The Seven Trumpets

Parts 4-6

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What we have learned so far?

 

1.   We know the censer hasn’t been cast down because God’s wrath has not begun. In fact, no historical event meets the specifications given in Revelation 8. Zero. [For what it is worth, it was widely believed by geologists that a global earthquake was impossible until 1995. During that year, and earthquake occurred near Bogota, Columbia that was felt from top to bottom throughout the western hemisphere.  That event singularly and suddenly changed the thinking of geologists and geosciences.

 

Then, again, the huge earthquake that created the tsunami in southern Asia during December 2004 proved that a global earthquake was possible. That earthquake, a 9.2 on the Richter scale, literally shook the whole world and it even affected the rotation of our planet! So, the facts perfectly align with Bible prophecy. We know the censer hasn’t been thrown down because there is no historical event that meets the specifications given in Revelation 8.

 

2.   The world has not seen the 144,000. We also know that the four angels have notinflicted the harm they have power to do. They aren’t allowed to hurt the Earth until the 144,000 are sealed.

 

3.   We know that the harm will be when the first two trumpets sound:

 

1.   Land:   1/3 of the trees will be burned up / all green grass burned up

 

2.   Sea:   Great asteroid will impact sea, 1/3 of the ships will sink, 1/3 of the sea   turns red like blood, 1/3 of the sea creatures die

 

These things have not happened in history past and neither will they happen after a pre-tribulation rapture. They are coming soon and they will affect you and me.

 

I am very impressed with the timing of Revelation’s story. After the world experiences a nuclear exchange or two, the saints will be praying “Save us Lord Jesus!” And the Lord will hear and answer our prayers! As Man prepares to release another round of atomic punishment on each other, God releases His wrath on mankind and all of this occurs a mere 1,335 days before the Second Coming and the seventh millennium begins! Wow. With God, timing is everything! Now, here’s an interesting thought:

 

Jesus said, Matthew 24:22   “If these days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.”

 

This verse raises a difficult question. “Why would God give us the length of several time-periods within the Great Tribulation, only to change them? Why would God say one thing in the Bible, and then make the Bible inaccurate?”

 

For example, the Bible teaches the Great Tribulation will be 1,335 days in length. The work of the Two Witnesses will be 1,260 days in length. The persecution of the saints will last 42 months and the fifth trumpet will be five months in length, etc.

 

If Jesus is waiting for a day that is 1,335 days from the beginning of the seventh millennium, it is possible that Jesus could start the Great Tribulation a little early because World War III breaks out? In other words, instead of waiting for the precise day that is 1,335 days from the beginning of the seventh millennium, it is possible that the Lord could cast down the censer and begin the 1,335 days of the Great Tribulation a little earlier than planned. If so, this would put the Second Coming a little earlier than the commencement of the seventh millennium.

 

Of course, I can’t say how “those days” will be shortened. I can say that God will somehow reduce the number of days for the sake of His children. It will be just fine with me if Jesus gets here sooner than later.

 

Let’s go through the first four trumpets a second time because I want to point out three interesting things:

 

First, the seven trumpets should be considered ”designer judgments.” This means they have been deliberately and thoughtfully designed to say certain things to the survivors. Second, you have noticed the repetitive use of “1/3.” Twelve times this quantity is mentioned. We will discuss this. Third, please notice the language – notice that literal events produce literal results.

 

Revelation 8:7   The first angel sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled down upon the earth. A third of the earth was (1) burned up, a third of the trees (2) burned up, and all the green grass was (3) burned up.

 

Hail and fire mixed with blood? The idea of blood mixed with hail and fire is one of mercy. Yes, God justifiably burns up a third of Earth, but God mercifully spares 2/3’s of the Earth. Let’s look at Revelation 14 that promises there will be no mixture of mercy for those who worship the beast and receive his mark:

 

Revelation 14:9   And the third angel followed them, saying in a loud voice, if any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,

 

Revelation 14:10  The same will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture(of mercy) into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstonein the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb.”

 

The parallel here is simple. The first trumpet is a positive judgment of fire, but the blood of Jesus is mixed in with this sentence of wrath for the sake of saving individuals. However, we find that those who choose to worship the beast and receive his mark will be destroyed with fire and brimstone and no mercy will be shown them.

 

In addition to this, we know the wicked will not be shown any mercy at the Second Coming:

 

Revelation 6:12   I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red,

 

Revelation 6:13   and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as late figs fall from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind.

 

Revelation 6:16   They [the wicked] called to the [falling] mountains and the rock [meteorites], “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!

 

The “falling stars” at the Second Coming are rocks, as in meteorites. Jesus will punish some of the wicked with fire and brimstone. In fact, a lake of fire will be ignited at the Second Coming that will burn until the end of the 1,000 years. At the end of the 1,000 years, the devil and his angels will be thrown into this lake of burning sulfur.

 

The point here is that when the first trumpet sounds, fiery hailstones will speed through Earth’s atmosphere at 35,000 + mph and these flying rocks will kill men and beast alike. As I said earlier, thousands of notably wicked places all over the world will be set on fire, and millions of people will be burned up. The survivors will think the gates of hell have been opened up and that the end of life has come.

 

These horrible fires will sterilize notably wicked places, then, an asteroid will hit an ocean and huge waves of water, several hundred feet high, will wash inland for miles. It’s a though the sins of notably wicked places will be washed away. 

 

Remember, fire and water will be used to cleanse Earth.

 

Revelation 8:8   The second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a huge mountain, all ablaze, was [deliberately] 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.

 

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