Silence, smoke, fire Ch 8 7th seal
• Fire from altar thrown on to earth which is act of God visiting the earth w judgment
• Seven trumpets are divine acts of judgment executed as justice for suffering of the faithful we hear in rev 6:9-11
• 8:6-11:9
• Seven messages perspective of Christian community
• Seven seals perspective of all humanity
• Seven trumpets perspective of cosmic point of view • 8:1-silence prefigure God judgments (hab 2:20, zeph 1:7)
• Seven archangels (tobit 12:15-Uriel, Raphael, raguel, Michael, saraqael(sariel) Gabriel, remiel 8:1-6 • 8:3-Angels are liturgical ministers and mediators between God and people: communion of saints: trumpets are sign of God intervention
• See Isaiah 27:13, Joel 2:1, zeph 1:16, Zech 9:14, 1 cor 15:52-53, 1thess 4:16
• Trumpet- alarm, fanfare announce arrival, summons to battle
• Golden altar heavenly counter part to altar incense (2 chron 4:19, lev 16:12, num 16:46)
• Prayers are sacrifices that angels carry to God; God responds to prayers by throwing fire to earth
• 8:5 recalls Ezekiel 10:2- act of divine judgment throwing fire to earth 8:7-12 • First three trumpets are modeled after plagues of exodus
• Each blast diff part world effected: earth, sea, fresh water, heavenly bodies
• Wormwood: bitter plant symbolizes sorrow and distaste of human affliction (jer 9:15, lam 3:19), wormwood associated w idolatry ( dt 29:17-18 8:13
• Woe woe woe is prophetic warning that judgment is at hand ( Is 5:8-23, Amos 5:18, Nahum 3:1
• Anticipate the the three trumpets to come 9:1-12
• Fifth trumpets : unlocks the abyss to torture and terrorize the earth with limitations : vegetation unharmed, wicked are targeted, victims not killed, last 5 month
• Limitations suggest God is in charge and it is remedial or corrective punishment meant for repentance 9:1-2
• 9:1 star fallen is fallen angel
• The abyss or bottomless pit is gloomy underworld dwelling of infernal spirits bring destruction and deception
• Not natural but demonic; powers of given chance to work dreadful deeds 9:3-12
• Harm brought to the unsealed man(rev 7 protection): torture but not death
• 5 months ( life cycle of locust)
• Demonic locust
• Imagine wishing for death and not being able to do so
• Abaddon- Apollyon -destruction or destroyer job 26:6, prov 15:11 9:13-21
• Fire breathing horses given permission to kill
• Four demons associated with israel's enemies like Babylon
• 9:15 precise timetable determined in advance
• 9:20 did not repent; remained hardened in wickedness; how are we to explain the refusal to repent ( mirrors the refusal of pharaoh in time of Moses) 10
• Chapter ten is an interlude between trumpet blast like ch 7 it is a pause
• It introduces 2nd half of book of revelation
• John is given a commission a second time like in 1:19; a new commission is given the first is complete
• Eating of scroll vividly describes the reality that message delivered is not of john's doing but heavenly in origin
• Ch ten point toward ch 13 & 17; thus it links first part of book to second part and builds suspense
• It parallels Daniel 12:5-13 and 10:4 suggest complete revelation of mystery is not given: encourages trust in divine providence 10:1-11
• 10:1-2-angel wrapped in cloud- cloud chariot of God so angel comes directly from God (psalm 104) rainbow part of glory of God as seen earlier
• 10:3-lion roaring suggest angel speaks for the lion of the tribe of Judah, Jesus also voice of God ( Joel 3:16; Hosea 11:10:; Amos 3:8)
• 10:4-seven thunders is voice of God ( psalm 29
• 10:6-Angels raises hand thus makes an oath (dt 32:40); there will be no delay in carrying out command given
• 10:9- eating of scroll is sweet because it engenders hope, sour because it entails suffering(Ezekiel 2:8-3:3; the messenger of God must take message into his very life and be transformed by it
• History is always moving toward consummation guided by the hand and will of God 11:1-13
• Measuring of temple not court means believing Israel mark out for protection while unbelievers given over to judgment
• 42 months equivalent to 3 1/2 years mentioned in Daniel 12: time of tribulation : tempe suggest the presence of God to those that experience trouble; trampling is persecution
• Two witnesses:(Zech 4:12-14) prefigured in Moses and Elijah will be killed in Jerusalem
• Some suggest the witnesses are Paul and Peter,mor return of Moses and Elijah
• Witnesses could represent law and prophets and the fact they point to Christ
• They are God's witnesses. Who give testimony and are assured of divine protection no matter the trial
• 11:11 breath of life Ezekiel 37:1-14 points resurrection of faithful
• Beast comes from pit represents the forces that seek to oppose God, constant struggle
• 11:13- there is a repentance a change of heart 11:14-19
• Announcement of God's kingdom
• Seven trumpet blast points to biblical backdrop of collapse of Jericho after seven trumpet blast which gave Israel a decisive hold on promised land
• Here faithful given decisive hold of the new promised land
• Dan 2:31-45 Nebuchadnezzar dream interpreted how God destroys godless kingdoms of world
• Ark of covenant is God's
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