SealsFirst half

1. First2. Second3. Third 4. Fourth

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Second half5. Fifth6. Sixth (Armageddon)7. Seventh = 8:1-19:21

TrumpetsFirst half

1. First2. Second3. Third4. Fourth5. Fifth6. Sixth

__________________________

Second half7. Seventh = End of Trib.

Rev. 8:7: Trumpet #1 – Vegetation struck

The first four trumpets impact humanity, but focus on humanity’s environment.

Here, the first of the judgments affecting 1/3 of the earth involves earth’s vegetation.

Rev. 8:8-9: Trumpet #2 – Oceans and shipping

Next, 1/3 of the oceans and the life in them is affected.

As with the first plague, the affects on humanity, especially those in coastal regions (where a large portion

of the world lives), is massive.

Shipping and food would be impacted.

Rev. 8:10-11: Trumpet #3 – Fresh water

One third of the fresh water on earth is impacted by what may be a meteorite.

People are either unaware of the danger or so desperate for water that they drink it and die.

Rev. 8:12: Trumpet #4 – Luminaries darkened

The hail, the waters being affected, and now darkness all remind us of the Egyptian plagues.

We are not sure if God supernaturally darkens 1/3 of the sun, moon, and stars (Ex. 10:21-23) or if it’s due to

atmospheric conditions or something else.

Rev. 8:12: Trumpet #4 – Luminaries darkened

What is clear is that light is not present for 1/3 of the day and night.

The impact on humanity and climate must be staggering.

Rev. 8:13: Trumpet #4 – Luminaries darkened

Now, an eagle (not “angel”) announces that things are about to worsen and that the target of these remaining

Trumpet judgments are earth’s inhabitants.

Rev. 8:13: Trumpet #4 – Luminaries darkened

These three “woes” provide us with clear chronology amid the three major judgments and help us realize that

the placement of the first six Trumpets are inthe first half of the Tribulation.

Rev. 9:1: Trumpet #5 – The four angels released

“Star” Often used to refer to angels or personages and here it is

clearly identified as an angel.Gen. 37:9; Job 38:7; Dan. 8:10; Rev. 1:16, 20; 2:1; 3:1;

12:1; 12:4

Rev. 9:1: Trumpet #5 – The four angels released

The angel is given authority (“key”) over the abyss (“bottomless pit”; also = “teenager’s stomachs”).

Rev. 9:2: Trumpet #5 – The four angels released

Clearly, the smoke that arises is significant and may be a reference to an unparalleled volcano.

Rev. 9:3 Trumpet #5 – The four angels released

The identification of the “locusts” is unclear, though they are not locusts as we perceive them.

Since the passage begins with a non-literal figure in the star, it may be that these are fallen angels.

Rev. 9:5-6 Trumpet #5 – The four angels released

Interestingly, the Lord uses locusts as a picture of the coming judgment in the Day of the Lord

Joel 2:1-11

Their object is to torment people, but not to kill them.

Their victims would prefer death.

Rev. 9:7-10: Trumpet #5 – The four angels released

“Like” John turns heavily to symbolism to describe the army.

• “crowns” = the victory they will enjoy• “faces” = intelligence• “hair” = an “attractiveness” to humanity?

Some of the perverse sexual activities people engage in are initially attractive, but in the end destructive

Rev. 9:7-10: Trumpet #5 – The four angels released

“Like” John turns heavily to symbolism to describe the army.

• “teeth” = destructive• “breastplates of iron” = immune to human attempts to

destroy them• “wings... sound like chariots…” = strike fear into men• “five months” = God’s absolute control

Rev. 9:11-12: Trumpet #5 – The four angels released

The angel who leads this army is called “Destroyer”.

The fact that both Hebrew and Greek are given may indicate that this plague affects Jew and Gentile.

Rev. 9:12: Trumpet #5 – The four angels released

The “woes” are presented in a way to give us chronology.

In the “woes”, we move from the order in which the visions are presented to John, to the order in which these

events actually occur.

Rev. 9:13-14: Trumpet #6 – Humanity devastated

This judgment comes from the altar and again emphasizes the prayers of the saints.

Rev. 9:14-15: Trumpet #6 – Humanity devastated

These four angels kill 1/3 of humanity and are prepared for this precise time in history.

God’s sovereign control over these judgments is again demonstrated.

Rev. 9:16-19: Trumpet #6 – Humanity devastated

Like the last plague, this is highly symbolic.

The descriptions seem to emphasize what the army does instead of their appearance.

These could be figures of a human army or a supernatural one.

Rev. 9:19: Trumpet #6 – Humanity devastated

“Heads” = fierce and destructive.“Breastplates” = Mankind’s inability to destroy them.“Fire, smoke, and brimstone” = Massive power and destruction.

The last plague resulted in pain; this one death.

Rev. 9:20-21: Trumpet #6 – Humanity devastated

Together with the Fourth Seal, before the middle of the Tribulation, approximately ½ of the population of the

earth is dead…

…and still they won’t repent!

Rev. 9:20-21: Trumpet #6 – Humanity devastated

Notice here that repentance involves their sins; idol worship, sorceries (drugs?), and sexual immorality.

Repentance escapes the temporal judgment of God.

They would have none of it.

Romans 1:18-21

Human beings owe God glory because of the obvious nature of creation.

A personal God made this world and our universe.

It is clear from simple observation.

Romans 1:18-21

Our inability to put ever-shifting “facts” together from science doesn’t change that reality.

Romans 1 teaches an accountability to a personal Creator!

Romans 2:14-16

Romans 2 teaches a moral accountability to the Creator God of heaven and earth.

Acts 17:22-31

It is clear that idol worship is prevalent during the Tribulation.

Sinful worship is an issue as are sinful practices.

Acts 17:22-31

“No one who believed in the worship of images was properly prepared to accept the exclusive claims of the

Creator and of His Son, Jesus Christ”.Harmony with God

Zane Hodgesp. 85

Acts 17:22-31

Idolatry and sinful practices can create a barrier to coming to faith in Christ.

Repentance removes that barrier.

The Pope’s words

Pope Francis rocked some religious and atheist minds today when he declared that everyone was redeemed through

Jesus, including atheists. During his homily at Wednesday Mass in Rome, Francis

emphasized the importance of "doing good" as a principle that unites all humanity, and a "culture of encounter“ to

support peace.Using scripture from the Gospel of Mark, Francis explained how upset Jesus' disciples were that someone outside their group was doing good, according to a report from Vatican

Radio.

The Pope’s words

“They complain,” the Pope said in his homily, because they say, “If he is not one of us, he cannot do good. If he

is not of our party, he cannot do good.” And Jesus corrects them: “Do not hinder him, he says, let him do

good.” The disciples, Pope Francis explains, “were a little intolerant,” closed off by the idea of possessing the truth, convinced that “those who do not have the truth, cannot

do good.” “This was wrong . . . Jesus broadens the horizon.” Pope Francis said, “The root of this possibility of

doing good – that we all have – is in creation”

The Pope’s words

Pope Francis went further in his sermon to say:"The Lord created us in His image and likeness, and we are the image of the Lord, and He does good and all of us have this commandment at heart: do good and do not do evil. All of us. ‘But, Father, this is not Catholic! He cannot do

good.’ Yes, he can... "The Lord has redeemed all of us, all of us, with the Blood of Christ: all of us, not just Catholics.

Everyone! ‘Father, the atheists?’ Even the atheists. Everyone!".. We must meet one another doing good. ‘But I don’t believe, Father, I am an atheist!’ But do good: we will

meet one another there.”

The Pope’s words

Responding to the leader of the Roman Catholic church's homily, Father James Martin, S.J. wrote in an email to The

Huffington Post: "Pope Francis is saying, more clearly than ever before, that

Christ offered himself as a sacrifice for everyone. That's always been a Christian belief. You can find St. Paul saying in the First Letter to Timothy that Jesus gave himself as a

"ransom for all." But rarely do you hear it said by Catholics so forcefully, and with such evident joy. And in this era of

religious controversies, it's a timely reminder that God cannot be confined to our narrow categories."

The Pope’s words

Of course, not all Christians believe that those who don't believe will be redeemed, and the Pope's words may

spark memories of the deep divisions from the Protestant reformation over the belief in redemption through grace

versus redemption through works.

Acts 4:8-128 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: 9 If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, 10 let it be known to you all, and to all

the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the

dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. 11 This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ 12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given

among men by which we must be saved.”

Christ died for everyone!But the issue men will be judged for

is whether they have life!John 20:30-31

They will be given a fair hearing and their works will not measure up!Rev. 20:12-15

Romans 3:10-23

Being good is not enough because no one is good enough!

People need to get right with God!