The Seven Trumpets

Parts 1-3

 
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Now that you know what censers are and how they were used for atonement in temple services, the big picture behind the simple event in Revelation 8:3-5 becomes possible to grasp. Consider the scenario:

 

1.   God’s patience with Earth ran out in 1994 – at the end of 70 Jubilees cycles. The seven angels were given seven trumpets [the seven trumpets represent seven punitive judgments]

 

2.   Before the first four angels can sound their trumpets, they are told to wait until the 144,000 are sealed.

 

3.   When the “perfect time” comes, an angel approaches the Altar of Incense and he offers much incense on the Altar, and the fragrance ascends before God together with the prayers of all the saints on Earth.

 

4.   Then, the angel fills the censer with fire from the Altar of Incense and he throws it down to Earth and four physical signs follow:

 

Putting the fire from the Altar in the censer and throwing it down indicates the end of the services at the Altar. In other words, this is the end of corporate intercession and the seven trumpets will now begin. Look at the next verse:

 

Revelation 8:6   Then the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to sound them.

 

Compare this with Daniel 12:11:

 

Daniel 12:11   “From the time that the daily [service] is abolished [in Heaven] and the abomination that caused desolation is set up [a universal death decree for the saints], there will be 1,290 days.”

 

Once the censer is cast down, daily atonement (daily intercession) will not be offered any more on the Altar of Incense. Therefore: God’s corporate wrath breaks out on Earth’s inhabitants.

 

The fourth seal is broken. Rumblings, lightening, thunders, and a global earthquake follow. The world will be stopped in its tracks. Arrested!

 

The whole world will be put on notice with these four physical phenomena that God’s anger with our behavior will not be contained any longer. The appointed time for God’s wrath has come and shortly after these four manifestations, the first trumpet will sound in Heaven’s courtroom and fiery hail will fall from the sky and burn up 1/3 of Earth. The enormous scope and nature of this judgment is “a prophetic sample” of hell.

 

One more point:

You might be wondering about the prayers of all the saints on Earth. What is their petition? What are saints, the world over, praying about? This is a good question because no one knows the timing (the day and hour) of this service in Heaven’s temple! Remember, the prayers of the saints are presented to the Lord shortly before the censer is cast down and the global earthquake occurs. See if this explanation makes any sense:

 

The Bible does not say what the saints are praying about. We know that saints are praying everyday to God, but this service in Heaven is not an everyday event and neither are these prayers. However, there is one thingthat all of God’s saints would pray about at the same time under the right circumstances.

 

I believe a great war will erupt in the Middle East and this war will escalate until there is a nuclear exchange. Tens of millions will die in this war. Because this war will affect the global economy, the distribution of oil, food, clothing, building materials and supplies of all kinds will slow to a stop. This war will be a fearful event. The words of Iran’s president may be prophetic: He wants to wipe Jerusalem off the map.

 

If Israel were totally destroyed by nuclear bombs, what would this do to the theology of hundreds of millions of Christians who believe that the temple will be rebuilt?

 

Because this war will be nuclear and the consequences far reaching, the whole world will suddenly be crying out for “peace and safety.” Anxiety will be very great and all of God’s people will be praying for the same thing! The imminent return of Jesus Christ!

 

Paul wrote:

 

1 Thessalonians 5:4   But you brother, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief.”

 

Did you notice that within a context of people saying “peace and safety” that “sudden destruction” comes [from the Lord]?

 

While world leaders are doing their best to limit the nuclear war and achieve peace and safety, God answers the prayers of His saints by stepping into the fray!

 

All of the saints on Earth will be earnestly praying for the Lord’s intervention. An angel is called to the Altar of Incense. He is given much incense, and the context of a sweet aroma, the petitions of the saints will be presented to the Lord. The Lord will give the nod and the angel will throw the censer down. Corporate intercession for Earth is terminated and God’s wrath breaks out. The 1,335 days just began. The Second Coming is a parade of events over a course of 1,335 days. 

 

If you think this nuclear exchange I have presented is horrible, you haven’t seen anything yet! Sudden destruction from God will miniaturize the nuclear exchange. God will step into the affairs of mankind with something bigger than nuclear bombs. [Illustration: Big ant and three little ants fighting]

 

In fact, the first trumpet will burn up a third of the entire world!

Suddenly, man’s biggest problem isn’t nation against nation it is God versus mankind. Let’s look at the first four trumpets: 

 

Revelation 8:7   The first angel sounded his trumpet [in Heaven’s temple], and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled down upon the earth.

 

Revelation 8:8   The second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a huge mountain, all ablaze, was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned into blood,

 

Revelation 8:9   a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.

 

Revelation 8:10   The third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water –

 

Revelation 8:11   the name of the star is Wormwood [poison]. A third of the waters turned bitter, and many people died from the waters that had become bitter.

 

Revelation 8:12   The fourth angel sounded his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them turned dark. A third of the day was without light, and also a third of the night. [Global famine]

 

Revelation 8:13   As I watched, I heard an eagle [the fourth living creature, the one with the face of an eagle that oversees the fourth seal] that was flying in midair and call out in a loud voice: Woe! Woe! Woe! [Condemned are] to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded by the other three angels!”

 

So, the first four trumpets are:

 

1.   Fiery hailstorm burns up 1/3 of Earth.

2.   Asteroid impact on ocean – tsunami and the ocean is left in angry turmoil

3.   Asteroid impact on a continent – drinking water contaminated

4.   Darkness – no food crops

 

Two points that need to be addressed:

 

1.   The repetitive use of 1/3 in the seven trumpets:

2.   The reason for calling these judgments “seven trumpets”:

 

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