THE SEVENTH TRUMPET
and the bowl judgments
"And the 7th angel sounded, and there arose loud
voices in heaven,"
The 7th trumpet sounds at Revelation 11:15 and serves
as an "announcement" of the final stage of God's wrath on the
kingdom of the beast and the unbelievers of the world.
The section, 11:14-19 picks up from chapter 9:21 which
is the 6th trumpet.
Revelation chapter 10 is a parenthetical section that
reaffirms John's commission to proclaim truth throughout the remainder
of his life. But in the middle (at verse 7) there is a reference to the
7th trumpet and the fact that when it sounds, "the mystery of God
is finished."
The mystery of God is that which was proclaimed by the
prophets. The fact that this revelation is assigned specifically to "the
prophets" and not the "apostles and prophets," as at Ephesians
3:5, strongly suggests that Old Testament revelation is in view. In that
case, "the mystery of God" refers to God's 6-point plan for the
nation of Israel as outlined at Daniel 9:24.
The completion of that plan revolves around the final
7 years of Daniel's 70th week and the end of that 7 year period. It is
at that time that the last 3 points of God's plan for Israel will be carried
out as the Messiah begins -
(1) His righteous reign and "brings in everlasting
righteousness."
(2) Fulfills the Old Testament "vision and prophet."
(3) And "anoints the most holy" in the Millennial
temple which temple is described in Ezekiel chapters 40 through 43.
(Refer to discussion on Daniel's 70 weeks in the PROPHECY
PERSPECTIVE index.)
Since Rev. 10:7 introduces the end of the week, the vision
of John next records that end by focusing on the specific 1260 day ministry
of the 2 witnesses who prophesy from the mid-point of the week until its
end.
The passage in view (Revelation 11:1-13) is thus, parenthetical
as it "back-tracks" to the mid-point of the week and moves to
the end, at which time (actually 3 1/2 days later) the 7th trumpet will
sound (Revelation 11:15).
The ministry of these two witnesses begins at the 2nd
half when the beast begins his reign and they minister for the duration
of the 2nd half of the week, exactly 1260 days. The end of the ministry
of the witnesses and the "mystery of God being finished" is the
same point in time, ie, the end of the 70th week.
Chapter 12 and 13 are also parenthetical and cover the
persecution activity of Satan from the midpoint of the week, when he is
physically kicked out of heaven and down to the earth. Chapter 12 introduces
the two objects of his attack during the great tribulation.
1. The Jewish race as the Messianic people.
In order to identify this "victim" of Satan's
oppression, the vision gives us a history lesson in v. 1-5. The lesson
covers the history of Israel from the creation of the 12 tribes until the
resurrection and ascension of Jesus the Messiah in 30 AD.
Then at v. 6, it reveals the final period of persecution
which is the last half of Daniel's 70th week, during which time the "orthodox"
Jews in the land, who refuse to take the mark of the beast, flee into the
mountainous wilderness for protection. This corresponds with the warning
that Jesus gave to "THOSE (not 'you') who are in Judea" to flee
into the mountains at Matthew 24:16.
2. At verses 7-17, the vision relates the reason for the
more intensive persecution that takes place at this time. It results when
Satan is physically defeated and kicked out of heaven by God's angels.
Therefore, "knowing that he has only a short time," he intensifies
his aggressions not only against the "orthodox" of Israel (verses
13-15) but also with any church age believers he can "get his hands
on" as indicated at verse 17, those "who keep the commandments
of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus."
This refers to the persecution against the church "before"
the rapture and not against the 144,000 after the rapture. The main reason
is that the 144,000 are clearly identified as Jewish and that identifying
factor is significantly NOT used in Revelation 12:17 in reference to those
who trust in Jesus.
The two groups in view are the "physical" nation
of Israel and a body of believers known as those who "hold to the
testimony of Jesus."
Since the "woman" is clearly contrasted with
those who trust in Jesus, she represents the nation of Israel in unbelief, and
not the 144,000 Jewish converts of Revelation 7.
Furthermore, the activity of the beast is unrestricted
which is characteristic of his reign "before" the Day of the
Lord. Whereas, after the Day of the Lord, the activity of the beast will
be much hindered by the administration of the Day of the Lord judgments.
Chapter 13 refers to the same period of time as that which
is in view at chapter 11:6-17 but amplifies the persecution by telling
of the religious and economic controls the beast seeks to institute. It
also provides insight about the beast's "right hand man," the
false prophet or "beast out of the land." This "2nd beast"
is a Jew ("out from the land") and represents and promotes the
policies of the 1st beast, basically testifying with words and miracles
that the 1st beast is indeed the promised Messiah and should be worshiped
as God.
Chapter 14, then gives us a summary of the high points
of the 2nd half of the week beginning with the "sealing" of the
144,000 Jewish "servants" of the Lord after the rapture and concluding
with the gathering of the nations to Armageddon which is the 6th bowl.
Chapter 14 does not begin with the mid-point of the week,
but later, after the tribulation has been cut short and the 144,000 "servants,"
begin their evangelistic function as representatives of the nation of Israel.
However, this chapter concludes just beyond the end of the 70th week, at
the end of the 30 day time of "final" wrath which immediately
follows the end of the week. Ie, the battle of Armageddon (Verse 14:20).
THE LAST TRUMPET
The 7th trumpet is not the "last trumpet" spoken
of by Paul.
They should not be equated but are separate and distinct.
Paul's use of "last trumpet" refers to the call to assembly in
the context of the Roman games; or even in a military context. Either of
these would be Paul's frame of reference. In both of these cases there
was a preliminary trumpet (sometimes 2) and then the last one which was
a call to assembly. This is the call to assembly for the gathering of the
saints.
He would have no knowledge of John's vision and the 7
trumpets.
Even though the Holy Spirit "melds" all of scripture, it is not
advisable to interpret Paul's use in any other way than the cultural context
of the day which speaks of the "call to assembly."
That is what will occur at the rapture. It is called THE
trumpet of God at 1 Thessalonians 4:16, because it is at this time that
he will "call" for the gathering of his people to meet Him in
the clouds of the sky. Nor does it require the "actual" occurrence
of one or two trumpet blasts before it, for the image in Paul's mind is
simply focusing on the final blast which is the "call to assembly."
The 7th trumpet, on the other hand, is an announcement
of judgment and not a call to assembly.
The 7th trumpet is the INDICATOR that the
70th week has concluded and the mystery of God’s personal reign on the earth
has begun as I discussed earlier in reference to Revelation 10:6-7.
Thus, when we get to the end of the 70th week and the blowing of the 7th
trumpet in heaven, we have the announcement of Messiah’s reign, the response
on the earth, and the events that will now occur through His reign.
VERSE 15
"And the seventh trumpet sounded; and there arose loud voices in heaven,
saying - The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of
His anointed one, and He will reign forever and ever."
ANNOUNCEMENTS CONCERNING THE 7TH TRUMPET
As seen at Revelation 10:7, The Mystery of God is finished.
This refers to the fulfillment of the Old
Testament revelation about God's plan for the nation of Israel before
Messiah's kingdom is established. The mystery of God in this case is the
restoration of Israel to the place of "true" evangelistic activity as
the 144,000 Jews trust in Messiah and become "servants of God."
This is the mystery that Paul mentioned at
Romans 11:25-29 which relates two primary issues:
(1) a "partial" hardening of Israel
(2) "all Israel will be saved"
This begins with the conversion of the 144,000
Jews immediately after the rapture of the church which is when "the
fullness of the Gentiles" comes in.
At Revelation 11:15 we see the two
announcements of the Messiah's reign.
The voices are recognizing something that has HAPPENED.
We see nothing directly stated in the context that indicates such a CHANGE
of authority. It occurs because of divine mandate.
1. The ENDING of one mandate: The reign of the beast which was given to him,
and was to last for 42 months (Rev. 13:5). “And authority to act for 42
months was given to him.”
Daniel 7:25, “and they will be given into his hand for a time, times and
half a time (3 1/2 years).”
Daniel 7:26, “and his dominion will be taken away, annihilated and destroyed
forever.”
His reign ended because the time expired. God said, “time’s up.”
But he is still alive on the earth and it is for the new KING to physically
depose him and prepare the earth for God’s righteous reign.
2. And the BEGINNING of another mandate: The reign of the Messiah which is
an everlasting dominion (Dan. 7:14, 27; Psalm 2:7-9).
Upon the successful first advent of Jesus the Messiah (His sacrifice and
resurrection) He was invited and accepted to sit at the right hand of the
Father in heaven. Psalm 110:1
“Yahweh says to my Lord, sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a
footstool for your feet.”
Jesus will SIT at the Father’s right hand in heaven as His official location
until IT IS TIME for the change in mandates.
“But He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the
right hand of God, waiting from that time onward until His enemies be made a
footstool for His feet,” (Hebrews 10:12-13).
The issue is TIMING. When the TIME comes to make his enemies his footstool,
then He will “leave” the seat of the right hand and descend to the earth in
the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. This is the second coming
PROPER that is prophesied at Matthew 24:29-30 and Revelation 6:12-17 as the
6th seal. He then BEGINS to take control through the trumpet judgments as he
executes divine justice on the unbelieving earth dwellers. At the conclusion
of the 6th trumpet, the 70th week has come to an end, the dominion mandate
of the beast has been removed and Jesus will accept the dominion mandate
that is handed to Him.
This is recorded prophetically at Daniel 7:13,
“I kept looking in the night visions,
And behold, with the clouds of heaven
One like a Son of Man was coming,
And He came up to the Ancient of Days (in heaven)
And was presented before Him.” (in heaven)
This is NOT the second coming but the ascension of Jesus to the right hand
of the Father after His resurrection.
Dan. 7:14,
“And to Him was given dominion, glory and a kingdom
that all the peoples, nations, and of every language
might serve Him.”
Upon the ascension of Jesus to the right hand of the Father, the Father
says, “Ask of me and I will surely give the nations as your inheritance,
and the very ends of the earth as your possession.” (Psalm 2:8)
Upon the success of Messiah’s first-advent ministry, a strategic victory is
accomplished over Satan. The Father ASSIGNS all authority to the Son at that
time. Ephesians 1:20-22,
“which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and
seated Him at His right hand in the heavenlies, far above all rule and
authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in
this age, but also in the one to come. And He put all things in subjection
under His feet.”
But this authority is not PHYSICALLY given to Him until the end of the 70th
week, when the authority of the beast is removed (Dan. 7:26-27).
Thus, Psalm 110:1 and Hebrews 10:12-13.
The distinction between the SPIRITUAL decree and the PHYSICAL reality is
seen at Hebrews 2:8-9,
“YOU HAVE PUT ALL THINGS IN SUBJECTION UNDER HIS FEET.” For in subjecting
all things to him, He left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we do
not yet see all things subjected to him.
But we do see Him who has been made for a little while lower than the
angels, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and
honor.”
Then, with the beast and a world of unbelievers still present on the earth,
Jesus takes possession of the kingdom and is told to “rule in the midst of
your enemies” (Psalm 110.2).
That is why at Psalm 2:9, it is necessary for him to
”break them with a rod of iron and . . . shatter them like pottery.”
Thus, at Daniel 7:14, after many years of waiting, “to Him was given
dominion.” In between verse 14 and 15 is the lengthy period of time from 30
AD to the end of the 70th week. The issue here is not to give us the
details, but to give us the two HIGH points; the ASCENSION of Jesus after
His successful first advent ministry, and the REIGN of Jesus which begins at
the end of the 70th week.
Returning to Revelation 11:16-18, we have the worship and proclamation of
the 24 elders who apprise us of the situation as of the end of the week.
Remember, they are mentioning things that occur as of this point in the
chronology, that is, the end of the 70th week, and
they are responding to the future vision that John is seeing rather than
this being part of that future vision.
Through the Spirit, John is having a
vision of heaven (Revelation 4-5) in which he sees what is actually IN
heaven at the time of the vision in 96 AD. Then, from the "vision" location
in heaven, he is shown a series of "future" visions (like on a movie screen)
and those beings who are in heaven are observing them as well.
The "future" visions begin in chapter 6 and when the 24
elders and the living creatures are mentioned again (Revelation 11:16-17 and
19:4) they are shown to be giving a response to the same thing that John is
seeing.
My point is that the 24 elders and the living creatures
are not part of the "future" visions but are in the audience with John as
the future is previewed before them.
This is the basis for translating the aorist tense of REIGN, as an
ingressive aorist, “begun to reign.”
PROCLAMATION ONE: The reign of the Messiah
"You have taken your great power and have begun to reign."
As mentioned above, there is a change in dominion mandates.
The beast’s mandate is removed and the Messiah’s is established.
Two verbs are used to indicate the establishment of the Messiah’s reign.
(a) you have taken: This is a perfect active indicative of lambanō.
The perfect tense indicates something that has occurred in the past, and the
results will continue on into the future. The word POWER, is dunamis and
refers to FUNCTIONAL power. The “past,” from the perspective of the elders is
the 6th seal descent of Jesus in the clouds of the sky with POWER (dunamis)
and great glory (Mat. 24:30). He TOOK this POWER from the Father, and
exercised it on the earth dwellers through the 6 trumpet judgments. (b) has
BEGUN to reign. This verb is an aorist active indicative of basileuō. The
context indicates that this is an INGRESSIVE aorist, which is very commonly
used to indicate the beginning of the action in view. This BEGAN when the
beast’s mandate was removed and the Messiah’s mandate was established. The
preparation for that was the administration of POWER (dunamis) through the
first six trumpets.
However, that "official" kingdom does not occur until 75 days later. It is
preceded by the 7 bowl judgments recorded at Revelation 16:1-21; AND the
removal of all unbelievers from the earth. Mat. 25:31ff; Ezek. 20:33-38.
According to Daniel 12:11-12, it will not be until 30
days later that the "defilement" of the temple is cleansed.
"And from the time that the regular sacrifice is
abolished (at the mid-point of the week) and the abomination of
desolation is set up (at the same time), there will be 1290 days."
This is 30 days more than the designated 1260 days (3
1/2 years, 42 months) of the 2nd half mentioned at Daniel 12:6-7.
And then not until 45 days later that the blessing of the kingdom will
actually be realized. "How blessed is he who keeps waiting and attains to
the 1335 days."
PROCLAMATION TWO
"and the nations have become enraged:"
The elders are acknowledging what has happened BECAUSE of the judgments from
God that have been falling on the world. The nations HAVE BECOME enraged. This is an aorist passive
indicative of orgidzomai, and indicates a CONDITION that exists because of
prior events. At the arrival of Jesus in the clouds of the sky, the earth
dwellers will express great fear and worry (Mat. 24:30; Luke 21:26; Rev.
6:15-16). But once the initial shock of His arrival has worn off, they will
return to their characteristic thoughts and actions of rebellion as is
indicated at Revelation 9:20-21. This statement by the elders is making an
observation about the nations in view of Messiah’s actions over the last
several months via the trumpet judgments. They would not say, You have begun
to reign and the nations WERE angry. They are talking about a condition that
has been developing and has reached a climax. Thus, not “were angry” but
“have become angry is the way the elders would express it.
This also shows us that AFTER the 70th week has ended, there are still
nations on the earth who are rebellious against God. Remember, when the
Messiah begins his reign, it is “in the midst of Your enemies,” (Ps. 110:2).
They are present on the earth, in fact, physically POSSESSING the earth, and
Jesus must first WREST that possession from them before He can establish His
1000 year reign of righteousness.
PROCLAMATION THREE
"and your wrath has come":
The aorist active indicative of erchomai indicates, AGAIN, what occurs in
view of the end of the week and the elders are making an observation. Thus,
once again, not “wrath came,” but “wrath HAS COME.”
That is, this wrath has NOW arrived; it is TIME for this wrath to be
expressed. This WRATH is different from the judgment of the 6 trumpets
because that administration of justice occurred BEFORE the end of the week.
The elders here are recognizing that NOW, as of the end of the week, an
additional expression of God’s
wrath has come. The focus is not on what has occurred IN or DURING the 70th
week, but AS OF the end of the week. The idea is the same that is seen at
Revelation 6:17, where the same construction is to be translated as, “wrath
has come.” That is, it is NOW time for this wrath to be expressed. There,
the initial wrath of God via the first 6 trumpets is in view. Here, the
FINAL wrath of God is in view via the 7 bowls. The Greek word, orgā, is used
because it is still Divine anger that is about to be expressed. But when the
administration of that wrath is described, the more intense Greek word,
thumos, is used.
This wrath is explained more specifically at Revelation 15:1 and 7 as the 7 last
plagues through which “the wrath (thumos) of God is completed,” and at Rev. 16:1, “Go
and pour out the 7 bowls of the wrath (thumos) of God into the earth.”
Both are used at Rev. 19:15 for God's action at the battle of Armageddon.
"The intense wrath (thumos) of His anger (orgā)."
See study on wrath
PROCLAMATION FOUR
"and the time has come for the dead to be judged":
They are NOT saying that the dead will NOW be judged immediately. But they
make a special point in saying that THE TIME has come.
The verb COME, is not present in the text, but is understood based on its previous
occurrence and still refers to what has NOW ARRIVED at this juncture in the
chronology.
It refers to the unbelieving dead who will be judged at the end of the 1000 year
reign of the Messiah according to Revelation 20:11-15.
But it is the end of the 70th week that precipitates this final judgment on
the unbelieving dead. Thus, it is TIME NOW for the events leading up to that
final judgment to take place.
PROCLAMATION FIVE
"and (the time) to give their reward to Your bond servants the prophets and
to the saints and to those who fear your name, the small and the great":
This amplifies the previous proclamation by focusing just on believers, who
will have their works evaluated and rewarded at sometime between the initial
arrival of Jesus in the clouds of the sky, and the physical descent of Jesus at Armageddon.
It
refers to the evaluation of the believer's works which were done here on
earth as is described at 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 and 2 Corinthians 5:10 as
well as Mat. 16:27.
The believing dead will undergo their SPECIAL judgment; the evaluation of
their deeds, sometime prior to Armageddon, for they are already seen as
rewarded and dressed in white at Rev. 19:7-9. This is the result of the
reward seat of Christ/God.
It is possible that these "personal" rewards are meted out as soon as the
church gets to heaven at the time of the rapture. However, it is also
possible, that there is a delay of the "evaluation of works" until just
before Christ's descent at Armageddon. I do not think that such a "delay" of
the Justice seat of Christ violates the language which indicates that the
church receives her rewards at the arrival of Jesus.
There are many things that are initiated at the "Day of
the Lord" arrival of Jesus which do not take place until some time later.
And yet they are certainly described as taking place upon His arrival.
Furthermore, the language here, at Revelation 11:18, indicates that the
reward will not be meted out until after the 7th trumpet sounds.
Although EACH individual believer will
certainly receive PERSONAL rewards based on their faithfulness here on earth
(2Cor. 5:10), it seems probable that
since Revelation 11:18 uses "reward" in the singular, that it refers to the
ONE reward that they all share in common. At Rev. 19:8-9, the mention of the
bride "having made herself ready," indicates a "cleansing" through
evaluation so that all that remains of one's earthly production will be a
"pure" garment of good works shared in common by all who are in the body of
Christ. This, I would think could qualify as "reward" in the singular.
However, this could refer to the ONE general reward that is assigned to each
and every believer based on the fact that they all have trusted in Christ as
Savior. That would be the general reward of EVERLASTING LIFE itself.
Romans 2:5-10.
See topic: THE REWARD SEAT OF CHRIST
The recipients of this reward are mentioned in three
categories. The intent seems to be to include believers from Adam until
Armageddon.
Accordingly, I suggest that the first two words refers
to the body of Christ, known as the bride, and would include all believers
from Adam until the rapture. The word prophets refers to all of God's
communicators from both the Old Testament times and the church age.
The word, saints, probably refers to everyone else who
is a believer from all PAST generations. This division between the
communicators and the "saints" is not foreign to Scripture, as we see such a
division at Philippians 1:1, "to all the saints . . . including the
overseers and the deacons."
The phrase, "those who fear your name," would refer to
the believers from the time period between the rapture and the battle of
Armageddon. This third group falls into two categories; (1) those who die
between the rapture and armageddon, who are raised up at Revelation 20:4, at
the beginning of the kingdom; and (2) the living believers still on the
earth from both Israel and the Gentiles, who go alive into the physical
kingdom as subjects to King Messiah as He reigns on His earthly throne in
Jerusalem. The designation of these believers, using this phrase is based on
Revelation 14:7, where the mandate of the everlasting gospel revolves
around, "fear God and give Him glory."
Included in this group would be all believers
of the 1000 year kingdom. This group includes those believers who will be
alive on the earth after Armageddon, and who go into the kingdom to be
subjects of Jesus, the Messiah King. From this group, many children will be
born, so that by the end of the kingdom, there will be a massive population
of both believers and unbelievers. The resurrection and evaluation of this
group of "millennial" believers are not mentioned in scripture, but it is
certain that such an evaluation must take place in view of what scripture
teaches concerning the activities of people during the kingdom. This group
will also contain any believers who died physically during the 1000 year
kingdom.
ALL believers are "overcomers" because of their initial faith in trusting in
the Messianic promise; either looking forward to the coming of the Redeemer,
or looking at the historical fact of the person and work of the Redeemer in
the person of Jesus Christ. 1John 5:5, "and who is the one who overcomes the
world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God."
Each believer then, is rewarded for His faith in Christ and is given ELEVEN
specific "salvation" benefits of being a believer IN CHRIST. These are
listed in the letters to the 7 churches at Revelation 2 and 3, and will be
fully realized in the eternal estate after the 1000 year earthly kingdom.
#1. Rev. 2:7, Eats from the tree of life in
The Paradise of God.
#2. Rev. 2:11, Not be hurt by the second death.
#3. Rev. 2:17, He will get the hidden manna
#4. Rev. 2:17, He will get a white stone with a new name written on it.
#5. Rev. 3:5, clothed in white garments.
#6. Rev. 3:5, name not erased from the book of life.
#7. Rev. 3:5, name confessed before the Father and the angels.
#8. Rev. 3:12, he will be a pillar in the temple of God.
#9. Rev. 3:12, he will have 3 names written upon him.
#10., Rev. 3:21, sit down with Christ in His throne.
#11. Rev. 2:26, I will give him the morning star.
Christ is called The Morning
Star at Rev.22:16.
The "possession" of The Morning
Star refers to the
believer's ultimate
identification with Christ as the
"light of the world" for all
eternity.
PROCLAMATION SIX
"And (the time has come) to destroy those who destroy the earth":
This too is governed by the phrase, “and the time came.”
Now that Messiah has taken control over the earth, He must remove the
enemies who have been destroying it. This refers primarily to the beast and
the false prophet, but certainly includes all the armies that have assembled
in Palestine for “the war of the great God, the Almighty.” Rev. 19:19-21;
16:12-16.
And of course, included in this group of enemies is Satan and his angels.
Rev.20:1-3. Satan is chained in the abyss for 1000 years. And his angels are
probably thrown into the lake of fire, for we here nothing more of them in
Scripture.
This final judgment on His enemies will occur through the 7 bowl judgments
which begin immediately on the earth, but are not explained until Revelation 15, 16
and 19:19-20:3.
First, the visions shown to John will fill in some gaps concerning the nature and work of
Satan’s plan to destroy the Christians and Jews. Those details are given in
the parenthetical chapters 12-14 as addendas to what John has been shown so far.
Now that the TIME for God’s “final” wrath to be expressed on “those who
destroy the earth,” John is once again shown the temple in heaven from where
will come those final judgments on the earth.
VERSE 19
1. And the temple of God which is in heaven was opened:
The first time that John is shown this temple “in heaven” is at verses
6:9-11, where the martyred believers are gathered under the altar.
Rev. 6:9 And when He broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the
souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of
the testimony which they had maintained;
Rev. 6:10 and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord,
holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those
who dwell on the earth?”
Rev. 6:11 And there was given to each of them a white robe; and they were
told that they should rest for a little while longer, until {the number of}
their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they
had been, should be completed also.
The word “temple” does not occur, but THE ALTAR is certainly part of this
“temple of God which is in heaven.” The context there is JUDGMENT as the
martyrs are beseeching the Lord to judge those who dwell on the earth. Of
course, they are told to wait awhile since the authority granted to the
beast to kill the saints had not yet been rescinded, and there were other
believers who would yet be killed.
And then immediately at verses 12-17, we are shown the Day-of-the-Lord
arrival of Jesus who brings “the great day of their wrath” which will be
poured out on the earth dwellers.
We learn from Revelation 7 that before God’s judgment begins to be poured
out, TWO THINGS will have happened.
(1) the rapture, the EVIDENCE of which is shown to us at vs. 7:9-17 via the
great multitude standing before the throne.
(2) the conversion of the 144 thousand Jews who will function as
“bond-servants of our God” to serve God on the earth during the months
remaining until the battle of Armageddon.
Once these two events occur, God will begin to judge the earth dwellers
through the seven trumpet judgments. And this is where John is shown the
temple in heaven for the second time as recorded at verses 8:3-5.
Here, once again, the context is judgment as the saints’ prayers for justice
begin to be answered.
Rev. 8:3 And another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a golden
censer; and much incense was given to him, that he might add it to the
prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.
Rev. 8:4 And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went
up before God out of the angel’s hand.
Rev. 8:5 And the angel took the censer; and he filled it with the fire of
the altar and threw it to the earth; and there followed peals of thunder and
sounds and flashes of lightning and an earthquake.
2. "and the ark of His covenant appeared in His
temple:" the appearance of the ark speaks directly of divine righteousness
and justice as the key factors for God's interaction with man.
A. Righteousness: speaks of the fact that man is at enmity
with God and comes short of God's righteousness.
B. Justice: speaks of the penalty for coming short and
at the same time, speaks of the Divine payment of that penalty through
the sacrifice of Christ on the cross.
C. The consequences for rejecting the divine provision
for salvation as represented by the ark of the covenant is judgment from
God.
D. Thus, we have the "storm" to portend the
administration of God's final judgment upon the physical earth and those
unbelievers who reside there.
Chapters 15-16 then picks up at the end of the 2nd half
(at the last trumpet) and the administration of the final wrath of God
for 30 days.
3. "and there were flashes of lightning and sounds and
peals of thunder and an earthquake and a great hailstorm."
Once again, the SIGNS of great judgment
from God occur, just as at 8:5.
God's wrath in justice will be poured out on the
earth upon those who have rejected the grace provision from God for
adjustment to God, ie, salvation through faith in Christ.
THE THREE PARENTHETICAL VISIONS
These three can be seen as agendas to the chronological progression of the
visions shown to John.
It should be obvious that chapter 12 now BACKS UP in the chronology of
events, for it begins at the midpoint of the week by showing us that the
dragon will persecute the woman for 1260 days. Chapter 11, however, has
already extended to the end of the week.
The same can be said of chapter 13, for it also begins at the midpoint of
the week by showing us the inception of the beast’s reign and that it will
last for 42 months.
And, of course, we saw the same BACK UP or “parenthetical” passage at verses
11:1-13.
Chapter 14 is considerably different. It does not BACK UP to the midpoint of
the week but rather BEGINS after the conversion of the 144 thousand Jewish
bond-servants of God. It extends then chronologically, from that event to
the battle of Armageddon as seen at verses 19-20. Accordingly it covers the
period of the 6 trumpets, the end of the week, and the final wrath of God
that is poured out via the seven bowls.
So then, after the “addendas” of chapters 12-14, chapter 15 shows us the
seven angels with the seven plagues coming OUT OF THE TEMPLE. And the voice
of command for them to pour out their plagues, comes OUT FROM THE TEMPLE
(verse 16:1).
Chapter 11 ends with John being shown judgment coming out from the temple,
and chapter 15-16 begins with John being shown the SPECIFICS of that
judgment coming out from the temple.
Thus, OUT FROM the 7th trumpet will come the bowls.
It is a chronological progression. The bowls are NOT a recap of the
trumpets, but will occur separate from the trumpets during the 30 days after
the end of the 70th week, and after the 7th trumpet has sounded.
SEE: trumpets and bowls compared
