Preparation of the Bowl Judgments--The Truth of John's Revelation

Short Introduction

The bowl judgments of John's revelation are the last judgments of the book. The judgments take place in chapters 15 and 16 of this magnificent book. They are severe, and these judgments may cause you to doubt God's grace and mercy.

To get a detailed copy of the judgments and look at them side by side, you can get a free copy here.

This post is a preliminary to the final judgments which will be dealt with later. However, there must be some explanation to the events leading up to the pouring out of the first bowl on earth.

God says that man thinks in strange ways compared to him. Isaiah 55 tells us that God's ways and thoughts are higher than man's. Therefore, man has trouble understanding God's sovereignty.

God has given man centuries to come to him for forgiveness, offers a solid, no nonsense plan of action and paid a horrendous price. Now, time has run out for many. Revelation chapter 15 reveals God's attitude toward sin. He hates it!

God is holy! He can't sin nor can he be around sin. If he is going to be the God who walks with and in his creation as he did in the Garden of Eden, he must rid his creation of sin.

The ironic thing is that Satan once was created a Cherub (Ezekiel 28:14). His job was to be sure that no unholiness ever came close to God. Yes, this little known fact is amazing!

God’s righteous self demands righteousness, Romans 3:24-26, to the point that He gave Jesus as a propitiation so God could become the just or the right. So God uses these eight verses of Chapter 15 to prove His justness in completing the rest of the purification of the peoples of the earth.

There are seven judgments left, the bowls or vials. It’s nearly over!

A Scene in Heaven

Let's begin by taking a look at what John sees in heaven. He again sees seven angels who have seven plagues. When these seven angels are through, God's wrath is finished.

The final phrase of verse 1 reads, . . .the wrath of God is finished. Are there other places in the Bible where we have it is finished. In Genesis 2:1 Thus the heavens and the earth were completed, i.e. finished. Also, Jesus said on the cross, John 9:30b, . . .It is finished!

From God’s standpoint, this moment was finished before the foundation of the world.

Seven angels have the seven last plagues. Anti-christ will have no other authority. The plagues will come from heaven.

Remember, it was seven angels who brought the seven messages to the churches, too. The events take place in heaven. They are marvelous, too.

John then reports that he sees a sea of glass mixed with fire. He sees the saints who have come out of the great tribulation (Revelation 7) standing on this sea. They have been given harps from the Lord God.

The Sea

What might all this mean? The "sea" represents calmness. This calm appears in great contrast to the calamity about to fall on the earth.

The believers killed in the tribulation period are in the calmness of the Lord. We’ve met them before in chapter 7.   they are given harps. They have become part of the heavenly choir. They are in the perfect peace of His presence. These saints are about to witness the perseverance of their faith.

Is their peace the same peace available today? It is. John 14:27, Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.

Yes the scene represents calmness, but it could also represent the church at rest. Or the calmness could represent God’s living word. Nonetheless, these saints have the victory that overcomes the world.

Sing or Say

Because of the security they have found in heaven, look at what they do from verse three, And they sang the song of Moses, the bond-servant of God, and the song of the Lamb,

            saying,
          Great and marvelous are Your works,
         O Lord God, the Almighty;
         Righteous and true are Your ways,
         King of the nations! 

Notice the translation, “they sang” and then at the end it says “saying,” which is correct? Most often when we translate “sing” from heavenly hosts, the real Hebrew or Greek is “say.”

Angels never sing. However, can people in heaven sin?. Since we have tribulation saints pictured here, they could be singing or they could be saying. The song of Moses that they sang is recorded in Exodus 15:1-21.

Although John writes that they sang the song of Moses, they didn't sing Moses' song verbatim (Exodus 15:1-21). However, the contextual meaning of Moses' song is found in John's heavenly choir's rendition.

The basic idea is that God Triumphs over the enemies of his servants. God's protection worked for Moses, and that same shield works for these tribulation saints. Either way, the song is a victory song!

These saints have overcome the enemy even though the with their victory was to forfeit their physical lives. God's peace for you comes from your knowing that even in death, you live in perfect peace and absolute victory.

John Pictures King Jesus

Then John praises God for his holiness and his righteous acts (v 4). When you view the destruction of the 21 judgments of God, do you see them as holy or righteous? Only by your faith in the true words of God can you see his acts as righteous.

Following the rapture of the church, Jesus' next acts that are faithful and true represent the promises of God to destroy the works of Satan. Because Satan's works are in his kingdom, the earth, humans who live and worship in Satan's kingdom will be destroyed with Satan.

There's no fear in Christ's kingdom. The church is safely removed, the tribulation saints are in heaven and the havoc reeked on the earth destroy's Satan and his kingdom.

Temple in Heaven Opened

The preparations are nearly over, and the first bowl judgment is impending. First, however, John sees the temple in heaven opened and the Tabernacle of testimony was visible.

We think of the temple as a place of worship. It is true that judgment takes place in the temple as well. We are about to see judgment begin following the praise and worship session of the tribulation saints in heaven.

The writer of Hebrews writes about this tabernacle, the one not made by human hands (9:11).

John begins verse 5 with, "After these things. . ." What things?
   The praise and worship of the tribulation saints
   The song of Moses is finished
   The temple in heaven is opened and the Ark of the Testimony is shown

Remember that the Ark made by human hands resided in the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle and in Solomon's Temple. No one could go into this sacred place except the High Priest, and he could enter only one time each year.

Now, in heaven the Holy of Holies is open to all. Even John could see into it. We have direct access to God through the blood of Jesus. However, no one will be able to enter the heavenly Temple until after the seven last plagues are dispensed on earth.

The Stage Is Set

The heavenly militia is ready to aim and fire. In the next chapter, 16, of Revelation, the first 12 verses are given to the first 6 bowl judgments. That will be the topic of our next post. We will look at the wrath of God poured out in the bowl judgments.

I am here to help or answer questions. Please leave your questions or comments in the comment section provided.

Final Trumpet Sound--The Seventh Trumpet--Revelation--Part 4

We've reached the last Trumpet Judgment, the seventh. There has been massive destruction on the earth as God poured out his wrath with each trumpet blast. The Seventh Trumpet Judgment prepares the way for Christ to return.

Although there remain seven more judgments, the bowl judgments, John tells us that the real rider on the white horse is coming, and he shall reign forever and ever. I believe you can conclude from John's ending that the trumpet judgments and the bowl judgments run concurrently or really close together in order for the end to come when they finish.

Let's look at when the last trumpet sounds.

You learned from the Sixth Trumpet Judgment the major causes for these horrendous judgments:
    Idols
    Man made goods
    Murder
    Fornication
    Drugs
are a few of the things that has brought on the wrath of God. However, God's time clock ran down. It is time for him to reclaim his creation and his chosen family. Let's see what takes place next.

The Seventh Trumpet Sounds

When the seventh trumpet sounds, you find that you are at the end of the tribulation period. The tribulation is over, and Jesus is ready to make his second appearance on earth.

You might say, "Well, what about his appearing for the rapture. Wasn't that his second coming?"

It was for the church; however, it wasn't an earthly touchdown. The church rose to meet him in the air:
    dead arose first
    those believers and followers of Jesus who are still alive left second
However, Jesus waited for them above. He didn't come back to earth, and he doesn't return to planet earth until the seventh trumpet and the seventh bowl judgments take place.

Let's look at the details of this last trumpet judgment.

When the last trumpet sounds, John hears loud voices in heaven claiming, "It is over!"

God's kingdom has come and will last forever and ever (Revelation 10:15). It is at this time that the real rider on the white horse shows up.

"But wait!" You say. "There's still seven bowl judgments left. It isn't time for Jesus to return!"

I believe that the events of the Seal Judgments, the Trumpet Judgments and the Bowl Judgments happen so closely together that John puts them in a semblance of order; yet, all the while the judgments are running almost simultaneously. John simply can't write them as fast as they are happening. Remember, most of these judgments take place over a three-and-one-half year period.

The end that is shown here is nearly the same as the end that is shown in Revelation 19. Christ returns to earth to save God's chosen people, the Jews. Who, by the way, are up against it. An army of two hundred million are after only a small number of defenseless Jews backed up against the Mount of Olives (Zachariah 14).

There's a huge praise and worship session that breaks out  in heaven when those there observe the end. the twenty-four elders of verse 18 represent saints from both dispensations, 12 elders of the Old Testament believers and 12 elders for the New Testament believers. These saints in heaven praise God because with his great power he begins to reign and judge. He brings judgment on those who have destroyed the earth with their worship of other gods:
    Greed
    Idols
    Drugs
    Careers
    Fornication
    Never accepting God's grace
    Don't know Jesus
These are only a few things that came in the way of these unbelievers.

The Results

In the temple in heaven God reveals to John the real Ark of the Covenant. Remember that God told Moses to make the Ark of the Covenant exactly as he saw the Ark in heaven. God showed Moses a pattern that he wanted Moses to build (Exodus 25:9; Acts 7:44).

The ark represented God's covenant(s) with humans:
    The Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis 12-15).
    The Palestinian Covenant (Exodus 19-20).
    The New Covenant through Jesus (Luke 22:20).
    The Eternal Order covenant (Revelation 19-22).

These covenants were unconditional covenants. The covenants were made with his people, the Jews and the Church. Notice that the law isn't one of the covenants mentioned. The law served its purpose for a period of time. Also, the law was a conditional covenant, and then a new, unconditional covenant was made through Jesus.

Notice that the Seventh Trumpet Judgment brings a great earthquake and hailstones. There's a really neat scripture stored away in the book of Job that says, "Have you entered the storehouses of the snow, or have you seen the storehouses of the hail, which I have reserved for the time of distress, for the day of war and battle?" (38:22-23).

Also, huge hailstones fall from the sky as the hail fell in Egypt when Moses went to rescue the people from slavery. The hailstones weighed up to 100 pounds. Imagine one of those hitting you on the head.

Zachariah describes the earthquake in his book, 14:4. The Mount of Olives will be split so that God's remnant of Jews can escape the huge army that tries to annihilate them.

All the Seal and Trumpet Judgments

We've looked at all the seven seal and seven trumpet judgments. The study has taken place over the last blog entries.

Soon we will finish all the judgments by looking at the final seven judgments, the Bowl Judgments.

I'm here to help. If you have questions or comments, please leave them below. I'll get back soon.

Blessings,



Howard

PS: A complete study on Revelation and the judgments is available at B. C. Ministries, Inc. Email us if you'd like a free copy.

PSS: Our first novel has been published. You can get your copy here. Or you can email us for your copy.


Who You Are Isn't Based on Performance with God. Who You Are Should Have A Direct Bearing on How You Perform.

Drugs--Sixth Trumpet Judgments--Revelation Part 3

Have you ever considered that drug abuse will play a major role in the sixth and seventh trumpet judgments of Revelation? In reality, chemical abuse plays a major role in the last part of the book of revelation. Let's look at how and why!

The Sixth Trumpet Sounds

In the ninth chapter of Revelation starting at verse 13, the sixth trumpet sounds. For a little bit, John hears a voice coming from the horns of the golden altar in heaven. Some may think it strange that judgment comes and is linked to God's system of atonement. The Golden Altar was cleansed by the blood of Jesus. I think the incident warns us that there's great danger in refusing the teachings of Jesus, C.F. Hebrews 10:28,29.

The voice from the golden altar says, "Release the four angels bound at the Euphrates River. These were fallen angels who fell with Satan, Isaiah 14:12-14; Ezekiel 28:12b-17a. They have been bound for the purpose of destruction which they will perform shortly.

Their purpose was to destroy one-third of humanity--over one-billion people at today's count and an estimated count of the destruction from the previous judgments! These four angels wreak havoc with the residents of the earth. God is reclaiming his earth and the country we know today as Israel.

Army Comes Against Israel

The sound of the sixth trumpet brings an army from all nations against Israel. The army is huge, two hundred million according to John's account 9:16. The world has always hated Israel. This army destroys everything in its path as it marches towards its destination.

It is interesting to note that the sixth angel poured out his vial on the Euphrates River to dry it up. The army from the east could use the river bed for a roadway to come against Israel (Revelation 16:12). We're talking about the same army and the same purpose--destroy the Jews.

John describes the horses of this vast army with "heads of lions with fire and smoke and brimstone coming out of their mouths." Could he be describing tanks? Remember, he is looking from a position of at least two-thousand years into the future. The only thing he knows that runs into battle that people ride on are horses. John also describes these horses as indestructible. It's hard to destroy a tank without proper weapons.

The destruction brought about by this vase army came from the three things that came from the mouths of the horses:
   fire
   smoke
   brimstone = gasses

The destruction is horrendous! One-third of the remaining human population destroyed!

Drugs

Even though all the destruction goes on, John writes that those who aren't killed do not repent of their evil deeds which John describes in verse 20:
    worship demons
    the ability to manufacture their goods
    idols of gold, silver, brass, stone and wood
    murders
    fornication = sexual orgies
    sorceries

In the face of near annihilation, the world population has been reduced from 7 billion to somewhere near one billion, those left have extremely hard hearts. They simply won't give up and repent.

One thing that helps those who remain keep their inabilities to repent is their use of drugs. The word "sorcery" used in verse 20 in Greek is pharmakia. Our English word, "pharmacy" comes from this Greek word. Therefore, one thing this generation won't repent of or give up is their enchantments brought on by the use, sale and manufacture (works of their hands) of drugs.

We know today that chemical abuse is rampant; however, there will be no comparison from today to then. If you look at the above lists of things the world was doing, all of them are related to enchantment with drug abuse, i.e. murder, idol worship, making drugs, murder, and sexual orgies.

What's the connection? Those who abuse chemicals:
    can't make quality decisions
    drug abuse keeps one away from the truth or reality
    loss of inhibitions

In Revelation 18:21:23 the question is asked how the religious, political and economic system of the Anti-christ called Babylon was able to deceive the whole world? The answer comes in verse 23, "For by their sorceries were all nations deceived."

The use of drugs to cause magic spells and enchantments kept the whole world deceived. Drugs, natural and manufactured, will help in the overtaking the world by the Anti-christ. The same will lead to the system's crash, too.

Putting It Together

Do you find it hard to imagine how chemical abuse plays right into the hands of one who seeks to rule the whole world. The Anti-christ whom we saw come onto the world scene in Chapter 5, rides into the world on a white horse looking like a conquering hero. He comes to make war. He has a bow but no arrows.

His weapon of choice turns out to be drugs. With his drugs and the enchantment of their properties, he is able to deceive the whole world into believing that his political, religious and economic system can save the world.

However his choices play into the hands of God and his plans of reclamation to the title deed of the earth.

The stage is set for the sounding of the Seventh Trumpet Judgment, which we will study in our next blog entry.

If you have questions or comments, I'm here to help. Leave yours below. I'll get back really soon.

Blessings,


Howard

PS: a complete study of Revelation is available. Email us.

PSS: my first novel, The Red-Haired Master Shepherd, is available on Amazon. Go to their books and search for it by name.


Who You Are Isn't Based on Performance with God. Who You Are Should Have A Direct Bearing on How You Perform.

Explained, The Fifth Trumpet Judgment--Revelation Part 2

As we explain the next trumpet judgment, the fifth one sounded of Revelation, you find many and varied discoveries about God's wrath towards disobedience. In our next post you will discover how the use of chemicals, a problem that is of epidemic proportions in the world today, will be even worse during the tribulation period. Watch for our next post! 

God can't sin! Therefore, he truly hates sin. That's why he gives mankind so many opportunities to believe in his Son so their sin nature and their sins can be removed.

As we begin our study today, we will begin with the fifth trumpet blast.

Fifth Trumpet

You find the fifth trumpet blast in Revelation 9. When it sounds, a star falls from heaven. To this "star" is given the key to the "bottomless pit."

Your first question might be, "Who has the key?" Acts 1:18 says, "I am he who was dead, but now am alive, and I have the key to death and hell."

Then you may wonder, "Who or what was the star?" Many believe the star to be the devil, himself, verse 11. If we look at the Greek tense of the verb "fall" used here, we find the verb is past tense not present. Notice also that the key was given to "him." Therefore, the star is identified as male and has human characteristics to be called him.

Bottomless Pit Opened

"He" or the star opened the pit, and smoke went up from the pit. Much smoke as though from a great furnace. Pollution! You bet. Environmentalists need to get saved!

Although John describes this huge cloud as smoke, these were demons. So many of them that John first saw them as smoke from a furnace. Can you imagine how happy these demons are to be released. They've been bound for ages and ages. Now they are free to do their destruction and perform their heinous crimes on humanity.

John describes these demon beings as "locusts." When locusts swarmed over the land, they came in hordes. I think that is what John is describing, the vast numbers of these demons, rather than the size.

Clarifying Element for Revelation

An important thing to remember about Revelation is that it's author, John, views events that happen way in the future. He lives in the first century AD, but he sees events that take place many thousands of years later.

John relates future events in terms of his day and his experiences. Remember, too, John wasn't an educated man. He was a fisherman. His experiences would have been limited. When he describes the demons as "locusts," it had to be his first impression of the hordes he saw. The literal description that John gives of these demons do not represent locusts at all.

Description of the Locusts

The power of these demons was in their tail or sting as scorpions have power. Many believe these demons are part of the fallen angels that fell with Satan, Genesis 6:1-3; 1 Peter 3:18-20; 2-4; Jude 6. 

Even though recently released from the abysmal confinement, these demons have restrictions placed on them. They can only torment unbelievers, they can't hurt the grass or green thing and they can't kill anyone. Regardless of what has been created, God has control over it. Everything of course except mankind. He gives all a choice.

The shapes and identities of the locusts are interesting.

  1. They were like horses.

    represents speed

    represents strength

    prepared for battle represents fear (foot soldiers would fear one on a horse).

    prepared for battle would also mean the horses wore or had some protection.
    they had breastplates of iron so that their enemies couldn't hurt them

  2. They had crowns of gold on their heads.

    depicts royalty, authority

    also depicts dominion, conquering, against which the subjects had no choice

  3. Faces of men denotes intelligence.    

  4. Because of their hair like women, they could be attractive and appealing
  5. Teeth like that of lions would denote cruelty and savagery.

The demons tormented humans for five months. Nearly one-half year these hordes of demons tormented the earth. People wanted to die, but the demons couldn't kill.

This was a direct attack on the power of the Anti-christ and his authority to rule!

Given all the above characteristics, speed, strength, intelligence, attractiveness, protection from harm, noise and confusion, should be quiet enough. However, add the power of the sting of a scorpion and you have one tormenting machine that can cause terrible suffering to people on earth. No wonder these unbelievers wanted to die! However, death is going to bring even greater trauma for them. 

Is it any wonder that only something from the abyss could bring this kind of torture? Anything with some semblance of conscience could not continue to inflict this kind of pain day and night on its victims.

The king over these tormentors is "the angel of the abyss." He is called Abaddon in Hebrew and Apollyon in Greek. Jesus spoke of him in John 10:10. He is the enemy of believers. He is the devil himself. His name means destruction. Rather fitting, wouldn't you say?

Our Explanation

We only look at one trumpet judgment in this post, the Fifth one. The reason is that the explanation is so long. We didn't cover nearly half of the information about this judgment that is available in our free study of Revelation (see below how you can get your copy).

The tribulation period is so complex, it is difficult to cover in a short post. Therefore, we are dividing the trumpet judgments into some short posts.

I am here to help! If you have questions or comments, please leave them below. I'll get back soon.



Blessings,


Howard

PS: A complete study on Revelation and the judgments is available at B. C. Ministries, Inc. Email us if you'd like a free copy.

PSS: Our first novel has been published. You can get your copy here. Or you can email us for your copy.


Who You Are Isn't Based on Performance with God. Who You Are Should Have A Direct Bearing on How You Perform.

The Seven Trumpet Judgments--Revelation Part 1

Part 1 Revelation Chapter 8

In the last post we looked at the seven seal judgments. Here I want to examine the seven trumpet Judgments of Revelation. The first four judgments appear in chapter 8. The last trumpet judgments occur in chapters 9; 10; and 11. Remember, the judgments take place so that Jesus can return the title deed of the earth to its original owner, God.

Let's get right into these powerful, Jesus directed, judgments.

Chapter Eight of Revelation. Vv 1  –  13      The Seventh Seal--the Trumpets

V 1 When the Lamb broke the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an

            hour.

The severity and contemplation of the next seven judgments causes the silence. Even our judges in the court system of the USA takes time to contemplate the sentence he is about to bring on the malcontent. Once again, judgment on his creation takes place. Therefore, silence so real you can feel it around heaven.

The silence could be in contrast to the noise of battle about to take place. Even nature applauds the decision to continue his judgment of the unbelievers.

Preparation and Prayer

John's location in spiritual format shows him inside heaven. He sees seven angels standing before God. These angels are given seven trumpets. The judgments are about to begin. However, notice that Jesus directs the events. 

These are the judgments mentioned by Enoch, Jude 14. They were expected by the psalmist, 96:12, Let the fields exult and all that is in it. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy before the Lord, for he is coming for he is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and     the peoples in his faithfulness.

The events of judgment were confirmed by Paul, Acts 17:31, Because He has fixed a day when He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished         proof to all men by raising him from the dead.

The moment has come when the wrath of God is to be revealed from heaven against all             unrighteousness and ungodliness, Romans 1:18. God has promised through out scripture that this day of his wrath would come "like a thief in the night."

An unusual prayer meeting takes place before the judgments begin. An angel stands before the altar in heaven with a golden censer. The angel adds this incense to the golden altar where the prayers of the saints abound.

Isn't it good to know that God doesn't do things haphazardly. There's planning and timing to his methods. In verse 1, there’s silence. Then in verse 5, there’s quite a contrast to the silence with the thundering, lightening and an earthquake. These events happen whenever the smoke of the incense burning in the golden censer rises up before the Lord, and also when the angel takes fire from the altar and throws it to the earth. Now the angels with the trumpets are ready to sound.

If you review the breaking of the seals, you would notice that much space is given in the Bible to each one. However, there is little space given as explanation to the sounding of the trumpets. The judgments come quickly and destroy much. No explanation needed!

First Trumpet Sounds

The blowing or sounding of the first trumpet causes one-third of the earth to burn, one-third of the trees burned and all the green grass was burned. Those who "think green" can't imagine the pollution caused by this trumpet blast.

Second Trumpet Sounds

The second trumpet blast brings destruction to the sea. One-third of the seas become blood, one-third of sea life die and one-third of the ships are destroyed. Devastating!

Most likely this judgment finds a great meteor falling into the sea. Then, too, "mountain" could be symbolic or figurative. Moses and Aaron turned the waters of the Nile to blood in Exodus 7:19, 20. Fish died. 

However, in this judgment think of the destruction. One-third of the ships are destroyed: commercial, navy ships and how about cruise ships. I wouldn't want to be on a cruise when this event takes place. Does the possibility of a nuclear explosion exist as the "mountain falling into the sea." John has never witnessed one. Perhaps his description of a mountain falling into the seas was the only description he could find.

Third Trumpet Sounds

The second trumpet judgment attacks the salt waters, the seas. The third trumpet judgment makes one-third of the rivers and springs of fresh water unfit for drinking. Many people do drink the waters, and many people die from the polluted water.

Therefore, the possibilities of a star from our Galaxy falling on the earth isn't against Biblical principles, is it? Could it be possible that the star called wormwood began its trek toward earth when the seal of 6:13 was broken (See my blog about the Seal Judgments here). Keep in mind, too, the judgments are taking place almost simultaneously.

Fourth Trumpet Sounds.

The blast of the fourth trumpet affects the heavenly lights. One-third of the stars, sun and moon are darkened. Daylight and the light of the moon and stars do not shine as brightly as they once did. Stars are falling and the sun, which is a star, is burning out.

Jesus tells you in Matthew 24:29, "But immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken."

Do you find it amazing that the fourth trumpet has the ability to turn out some of the heavenly lights?
It was on the fourth day of creation that the sun, moon and stars were created, Genesis 1:14. The creation of the heavenly lights took place in the middle of creation. When we look at the Lampstand, we see seven lamps. The center lamp is the Christ candle. How apropos that Jesus is conducting the trumpet blasts. He is in the middle, he created heavenly lights during the middle of creation, and here, he begins extinguishing the lights in the middle of the trumpet blasts. Cool but Ironic!

Summing Up

We're only looking at the first four trumpet sounds which occur in Revelation chapter 8.
1. First trumpet causes destruction to the earth
2. Second trumpet causes destruction to the seas
3. Third Trumpet causes destruction to the fresh waters
4. Fourth trumpet causes destruction to the heavenly lights

All these judgments take place in chapter 8 of Revelation. Only one to two verses cover the scope of the each of the trumpet judgments 1 through 4. Much destruction on earth and loss of life happens but little scripture reference takes place.

If you have questions or comments, please leaven them at the bottom. I'm here to help.

Blessings,


Howard

PS: A complete study on Revelation and the judgments is available at B. C. Ministries, Inc. Email us if you'd like a free copy.

Our first novel has been published. You can get your copy here. Or you can email us for your copy.

Who You Are Isn't Based on Performance with God. Who You Are Should Have A Direct Bearing on How You Perform.

The Six Seal Judgments--6:1-17

Whenever you think about the Apostle John's Revelation and the seal judgments, what comes to mind? Do you picture destruction, wild and horrific?

As a brief reminder, the scroll in question with the seven seals is the Title Deed to the earth, God's Creation. Adam gave Satan complete control of the earth when he rebelled against God in the Garden. Now Jesus begins the task of bringing the title back to the rightful owner.

It's important to keep in mind the purpose behind the judgments as you begin to look at the seal judgments. John writes about the destruction of 1/4th of the earth's population. That's a heap of people killed, folks!

Look at the things that take place as Jesus, the Lamb of God, opens the individual seals. The reason I want to look at the first six seals is because the seventh seal ushers in the seven Trumpet Judgments.
So let's get started.

The church is gone, but on earth I want you to see what is going to happen.

    a. The tribulation period, Chapters 6-18, occupies about two-thirds of the book.

    b. It only covers a 7 year period, so lots of things happen very fast.

            1) Jeremiah 30:7.

            2) Daniel 12:1.

            3) Matthew 24:21.

    c. It’s earth’s bloodiest hour.

            1) Never has been anything like it.

            2) Never ever will be anything like it again.

    d. These horrendous judgments come in 21 different sets of judgments.

            1) Seven seal judgments.

            2) Seven trumpet judgments.

            3) Seven bowl judgments.

    e. If seven is God’s number of perfection, 3 sevens must be perfection plus.

 At the breaking of each seal, the blowing of each trumpet and the pouring out of each

            bowl, a new judgment is unleashed.

    a. Six of the seal judgments are in Chapter 6, Chapter 7 represents a lull and the 7^th seal

            is in Chapter 8.

Jesus breaks the first seal. One of the created beings around the throne thunders with a loud voice, COME! The living creature is giving a command to the Rider on the white horse to begin his appointed time in history.

The First Seal Judgment

The first seal judgment is found in Revelation 6:1. Here the rider on the white horse, the anti-christ comes on the tribulation scene.

His advent comes on the heels of the rapture of the church. He comes to conquer, and he does conquer the world. He takes complete control, world dominance, during the first 3-1/2 years of the tribulation. 

Notice that he has a bow but no arrows; therefore, his making war isn't done in a conventional way. One way he can conquer is through some economical fix.

The 2nd Seal Judgment

When you begin to compare these judgments, you begin to see how they can go on at or nearly at the same time. It looks as though all these judgments take place at or near the middle of the tribulation period.

When the second Seal Judgment is broken, the rider on the red horse takes peace from the world. Daniel 9 says that the anti-christ will break the covenant “in the middle of the week” or after 3-1/2 years.

Once again, the command to the next rider to arise.

  1. Here peace is taken out, and the last 3-and-1/2 years of the tribulation begins.

  2. Notice John writes, When He broke the seal,. . . There could be time between the

            breaking of the seals.

V 4 And another, a red horse, went out; and to him who sat on it, it was granted to take

            peace from the earth, and that men would slay one another; and a great sword

            was given to him.

It is possible that Russia could be this rider.

  1. Ezekiel 38:2, 3 lists the names of Magog, Meshech, Rosh and Tubal.

  2. All these Old Testament countries can be found inside the Soviet Union.

    a. The area of Russia where Tubal was located is the eastern part that lies south west of

            Siberia. The exact area where U-2 pilot, Gary Powers was shot down.

    b. Meshech is Moscow.

    c. Rosh is Russia, herself.

  3. The Great Bear invades Israel from the north according to Ezekiel 38:15, 16.

    a. The country lies north of Israel.

    b. She invades Israel in the latter years and days of the tribulation, Ezekiel 38:16.

    c. The attack centers around the Holy Land.

    d. In fact you find Israel mentioned 18 times in Ezekiel 38 and 39.

 Remember, there was no nation called Israel until 1948.

3^rd Seal Judgment

When the third Seal Judgment is broken, the rider on the black horse causes famine. Most likely this is a result of the war from the previous judgments. Famine and inflation usually follow war.

V 5. When He broke the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, "Come. " I

            looked, and behold, a black horse; and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his

            hand

Once again the third living creature cried out, “come!”

  1. What does the pair of scales represent?

  2. Something is about to be weighed.

  3. Scales usually refer to the weighing of grain, i.e. wheat, barley: therefore, a bread

            scarcity is in the balance.

V 6 And I heard something like a voice in the center of the four living creatures saying, A

            quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do

            not damage the oil and the wine.

Famine and inflation usually follow war.

  1. C. F. 2 Kings 7:1.

  2. The rider on the black horse brings these two destructive twin sorrows to the earth.

    a. Ezekiel prophesied this hour 4:11-16.

    b. Although this prophesy was for Jerusalem prior to 586 B.C., it can be a long term

            prophesy for Jerusalem during the tribulation, too.

    c. This is pictured by the pair of balances of verse 5.

            1) One pair was accurate.

            2) The other pair was tampered with so it would weigh heavier.

  3. Let’s have some fun, let’s compare prices from then until now.

    a. A denarius was the wages for a days work for a laborer.

    b. Today, the minimum wage is $7.25 per hour.

    c. Two measures = 16 oz or 1 loaf of bread.

    d. Therefore, a loaf of bread today would cost, $58.00 – 8 X $7.25 = $58,00.

    e. Bread will really be scarce during this time.

  4. Oil and wine have always been luxury items.

    a. Therefore the command is not to harm them.

    b. The rich will still be able to enjoy themselves even during world famine.

  5. How rich are we today?

    a. I did this survey over 20 years ago.

    b. At that time, out of 133 countries, the per capita income for 25 of them was $1000.

    c. 17 of these 25 countries had a per capita income less than $500 per year.

  6. The general picture is that of hunger stalking the world, and inflation being the

            culprit.

    a. We’re experiencing some of this today.

    b. Inflation is at record highs.

    c. The poor and the aged are having a tough time making it today.

    d. The people of the U.S. spend 50 billion on diet pills and diet supplements a year.

    e. While millions in our country are starving. Go figure!

  7. Inflation and the anti-Christ’s numerical program 666 will have become so successful

            that gold, silver and paper money will be useless.

    a. Ezekiel 7:19.

    b. Matthew 6:19, 20.

    c. Isaiah 55:1, 2 

4^th Seal Judgment

The rider on the pale (the word used for pale is chloros or green) horse rides out. One-fourth of the earth’s population is killed. This takes place during the 5^th year of the tribulation period. It is possible that the "green" horse represents chlorine gas or warfare conducted by using chemicals. Since such a large portion of world population is destroyed it makes sense.

V 7 When the Lamb broke the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature

            saying, Come.

Again the command to “come” is given by the fourth living creature.

  1. Something to think about the command to “come.”

    a. It is given by one of the creatures that guards God’s holiness.

    b. Therefore, it is a holy command that must be followed.

  2. Get out there and do your thing, the next demon is instructed.

  3. I want you to notice something.

    a. On earth, the anti-Christ is given credit for the power to do these things, isn’t he?

    b. But where is the power for him to accomplish his tasks coming from? The Lamb in

            heaven.

V 8 I looked, and behold, an ashen horse; and he who sat on it had the name Death; and

            Hades was following with him Authority was given to them over a fourth of the

            earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by the wild

            beasts of the earth.

The rider on the next horse aggravates the conditions set by the rider on the black

            horse.

  1. The rider on the black horse introduced famine and inflation.

    a. If the rider on the black horse were bad, look at what this rider does.

    b. Ashen or pale in Greek is chlorous = green.

            1) Mark 6:39, Jesus commands them to sit on the green (chlorous) grass.

            2) Revelation 9:4, commands them not to hurt the green (chlorous) things.

            3) Our word chlorine comes from this Greek word.

            4) Chlorine is a deadly gas.

  2. That’s why the name “death” is on this rider and “hell follows.”

    a. The use of gas and bacteriological elements destroys them

    b. Death and hell follow and swallow them up.

    c. He kills with hunger, sword and the beasts of the fields.

    d. One/fourth of the earth’s population is killed by this rider.

    e. At the current population of the earth, that’s over 1 billion people killed by this

            rider using chemical and bacteriological warfare.

    f. That’s why I think that there is a connection between chlorous and this rider.

            1) Does he use chemical warfare to destroy?

            2) The armies of today have the power through atomic energy, gasses and

                        bacteriological warfare to reduce the population of the world by this

                        amount in a matter of a few hours.

5^th Seal Judgment

When the fifth seal is broken we find the saints from the tribulation martyred and in heaven. The stellar heavens are smitten and the sun begins to novae. This happens during the 6^th and into the 7^th year of the tribulation. One-third of the lights are darkened, and soon the rest will follow.

V 9 When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who

            had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which

            they had maintained;

The opening of the fifth seal gives us a picture of the first victims or martyrs of the

            tribulation.

  1. It’s important to remember that those tribulation saints are not part of the church.

  2. The church is gone already.

    a. The church age or dispensation is over, 4:4.

    b. These saints are seen under the altar.

    c. Since the altar of Old Testament times was a place where blood of the sacrifice was

            placed (Exodus 29:12; Leviticus 4:7; John 16:2 --read--).

    d. This could indicate that the blood of these saints has been poured out as a

            sacrifice, i.e. they gave up their life-blood for the Lamb.

    d. Souls are saved during the tribulation period the same way you and I were saved: the

            shed blood of Jesus Christ.

  3. These saints were believers who have lost their lives because of:

    a. Their belief in the word of God (Rev. 14:18, 16:7).

    b. Their testimony which they held firm to the end.

V 10 and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, will

            You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the

            earth?

Notice, they are not asleep.

  1. They are crying.

  2. When you die, your spirit and soul go to heaven or v 8 to hell.

    a. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:8, To be absent from the body is to be present

            with the Lord.

    b. Paul again writes, To die is gain. . .” (Philippians 1:21).

  3. When Christ returns, He brings those that sleep with Him (1 Thessalonians 4:14).

    a. These are the armies of heaven.

    b. Sleep here is a reference to the grave.

    c. Those that are with him have died and have been placed in the grave.

    d. We think of them as sleeping.

    e. The old song, Mother’s not dead. She’s only a sleeping. Patiently waiting, for Jesus

            to come.

  4. Therefore, being in spirit form does not mean being unconscious or comatose.

V 11 And there was given to each of them a white robe; and they were told that they

            should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and

            their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, would be completed

            also.

God tells the tribulation saints that his judgment will take place, but there are more

            saints that need to be brought home, so be patient.

  1. The tribulation saints will be mentioned later as we unravel the contents of this book.

  2. These saints are not the church saints, and they will have a different role in Heaven

            than does the church.

6^th Seal Judgment

There’s a huge earthquake and there is no light on the earth. The stars have fallen from the sky and the sun does not give here light. This happens during the 7^th year of the tribulation period.

V 12 I looked when He broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; and the

             sun became black as sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became like

            blood;

When the sixth seal is broken, a huge earthquake happens.

  1. Does it surprise you that God uses natural events as part of his judgment?

  2. Three quakes are mentioned in Revelation.

    a. here.

    b. 11:13.

    c. 16:18, 19.

  3. Another important thing to notice, the first five seals gave power to anti-Christ.

    a. The sixth seal does not.

    b. The anti-Christ can’t make earthquakes happen.

    c. I think the earthquakes are literal as they are in other places in the Bible.

    d. God used earthquakes during other periods of judgment.

            1) Exodus 19:18, Mt. Sinai quaked when the Lord ascended upon it.

            2) 1 Kings 19:11, rocks were smashed during Elijah’s day.

            3) One you will remember is? That’s right, the day Jesus died. There was a great

                        earthquake that was so powerful that tombs were opened and people who

                        had died before moved about the streets of Jerusalem

                        (Matthew 27:51, 52).

V 13 and the stars of the sky fell to the earth, as a fig tree casts its unripe figs when

            shaken by a great wind.

This will be a powerful quake!

  1. What other effects do you think a quake of this magnitude will have on planet earth?

    a. Tsunamis will occur.

    b. Those living near the ocean and on islands in the oceans will be devastated.

     c. Those near the epicenter will suffer great loss as in Haiti.

  2. Stars will fall like defective fruit falls from trees.

    a. Have you noticed how apples or peaches fall from a tree before it gets ripe?

    b. Most often if you examine the fruit closely, there’s a worm in or a blight on it.

    c. Can you imagine stars – we’re not talking little twinkling things out in the sky

            hitting the earth!

            1) The sun is a star, our closest one.

            2) It is huge!

            3) Can you imagine what the earth’s inhabitants will be thinking as they watch

                        these brilliant streams of light coming towards the earth at great speeds!

  3. And the winds will blow horrifically!

  4. Some want to interpret these signs figuratively.

  5. I think they will be literal.

  6. I want you to turn with me to Isaiah 24:18-20. Here Isaiah writes, Then it will be that

            he who flees the report of disaster will fall into the pit, and he who climbs out of

            the pit will be caught in the snare; for the windows above are opened, and the

            foundations of the earth shake. (19) The earth is broken asunder, the earth is split

            through, the earth is shaken violently. (20) The earth reels to and fro like a

            drunkard and it totters like a shack, for its transgressions is heavy upon it, and it

            will fall, never to rise again.

  7. What devastation this one earthquake will bring, and the other quakes will make the

            prophesy of Isaiah come true.

V 14 The sky was split apart like a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and

            island were moved out of their places.

How very powerful are these earthquakes?

  1. The stellar heavens will be split!

  2. Mountains will become plains and valleys will be lifted up level.

  3. Read Isaiah 40:3-5, A voice is calling, clear the way for the Lord in the wilderness;

            make smooth in the dessert a highway for our God. (4) Let every valley be lifted

            up, and every mountain and hill be made low; and let the rough ground become a

            plain, and the rugged terrain a broad valley; (5) Then the glory of the Lord will

            be revealed, and all flesh will see it together; for the mouth of the Lord has

            spoken.

  4. The force of this and the other quakes will cause the mountains to come tumbling

            down.

  5. I believe this seal, along with the trumpet and bowl judgments, will be very near the

            end of the tribulation.

    a. All these events are happening simultaneously!

    b. John can only write them as he sees them.

    c. He doesn’t have a video camera to record them all at once.

    d. And he has to write them in some kind of chronological order.

    e. Therefore, we have three separate events taking place, i.e. the seal, trumpet and bowl

            judgments.

  6. Here’s another reason I believe these quakes happen near the end of the tribulation

            period.

    a. Matthew 24:29 has Jesus speaking, But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of heavens will be shaken.

    b. How? Great earthquakes!

  7. Another reason for me thinking these events will occur near the end.

    a. Zechariah 14:4, 5.

    b. In that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which is in front of Jerusalem

             on the east; and the Mount of Olives will be split in its middle from east to west

            by a very large valley, so that half of the mountain will move toward the north

            and the other half toward the south. (5) You will flee by the valley of My

            mountains, for the valley of the mountains will reach to Azel; yes, you will flee

            just as you fled before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then

            the Lord, my God, will come, and all the holy ones with Him.

    c. The prophet Zechariah alludes to the fact that an “earthquake” causes the Mount of

            Olives to split, doesn’t he?

  8. Let’s look at more evidence!

V 15 Then the kings of the earth and the great men and the commanders and the rich and

            the strong and every slave and free man hid themselves in the caves and among

            the rocks of the mountains; (16) and they said to the mountains and to the rocks,

            Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from

            the wrath of the Lamb; (17) for the great day of their wrath has come, and who is

            able to stand?"

This is going to be a terrible time in history.

  1. That’s why I think the 6^th and 7^th seal, trumpet and bowl judgments occur very near

            the end of the tribulation period.

  2. The inhabitants of the earth cry out for the rocks to fall on them – a reasonable

            request since that’s exactly what is happening!

  3. Why?

    a. They know it’s over.

    b. Jesus says in Luke 21:25, 26, Men’s hearts fail them for fear of the things they see

            coming on the earth.

    c. Micah 1: 4, 5 says, The mountains will melt under Him and the valleys will be split,

            like wax before the fire, like water poured down a steep place. All this is for the

            rebellion of Jacob and for the sins of the house of Israel. . .

  4. Why are the nations crying? For the great day of their wrath has come. . .

I have shared much information in this post--maybe too much. However, much of the information comes from my commentaries on Revelation. You can get a free copy of the entire book of Revelation here!

Please leave questions or comments below. I'll get back real soon.

Blessings,

Howard

PS: To get your copy of my first novel, The Red-Haired Master Shepherd, Go here.

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