December 26 A READ REVELATION 8–9
Blowing the Seven Trumpets
OVERVIEW
The book of Revelation is organized around a series of cycles interrupted by parenthetical sections. Three cycles of judgments (seals, trumpets, and bowls) emerge like three sections of a telescope, each more severe and far-reaching than the previous cycle. Before the seventh seal is opened, John sees four angels place a seal upon 144,000 servants of God, 12,000 from each of the twelve tribes of Israel (7:3-8). In contrast to this, John next sees a vast, innumerable host of martyrs “who died in the great tribulation” (7:14) for the cause of Christ. At last, the breaking of the seventh seal releases seven trumpets of judgment, which bring death and darkness, tears and torment upon humanity.
MY DAILY WALK
How many kinds of prayer can you think of? In the margin, see if you can list at least ten before reading on.
There are prayers of praise, thanksgiving, worship, and rejoicing. There are prayers of confession and repentance. There are prayers for personal needs, such as food, health, strength, wisdom, and forgiveness. There are prayers of intercession for the needs of others, for the salvation of unsaved loved ones, and for the ministry of local churches, missionaries, and schools.
Your prayers are a sweet fragrance to God (8:4) as you admit your own inadequacy and lean upon God’s promises of provision and power. If you have not already done so, make prayer an indispensable part of your daily walk with God. Five minutes on a daily basis add up to more than thirty hours in a year—a lot of praise, thanksgiving, worship, and rejoicing. Begin today, and every day, with prayer.
PRAYER IS LISTENING FOR WHAT GOD MIGHT WANT TO SAY TO YOU.
INSIGHT
Seventh Seal—Seven Angels and Seven Trumpets | Rev. 8:1
Seven was a sacred number to the ancient Hebrew people. It often symbolized perfection, fullness, abundance, rest, and completion. The number seven also had a ritual importance to the Hebrews. Since the number seven is so symbolic, it is no coincidence that it appears frequently in Revelation (see 8:1), a book noted for its rich symbolism and imagery.
INSIGHT
Egypt Revisited | Rev. 9:20
Many have observed the similarity between the judgments described in Revelation and the ten plagues brought against Egypt in the days of Moses. Scan Exodus 7:14–12:36 and see how many of the trumpet judgments in today’s reading have a counterpart in the days of Egyptian bondage.
The Lamb Breaks the Seventh Seal
1When the Lamb broke the seventh seal on the scroll,* there was silence throughout heaven for about half an hour. 2I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and they were given seven trumpets.
3Then another angel with a gold incense burner came and stood at the altar. And a great amount of incense was given to him to mix with the prayers of God’s people as an offering on the gold altar before the throne. 4The smoke of the incense, mixed with the prayers of God’s holy people, ascended up to God from the altar where the angel had poured them out. 5Then the angel filled the incense burner with fire from the altar and threw it down upon the earth; and thunder crashed, lightning flashed, and there was a terrible earthquake.
The First Four Trumpets
6Then the seven angels with the seven trumpets prepared to blow their mighty blasts.
7The first angel blew his trumpet, and hail and fire mixed with blood were thrown down on the earth. One-third of the earth was set on fire, one-third of the trees were burned, and all the green grass was burned.
8Then the second angel blew his trumpet, and a great mountain of fire was thrown into the sea. One-third of the water in the sea became blood, 9one-third of all things living in the sea died, and one-third of all the ships on the sea were destroyed.
10Then the third angel blew his trumpet, and a great star fell from the sky, burning like a torch. It fell on one-third of the rivers and on the springs of water. 11The name of the star was Bitterness.* It made one-third of the water bitter, and many people died from drinking the bitter water.
12Then the fourth angel blew his trumpet, and one-third of the sun was struck, and one-third of the moon, and one-third of the stars, and they became dark. And one-third of the day was dark, and also one-third of the night.
13Then I looked, and I heard a single eagle crying loudly as it flew through the air, “Terror, terror, terror to all who belong to this world because of what will happen when the last three angels blow their trumpets.”