^^^^^^^* To see all postings from, When The Lamb Stands Series Click here only
* All scriptures within this study are linked to BibleGateway.com using the "NIV".
Click Here to read about Sharon's latest book, "Timeless"
Welcome back to our study of The Revelation. At this point, some are registering shell shock from the intensity of this book, and we are not yet to the half-way point of the seven-year Tribulation.
The blaring of the Trumpet Judgments now erupt out of the silence in heaven, announcing the continuing and unrelenting wrath of God poured out on the earth dwellers. Will His wrath turn the hearts of the lost toward heaven? When the Sixth Trumpet sounds, the sad epitaph reads, “But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent…” [Revelation 9:20].
THE FIRST TRUMPET – Natural Vegetation
| * Revelation 8:7—The Lord targets natural creation by striking green vegetation with hail and fire, mingled with blood. One-third of the trees and green grass is struck, similar to the seventh plague of Egypt at the time of the Exodus [Exodus 9:13-25]. * John’s observations may be describing the results of volcanic eruptions as a result of the earthquake in verse 8:5. John MacArthur speculates that the steam and water thrown into the sky by volcanic eruptions could easily condense into hail and fall to earth along with the fiery lava. Dust and gases may so contaminate falling liquid water that it appears blood red, as has been recorded in past eruptions. The lava storm may also create a blazing fire that could devour a third of the trees and grass. This explanation would be no less literal in regards to John’s descriptive language. Volcanologists warn that seismic activity around dormant and active volcanoes is on the increase, even in such places as Yellowstone National Park. If Yellowstone erupts, it could destroy a very large portion of the Western United States. * Clarence Larkin believes the destruction may be of a more supernatural nature, like the method God used to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah [Genesis 19:24—“Then the LORD rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, from the LORD out of the heavens.”] The supernatural quality of God’s judgments is previewed in Joel 2:30-31, where the Lord said that in the latter days He will “show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: blood and fire and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and awesome day of the LORD.” |
I noted that at the close of the Trumpets, the earth dwellers who are the lost will not repent [9:20]—but the Lord always has a remnant, a smaller number in comparison with the whole, that will repent and be saved. This passage in Joel 2 continues with the hope of this promise in verse 32:
| “And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, as the LORD has said, among the remnant whom the LORD calls.” [Joel 2:32] |
| * Warren Wiersbe notes that however the Lord fulfills this Trumpet, the balance of nature will be disrupted affecting the food supply. The Greek word for “trees” usually means “fruit trees” and the destruction of grass lands would hurt the meat and milk industries. Each of the judgments creates a chain of natural consequences. * Dr. McGee notes that the flood was used in the first global judgment; now it is to be fire, used for purification. One-third of the earth denotes the wide extent of the damage. Plant life was the first to be created and it is the first to be destroyed [Genesis 1:11]. * Dr. McGee adds another interesting observation. Just as there were seven blowings of the trumpets to move Israel out in the wilderness encampment, so the seven trumpets of Revelation may be used by the Lord to move Israel completely back into the land. He notes that it is after the Seventh Trumpet [Revelation 11:15] that Israel is identified in chapter twelve of the Revelation as the special object of God’s protection. The Jews have been returning to their land in ever-increasing numbers since before the re-birth of Israel in 1948. |
THE RE-GATHERING OF ISRAEL
Before we continue with the Trumpet Judgments, let’s take a short rabbit trail to answer an often-asked question. Is the gathering momentum of Jews returning to Israel a sign of the end times? The answer is yes; however, there are two end-time regatherings to the land; and a distinction between the two must be made to avoid confusion.
First Worldwide Gathering in Unbelief
In 1948 when the modern state of Israel was born, it not only became an important stage-setting development but also began an actual fulfillment of specific Bible prophecies about an international regathering of the Jews before the judgment of the tribulation. This ‘regathering in unbelief’ prediction is found in the following Old Testament passages: Ezekiel 20:33-38; 22:17-22; 36:22-24; Isaiah 11:11, 12; Zephaniah 2:1,2. Ezekiel 38-39 presupposes such a regathering.
“Zephaniah 1:14-18 is one of the most colorful descriptions of ‘The day of the Lord,’ which we commonly call the tribulation period. Zephaniah 2:1,2 says that there will be a worldwide regathering of Israel before the day of the Lord:
Gather yourselves together, yes, gather, O nation without shame, before the decree takes effect—the day passes like the chaff-before the burning anger of the LORD comes upon you, before the day of the LORD’s anger comes upon you.
Second Worldwide Gathering in Belief
“Many biblical passages speak of Israel’s regathering in belief at the end of the tribulation in conjunction with Christ’s second coming and in preparation for the commencement of the millennium. These references are not being fulfilled by the modern state of Israel. [Note: The populace of modern Israel is largely secular; they live in the land in unbelief at the present time.] Some of these citations are: Deuteronomy 4:29-31; 30:1-10; Isaiah 27:12, 13; 43:5-7; Jeremiah 16:14, 15; 31:7-10; Ezekiel 11:14-18; Amos 9:14, 15; Zechariah 10:8-12; Matthew 24:31.
“The fact that the last 50 years has seen a worldwide regathering and reestablishment of the nation of Israel, which is now poised in just the setting required for the revealing of the Antichrist and the start of the tribulation, is God’s grand indicator that all of the other areas of world development are prophetically significant. Dr. Walvoord says,
Of the many peculiar phenomena which characterize the present generation, few events can claim equal significance as far as Biblical prophecy is concerned with that of the return of Israel to their land. It constitutes a preparation for the end of the age, the setting for the coming of the Lord for His church, and the fulfillment of Israel’s prophetic destiny [Israel in Prophecy, p. 26]
“Israel, God’s ‘super-sign’ of the end times, is a clear indicator that time is growing short. God is preparing the world for the final events leading up to Israel’s national regeneration.” [Fast Facts on Bible Prophecy from A to Z, Thomas Ice and Timothy J. Demy. Harvest House Publishers, 1997, pp. 109-110.]
| Israel is returning to their ancient homeland, but it is in unbelief at the present time. During the Tribulation, the Lord will resume His interrupted determined time with Israel, resolving all promises and purposes, as specified in Daniel’s 70 Weeks prophecy, Daniel chapter 9. The last week or 70th Week of Daniel is the Tribulation. The rest of the prophecy [483 years] has already been perfectly fulfilled. By the end of that final 7 years, Israel will turn to their Messiah King and receive Him as Lord and Savior. [Zech. 12:10-13:2; Ezekiel 36] The Jews will then complete their return to the land of Israel from all nations to begin the Millennial Kingdom. |
THE SECOND TRUMPET – The Seas [Salt Water]
| * Revelation 8:8-9 – Something “like” a great mountain, burning with fire, is thrown into the sea resulting in a third of the sea becoming blood or death. As a result, one-third of the ships are destroyed and one-third of sea creatures die. This is somewhat similar to the first plague in Egypt at the Exodus. * John does not specifically say what the burning mountain was, but it represents something literal and tangible—a great mass or force that is put into the ocean. MacArthur speculates that it could be a huge meteor or asteroid surrounded by gases that ignites earth’s atmosphere as it enters. The impact would create a tidal wave destroying one-third of the world’s ships. The sea becoming blood could refer to an event known as red tides caused by billions of dead micro-organisms poisoning the water. Or it may be actual blood, a clear eschatological judgment. * Wiersbe comments: “Considering that the oceans occupy about three-fourths of the earth’s surface, you can imagine the extent of this judgment. The pollution of the water and the death of so many creatures would greatly affect the balance of life in the oceans, and this would undoubtedly lead to further insoluble problems.” |
THE THIRD TRUMPET – Fresh Water
| * Revelation 8:10-11 – The Lord causes a great star named Wormwood to fall from heaven on a third of the rivers and springs of fresh water. In Job 9:9-10, we learn that God has His stars numbered and named. This one is so named because Wormwood is an herbal poison, and this star poisons the water so that many men die. If men are dieing, animals must necessarily die as well, in great numbers. * Is Wormwood another meteor? MacArthur speculates that it may be a comet because it is said to burn like a torch and comets have fiery trails. * Wiersbe notes that as this molten star nears the earth, it may begin to disintegrate and fall into various bodies of water. If a star actually struck the earth, our globe would be destroyed; so this star must come apart as it enters the atmosphere. * McGee shares some spiritual application for this judgment. “When the children of Israel crossed over the Red Sea, they came to Marah where the waters were bitter. [Exodus 15:23ff] Moses was directed to take a tree and cast it into the waters to make them sweet. Here in Revelation, the sweet waters are made bitter by a meteor, a star out of heaven. The tree that Moses put into the water speaks of the cross of Christ.” |
THE FOURTH TRUMPET – The Heavens Struck
| * Revelation 8:12 – One third of the sun, moon and stars are now darkened. Their light is diminished. MacArthur believes God will supernaturally reduce the intensity of the celestial bodies by one-third. The loss of solar heat will cause a radical drop in temperature, producing severe changes in weather and botanical and biological cycles. AS MAN IS FORCED TO IMPLEMENT LAWS TO CONTROL GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE, THE LORD DEMONSTRATES HIS COMPLETE CONTROL OVER GLOBAL CLIMATE AND MAN’S INABILITY TO DO ANYTHING TO STOP IT. * Crops will be disrupted by severe weather and loss of light, adding to the problems created by water pollution from the Third Trumpet. High winds and un-seasonal storms will make the weather patterns we have been experiencing look tame in comparison. * The environmental catastrophe builds on the emotional distress. Luke 21:25—“And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the power of the heavens will be shaken.” Anxiety will result in an epidemic of heart attacks, mental illness and depression. * Man cannot survive without light; darkness brings insanity. Pain and suffering are harder to bear in darkness as anyone can testify who has suffered through the night with a sickness or ill child. This loss of light and warmth is temporary, only to be replaced by the intensity of the sun in the coming Bowl Judgments. The earth dwellers will debate which was worse—the cold and darkness or the blinding light and burning heat? But God’s promise stands from Genesis 8:22 – “While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, and day and night shall not cease.” God will disrupt His natural cycle but He will not completely destroy it. THIS IS GOD’S GRACE. Even in wrath, He restrains His hand: |
| * The diminishing of light is also symbolic of a world without the supernatural and spiritual light of Christ. Isaiah 13:9-11 – “Behold, the day of the LORD comes…For the stars of heaven and their constellations will not give their light; the sun will be darkened in its going forth, and the moon will not cause its light to shine. I will punish the world for its evil and the wicked for their iniquity…” |
INTRODUCTION TO THE THREE WOES
- A Demonic Curse Upon the Earth –
- A Demonic Curse Upon the Earth –
| * Revelation 8:13 – “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!’” |
Just when things look as if they cannot get worse, the last three Trumpets are sounded carrying a peculiar intensity of WOE and judgment. They are Woe Trumpets and their announcement is made by another angel other than the angel of the Fourth Trumpet. Some translations refer to this angel as “an eagle” because he flies through the midst of heaven, possibly a reference to the Cherubim angel with the dominant eagle’s face around the throne of God.
A Woe is a Curse:
The fact that there are three Woes yet to come in the Trumpets means they will be like a TRIPLE CURSE upon the “inhabitants of the earth.” What is the curse? The remaining Trumpets are specifically DEMONIC in nature.
Target of the Demonic Curse:
Wiersbe points out that the curse is on “the inhabitants of the earth,” which specifically refers to a kind of people, not just people in general. It refers to those who live for the earth and the things of the earth. This is the opposite of the elect who have their citizenship in heaven [Philippians 3:18-21]. John described this worldly sort well in his first epistle [1 John 2:15-17]; and in Revelation 13:8, John again makes it clear the “earth-dwellers’ ARE NOT BORN AGAIN. They are the lost of mankind, those who eagerly follow after Antichrist and take the Mark of the Beast, the 666.
This reference to the lost as “inhabiters of the earth” or “them that dwell on the earth” is found twelve times in Revelation: 3:10; 6:10; 8:13; 11:10; 12:12; 13:8, 12, 14; 14:6; 17:2, 8.
Next time – The Demonic Invasion
In Him We Wait, Work, and Watch,
[Luke 12:35-59]
Sharon
[Prophecy Chat is a weekly commentary of current events in light of Bible prophecy. Sharon L. Clemens is an evangelical, premillennial, dispensational teacher of eschatology. She can be reached for comment or questions by e-mail at farmgrove@frontier.com]
src="http://www.statcounter.com/counter/counter_xhtml.js">
No comments:
Post a Comment