand.   Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand . "

 

“ another angel ” – the word for another is the word “ allos ” which means another of exactly of the same kind.   The use of “we” in verse 3 argues to the “team” effort in this judgement of God that will be unleashed in a matter of moments.  

 

“ from the rising of the sun ” – This is a poetic way of saying from the east. “From John’s perspective on the isle of Patmos, the east would be toward the land of Israel, the land where God’s promised salvation came through Jesus the Messiah, and from where the twelve tribes of Israel came – members of which are about to be sealed [ MacArthur, 217 ]. ”

 

“ having the seal of the living God ” – The word for seal is “ sphragis . ”  This word refers often to a signet ring.   “A seal as impressed upon letters or books for the sake of privacy and security ( Rev 5:1,2 , 5 , 9 ; 6:1 , 3 , 5 , 7 , 9 ; 8:1 ).   Also a seal impressed as a guarantee of something’s genuineness ( Rev 9:4 ); as a motto, inscription (2Timothy 2:19 ).   Figuratively, it refers to a promissory token, pledge, proof ( Rom 4:11 ; 1 Cor 9:2 ). ” [ 5 ]

 

This was the seal of the living God.   The purpose was to stamp on believers of their true ownership, that they belong to God and that they are under His divine protection.

 

“sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads” – The word for servants is the word “slaves. ”  Note how the angels identify themselves with the God of the believers by the use of “our” in God.   The word for “seal” is the same word that was used in Rev 5 .  

 

How many types of slaves are there in the Bible?

 

i.             captured as slaves;

ii.         sold as slaves due to debt;

iii.     born as slaves;

iv.     choose to be a slave.

 

The number sealed were 144, 000 – 12, 000 from each tribe.   Only one was missing, the tribe of Dan.   

 

Why was Dan omitted?   Does this mean that no Danite will be saved?   Cf. Ezekiel 48:1-2 , 32 .

 

Ezekiel 48:1-2 , " Now these are the names of the tribes. From the north end to the coast of the way of Hethlon, as one goeth to Hamath, Hazarenan, the border of Damascus northward, to the coast of Hamath; for these are his sides east and west; a portion for Dan. And by the border of Dan, from the east side unto the west side, a portion for Asher . "

 

Ezekiel 48:32 , " And at the east side four thousand and five hundred: and three gates; and one gate of Joseph, one gate of Benjamin, one gate of Dan . "

 

From the book of Ezekiel, there will be Danites in the millennium.   But their number would probably be smaller.   They will not enjoy the kind of protection (sealing) by God like the rest of the 144, 000 Israelites. This was probably due to their insult of God when they left their allotted Promised Land and moved north. They invaded the people of Laish and took over their city and called it their own. Judges 18:29 , “And they called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan their father, who was born unto Israel: howbeit the name of the city was Laish at the first. ” Perhaps it was for despising the allotted land given to them by God, they lost their protection.

 

Why was the tribe of Ephraim not included?   Cf. Joshua 16:4 ; Genesis 48:5-6 .

 

Genesis 48:5-6 teaches that the children of Joseph will live in the Promised Land under the Names of either Ephraim or Manasseh. Joshua 16:4 seems to imply that the other children of Israel probably chose to live in Ephraim rather than Manasseh. Ephraim was the chief tribe. Shiloh, the city where the Tabernacle was located in the days of Joshua, belonged to the tribe of Ephraim. In Rev 7:8 , the tribe of Joseph is mentioned implying that the 12, 000 is made up of both the Ephraimites and the rest of the descendants of the children of Joseph.   Hence the tribe of Ephraim is not mentioned.

 

What about the Gentiles?   Will there be Gentile believers in the millennium?   [ cf. Isa 2:2-4 ; Mic 4:1-5 ; Zech 8:20-23 ]

 

Isaiah 2:2-4 , " And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more . "

 

Micah 4:1-5 , " But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it. And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken it. For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever . "

 

Zechariah 8:20-23 , " Thus saith the LORD of hosts; It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities: And the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the LORD, and to seek the LORD of hosts: I will go also. Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem , and to pray before the LORD. Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you . "

 

 

Who are the sheep and the goats in Matthew 25:31-46 ? They are the humans who will face the separation that God will accomplish BEFORE the millennium begins. See Daniel 12:11-12 .

 

These are the humans who will enter the millennium.

 

·                                 saints with glorified bodies after the rapture – 1 Cor 15 ; 1 Thess 4:13-18 ;

·                                 saints with mortal bodies who are saved during and after the rapture – Matt 25:31-46 ; Rev 7:1-8 .

·                                 The saints with mortal bodies are the saints who will procreate and can still die.   They will still sin and many of their children will sin. Therefore death will still exist in the millennium – Isa 65:17-25 .

 

This section of the Bible reveals that Israel as a nation has not been cast side permanently.   They will be restored as a nation of believers whose witness will glorify God which they managed to do sporadically in the Old Testament during the days of Joshua, and perhaps including the reigns of David, and Josiah.  

 

What is Israel’s witness like today, if any?

 

This passage in Rev 7:1-8 , argues categorically against the doctrine of a-millennialism. How?

 

MacArthur says, “This critical passage reinforces the biblical truth that God is not through with the nation of Israel (cf. Rom 9 ; 10 ; 11 ).   Though Israel failed in its mission to be a witness nation in the Old Testament, that will not be the case in the future.   From the Jewish people will come the greatest missionary force the world has ever known.   The result of their effort will be a redeemed Israel, as promised by God, and innumerable redeemed Gentiles. ”

 

 

c.The Unnumbered Multitude – 7:9-17

 

i.                                 The Praise of the unnumbered saints – 7:9-12

 

Revelation 7:9-12 , " After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;   And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.   And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,   Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen . "

 

The first group in 7:1-8 could be numbered.   It was also made up of Israelites only.   In stark contrast, this second group could not be numbered and they were made up of all nations, kindreds and people and tongues.   This is direct reference to Gentile Christians.   This must have given a tremendous lift to the aged John’s spirit who was not only the last surviving apostle but was in exile on a lonely island.   The revelation of the seven churches in Asia Minor with their respective state of sin and persecution must surely have compounded John’s loneliness.  

 

Here he sees the millions and millions of saints triumphantly praising God standing before His very presence in assured victory!   MacArthur writes, “This vision must surely have renewed his joy and hope, as he realized that the church would survive and, in the end, people from the nations would be saved in great numbers. ” (MacArthur, 225).

 

“ clothed with white robes ” – “white ( leukos ) ” – refers to  a dazzling, shining, glittering white.   “In ancient times, such clothing was worn for festivals and celebrations. ”  (MacArthur, vol 1, 226)   This is the same word used in mark 9:3 to describe the whiteness of Christ’s garments at the transfiguration.  

 

“Robes” refer to a long, full-length robe.   “These long, radiant white robes are the same ones worn by the martyrs in 6:9-11 .   That fact suggests that the group in view in this passage is part of that earlier group martyred believers. ” (Ibid.)

 

The white robes are of course both real and symbolic.   It speaks of purity, holiness and victory.

 

“ palms in their hands ” – “palm branches are associated in Scripture with celebration, deliverance, and joy.   They were especially prominent during the Feast of tabernacles, the Old Testament commemorative celebration of God’s provision for Israel during their wilderness wandering ( Lev 23:40 ), being employed in the construction of the booths lived in during that feast ( Neh 8:15-17 ).   During Jesus’ triumphal entry the joyous crowd waved palm branches as they welcomed Him into Jerusalem, shouting, “..., Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord ( Jn 12:13 ). ”  The palm branches in the hands of these redeemed saints are a fitting celebrative symbol of the unequaled provision of salvation from the world, Satan, Antichrist, sin, death and hell provided for them by the Lord Jesus Christ. ”  (Ibid.)

 

The word for palm in Hebrew is “ tamar ” which means “tall and willowy. ”  This was the name given to Absalom’s sister.   It is very leafy and perhaps it is due to this leafiness that it is used in this spectacular manner to welcome a king who returns from conquest.   It is symbolic of victory, great joy and happiness from the people to their king.  

 

This entire incident occurred before God’s throne of grace and in front of the Lamb.  

 

“ The loud voice ” – used nine times in the book of Revelation. ( cf 5:12 --worship; 6:10 --prayer; 11: 12—resurrection of the two witnesses, 15—immediately after the sounding of the 7 ^th trumpet; 12: 10—proclaiming salvation after casting down Satan from heaven; 14:7 --worship; 16: 1—beginning of the opening of 1 ^st vial judgement; 19:1 — worship and victory; 21: 3—at the beginning of the new heaven and new earth).  

 

Acknowledging that salvation belongs to God and the Lamb alone.   He shares it with no one. He seeks no one’s help in bringing about but it is due entirely to His faithfulness alone that men are saved.

 

Can man be saved by seeing miracles?   Can man be saved when they go through very difficult times like persecution, famine, drought, terminal illnesses, etc.?

 

What part did God play in man’s salvation?   What about the Son?

 

“God sits of the throne” – This highlights that in the continuation of the revelation of the judgement of God that is to come and with the appearance of the Antichrist and the False Prophet, the one who is in ultimate control is still God and will always be God.

 

Can I say that God is sovereign but Satan is the one in control of the happenings in the world such as evil, rampant wickedness, sin, deaths, diseases, etc.?   He controls earth at will.

 

This is a salvation worship that involved only believers.   The angels stood by and joined in worship with a song that did not include salvation.

 

Comparing 5:12,13 and 7:12

 

5:12 – Power – riches – wisdom – strength – honour – glory – blessing

 

5:13 – Blessing-honour-glory-power

 

7:12 – Blessing – glory – wisdom – thanksgiving – honour – power – might (strength)

 

Note the difference and state the reason why?  

 

 

ii.                             The Question of the Elder – 7:13-17

 

            Revelation 7:13-17 , " And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?   And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.   Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.   They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.   For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes . "

 

“The identity of the ones in white robes” – Do they refer to us believers who have been taken up in the rapture?   Or do they refer to the ones who have died and have not heard the gospel during their lifetime and were given the opportunity to receive Christ after death?

 

            “And where did they come from? ”

 

            They are the ones who came out of the Great Tribulation and have washed their robes and made white in the blood of Christ. The ones who died during the Great Tribulation will experience immediate resurrection.  

 

            Does it mean that they participated in the 1 ^st resurrection?

 

            Not the mere going through the Great Tribulation that saved them but rather they had their robes washed in the blood of Christ. This reveals to us that many will come to believe in the Lord during the Great Tribulation. This list will continue to increase as more and more saints die during the Great Tribulation. This does not include the 144, 000 Israelites mentioned in verses 4-8 . They are the ones who will be sealed by God for protection and for entrance into the millennium.

 

            “ before God’s throne and serving Him ” – They will be serving God day and night in the temple.   The word “serve” is used “only in carrying out religious duties (cf. Lk 2:37 ). ” 

 

            “What temple is this? ” – How many temples have been spoken of in the Bible?  

 

            It appears from the text that presently there is a temple in heaven where the saints of God will dwell in and worship God.   There will also be another temple on earth in the millennium as depicted by Ezekiel in chapters 40-48.  

 

            Will there be a temple in the new heaven and new earth?

 

            The protection of the Lord over His children will be complete in heaven.   No more hunger.   No more thirst.   No more heat of the sun to torment them.   All these three experiences affect mankind greatly.   This will happen to the earth when the wrath of God is poured down upon sinful man.

 

            God will feed them and keep them.   He will lead them to fountains of living water. This is in direct contrast and opposition to how God would deal with Satan, the Antichrist, false prophet and their myriad of followers.  

 

            God’s children will experience divine feeding and protection whereas the enemies of Christ will experience divine judgement that the world has never seen before.

 

            He will also wipe away all tears for there will be no sorrow, pain or suffering in heaven.   The word “wipe away” means, “to erase. ”  In 3:5 , the word is translated as “blot. ” 

 

            Why, in your opinion, would believers cry in heaven such that the Lord has to wipe them away for us?

 

4.         Blowing of the Seven Trumpets – 8:1-13 ; 9 ; 10 ; 11:1-19

 

a. The Calm Before the Storm – 8:1-5

 

Revelation 8:1-5 , " And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.   And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets.   And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.   And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.   And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake . "

 

“Silence in heaven about the space of half and hour” – This is the calm before the storm, the storm of God’s judgment upon sinful men.   When impending judgment is about to fall, the intense expectation, foreboding fear and jubilation (as the justice of God is about to descend on sinful man, finally) and the awe of the awesome power of God Almighty caused the silence in heaven.  

 

The stillness must have been deafening as everyone awaits the “Commander-in-chief” to give the green light for the final curtain to fall!!

 

Psalms 76:6-9 , " At thy rebuke, O God of Jacob, both the chariot and horse are cast into a dead sleep. Thou, even thou, art to be feared: and who may stand in thy sight when once thou art angry? Thou didst cause judgment to be heard from heaven; the earth feared, and was still, When God arose to judgment, to save all the meek of the earth. Selah . "

 

Habakkuk 2:18-20 , " What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols? Woe unto him that saith to the wood, Awake; to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach! Behold, it is laid over with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in the midst of it. But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him . "

 

Zephaniah 1:5-10 , " And them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops; and them that worship and that swear by the LORD, and that swear by Malcham; And them that are turned back from the LORD; and those that have not sought the LORD, nor enquired for him. Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord GOD: for the day of the LORD is at hand: for the LORD hath prepared a sacrifice, he hath bid his guests. And it shall come to pass in the day of the LORD'S sacrifice, that I will punish the princes, and the king's children, and all such as are clothed with strange apparel. In the same day also will I punish all those that leap on the threshold, which fill their masters' houses with violence and deceit. And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD, that there shall be the noise of a cry from the fish gate, and an howling from the second, and a great crashing from the hills . "

 

MacArthur rightly comments, “While eternal heaven has no time, the apostle John who is seeing the vision does.   Each minute of that half hour of silence must have increased the sense of agonizing suspense for John.   Heaven, which had resounded with loud praises from the vast crowd of redeemed people and angels, became deathly still.   The hour of God’s judgment had come – the hour when the saints will be vindicated, sin punished, Satan vanquished, and Christ exalted. The greatest event since the Fall is about to take place and all heaven is seen waiting in suspenseful expectancy (MacArthur, vol 1, page 238). ”

 

“The Seven Angels which stood before God ..   given Seven Trumpets” – The use of the definite article to describe the seven angels here point to the fact that these were perhaps a unique group of seven angels appointed by God specially for this judgment.   They had been standing thee for some time as seen in the usage of the “perfect” tense to describe their standing.   Literally it means they started standing for some time in the past and remained in a standing position before God waiting for His command before they begin.   They were then given seven trumpets each.  

 

Trumpets have very distinct purposes in Israel’s history.  

 

i.                                 To summons the congregation to break camp and march during the wilderness wandering (cf. Num 10:1-8 );

ii.                             Preparation for war ( Num 10:9 );

iii.                         In the days of gladness and rejoicing and when they offer burnt offerings before the Lord ( Num 10:10 );

iv.                         To announce news ( 1 Sam 13:3 );

v                             To acclaim new kings ( 1 Ki 1:34 , 39 );

vi.                         In worship ( 1 Chron 16:6 , 42 ; 2 Chron 5:12-13 );

vii.                     A day of the impending Judgment from God, the Coming of the Day of the Lord ( Zeph 1:14-16 );

viii.                 The New Testament teaches that a Trumpet will announce the Rapture and First Resurrection ( 1 Cor 15:52 ; 1 Thess 4:16 );

ix.                           In Rev 8 , we have the judgment of the God upon the whole earth ( 8:6ff .).

 

“Each of the seven trumpets unleashes a specific judgment of greater intensity than the first six seals, but not as destructive as the seven bowls ( 16:1-21 ).   The first four trumpets destroy the earth’s ecology ( 8:6-12 ), the next two produce demonic destruction of humanity ( 8:13 ; 9:1-11 , 13-19 ), and the seventh trumpet introduces the final outpouring of God’s wrath contained in the seven bowl judgment (MacArthur, 239). ”

 

 

“Another angel came and stood at the altar having a golden censer... given much incense” –

 

The word another is “ allos ” which means another of the same kind which would be like the seven angels.    This could not be a reference to Jesus Christ but just another angel.   In the Old Testament, the golden incense was found inside the most Holy Place.  

 

Hebrews 9:1-5 , " Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.   For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary.   And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;   Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;   And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly . "

 

The high priest was supposed to burn the incense twice a day, once in the morning to start the day and the second time in the evening at the close of the day. This was to be done throughout their generations (cf. Exo 20:1-10 ).   The incense represents the prayers of the saints being presented to God before the ark with the mercy seat covering the ark inside the most Holy Place.  

 

Just as it represented the prayers of the saints in OT times, it too will represent the prayers of the saints here in Revelation 8 .   The prayers of the saints were literally handed to God out of the angel’s hand.   The prayers of the saints will definitely include Rev 6:10 , the cry for God’s justice to come!

 

“Took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and cast in unto the earth .... ”--

 

The judgment finally came.   This is represented by the fire taken from the altar. The action that followed next is very frightening... , “and cast it into the earth. ”  The earth is doomed!  

 

The result is, “ and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake. ” The destruction of planet earth begins.  

 

2 Peter 3:7-9 , " But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.   But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.   The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance . "

 

 

b. Sounding of the Trumpets – 8:6-9:21; 11:15-19

 

i.                                 The First Trumpet – 8:6-7

 

            Revelation 8:6-7 , " And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.   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 . "

 

            Hail and Fire – this is frequently associated with divine judgment (cf.   Ex 9:13-25 ; Job 38:22-23 ; Ps 105:32 ; Isa 28:2 ; Hag 2:17 ).   Fire is another form of God’s judgment used by God (cf. Gen 19:24 ; Lev 10:1-2 ; Ps 11:6 ; Eze 38:22 ).   The combination of both hail and fire reminds us of the fulfillment of Joel 2 and Acts 2 .  

 

            Acts 2:19-20 , " And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:   The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come : "

 

            Joel 2:28-31 , " And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come . "

 

            One third of all vegetation will be destroyed.   Man continues to “save the earth” today.   Do you think that Christians ought to be involved with saving the earth?  

 

            The devastation would mean no more food and fresh air. The climate will be hot and temperatures will rise. Life will be one of famine, thirst, and suffocation on a global scale. Man cannot run to other continents for relief.

 

ii.                             The Second Trumpet – 8:8-9

 

            Revelation 8:8-9 , " 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 . "

 

            We do not know if the catastrophes of these trumpets overlap when they were blown one after the other, but one thing is certain, man who had exchange the truth of God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator will now pay for his idolatry.   The first judgement of the trumpet fell upon the land and now the second will afflict the seas.   The sea was created for man’s blessing and enjoyment.   It provides mankind with food and oxygen [ much of the Earth’s oxygen comes from the phytoplankton and algae in the world’s oceans ] and water and cool breeze and the entire ecosystem depend upon the oceans.   Instead of worshipping the God who had been so gracious to mankind, man has replaced Him with the worship of creatures.  

 

            “The massive object plunging through the sky looked to the terrified observers on earth like a great mountain burning with fire. This is evidently a giant meteorite or asteroid, surrounded by flaming gases set ablaze by the friction of the earth’s atmosphere, on a collision course with the earth.   The current doomsday scenarios about an asteroid hitting the earth will come true with a vengeance.   Everyone will see it, either live or on television, and as the world’s telescopes see it coming, many predictions will no doubt be made about whether it will hit the earth or not.   It will hit, striking somewhere in the world’s oceans with an explosive power far greater than that of an atomic bomb.   Because all the world’s oceans are connected, the devastation from that hit will spread across one-third of the ocean waters, causing a third of the sea to become blood [ MacArthur, 247-248 ]. ” 

 

            With one third of the ocean turned to blood, the water area of the earth is 361 132 million square kilometers (70. 8% of the world is water and 29 2 % is land). One third of this figure would equal 120 37733 million square kilometers or about 13 times the size of the United States.   The stench would be horrendous and most unbearable if not poisonous.  

 

            The result of turning one third of the oceans into blood is death of one third of all the sea creatures in the ocean.   This will definitely add to the foulness of the air.   The whole ecosystem will be destroyed instantly.   There will be global famine and this time the “land” cannot help the sea and neither can the sea help the land.   Man will be cornered and would have no where to go and no one to turn to for help.   The United Nations, China and America will not be able to feed themselves.  

 

            Further damage would be caused by the might tidal waves of tsunamic proportions will destroy one third of the world’s ships.   Companies will go bankrupt.   Even if mankind has food to spare they would not have ships to load them into.   There will be unimaginable global economic chaos the world has never seen before.  

 

 

iii.                         The Third Trumpet – 8:10-11

 

            Revelation 8:10-11 , " 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 . "

 

            The third trumpet was blown and a great star (can refer to any celestial body other than the sun and the moon) will fall from outer space and unlike the second trumpet, this “great star” will disintegrate into smaller pieces as it enters the earth atmosphere.   It was be raining showers of fire falling upon a third of the rivers and the fountain of waters.   These will be like little fiery missiles aimed accurately by God for the rivers and springs only.   The fresh water will become poisonous.  

 

            “Because ot its deadly effects, the star will be called Wormwood, although the text does not reveal who will name it.   Wormwood translates apsinthos , a word used only here in the New Testament.   Wormwood is a shrub whose leaves are used in the manufacture of absinthe (a green, bitter liqueur with the flavour of wormwood and anise), a liqueur so toxic that its manufacture is banned in many countries.   Wormwood is mentioned eight times in the Old Testament, where it is associated with bitterness, poison, and death ( Deu 29:18 ; Prov 5:4 ; Jer 9:15 ; 23:15 ; Lam 3:15 , 19 ; Amos 5:7 ; 6:12 ).   In three of those uses, wormwood is connected with poisoned water.   In Jeremiah 9:15 , for example, God says of rebellious Israel, “Behold, I will feed them, even this people, with wormwood, and give them water of gall to drink (cf. Jer 23:15 ; Lam 3:15 ) [ MacArthur, 249 ]. ”

 

            The result was that anyone who drank form it will die.   No human deaths were mentioned in the first two trumpet judgements but here we have the first mention of human deaths, many of them will die.  

 

            No food, no water, no fresh air, no coolness of temperature, only deaths and great discomfort and a sense of utter and complete hopelessness will befall mankind by the time of the Third trumpet.  

 

            Despite the global catastrophe, this was only the beginning. This is the beginning of the great tribulation that our Lord prophesied will befall sinful man. Matthew 24:21 , " For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be . " Revelation 2:21-22 , " And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.   Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds . "

                                      

iv.                         The Fourth Trumpet – 8:12

 

            Revelation 8:12 , " 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 . "

 

            The divine judgement shifts from the earth to the heavens. This new disaster will reverse the intense heat that the earth would be wreaking from all this while. Temperatures will plunge when there is compulsory darkness for one third of the day.   There will be global disruption to the weather. Severe tidal waves and tsunamis will become a global phenomena. Crops will be devastated by these tidal waves. Cities will be washed away. Islands will sink to the bottom of oceans. Whole cities will submerge into the seas, including Singapore too. Untold millions will die. Those who survive will suffer famine and drought and perhaps even cannibalism in order to survive.

 

            In the Old Testament such heavenward destruction was a clear sign from God that he is undoubtedly the One who is judging Israel.   Isaiah 13:9-11 , " Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it. For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine. And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible . "  

 

            Ezekiel 32:7-9 , " And when I shall put thee out, I will cover the heaven, and make the stars thereof dark; I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon shall not give her light. All the bright lights of heaven will I make dark over thee, and set darkness upon thy land, saith the Lord GOD. I will also vex the hearts of many people, when I shall bring thy destruction among the nations, into the countries which thou hast not known . "

 

            Is it not true that one of the things that man is most afraid of is darkness?

 

v                             The Three Woes Announced – 8:13

 

            Revelation 8:13 , " 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! "

 

            The remaining three trumpet judgements are more severe than the preceding four.   An angel in heaven flew above in the heavenly realm announcing the greater judgements that will follow.   The announcement perhaps could be likened to the entrance into the next level of punishment. The silence was the clam before the storm.   This announcement is perhaps likened to the next level of alert of greater destruction and doom.

 

“Woe” is used in the Bible as an expression of judgement, destruction and great condemnation [ Cf.   Num 21:29 ; 1 Sam 4:7-8 ; Job 10:15 ; Psalm 120:5 ; Eccl 10:16 ; Isa 3:9 ; Jer 4:13 ; Lam 5:16 ; Eze 13:3 ; Hos 7:13 ; Amos 6:1 ; Mic 2:1 ; Nah 3:1 ; Hab 2:6 ; Zeph 2:5 ; Matt 11:21 ; Jude 11 ].  

 

There are 98 occurrences of the use of woe in the Bible.   Out of these 98, only one have two woes (cf. Eze 16:23 ) and once with three (cf. Rev 8:13 ).  This triple woes is the highest form of judgement that mankind will face in the last days from God Almighty Himself.   May God have mercy on all mankind.

 

The woes will be directed against the ones who live on the earth.   “That descriptive phrase is used in Revelation as a technical term for those who reject the gospel ( cf 6:10;11 : 10 ; 13:8 , 12 , 14 ; 17:2 , 8 ).   Although they will acknowledge that the disasters they have experienced have come from God ( 6:15-17 ), they will not repent [ MacArthur , 251 ]. ”

 

vi.                         The Fifth Trumpet is the First Woe – 9:1-12

 

Revelation 9:1-12 , " 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.   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.   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. 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 . "

 

“In his visions, the apostle had already seen several heavenly bodies plunge to earth ( cf 6:13 ; 8:8 , 10 ).   Unlike them, however, this star was not an inanimate piece of celestial matter, but an angelic being ( cf 38:7 ).   That he was said to have fallen to the earth suggests that this is a reference to Satan – the leader of all the fallen angels [ MacArthur , 256 ]. ”  [ Emphasis is in the original ]

 

Do you agree with MacArthur’s designation that the star here refers to Satan?   He cited Isaiah 14:12-15 , Eze 28:12-16 and Luke 10:18 for his biblical support.

 

How do you explain Jude 1:6 , " And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day . " in light of the above?

 

The star is, I believe, an angel who came down-not that the angel fell because of sin and then became a fallen angel. It simply speaks of the angel being sent by God to do a task.   He left heaven and came to where the bottomless pit was. The term bottomless pit literally means “the pit of the abyss. ”  The word “bottomless” appears in Revelation seven times altogether ( cf 9:2 , 11 ; 11:7 ; 17:8 ; 20:1 , 3 ). It is used all the times as the dwelling place of the incarcerated demons.   Satan himself will be locked in there for 1, 000 years while the Christians go through the millennial kingdom.  

 

With the opening of the bottomless pit it is like releasing the hardcore prisoners who have been sentenced to death for the most heinous crimes known to mankind. They will now roam the earth for specific destruction.   Smoke arose out of the pit and covered the sun.   This was a different kind of darkness.   The dense dark furnace like smoke billows uncontrollably upward and enveloped the sun. The ominous sight causes one to tremble and shudder even at the imaginary sight.   The air will be stench-filled by this putrid smoke.   Have you seen the lava cloud that spew out of a bursting volcano?   It rushes toward you with its hot death inflicting cloud of thick dark ash-filled smoke rushing and destroying every living thing in its path.   Many unknowing camera crew who tried to film such phenomenon paid for it with their lives because they underestimated the powerful force and destructive nature of the smoke.  

 

Locusts always move in swarm when it is most dangerous.   They appear like a thick volume of dark cloud swarming swiftly toward its target and every living thing in its path will be eaten in very quick time.   Farmers fear them for they can destroy their livelihood with impunity and the helpless farmer could only stand there and watch his hard work destroyed.   “The worst locust plague in modern times struck the Middle East in 1951-52 when in Iran, Iraq, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia every green and growing thing was devastated across hundreds of thousands of square miles.   Locusts eat grain, leaf, and stalk, right down to the bare ground.   When a swarm arises and flies on its way, the green field is left a desert; barrenness and desolation stretches as far as the eye can see. ” [ 6 ]

 

But these were not ordinary locusts.   The only thing these locusts have in common with the real locusts was their movement in swarm-like destructive ferocity. They were given power to destroy like scorpions.   “Scorpions are a species of arachnid, inhabiting warm, dry regions, and having an erect tail tipped with w venomous stinger.   The stings of many species of scorpions are excruciatingly painful, and about two dozen species are capable of killing humans.   The symptoms of a sting from one deadly species, including severe convulsions and paralysis, resemble those of demon-possessed individuals (cf. Mark 1:23-27 ; 9:20 , 26 ) [ MacArthur, vol 1, 260 ]. ”  

 

The direction of attack by these demonic like locusts came from God.   They were not allowed to destroy nature but only men who do not have the mark of God on their foreheads.   They will not be allowed to kill.   Their sole purpose was to inflict intense gruesome unbearable pain upon sinful men.   The torment will last five months.   Why were they punished for five months?   This was the normal life span of locusts.   The physical sufferings of these men will be so excruciating that they would want to kill themselves.   But death would be taken from them supernaturally by God.   It was an enforced 5 months of forced suffering.   No poison they take would kill them.   Suicide will be made impossible by God.   This is to show sinful man that the captain of his destiny is not man himself.   It is and will always be God’s.   Some people today have placed “death pills” by the bed side believing that they have the power over their own lives.   One day when they feel that they should not live any more they simply pop in the death pill.   But God says there will come a time in man’s history where death will be taken from man. He will be forced to suffer compulsory intense pain never experienced before because of his sin.   Man’s most feared enemy, death, will be beyond man’s reach.   Some western countries that have legalized euthanasia making man the captain of their own soul, or s they think.   They placed poison on their bed head thinking that when they decide when they will die and leave this earth.   But God says fool!   I am the resurrection and the life not man.   The power of life and death both physical and eternal are in the hands of the living God, not Satan and definitely not man.  

 

Is this statement true, that Satan does not have the power over death-only God has?   If it is, then explain Hebrews 2:14 , " Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil ; "

 

The shapes of the locusts were like horses prepared for battle.   This describes the readiness and viciousness of the attackers.    The next 4 verses describe how man will suffer the 5 months of compulsory torment.   The description of the locusts:

 

·                                 horses prepared for battle – warlike, powerful and swift in their attacks and devastation.   Horses were the most powerful and swiftest animal of war that they had at that time.   It was a mission of swift and vicious destruction the world has never seen before.   They attack only humans and not vegetation.

 

·                                 heads with crowns like gold – The crowns mentioned here are “stephanos. ”  This refers the victor’s crown.   This means that they are invincible.   Nothing will be able to stop them from completing their mission of destruction.   They will do at will what needs to be done and man is completely impotent in stopping them.  

 

·                                 faces like that of men – The faces like that of men indicate intelligence and a possessing a rational mind.   They will not attack by instincts like ordinary locusts but will be very selective in their attacks. They will hurt only those who do not have the seal of God.

 

·                                 hair like women – They are also very seductive.   The hair of the woman is their glory.   They will be very alluring and lead many to their doom. Instead of fleeing form these monster like creatures, sinful and wicked men will flock toward them.   They will be blinded to the grotesque features of these beings and be attracted to them.  

 

·                                 teeth like teeth of lions – They will tear and rip apart the flesh of sinful man.   They might even devour human flesh by their very sharp lion like teeth.

 

·                                 breastplates of iron – They will be protected from any form of attack such that their invulnerability is seen by the use of these breastplates.  

 

·                                 sound of wings like chariots of many horses running to battle – They move like a cloud and the noise they generate will be like charging chariots rushing to battle.   Chariots made very loud metallic sounds and coupled wit the hoof beats of thousands of horses, the noise would definitely be deafening and extremely frightening.    

 

·                                 tails like scorpions and stings in their tail – Their weapons are in their tails.   Present there are stings, plural not only one but many.   They will sting sinful man over and over again. Their sole mission was to hurt sinful man.   “The nature of this full-scale demonic torment that drives people to seek death and not find it, to pursue death and not catch it, is not described.   However, a look at some biblical illustrations of demonic torment offers some god insights.   The maniacs of Gadara were so tormented by demons that they were insane, living in tombs ( Matt 8:28 ).   All about Galilee Jesus encountered tormented demoniacs ( Matt 4:23-24 ).   A centurion’s servant was tormented with paralysis ( Matt 8:6 ).   A demon-possessed boy kept throwing himself into fires and water in acts of self-destruction (Mark 9:20-22 ).   Such are the spiritual and physical torments demons can inflict.   For five months they will do such to a whole world of ungodly sinners.   The reiteration that the demons will be permitted to torment people for a limited time stresses God’s sovereign power over the duration of their assault.   Eventually, He will return them to the abyss with their evil master ( 20:1-3 ) and then send them to the lake of fire ( 20:10 ). ” [ 7 ]

 

NOTE: Do you think that these “locusts” are “demons”?   MacArthur believes they are. What reasons would you have to say they are or they are not?

 

The king that ruled them was called the angel of the bottomless pit or abyss.   Is he Satan of some other demon?   Ephesians 2:2 , " Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience : "

 

The name of this demon in Hebrew was “Abaddon. ” In Greek he is called “Apollyon. ” Both these words mean “destroyer. ”  It is a very apt name given to this demon. He commands a horde of very destruction locusts.  

 

            The beginning of this torment was the completion of the first woe.   Two more woes were to follow.

 

vii.                     The Sixth Trumpet is the Second Woe – 9:13-21

 

            At the sound of the sixth trumpet, John heard a voice (lit. one voice or a single voice) from the four horns of the golden altar that was before God.   Whose voice was it?  

 

            This altar that was before God was supposed to be likened to the earthly altar of incense from which the prayers of the saints were to emanate ( Exo 30:1-10 ). Hence this was an altar of mercy and grace as the priests of God kept the incense burning perpetually.   This represents the perpetual prayers of the saints.   But here, we have the judgment of God emanating form the altar.   Four angels that were bound in the great river Euphrates were to be loosed.  

 

            That they were bound reveals to us that these were probably demons.   The holy angels of God always obey God’s will and there is no reason to restrain them from disobeying God.   The use of the perfect tense of the participle in the verb “bound” here indicate that the four demons were bound sometime in the past and remained in that state till now when they will be loosed for a season to do God’s bidding.   Whether they were water demons we cannot tell.   But I believe that the river mentioned here refers to the real River Euphrates in present day Iraq.   The use of the definite article to describe these four angels tells us that they were a specific group of angels.

 

            The occasion of the task of these four angels was in accordance to God’s precise timing.   Revelation 9:15 , " 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 . "   To the exact year, and month and day and hour, these four angels will be released to do God’s Holy will.   Their task was to kill a third part of men.  

 

            The next 3 verses describe the how and who will kill these third part of mankind. The size of the army these four angels command was enormous.   It numbers 200 million horsemen.   John says tat he heard the number of them.   The noise they generate was heard by John.

 

            The ones who sat on the horse and the horses had the following description.

 

·                                 breastplates of fire, of jacinth and brimstone – breastplate is for the protection of the vital organ of the body.   Fire is the colour of red; jacinth is the colour of bark blue or black like smoke; and brimstone is the colour of sulfurous yellow.   “Fire and brimstone” are the features and colour of Hell ( cf 19:20 ; 20:10 ; 21:8 ).  

 

·                                 the heads horses were like heads of lions – Horse here refer to warfare and swiftness.   The ferocity of these animals is seen in the use of the lion head.   They will be very vicious and none will be speared till they accomplish all that they were sent by God to do.   It will come very swiftly and forcefully

 

·                                 out of the mouths of these horses came fire and smoke and brimstone – The weapons used by these riders to destroy will come form the mouths of the horses they rode upon.   The mouths of these animals will spew out fire and smoke and brimstone.   Fire will burned many to death.   Smoke will suffocate others and the brimstone will kill the rest perhaps with searing heat.   The result would be the death of a third part of mankind.  

 

·                                 Power in their mouths and tails which were like serpents and had heads on them – The power to kill was literally in their mouths.   The tails of these lion headed horses had venom on them like serpents.   The scary difference is that the tails ad heads on them for perfect accuracy in attack.   They will not miss anyone they intend to strike with deadly force and swiftness.  

 

With such a level of destruction one would think that sinful men would learn their lesson of pride and humility and turn from sin and idolatry.   Sadly this was not the case.   Revelation 9:20-21 , " 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 . "  

 

The defiance of sinful man is seen in the five sins men will still cling onto in spite of the fierce wrath poured down upon sinful men these past few months.  

 

·                                 the worship of devils (demons) and idols of gold, silver and brass and stone and wood – Worship is the most sacred activity of man.   The only acceptable worship that man could ever give is to his creator.   No one else deserves man’s worship.   Yet today man worships so many things from man to beasts to blocks of inanimate objects.   Despite the torment and great pain and sufferings and death sinful men still would not give up the worship of demons.

 

The worship of demons is seen in the worship of idol made of gold, silver, brass, stone and wood.   They have eyes that cannot see and ears that cannot hear and feet that cannot walk yet man worships them.   What blindness and harden hearts man possess.  

 

·                                 murders – They get killed and they kill others even more.   How great is the depth of the depravity of mankind.   This was the first open act of sin against mankind as recorded in Genesis 4 .   Cain murdered his own brother Abel.   At the conclusion of man’s existence man continues to kill more and more.   Watch out for the sin of hatred.   For Jesus says in Matthew 5:21-22 , " Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:   But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire . "  

 

·                                 sorceries – It comes form the Greek word from which we get the English word “pharmacy. ”  Drugs and incantations continue to be used by evil men for demonic activities such as witch craft and wizardry.   These are the satanic trappings that have ensnared millions.   The worship of demons and the Devils is on the rise in these last days.   Cite examples if you think this are true.

 

·                                 fornication (“ porneia ’ – immorality) – Sexual sin has always been around from the time of Adam’s fall.   Polygamous marriage was one of the first sign on a sinful nature.   Was it not true tat before God even called Adam and Eve to give and account of what they did in the Garden of Eden they covered their own nakedness.   They were ashamed.  

 

·                                 thefts – Dishonesty is the best practiced policy today.   Greed and the love of money have caused millions to fall in sin.   The love of mammon is the idol that has kept millions out of the kingdom of God.  

 

Why will sinful men not learn and repent of their sins despite the intense sufferings they had to endure. They are surrounded by death and destruction on a global scale never seen or experienced by man. Yet they hold on to their sinful ways. Why?