07.09. Seven trumpets (8:6-11:19)
Seven trumpets (Rev 8:6-13, Rev 9:1-21, Rev 10:1-11, Rev 11:1-19)
Hail and fire mixed with blood is thrown on the earth and one third of the earth, trees and all the grass is burned up.
Something like a great mountain burning with fire is thrown into the sea. This causes one third of the sea to become blood. Also, one third of the creatures in the sea died and one third of the ships are destroyed.
A great star (Wormwood) falls from heaven, burning like a torch and fell on one third of the rivers and springs. Many men died from the waters which were made bitter.
One third of the sun, moon and stars are struck.
First woe. A Star (angelic or spiritual being) from heaven had fallen to the earth and opened the bottomless pit (where fallen angels or demons have been kept).
A term for the underworld as a. the prison of the disobedient (Luk 8:31; Rev 9:1) and b. the realm of the dead (Rom 10:7).ix
Locusts came out and tormented those without the seal (144,000 Jews) for five months and could torment, but not kill. These would be demonic forces who had a “king” over them who was the “angel of the abyss”. Some think that this refers to Satan but as John MacArthur notes: This angel is better viewed as a high-ranking demon in Satan’s hierarchy.x Kendall H. Easley writes: his is neither the holy angel of God with the key (verse 1) nor Satan, who is introduced in chapter 12. This is some other archdemon that appears here in Scripture and perhaps also in 11:7.xi
Four angels are released to kill 1/3rd of mankind. There were 200,000,000 horsemen. A strong angel with a little open book cried out and seven peals of thunder uttered their voices, but this was not to be recorded. This would seem to indicate that there is another series of judgements that take place at this time. The angel says that there will no longer be any delay. John takes the book and eats it and is told to prophesy again concerning many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings. Here, the two witnesses are introduced. These two witnesses prophesy for 1260 days. They will have power to cause plagues and kill those who would harm them.
David Guzik makes a good point: Who they are must not be terribly important, or we would have been told exactly who they are!xii
Warren Wiersbe puts the timing of these witnesses into the first half of the tribulation. This makes the most sense, since the beast that overpowers them rules for the second 3½ years. The place is Jerusalem and the time is the first half of the tribulation. Israel is worshipping again at its restored temple, built under the protection of the Antichrist, whose true character has not yet been revealed.xiii
After this, the beast that comes out of the abyss will overcome them and kill them. This would be the same beast that is described in Rev 13:1-18. After 3½ days they will rise and ascend to heaven. A great earthquake occurs. One tenth of the city (Jerusalem) fell. Seven thousand people are killed in the earthquake. The rest of the people were terrified and gave glory to God. This was the second woe, the third was to appear quickly. It would appear that the chronology for the events on earth continue in Rev 13:1-18. It would also appear that Rev 13:1-18 refers to the second half of the tribulation.
Forty-two months (1,260 days or times and time and half a time) is equal to three and one-half years or one-half of the tribulation period. Since the judgments seem to intensify from the opening of the seals to the sounding of the trumpets and finally to the sounding of the seven thunders and the outpouring of God’s bowls of wrath, apparently the 42 months are the last 42 months of the tribulation period.xiv
There are loud voices in heaven and elders worship God. The twenty-four elders fell on their faces and worshipped God. The temple of God in heaven was opened and there was lightning, thunder earthquake and hail.