revelation lesson 14 and 15a web - … · yanother angel with a golden censer stood at the altar...
TRANSCRIPT
ReviewSummarize first 7 chapters by giving a title for each chapterDescribe the image of Christ in Ch. 1Name the 7 churchesWhich two had only good said about them?Which one had only bad said about it?What phrase closed out all the letters?Who is around the throne in Chapter 4?What is the dilemma presented in chapter 5?What did the first four seals reveal?What did the fifth seal reveal?How about the sixth?
Lessons for TodayThe Lord wants to hear our prayers; they are like a sweet‐smelling incense to Him. He is ready and will hear our prayers. Do we take time out of our busy lives to talk to Him?Do we sometimes choose the bitter waters of sin over the fountains of living water? The consequences can be terrible and the punishment eternal. Let us seek the waters of life instead. (Jn. 4:14)
IntroductionJohn has shared the vision in both visual and audible detail
Audible has included: voices and thunders from the throne (4:5), the songs of the living creatures (4:8) the elders (4:11) angels (5:12) and all created things (5:13), the cry of those under the altar (6:10), the shout of the multitude (7:10) and then the response of the angels (7:12).
Ch. 7 ‐ an interlude between the 6th and 7th sealsThe sealing of the saints on earthThe innumerable martyrs and the angelic host shouting praise and honor to God and the LambThe anticipation for the opening of the 7th seal is now over
The Seventh Seal – vv. 1‐2The seventh seal is opened
Suddenly nothing but silenceAll the loud praise is quiet
“for about half an hour”Usually not a long period, but can seem like a very long time when waiting for something elseFocuses attention on what will happen next
Seven angels before the throneSeven ‐ perfection, fullness, and completenessGiven seven trumpets which they will soon blow in turn
Angel with the Golden Censer – vv. 3‐6Another angel with a golden censer stood at the altar
Censer – a golden pan on which coals of fire from the altar were placed; incense placed on the coals to create the fragant aromaAltar same type as in the tabernacle; for burning incenseAngel given incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints
Smoke of the incense and prayers of the saints ascended before God
Prayer came to be associated with incense (Psa. 141:2)Just as the incense was something God desired, the prayers of all the saints are pleasant to His ears
Are we given assurance that God will hear our prayers?Jms. 5:16; 1 Jn. 3:22; 5:14; Psa. 34:15
Prayers likely included the cries of saints who are suffering and being persecuted
Desire to be relieved; they want to be vindicatedWhat will be the response of the Lord?
Angel with the Golden Censer – vv. 3‐6The angel takes the censer and fills it with fire from the altar
Threw it to the earth: noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquakeAppears to be the response of heaven to the prayers of the saintsTheir cry to be avenged results in the fire of God’s righteous judgment
The angels prepare themselves to sound (sound a blast)Purpose of trumpets (O.T.):
Call to assembly, a pilgrimage, a festival, and war (Num. 10:1‐10)To sound an alarm of approaching danger (Amos 3:6; Hos. 5:8)Impending judgment (Joel 2:1)A call to a holy convocation (Joel 2:15)For the watchman (Ezek. 33:2‐4)
Here, partial judgments upon the wicked and trumpet warnings of greater judgment to come if they do not repent
First Trumpet – v. 7First four trumpets: different parts of the physical world are affectedThe last three: the physical and spiritual lives of men are involvedVisions are not literal; trying to tie them to specific places and periods in history is not possible; symbolize general principles and warningsThis first trumpet: fire and hail thrown to the earth
A common part of God’s arsenal in the Old TestamentMingled with blood ‐ blood shed by wicked men is brought back upon their own heads
Effect: 1/3 of the trees and all green grass is burned upSuffering and destruction among those who live on the earthCreated for man’s benefit, but now harmed because of their sinOnly a partial judgment; a warning to these wicked men to repent
Second Trumpet – vv. 8‐9A great burning mountain is thrown into the sea
1/3 of the sea became blood, 1/3 of living creatures died and 1/3 of ships are destroyed
Mountains often used symbolically of great cities or nationsGod’s dwelling place – a holy mountain ‐ Psa. 48:1ff; Isa. 2:2‐4; 11:9; Mic. 4:2; Heb. 12:22Great heathen powers – Isa. 41:15; 64:1; Amos 4:1; Jer. 51:25,42
The sea generally symbolized all of humanity or societyThis vision seems to symbolize judgment upon a world society when its power is cast down and its economy falls with itMan stands helpless before the omnipotent One
Third Trumpet – vv. 10‐11A great star fell from heaven; it was burning like a torch
Fell on 1/3 of the rivers and springs of waterThey became wormwood and many men died because of this bitter effectThe image of this is like a meteor that cuts through the atmosphere and impacts the earth
Reminiscent of what Isaiah said about the king of Babylon –Isa. 14:12‐15This star is named wormwood
This bitter wood mentioned several times in the O.T. usually connected to idolatryDeut. 29:18; Jer. 9:15; 23:15; Amos 5:7; 6:12Wormwood came to symbolize calamity and sorrow and bitterness of life
Third Trumpet – vv. 10‐11“Wormwood, the star of any Babylon, has poisoned by its idolatry the springs of its own life.” (C.B. Caird)“When men prefer the bitter waters of idolatry to the fountain of living water, they will receive these bitter waters with the fatal consequences which follow.” (Homer Hailey)All these trumpets appear to have broader significance than describing simple, natural calamities within the Roman Empire
First trumpet affected vegetationSecond trumpet, the sea with its marine life and shipsNow the third involved the inland waters and springs
Fourth Trumpet – v. 121/3 of the sun, moon and stars are struck so that they are darkened
The bodies of light have always represented God’s majesty and greatness (Ps. 8:3‐4) compared to the relative insignificance of manThe light from these indicates the favor of GodThe darkening of them, on the other hand, signifies judgment from GodIsa. 13:10; Joel 3:15; Amos 8:9; Jer. 4:23; Ezek. 32:7‐8
1/3 of these are darkened ‐ a partial judgment; perhaps meant to serve as a warning to the ungodly“Before total darkness engulfs any society, God sounds a trumpet warning to that society. He sends minor judgments which mark the beginning of the society’s destruction unless repentance turns the course of its destiny. These four trumpets call for the reformation, not the destruction of mankind.” (Hailey)
The Eagle of Woes – v. 13Some versions (manuscripts) have “angel,” while others have “eagle”
Eagle is probably the better renderingOminously heralds the next three trumpets with “woe, woe, woe”
Likely implying that just as an eagle swoops down quickly upon its prey, these destructions will come upon them
Eagle came to represent disaster: Hosea 8:1; Hab. 1:8
Chapter 9“The student of Revelation must be ever conscious that he shares with John signs and symbols of a vision which God showed to him. He has not been dealing with literal trumpets, hail, fire, a burning mountain, a sea of blood, etc., or now with real locusts, scorpions, or horsemen, but with symbols which convey ideas and reveal messages from God to man. Therefore, in the following vision of the three woes we need not look for some specific time in history when terrible locust hoards invade a land, bringing a scourge upon it. Rather, we need to see spiritual forces at work in the world of unregenerated, wicked men – forces which are symbolized by these monsters of the infernal realm.”
(Hailey)
Opening of the Pit – vv. 1‐6John sees a star that is fallen
May personify Satan; similar to Luk. 10:18The key to the bottomless pit (pit of the abyss) is given to him
Some power is given to him to open this, but it is limited to thatThe abode of the devil and his demons (Luk. 8:30‐31)
He opens the pit and smoke arose from itCauses darkness; represents evil and wickedness (11:7; 17:8; 20:1‐3)May portray the devil’s influence upon the Roman world
Out of the smoke comes a hoard of locustsFamiliar with the destructive power of locusts; they were helpless in the face of such as theseUnusual in that they are given power like that of scorpions to cause great pain
Opening of the Pit – vv. 1‐6Locusts are commanded by Satan to harm men instead of vegetation
Only hurt the enemies of God; allowed to inflict pain but not kill the men
Would last for 5 months – half of ten (full or whole) represents a limited period
This will not be the final judgment; more is yet to comeIllustrates that man reaps as he has sown (Gal. 6:7‐8)
The servants of the devil suffer the consequences of sinTorment is so horrific, these wish for death
The Locusts’ Appearance – vv. 7‐10Great and terrible in appearance, strike fear into the wicked menShaped like horses for battle – swiftly coming in destructionHeads with crowns, something like gold (not genuine) – the victory of wickedness is only an imitation of the genuine; it is not lasting or trueFaces like faces of men – implying intelligence; terrible inflictions brought about by deluded mankind; intelligent wills are in rebellion against GodHair like women’s – difficult to know what this really signifies
Perhaps just adds to the demoniacal appearance of the locustsAccording to vines ‐ implies subjection to their Satanic master
Breastplates like iron – gives the impression of invincibilitySound of wings like chariots – a great and awful sound of a coming armyTails like scorpions –perhaps repeated for emphasis
Ruler of the Locusts – v. 11The one that rules over them is called Abaddon or Apollyon
The Hebrew, Abaddon, means destructionThe Greek, Apollyon, means destroyer
May be Satan himselfBoth names are appropriate for this one who rules over destructionJn. 8:44 – “He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.”
Lessons for TodayThe Lord wants to hear our prayers; they are like a sweet‐smelling incense to Him. He is ready and will hear our prayers. Do we take time out of our busy lives to talk to Him?Do we sometimes choose the bitter waters of sin over the fountains of living water? The consequences can be terrible and the punishment eternal. Let us seek the waters of life instead. (Jn. 4:14)