Bible Study Materials

THE SEVENTH TRUMPET SOUNDED

by   07/23/2020  

Question


1. When the seventh angel sounded his trumpet, what did loud voices in heaven say? (14-15) What does this show us? 2. How did the twenty-four elders respond? (16) What did they praise God for? (17-18) What does this glorious vision tell us? 3. What happened in God’s temple in heaven? (19) What does this mean?


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Message


In Revelation, there are seven seal judgment, seven trumpet judgment and seven bowl judgments. The seventh seal leads to the seven trumpet judgments, and the seventh trumpet to the seven bowl judgments. When the seventh seal was opened, there was silence in heaven for about half-an-hour, and the prayers of the saints went up before God along with the smoke of the incense. Then the trumpets were sounded one by one. The first four trumpet judgments destroyed one third of the earth’s ecology. Subsequently an eagle called out in a loud voice, “Woe! Woe! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded by the other three angels” (8:13). The first woe was the fifth trumpet judgment, which was a demonic horde of locusts tormenting those people who had no seal of God for five months. The second woe was the sixth trumpet judgment, which was the release of 200 million mounted troops of demons killing one third of mankind. Now the third woe remained, which is the seventh trumpet judgment. This is actually the seven bowl judgments written in chapter 16. In chapter 10, before the seventh trumpet was sounded, John was commanded to take and eat a little scroll and to prophesy again, and in chapter 11:1-13, God suddenly sent two witnesses who completed their testimony and were killed. Their death was seen by the whole world and then their resurrection and ascension. The effect would be seen worldwide, possibly through modern technology. We could see that amid his fierce judgment, God’s heart desire is to save eternally-perishing souls by any means. In today’s passage, the seventh trumpet is sounded, but the seven bowl judgments have not yet been poured out. In heaven, the meaning of the seven trumpet blast is the end of the judgment of the plagues and the accomplishment of God’s long-awaited plan of Christ’s kingdom, and the judgment for all the dead. The meaning is really great. Let’s think about it. First, the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of Christ (14-17). It is written in verse 14, “The second woe has passed; the third woe is coming soon.” Again, the second woe is the sixth trumpet judgment of 200 million demonic solders’ releasing to kill a third of mankind with the three plagues of fire, smoke and sulfur. The third woe comes with the blowing of the seventh trumpet. Then verse 15 says, “The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said, ‘The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever.’” In chapter 10, we heard a mighty angel who planed his feet on the sea and on the land, swearing before the eternal God, the Creator, “There will be no more delay! But in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished” (6b-7). Concisely, the mystery of God is Christ and his kingdom. As we have been studying in the Bible, the focal point of the whole Bible teaching and the ultimate purpose of God is this: the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ with his eternal reign. This is the apex of redemptive history. At the sound of the seventh trumpet heaven knew this, though the earth has not yet known it. We really need to digest this great message as God’s people. Let’s pay attention to the words of the message from heaven: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ.” It does not say the kingdoms of the world, but the kingdom of the world. It is singular. It is like the whole world being one nation, one kingdom, definitely under one king, Satan, who is the prince of the world (Jn. 12:31; 14:30; 16:11), the god of this age (2 Cor.4:4), the ruler of the kingdom of the air (Eph. 2:2). Now we sense that the trend of the world is that fway, one kingdom with one global government under the Anti-Christ, behind whom is Satan. That kingdom is to be destroyed. 16:10 says, “The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom was plunged into darkness.” Here the important thing is not that the kingdom of the world is destroyed and that’s the end of the world. No, the important thing is that the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of Christ. And the kingdom of Christ is not the kingdom in heaven but on earth, like the kingdom of the world. It is before the eternal kingdom of God with a new heaven and a new earth, written about in Revelation 22. This is in accordance with the Lod’s prayer, “Your kingdom come; your will be done as it is in heaven.” What an amazing hope and vision that the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ. It is written in perfect present tense in sureness of the kingdom, though it has not yet happened. When we look at the world, there is not even one nation that all people desire and admire. Each nation is corrupt and full of problems in this fallen world – family problems, social problems, political problems, economic problems, health problems, environmental problems, etc. Amid such problems, one united kingdom, in the peace, will rise with more destructive invisible power in this computerized digital world. Mindful people are full of worries for the future world. The matter is who rules the world. According to the Bible, the future world is heading towards the destruction of the present evil world with the demise of Anti Christ and the establishment of the kingdom of Christ in the world, where Christ reigns. In the book of Daniel, God showed him what would happen in the future. In his vision, there was an enormous, dazzling statute with its head of gold, its the chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of baked clay. The statute was the image of the kingdoms of the world: the gold-head of the Babylonian empire, the silver-chest and arms of the Medo-Persian kingdom, the bronze-belly and thighs of the Greek Kingdom and the iron-legs of the Roman Empire, and the mixture of iron and clay-feet of the coming kingdom. Then, this statute was smashed by a rock not cut out by human hands. At this, the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were broken to pieces at the same time and became like chaff on a threshing floor in the summer. The wind swept them away without leaving a trace. But the rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth (Da. 2:31-35). This was exactly a vivid picture of the kingdom of the world becoming the kingdom of Christ. What an amazing vision it is that a large statute and a rock are all about the human history! Then 7:14 says, “He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.” In the history of Israel, there was a golden time of David’s kingdom when he ruled in righteousness with the fear of the Lord (2 Sam. 23:5). All the people were happy under his kingship in righteousness and love. Since then the people of Israel longed for the Davidic kingdom to come, which was the shadow of the Messiah’s kingdom, the kingdom of Christ. Around 600 years before Christ’s coming, Isaiah prophesied, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this” (Isa. 9:6-7). Then in chapter 11, Isaiah described the beauty of the kingdom this way, “The infant will play near the hole of the cobra, and the young child put his hand into the viper’s nest. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.” (11:8-9). This is a beautiful picture of the world of peace and love. The people in the kingdom will be like innocent little children and they will love God and love their neighbours under Christ’s reigning in his government. When Christ came, he began to preach the good news of God, saying, “The time has come. The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news” (Mk. 1:15). Into the heart of each one who repented and believed the good news of Christ Jesus, God’s kingdom came while Satan’s kingdom was driven out. God’s rule began in their hearts and lives with true joy and peace and hope in God and his everlasting kingdom. This was the case of a Samaritan woman, who had gone through five husbands and had, at the time Jesus met her, one lover who was not her husband. When Jesus came to meet her, she recognized her problem as a sin problem, repented, and accepted Jesus as her Saviour and the true object of worship, her true husband. This was the case of a paralytic, who came to Jesus by the help of his four friends. That was the expression of his repentance and faith in Jesus. Jesus proclaimed forgiveness of his sins and made him walk. This was also the case a tax collector Matthew. Sitting on his tax-booth, he was making a lot of money, yet lonely. When Jesus called him saying “Follow me”, he left everything and followed Jesus. That was his clear repentance and faith in Jesus. This was also the case of a man with leprosy. He was not supposed to appear before Jesus, but was to keep distance because of his leprosy. But he came to Jesus and said, “If you are willing, you can make me clear.” That was his repentance and faith in Jesus. Jesus indeed made him clean. It was also the case of a man of standing with great knowledge and high social position and wealth named Nicodemus. When Jesus was dying on the cross, most people turned away from Jesus. But at that moment his spiritual eyes were opened, and he was one of two who boldly went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ dead body and buried him. Surely, that was his repentance and faith in Jesus and God’s kingdom shined in his heart. We cannot miss the case of a robber dying on the cross, etc. While completely failing in his life, on the cross, he admitted his terrible sins and said, “Jesus, remember me, when you come into your kingdom.” (Lk. 23:42). At the time of Jesus’ death on the cross, most people could not see his kingdom. They hurled insults and sneered at him. But this robber sincerely repented and saw the coming kingdom of Christ and put his faith in Christ and his kingdom. At the moment of his miserable death, God’s kingdom came into this robber’s heart and he was welcomed into the kingdom of Christ. All those who repented and accepted Christ became citizens of the kingdom of God. Jesus taught them how they should live in this world, saying, “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Mt. 6:33). They were precious kingdom members and also were called to be kingdom workers. Apostle Peter expressed it this way, “You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praise of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy” (1 Pe. 2:9-10). This is the reason why God told John to take the little scroll and eat it, whose taste was sweet and sour, and prophesy. The word of God should be spread, for it is the seed of the kingdom of God. Thank and praise God that God’s kingdom came into the hearts of our several Bible students through their sincere Bible study and the work of the Holy Spirit. Before the words of God, they repented and put their faith and hope in Christ Jesus. They also want to serve others through teaching the word of God. I see their changes in their lives. The evidence of God’s kingdom coming into their hearts is that they live a life of repentance and faith and serve God’s kingdom work in the hope of the kingdom of the world becoming the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ. God’s kingdom came into my heart when I repented and accepted one word of Genesis 12:2, “You will be a blessing.” Until that time, I thought my life was a cursed one. I had a fatalistic view of myself. When there was no truth of God in my heart, my heart was gloomy and deadened with no feeling of joy or sadness, though I was young in my early twenties. I did not know how to enjoy a picnic or vacation. I did not know how to participate in others’ sorrow even in funeral ceremonies. And I did not know how to think rightly based on the truth of God. My life was a burden itself and I envied pigs that did not need to think about their lives and God’s judgment. I had the Bible in my hand, but the Bible was not opened to me. In fact, I was in Satan’s kingdom, destroying myself. Then God led me to Bible study in his great mercy. The word of God was the word of salvation from above. Before his words, I repented of my fatalism and began to live a life of faith with the life direction to please God and do his will. With the word of promise, “You will be a blessing to Canada” I have served the ministry of God’s word for the last 30 years. I find that still God’s word does not rule my thinking world. Many times I have thoughts of people and problems and my weaknesses and shortcomings. I realize anew that I should be aware of what is ruling my mind and my heart at each moment. I ask for God’s mercy to be clear about God’s kingdom ruling my heart and my family and God’s community here through daily meditation of his words and praying on all occasions. Especially, I pray that the words of Revelation be deep in my heart, mind, soul and rule me. We pray for our online ministry, particularly for first year students at U of T with the purpose of sharing the word of God with them so that God’s kingdom may come into the hearts of some. God’s kingdom should come in each individual, each family and the community of God should grow in God’s ruling until Christ comes and establishes his kingdom in this world. Now verse 16 says, “And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God.” We remember the twenty-four elders in chapter 4. Seated on their thrones they were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. They were overcomers of faith in the church and then were glorified in heaven. They were the redeemed and raptured and ascended, exalted church. We are reminded of their new song before the Lamb, “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth” (5:9-10). While in this world, they lived as a kingdom and priests and now in heave they have the hope of reigning with Christ in Christ’s kingdom on earth. And when the numerous angels and the whole creation praised God and the Lamb, the elders worshipped at the “Amen” of the four living creatures (5:14). Now hearing the voices in heaven, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever,” they fell on their faces and worshiped God. This was their second worship. This time their words of worship are, “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign.” It is really interesting that the elders mentioned Lord God Almighty as the One who is and who was. In chapter 1, in his greeting John wrote, “Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come” (1:4). And the four living creatures said in their praising God, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come” (4:8). Now here the elders said, “the One who is and who was” and no more “who is to come.” This expression is dropped. It is because with the coming of the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, the expression “who is and who was” is enough. He has arrived and is here, not “is to come” anymore. The elders worshiped and praised God for his great power and his beginning to reign. They praised God for his sovereignty. It is most certain that they could see the fulfillment of their dream in the coming of Christ’s kingdom into this world. Second, for judging the dead (18). The twenty-four elders continued to say, “The nations were angry; your wrath has come. The time has come for judging the dead, and for rewarding your servants the prophets and your saints and those who reverence your name, both small and great—and for destroying those who destroy the earth.” Judging the dead is written about in chapter 20:11-15, after one thousand years of Christ’s reigning on the earth. It says, “Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books…each person was judged according to what he had done…If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” But here, the elders knew that the coming of Christ’s kingdom included judging the dead. Many think that death is the end of everything. That’s not true. There will be the time of judgment for all the dead. They will rise to be judged before the white throne of judgment according and receive according to what each had done, whether they were great or small on earth. Jesus also clearly said in John 5:28-29, “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out—those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned.” While judging unbelievers, God rewards his servants the prophet and his saints and those who reverence his name, both small and great. Our God is the God of reward. Jesus Christ said in Revelation 22:12, “Behold I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.” It is easy to seek human reward after doing something for God. But God wants us to seek his reward. Even in this world he rewards. Hebrews 11:6 says, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards whose who earnestly seek him.” We have enough reason to live a life of faith before God, seeking his rewards. Again, he rewards his servants the prophets and his saints and those who reverence his name, small and great. And he destroys those who destroy the earth. Who are those who destroy the earth? It is not an attack on people who mess up the environment. All who live on earth are to take care of the earth, preserving the environment, as God said in Genesis 1:28, “…subdue it. Rule over…” But those who destroy the earth are sinners before God. God once destroyed the earth through the flood because of man’s sin (Ge 6:11-13). Isaiah 24:4-5 says, “The earth dries up and withers, the world languishes and withers, the exalted of the earth languish. The earth is defied by its people, they have disobeyed the laws, violated the statutes and broken the everlasting covenant.” In this world, criminals go to jail. But God destroys those who destroy the earth. Third, God’s temple was opened (19). Verse 19 says, “Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of the covenant. And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a great hailstorm.” God’s temple is the place where God dwells. Especially the ark of God is the Most Holy Place, the Holy of Holies and God dwells exactly there. In chapters 4 and 5, we were taken right into the throne room of God where He dwells. In God’s temple, the atonement cover, that is the Mercy Seat, above the ark of the covenant is the place where the blood is poured out to atone for men’s sins so that they could have ongoing communion with God. So, the covenant speaks of God’s promise to have eternal communion with the redeemed. That God’s temple in heaven was opened and within the temple the ark of his covenant was seen meant that men can have eternal communion with God. Bound up in this seventh trumpet is also the promise that we’re going to enter into an unbroken fellowship with God forever, and that is signified in the imagery of this verse. With the coming of the kingdom of Christ this amazing blessing is also given. But along with that vision of the covenant, we have to see God’s judgment of flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, the earthquake, and the great hailstorm. In this passage, we thought of the meaning of the seventh trumpet sounded. We thank and praise God for the message from heaven that the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever. May God’s kingdom grow in our hearts and lives through intimate fellowship with him, and his kingdom rule God’s families and his community. It may be done with the hope of the kingdom of the world becoming the kingdom of Christ and with the sense of God’s judgment and reward.


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