Revelation #14: Revelation Chapter 8 -The Four Trumpets

Revelation #14: Revelation Chapter 8 -The Four Trumpets

Introduction
Before moving forward, let’s reflect on three essential questions concerning the last book of the Bible, a book often overlooked or misunderstood.

Why the Book of Revelation?
This book represents the final chapter of divine revelation, God’s last words to humanity. It carries immense significance, as it marks the culmination of God’s promises. The first verse mentions “the things that must soon take place” (Revelation 1:1), and the second-to-last verse declares, “Yes, I am coming soon” (Revelation 22:20). Therefore, the events proclaimed here will arrive without delay.

Since the fall of Adam and Eve, Satan has become “the prince of this world,” a reality evident in many of the world’s problems. Jesus Christ, however, is the rightful heir who will reclaim what Adam lost. When the seventh trumpet sounds, a proclamation is made in heaven: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign forever and ever” (Revelation 11:15).

The Central Theme of Revelation: Jesus Christ
The first chapter sets this tone, referring to Jesus as “the one who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood, and has made us a kingdom, priests to His God and Father. To Him be glory and dominion forever and ever!” (Revelation 1:5-6). Jesus is coming on the clouds, and every eye will see Him.

Revelation highlights Jesus not only as the Lord of glory but also as the judge of the earth. He alone is worthy to open the seals, which symbolize a series of judgments. In Psalm 2 , a messianic psalm, we are reminded to honor the Son, lest He be angry and we perish.

Key Themes in Revelation
John is tasked with writing “the things you have seen, those that are, and those that are to take place after this” (Revelation 1:19). The Book of Revelation is divided into three parts:

• What You Have Seen: John’s vision of the glorified Christ (chapter 1).
• The Things That Are: The age of the Church (chapters 2-3).
• The Things That Will Take Place After This: Events that follow the Church age, described from chapter 4 onward.

As we enter chapter 8, we encounter the seventh and final seal, which does not bring judgment itself but introduces the trumpet judgments, representing an intensified sequence of divine judgments.

The Seventh Seal: The Prelude to the Trumpets

In verses 1-2, John describes the moment when Jesus, the Lamb, opens the seventh seal. There is “silence in heaven for about half an hour.” This silence is profound, considering that the heavenly beings have constantly worshiped and praised God up to this point. This silence serves as a solemn pause before the trumpet judgments.

Seven angels appear before God, each holding a trumpet. These trumpets announce forthcoming judgments on the earth. The sound of the trumpet has long marked significant events in Israel’s history, from gathering the people to declaring war, and it will also herald the rapture of the Church (1 Thessalonians 4:16).

Verses 3-5: The Golden Altar and the Prayers of the Saints

A new angel appears with a golden censer, carrying incense to mix with the prayers of the saints. The incense represents the prayers offered up to God, reminiscent of King David’s prayer in Psalm 141:2, “May my prayer be set before You like incense.” The angel then takes the censer, fills it with fire from the altar, and hurls it to the earth, causing thunder, lightning, and an earthquake, signifying God’s judgment in response to the prayers.

The First Four Trumpets

The first four trumpets unleash catastrophic events on nature:

1. First Trumpet (Verses 6-7):
   The first angel sounds the trumpet, and hail and fire mixed with blood fall upon the earth. One-third of the earth is burned up, including a third of the trees and all green grass. This judgment impacts the land, leading to destruction and shortages in food and resources.
2. Second Trumpet (Verses 8-9):
   The second angel sounds the trumpet, and something like a great burning mountain falls into the sea. One-third of the sea turns to blood, a third of the marine life dies, and a third of the ships are destroyed. This judgment affects the oceans, disrupting food supplies and global trade.
3. Third Trumpet (Verses 10-11):
   The third angel sounds the trumpet, and a great star called “Wormwood” falls on the rivers and springs of water. A third of the waters turn bitter, leading to the death of many people. Water, essential for life, becomes toxic, resulting in widespread suffering and death.
4. Fourth Trumpet (Verse 12):
   The fourth angel sounds the trumpet, and a third of the sun, moon, and stars are struck, darkening the earth by one-third. The loss of light affects agriculture, animal behavior, and human health, signaling judgment on a world that has rejected the light of God.

Verse 13: The Warning of the Three Woes

An eagle flies across the sky, declaring, “Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded by the other three angels.” This triple woe intensifies the impending judgments and signals the transition to the next, more severe trumpet judgments.

Conclusion

These judgments serve as a reminder of God’s sovereignty over the earth and the heavens. They reveal the magnitude of human dependence on God’s creation, from the food we eat to the water we drink and the light that sustains life. Revelation 8 prompts us to consider our relationship with God and His creation. Through these judgments, God calls humanity to repentance and invites us to seek Him, the only source of true hope and salvation.

-sermon series by Pastor Michel Bohrer