How many times do you hit “snooze”? The Trumpets: How many times do you hit “snooze”? Text: Rev. 6:9-17

“Before God ever does anything in the way of judgment He always warns “Before God ever does anything in the way of judgment He always warns. He did in the days of Adam. “Adam,” warned God, “touch this tree and you die.” Again in the days of the antediluvians, for one hundred and twenty years, Noah preached righteousness to the people. God warned in the days of Judah. He did in the days of Samaria. He did in the days of Israel. He did in the days of Jesus. He did in the days of Paul and He does it in our day. God says that if we go a certain way, it leads to damnation, to judgment and to death…God has made His way plain and God has said, “You follow this wrong road and it leads to disaster and to damnation and to judgment and to death and to hell.” That is why God warns. W.A. Criswell, Expository Sermons on Revelation * See Romans 1

Opening the 7th Seal After opening – Silence… Chapter 8: Hab. 2:20 – “But the LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him.” Zeph. 1:7 – “Be silent before the Lord GOD! For the day of the LORD is near” Zech. 2:13 – “Be silent, all flesh, before the LORD, for he has roused himself from his holy dwelling. Silence? Many different interpretations: Silence for prayers to be heard, dramatic pause, temporary cessation, seals complete, liturgical silence before prayer, silence for condemned, intense expectation for God’s intervention Combination of some – BUT major thought is always dramatic pause before the unleashing of God’s judgment. Calm before the storm. Hab. 2:20 – Response to God’s omnipotence Zeph. 1:7 & Zech. 2:13 – Fearsome awe in light of coming judgment

Angels & Trumpets “The” – specific group Given Trumpets – From God Chapter 8: Angels & Trumpets “The” – specific group Possibly: Uriel, Raphael, Raguel, Michael, Sarakiel, Gabriel, and Remiel. Given Trumpets – From God Specific group – definite article. Possibly – 1 Enoch 20. Apocryphal, not inspired, just interesting Given Trumpets Divine Passive – From God, God’s sovereignty Trumpets – Herald God’s wrath = Warnings of the great day of the Lord!

Altar and Censer Golden Altar – Altar of incense Chapter 8: Altar and Censer Golden Altar – Altar of incense Incense with Prayers of the Saints Censer filled with fire – Thrown to earth Altar of Incense Altar before the holy of holies – incense burned as show of prayers rising to the Lord Incense with Prayers of the Saints Two options: Incense with Prayers mixed in; Incense is the Prayers Most likely Incense is Prayers – “with” functions as “consisting of” Prayers = call back to prayers of Martyrs – 6:10 Include all prayers – with imprecatory tone Imprecatory = prayers for God’s sovereign vengeance If you pray imprecatory – first, for God’s redemption, but if not, thwart the path of the wicked! Exodus 2:23-25 – Cries heard – plagues to come = TRUMPETS Censer filled with fire: Fire from altar – thrown to Earth Judgments now to be poured out MEANIING: PRAYERS ARE ANSWERED! Psalm 6:1-3; Psalm 13:1,2; Psalm 35:17; Psalm 62:3; Psalm 74:10; Psalm 79:5; Psalm 80:4; Psalm 90:13; Psalm 94:3 Keep Praying! Earthquake, Rumblings, Lightning, Thunder: All associated with the judgment of God Trumpets ready to blow!

1st Trumpet Hail, Fire, Blood Corresponds to Plagues of Egypt Chapter 8: 1st Trumpet Hail, Fire, Blood Corresponds to Plagues of Egypt 7th Plague – Ex. 9:23-25 1/3 of the Earth burned up Hail, Fire, Blood Blood could be real or the coloration of the storm Fire, Ice, and Blood = Horrific! Plagues of Egypt Ultimate Exodus! Egyptian plagues – against Egyptian gods – shows God’s sovereignty Pharaoh – refuses to repent – Earth dwellers refuse. 1/3 of Earth Burned Up First 4 Trumpets – affect the Earth Not all is consumed WARNING!!!!!!!

2nd Trumpet Burning Mountain into the Sea Chapter 8: 2nd Trumpet Burning Mountain into the Sea Corresponds to 1st plague – Ex. 7:20,21 1/3 of sea life and shipping destroyed Burning Mt in the Sea Not a natural phenomena Some thought Volcanic activity – Vesuvius Reality – Beyond description! 1/3 of Sea Creatures Blood Shipping – beyond plague of Egypt Commerce wrecked! Hint: Idolatry of Money! WARNING!!!!!!!

3rd Trumpet Burning Star on Fresh Waters Corresponds to 1st Plague Chapter 8: 3rd Trumpet Burning Star on Fresh Waters Corresponds to 1st Plague Wormwood = Bitterness and Sorrow Pro. 5:3,4 1/3 of Fresh Water destroyed Burning Star on Fresh Waters Waters contaminated Do we take fresh water for granted? Again – Nature is hit… First trumpets affect nature First three – burning features = Angel with censer of fire! 1/3 of Fresh Water WARNING!!!!!!!

4th Trumpet Darkness for a third of the day Chapter 8: 4th Trumpet Darkness for a third of the day Corresponds to 9th plague – Ex.10:21-23 Darkness = OT, Judgment; NT, Demonic Darkness More than just a partial eclipse! When it should not be dark Panic 1/3 of Sun Moon and Stars Symbol of Judgment and Demonic WARNING!!!!!!!

Woe, Woe, Woe Eagle = Bird of Prey, possible living creature Chapter 8: Woe, Woe, Woe Eagle = Bird of Prey, possible living creature 3 Woes = 3 trumpets to come WARNING, WARNING, WARNING!!! Bird of Prey Eventually with eat flesh of the kings. 3 Woes = Trumpets to come

“If you think God is overreacting, your view of God is too small “If you think God is overreacting, your view of God is too small. The scope of this devastation is meant to show us how Great God is. The fury of this wrath is meant to declare how serious God is about his word.” James Hamilton Jr., Revelation: The Spirit Speaks to the Churches

Don’t hit snooze on God’s warnings! Takeaway Thought. Rom. 13:11,12

“The awesome displays of God’s wrath in chapter 8 show how seriously God takes the glory that is due Him. Let’s pray that this chapter will make us hate sin, which is judged by these devastations, and let’s pray that God would use us to call people to repentance. Then let’s get to work doing that.” James Hamilton Jr., Revelation: The Spirit Speaks to the Churches

Warnings are meant to call to action, not be pleasing. Takeaway Thought. Ezekiel 3:16-21