The "7" Trumpet Judgments

Revelation 8

6 So the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.

TRUMPET ONE

7 The first angel sounded:

The Judgment

And hail and fire followed, mingled with blood, and they were thrown to the earth.

Man's trust in the air and those natural weather systems to provide for their needs is challenged.

The Result

And a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.

Man's trust in the earth and all that grows for his provisions are taken away. No more mother earth, no more earth day, no more idol worship in connection with the earth. Livestock that required grass as nourishment would have grave difficulties, farmlands would experience hardships, and their related products intefered with and/or eliminated. Cows that ate grass for milk they supplied would no longer be able to give milk.

TRUMPET TWO

8 Then the second angel sounded:

The Judgment

And something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea,

The Result

and a third of the sea became blood. 9 And a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.

Now the sea and its creatures that had made man money and provided for his existence in which there was trust to the point of idol worship is done away and God is God.

TRUMPET THREE

10 Then the third angel sounded:

The Judgment

And a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch,

The Result

and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. 11 The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the water, because it was made bitter.

Here God judges the trust of man in the fresh water as his idol and reveals again He is God.

TRUMPET FOUR

12 Then the fourth angel sounded:

The Judgment

And a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them were darkened.

The Result

A third of the day did not shine, and likewise the night.

Some type of activity, perhaps cataclysmic in nature from the solar system or even from war on earth that produces an eclipse type effect eliminating 33% of the light has happened.

The Announcement

13 And I looked, and I heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, "Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!"

Revelation 9

TRUMPET FIVE

1 Then the fifth angel sounded:

The Judgment

And I saw a star fallen from heaven to the earth. To him was given the key to the bottomless pit.

We know from Ch 1 that a star in revelation meant times refers to an angel. Here the angel is Lucifer, the devil fallen from his once "proud" position because of his rebellion (Isaiah 14; Eze 28).

The Result

2 And he opened the bottomless pit, and smoke arose out of the pit like the smoke of a great furnace. So the sun and the air were darkened because of the smoke of the pit. 3 Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth. And to them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. 4 They were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. 5 And they were not given authority to kill them, but to torment them for five months. Their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it strikes a man. 6 In those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will desire to die, and death will flee from them. 7 The shape of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle. On their heads were crowns of something like gold, and their faces were like the faces of men. 8 They had hair like women's hair, and their teeth were like lions' teeth. 9 And they had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots with many horses running into battle. 10 They had tails like scorpions, and there were stings in their tails. Their power was to hurt men five months. 11 And they had as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, but in Greek he has the name Apollyon.

The horror of this demonic attack is described only as John is seeing it unfold before his eyes. The anguish and torment caused by these hideous demon-creatures is incredible!

12 One woe is past. Behold, still two more woes are coming after these things.

This judgment is over, but there are two more to come as bad and on top of this judgment!

TRUMPET SIX

13 Then the sixth angel sounded:

The Judgment

And I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, 14 saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, "Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates."

The Result

15 So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released to kill a third of mankind. 16 Now the number of the army of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them. 17 And thus I saw the horses in the vision: those who sat on them had breastplates of fiery red, hyacinth blue, and sulfur yellow; and the heads of the horses were like the heads of lions; and out of their mouths came fire, smoke, and brimstone. 18 By these three plagues a third of mankind was killed by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone which came out of their mouths. 19 For their power is in their mouth and in their tails; for their tails are like serpents, having heads; and with them they do harm. 20 But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk. 21 And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.

Here we have another 33% of mankind destroyed, 1.5 billion people annihilated! Between this judgment and the 4th Seal judgment, there has been 50% of the earth's population destroyed. This is clearly what to which Jesus referred when speaking of Noah in His Olivet Discourse! He said that two would be in the field, one taken and one left (50%), two grinding one taken and the other left (50%).

PARENTHETICAL INSERTS

(#1. John's Ordination)

Revelation 10

1 I saw still another mighty angel coming down from heaven, clothed with a cloud. And a rainbow was on his head, his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire. 2 He had a little book open in his hand. And he set his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, 3 and cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roars. When he cried out, seven thunders uttered their voices. 4 Now when the seven thunders uttered their voices, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, "Seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered, and do not write them."

John is about to record this part of the vision as well, so he is specifically told not to as it wasn't for our benefit. The Lord is so good to make sure we have what we need and those things that He knows we don't need, He stops us from having them should we desire to do His will and be in His will!

5 The angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised up his hand to heaven 6 and swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things that are in it, the earth and the things that are in it, and the sea and the things that are in it, that there should be delay no longer, 7 but in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished, as He declared to His servants the prophets.

Here is some critical information in understanding the sequence of the judgments. One, there is a time between each judgment which is shown with the words there should be delay no longer! Two, this is the last trumpet judgment and not the last trumpet! Three, the mystery of God is completed in the 7th Trumpet Judgment. Paul talked about the mystery of God as the marriage of Christ and the church. This must be considered as the last of the martyrs and those who would come to Christ during the tribulation. No more people will accept Jesus as Lord!

8 Then the voice which I heard from heaven spoke to me again and said, "Go, take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the earth." 9 So I went to the angel and said to him, "Give me the little book." And he said to me, "Take and eat it; and it will make your stomach bitter, but it will be as sweet as honey in your mouth." 10 Then I took the little book out of the angel's hand and ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth. But when I had eaten it, my stomach became bitter. 11 And he said to me, "You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings."

John receives the exhortation that he will still be used by the Lord to further His kingdom on earth! He must go and prophesy to mant peoples and nations! His call is not completed! Truly, John being on Patmos for this revelation, must have been excited to know that he would be released to preach to so many more people. He would be released from Patmos which gives many scholars reason to believe that he wrote this Book from Ephesus and not on Patmos!

Revelation 11

(#2. The Temple Measurement)

1 Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, "Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there. 2 "But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months.

This can not be confused with 70 AD temple destruction as John wrote this Book in 85-95 AD. This is the measurement for the Gentiles and the antichrist to trample the temple for 42 months or be in charge of or control over the people of God, the Jew which is confrimed in Daniel Ch 7, 9, 11 and 12.

(#3. The Two Witnesses)

3 "And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth." 4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth. 5 And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner. 6 These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire.

These witnesses are in heaven and much debate over who they are. It is not for certain who they are, but they are probably Elijah and Moses who also appeared with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration, yet it is possible it is Enoch and Elijah.

7 When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them. 8 And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. 9 Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their dead bodies three-and-a-half days, and not allow their dead bodies to be put into graves. 10 And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth. 11 Now after the three-and-a-half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. 12 And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here." And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them. 13 In the same hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. In the earthquake seven thousand people were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven. 14 The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe is coming quickly.

At the time ordained by the Lord, they are killed, the whole world rejoices and pass out gifts to one another. Their bodies are left in Jerusalem when the Lord calls them home. Life returns to their bodies and they ascend into the heavens. Then a massive earthquake and 1/10th of the city falls! 7000 people are killed in the quake and the rest give God of heaven the glory. The final trumpet is to come!

TRUMPET SEVEN

15 Then the seventh angel sounded:

The Judgment

And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!" 16 And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying: "We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, The One who is and who was and who is to come, Because You have taken Your great power and reigned. 18 The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, And the time of the dead, that they should be judged, And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, And those who fear Your name, small and great, And should destroy those who destroy the earth."

The Result

19 Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail.

The holy temple of God in heaven is opened for the earth to see, and worship of the only true God takes place amidst noises of thunder, lightnings, hail and an earthquake! The worship in heaven reveals the time frame that God is about to pour His wrath upon the earth. The technical language showing forth the ownership of the kingdoms of this world contradicts the pre-tribulation rapture, and it being the last trumpet aligns with Matthew 24:29-31 for Yashua's Parousia. The bride is called up at this popint in the air to be with Him, the 75 day cusp period starts, and the wrath of the Lamb is poured out on the earth. Each member of the bride has been saved, sanctified, and gathered from the four corners of heaven and earth to "ever be with the Lord"! Here we have the close of the sixth seal and the beginning of the bowl wraths upon the sons of disobedience and the pronouncement of victory seen at His Parousia in Zechariah 14 when He defeats the enemy and establishes Israel forever.