Revelation 8 The Trumpets Are Given Out
We are looking at the book of Revelation. We are not trying to scare anyone, but we are attempting to put an urgency into everyone to “Work while it is day for the night is coming when no one will be able to work” Time is short and we need to be bold inout proclaiming the hope of Jesus and what that means for us all.
- Silence is Deafening 1
- We have just come from an intense worship scene!
- 10.7 Billion worshippers (If 10% of world is born again.)
- Angels beyond measure worshipping
- Now seventh seal is broken and everything shuts down for 1/2 hour
- 1/2 hour is not a long time, but it can be deafening in the right context
- There is constant worship in heaven and now it all stops.
- Shocking contrast would be the best way to say this.
- No time in heaven so John is just guessing what is happening here.
- Angels given seven trumpets
- We are moving from a time period of God stepping back and letting man see whathappens when God steps out of the picture
- We are moving to the start of wrath against sin and judgement against the devil, antichrist, and false prophet (person we will meet soon)
- Side Note about serving a Good God
- How Can a good God have wrath?
- Romans 11: 22 “Behold the goodness and severity of God.”
- Moses asked to see God and God responded by saying “I will make my goodnesspass before you” Exodus 33: 19
- God stood with Moses on mount Sinai and revealed himself to Moses by giving ushis name. “Proclaiming the name (revealed character) of The Lord (Jehovah or I Am that I Am) The Lord (He repeats His Name) the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands and forgiving wickedness, rebellion, and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished.” Exodus 34: 6, 7
- Goodness defined by:
- More than just giving them what will make them happy
- Giving to those mercy instead of what they deserve.
- This is an important quality of His character to understand. He is good.
- Now the severity of our God.
- Severity means a “cutting off” of his goodness.
- Not let the guilty go unpunished. Exodus 34: 7
- We are all guilty, but the word here is obstinate and unrepentant sinner.
- Context of Romans 11: 22
- Israel rejected the full manifestation of God through Jesus.
- They were cut off from God’s goodness
- This is a warning for us Gentile believers.
- so…
- Appreciate the goodness of God that was shown through the cross. offer our lives as an offering because of the cross. (See Psalm 116: 12 – 18)
- Appreciate the patience of God. Show patience to others as God has shown patience to you.
- Appreciate the discipline of God. (My Son don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline Hebrews 12: 5)
- Know this He is slow to anger (Nehemiah 9: 17, Psalm 103: 8, 145: 8, Joel 2: 13, Jonah 4: 2)
- We have just come from an intense worship scene!
- Angels given Seven Trumpets Vs 2
- Trumpets in the bible
- Numbers 10
- Assemble the people Vs 3
- Move the tribes for their journey Vs 5, 6
- Sound the alarm at times of battle Vs 9
- Celebrate the festivals Vs 10
- Seven priests with trumpets marched around Jericho (Joshua 6)
- Jewish New Year a day of trumpets (Numbers 29)
- Trumpets were blown at a time of coronation (1 Kings 1: 34)
- Trumpet will sound at the resurrection (1 Corinthians 15: 52)
- Numbers 10
- Here Trumpets will sound judgement against obstinate people (“It will be a day when the Lord’s anger is poured out-a day of terrible distress and anguish, a day of ruin and desolation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness, a day of trumpet calls and battle cries. Down go the walled cities and the strongest battlements. Because you have sinned against The Lord… Zephaniah 1: 15 – 17a)
3. Angel with the censor. Vs 3 – 5! 1. Prayers and judgment
1. The judgment that is coming is a direct answer to the prayers of the saints.
- How Long Oh Lord… Revelation 6: 10
- Daniel praying for a speedy fulfillment of prophecy regarding captive Israel(Daniel 9)
- Speeding the day forward by our lives. (2 Peter 3: 10 – 13)
- “Your Kingdom Come your will be done on earth as it is in heaven Matthew 6:10”
- Cast out devils Matthew 12: 28
- Shake dust off feet for rejection Luke 10: 11
- Heal the sick Luke 10: 9
- See these things happen, then we know the kingdom of God is here Luke 21;31
- And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation andstrength, and the kingdom of our God and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night Revelation 12: 10
- Kingdom coming the short version. Spirit of God being released on the world with the result that satan is being cast out.
- Our prayers are part of the judgment that is being poured out on the world at this time.
- Let the high praises of God be in their mouths to execute vengeance on the nations…to execute on them the written judgment …this honor have all his saints. Psalm 149: 6 – 9
- Shall God not avenge his own elect who cry out day and night to Him? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily…Luke 18: 7, 8
- God sets up people who will cry out to him day and night. (See Isaiah 62: 6, 7)
- God does not forget our prayers during times of struggle and he will respond to them.
- Timing because his patience is time for others to receive Jesus (See 1 Peter 3: 8, 9.
- That day will come though (See 1 Peter 3: 10)
- Angel does not present prayers to the throne, he presents incense and the prayers go with it.!
- Prayers go with incense
- This shows that our prayers are acceptable to Jesus.
- Pray so you are accounted worthy to escape all these things Luke 21: 36
- Angel throws these judgments down upon the earth
- Lightening and thunder come up
- God is mixing His power with our prayers.
4. God is showing His mercy before judgment comes upon the earth
- Chaos of the world is held back Revelation 7: 1
- Silence in heaven Revelation 8: 1
- God is giving people time to repent before judgment is poured out upon them.
- As far as we know, nobody responds to this period of grace that is given to them.
- How will we escape if we ignore so great a salvation Hebrews 2: 3