The Breaking of the Seventh Seal

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The Seven Angels

 ["Click here for Revelation 8:1-6"]

Contrary to the other 6 seals, instead of great noise and activity, this time there was a period of "silence", apocalyptically described as lasting one-half hour. Basically what was being described here was a "period of rest". In Genesis, God rested on the seventh day, this was precisely what was happening on the earth. For the first time since the start of the opening of the seals, there was peace on earth.

Remember Christ was found worthy to take from the right hand of God, a scroll, and open the seven seals that bond the scroll. The scroll was "Christ's Title Deed". It has been called The Lambs Book of God. It contains the names of those who will be saved.

The silence was "breath taking". It really added to the air of great expectation. Then seven Angels stood before God, each was given a trumpet. Then another Angel came and stood at the Alter of God with a golden censer. The censer was a container for the burning of incense. The seven Angels are the wise and willing instruments of "Devine Providence". The trumpets are the "proclaimers" of God's instructions. On earth, the ministers are the "proclaimers" of God's instructions

To prepare the seven Angels, another must first offer incense. Most certainly, this person was Christ. The incense was mingled with the prayers of the Saints. We will see this often in the Book of Revelation, the prayers of the Saints is the incense of heaven. By prayer we mingle our thoughts into the very throne room of God. The prayers that John "saw" were the prayers of great expectation.

Then Christ took fire from the Alter and cast it upon the earth. Back in chapter 6 opening of the fifth seal, the martyrs cried out for revenge and the Lord told them to rest a little longer. But now they need rest no longer revenge has come upon the earth. "Peals of thunder, loud noises, flashes of lightening, and an earthquake." Tokens of God's anger against a world that had brought great tribulation upon His people. Having accomplished this, He prepared the seven Angels for their duties. As each sounds his trumpet, a great catastrophe occurs on earth.

The First Four Trumpets

["Click here for Revelation 8:7-13"]

No. 1 Hail and Fire. The first Angel blew his trumpet and hail and fire mixed with blood fell upon the earth. (The seventh Egyptian plague was fire and hail.) This symbolizes a great storm. Two interpretations have been given to this storm.

  1. A storm of "heresies" falling upon the church. A third of the church will fall to false teachings. or
  2. A terrible war involving a third of the world. A third of the earth will be destroyed by the ravages of war.

Either way, the effect will be the same, both destroys man.

Notice the important thing here is that the destruction is "limited". One third of the earth will be burnt up. One third of the trees will be burnt up and all green grass will be burnt up.

No. 2 A Burning Mountain Falls Into the Sea The Second trumpet was sounded, and something like a burning mountain was thrown into the sea. In Exodus, Enoch saw a great burning mountain fall into the sea. Here John sees a similar vision.

Again there are two possible interpretations of this vision:

  1. The mountain that was destroyed was the leader or leaders of the heretics. or
  2. A mighty nation was destroyed because of disobedience.

When Rome was destroyed it lost a third of its population and most of it's vast maritime fleet was destroyed. It was said that the seas turned red with the blood of the sailors. In Egypt, the Nile turned to blood, here one third of the sea. Also one third of the creatures in the sea died. The key to both of these visions is great but limited destruction.

No. 3 A Blazing Star Falls into the Sea The third trumpet was sounded, and a great "star" fell from heaven. This is applied, without exception, to some eminent person. Someone whose false teachings had corrupted the church.

The name of the star was "wormwood". In the Old Testament, "wormwood" is symbolic of "God's judgment". Wormwood is used to make a very bitter drink but it usually is not poisonous. Here, it poisoned one third of the waters and many people died from drinking it.

There two possible interpretations this vision:

  1. Civil Laws, often called "springs of liberty", were poisoned by indifference and corrupt politicians.
  2. The Gospels, often called "springs of spiritual life", became so corrupt by false interpretation, that the souls of men found ruin where they should have found salvation.

Either way, people's lives were taken by false doctrines or aborted liberties.

No 4 The Eagles Warning The fourth Angel sounded his trumpet and one third of the sun, moon and stars became darkened. The ninth plague in Egypt was darkness. This, to, is applied without exception to understanding. One third of all knowledge was "confused".

  1. Church ministers and teachers lost one third of their knowledge.
  2. Civil leaders became less efficient and qualified by one third.
  3. The Gospel will become less understood because of limiting the leadership of the Holy Spirit by one third.

The result, learning and teaching will be with great difficulty. Corruption of doctrine and worship, in the church, will increase. One third of the "light" of understanding and knowledge will be gone.

Then before the last three trumpets are sounded, an eagle gives a warning. "Woe, woe,woe to those who dwell on the earth at the blasts of the other trumpets which the three Angels are about to blow." God does not bring judgment without first a warning. A word to the wise is normally sufficient but those remaining had lost one third of their wisdom.


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