The Trumpets Sound

THE TRUMPETS SOUND

Revelation 8

In Revelation 8 we see the “breaking of the 7^th seal.”

Back in chapter 6 we saw the opening of the other seals that foretold the coming destruction on the Roman Empire.
In chapter 7 we saw the answer to the question of “Who is able to stand” found in the last verse of chapter 6
And in chapter 7 we found out that the ones who will stand when all the dust is settled are those who remain faithful to God…more specifically, those who endure the tribulation of God’s divine judgment on Rome…and remain faithful to God…even unto death.

But now in chapter 8 we find the opening of the 7^th and final seal.

And what you will find as we go through the remainder of the book is that out of the 7^th seal, comes the 7 trumpets…and out of the 7^th trumpet comes the 7 bowls.
So essentially this 7^th seal contains the rest of the book.

Now, like I said, out of this 7^th seal will come the 7 trumpets.

And you know what a trumpet in scripture was for…in Numbers 10 you find a trumpet used to call the people to assemble.
But the trumpet was also used to sound the alarm.

That is what these trumpets will be used for.

The seals in chapter 6 revealed what God was about to do to Rome.
The trumpets now will sound the warning that God’s judgment is close at hand.

So, let’s look at chapter 8: 1 And when He broke the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.

Notice the “silence in heaven”.

I tell you what, let’s try this…and see if it gets anyone’s attention?
Everyone get real quiet.
Can you imagine the attention half an hour of silence would get in heaven?
That is what this period of silence is all about…it is to get everyone’s attention.
And it tells them that something is about to happen!
You remember in the old westerns…two guys square off in the saloon ready to shoot it out…and every one gets quiet…the piano stops…the card playing…the laughing…the talking…all gets quiet…because something is about to happen.

That is what this silence is…it is the silence that exists before God brings forth His judgment on Rome.

It is that time of delay before action takes place.

But why would God delay in His judgment on Rome?

Well, look at 2 Peter 3:14-15.

14 Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, 15 and regard the patience of our Lord to be salvation;

Our God cares even about the aggressors…the wicked…and when He delays an action He does so with the hope and desire that some will repent and be saved.

So, John says: And when He broke the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. 2 And I saw the seven angels who stand before God; and seven trumpets were given to them.

3 And another angel came and stood at the altar(the altar is where worship took place…where sacrifices were offered up to God)…

3 And another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a golden censer; and much incense was given to him, that he might add it to the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.

In scripture incense is associated with prayer…you find it in Psalm 141:2; and Luke 1:10.
As the prayers went up, so too did the sweet-smelling odor of the incense.
And it may have been that is what God wanted His people to understand…that their prayers are a sweet smelling sacrifice to Him.
That they are pleasing to Him.

Now, remember here what the saints have been praying for: Chapter 6: 10-12.

“How long wilt thou refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”
These prayers are a reminder of God’s promise to vindicate the slain Christians.

4 And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel’s hand.

Watch now the power that prayer has.

5 And the angel took the censer; and he filled it with the fire of the altar and threw it to the earth; and there followed peals of thunder and sounds and flashes of lightning and an earthquake.

Notice the four elements mentioned here…thunder, sounds, flashes of lightening and an earthquake.

These 4 are used throughout scripture to speak of coming judgment.
The word is clear: Hurt my people and you will suffer the consequences.
This judgment is coming in response to the prayer of the saints.

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

The moment for warnings has arrived.

If you are a saint and you are out of line…you better repent.
And if you are one of the wicked…the ungodly…you better do the same.

7 And the first sounded, and there came hail and fire, mixed with blood, and they were thrown to the earth; and a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.

Notice the “hail and fire.”

We have seen these used before in Exodus 9:23 to warn Pharaoh.
They are used to show God’s power…and to warn of judgment.

And notice that the “hail and fire, mixed with blood” are thrown to the earth.

Listen, if you want to cause hardships…if you want to cause people to grumble against the authorities…attack the earth.

And notice, only 1/3 of the earth was burned up.

That tells us that this is only a partial judgment…and not the final judgment.

And he says that “1/3 of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned.”

Vegetation is a source of food.
And what happens to crops when hail, and drought, and fire comes?

God will use natural disasters to affect the earth…and these things will aid in the fall of the Roman Empire.

Look at verse 8:

8 And the second angel sounded, and something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea; and a third of the sea became blood; 9 and a third of the creatures, which were in the sea and had life, died; and a third of the ships were destroyed.

This speaks of an attack on their commerce…and their shipping…and the food from the sea.

Notice here he says that “something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea.”

You can go to Exodus 19; Zechariah 4:7; Micah 1:4; Jeremiah 57:25; Matthew 21:21 and find that only God topples mountains and sets them on fire.

And notice again, only a third of the sea is affected…and only a third of the creature die…and only a third of the ships are destroyed.

Again, this indicates that this is a partial judgment…this is not a final judgment.

And notice he says that a third of the sea became blood.

That reminds us of the plague that affected the Nile when God was about to free the Israelites.

All of these things…the maritime disasters…the attack on Rome’s commerce…the attack on food sources…will aid in the fall of Rome.

Now, here is just a note of interest.

In the May 1984 issue of National Geographic…you find a lengthy report of how Vesuvius, which is located in Southwester Italy, erupted somewhere around 79 AD…about the same time this Revelation was given.
And that eruption destroyed the city of Pompei…killing thousands of people.

I don’t know for sure that Mt. Vesuvius’s eruption was a fulfillment of what is said here.

But it is interesting that it took place during the time that this prophecy was made.

God can…and has…and will use natural disasters to warn people of their need to repent…and He can and has and will use those same things to bring His judgment on a people and nation.

And the third angel sounded, and a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of waters;

Notice where this “great star” fell from.

The fact that it fell from heaven indicates that this came from God.

And notice what is affected…a third of the rivers and the springs of water.

Here you have the fresh water supplies attacked.
And again, it is only a third of the rivers…an indication that this is not a total destruction…or the final judgment.
This is just enough to aid in the fall of Rome.

11 and the name of the star is called Wormwood;

You find a reference to wormwood in Jeremiah 9: 15 and Jeremiah 23:15…and in both instances God uses the wormwood to bring judgment on the wicked.

Vs. 11 ….and a third of the waters became wormwood; and many men died from the waters, because they were made bitter.

When there is no water to drink…and when there is no fresh water for the crops and livestock…it can have devastating affects on an economy…as well as on people themselves.

This along with all the other disasters will assist in bringing the Roman Empire

12 And the fourth angel sounded, and a third of the sun and a third of the moon and a third of the stars were smitten, so that a third of them might be darkened and the day might not shine for a third of it, and the night in the same way.

Here is again is prophetic speech.

This is language of judgment and you can find similar language in Isaiah 34: 4-5; Joel 2:10; Matthew 24.
And notice, every thing that produces light is going to be affected.
This is God saying that the Roman world is going to be darkened.
But again, notice the thirds…this is not final judgment…but it is enough to usher in the fall of Rome.

13 And I looked, and I heard an eagle flying in midheaven(indicates divine nature of the destruction). , saying with a loud voice, “Woe, woe, woe, to those who dwell on the earth(This is the ungodly. In chapter 3:10, 4:10, 13:8, 12, 14; 12:12; 13:6…the saints are seen as dwelling in heaven. This judgment comes on those on the earth.)

13 And I looked, and I heard an eagle flying in midheaven, saying with a loud voice, “Woe, woe, woe, to those who dwell on the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!”

Only four trumpets have sounded…there is more to come.
When all have been sounded the Roman Empire will fall.

So, God will use natural disasters…He will attack the earth and the food sources it produces.

He will attack the seas…the shipping, the commerce and the food sources in the seas.
And He will attack the fresh water supplies.
And He will darken the world of Rome.

All of this as a result of the prayers of the saints…all because of Rome’s mistreatment of God’s redeemed.

So the message to all is: HURT MY PEOPLE AND YOU WILL SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES.

Let me close with this brief comment.

Every time I see or hear of a flood, or a drought, or an earthquake, some disaster at sea…I can’t help but wonder if God is not trying to get our attention.
Could He possibly be trying to get some Christians who have gone astray as well as the wicked to repent?

When this judgment comes on Rome, many of the faithful will suffer and even die.

But if they remain faithful, even unto death, they will forever stand in the presence of God.
So when you see natural disasters taking place today…let it be to you a reminder to remain faithful to God…even unto death.