The Book of Revelation -- Part 17 -- The Seventh Trumpet

The seventh trumpet ends in climactic fashion as it starts a vision of worship -- all of heaven worships the LORD. The twenty four elders, all the voices of heaven, etc., join in to praise the Lord.

One interesting thing is the mention of the ark in the temple surrounded by acts of power both great and terrible.

The seven trumpet simple ends this phase of the book and open the door to a very different vision.

Next: The Woman, the Dragon and the Man Child.

The Book of Revelation -- Part 16 -- The Two Witnesses

The more I look at this passage the more I am convinced the symbolism is deliberately designed to conceal the identity of the two witness -- we are not supposed to know who they are. What is supposed to be significant is what they do:
1. The prophesy for a great length of time
2. They are called by God the two olive trees and lamp stands that stand before God on the earth.
3. Every time someone tries to stop them they are destroyed by the fire that comes out of their mouth
4. They engage in major prophetic acts that are designed to bring people to repentance but no one does.
5. It is not until they are finished that the Beast is allowed to kill them in Jerusalem
6. They rise from the dead and the whole world see them do so.

It is only after the last action do the people glorify God.

What can you say about this? Not much there is no recorded historical action that fits this vision and no clear answers as to who they are.

What is clear is that these two witnesses are powerful prophets who defy everything to do God's work.

Next: The Seventh Trumpet

The Book of Revelation -- Part 15 -- The Angel and the Little Book

Revelation chapter ten is all about one thing the mighty angel and his little book.
Two significant things happen in this chapter:
1) Seven thunders utter something that john is told not to write because they are for the end. What then becomes interesting is John knows this stuff but no one else will but God and the angels.
2) John is asked to eat the little book in the hand of them mighty angel which he does -- it tastes as sweet to his mouth but bitter in his belly. He is then told to prophesy.

Now the angel is never named but I am sure some have tried --Michael would make sense but ultimately who knows and his name is not as significant as what he holds. The significance of the little book being eaten I partially understand because I am a preacher. Preaching or teaching is always sweet in them mouth but bitter to the belly. God's Word is always good to speak but harder to make a part of your life.

I think this vision has significance to John most of all but to the seven churches it was one of acknowledging John spiritual right to speak and know God's Word.

Next: The Two Witnesses

The Book of Revelation -- Part 14 -- The Sixth Trumpet

If the fifth trumpet was devastating, the sixth is catastrophic in comparison. It is an army like no other released on the rest of mankind -- it destroys one third of mankind by plain old violence. Probably one thing that is mentioned here is the fact that even though this plague was so devastating, people still do not repent of their idolatry but instead continue in it.
I find this not completely amazing becasue the nature of mankind is rebellion, but even after such devistation -- nothing. No change of heart.

Next: The Angel and the Little Scroll

The Book of Revelation -- Part 14 -- The Fifth Trumpet

What gets interesting here is that after four trumpets in rapid succession and taking up only a few verses; suddenly the book focuses at length on a couple trumpets. An additional title is given to them as well -- the first two woes.

The Fifth Trumpet has more speculation and controversy on it than much of the rest of the book -- What the heck are these things? Deformed demons or something that John could only describe in terms he could understand but is seeing something entirely different? Don't know. Don't know how machines could come from the bottomless pit. I also doubt the original hearers would have looked at this as anything other than a supernatural force or event.

What is clear is a) This is very bad -- worse than the previous trumpets. and b) they do something far worse that kill -- they torment with terrible pain for a specific time period -- five months.

Next: The Sixth Trumpet

The Book of Revelation -- Part 13 -- Trumpets One Through Four

When the seventh seal is opened it, seven angels step forward with seven trumpets. Before a single one of them sounds a vial is given to another angel that contains the prayers of the saints that is poured over the altar of God. It is an addition vial to the prayers already before God and it causes these events to start.
1. Trumpet 1 -- Hail and fire that destroys one third of the world's vegetation.
2. Trumpet 2 -- mountain thrown in the ocean -- third of the world's water -- blood
3. Trumpet 3 -- Wormwood star that makes the fresh waters bitter -- people die.
4. Trumpet 4 -- Strikes third of the lights in the sky darkened.

Now there are two notes to make about this:
Firstly, that it is the prayers of the saints that start the ball rolling here.
Secondly, there is still no time table in this from the book itself.

In the end an angel speaks woe about the trumpets still to sound.

Next: The Fifth Trumpet

The Book of Revelation -- Part 12 -- The Seventh Seal

OK. I am ready for Revelation Again. Revelation 8:1-2
The only thing that can really be said about the Seventh Seal is that it ends the opening of the Scroll and initiates two things -- Silence for a half hour and trumpets are distributed to angels for the next act. It does not really say what these things mean it just says they are done.

Next: Trumpets One Through Four.

Sorry for the Delay on Some Series....

But I am thinking hard on both of them. 'Is Hell Justified?" and the 'The Bible and Nakedness' to be particular. The problem is I have always had a very conservative viewpoint on most issues and on this own the texts of Scripture do not take me there but somewhere else and I am still trying to come to grips with exactly where I am.

"The Book of Revelation"I have put on hold till I get these other two done.

Blessings and something should be done after I have my workout tonight -- good time to think when your 45 min on a stationary bike.

The Book of Revelation -- Part 11 -- The Great Multitude

Revelation 7:9-17. Now if you are looking at the future of things I suppose you could see it as a future scene in heaven around the throne -- but why can't it be a current scene?

If I was writing to seven churches --- some good, some bad, some ugly I think this picture of the saints around the throne in worship would inspire them all regardless of what time this is. Now I know some make a big deal of the phrase -- "these are they that have come out of great tribulation", but I want to note that, it does not say THE great tribulation -- it says great tribulation which can and has happened at many times and places in the history of the world, not just here in the book of Revelation.

Otherwise the passage speaks for itself. it is who is worshiping around the throne and we could be one of them someday.

Next: The Seventh Seal.

The Book of Revelation -- Part 10 -- Interlude and 144,000 sealed.

The Vision of the Lamb opening the Seals is interrupted because the final seal on the scroll will usher in a great woe and there is a need for a few actions to take place first. Nothing is to be harmed until the chosen of God are sealed.

The next thing that happens is the sealing of 144,000 Jews -- note to you Jehovah's witnesses it says those of the tribes of Israel not of the Jehovah's witnesses. One weird thing -- the half tribe of Manasseh (part of the line of Joseph) is listed but Ephraim is not but replaced with the tribe of Joseph. I wonder if John considered them the same. The other weird thing -- the tribe of Dan is completely missing. The purpose of the sealing of these Jews is protection from the wrath of God to follow.

To the original readers it would have indicated that god has not forgotten his people and that he would protect them.

Next: The Great Multitude

The Book of Revelation -- Part 9 -- Seals Five and Six are Broken

As the Book of Revelation continues two more seals are broken.

The Fifth Seal is actually a promise of vengeance by The Lamb for the martyrs. They cry out for vengeance for their deaths and the Lamb Promises it to them. To be honest this idea of God is love is put to the test here as the lamb seems to be offering no quarter to those who killed his saints but instead tells the martyrs to wait until there are more of them. More killed for Christ and joining them at the throne. I suppose any one of the seven churches undergoing persecution would have been comforted by this thought. In fact it is probably for their benefit it is written.

The Sixth Seal is summed up in one word. Fear. What the seal does is cause darkness, earthquake and signs in the heavens. It reminds us of the great power God has to inform us of his judgments and that his wrath is always their for the disobedient. The churches with problems would have taken note that this Lamb thus speaking to others could speak the same way to them.

Both seals demonstrate the justice of God that is coming. Those wronged will be avenged and those that are in the wrong should fear the Just One and his wrath. Lessons that the world should learn again and again even today.

Next -- Interlude and 144,000 Sealed

The Book of Revelation -- Part 8 -- The Seals are Opened -- The Four Horsemen

Now I want to make a few observations about traditional evangelical interpretations here: 1) there is nothing in the beginning of chapter 6 that says -- 'The Great Tribulation Starts Here" All that really happens is that the Worthy Lamb before God's eternal throne begins to break seals on the scroll. Many say a new vision starts here because of the words and 'then I saw' but the fact remains that this is still part of the vision of the Lamb breaking seals. It does lead to John seeing something outside of God's throne. The Four Horsemen.

The Four Horsemen of Revelation have long fascinated people and conjured up all kinds of art and literature. They even have been the nicknames of certain sports and military groups over the centuries including a stable of wrasslers from the old WCW. The text however does not indicate a timetable -- that is each one of these is released every half year at the beginning of The Great Tribulation. In fact, it does not really say this is a future event. Christ, the Worthy Lamb is the one doing the releasing by breaking each seal. This shows his authority over the horsemen. he controls both their release and their actions. But what are they?

Each Horseman represents a force or power that does certain things.
1. The Rider on the White Horse is a conqueror. If he is the Anti-Christ, John does not say so and I find that strange seeing John has spoken of the Anti Christ before in his epistles. The power released is the desire to conquer the add on to conquests.
2. The Rider on the Red Horse is one that takes peace and brings war. He represents the forces of War the forces that cause people to desire to kill one another.
3. The Rider on the Black Horse is one that brings hunger and famine. He represents the forces that bring famine -- injustice, greed and the forces of nature beyond control.
4. The Rider of the Ashen Horse is actually given a name -- Death. Hades -- the grave -- follows in his wake. His power is killing people -- by murder, hunger, war, disease, and beasts of the field. His dominion is set as a forth of the earth. I would like to note that is is incorrect to say that he kills a fourth of the earth's population -- what is said is that his is given authority over a fourth of the earth to act.

I would like to make a few observations at this point:
1) All of these forces are alive and well on planet earth --RIGHT NOW!!!
2) The picture of Christ opening the seals and releasing them indicates His taking authority is over them.

My thoughts are these things is that they have already taken place and these forces are released right now and under the authority of the Lamb. They are already at work in our world and moving. They are however, under the authority of Christ. As we look at the other seals I think this theme plays out as well.

To those of the seven churches suffering under some of these forces it would be good to understand they are in Christ's control and to those at ease it would put fear into them to take action.

Next: The Seals are Broken -- Seals Five Through Seven

The Book of Revelation -- Part 7 -- The Worthy Lamb

Revelation chapter 5 is a continuation of the vision that starts in chapter 4 but the focus then turns to Christ -- the Worthy Lamb.

The vision starts with a scroll with seven seals. As each seal is broken it would reveal more of the contents of the scroll. If we were reading this for the first time we would not know what the contents would reveal. The scroll is in God's hand and he is looking for someone worthy to open it. Nobody is found to do this and John weeps about it.

This brings up an interesting question of when this happens. I don't think it is a future event based on John's involvement -- this vision seems to be an actual event in heaven with John witnessing it and having real responses to it at that moment. The vision also has no future tense to the events. It is not necessary for this to be the case because the issue is the worthiness off the Lamb.

What ultimately happens is the lion of the Tribe of Judah is declared the worthy one -- the Lamb and He takes the scroll then the whole of heaven worships Him.

As turn to the original readers all of them would be struck by one thing -- the Christ that everyone of them was supposed to be worshiping was the only one worthy of worship. The other thing is that those that worship him have been exalted. No matter which of the seven churches they were in they would have been in awe of who their Lord was and who they the should have been giving their full devotion to in the first place. The vision makes it exclusive to one being in all the universe who is worthy and deserving of their full devotion and worship.

Next: The Seals are Opened -- The Four Horsemen

The Book of Revelation -- Part 6 -- The Throne of God

Boy oh , boy. Have you ever looked up charts concerning the book of Revelation? There are quite a few including ones I have seen all my life where the various dispensational views of the future are superimposed over the actual contents but I did find one that was just the contents which is seen below. What makes this one different is there is no interpretive model put on it at all it is quite simply the book diagrammed out. I love it.


Now on to chapter 4. There is line in the first verse that sets all this futuristic looking up: "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things" Now I have no doubt that the book of Revelation, based on this line has something to do with the future. The problem is does anyone notice how vague and nebulous this line is about the future. It only says: 'what must take place after these things.' No time frame is given. Other versions say 'what must shortly come to pass." Shortly is never defined.


Here is an approach based on the fact that the book itself never defines a time or times at all; it just puts things into visions as an order based on those visions:


1. Given that over 1900 years have passed since its writing it is quite possible that the 'shortly' may have taken place in some of the visions and they have already taken place.


2. It is also conceivable that some of the visions have not taken place because they are conditional on other events taking place. There is an order to the book but ... there is no mention in the book itself that that order is to be shoved into a seven year time period called the Great Tribulation (by the way this is another phrase, like 'seven years' that is not in the book).


3. It is also conceivable that many of the visions are constant, that is they are being fulfilled all the time -- past, present and future.


4. Looking at the chart above the visions may be more of a guide to interpretation along with what the seven churches would have understood about the book than anything else.


Chapter 4 is the first half of a vision concerning the throne of God and the scroll with seven seals. To be honest it is a very now vision and John speaks of himself as if he is participating in the now. I believe this vision of which chapter 4 is the first half falls under the constant fulfillment -- it is fulfilled at all times. It is a vision of the eternal and ever constant throne of God that has not changed ever.


1. God is always there sitting on his throne

2. The four angelic beasts are always there saying 'holy ,holy, holy'

3. The four and twenty elder are there even now and worship and serve God at all times as well


Bring back our seven churches into the mix, why would this vision of god's throne be significant to them?
To all the seven churches it would have reminded of the eternal sovereign God who is on his throne. The mighty Roman Empire they lived in suddenly becomes a pale shadow of nothing in comparison to this vision of glory and power and holiness.

1. Ephesus sees who should be their first love
2. Smyrna sees the source of all strength in tribulation
3. Pergamum sees a higher throne than Satan's where Christ has said they live and a motivation to throw off all that is unholy for the sake of the holiness of God
4. Thyatira sees the source of the authority they should be serving not the authority of Jezebel that they should remove from themselves
5. Sardis sees why they should rise from the dead to serve the living God
6. Philadelphia sees the one who has opened the door for them that no one can shut.
7. Laodicea see who it is they should be coming to for gold, eye salve and clothing instead of trusting in their own strength and abilities.


In short all of them should see the god who is High and lifted up and to whom they owe their absolute allegiance. That is a message not only for the future but for the now that even we need to hear.

Next: The Worthy Lamb

The Book of Revelation -- Part 5 -- The Need of the Seven Churches for This Book

I think most people who have read the book of Revelation are familiar with the seven churches. The question I have is their role in interpretation of the book of Revelation. I think there is a very real possibility that the visions contained in this book are things they understood much better than us. In a very real way, the book of Revelation is a letter to them.

If this is the case than the needs, desires and situations of these seven churches should influence interpretation of the book as a whole after chapter three is over How would they have interpreted it? What significance did it have for them? Modern interpreters often forget who this book is addressed to and the role they could have in interpretation.

Each of the churches has something they need: Whether they are praised or rebuked by Christ; in some cases both, they all had some need that was met by the book in later pages. Jesus isn't just addressing them here and then forgetting them as he starts chapter 4. He is giving them the information and knowledge they need about Him so they can overcome the problems He has pointed out to them.

1. Ephesus has a need to find a way to rediscover their first love, is there something that follows in the book that tells them how to or motivates the to do this?
2. Smyrna needs encouragement in the face of persecution and a lack of resources, does one of the passages do this?
3. Pergamum needs both encouragement to hold fast and motivation to turn from their idolatry in repentance, do the visions that follow help them with both objectives?
4. Thyatira needs to hold fast to what they do well and cast the Jezebel woman from their midst, is there a passage that tells them how or gives them motivation to do so?
5. Sardis needs revival and to take the remnant left and multiply it, is there a way to do this shown in the book of Revelation?
6. Philadelphia needs to hold fast to what they have and go through the door no man can shut, does the book tell them how and encourage them?
7. Laodecia needs to be a church that stops being useless to God because it relies on worldly wealth and knowledge instead of what can be obtained from God, is there motivation and instruction how to do so in the book of Revelation?

The one thing I want to remember as I look at the rest of the book is not to forget who it was written to originally. It may be that all the seven symbolism in the rest of the book directly ties back to the seven churches. I cannot overlook the possibility.

Next: The Throne of God

The Book of Revelation -- Part 4 -- The Powerful Vision of Christ.

Oddly enough I think the vision of Christ that is found in chapter 1 verses 9-20 have interpretive significance but not in the fact they closely resemble the ones in Daniel. To take this book by itself the vision stands as a very interesting revelation of Christ. John is in the Spirit on the Lord's Day and he hears a powerful voice when he turns around he sees Christ:

1. Christ is powerful in word
2. Christ's appearance in radiant, powerful and central.
3. Christ is commanding and sovereign
4. Christ is light with no darkness at all
5. Christ is in the middle of the churches in question

When Jesus speaks of himself he adds:
1. He is the first and the last
2. He is the beginning and the end.
3. He is the living one
4. He was dead
5. He is alive forevermore
6. He holds the keys of hades

What really though should stick in our mind is the fact that Jesus interprets two symbols for us in this vision: the stars are the messengers and the lamp stands are the churches. What I am pointing out to us here is when the book gives us the meaning of a symbol then we do not have to speculate or guess we need to just accept it.

I am usually not given to overly emotional interpretations but this vision of Christ is so powerful I quake in my own boots and I was not there. Throughout the book of Revelation this is ultimately the vision of Christ we get -- the worthy powerful one who bring all things right. Christ who controls eternal life and death. This is the vision we need to keep as we look at all the others. Its power dominates all else. We should quake as we turn the pages that follow.

Next: The Need of the Seven Churches for this Book

The Book of Revelation -- Part 3 -- The Seven Churches -- Key to Interpretation?

In know most people who have studied the book of Revelation usually consider the seven churches as significant, but I have never heard them referred to s the key to understanding the book by anyone. Usually that distinction belongs to the book of Daniel. But I wonder how much we consider the fact that the Book of Revelation was addressed to them and its significance. In Verse 1:4 and chapters two and three as well as the symbolism found in John's vision of Christ the seven is always in reference to the seven churches of Asia. This is how the book starts, as a message from Christs own lips to them, the primary recipients of this letter.

There are many theories:
1. Each church represents a different age of the church before the end: 1) It was certainly was never looked at like this when the letter was first penned. 2) the fact is the order of the churches follows geography from the cost to the interior. 3) Why is it that those who support this theory always think we are in the Laodecea period. No one theorizes that we have time yet and may be in the Philadelphia period. Odd. 4) The text does not say this 5) I am really getting sick of Western time lines always being superimposed on the Bible, as an open theist I don't believe that God is mapping the future in a timeline with Revelation it may be something else altogether --- REJECTED.
2. The churches are not important to understanding the prophecies of the book, once the future stuff is started in chapter four they have no bearing. 1) Why them then why not just address the book to the church in general. 2) Seems odd to just mention them and then forget they are the ones who originally had to understand the book and it is specifically addressed to them -- REJECTED.
3. Other theories include a mix of the above but no one asks the question's about the seven churches from this light -- what did they understand the book of Revelation to be?

My theory is that if can try to piece together what these churches would have understood we would have more proper understanding of Revelation. The problem is some of these churches we have information on and others we do not. There are seven keys here that may unlock the book if only we had more information.

One thing is for sure, that one key aspect in Biblical interpretation is to ask how the original hearers would have understood it but modern interpreters seem to forget this principle them the moment they get to chapter 4 verse 1. I think this may be a terrible mistake and who these people where and what they understood needs to be considered at every turn to get a proper interpretation.

Next: The Powerful Vision of Christ

The Book of Revelation -- Part 2 -- The Blessing of Understanding

Verse three of chapter one contains an often overlooked beatitude that involves people who can understand this book of prophecy. Specifically, those who read it, hears it and heeds it. This brings up several points to consider:

1. The people who read this prophecy could receive a blessing from reading it. It was not designed to cause fear but bring blessing.
2. To read or hear the prophecy brought about the possibility of the blessing of revelation.
3. It is the heeding of the prophecy that brings about the blessing.
4. There is also a final line that speaks volumes -- 'the time is near' which indicates expedience.

The fact is that Revelation had a blessing to it; if you take the time to find it. For me this is a wonderful find because I have always avoided this book other that to read it on occasion. Now there is something to strive to discover. To heed these words leads to a blessings. The real question is how to heed and understand it?

Next: The Message to the Seven Churches

The Book of Revelation -- Part 1 -- The First Line May Tell All.

"The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to Him to show His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; ..."

There is something about the actual written title of a book that usually tells something about its contents. There is something too this in this book called Revelation

1. This book is ultimately, first and foremost, designed to reveal Jesus Christ. The future is a secondary and simply the place in which Jesus will reveal himself, but it is the revelation of Christ itself that the book says is central to its contents.

2. This book was given to anyone who calls himself a bond-servant of Christ. This makes it have a universal application to anyone who wants Christ revealed to them in the now.

3. Jesus promises to reveal himself in the future and it is in this revelation that Christ will show more of himself.

What is not stated here is that the contents of the book are a revealing of seven year time period called by evangelicals the Tribulation or the Millennium that follows. What it does say is about what 'things which must soon take place'. 'Soon' is a very relative word. 'Soon' to who? The book already looks at time in a relative way right out the gate. What's to make us think the whole time frame of the book is not also relative. Some thing taking place quickly and then huge gaps of time between other events. It also opens up the possibility that some of the contents may be very symbolic with nothing to do with time at all. They may just reveal a greater understanding about Jesus Christ.

Next: The Blessing of Understanding

The Book of Revelation -- Is it really what we think it is?

My thoughts on the book of Revelation have always been cloudy and the only thing I think John Calvin did that was truly smart was he never wrote a commentary on it. Perhaps a lesson to the rest of us, but here I go making a series of posts on the subject of Revelation. I remember sitting in Sunday School as a teen when they taught about the end times (eschatology is the technical term) and asking the question of -- what if everyone is wrong? It is not an inconceivable option and as I went through my education I realized a few things:

1. The doctrine of the Rapture as most evangelicals have come to know it has only been around since the 19th century.

2. The doctrine of the Great Tribulation hinges on a single passage in Daniel that could be interpreted as fulfilled already in the fall of Jerusalem in 70AD. See Daniel 9:24-27 for details.

3. The seven year tribulation timeline that is superimposed on the book of Revelation has its origins in both western thoughts of time and is only a recent phenom as it also has its origins in the 19th century.

4. "Seven" is put against many things in Revelation -- horns, trumpets, vials, seals, etc. One thing it is not put against is 'years'. Yep, for all the talk about a seven year tribulation, there is never a time in the Bible where the concept of a seven year time period and a great tribulation are linked.

5. Now, I also have different ideas on how the God of the Bible relates to time (aka as open theism) and I am wondering how that might affect my interpretation of the book of Revelation? I also wonder if all I had was the book of Revelation, how would I interpret it without referencing other books of the Bible?

So discarding the one wise thing John Calvin did (hey, I have already discarded everything else he did, so I might as well throw the last thing out), here I go into the wonderful world of Revelation and the great effort in this series, which may take a quite a while, is to let the book speak for itself. Onward and Upward.