Tribulation Special Lesson 8  The Trumpet Judgments

	Introduction: The seventh seal broken showed us that in response to the saints prayers, the seven trumpets will sound. 	
	Timing of the Seven Trumpet Judgments	
	These judgments which harm the earth and seas have been held back until the 144,000 were sealed (7:3), placing the trumpet judgments after the 144,000’s sealing which came early in the tribulation.
	These are also warnings signified by the use of the trumpet but also by the fact that the opportunity to repent is still being offered at this time (9:20-21). 
	The fact that the seventh trumpet opens up to the events of the second half of the tribulation means the other six came previously. 
	The trumpet judgments are also plagues which indicates something of their duration. Each has to run its course before the next one begins. They have a starting and stopping point.  
	Though we do not have the precise time given in the scripture when each of the trumpets begins and ends, there are patterns that enable one to get a good estimate. 
	It seems best to start them after the first five seals have started their action of fulfillment.
	The action of the seals would take several months to a year to take effect. Then each plague would run its course and need time for it to take effect. The only plague mentioned with a time limit is the fifth which is a demon-locust invasion. So one should consider all of them taking at least a month or more with increasing intensity. Working backwards from the fifth taking five months, one can surmise the fourth taking four months, the third, three etc. That would bring the first trumpet starting at 21 months or half-way thru the first three and a half years. 
	
	Nature of the Trumpet Judgments 

	One of the most noticeable if not alarming things about these trumpet judgments is their supernatural nature. They are well beyond what mankind can cause or prevent.
	As the plagues were a direct repudiation of the Egyptian’s gods, so perhaps these judgments are also a repudiation of man’s claim to control the climate.	
	These judgments are unstoppable and terrifying. They come hard and fast and this is still the first half of the tribulation. The worst is yet to come. 
	Finally, a reminder that these are in response to the prayers of the persecuted saints (8:1-7).

	First Trumpet-- Hail and Fire Mixed with Blood.
	One-third of the earth burned. 

	8:7  The first angel blew his trumpet, and there came hail 	and fire mixed with blood, and it was thrown on the earth 	and a third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees 	were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.

	hail and fire mixed with blood--  

	The opposites of ice or hail and fire demonstrate something supernatural is going on here. Then the blood as a reminder of the spilt blood of the saints. This is a judgment from heaven. This is part of Joel’s prediction quoted in Acts (Joel 2:30 cf. Acts 2:19).
	The result is that a third of the earth burns up that included trees and grass. What third of the earth is referred to is not mentioned. A third is approximate to all Asia burning. This is an enormous amount of land burned. One can only imagine the loss. But this is real and this happens and will happen early in the tribulation. 
	One should assume that whatever that land was used for — cities, factories, housing, structures of all kinds, fields for farming, grazing for livestock are all consumed as well. This 
destruction beyond the grass and trees is drawn from the destruction we see in the next plague where a bloody sea brings destruction to the ships. 
	Of course this would contribute to the world unrest, famine and death already taking place. From the land to the sea, we go to the --
	
	Second Trumpet: A Large Land Mass Falls into the 
	Sea. One-Third of the Sea Turns to Blood 

	8:8  And the second angel blew his trumpet, and something 	like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the 	sea and third of the sea became blood,

	8:9  and the third part of the creatures living in the sea 	died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.
		
	A chunk of rock from space is an asteroid or meteoroid till it hits the ground, if it survives earth’s atmosphere, then it is called a meteorite. The light one sees in the sky is called a meteor. 
	This is probably a huge meteorite as to its size and burning that strikes the earth at sea. One-third of the sea becomes blood. The entire Pacific Ocean is about 30%. The destruction to the ships is likely due to the accompanying tsunamis. The blood would destroy the sea life. 
	Shipping, the fishing industry, international trade and supply lines are disrupted.  More than just the food chain disruption but destruction. No fish for industry, ships or open sea lanes, the life blood and line of many nations and islands are put to a halt during this plague. Recovery would likely take years, even after the tsunamis and blood dissipates.   

	Third Trumpet— A Meteor Poisons 
		One-third of the 	Fresh Inland Water

	8:10 And the third angel blew his trumpet, and a great 	star fell from heaven burning like a torch, and it fell on a 	third of the rivers and on the springs of waters.

	a great star aster megas -- another probably a larger 	meteor than before enters the earth’s atmosphere and 	breaks up as it passes over a third of the planet’s surface 	shooting rocks into the rivers and springs. This is fresh 	water.

	8:11 Now the name of the star is called Wormwood: and a	third part of the waters became wormwood; and many 	people died of the waters, because they were made bitter. 

	Wormwood: apsinthos —  Wormwood is a a bitter tasting 	shrub that normally is not poisonous in itself. In Jer. 9:15, 	as punishment, the food is made bitter and the water is 	poisoned, but here, it is the wormwood water that brings 	death. Either the water is poisoned or so undrinkable that 	people died of thirst. 

	So at this point, we have seen the sea, the land and the fresh waters affected. Next is the heavens. 
		
	Fourth Trumpet Increased Cosmic Darkness
		One Third Sun, Moon and Stars Darkened

	8:12 And the fourth angel blew his trumpet, and a third of 	the sun and a third of the moon, and a third of the stars 	were struck, so that a third of them were darkened. The day 	did not shine light for a third of it and the night in the 
	same way. 
											                                          4
	The results of this plague is that there is one-third less light for both day and night. A normal 12 hours of daylight would be eight. What light the moon and stars brought was cut by one-third. This would at least affect outdoor work, plant life, harvesting, travel, safety, mobility, solar energy, etc.   
	Darkness is also part of the 5th Bowl judgment (16:10) and then later both the sun and moon darkened at the Second Coming (Matt. 24:29). 
	So this is a preview of what is coming. 
	
	These first four judgments were directed toward nature but they all affected an important part of human life. Remember that these are the judgments that have been held up until the 144,000 were sealed. 
	The evangelist will be able to point to the judgements and say that this is God’s doing-- repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. 

	The next three trumpets directly affect man and are also called “woes.”

	8:13 And I looked and I heard a single eagle in mid-heaven 	proclaiming with a loud voice, “Woe, woe, woe to those who 	live on the earth because of the remaining sounds of the 	trumpets of the three angels who are about to blow them!”
	
	The eagle aetos can be either an eagle or vulture. An eagle is majestic as compared to a typical vulture (Matt. 24:28; Luke 17:37). Here it is best to take it as an eagle. Mid-heaven is the sky. Woe is a warning of grief that comes from pain and sorrow. This is a triple warning meaning three very bad plagues are coming. It is directed towards the earth-dwellers. 
	The eagle sounds this warning because the angels are about to blow the trumpets.                                                        

	The Fifth Trumpet— the First Woe
		Demonic-Locust Invasion from the Abyss

	9:1  The fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star that 	had fallen from the heaven to the earth; and the key to the 	shaft of the abyss was given to him. (2) He opened the 			shaft of the abyss, and smoke ascended out of the shaft like 	the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were 	darkened from the smoke of the shaft. (3) Then out of the 		smoke came locusts upon the earth, and power was given 		them, as the scorpions of the earth have power.

	The key to the shaft of the abyss, where some demons are being confined (cf. Lu. 8:31), was given to a fallen angel. The fallen angel is permitted to unleash these locusts upon the earth. These locusts are visible and are able to inflict pain like a scorpion. 

	9:4 They were told not to hurt the grass of the earth, nor 		any green thing, nor any tree, but only the people who do 		not have the seal of God on their foreheads. (5) And they 		were not permitted to kill anyone, but to torment for five 		months; and their torment was like the torment of a 			scorpion when it stings a person. (6) And in those days 			people will seek death and will not find it; they will long to 	die, and death will flee from them!

	They are told indicating demon-control or possession. This plague is comparable to the eighth plague unleashed on the Egyptians (Ex. 10:14). Locust are well known to devastate large areas of vegetation. But here they only have power to  hurt (adikeō)-- to inflict severe pain on those who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.
	Unlike the previous plagues that were limited to a portion of the earth’s surface, this plague is universal, towards all earth-dwellers. Every earth-dweller is a target. The only ones excluded are those with the seal of God, which are the 144,000 (Rev. 7:3-4) and believers who are naturally excluded because 
they are sealed by the Holy Spirit (Jn. 6:27;Eph. 1:13-14). 
	
	God places limitations on these creatures. They are not permitted to kill anyone but only to torment basanizō - to torture, harass-- the unbeliever for five months. The pain they cause is like a scorpion’s sting. It is so painful, people would rather die but they are not allowed to do so. No kind of relief is given. These powerful-stinging -flying hideous looking locusts move in unstoppable swarms tormenting people.   

	We should be reminded that these trumpet judgments are in the first half of the tribulation before the mark of the beast is required. So they still have time to repent after being tormented (cf. 9:20).

	In vv. 7-10, these locusts are given a detailed description with several points of symbolism.  

	9:7  The appearance of the locusts was like horses prepared 	for battle; and on their heads appeared to be crowns like 		gold, and their faces were like human faces. (8) They had 		hair like the hair of women, and their teeth were like the 		teeth of lions. (9) They had breastplates like breastplates of 	iron; and the sound of their wings was like the sound of 		chariots, of many horses rushing to battle. (10) They have
	tails like scorpions and stingers; and in their tails is their 		power to hurt people for five months. (11) They have as 		king over them, the angel of the abyss; his name in 				Hebrew is Abaddon, and in the Greek he has 	the name 		Apollyon. 

	The description of the locusts symbolizes their characteristics

	They are like horses prepared for battle meaning they have their battle armor on and trained to go to war. Crowns indicate their conquering power. They have power over mankind though limited. Faces like humans indicates they have some kind of intelligence and adds to the terror factor--not just an instinctive creature. Hair like women-- Long hair on warriors sometimes indicated military prowess which seems to be the case here. Lions have four extra long canine teeth indicating their aggressive ferociousness. Breastplates are a defensive mechanism. They are not easy killed if at all. The sound of their wings like chariots and horses rushing to battle puts fear in the hearts of their enemies. Tails like scorpions and stingers describes their instrument of infliction. Their power to hurt people is limited to five months and then they stop. Their leader is a king (basileus), an angel of the abyss, his name in Hebrew is Abaddon, in the Greek Apollyon, which means destroyer.  
	Here we see for the first time demonic attack through these creatures on the unbeliever population world-wide.  This is a major move on behalf of Satan and his forces to actually debilitate people and terrify them. There is no stopping them and they are controlled by the demonic leader destroyer.  
	
	9:12 The first woe has passed; behold, two woes are still 	coming after these things.

	Sixth Trumpet— the Second Woe 
		Demonic-Cavalry Killing One-Third of humanity 

	9:13 The sixth angel blew his trumpet and I heard a voice 	from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God,
	(14) saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, 			“Release the four angels who are bound at the great river 		Euphrates.”(15) And the four angels, who had been 				prepared for this hour and day and month and year, were 		released, so that they would kill a third of mankind. (16) 		The number of the armies of the horsemen was two 				hundred million; I heard the number of them. (17) And this 	is how I saw in my vision the horses and those who sat on 		them: having breastplates, the colors of fiery red, hyacinth, 	sulphur and the heads of the horses are like the heads of 		lions; and out of their mouths came fire and smoke and 		brimstone. (18) A third of mankind was killed by these 		three plagues, by the fire, the smoke, and the brimstone 		which came out of their mouths. (19) For the power of the 		horses is in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails 		are like serpents and have heads, and with them they 			inflict injury.

	The answer to the saints prayer continues with another “woe”-- another wave of demonic attack upon unbelievers. 

	The attending angel at the golden altar spoke to the sixth angel with a trumpet to “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” The four angels had been bound indicates that they were fallen angels. They were 
released at this precise time for the purpose of killing a third of mankind. These four demonic angels are readied to release the ranks of demonic horsemen. 
	A 200 million numbered demonic cavalry came forth. 
	To put this in perspective, that is more than the estimated population of the earth in John’s time. 
	Both the horses and riders have a colorful description, with horses heads like lions with fire, smoke and brimstone coming from their mouths. Their tails are the most deadly which are like serpents that inflict injury. 
	So we have riders riding these monstrous creatures. Horses were especially threatening in those days to those on foot due to their power, speed and size. Plus, these have lion’s heads shooting out fire and biting with their tails.

	It is best to take this cavalry as symbolic of a tremendously increased direct and powerful demonic-angelic attack on a large part of the earth’s population. Their description indicates characteristics of this attack. Demons are allowed to kill human beings--probably billions, if that many people are left.  They are killing people- with fire, smoke and brimstone, which is sulphur and toxic.  There is also some kind of deadly bite or something to that affect that causes great injury. 
										   		                                  
	The seventh trumpet, like the seventh seal does not take place till after an interlude, which we already studied in part regarding the temple measurements and the Two Witnesses. 
(11:1-14)
	
	The Seventh Trumpet— Third Woe  
		Anticipating God’s Rule

	11:15 The seventh angel blew his trumpet and there were 		loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world 		has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ; and 	he 	will reign forever and ever.”

	The seventh trumpet, also the third woe opens with an announcement of the coming eternal kingdom of Christ. This is where these events to follow are headed, including the next set of judgments. We will pick up from here in our next lesson. 

  The Seals and Trumpet Judgments in First Half of the Tribulation 
		 F= Fall  S=Spring  Y= Year  W=Woe    The Year Starts in the Fall                          

												                               Second				                 					                                                                       Coming	   Y1	      Y2		      Y3		      Y4                Y5        Y6           Y7   
F1         S1       F2	S2	    F3         S3        F4           S4           F5        S5      F6    S6     F7      S7     F                       
|_______|_______|_______|___Mid___|______|_____|____
S1 White horse conquering with force--rides —> 
S2 Red horse- Unrest ——————-————— >
S3 Black horse -famine, food shortage ————>
S4 Pale horse- Death/Hades,1/4 mankind ——-> 
S5 Saints Martyred ———————————— >
S6                                                                                      Earthquake							    
									                                                             Darkness
S7 1/2 hr Silence, Trumpets Introduced 							                                                                          
		T1--Hail, fire, blood   
		         T2---1/3 Sea Waters Blood
			     	  T3----1/2 Fresh Water Blood
					  T4----- 1/3 Darkness
						     T5--W1--Demonic Locust
							       T6--W2-Demonic Cavalry
							     Fire, Smoke, Brimstone 
   									    T7 W3 Great Tribulation w/Bowl 
									                                                  Judgments