7th Seal Judgments Begin in Revelation: Descriptions and Events Unfolded

Grace Bible Church Glorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ

A reminder to consider others Please: Silence your cell phone & all electronic devices Use the nursery or cry room if your child is fussy Get up during the preaching only if absolutely necessary (please sit in back if you must leave early) Refrain from eating & drinking during worship service (except medical needs)

The 7thSeal: Trumpet Judgments Begin Review Revelation 4 - John describes the throne room in heaven and the worship of God taking place there Revelation 5 - John describes the scroll & the worthy Lamb standing as if slain & the worship He receives

The 7thSeal: Trumpet Judgments Begin Review Rev. 6 - Breaking the first 6 seals 1) Conquering without bloodshed, a false peace 2) Peace destroyed, murder & war. 3) Famine. 4) A 1/4 of humanity dies by sword, famine, disease, animals

The 7thSeal: Trumpet Judgments Begin Review 5) Imprecatory prayer of martyrs under the altar. 6) A great shaking, celestial signs, terror of wrath of God Revelation 7:1-8 - Angels / wind held back as 144,000 Jewish slaves of God are sealed

The 7thSeal: Trumpet Judgments Begin Review Revelation 7:9-17 - The innumerable multi-ethnic multitude of martyrs at peace in heaven

The Seventh Seal Revelation 8:1-2 A hour silence in heaven Earlier examples: Habakkuk 2:20; Zechariah 2:13; Zephaniah 1:7 The Lamb breaks each seal which reveals another aspect of God s wrath upon those who dwell on the earth

The Seventh Seal Revelation 8:1-2 Neither the trumpet nor the bowl judgments recapitulate the seal judgments

The Golden Censor Revelation 8:3-5 Another angel of the same type as the seven with the trumpets stands at the altar of incense with a censor The angel is given much incense which is put on the golden altar & its smoke mixes with the saint s prayers

The Golden Censor Revelation 8:3-5 The angels fills the censor with fire from the altar and the casts it to earth resulting in a storm theophany Similar storm theophanies occur in Exodus 19, Psalm 18 and elements of it in the 7thplague on Egypt

The Golden Censor Revelation 8:3-5 Any storm theophany s symbolic meaning comes from its actual thunder, sounds, lightning & earthquake

The Seven Angels & Trumpets Revelation 8:6 The 7 angels with the 7 trumpets prepare themselves to blow their horns Trumpets are used for many reasons in the Bible, These trumpets announce elements of God s wrath

The First Trumpet Revelation 8:7 This is far worse that anything previous of a similar nature for fire within it burns up a 1/3 of earth & trees, & all grass The tops of the green grass is burned up, but it grows from its roots, so grass is back by the fifth trumpet

The First Trumpet Revelation 8:7 The description has similarities to Sodom & Gomorrah (Gen. 19) & Psalm 18. It is predicted in Ezek. 38 This is a real description of a real event to come including the blood whatever its nature and source

The First Trumpet Revelation 8:7 John s description is beyond reality for those who do not believe God has done or will do what He says Allegorical interpretation generates a sea of contradictions contrary what the first readers would understand

The Second Trumpet Revelation 8:8-9 This is a simile - it is like a mountain . . . An allegorical interpretation will confuse the figure of speech John views this from heaven, so it is not limited to the Mediterranean Sea, nor is the blood a simile

The Second Trumpet Revelation 8:8-9 1/3 of sea becomes blood killing 1/3 of marine life - therefore not an optical phenomena nor a red tide 1/3 of ships destroyed due to this burning object going into the sea - a point of impact, not scattered one

The Second Trumpet Revelation 8:8-9 Due to protection by islands & isthmuses, a large meteor hitting the Pacific would impact ~ 1/3 of all oceans Include the connected areas of the Arctic & Southern oceans to the Atlantic and it is ~ 1/3 of all oceans

The Third Trumpet Revelation 8:10-11 The description fits either a meteor or a comet, both of which can break apart after entering the atmosphere This star is named Wormwood because it turns the water s it affects into wormwood - bitter / undrinkable

The Third Trumpet Revelation 8:10-11 Its specific name & specific effects indicate a supernatural origin, distribution and effect Dilution may be a reason only many men die from these waters instead of all who drink it

The Fourth Trumpet Revelation 8:12 John does not describe what strikes a 1/3 of the sun, moon & stars, nor is there any natural explanation for it John is seeing this from heaven & it is 1/3 of sun, moon & stars affected - it is not just a view from earth

The Fourth Trumpet Revelation 8:12 1/3 of the sun, moon & stars darkened to limit their light to 1/3 of day & night is supernatural This darkening will have wide ranging effects for it will plunge the world into winter and crops will fail

The Fourth Trumpet Revelation 8:12 All of these are displays of God s wrath and so defy mere natural explanation - God is not bound by physics Allegorical interpretation also strives to give plausible (often fanciful) human solutions to the events described

The Three Woes Revelation 8:13 A loud voice calls John s attention to the pronouncement of three woes to come with the remaining trumpets A woe is an interjection of grief - here due to intense hardship & distress coming upon earth dwellers

Conclusions The 7thseal reveals 7 angels & 7 trumpets which reveal further aspects of the wrath of God The first 4 trumpets display God s wrath directed at elements of nature: earth, sea, water, celestial objects

Conclusions None of these can be explained by purely natural causes, & those on sun, moon & stars defy known physics Allegorical interpretation is contrary to the plain meaning and purpose of the text - often fanciful

Conclusions God wrath is coming, that should cause sinners to repent and Christians to pursue personal holiness

Grace Bible Church Glorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ