The third trumpet resulted in a “great star” falling into the sources of freshwater, embittering them – Revelation 8:10-11.
The third trumpet uses imagery from the first plague of Egypt that polluted that nation’s sources of fresh water. The “Egyptians could not drink of the water of the river” because it had turned “into blood.” In Revelation, the plague also killed the fish in rivers and streams, “embittering” a third of the earth’s drinking water.
Continue reading THIRD TRUMPETThe fourth trumpet blast caused a partial darkening of the sun, moon, and the stars – Revelation 8:12.
The darkening of the sun, moon, and stars is based on the ninth Egyptian plague that darkened the land for three days. It also employs imagery from the judicial pronouncement against Pharaoh in Ezekiel, a judgment carried out by the ancient empire of Babylon. Now, darkness will consume the realm of end-time “Babylon” – (Ezekiel 32:7-11).
Continue reading FOURTH TRUMPETThe second trumpet harmed much of the commerce on which human society, the “inhabitants of the earth,” relied – Revelation 8:8-9.
The second trumpet blast upset the sea, and thereby disrupted a third of all seaborne commerce. In Revelation, the “sea” is vital to the commerce on which “Babylon” depends, and it is the place from which the “beast” will ascend. This explains why, at the end of the book, no “sea” is found in “New Jerusalem.” In the symbolic world, it is linked to the “Dragon” and the “beast.”
Continue reading SECOND TRUMPETThe first trumpet blast unleashed forces that impacted agriculture. Its plague was patterned on the seventh plague of Egypt – Revelation 8:7.
Fire from the “golden altar” has been “cast onto the earth” in response to the “prayers of the saints.” This was followed by “claps of thunder, voices, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake,” which concluded the “seven seals” and signaled the start of the “seven trumpets.” Thus, the seven angels are now poised to blow their trumpets.
Continue reading FIRST TRUMPETAn overview of the series of seven trumpets and the several intervening events between the sixth and seventh trumpets– Revelation 8:7-11:19.
The “seven trumpets” follow the same literary pattern as the “seven seals.” Like the first four seals, the first four trumpets form a distinct group, and the last three trumpets are marked off from the first four as the “three woes.” Furthermore, like the “seven seals,” several events interrupt the series between the sixth and seventh trumpets, and both series are preceded by the “prayers of the saints.”
Continue reading SOUNDING THE SEVEN TRUMPETSAt the end of the seventh seal, seven angels prepare to sound their trumpets, unleashing judgment on the “inhabitants of the earth” – Revelation 8:1-6.
The saints have been “sealed,” washed “in the blood of the Lamb,” and brought safely through the “great tribulation.” The full complement of “witnesses” has been numbered and assembled, and the time has arrived for judgment to be rendered against the “inhabitants of the earth” that persecuted the martyrs. Their plea for “vengeance” is about to be answered.
Continue reading SEVENTH SEAL
Disciples Global Network 