Monthly Archive for December, 1998

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Revelation 10:8-11

Published on December 21, 1998 in Revelation. 2 Comments
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“Then the voice which I heard from heaven spoke to me again and said, “Go, take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the earth.” So I went to the angel and said to him, “Give me the little book.” And he said to me, “Take and eat it; and it will make your stomach bitter, but it will be as sweet as honey in your mouth.” Then I took the little book out of the angel’s hand and ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth. But when I had eaten it, my stomach became bitter. And he said to me, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings“
 
“Then the voice which I heard from heaven spoke to me again and said, “Go, take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the earth.”
 
Three times in Scripture people are told to eat a book (Jeremiah 15:13-17; Ezekiel 2:8-10 and here). Usually, eating a book is not very nourishing! Books normally do not contain vitamins! Eating here is analogous to believing. God wants us to know but even more so, He wants us to believe what He says.
 
So I went to the angel and said to him, “Give me the little book.” And he said to me, “Take and eat it; and it will make your stomach bitter, but it will be as sweet as honey in your mouth.”
The angel wanted John to assimilate the “little book” into his life (Jeremiah 15:16). God wanted him to digest the message of the book so that it would change him personally. When we eat a hot dog it eventually becomes part of our body [whether we like it or not!]. We bear it on our body. When John ate the little book, it soon became a part of him. God gave John some pertinent information about the Tribulation but he needed more than information about prophecy, he needed personal transformation by the truth of it.
The eating of this book by John is a picture of understanding the Bible and then then applying it to experience by faith.
Then I took the little book out of the angel’s hand and ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth. But when I had eaten it, my stomach became bitter.
To know that God is sovereign in the way He executes prophetic events is sweet to the soul. To see the effect of God’s judgment is bitter to the soul.
“The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold,
Yea, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
Moreover by them Your servant is warned,
And in keeping them there is great reward.
Who can understand his errors?
Cleanse me from secret faults.
Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins;
Let them not have dominion over me.
Then I shall be blameless,
And I shall be innocent of great transgression.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer” (Psalm 19:9-14).
And he said to me, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings
After John assimilates the prophecy, God gives him a new mission. John’s prophecy will be a judgment against the whole world.
Principle:
If we apply God’s Word to our experience, it will effectively change our lives.
Application:
It is important to assimilate the Word of God into our experience. The Bible is the plumb line against which we measure our lives.
“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).
Eating this book is indicates a principle: the importance of God’s Word. Scripture deals with our souls. There is pain in that. Change causes pain. God has plans to change us. We cherish certain sins and become comfortable with them. Now God asks us to deal with them. There is anguish in this. We wince when we ascertain we are part of the problem.
First, God judges us. Then, having dealt with us, He uses us to carry truth to others. Only after God touches us can we carry the message to someone else. Knowing truth truly and experientially, always leads to action. We cannot use the Bible to minister to others effectively unless the Bible first deals with us.
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Revelation 10:3-7

Published on December 20, 1998 in Revelation. 0 Comments
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“…and cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roars. When he cried out, seven thunders uttered their voices. Now when the seven thunders uttered their voices, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered, and do not write them.” The angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised up his hand to heaven and swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things that are in it, the earth and the things that are in it, and the sea and the things that are in it, that there should be delay no longer, but in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished, as He declared to His servants the prophets“
 
“and cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roars.
 
The cry of this special angel went throughout the world. This is an announcement to the entire world.
 
When he cried out, seven thunders uttered their voices.
When the angel roared, seven claps of thunder replied. These seven thunders are messages of judgment from God so terrible that God would not let John write them down.
Now when the seven thunders uttered their voices, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered, and do not write them.”
John is faithfully taking notes as he watches this scene. As John was about to write down the messages of the thunders, a voice from heaven told him not to write these messages down. These messages remain sealed to this day, the only part of Revelation still sealed. We know that these messages are some form of judgment.
The angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised up his hand to heaven
We raise our right hand when we take an oath to tell the truth. This is a sign that this angel is about to swear a solemn oath. This oath is a guarantee that God’s program is finally coming down.
and swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things that are in it, the earth and the things that are in it, and the sea and the things that are in it, that there should be delay no longer,
The angel swears by the eternal Creator that there will be no further delay in God’s final judgment. Swearing by the Creator indicates that creation is God’s and He will dispose of it as He wills. The angel especially calls attention to God’s authority over creation. When the seventh trumpet sounds, then God will fulfill prophecy (v.7). God is claiming the earth for Christ and that there will be no further delay.
Time has run out for Satan’s dominion over the earth. God will not delay His judgment. God will consummate His program.
but in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished, as He declared to His servants the prophets
The special angel announces the end of God’s mystery by an oath. A mystery in the Bible is not something hidden but something revealed only to the initiated. This mystery was known by the Old Testament prophets. We see here a fulfillment of that mystery.
This mystery is the plan of God for the world. When the seventh angel blows his trumpet, that will end the Tribulation period, the end of the age of Israel. There is no more mystery because God will manifest Himself in indubitable terms. The purpose of God for time will reveal itself completely and conclusively. The showdown against Satan has come.
Principle:
There is an end to injustice.
Application:
Some people ask why God allows them to go through injustice. Injustice runs unchecked. They ask where is God in this, “What does not God do something about this evil?”
We have an answer in the above passage. One thing is clear about God throughout the Bible – He is in no hurry (2 Peter 3:8,9). God puts up with a great wrong, yet He exercises forbearance. A hateful, godless, indifferent humanity has gone its own way. God is not willing that any should perish, but there will be a day when His patience ceases. That day will be the end of His program as we know it.
Judgment is God’s “strange work” (Isaiah 28:21). God does not want to judge, but His character demands that He does. God is always true to Himself. He is always on the level. Therefore, God will come to bat. When it is His turn at the plate, He will hit a home run every time. We live in “humanity’s day” but then will come God’s Day. Humanity has struck out with His plans. Now it is God’s turn.
No one will say, “You were not fair. You did not give me a chance.” Everyone will know that God was more than fair. They will know beyond a shadow of doubt that they get what they deserve. God has the complete record of everything we did and thought (Hebrews 4:13).
Many generations have expected God to deal justly in their day. At this point in the Tribulation, God will finally bring the purpose of creation to fruition. Up to this point God has ruled over earth, but He has not reigned on earth.
God’s will is not being done on earth as it is in heaven right now. That will happen in the Millennium. Jesus will reign as King Jesus, King of the World. If people do not submit to Him there, then He will rule them with a rod of iron. No one will have the civil liberty to go against the King. Civil liberty is not a central biblical value. However, an absolutely perfect autocratic King is biblical.
In the church age, it is wrong to make laws forcing people to go to church. People have the right to go to hell if they choose so. Religious tyranny is the worst kind of tyranny. The day will come, however, whereby everyone will fall in line with God’s program.
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Revelation 10:1-2

Published on December 19, 1998 in Revelation. 0 Comments
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“I saw still another mighty angel coming down from heaven, clothed with a cloud. And a rainbow was on his head, his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire. He had a little book open in his hand. And he set his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, and cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roars. When he cried out, seven thunders uttered their voices. Now when the seven thunders uttered their voices, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered, and do not write them.” The angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised up his hand to heaven and swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things that are in it, the earth and the things that are in it, and the sea and the things that are in it, that there should be delay no longer, but in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished, as He declared to His servants the prophets“
 
The seven trumpet judgments are part of the seventh seal judgment. We have studied six of the trumpet judgments.
 
This interlude between the sixth and seventh trumpet judgment parallels the interludes between the sixth and seventh seal and bowl judgments. As chapter seven introduced a parenthesis between the sixth and seventh seals [the 144,000 and the martyrs], so chapters 10 and 11:1-14 introduce two digressions between the sixth and seventh trumpets. This interlude consoles believers by announcing the millennial reign of Christ (11:15). This interlude prepares us for the seventh trumpet.
 
In this parenthesis, there are two sets of forerunners to the Second Advent of Christ: 1) a powerful angel and 2) two witnesses. These two sets of forerunners [one angelic and two human] are two sets of heralds of Christ’s kingdom. In the Bible, the King is always preceded by His heralds. John the Baptist was the herald to Jesus’ first coming.
I saw still another mighty angel coming down from heaven, clothed with a cloud.
John introduces another angel different from the seven blowing the trumpets. Although the Greek indicates he is of the same kind as the angels who blow the seven trumpets, this angel has distinct characteristics.
Wearing a “cloud” may indicate that He announces the coming of Christ as a herald of the Second Coming.
And a rainbow was on his head, his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire.
The “rainbow” is a reminder that God keeps His Word (Genesis 9:12-17). God promised never to destroy the world by water again. God will never welch on His Word. He never goes back on a promise. God is not unstable. He is always true to Himself.
This angel’s face reflects the glory of God and his feet indicate he is come to execute God’s judgment.
He had a little book open in his hand.
The Lamb of God opened the seven-sealed scroll (5:1) but the angel holds a small scroll. This scroll held his impending mission. His mission was to announce that Jesus holds the title deed to the world. God is in the process of repossessing the world from Satan. When Jesus comes, He will bring His title deed to prove that He is the rightful owner.
And he set his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land,
The angel had his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land indicating his right of authority over the earth. God is going to take back what is rightfully His (Psalm 2:6-8). This angel is claiming the world for Christ.
Principle:
God will regain the world to Himself.
Application:
At the present time, Christians live in the Devil’s world but we personally belong to the Lord Jesus. We are part of His plan. We orient to that plan by knowing prophecy. If we do this, we fulfill a purpose for which God placed us on earth.
Nothing riles the devil’s majesty more than to look at believers oriented to God’s prophetic plan for the world. These people gall him. They irritate him to such a degree that he puts a tail on them – a fallen angel, a demon. These demons constantly gather information against believers. The devil brings this list before God and accuses believers for what they have done. He points out the terrible things believers have done. God then calls in the believers’ defense attorney, the Lord Jesus, to defend them. Based on the blood of Christ, the Judge [the Father] throws the case out of court.
The devil is not primarily in the business of immorality. He is in the business of religion. He loves sweetness and pseudo light. He wants people to focus on the so called “divine spark” in every person produced through self and Satan. He wants to set up a kingdom independent of God. He wants to make this a “perfect kingdom” but because of the sin capacity of people, his kingdom keeps failing. Now Satan’s doom is sealed with the coming of Christ.
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Revelation 9:12-21

Published on December 18, 1998 in Revelation. 0 Comments
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“One woe is past. Behold, still two more woes are coming after these things.Then the sixth angel sounded: And I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released to kill a third of mankind. Now the number of the army of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them. And thus I saw the horses in the vision: those who sat on them had breastplates of fiery red, hyacinth blue, and sulfur yellow; and the heads of the horses were like the heads of lions; and out of their mouths came fire, smoke, and brimstone. By these three plagues a third of mankind was killed—by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone which came out of their mouths. For their power is in their mouth and in their tails; for their tails are like serpents, having heads; and with them they do harm. But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk. And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their theft“
 
One woe is past. Behold, still two more woes are coming after these things.
 
We come to the sixth trumpet. This is the second of three “woes” (8:13). A “woe” is a great calamity. “One woe is past” refers to the fifth trumpet.
 
Then the sixth angel sounded: And I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God,
The four horns of the golden altar in the Old Testament were located on the four corners of the altar (Exodus 27:2; 30:2f). We saw the altar of incense in the previous chapter. Saints offered their prayers upon that altar. This is another answer to that prayer. This unleashing of judgment is a specific answer to prayer.
saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.”
The sixth angel releases four angels bound by the river Euphrates. These angels are fallen angels – demons. Demons can only act with God’s permission, even to the very precise hour of a given day. Nothing can change God’s timing.
So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released to kill a third of mankind.
The four fallen angels kill one third of the world’s population by an invading force (Daniel 12:1; Matthew 24:21). The extent of death here is almost incredible.
Now the number of the army of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them.
Two million mounted troops come on the scene. This is an overwhelming armed force. This would be the world’s largest army in its history.
And thus I saw the horses in the vision: those who sat on them had breastplates of fiery red, hyacinth blue, and sulfur yellow; and the heads of the horses were like the heads of lions; and out of their mouths came fire, smoke, and brimstone.
John describes this vast army by symbols. This description of 200 million horses is something other than literal horses. This is a mechanized army.
By these three plagues a third of mankind was killed—by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone which came out of their mouths.
The description of fire, smoke and brimstone coming out of the mouths of these horses appear to describe modern weapons of warfare such as flame-throwers.
For their power is in their mouth and in their tails; for their tails are like serpents, having heads; and with them they do harm.
Modern weapons have firepower both in front of the vehicle and in the rear such as helicopters.
But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk.
People of the future will be unabashedly religious. Yet, with all the destruction these judgments bring, most people will remain negative toward God and immune from the influence of His judgment. They will worship demons and go into the occult. This explains why they will not repent. They are under “strong delusion.”
“The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness” (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12).
People deluded by religion are “works” oriented. They cannot give up the idea that salvation depends on them rather than Jesus.
And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts
These people hung to their sexual immorality and thievery even in the face of one- third of the population of the world being killed. This immorality will probably interface with religion.
The word “sorceries” comes from the Greek word pharmakia from which we get the English word “pharmacy.” This is the word for drugs. People in the first century used drugs for occult practices. Vast numbers of people in the future will be drug addicts. There will be more drug addicts than in any other time in history.
Principle:
People involved in demonism cannot respond to God.
Application:
This judgment produced fear but not repentance. People under demonic possession cannot respond to God. There is a close connection between idolatry and demon worship. Superstitious submission to strange supernatural forces will be a characteristic of people in the Tribulation. That people do not change even under great duress from God is a clear indication of demonic influence.
“Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons…” (1 Titus 4:1).
When people enter demonism, they are no longer able to believe because their hearts are so hardened that they cannot listen to God’s voice. The goodness of God should lead us to repentance but so often it does not (Romans 2:4). God spared you from judgment yet you will not embrace His Son as your Savior. Just think of what you have done yet God is still patient with you. Why has He spared you?
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Revelation 9:1-11

Published on December 17, 1998 in Revelation. 0 Comments
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“Then the fifth angel sounded: And I saw a star fallen from heaven to the earth. To him was given the key to the bottomless pit. 2 And he opened the bottomless pit, and smoke arose out of the pit like the smoke of a great furnace. So the sun and the air were darkened because of the smoke of the pit. 3 Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth. And to them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. 4 They were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. 5 And they were not given authority to kill them, but to torment them for five months. Their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it strikes a man. 6 In those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will desire to die, and death will flee from them. 7 The shape of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle. On their heads were crowns of something like gold, and their faces were like the faces of men. 8 They had hair like women’s hair, and their teeth were like lions’ teeth. 9 And they had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots with many horses running into battle. 10 They had tails like scorpions, and there were stings in their tails. Their power was to hurt men five months. 11 And they had as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, but in Greek he has the name Apollyon. 12 One woe is past. Behold, still two more woes are coming after these things.”
 
The final three trumpets summon three woes to call attention to the severity of the last three judgments (8:13).  The bowl judgments yet to come are even greater in intensity. 
1 Then the fifth angel sounded: And I saw a star fallen from heaven to the earth. To him was given the key to the bottomless pit.
The fifth trumpet covers the first eleven verses.  Since God gives this trumpet notable attention by its length, we infer that the events of this trumpet carry great weight in God’s economy of things. 
The fifth trumpet causes John to see a fallen star from heaven, this “star” is Satan.  The Greek indicates that this star is in a fallen state.  Satan fell from heaven because god kicked him out of heaven (Is 14:12f; Lu 10:18; Re 12:7-17).
God gave Satan a “key” to allow demons in the Abyss to come out and torment the earth.  The “bottomless pit” is a residence of demons (9:11; 11:7; 17:8; 20:1, 3).  It is a place of confinement for fallen angels. 
2 And he opened the bottomless pit, and smoke arose out of the pit like the smoke of a great furnace. So the sun and the air were darkened because of the smoke of the pit.
The “he” in this verse is a person — Satan.  God cast him out of heaven at the beginning of the Great Tribulation (12:9) [the Great Tribulation begins half way through the Tribulation].  Satan is Lucifer turned Devil.
3 Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth. And to them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.
Scripture associates locusts with judgment (Ex. 10:12-17).  Locusts can come in such great swarms that they destroy everything in their path. 
This passage does not say that these demons were scorpions but simply that they have the power of a scorpion. 
4 They were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.
The demons do not hurt vegetation or the ecological system; they hurt people. These demons hurt everyone except the 144,000 because God protects them with His seal.  God guards these leaders from demonic possession. 
God sends these demons to afflict the earth with His discipline.  God places certain restrictions on these invaders.  They can hurt only those God allows them to hurt and only for a limited period.  God sovereignly controls the demonic world.
5 And they were not given authority to kill them, but to torment them for five months. Their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it strikes a man.
God gave them “authority” to do this so they are not autonomous in their destruction.  God limits their torture to five months. 
6 In those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will desire to die, and death will flee from them.
Men will seek to commit suicide but they will not be able to die.  Their torture is not fatal.  For five months funeral directors will be out of work.
7 The shape of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle. On their heads were crowns of something like gold, and their faces were like the faces of men.
John enumerates eight characteristics of these demons.  First, their shape was like horses prepared for battle.  These creatures had mobility.  These were invading creatures.  They came like cavalry.  Secondly, they had crowns like gold, a distinctive of a conqueror.  This could refer to the domination of demons with the cultic thinking.  Thirdly, their faces were like the faces of men.  This may imply intelligence. 
Locusts were a nemesis in the day of the Bible.  Hoards of locusts could wipe out a crop in one day.
8 They had hair like women’s hair, and their teeth were like lions’ teeth.
The fourth characteristic of these demons is that they have hair of women.  This may infer long, loose hair, giving the impression of ferocious beings.  The opposite interpretation might be true as well, that they are of such striking beauty and charisma that few can reject their false teaching.  Many will buy into their propaganda because of the authority and power of these false teachers. 
Their teeth will be like lion’s teeth.  This is a symbol of something frightening.  Those who surrender to false teaching will find it vile and hurtful to their belief.  False teachers will show no mercy on their followers. 
9 And they had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots with many horses running into battle.
Fifth, they had breastplates like iron.  This may have been a chariot of iron.  These demons were not vulnerable to attack. 
Sixth, the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots going into battle.  The sound of false teaching can intimidate. 
10 They had tails like scorpions, and there were stings in their tails. Their power was to hurt men five months.
These locusts did not attack crops but people.  God only gave permission to execute judgment for five months. 
11 And they had as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, but in Greek he has the name Apollyon.
These demons have a king; he is Satan. 
“Abaddon” means destruction.
PRINCIPLE: No demon can possess a Christian.
APPLICATION: The judgment of God is real.  This section of Scripture is not a place for amusement.  False teaching is no joke.  When people follow false teaching it always leads to despair.  This will increase with great severity in the Tribulation.  Today, people fall into “strong delusion” as well.  Satanic power will drive people from lie to lie.  They want to believe anything but the truth. 
No demon can touch those with the seal of God on them.  No demon can possess a Christian.  The Christian is “in Christ.”  He holds the same status that Jesus holds before God forever.
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Revelation 8:7-13

Published on December 16, 1998 in Revelation. 0 Comments
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“The first angel sounded: And hail and fire followed, mingled with blood, and they were thrown to the earth. And a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.
Then the second angel sounded: And something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood. And a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.
Then the third angel sounded: And a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the water, because it was made bitter.
Then the fourth angel sounded: 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 were darkened. A third of the day did not shine, and likewise the night. And I looked, and I heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, “Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!“
 
The remainder of chapter 8 gives us the first four trumpet judgments. The first four trumpet judgments fall on creation and the last three on mankind.
 
The first angel sounded: And hail and fire followed, mingled with blood, and they were thrown to the earth. And a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.
The first trumpet sounds and one-third of the trees burn up and all green grass on the Earth. This is a judgment of great magnitude on vegetation.
Then the second angel sounded: And something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood.
The second angel sounded his trumpet (vv. 8-9). Some appearance like a massive burning mountain was thrown into the sea. Some scientists make ominous predictions of asteroids hitting the earth. They say the impact will be like many hydrogen bombs causing massive death within hundreds of miles of their collision. According to NASA scientists, an asteroid of four kilometers broad could wipe out half the world’s population.
And a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.
Tidal waves will do further damage. The shock waves of this mountain-like ball of fire will destroy one-third of all the sea creatures and ships on the sea.
Then the third angel sounded: And a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water.
The third trumpet brings another object from the skies into the Earth’s atmosphere and biosphere. As it hits the earth’s atmosphere, it lights up like a torch. This third trumpet destroys one-third of the rivers and springs of water. Evidently, this catastrophe is worldwide. This destroys the fresh water supply of much of the Earth.
The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the water, because it was made bitter.
“Wormwood” in Palestine had a bitter taste. The “wormwood” desert plant of Palestine is not poisonous but the Wormwood here caused men to die.
Then the fourth angel sounded: 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 were darkened. A third of the day did not shine, and likewise the night.
The fourth trumpet affects the sun, moon and stars. One-third of them were darkened both in the day and night. This might designate an eclipse.
“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other” (Matthew 24:29-31).
And I looked, and I heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, “Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound
The three-fold repetition of the word “woe” indicates that the remaining three trumpets are even more ominous than the first four. A new and greater level of judgment is about to unfold. This is a solemn warning.
Principle:
Sin brings bitterness.
Application:
The book of Revelation gives us a preview of prophetic events. The evil that is in the world today will pale in light of coming judgment. This implies that the world will not improve with modernization. It is not getting better and better. True, we have more conveniences. We have more bells and whistles. Our cars have more gadgets than fifty years ago. However, the corrupt nature that was in man at the beginning of creation is getting worse. We have more murder and immorality.
“But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived” (2 Titus 3:13).
Human beings rationalize away the idea of catastrophic judgment. We will do anything to stop thinking about the implication of a holy God. We do not want to deal with the consequence of sin. We avoid facing our fears.
The judgments in the above passage chill our blood, as they should. People who go through tragedy often rearrange their values. They put greater emphasis on the things of greater value. As C. S. Lewis said, God uses pain as a megaphone to get the attention of morally deaf people.
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Revelation 8:1-6

Published on December 15, 1998 in Revelation. 0 Comments
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“When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets. Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand. Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And there were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake. So the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound”
 
Now we come to the opening of the great seventh seal. This is a climactic event in the book of Revelation.
 
“When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour (Revelation 8:1).
The opening of the seventh seal caused an ominous and eerie silence in heaven for about a half an hour. The seventh seal that launches the second series of seven, the trumpet judgments, caused a hush across heaven. “What can we expect now? It must be something perilous and grim.” Great apprehension fell over everyone in contrast to the shouts of celebration in the previous chapter.
And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets (Revelation 8:2).
Out of the seventh seal falls seven trumpet judgments and seven bowl judgments.
The seven trumpets are not the same as the seven seals. They do not cover the same ground as the seals but proceed out of the sixth seal. Both the bowl judgments and the trumpet judgments are within the seal judgments. These judgments are one series in three movements.
Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne (Revelation 8:3).
An angel with a golden censer [shovel] stood at the altar. The priest of the Old Testament used censers to
able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He carry hot coals from the brazen altar from outside the tabernacle to the altar of incense inside the tabernacle. God designed everything in the tabernacle to teach His system of truth.
The censor of the New Testament is the prayer of the saint. The tabernacle and all its function are types of Christ and His work, especially his work of intercession to the Father on our behalf (John 17:9; 1 John 2:1-2). All of our eternal legal affairs are kept in order by our Defense Attorney, Jesus Christ. We do not have to make a direct appeal to the Father; Jesus does that for us. He personally represents us and takes care of our matters very well.
“Therefore He is also always lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25).
And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand (Revelation 8:4).
Prayer is like the smoke of incense ascending to God.
Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And there were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake (Revelation 8:5).
In this case, the angel first offered these coals as incense before God and then threw them on the earth. After the prayer of verse three rises into the presence of God, judgment plunges to earth. God brings judgment in answer to prayer; God sent the angel to fling fire to the earth. In this case, prayer brings judgment to earth.
So the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound (Revelation 8:6).
Israel used trumpets to call the nation to assembly and to sound an alert for war. Trumpets were a call to impending action. This is God’s public announcement system. Something important always followed the national trumpet.
Principle:
Jesus executes His unfinished work over us daily.
Application:
The function of prayer from God’s viewpoint is very interesting. Jesus as our High Priest intervenes on our behalf to God for us (Romans 8:34). Do you feel that the heavens are as brass and that God does not hear or answer your prayers? Jesus prays for us. He makes requests for us. He appeals to His character and work on our behalf. God answers our prayer because of Jesus, not because of our work.
Jesus’ unfinished work is His work of intercession on our behalf. Jesus personally represents me to the Father. Satan constantly accuses us before the Father.
“So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, ‘Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. ‘And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death’” (Revelation 12:9-11).
Jesus intercedes for us:
“Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us” (Romans 8:34).
Jesus is in heaven taking care of our concerns both there and here. He processes everything that happens to us here as well. There is no coincidence. Nothing incidental comes into our lives. No fluke or accident ever happens to the Christian. No Christian operates by “luck.” God shields us every moment of our existence.
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Revelation 7:13-17

Published on December 14, 1998 in Revelation. 1 Comment
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“Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?” And I said to him, “Sir, you know.” So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. “Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. “They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; “for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes“
 
Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?” (Revelation 7:13).
 
One of the elders asks from where those clothed in white robes came. The answer comes in verse 14. These people came out of the great Tribulation. Their white robes indicate that the Lamb made their robes white by His blood.
 
And I said to him, “Sir, you know.” So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb (Revelation 7:14).
These saints were not believers from the church age. They came out of the great Tribulation period. This phrase in the Greek is very powerful, “the Tribulation, the great one.” These are the martyrs killed in the last three and one half years of the Tribulation.
It is ironic that the white robes of these martyrs were made white in red blood. By the shedding of the blood of Jesus, the Lamb, these martyrs stand completely clean before God forever. They stand without sin before God.
“Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them (Revelation 7:15).
The word “therefore” indicates the reason these martyrs stood before the throne and in the presence of God: the shed blood of Christ for their sins. They are now in the presence of the one whom saved them.
We will serve God day and night in His presence [temple]. “Night and day” indicates that there is no cessation to serving the Lord. Evidently, they never need sleep or to go to bed.
“Dwell” means to spread a tabernacle, to live, have one’s tent, encamp. Later John uses this term for heaven itself (Revelation 21:3). Here, God spreads his tent over these martyrs to protect them with His presence. God’s presence protects these saints perpetually. They no longer need to fear any trouble.
“They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat (Revelation 7:16).
Evidently, the people in white robes were martyrs who suffered hunger, thirst and exposure. In the Tribulation, believers will go without food because of a mark put upon them by world religion. If they have this mark, they cannot buy food. Many will starve to death.
“for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes (Revelation 7:17)
The Lamb personally shepherds the martyrs by leading them to fountains of living water. Jesus sustains these martyrs personally and He leads them to the living water. The person of Christ is central to our adequacy.
The Greek emphasis is on the word “living.” Christians will partake of God’s life on an ongoing basis — eternal life.
Principle:
We will not grieve in heaven.
Application:
Jesus takes away our grieving. No one can get through life without sorrow. God will not allow us to grieve in heaven. God will personally wipe away every tear.
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Revelation 7:9-12

Published on December 13, 1998 in Revelation. 0 Comments
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“After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying:
‘Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom,
Thanksgiving and honor and power and might,
Be to our God forever and ever. Amen‘”
 
After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands,
 
The “great multitude” that no one could number was people from all nations. God did not seal these people as He did the 144,000 Israelites. A worldwide harvest of people will come to Christ in the Tribulation. This encompasses not only Gentiles but also Jews beyond the 144,000 listed in the first eight verses.
 
Clothed in white robes means that these saints in heaven received a forensic or judicial righteousness before God by the death of Christ. They have no righteousness in themselves. They only have righteousness from the death of Jesus for their sins.
Palm branches were symbols of joy by those watching a triumphal procession. They celebrated the victory that is in Christ.
and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” (Revelation 7:10).
The group gathered around the throne cried out with loud jubilation.
“Salvation belongs to our God” means God is the source or origin of our salvation. Salvation belongs to God, not us. It is God’s work. We cannot take credit for salvation. People give testimonies today that make it appear that they are a wonderful people for the change made in their lives. They make an issue out of their smoking or drinking. Not one ounce of credit goes to us. All glory should go to Jesus and His death on the cross.
The throne here is the same throne of chapters four and five. This is a place of preference because they stand in the presence of God. The cause of praise to God is the work of God in salvation. It was God who provided the Lamb who would die for our sins.
All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, (Revelation 7:11).
A number of groups stationed themselves on their faces before God. This is an act of humility and worship. When people step into the presence of an absolutely holy God, they see their sin in the clearest light possible.
Even angels who did not sin fall on their faces before God. Their finiteness in comparison to God’s infiniteness overwhelmed them with awe.
saying:
“Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom,
Thanksgiving and honor and power and might,
Be to our God forever and ever. Amen” (Revelation 7:12).
These groups manifest the essence of God. Because of His glorious person, we must worship Him with a sense of awe.
They confirm their ascription of praise with an “Amen.” “Yes, God’s attributes and actions must be praised.” The primary concern of those in heaven is that they recognize, acknowledge and praise the glory of God. “Amen” means “I believe it.” They say in effect — “I believe that we made it to heaven, not by what we did, but by what Jesus did. It was not by my own works but by His work.” Thanksgiving is both a recognition and acknowledgement of God’s work.
Principle:
Our major role in heaven is acknowledging the glory of God.
Application:
Are you getting in tune for an eternity of praise to God? This will be our main role throughout eternity.
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Revelation 7:5-8

Published on December 12, 1998 in Revelation. 4 Comments
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“…of the tribe of Judah twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Asher twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Levi twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand were sealed“
 
Verses five through eight identify those God sealed — members of the tribes of Israel.
 
of the tribe of Judah twelve thousand were sealed;
Judah is the ruling tribe, the aristocratic tribe. This is the tribe of King David and of Jesus.
of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand were sealed;
Reuben was the first born.
of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Asher twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Levi twelve thousand were sealed;
Usually the Bible omits the tribe of Levi [the priestly tribe] from the lists of tribes because they had no inheritance of land.
of the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand were sealed;
Issachar means strong ass. The ass was a beast of burden. Maybe this was the blue-collar tribe!
of the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand were sealed;
This list does not include Ephraim but on the other hand, it does include Joseph. Joseph may simply be another name for Ephraim.
of the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand were sealed
These tribes are actual Israelites and are not representatives of the church. No one knows the identity of these tribes today, not even the nation Israel. All records were destroyed by the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. God, however, knows who they are. The Bible includes 29 lists of the tribes of Israel. In no case are there more than 12 listed.
The seals on these twelve tribes indicate God’s sovereign protection of these tribes during the Tribulation period. God has preserved Israel down through the centuries.
God does not include the tribe of Dan in this list. Dan committed treachery by initiating apostasy into Israel (Genesis 49:17; 1 Kings 11:26; 12:28-30). However, God will not disinherit Dan during the Millennium (Ezekiel 48:1,2).
Principle:
It is important to distinguish between Jews and Gentiles.
Application:
These 12 tribes are Israelites, not Jehovah Witnesses or British Israelites. Nor do these tribes refer to the church.
Jehovah Witnesses originally claimed that the 144,000 were people of their religion. That interpretation became a problem when their numbers outgrew 144,000. They juggled their interpretation to adjust to their changing reality. They then said that there was an earthly band of 144,000, then they claimed there was an additional heavenly band. That would now allow for 288,000 people. Since their numbers have gone beyond 288,000, they now claim a third category — “the servant band.” People today who become Jehovah Witnesses can join at the servant level.
Changes in the organization caused changes in their doctrine. This distorts Scripture to harmonize a doctrine and makes up doctrine to suit the current situation. Jehovah Witnesses were never Jews in the first place. This passage excludes every Gentile.
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