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Please read "Understanding the Book of Revelation" before reading this Chapter. Notes of Clarification are written in this Font Color.

​​​​​​The Book of Revelation

Chapter 8

Seventh Seal - God's Wrath Is Come
First Trumpet - Third of Trees & Grass Burnt Up
Second Trumpet - Mountain Burning, Third Part of Ships Destroyed
Third Trumpet - Third Part of Waters Bitter
Fourth Trumpet - Third  Part Sun, Moon Stars Darkened

Angel with Warning "Woe, Woe, Woe"

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Seventh Seal - The Great Day of God’s Wrath Is Come

1 And when He had opened the Seventh Seal, there was silence in Heaven about the space of half an hour.

When the seventh seal is opened revealing the contents of the scroll, there is an ominous, awesome half an hour of calm in Heaven (the only such silence mentioned in Scripture) before the greatest, most destructive “storm” in history - the plagues of the judgments and the Wrath of God. After the 144,000 Israelites are sealed and the remaining believers in Christ, who are still alive on earth, are safe in Heaven, the four angels will now release the winds of destruction on the Earth.

2 And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets.

3 And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a Golden Censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the Golden Altar which was before the Throne.

4 And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.

5 And the angel took the Censer, and filled it with fire of the Altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.

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We see from comparing these Verses, that the 7th Seal, 7th Trumpet, and 7th Vial all end at the exact same time with the same events happening.

 
7th Seal - Voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.
7th Trumpet - Lightnings, and voices, and thundering's, and an earthquake, and great hail.
7th Vial - Voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake.

*   *   *

​7th Seal - Revelation 8:5: "And the angel took the Censer, and filled it with fire of the Altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake."

7th Trumpet - Revelation 11:19: "And the temple of God was opened in Heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament [covenant]: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thundering's, and an earthquake, and great hail."

7th Vial - Revelation 16:18: "And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great."

*   *   *

The things John sees with the opening of the Seals are given as an outline of the judgments to come, and then additional details are given as John tells about the Trumpets being sounded,  and then the Vials of Wrath being poured out.

The Seven Seals are the Long outline which end at Armageddon.
The Seven Trumpets are the Shorter Outline which end at Armageddon.
The Seven Vials are the Shortest outline which also end at Armageddon.

The Seals outline the entire seven year Tribulation.
The Trumpets happen sometime during the last 3 1/2 years of the Tribulation.
The Vials of Wrath are poured out near the end of the Tribulation.

*   *   *   *   *

Trumpets Prepare to Sound

6 And the Seven Angels which had the Seven Trumpets prepared themselves to sound.

America is known as Modern Day Babylon, and it does appear that she will come under judgment when the first Four Trumpets are sounded. The destruction of North America would be about a Third part of the earth.

Revelation 14:8 "And there followed another Angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication."

Revelation 16:19 "Great  Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath."

Revelation 18:21  “A mighty angel took up  a stone like a great millstone, and  cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.”

First Trumpet

7 The First Angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the  third  part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.

Revelation 18:8 Therefore her plagues shall come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.

Second Trumpet

8 And the Second Angel sounded, and as it were a great  mountain burning with fire  was  cast into the sea: and the  third  part of the sea became blood;

Jeremiah 50:24-25  "I will render unto Babylon ... Behold, I am against you, O destroying mountain, says the Lord I will ... roll you down from the rocks, and will make you a  burnt mountain.

9 And the  third  part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the  third  part of the ships were destroyed.

ThirdTrumpet

10 And the Third Angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the  third  part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters;

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

Nuclear bombs will cause the water to become bitter. An example is the plant in Russia, Chernobyl, which exploded. "Chernobyl" means wormwood. The name of the city of Chernobyl comes from the name of a bitter wild herb grass known as wormwood. 

FourthTrumpet

12 And the Fourth Angel sounded, and the  third  part of the sun was smitten, and the  third  part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a  third  part of it, and the night likewise.

A third of the sunlight, moonlight, and starlight is darkened, only a partial darkening is described here.  The darkening of the sun, moon, and stars are most likely due to a cloud cover, caused by nuclear bombs and other physical disturbances. A third of the day did not shine; Here, the implication could be an eclipse or other supernatural phenomena where all light from the sun, moon, and stars is blocked for one-third of the time.  However it occurs, it will be dramatic. The fractional darkening of the heavenly bodies will produce a reduced duration of daylight and moonlight.

​Woe, Woe, Woe

13 And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven [the sky], saying with a loud voice, Woe, Woe, Woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!

This angel announces that the judgments associated with the sounding of the final three trumpets are especially severe for the remaining Inhabitants presently dwelling upon the earth.  These are the people who have steadfastly refused God’s mercy throughout this period of severe judgments, and they continue to harden their hearts and blaspheme God.

Chapter 9

Fifth Trumpet - First Woe - Locusts Torment Men for Five Months

Sixth Trumpet - Second Woe - Third of Men Killed

Seventh Trumpet - The Third Woe - God's Wrath Is Come

FifthTrumpet - First Woe - Locusts Torment Men for Five Months
1 And the Fifth Angel sounded and I saw a star [Angel] fall from Heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.

2 And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.

3 And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.

An Angel came from Heaven to the Earth and was given the key of the bottomless pit. The horror which is about to be unleashed is entirely subject to the sovereign permission of God. The shaft of the abyss had been locked so that whatever or whoever was there could not escape. Now the Angel will unlock it and set the occupants free. 

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144,000 Israelites are Protected

4 And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but [hurt] only those men which do not have the Seal of God in their foreheads.

The 144,000 Israelites are protected from these locusts because they have the Seal of God.

Revelation 7:2-3  "I saw another Angel ... having the Seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four Angels ... Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads."

The Seal of God is a Spiritual Mark applied to the believer with the presence of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

5 And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he strikes a man.

6 And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.

7 And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men.

8 And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions.

9 And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle.

10 And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months.

11 And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.

12 One  woe  is past; and, behold, there come two  woes  more hereafter.

Sixth Trumpet - Second Woe - Third of Men Killed

13 And the Sixth Angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the Golden Altar which is before God,

14 Saying to the sixth Angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.

Four angels are loosed from their place of restraint at the great river Euphrates. The first invasion seemed to come from the pit of hell, but this one is from beyond the eastern borders of the Roman Empire. 

15 And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an [appointed]hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the  third  part of men.

The angels were ready for this very hour and day and month and year.

16 And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand [two hundred million]: and I heard the number of them.

 Four angels are in charge of this demonic cavalry. Two hundred million here are ready to kill one third of mankind.

17 And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone.

Horses and riders are described together as one terrible creature. They are not human but demonic, and their job is to carry out the commission of the four angels from the Euphrates to kill a third of mankind.

18 By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths.

19 For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt.

20 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet  repented not  of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:

21 Neither repented  they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.

None of the judgments described up to now have succeeded in bringing about repentance or any change of heart in an evil world. The surviving inhabitants of the earth, have their hearts hardened and they will not repent. They continue with their vices, worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood, also murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality and their thefts.

Chapter 10

The Mighty Angel, Jesus

Seal Up What the Seven Thunders Uttered

Seventh Trumpet - The Third Woe - The Great Day of God’s Wrath

The Mighty Angel, Jesus

1 And I saw another mighty Angel [Jesus] come down from Heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon His head, and His face was as it were the sun, and His feet as pillars of fire:

This mighty Angel is Jesus, as also seen from the description that is given in the following verses.

Revelation 1:14-16 "His eyes were as a flame of fire; And His feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace ... and His countenance [face] was as the sun shining in his [it’s] strength [the sun’s full brilliance]."

Revelation 2:18 "These things says the Son of God, who has His eyes like unto a flame of fire, and His feet are like fine brass."

2 And He [Jesus] had in His hand a little book open: and He set his right foot upon the sea, and His left foot on the earth,

Seal Up What the Seven Thunders Uttered

3 And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when He had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.

4 And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice [God] from Heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not. 

The Thunder Represents the Voice of God
Psalm 18:13  says, “The LORD thundered in the Heavens, and the Highest gave His voice.”

This incident occurs in the interlude between the sixth and seventh Trumpets. The seven thunders are not just the usual noise of thunder but are thunder-like voices communicating a message. Thunder is often a mark of judgment in Scripture, so these seven powerful voices may be crying out for God’s judgment upon the sinful earth.

Just as John was about to write the words of the seven thunders, God's voice from Heaven commands him to seal up what the voices have revealed. The reason for the sealing is not given, but it could be that the judgment was simply too terrifying to be recorded. The content of the message is never revealed in Scripture, so we can’t speculate on it. The seven thunders are the only words in the Book of Revelation that are sealed.

5 And the Angel [Jesus] which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up His hand to Heaven,

6 And swear by Him [God] that lives for ever and ever, who created Heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:

7 But in the days of the voice of the Seventh Angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God  should be finished, as He hath declared to His servants the prophets.

During the sounding of the Seventh Trumpet, Christ will take over the kingdoms of this world to reign forever.

Daniel 12:7 "And I heard the man [Angel] clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by Him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time,  times,  and an half [3 ½ years]; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished."

Revelation 11:15 "And the Seventh Angel sounded [Trumpet Seven]; and there were great voices in Heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever."

8 And the voice [God] which I heard from Heaven spoke unto me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the Angel [Jesus] which stands upon the sea and upon the earth.

9 And I went unto the Angel [Jesus], and said unto Him, Give me the little book. And He [Jesus] said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.

10 And I took the little book out of the Angel's [Jesus] hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.

11 And He [Jesus] said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.

John will witness the events to take place regarding the two witnesses and the Beast and False Prophet. John is told to consume the little book, which is sweet in his mouth but bitter in his stomach. Sweet as honey… God’s word is sweet to those who consume and understand the message and meaning.  Psalm 119:103 describes God’s word as sweeter then honey. Stomach became bitter... As the word of God is sweet to those who taste it, proclaiming the message can be a bitter task.  Knowledge of God’s wrath and judgment is not sweet but bitter, it is gloom on the world.  

Chapter 11

The Two Witnesses, Elijah & Moses

Two Witnesses are Killed

Two Witnesses Arose and Ascended Up To Heaven

The Two Witnesses, Elijah & Moses

Moses appeared in bodily form with Elijah at the Transfiguration in Matthew 17:1-3. The ministry of the two witnesses will last 3 ½ years during the tribulation. The Lord sends these two exceptional witnesses to proclaim to Israel that Jesus was their true Messiah and they may have a part in the building of the Third Temple.

Since Elijah and Enoch never died, some people believe Enoch may be the other witness.

Genesis 5:24 “Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.”

2 Kings 2:11 “Behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire ... and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into Heaven.”

1 And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the Angel [Jesus] stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.

2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy City shall they tread under foot forty-two months. [3 ½ years]

Daniel 9:27 “He[the Antichrist] shall confirm the covenant with many [people] for one week [7 Years]: and in the midst of the week [after 3½ Years]he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation [offerings] to cease (in the Jews third Temple), and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate.” (An image of himself shall be set up in the Holy Temple, and he shall declare himself to be God. This is called the “Abomination of Desolation”.)

3 And I [Jesus] will give power unto My two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. [42 months or 3 ½ years]

A Biblical year has 360 days (having 12 months of 30 days each. 

4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.

5 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceeds out of their mouth, and devours their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.

6 These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.

The Two Witnesses are Killed

7 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascended out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.

8 And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great City [Jerusalem], which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.

9 And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.

10 And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.

The Two Witnesses Arose and Ascended Up To Heaven

11 And after three days and an half the spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.

12 And they heard a great voice from Heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to Heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.

13 And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the City fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were frightened, and gave glory to the God of Heaven.

14 The second  woe  is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly.

Seventh Trumpet - The Third Woe - The Great Day of God’s Wrath

15 And the Seventh Angel sounded and there were great voices in Heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever. 

Revelation10:7: "But in the days of the voice of the Seventh Angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as He hath declared to His servants the prophets."

16 And the twenty-four Elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,

17 Saying, We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and was, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.

18 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that You should give reward unto Your servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear Your name, small and great; and should destroy them which destroy the earth.

19 And the temple of God was opened in Heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament [covenant]: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thundering's, and an earthquake, and great hail.

*  *  *  *  *

We see from comparing these Verses, that the  7th Seal,  7th Trumpet,  and  7th Vial  all end at the exact same time with the same events happening.

7th Seal - Voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.
7th Trumpet - Lightnings, and voices, and thundering's, and an earthquake, and great hail.
7th Vial - Voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake.

*   *   *

7th Seal- Revelation 8:5: 'And the angel took the Censer, and filled it with fire of the Altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake."

7th Trumpet - Revelation 11:19: "And the temple of God was opened in Heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament [covenant]: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thundering's, and an earthquake, and great hail."

7th Vial - Revelation 16:18: "And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great."

*   *   *

The things John sees with the opening of the Seals are given as an outline of the judgments to come, and then additional details are given as John tells about the Trumpets being sounded,  and then the Vials of Wrath being poured out.

The Seven Seals are the Long outline which end at Armageddon.
The Seven Trumpets are the Shorter Outline which end at Armageddon.
The Seven Vials are the Shortest outline which also end at Armageddon.

The Seals outline the entire seven year Tribulation.
The Trumpets happen sometime during the last half of the Tribulation.
The Vials of Wrath are poured out near the end of the Tribulation.

*  *  *  *  *