“Woe, Woe, Woe!!!" Revelation 8:2-11:19 READ AS TEXT: Revelation 8:2-6 INTRO. The nation of Israel will have lived in relative peace during the first 3½ years of the tribulation; despite the wrath of God being poured out upon the inhabitants of the earth. But this peace will be short-lived, because somewhere around the midpoint of the tribulation, the man of peace, antichrist will break his peace covenant with them. Daniel 9:27 says, "And He (the antichrist) shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and oblation to cease..." When he breaks the peace covenant, Israel is in trouble! Terror and tragedy are on the horizon! Jeremiah 30:7 says, "Alas! For that day is great, so that none is like it: It is even the time of Jacob's trouble, but he shall be saved out of it." In Daniel 12:1 the SCRIPTURE says, "And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: And at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book." These two verses describe the last 3½ years of the tribulation, known as the Great Tribulation. This will be the time of the merciless reign of terror of the antichrist on Israel and the world. I'd like to title the message, "Woe, Woe, Woe!!!" Last week we looked at the first 3½ years, by looking at the Seven Seal Judgments. Tonight we will look at the Seven Trumpet Judgments. The Judgments of the tribulation occur in 3 series of sevens, The Seven Seals, The Seven Trumpets, and the Seven Bowls (Vials). With the beginning reign of terror of the antichrist and the plagues that are falling by the hand of God, the Israelites will flee to the mountains. Matthew 24:16 says, "Let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains." This will mark Satan's attempt to stamp out God's chosen people, Israel, thus they must flee! Somewhere around this time, the first trumpet will be sounded. The trumpet was a familiar sound to Israel. They were used 3 ways. First, for calling princes, the Congregation as an alarm or public notification. Secondly, they were blown to "set feasts" and over sacrifices in the beginning of the month as a memorial before God. And lastly, a special use was in arousing to war the hosts of Jehovah against their enemy. So with the seven angels. They blow the very trumpets of Heaven against an earth become "as it was in the days of Noah and…as the days of Sodom," as Joshua and Israel blew the Trumpets against Jericho." (William R. Newell. The Revelation. p. 119). THE SEVEN TRUMPETS: (1) THE FIRST TRUMPET--HAIL, FIRE, and BLOOD REVELATION 8:7—“The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.” A. THE RESULTS OF THIS TRUMPET. With the sounding of this trumpet, hail and fire mingled with blood are cast upon the earth, burning up one-third of all vegetation and all grass will be burned up. (Salem Kirban. Guide To Survival. p. 217). B. THE REASON FOR THIS TRUMPET. This is God's judgment upon nature. God is cursing the earth because it is the scene of man's display of lawlessness. (Salem Kirban. Guide To Survival. p. 217). (2) THE SECOND TRUMPET—FALLING METEOR REVELATION 8:8-9—“ And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood; And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed.” A. THE CHANGE IN THE SEA. It is not necessary that we identify this instrument of Judgment with anything in our present experience. Whatever it is the destruction will be unbelievable. (Jerry Falwell. Liberty Bible Commentary. p. 765). B. THE CASTROPHE IN THE SEA. When the second trumpet sounds, it will destroy one-third of all ships on the earth, one-third of the sea will be turned to blood, and one-third of all fish will be killed. (Jerry Falwell. Liberty Bible Commentary. p. 765). This will not be any time to be on a pleasure cruise. (Jerry Falwell. Liberty Bible Commentary. p. 766). (3) THE THIRD TRUMPET—FALLING STAR REVELATION 8:10-11—“And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters; And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.” A. THE INTENSITY OF THIS STAR. Note the words in v10—“ burning as it were a lamp…”. When the third trumpet sounds, a great flaming star called wormwood falls from heaven. "Wormwood" in the Greek means “bitterness.” B. THE INCREDIBLE DESTRUCTION OF THIS STAR. This star will be referred to as "wormwood" or bitterness because it will poison one-third of all water on the Earth and many people will die from poisonous rivers and springs. (Salem Kirban. Guide To Survival. p. 219). We, today, have a plant named wormwood. It makes liquor which leads to mental detonation and death. From drinking waters poisoned by the star wormwood, men will go out of their minds and die in judgment. (Jerry Falwell. Liberty Bible Commentary. p. 765). (4) THE FOURTH TRUMPET—SUN, MOON, AND STARS REVELATION 8:12-13—“ And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise. And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!” A. THE INCREASED DARKNESS. With the blowing of the fourth trumpet, one-third of the sun, moon, and stars will be darkened. There will be a great decrease in the amount of the light and in the time that the reduced light is visible, for the hours of the day will be reduced by one-third. (Jerry Falwell. Liberty Bible Commentary. p. 765). B. THE INEVITABLE DESTRUCTION. Notice the progression of the judgments stemming from the trumpets. First affected will be the trees and grass, then one-third of marine life and shipping. Next one-third of the pure water and finally one-third of the heavenly bodies in respect to both quantity and time. This means that not only is the small amount of food available partially destroyed, but in addition, transportation and means of food production are hampered, water for increased food growth is limited, and precious light necessary for food production and harvesting is curtailed. (Jerry Falwell. Liberty Bible Commentary. p. 766). V13—As terrible as the four trumpets sounded thus far, the LORD warns that the next 3 will bring even greater wrath to them residing on the earth. Thus these are called "woes!" (5) THE FIFTH TRUMPET—LOCUSTS REVELATION 9:1-12 A. THE IDENTITY OF THIS FALLEN STAR. V1—“A star fallen from heaven unto the earth; and to him was given the key to the bottomless pit." Who is this star? The BIBLE many times uses "star" as a symbol of an angel. Notice this is a "fallen" star. (Isaiah 14:12-19; Luke 10:18). V11—He is further described with a Hebrew name "Abaddon" and in the Greek "Apollyon” which means "destroyer". B. THE INHABITANTS OF EARTH TORMENTED. VV. 3-5, When Satan opened the pit, locusts came out into the earth. They had the power of scorpions. They were commanded not to hurt the grass, trees, nor anything green, but to torment those who had not the seal of God on their foreheads 5 months. The locusts were to kill these just torment them. They will be a combination in appearance of a horse, man, woman, lion, and scorpion and undoubtedly will be very frightful in appearance. Men in those days will desire death, but shall not find it (v6). V12—This is Just the first WOE! Two more will come! (6) THE SIXTH TRUMPET—SATAN’S ARMY REVELATION 9:13-21 A. THE LOOSING OF THE FOUR ANGELS. VV. 13-15, after the sixth angel has sounded, God commands that the four angels which are bound at the river Euphrates be loosed. These four angels are clearly demons, for Holy angels are not bound. The loosing of these 4 angels are determined by God at a certain hour, day, month, and year. They will kill one-third of the population. B. THE LAUNCHING OF THE FALLEN ARMY. Verse 16 says, “And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them.” The number of this army is 200 million. They will march up the Euphrates river. If 200 million seems inconceivable, think about this, according to Time magazine, May 21, 1965, Red China claimed to have an army of 200 million. With our present population, it seems very possible. (John F. Walvoord & Roy B. Zuck. The Bible Knowledge Commentary. Volume 2. p. 953). VV. 17-19, Whether this mighty army, with its horses having heads like lions, tails like serpents, and fire, smoke, and brimstone issuing out of their mouths, should be considered all human or all demon (equipped with modern weapons of war) is really unimportant. (Jerry Falwell. Liberty Bible Commentary. p. 767). What is, is the result of their attack!

Under the fourth seal judgment (Revelation 6:8), ¼ of the earth had been slain. This means in these two Judgments alone, not to mention the multitudes who have died because of famine, poisoned water, etc, have reduced the population of the earth by ½ since the beginning of the Tribulation. (Jerry Falwell. Liberty Bible Commentary. p. 767). VV. 20-21, Notice the reaction of the World's populace! Between the blowing of the sixth and seventh trumpet, we see a scene which John saw an Angel who was very mighty with a “little" book in his right hand. The identity of this angel is unknown. The angel cried with a loud voice and seven thunders uttered their voices. He told John to seal up those things the seven thunders uttered and write them not. A voice from heaven told John to take the "little” book and eat it up. The taste was sweet as honey in John's mouth, but bitter in his belly. The angel told John, "Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings.” (Revelation 10:1-11). In Chapter 11:3-12, we see two witness which will prophesy 3½ years. They will be Spirit-filled and have power to work miracles. When they have finished their testimony the Anti-Christ will kill them and their dead bodies will lie in the street 3½ days. After 3½ days, God will raise them, and great fear will fall on all who see them. God will then call them home to Heaven. VV. 13-14, In the same hour as their ascension into Heaven, a great earthquake will ensue in Jerusalem with one-tenth of the city collapsing and 7,000 people will be killed. The survivors will be terrified and will give glory to God. The second WOE! is past, the final WOE! will come quickly! (7) THE SEVENTH TRUMPET—VOICES FROM HEAVEN REVELATION 11:15-19 A. THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF CHRIST’S AUTHORITY. With the sounding of the seventh trumpet, the announcement will be made that Christ shall reign forever and ever. This is the beginning of the end, and even though some additional events must take place before the Kingdom is established, Nevertheless the announcement is made for the Victory is in the air. (Jerry Falwell. Liberty Bible Commentary. p. 770). This brought rejoicing to the 24 Elders seated before the Throne, who fell on their faces, and worshipped God. B. THE ANTICIPATION OF COMING ATROCITY. V19--this event precedes the final outpouring of judgment. And since the Temple in Jerusalem has been defiled by the Beast, it is not surprising to see a Heavenly temple from which God rules in holiness. The presence of the Ark of the Covenant indicates that the judgments about to take place are based upon the Law, and God always keeps His covenants. This closes the trumpets judgments, but the bowl (vial) judgments are yet to come! CLOSING: Jesus said, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He would send forth laborers into His harvest." Let us pray for laborers, and labor in the harvest ourselves that we might see our family, friends, loved ones, coworkers, and acquaintances escape the horrors of the Tribulation period!