09.18 Revelation 8:1-13 WHEN THE TRUMPETS BEGIN TO SOUND

Revelation 8:1-13 WHEN THE TRUMPETS BEGIN TO SOUND

Intro: Ill. The events thus far. We have witnessed the opening of six of the seven seals. When the seventh is opened, it produces seven trumpets. These trumpet announce what will be a series of divine judgments upon a sinful world. There is not much for man to say about these things. Therefore, we will let the Bible speak for itself in these matters.

I. Revelation 8:1 SILENCE IN HEAVEN A. The lull before the storm.

B. The judgments that follow are so terrible that all of Heaven falls silent. (Ill. Beasts, Elders, Angels, Choirs.) C. Sometimes, we need to get silent before the Lord - Psalms 46:10

D. Ill. The effect of silence - (Ill. Wedding, Prison, Ill. Man in truck!) 30 mins of total silence is never shattering!

II. Revelation 8:2 & Revelation 8:6 SOLEMN PREPARATIONS A. Seven angels are given trumpets. The trumpets will signal the judgments.

B. Ill. The importance of trumpets - Numbers 10:1-12 - (Assembly, Journey, Alarm, War, Worship, ect.) C. These angels position themselves and get ready to sound their trumpers - Revelation 8:6 III. Revelation 8:3-5 SAINT’S PRAYERS A. The prayers of the saints are kept - Psalms 56:8-9; Revelation 5:8 B. Will be offered before the Lord - (Ill. Delayed answers!)

C. Ill. The Lord’s prayer! When we pray, “Thy Kingdom Come”, we are asking for God to judge this world! It also anwers the prayer in Revelation 6:9-10.

D. Pray! God hears, Jeremiah 33:3; and He will answer!

E. Revelation 8:5 After the prayers went up, the judgment came down!

F. Ill. The world has rejected Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross of Calvary, now they will be judged from the altar of God!

IV. Revelation 8:7-13 SERIOUS PUNISHMENT

A. Revelation 8:7 First Trumpet - Hail, fire and blood cast upon the earth. (Ill. Ezekiel 38:22) 1/3 of all trees and all the green grass gone! Imagine that! (Ill. Oxygen levels!)

B. Revelation 8:8-9 Second Trumpet - “A mountain cast into the sea!” 1/3 of sea turns to blood; 1/3 of all sea life dies; 1/3 of all ships go down! (Ill. Man’s dependence upon the sea!) C. Revelation 8:10-11 Third Trumpet - A falling star 1. Poisons 1/3 of all fresh water! (Ill. Wormwood - a poison herb - Ill. Absinthe!) 2. Jesus is the water of life - John 14:13-14 - He was rejected and now He will judge them in a manner that will remind mankind of who He is!

D. Revelation 8:12 Fourth Trumpet - (God’s dimmer switch) 1. Dims the light by 1/3 2. Ill. Darkness increases by 8 hours per day. (Ill. Cold, heat and power; Ill. Crops.) 3. Jesus is the light of the world - John 8:12 - Men chose darkness and get their desire. (Ill. All of these things are an Ecologist’s nightmare!) E. Revelation 8:13 The Eagle - he proclaims 3 woes upon the world. Things are going to get worse from this point!

Conc: No person present need worry about these things. If, that is, you are saved by the grace of God! Soon all of these things will come to pass. Where will you be when it all comes down?