Revelation 8:6-11:19: The Seven Trumpets

Of the many significant events described in the Old Testament, the Exodus from Egypt probably looms largest.  To this day, even among secular people, the 10 plagues continue to evoke a strong resonance.  For instance, when the weather turns particularly nasty, someone might describe the events in "Biblical" proportions.  What they are usually referring to are the 10 plagues visited on Egypt as Pharoah hardened his heart and refused to let God's people go.  Equally, they may also be inadvertently referencing the plagues of Revelation, as John's apocalypse takes ideas from the Exodus plagues and blows them up like Hollywood cinematics.  The 7 trumpets that the angels are about to blow take the reader back to the same basic message that the 7 seals described, only now we see things from a different angle and with far greater intensity (Revelation 8:6-11:19).

The First Four Trumpets 

Hail, fire, blood, volcanic eruptions, landmasses crumbling into the sea, falling stars, eclipses - these ecological disasters are all described as the first four angels blow their trumpets.  The result of these natural calamities is that 1/3 of the trees and grasslands are burned up, 1/3 of the sea becomes toxic and dangerous to ships, and 1/3 of the potable water becomes undrinkable.  In addition to this, 1/3 of the luminaries in the heavens fail to shine their light.  This fourth trumpet should clue us into the fact that none of these descriptions are literal, rather Jesus through John is reminding the 7 churches of Asia that it is God who created and controls the natural world.  Just as Pharaoh had to learn the hard way that YHWH was in control, so Rome may too be faced with such a brutal lesson.  And just like in the time of the Pharaoh of Exodus, if Rome persists in its hardness of heart, the plagues will only intensify!

The Fifth Trumpet 

When the fifth angel blows his trumpet, we are treated to a vision that even AI might be hard pressed to better.  Up from a bottomless pit (again - this should clue us into the fact that these visions are symbolic, not literal - there are no such things as bottomless pits) comes a hoard of locusts.  But these aren't your grandaddy's grasshoppers!  This plague of locusts will not target the plant growth like most locusts; no, they will attack human beings.  In fact, they won't just attack humans, but they will torture them for 5 months with stings like that of a scorpion (5 months is the average lifespan of a locust I am told).  The description of the locusts is almost beyond description.  Horses, mixed with human faces, women's hair, lion's teeth, rhino-like scales, scorpion tales, and wings that create enough noise to drown out a jumbo jet.  Their king is called "Destroyer", and it is evident that these cruel creatures are set on nothing but destruction.  We are told that the first woe has passed.  Phew.  But there are still two woes to come! 

The Sixth Trumpet 

Just as 1/3 of the natural world was destroyed with the first 4 trumpets, so 1/3 of humanity will be killed as the 6th trumpet is blown.  Who or what will be behind this mass slaughter?  Instead of 4 horsemen that we were introduced to in the 7 seals, here we are confronted with 200 million cavalry troops!  No army whether past or present has ever been this large.  It's safe to say that again, we are dealing with hyperbole.  And the horses that these cavalrymen are mounting are not your typical battle equines.   These horses have the heads of lions, breathing fire, smoke, and sulfur.  Their tails are serpents which bite and harm.  

Just as in Egypt, in the Exodus, the threat of these plagues is meant to drive people to repentance.  However, just as Pharoah hardened his heart, we discover that plagues alone will not move those spared these devastations to turn to Christ.  No, they continue to revel in their idolatry and to engage in grotesque sin.

The Angel and the Scroll

As we have seen, the book of Revelation starts by gradually revealing God's plan to the 7 churches via John, and as the writing progresses, more and more is revealed, though the overall message remains the same.  In chapter 10, we read about a mighty angel appearing to John and giving him a scroll that he is to eat (the prophet Ezekiel was also told to do the same).  In other words, John is to take in the message and internalize it so that he might fully grasp the information and faithfully communicate it to the churches.  The prophet is told that the scroll will be sweet to the taste, but bitter as he digests it.  There is good news for God's people, but trials are still to come.  It's bittersweet.

The Temple and the Two Witnesses  

There has been considerable literature written on the temple imagery and the two witnesses in Revelation 11, so let me simply summarize the overall message as I understand it.  For John, the temple is no longer a physical building, but rather the people of God.  His description of measuring the temple affirms that God's people will be persecuted (see verse 2) but ultimately will be protected in the end.

The two witnesses (symbolized by olive trees and lampstands) represent the churches.  These two figures echo Moses and the prophet Elijah and they witness on behalf of Christ before the pagan nations.  Though these witnesses will by martyred, they will ultimately be vindicated through resurrection, just as Jesus was raised from the dead. The result of their witness unto death, is that unlike the plagues and the threat of judgment, most of the people are moved to repent by the faithfulness of these two martyrs.  This is a message for the 7 churches of Asia.  It is through faithful witness that those outside Christ will ultimately be won, not through the threat of plagues and judgment.

The Seventh Trumpet 

When the 7th trumpet is blasted, John is privy to a vision of the end when "The kingdom of this world has become the kingdom of our Lord and his Messiah, and he will reign forever and ever." (Rev 11:15b).  God is described in this passage as the Lord Almighty "who are and who were", not the God who was, is, and is to come.  Why?  At this point of the vision, the end has arrived and God has fully established his kingdom on earth, as it is in heaven.  

We have thus far seen that the 7 churches of Asia are facing great persecution and like the pagan nations around them, some are tempted to either abandon their faith in Christ, or to compromise with idolatry.  Though the Emperor Domitian claims to be the Lord of world, it is Jesus Christ who reigns in heaven and will eventually bring his reign to earth.  Kingdoms like Rome rise and fall, but only the Kingdom of God is an eternal kingdom.  We are halfway through the Apocalypse, and we can grasp the overall message.  But just as the angel in chapter 10 explained to John, there is still further detail to explore.  We'll do that in chapters 12-22.  If you have noticed, two woes have now passed, but there's still one woe to come.  It's gonna get rough before it gets better! - Shay    

Revelation 6:1-8:5: The Seven Seals

Have you ever watched a movie that told the same story from several different angles?  Or have you read a novel that didn't progress in a normal linear fashion?  It may have flashed forward and backward over and over again.  The book of Revelation is a bit like both of these.  It tells the same basic story three times, but from slightly different angles and with multiplied amplification each time.  It also flashes forward and backwards from time to time.  As we progress in our exploration of this fantastic literary piece, we need to be aware of this so that we don't misunderstand John's message.  The following outline should help keep us on track.  

In Revelation 6:1-8:5 we will be introduced to the main message of the apocalypse through 7 seals.  After that, we will receive the same basic message but with more graphic detail as we hear the 7 trumpets in 8:6-11:19.  We then encounter a kind of interlude in Revelation 12:1-15:8, which serves to give further definition to the struggle that the book describes, before we are given access to the main message of Revelation this time driven home through the 7 bowls of wrath in chapter 16.  Each of the three sets of 7 are describing the same things, but from different angles and with increasing intensity.  Chapters 17-22 adds flesh to the skeletal structure provided in chapters 6-16.  So, let's jump into the first set of 7 - the 7 seals beginning with the first 4 seals.

The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse 

To understand the first 4 seals, it helps to be familiar with the state of the Roman Empire toward the end of the 1st century.  Though the empire controlled all of the land masses touching the Mediterranean Sea, it had not conquered the lands east of the fertile crescent.  In what is today, Iran, a group of people called the Parthians had not bowed their knees in allegiance to Rome.  These Parthians were excellent horsemen (similar to the Comanche Indians of the mid 19th century) and were considered a legitimate threat on the eastern flank of the empire.  So, when John sees 4 horsemen as the first 4 seals are opened, it is unmistakable that though Rome promotes itself as being untouchable and undefeatable, it is much more vulnerable than it pretends.  The first horseman rides a white stallion and carries a bow, with the mission to conquer.  The second horseman sits atop a red horse carrying a sword in order to take away peace (the Pax Romana is not as secure as thought).  The third rider is on a black mount, holding scales - his impact will be economic.  Finally, the last horseman rides a "puke" green horse, representing death and Hades.  He will execute justice through warfare, famine, and pestilence.  What John sees in these visions is that Rome is not nearly as safe, sound, and secure as the imperial propaganda might make out.

The Fifth Seal - "How Long Must We Sing this Song?"

Though Rome is not untouchable, they have touched the lives of God's people.  Already, some within the 7 churches of Asia have lost their lives for their faith.  When the 5th seal is opened, John sees saints who have been beheaded crying out to God, "How long will it be until we are avenged?"  These martyrs are not given an exact timetable but receive white robes (representing purity) and are told to rest a little longer.  The good news is that one day justice will be served, but the bad news is that there are still more to be killed for their faith.  

The Sixth Seal - The Day of the Lord has Arrived 

As the 6th seal is opened, the day of the Lord has arrived.  Throughout the Biblical narrative, the phrase "the day of the Lord" signaled a time when the world or at least the world of God's people would be turned upside down.  Usually, this entailed the people of God being vindicated and their enemies being defeated.  However, sometimes it was God's own people who might face an uncertain future and/or judgement when the day of the Lord arrived.  After the resurrection of Jesus, Christians began to see the day of the Lord as the time when Jesus would return and right all wrongs.  He would judge both the living and the dead.  Those willing to bend their knee and confess his Lordship would be saved and welcomed into the renewed creation.  Those who refused him and his offer of eternal life, would forfeit their lives and their place in the age to come.  

Though Revelation 6:12-17 doesn't expressly use the phrase, "the day of the Lord", it is clear that this is what the vision of the 6th seal is describing.  We should not press the descriptions too far in a literal direction, but it is clear that the world will never be the same after the events of the 6th seal.  It appears that many will have refused to kneel before Jesus and will thus forfeit their place in the age to come.  But what of those who have given their allegiance to the Lamb?  Read on...

Sealed for Salvation 

Once the 6 seals have been opened it is clear that God's judgements are coming on the idolatrous/pagan Roman Empire.  But what of those who have remained faithful to Jesus and to his vision of kingdom?  Revelation 7:1-8 states that God's people (both historic Israel and now the Church) are sealed with a mark on their foreheads and will not suffer the judgments to come.  The number 144,000 is clearly symbolic (12 X 12,000).  But they are not the only ones who will be saved into God's new creation.

As John does a double take, he is confronted with an uncountable number of persons from every tribe, nation, language, and people who worship God the Father, and the Lamb.  Though not described in detail, somehow even those previously unreached with the gospel of Christ have come to acknowledge Jesus as Lord.  They, along with the historic people of God will enjoy eternal life in the age to come.  But there is still one seal to be opened.

The 7th Seal 

When the 7th seal is opened instead of threats and judgment, we get silence.  After a half an hour, John sees 7 angels standing before God preparing to blow seven trumpets.  The 7th seal serves as a launching pad for the 7 trumpets.  But rather than receiving new revelation with the 7 trumpets, we will discover that the 7 trumpets are a mere recapitulation of the 7 seals, but with added force and detail.  

In 7:3-5 we also learn that the prayers of the saints on earth are being heard by God, and they are also being answered.  This sidenote is important.  It may seem as though the plagues unveiled in Revelation are inevitable.  But the message of Revelation is as much an invitation to repent, as it is a warning of judgment.  The prayers of the saints make a difference.  Not everything has been set in stone.

The overarching message of Revelation 6:1-8:5 is that though it seems that Rome is in control, its control is much less secure than it believes.  In fact, Rome and those who align themselves with its idolatry will suffer judgment, if not in this life, at least in the age to come.  But for those who commit their ways to Jesus, they will be vindicated and receive abundant life in God's new world.  And there's even hope for those who may not yet have come to know Christ, but more on that as the book develops.  In the meantime, read on and continue to pray - it makes a difference! - Shay  

Revelation 4-5 - What's Going on in Heaven?

 A little over 700 years before the birth of Christ, the prophet Isaiah had a vision whereby he saw the glory of YHWH, descending from heaven and filling the temple in Jerusalem.  Isaiah's vision was so magnificent and so awe inspiring that it would make the most pyrotechnic/audio-visually stimulating rock concert feel like an acoustic set in a coffee shop.  All Isaiah could do in response was to utter, "Woe is me...I'm lost...I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips."  You can read about this experience in Isaiah 6.

Over a hundred years later, another prophet, this time in exile, had a similar vision of the glory of God.  In both visions, a direct unobstructed view of God is not possible, but what is seen is nearly indescribable.  Surrounding YWHW are heavenly creatures that resemble and yet transcend animals and people on earth in their splendor and majesty.  Their sole job seems to be to perpetually worship the God of all creation, displaying his glory and honor for those lucky few who are given access to this incredible vision.  Like Isaiah, Ezekiel is at a loss and simply falls on his face in response.

In the 90s of our common era, another prophet with Judean roots experiences something similar when he is given a glimpse of what is presently taking place in heaven, while he and his fellow disciples of Christ are struggling to remain faithful to the Lord in a hostile pagan environment on earth.  Let's pick up John's narrative description of his ecstatic vision from Revelation 4.

Revelation 4 - The Glory of God the Father 

John immediately sees the throne of God in heaven, but he cannot see God himself.  He tries to describe it by saying that the one seated on the throne looks like precious gems and surrounding the throne is a rainbow, that looks like emerald.  This doesn't do justice to the visual, but it is an attempt of describing the indescribable.  

Like in Isaiah's and Ezekiel's vision, surrounding God are others whose sole purpose is to perpetually proclaim the majestic greatness of the Father.  Around the throne are 24 elders, probably representing the 12 tribes of Israel and the 12 apostles (see later Rev 21:12-14).  Also surrounding the throne are 4 living creatures, which are a kind of amalgamation of Isaiah's and Ezekiel's visions.  These strange creatures sing day and night, "Holy, holy, holy, the Lord God the Almighty, who was and is and is to come."  In response to this worship, like Ezekiel, the 24 elders fall before God's throne, casting their crowns before him (they acknowledge that all authority belongs to God).  They too sing, "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created."

In Rev 4, God the creator is worshiped.  In Rev 5, God the redeemer will also receive the worship due his name.

Revelation 5 - The Worthiness of God the Son  

Though God's appearance is not completely accessible to John, he sees the right hand of God the Father, holding a scroll, sealed with 7 seals.  A mighty angel asks the question, "Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?"  As we discover later in Revelation, the scroll contains the message to be revealed - the things that are and the things that must soon take place.  However, there seems to be no one who is worthy to open the scroll and break the seals.  Will this message remain forever hidden?  John believes so and begins to weep.  But one of the elders informs him that there is in fact a person who is worthy to reveal the contents of the scroll - it is Jesus, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the descendant of King David and because he has conquered, he can perform the task at hand.  

But as John looks to see the Lion of Judah, instead, he sees a little Lamb who bears the signs of having been slaughtered.  This is an oxymoronic vision.  The Lion who has conquered, is simultaneously the Lamb who has been slain.  We discover that this is ultimately how God wins his victory - he conquers through submission and surrender.  And this one whose death has opened up a way of life takes the scroll from the right hand of God the Father.  Immediately, the 4 living creatures and the 24 elders burst into praise, not for God's work in creation, but for his work in redemption.  They sing a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slaughtered and by your blood you ransomed for God saints from every tribe and language and people and nation; you have made them to be a kingdom and priests serving our God, and they will reign on earth." 

Revelation 5 continues with the worship of the Lamb as the 4 living creatures and the 24 elders are joined by thousands upon thousands of angels singing in full voice!  What a choir!  What a scene.  The elders can only respond just as Isaiah and Ezekiel had - they fall down and they worship!  

Revelation 4 and 5 Sets the Scene for the Remainder of the Book

The 7 churches described in Revelation 2-3 need to hear and see what John hears and sees in Revelation 4-5.  They are bombarded with the message that Domitian is lord of the world.  They are being told that he is the one who sits on the throne and that only he is worthy of their worship.  But the message of Revelation 4-5 is that God is both creator and redeemer and he is in fact the only being in all of creation who is worthy to praised.  It may seem that Domitian reigns on the earth, but as Revelation 5:10 states, it will be those faithful to Christ who will one day reign on earth, as they will be invited by God the Father and God the Son to sit upon the throne and to share in God's reign over the renewed creation.  The rest of Revelation will describe how that will come about.  Read on... - Shay