This is God's World, Part 2

Review

• Ch. 4–5: The Lamb is worthy to take the scroll and fulfill God’s plan for the Day of the Lord.

• Ch. 6: The Lamb breaks 6 seals, which begins God’s judgments against the world, culminating in panic on the earth because it is clear that the Day of the Lord has come.

• Ch. 7: An interlude that answers the question asking “Who can stand in the Day of the Lord?” The sealed of Israel and the redeemed of the nations are able to stand!

Trumpets Overview

• Trumpets are associated with the Day of the Lord in Zephaniah 1:14-16

• Obviously supernatural judgments that originate in heaven and strike different parts of creation with increased severity in comparison to the seal judgments.

• The references to striking “⅓” of intended object(s) indicate that these plagues are not the ultimate judgments. There is worse to come!

• Trumpets are divided into two sets (4, then 3, with the final trumpet in 11:15-19 announcing the imminence of the final judgments and the beginning of God’s kingdom on earth). First four trumpets strike natural objects and have indirect effect on mankind. Fifth and sixth strike mankind with direct affliction.

Theme: The six trumpets of Revelation 8–9 announce that this is God’s world.

1A. (8:1-5) The Seventh Seal: Seven trumpets and the saints’ prayers in heaven

1B. (8:1) The 7th seal and silence in heaven

2B. (8:2) Seven angels receive seven trumpets

3B. (8:3-5) All the saints’ prayers in heaven and omens of judgment on earth

Application: God hears our prayers; He is not too busy to take notice of the plight of His people; He answers according to His sovereign timing.

2A. (8:6-12) Four Trumpets

1B. (8:6-7) 1st Trumpet: Destruction on the earth

2B. (8:8-9) 2nd Trumpet: Destruction on the sea

3B. (8:10-11) 3rd Trumpet: Poisoning the waters

4B. (8:12) 4th Trumpet: Partial darkening

Application: This is my Father’s world.

3A. (8:13) Three woes because of three remaining judgments

4A. (9:1-12) The Fifth Trumpet and First Woe: Man Destabilized by Demonic Locust Plague

1B. (9:1-2) Opening the bottomless pit

2B. (9:3-6) The severe impact of the demonic locust plague

3B. (9:7-12) The characteristics of the demonic locusts

5A. (9:13-19) The Sixth Trumpet and Second Woe: Man Destroyed by Demonic Cavalry Attack

6A. (9:20-21) Man Refuses to Repent

Applications

• God is sovereign over history (see 9:15)

• Unrepentant sinners are without excuse because they refuse to acknowledge God and worship idols (see also Rom 1:18-32)

• A departure from worshipping the true God leads to false worship and moral debauchery (see 9:20-21)