Unit: Revelation (Part 2)
Theme: Spiritual War
Lesson Text: Revelation 8:6-13; 9:1-4, 13-15, 20-21
Supplemental Texts: Ezekiel 18:21-23; Mark 6:12; Acts 3:19; 2 Corinthians 7:8-12
Aim: Repent of wrongdoing.
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By Mark Scott
Trumpets (probably ram’s horns) served several purposes in the Bible. They could indicate God’s powerful presence (Exodus 19:16). They could announce the encampments and journeys of Israel (Numbers 10:2). They summoned soldiers for battle (1 Samuel 13:3). They announced key faith festivals (Psalm 81:3). And they will be used to announce the end of time (1 Corinthians 15:52; 1 Thessalonians 4:16). In Revelation they announce more of the judgments of God on unrepentant humanity.
War makes casualties—of earth, sky, and sea; of sun, moon, and stars; and worst of all, of people. The key to avoiding the casualties in this war is repentance. People’s repentance even affects other aspects of creation. The way to avoid these war casualties is repentance.
Casualties of Creation (8:6-11)
Ultimately salvation is the healing of all creation. When things went upside down in the Garden of Eden due to Adam’s and Eve’s sin, creation itself experienced casualties. The trumpets, which follow the seals and precede the bowls of wrath, announce these casualties. The earth, sea, and rivers were all affected. The math in Revelation is funny math. If one added how much of the earth would be burned up or destroyed, through the various trumpets/judgments, it would amount to more than 100 percent. So the numbers themselves become symbolic of partial or full destruction.
When the first trumpet sounded, hail and fire mixed with blood was hurled down on the earth. This was reminiscent of the seventh plague in Egypt (Exodus 9:13-26). When the second trumpet sounded, a huge mountain was thrown into the sea. The result was the waters turning to blood and a third of the ships were burned. This was reminiscent of the first plague (Exodus 7:14-21). When the third trumpet sounded, a great star named Wormwood (bitterness) was thrown into the rivers. The waters became bitter, and people died. This was reminiscent of Israel drinking water from the destroyed golden calf (Exodus 32:20). The earth became the whipping post of God’s wrath.
Casualties Beyond the Atmosphere (8:12-13)
The atmosphere and stratosphere are the layers of gases that surround the earth and protect it. But the fourth trumpet describe judgments of God that go higher than the atmosphere. They encompass the quasars and galaxies. When the fourth trumpet sounded, sun, moon, and stars were altered. These brilliant lights turned dark. Imagine the strangeness and the immediate coolness. The darkness was reminiscent of the ninth plague of Egypt (Exodus 10:21-29).
A brief interlude occurs next. A talking eagle appears and pronounces the “woes” on the earth that the remaining trumpets will bring. These trumpets are played by the angels of course. Creation beyond that which is on the earth is affected by these trumpet blasts and the judgments that come after them.
Casualties of People (7:11; 9:1-4, 13-15, 20-21)
The prize of creation was people. People were to have dominion over birds, beasts, and sea creatures. And people were not to worship sun, moon, or stars. But lack of repentance would cause God’s judgments to fall on people too. When the waters turned bitter, people died. When the fifth angel sounded the trumpet, a star fell from the sky to the earth. But then the star was given the key to the shaft of the Abyss. How could a star hold a key? The star was probably an angelic figure. The angel opened the Abyss and smoke poured out. The smoke was so thick that it became dark. Out of the smoke came locusts. This reminds one of the eighth plague (Exodus 10:1-20; and the book of Joel). The locusts had power given to them to destroy, but not in such a way as to destroy all the grass. They were only “allowed” (i.e., God was still in control) to harm those not sealed (i.e., the believers from chapter 7). Revelation 9:7-12 gave a description of the locusts.
The sixth angel sounded the trumpet. The voice of God told the sixth angel to release the angels who were bound at the Euphrates River. Once released, these angels were allowed to kill a third of mankind. People, who are precious in the sight of God, are casualties of this war.
One would think that these judgments would cause the people left to repent immediately. But not so. Some people are so bent on evil that even seeing these casualties would not turn to God. They kept worshiping demons and idols, they stayed to their magic arts, their sexual immorality, or their thefts. Repentance keeps God’s judgments at bay and the war casualties to a minimum.
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