Revelation Chapter 8, Vision 3, part 1 - Trumpets 1-4.

VISION 3: - THE SEVEN TRUMPETS.

Study 1: - Revelation 8:2,6-13. Trumpets 1-4.

INTRODUCTION.

“Now that the seven seals have been broken we would expect to see the End, the reading of the scroll, but the scroll simply drops out of sight” (Ladd).

However what we now see could be considered to be one of two things:

(i)The contents of the scroll. What we have already seen is the content of the seals themselves, now we see what is written on the pages, or

(ii) An entirely new vision. In this view each Seal opened a page of the scroll and what we read previously was the page thus opened. Thus when the seventh Seal is opened the scroll is fully visible and read. Thus there is no further revelation to be obtained from the scroll so the Trumpets are necessarily a new separate vision. Thus we would see Revelation 8:2 to be simply a stylistic literary way of connecting the Seals and Trumpets.

It is my feeling that (ii) is correct.

Even if we adopt view (i), that what we are about to read is the content of the pages of the scroll, then that does not imply that the events we are about to read occur after the events of the Seals in earth time. The opening of the seals would logically come before we could read the contents of the pages sealed thereby so logically we would read the seals before the pages. But to derive an implication from that that the events of the seals are necessarily prior to the events of the trumpets is unwarranted.

I have already discussed the fact that the seventh Seal (8:5), Trumpet (11:19) and Bowl (16:18) are clearly the same event in earth time and not a threefold repetition on earth of similar horrific events. I have also previously pointed out that certain events of one series are dependent on other events from another series that requires us to see these three series as being in some way concurrent in earth time. As we get to the relevant scriptures I will comments further on this.

Some interpreters insist that the trumpets follow the seals and the bowls follow the trumpets in earth time but the major problem with this view is that they have to have a final judgement three times. I feel the onus of proof is on them – it makes more sense to me to see 8:5, 11:19 and 16:18 as referring to the same event.

The trumpets are again a partial destruction; they are not the final judgement. Again, as with the Seals, I want to argue that they are not a direct judgement of God at all. The whole context of the portion of REVELATION that we are now engaged with is steeped in Feast of Tabernacles typology, hence of harvest motifs. The trumpets are a harvest, at least this is true of trumpets 1-6. "We reap what we sow" in the moral arena (Galatians 6:6-8) and God is not going to be mocked – this harvest will come in earth time in its full measure. The last generation will reap the full harvest of the sin of mankind for all generations. Where the Seals were the harvest of the curses of the broken covenant of Adam, the Trumpets are the harvest of the sins of mankind from Adam to the End. Thus they are not directly an act of God in judgement, rather they are the result of the inevitable operation of eternal law in the universe, the law of sowing and reaping.

However, having said this, we must acknowledge that God is at present restraining this harvest so that we do not ever reap the full harvest of our sins. What happens with the trumpets is that God removes this restraint of grace and for a short period the harvest of sin is full.

In a sense then the trumpets are designed to lead man to repentance. When the seventh trumpet comes there is no further chance for repentance as God has taken his throne, but until then God attempts to turn men's hearts by prefiguring the horrific nature of the coming eternal judgement which men face if they continue in sin. Sadly there appears to be little response.

INTERPRETATION.

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

8:2 "the seven angels who stand before God"
A specific group is intended. The Bible says nothing else directly about them except to refer to their actions in REVELATION, but John expects that the reader knows who he is talking about.

In Jewish tradition there are several references to this group and they are named in tradition.

Tobit 2:15 - an angel identifies himself as "Raphael, one of the seven angels who stands in attendance on the Lord". They present the prayers of God's people.

Enoch 20 and 40 name them all - "Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Phanuel, Uriel, Saraquel, Remiel." Enoch identifies them as the archangels.

2 Esdras 4:36 c/f notes on Revelation 6:9-11 identifies this angel as an archangel, Jeremiel.

There may be more than eight archangels. Apparently Lucifer was one before he fell. It is possible that nine was the total number as nine is the number related to the Holy Spirit, and these archangels appear to have some sort of special relationship to the Holy Spirit.

Some of these are named in the Bible:

(i) Michael - Daniel 10:13,21; 12:1; Revelation 12:7 Jude 9 - He seems to have a special role as the protector of God's people.

(ii) Gabriel - Daniel 8:26; 9:21; Luke 1:18, 26 - He seems to have a special task of bringing Divine revelation to men.

Enoch 20 tells us they had special tasks in creation and ongoing functions in maintaining creation. Revelation indicates that they play a major role in the judgements of God at the end.

"seven trumpets" - better "war horns".

Trumpets are important in the OT and there is a rich symbolism.

(1) Numbers 10:1-10 - two silver trumpets. Silver speaks of redemption, so the trumpeter’s voice is always redemptive in content:

(a) For summoning the camp of God (v2) e.g. Joel 2:1,15.

(b) For breaking camp when moving on (v2).

(c) For war (v9) e.g. Joshua 6; Judges 7.

(d) For Feasts (v10).

(e) An alarm in times of danger.

(2) Leviticus 25:9. Blown on the Day of Atonement, New Years Day. In the jubilee year it signified release and redemption to the nation.

(3) Blown at the accession of the king to his throne, and hence during the feast of Tabernacles in rituals celebrating God's kingship - 1 Kings 1:34,39; 2 Kings 9:13; Psalms 47:5, 98:6 Numbers 23;21.

(4) Leviticus 23:21 - Blown at the daily sacrifices.

(5) There are three OT passages which talk of seven trumpeters which formed part of a ceremonial procession and two of these include a mention of an ark.

Joshua 6:1; 1 Chronicles 15:24; Nehemiah 12:41.

Caird (edited):
“The feast of trumpets par excellence was the autumn festival of Tishri 1, described in the Levitical code as a "remembrance day of trumpet blowing" (Leviticus 23:24). This was New Years day in the secular calendar. Tishri 1 became the first day of a great penitential season which culminated 10 days later at Atonement. Tishri 1 is therefore a day of judgement. The Talmud says it is a day when God judges the whole of mankind. The judgement itself is held in suspense until the Day of Atonement.”

The ten days are to typify the ten days journey from Sinai to Kadesh Barnea where Israel was to have entered into the Promised Land on the Day of Atonement.

Atonement is also the end of the harvest. The trumpets are to be seen as a warning that the harvest of the world is about to finish.

Points to note:

(i) Joshua 6 - seven trumpeters lead the congregation and the ark c/f Revelation 11:19. On the seventh day the seventh trumpet was blown and all seven blew together, the army shouted and the walls fell down. Jericho is typical of the future Babylon (Revelation 11:13).

(ii) The accession of the king to the throne, c/f the seventh trumpet of REVELATION.

(iii) An alarm - a call to repentance in the face of immanent judgement. C/f REVELATION 9:20ff. Therefore the trumpets, until the last one, are only a partial destruction, they are not the end, rather they are another God-given chance to repent.

The trumpet plagues are similar to the plagues of Egypt under Moses. Throughout ch 8-11 Exodus typology is heavily used, but in a different way to the rest of the NT.

The first four trumpets are all closely related to the same event and appear to describe the same event and its effects from different viewpoints.

The event which is the catalyst seems to be the expulsion of Satan and his forces from the mid heavens as recorded in REVELATION 12:7ff. In these four trumpets this event is described and an effect of it described on man's society.

This event seems to happen at the beginning of the last three and a half years of human history, so the effects are things which happen during this last 3 ½ years.

These four trumpets describe events in nature, but that is only to be seen as a surface meaning. The natural is a picture of spiritual events happening in man's society. The natural event is therefore only a visible sign of something more important.

1 Corinthians 15:46 “First the natural then the spiritual”.

This seems to be a key to understanding the relationship between physical events on the earth and spiritual events. What we are about to read describes apparently physical events on earth, but these events are only a sign that something more important is happening in the spiritual life of mankind.

The idea of something "coming down from the sky" is possibly intended to suggest to us that these events have a heavenly origin. They are in the plan of God.

Like the seals the trumpets are divides into a 4:2:1 sequence:

1-4 - affect the earth.

5,6 - affect man.

- An interlude. -

7 - affects man.

In a symbolic sense the first four trumpets are all talking about the same thing, and illustrating different aspects of it, namely the relationship of Satan to our atmosphere. He is, in this age, the prince of the power of the air.

8:7 The First Trumpet.

REV 8:6 Then the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to sound them.

REV 8:7 The first angel sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled down upon the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.

c/f Joel 2:30 Exodus 9:23,24 Psalms 105:32.

The Exodus, or the first deliverance of God's people became a type for all of God's later deliverances. In Egypt hail spoiled the crops, now it is "hail and fire" (lightening?).

It is possible that this trumpet is the cause of the famine of the third seal. The Biblical kind of "grass" includes all cereals. The plague could be the result of catastrophic weather disturbance caused by nuclear war. Thus this event – the first trumpet – would be prior to the 3^rd seal in earth time.

"1/3 of the earth...1/3 of the trees" - Which third is unknown.

It seems as if one third of the earth’s surface is devastated by this plague directly, while indirectly the rest of the world is also affected in that "all grass is burnt up". This seems to indicate that the air temperature of the world increases rapidly and markedly as a result of whatever causes this devastation. Though presumably localised to one continent the atmospheric changes are world-wide. The intensification of the heat of the sun in the fourth bowl (REVELATION 16:8,9) could be related to this.

Symbolism:

"trees" symbolise rulers of society c/f Isaiah 2:12-17.

"grass" symbolise the masses of humanity, the common people. Grass also speaks of prosperity as it includes the grain.

It seems as if the governments of the stable countries are put down somehow and prosperity, or wealth, is corrupted. The financial systems of the world will be destroyed. This is a great depression, which is possibly solved by the "wisdom" of Antichrist.

Possibly this points to the destruction of the Americas. At the moment they are the financial hub of the world, and North America is the world’s largest grain producing area. North America is also the seat of stable democratic government, and as such is held up by other nations as the ideal to strive for. If there was a totalitarian government aiming for world domination, then to succeed they would find it much easier by destroying the "defender of democracy". C/f notes on the seals.

8:8,9: The Second Trumpet.

REV 8:8 The second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a huge mountain, all ablaze, was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned into blood,

REV 8:9 a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.

"a huge mountain burning with fire".

Is this a meteorite? Or is John describing the effects of nuclear devastation in the only way he could? John says it was "Like a mountain" not that it actually was. It could be an underwater volcano (Psalms 46:2 - "the mountains in the sea shake"). Or it could refer to underwater nuclear explosions, such as the destruction of nuclear submarines. Such explosions could conceivably begin a chain reaction in the oceans which could alter the composition of the seas.

"blood" symbolises Death. C/f 16:3 "of a dead man" i.e. poisonous.

1/3 of the seas are polluted to death.

C/f Exodus plagues, and REVELATION 11:6, the power given to the two witnesses. This could happen as the result of the Churches’ prayers.

Scientists have been telling us for years that if we continue on as we are the seas will soon be dead from pollution. The Bible tells us that the process is going to be sped up at one point.

Symbolism:

"Seas" symbolise the rebellious masses of humanity in the nations (REVELATION 17:15).

"Great mountain" symbolises a great political power.

Besides the destruction of America there are other political changes. Europe becomes dominant under the Antichrist and he dominates 1/3 of the earth stretching from England to Iraq. His capital centres on Babylon in Iraq. Under his rule, as we shall see, the Church is persecuted to death. It appears that in his kingdom there are no surviving Christians by the Second Coming (see notes on REVELATION 11). Hence we read that “1/3 of the ships” are destroyed.

"Ship" = ARGO (from Astrology), symbolises the Church.

The Church has not yet seen persecution like what it will see under Antichrist. He will be seven times worse than any previous despot (see notes on REVELATION 17).

8:10-11 The Third Trumpet.

REV 8:10 The third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water-

REV 8:11 the name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters turned bitter, and many people died from the waters that had become bitter.

"a great star blazing like a torch"

A meteor? But how could it affect only clean water? Its effect is the poisoning of 1/3 of the world's water supply.

"wormwood" - i.e. poisonous. Wormwood is a tree that has the capacity to make water bitter, or poisonous. The death of those drinking the water is implied.

C/f Exodus 15:21ff - Marah - REVELATION is the reversal of this. Tradition has it that the tree Moses threw in was Wormwood.

Symbolism:

"Star" symbolises an angel - he has a personality, he is Satan.

"fell from heaven" Greek, Literally, "was cast down" c/f 9:1.

"rivers" symbolise the ordinary life of a nation, as is characterised by certain laws, principles, customs. "Fountains" are the source of these, i.e. family, Church, education, government. The sources are corrupted first, thus polluting the rest. The polluting doctrine is HUMANISM.

The image of the star has an astrological background. In mythology Venus, the morning star, tried to climb the walls of the city of the gods to make himself king of heaven. He was driven from heaven by the rising sun. This myth is given an historical application in Isaiah 14:12-20 where Venus = the Prince of Babylon, i.e. Satan. It is no coincidence that Babylon features here. Wormwood is simply the system of Babylon which is poisoning man's society. It is the Spirit of Antichrist.

Exodus typology continues. With each blow of the trumpet God says, "Antichrist let my people go."

8:12 The Fourth Trumpet.

REV 8:12 The fourth angel sounded his trumpet, 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 turned dark. A third of the day was without light, and also a third of the night.

"1/3 sun, 1/3 stars... 1/3 of their light darkened".

Does this mean:

(i) Air pollution causing a blanking out of the sun,

(ii) c/f Matthew 24:22 "shortened" days, c/f Daniel 7:25 "to change the times". Does the 24 hour day become 18? A major change to the earth's rotation due to a nuclear blast tilting the earth on its axis.

Symbolism:

"1/3 stars" - 1/3 angels fell with Lucifer (Revelation 12:4).

"Light" speaks of man's spiritual awareness. This could indicate a growing inability to hear the gospel and respond.

Imagine the following scenario (a bit of sanctified imagination wont hurt):

Imagine that most USA military hardware had a secret “self destruct” mechanism built in that the operators are not aware of.

“Why?” you may ask.

Well, to stop captured weaponry being used against them in the event of war. Such a motivation would make sense.

How would it work?

Quite simple really. Hidden in the fuel tank of every piece of hardware could be a small but powerful explosive, enough to destroy the item in question.

This could be set off by a signal from satellite, the signal in turn coming from the Pentagon or White House. To activate the code would maybe involve the entering of 4 pin numbers known only to 4 men, the President, and the chiefs of staff of the Army, Navy and Air Force. When these 4 pins are entered they are given the choice of destroying one piece of hardware (presumably captured by enemy forces), or a collection of hardware in a certain geographical area, or even all American military hardware around the world –every military plane, ship, missile, tank, motorized gun, etc.

“Impossible,” you say.

But why? The technology is simple and could be with us today. There is nothing complex in what I have described.

Now let’s imagine the Antichrist manages to get 4 men into those key positions of power. At a set point in time, when he is ready to make a bid for world domination, he sends the word to his 4 men to push the “all” button at such and such a time on such and such a day.

The 4 do as they are told, flee the White House by helicopter to a point just out of the nearest airport, board a secular jet (i.e. it is safe) and leave with their families for Britain. 5 minutes after they cross the coast into the Atlantic every bit of American military hardware self destructs all around the world – every plane, helicopter, ship, submarine boat, tank, missile, motorized gun, etc.

It could happen! Very simply!

Of course the 4 think that in the new order they will be greatly rewarded, but they don’t realize that their usefulness to the Antichrist is over, and the same technology used to render the USA impotent in the face of the Antichrist can be used on them…

Their plane suddenly disappears mid-Atlantic from the radar screens.

The results of such a destruction would be dramatic:

• Nuclear submarines exploding under water with their nuclear missiles. Large areas of sea are “turned to blood” (Trumpet 2). Fresh water supplies are also contaminated (Trumpet 3).
• Air pollution all around the earth on a grand scale never seen before, the sun’s light is reduced to a murky haze. 1/3 of its light is gone (Trumpet 4).
• There is an immediate international shortage of grain due to the fact that fireballs from the nuclear explosions burn up all grasses (Seal 3, Trumpet 1).
• Millions die in the holocaust.
• Millions die from radiation sickness over the following months (Seal 4).
• Cancerous sores develop over millions more (Revelation 16:8-11).
• The detonation of hundreds of nuclear bombs destabalises the earth’s crust and for the following few years there are massive earthquakes (Matthew 24). Half of California slips into the sea.

Of course the Antichrist is immediately occupied with establishing his rule throughout Europe and the Middle East (Seal 1) and ignores America for a few months. After all the sudden explosion of hundreds of land based nuclear warheads has left North America a bit of a desert waste. It has little chance of regrouping and being a threat to him.

However the surviving population of the USA, Canada and the rest of the Americas – north, central and south immediately recognize this disaster as the work of Antichrist and a major Christian revival results. Citizens arm themselves and prepare to repel any invaders, but there is no way they can do more than to defend themselves from invasion. They cannot take on the Antichrist in an attack mode because of lack of resources.

Meanwhile the financial hub of the Western world, which was New York, shifts - under Antichrist direction - to Babylon. The United Nations, the World Bank, IMF and similar organizations, now his pawns, go there too. Soon will follow the headquarters of the One World Religion…

It would be doubtful that many countries would dare to oppose Antichrist after seeing what happened to the USA.

Question: Why the emphasis on 1/3 throughout these trumpets?

Possibly because 1/3 of the Trinity was on the cross. This judgement is a testimony and a vindication of Christ. His victory is now complete, so judgement can be executed.

If the four trumpets speak of Satan's expulsion from heaven then 8:13 has great significance.

8:13 - Announcement of the three woes.

REV 8:13 As I watched, I heard an eagle that was flying in midair call out in a loud voice: "Woe! Woe! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded by the other three angels!"

"Eagle", the enemy of the serpent. In astrology is Aquilla.

"midheaven" - where Satan presently has his kingdom and resists God's plan and intentions. From there he is expelled (REVELATION 12).With his expulsion the way is now clear for the angels of God to carry out God's work without interruption or hindrance. Hence the eagle/angel can proclaim God's victory.

c/f REVELATION 14:6,7.

c/f Exodus 19:4 - The eagle symbolises God's protection and deliverance of his people.

c/f REVELATION 12:14 - the same eagle protecting the Church.

Walvoord sees in the first four trumpets the following scenario:

(1) Food destroyed.

(2) Distribution crippled.

(3) Water supply crippled.

(4) Production hampered.