Seventh Seal  8:1-2; = 7 Trumpets

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For those struggling under the persecution of the Romans, Jesus gives more insight, to strengthen their patience as they evangelize their enemies. Rule of cutting back trees, don’t cut more than a third or risk killing the tree.

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First Trumpet 8:7

              Hail, fire, blood - persecution now permitted to break out

               1/3 of the earth – people studying with Christians, innocent onlookers, collateral damage?

               1/3 of the trees – solid Christians, doing the work, Ps.1:1-3; Ezek.47:12; Mt.13:23,31,32; 

               All the green grass – Christians not growing, Mt.13:20-21; Heb.5:11-14;

               Persecution began 15 years after receiving this letter, persecution caused the great

               apostasy (abandonment of faith) spoken of by Paul in 2Th.2:3-5

               Don’t put down roots, nor produce fruit in first 3 yrs. survival is in jeopardy. Gal.1:17,18; Jude 12

 

Second Trumpet 8:8-9

               A great mt. burning was thrown into the sea

               Sea is society – from which comes world powers, gov’ts. Dan.7:1-8; 4 beasts = 4 gov’ts

               Lion = Babylonians; Bear = Medes & Persians; Leopard = Greeks; Monster = Romans.

               Gog = mountain, (Roman gov’t.) Magog = expansion of family (Roman empire) Ezek.38,39

               Mountain = Roman Empire – on fire going down because she has begun to persecute God’s

               people, a self-inflicted death sentence; a country that throws God out, condemns itself.

               1/3 of the sea became blood – all society was influenced by Rome, infects others, Rev.13:16,17;

               1/3 of creatures with life – Christians in gov’t. killed, replaced with ungodly people.

               1/3 of the ships - commerce, Rev.18:11f. ungodliness brings greed, kills open market.

               Modern countries suffer because they turn away from God. Ro.1:18f

 

Third Trumpet 8:10-11

              A great star from heaven burning like a torch, Satan Lk.10:18

               Satan gets thrown out of heaven when Jesus enters with His blood. Rev.12:9;

               Satan – father of lies – Jn.8:44; spews a river of lies from his mouth. Rev.12:15;

               1/3 of the rivers – Satan’s lies pollute the world, ie. emperor worship Rev.13:8; (evolution)

               1/3 of springs of water – the very source, educators, who they trusted, teach for ill gotten gain.

               Called Wormwood – bitter results of practicing idolatry & immorality, Jer.9:15; 23:15; Pr.5:3-5;

               Many men died spiritually – believing the lies are the truth.

              

                Eph.6:12 - our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against:

               Rulers – institutions within gov’t. that promote lies of abortion, alternate lifestyles, etc.

               Powers – mass media, TV, Internet, Radio etc. that proclaim these lies as truth.

               World forces of this darkness – academia, scientists etc. those who teach the lies of:

               evolution as truth and not as man made theory, babies are not human until birth etc.

               Spiritual wickedness in the heavenlies – false teachers in the church that promote theistic

               evolution etc. undermining our foundations. The waters become polluted when we teach and

               promote lies via our schools, media and gov’t. and churches. How can we expect the nation to            

                be blessed by God, when we have abandoned His great Truths.

 

Fourth Trumpet 8:12-13  

           12          1/3 of sun, moon and stars; day and night darkened.

                           Deny Christ the sun, persecute His church, the moon, and kill His people the stars.

                          How quickly the world of darkness takes over. No one left to shine the light. Mt.5:16;

                          Believe in the lies of this world and darkness will overtake you, Ac.9:8f; 13:11;

                          Darkness – the fear of death, Heb.2:15; Ro.5:17,21; Rev.5:10; 1Jn.5:13;

 

            13          Woe to those who dwell on earth for the last 3 woes yet to come.

                          Christians under Roman persecution will suffer and the world suffers as well.

                          The worldly will not repent even after God is victorious, lies are heavily ingrained.

                          The world will take centuries to rebuild what they have lost because of sinful gov’t.

 

Fifth Trumpet 9:1-12; Satan’s Forces

           1-2         Satan is given limited authority to release his fallen angels Rev.12:9; 2Pe.2:4; Ju.6;

                           They had been thrown into the abyss when Jesus ascended Rev.12:5-10;

                           2Pe.2:4 this is not hell (GEHENNA) this is TARTARUS a pit below Hades reserved for the

                           Titans, earliest Greek gods, according to Greek mythology. This pit below Hades is where

                          God threw the fallen angels when Jesus ascended, now Satan is given authority release

                           them with limited power for a limited time, 313 AD. Not that Greek Mythology is real but

                           probably came from Tower of Babel. God uses the terms, Hades and Tartarus are real.

 

           3-6         Smoke of the pit – lies flooding the world, Rev.12:15; spread by his demons.

                           Demons = locust, power of scorpions to sting men 1Cor.15:56; sting of death is sin.

                           Locust could not hurt the grass of the earth nor any green things – the Christians.

                           Only torment those who are not sealed with the Holy Spirit.

                           Limited authority – couldn’t kill men only torment, burning pain, guilt and shame.

                           Men will seek death – relief from sinful consequences but find no hope.

                           No Christ = no forgiveness = no hope = torment from sin = eternal torment.

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           7-11       Appearance like horses – awesome, impressive, all show - smoke and mirrors.

                           Crowns LIKE gold – fake, of no substance; Faces of men – appearance of intelligence, but empty.

                           Hair like women – long hair is a sign of rebellion 1Cor.11:14 a dishonor to men.

                           Teeth like lion’s – fierce in looks, bark is worse than the bite.

                           Wings make lots of noise – again Satan’s forces, all noise and show, no substance.

                           Number one movies today, fire, explosions, killings, all noise and show, no substance.

 

Sixth Trumpet 9:13-21; God’s Forces

               Battle of Armageddon – the end of the Roman persecution, Constantine in 313 Edict of Milan

               Obviously not judgement day, limited death 1/3 of mankind, therefore spiritual battle/death.

               God’s army  - 200 million horsemen, overwhelming force, how can God lose, He can’t.

               Breastplates of fire, hyacinth, brimstone, heads of horses like heads of lions, not just teeth.

               From their mouth fire, smoke and brimstone. Word of God spiritually killing a 1/3 of mankind. 

               As we see in Rev.11:5; the two witnesses. Same army in Rev.19:11-16; 14:1-5; 

               Tails like serpents – you may avoid them but the tails will get you, can’t dodge God.

               Rest of mankind who survive Armageddon still didn’t repent, some just never catch on.

 

 

Rev.8-9 PATIENCE

Insights given to those struggling under Roman persecution. Trust in God’s blessings, they will suffer and feel defeated but realize when the smoke does clear, man and Satan will lose and God’s forces shall be victorious. Have confidence in God, physical is temporal, eternal awaits us all, just beyond death.