Revelation 9: The Seventh Seal: 5th & 6th Trumpets

Woodland Hills Church of Christ

The Seventh Seal: 5th & 6th Trumpet

Revelation 9

Introduction: The Lamb took the scroll from the hand of the one sitting on the throne. One by one he opened four of the seven seals, revealing judgments against the wicked. When the fifth seal was opened, souls were seen under the altar who had been murdered for the word of God and their testimony of Jesus. They cried out, “How long before you judge and avenge our blood?” They were told to wait a little longer until more of their brethren should be killed as they were.

When the sixth seal was opened, God revealed judgments on the powers of the earth which were executed by the wrath of the Lamb.

Before the seventh seal was opened, we see four angels at the four corners of the earth holding back the four winds of the earth. This restraint was done so that the perfect number of saved (144,000) could be sealed and protected from the judgments to come.

When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, seven angels were given seven trumpets. As each trumpet is blown, plagues are revealed, like the plagues of Egypt. These plagues are partial judgments, affecting a third of mankind and are against those who have persecuted God’s servants. With each trumpet blown the plagues become more severe. After the first four plagues are revealed, an eagle flies overhead and cries out that the next three blasts of the trumpets will bring severe woes exceeding the first.

1. Preparing for the Final Trumpets
   1. Though the judgments seen in the opening of the seals have not yet specified the nation that is being targeted, we have seen many hints that Israel and Jerusalem is being targeted. In Daniel, there are two nations that are prophesied for destruction: Israel and Rome. And Daniel was told that the scroll that was sealed up until the time of the end would reveal the details.
   2. Further, the language that has been used concerning these judgments are matched by nearly the same words used by Jesus in Matthew 24 and Luke 21 to describe the destruction of Jerusalem.
   3. Finally, there is a connection to the plagues revealed in the blowing of the trumpets are the punishments promised by God if Israel turned away from him:
      1. Deuteronomy 28:58-60 “If you are not careful to do all the words of this law that are written in this book, that you may fear this glorious and awesome name, the LORD your God, then the LORD will bring on you and your offspring extraordinary afflictions, afflictions severe and lasting, and sicknesses grievous and lasting. And he will bring upon you again all the diseases of Egypt, of which you were afraid, and they shall cling to you.”
      2. “Deuteronomy 32:22-24 “For a fire is kindled by my anger, and it burns to the depths of Sheol, devours the earth and its increase, and sets on fire the foundations of the mountains. And I will heap disasters upon them; I will spend my arrows on them; they shall be wasted with hunger, and devoured by plague and poisonous pestilence; I will send the teeth of beasts against them, with the venom of things that crawl in the dust.”
      3. Deuteronomy 28:46-47 “They shall be a sign and a wonder against you and your offspring forever. Because you did not serve the LORD your God with joyfulness and gladness of heart, because of the abundance of all things.”
   4. All of the above comes to mind as we read the outcome of the trumpets.
2. The Fifth Trumpet
   1. Notice keys to the text:
      1. “A star fallen from heaven” –
         1. Rev. 12 pictures Satan and his angels falling from heaven.
         2. When the 70 returned to Jesus after casting out demons, Jesus said, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.” (Luke 10:17).
      2. “The bottomless pit” – or “abyss”
         1. In verse 11, the one who is king and angel over the bottomless pit is named “Abaddon” & “Apollyon.” These names means “death/destroyer”.
         2. In 11:7 The beast is the one who rises from the bottomless pit. And in 13:1, it is the Dragon who calls the beast up from the sea and is described as the fourth empire from Daniel 7, the Roman Empire.
      3. “Out of the furnace came locusts on the earth”
         1. These locusts are unique because they harm people, not vegetation. The only people they cannot harm are those who have the seal of God.
         2. They are pictured with human faces and as a great army with crowns on their head, indicating great authority. The parallel fits perfectly with Joel 1-2 where are locust in invasion on Israel is used as a picture of the nation being destroyed by Babylon.
      4. The description of the locusts is terrifying, and that is the message. What is about to happen is a horror. A nation is coming to bring terror and pain. The plague lasts 5 months (the lifespan of locusts), but are restricted from killing anyone. However, the pain is so bad that people want to die.
   2. People often read this and want to know specifically how this was fulfilled, as if there were literally crazy looking locusts with scorpion tails. But God is not intending to cause us to look for some literal event that would parallel this. The intent is the terror and pain that will take place.
   3. Before we move to the sixth trumpet, notice certain words in the text:
      1. Verse 1: “he was given the key to the shaft of the bottomless pit.”
      2. Verse 3: “…from the smoke came locusts on the earth, and they were given power like the power of scorpions.”
      3. Verse 4: “They were told not to harm the grass…”
      4. Verse 5: “They were allowed to torment for five months.”
   4. What is the message? This is God’s work. Just as God sent Assyria against Israel and the Chaldeans against Judah, so now he raises up another nation who is governed by Satan and use them to punish his people.
3. The Sixth Trumpet
   1. “A voice from the four horns of the golden altar” – Again there is reference back to the altar under which were the souls of the saints crying out how long before our blood is avenged? And again we see another answer to their appeal.
   2. Remember in 7:1, the four angels holding back the four winds of the earth until the servants of God are sealed? Now the four angels release the winds.
   3. We are also given more specifics. These angels were bound at the river Euphrates. That is the direction of the nations of Assyria and Babylon who destroyed Israel and Judah. Therefore, we have a clear message of another great nation coming to punish God’s people.
   4. This time, the nation does not just torment, but actually kills a third of mankind. Thus another partial judgment leading up to the seventh seal, which will be full judgment.
   5. The power of this nation is indicated by its 200 million troops. Of course, that is unheard of, and again is symbolic of the great power this nation has.
   6. In each of these partial judgments, God is instilling fear and torment, intending to wake people up and get them to repent of their sins.
4. Present Day Lessons
   1. Keep in mind 6:8. The punishment of the pale horse was a fourth of the earth killed with sword, famine, pestilence, and wild beasts. These are the same plagues God brought on Israel in Ezekiel’s prophecies and have now been revealed in the trumpets.
   2. Suppose we heard on the news tomorrow that another virus is on the loose, and is so powerful and contagious that it will make COVID look mild. One percent of the world died from covid, but in this plague, at least a third of the world will die. Anyone want to freak out! That’s the purpose of these plagues. Will anyone realize a need for repentance, and the need to return to God?
   3. Luke 13:1-5 “There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”
   4. Verses 20-21 Some might read this and think, this can’t be the Jews. They gave up their idols. Think again:
      1. When Jesus condemned the Pharisees for being lovers of money, were they idolators?
      2. When Jesus condemned them for being murderers in their hearts, and even preparing to murder him, were they murderers?
      3. When Jesus condemned them for turning the temple into a place for money changers and their priests into those who raised themselves above the people, were they worshiping demons?
      4. When they divorced their wives and lusted in their hearts, were they convicted of sexual immorality?
   5. Indeed! We don’t have idolatrous “images” in America or in our churches, but can we not be convicted of idolatry through our passion for “things,” “recreation,” “possessions,” and “careers”? The Jews fooled themselves, and so can we.
   6. So when the next 9/11 happens or the next virus plague, or war, etc., will we remember that God is sending warnings, partial judgments leading up to the final judgment? A new vaccine won’t solve it, new technology isn’t the remedy, and Homeland Security won’t protect us. Repentance is the only hope.

Berry Kercheville

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