The 7 trumpets of the Apocalypse.
Introduction: Symbolic language is characterized in Revelation, for example: the seven seals, the seven trumpets, the seven bowls, all of these describe God’s judgments on men on earth.
Let us remember that the trumpet sounded in the Old Testament for several reasons: Convocation, royal declaration, preparation for war, advanced, among others. So let’s study this interesting topic
THE SEVEN TRUMPETS OF THE APOCALYPSE (Part 1)
“And I saw the seven angels standing before God; and they were given seven trumpets… And the seven angels who had the seven trumpets set out to blow them,” Rev. 8:2,6.
YO. BASIC CONCEPTS:
A. The trumpet is an evolution of the shofar, as the animal horn was replaced by metal.
Note: For ex. God ordered Moses to make two silver trumpets, and these were only blown by the priests, to meet, to move the camps, to go out to war and in days of joy and sacrifices (Numbers 10:1-10).
b. The trumpet was used for various purposes:
1. Convocation to the princes or to all the town.
two. Proclamation of laws, decrees or instructions.
3. Battle alarm.
Four. To break camp.
Note: This is interesting to note, for a trumpet will sound when Christ raises up his church: “For the Lord himself with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God, will descend from heaven; and the dead in Christ shall rise first,” 1 Thess. 4:16.
c. The seven angels and the seven trumpets, Rev. 8:2, 6.
Note:
We note several very important things here:
1.
They are before God in heaven.
two.
They receive seven trumpets (they are reserved, they are of divine material and the time has come to be used).
3.
The number seven indicates integrity, complete, sacred.
Four.
Each trumpet blast corresponds to a plague.
5.
The force of the punishment is increasing.
II. THE FIRST TRUMPET, REV. 8:7.
“The first angel sounded his trumpet, and there was hail and fire mixed with blood, which were thrown down on the earth; and a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.”
A. It will be a storm of fire and hail, which will devastate (burn) a third of the earth’s trees and green grass.
b. The mixture with the blood may refer to the result of the storm on living things.
Note:
The terrible hail will possibly kill many living beings, birds, animals and even human beings and with the force of the wind the blood will mix with the hail.
III. THE SECOND TRUMPET, REV. 8:8-9.
“The second angel sounded his trumpet, and like a great mountain burning with fire he was cast down into the sea; and the third part of the sea turned to blood. And a third of the living creatures that were in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.”
A. It can be a large meteorite, an atomic bomb, among others.
b. The NT Interlinear says: “like a great mountain on fire”
Note: Something like a great erupting volcano, its size is large and it is burning with fire, and it was “precipitated into the sea”, the word to precipitate comes from the gr. balo that also means: to throw, to throw, to throw, to put, to sow.
1.
The 3rd part of the sea turns into blood.
two.
The 3rd part of the living beings of the sea dies.
3.
The 3rd part of the ships was destroyed.
Note: Its results allow us to see other characteristics: it will be a large mass because it affects a large area, it contains a substance that is deadly for marine life, and the impact is so great that it destroys thousands and thousands of ships.
(I invite you to read: How can I overcome through faith.).
IV.
THE THIRD TRUMPET, REV. 8:10-11.
“The third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers, and on the springs of water. And the name of the star is Wormwood. And the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died because of those waters, because they became bitter.”
A. A great burning star falls from the sky.
Note: Possibly a large meteorite, or a comet with its gaseous mass that will dissolve in the waters of rivers, lakes and springs, making them bitter and even poisonous. The previous judgment was on the salty waters of the sea, now it is on the fresh waters of the earth.
b. His name is Wormwood, gr. apsinthos, is a bitter and poisonous plant, and that grows in desert places. In Scripture it is a symbol of injustice, idolatry, divine punishment and bitterness in the heart of man. His concoction is synonymous with poison.
Note: The world will find itself as in a desert with a shortage of drinking water, since much of the water that man finds will be poisonous.
(I invite you to read: Sermons written to preach).
v.
THE FOURTH TRUMPET, REV. 8:12.
“The fourth angel sounded his trumpet, and the third part of the sun, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars were struck, so that the third part of them was darkened, and there was no light in the third part. part of the day, and also of the night.
A. The wound causes the 3rd part of the stars to darken.
Note: in the first place the word “wound” comes from gr. plesso which also means: hitting, whipping, hammering, that is, it is an action where the ability to illuminate the stars by divine order is removed. At the same time, they are signs in the sky that seek men’s repentance, but their hearts will continue to harden.
Let’s remember that in Genesis 1:14, they are put by signs, the Hebrew term used is ot, which means: sign, sign, mark, to distinguish the times, so it will also be a time of partial darkness.
b. An angel appears in heaven announcing the severity of the judgments that are to come, vrs. 13.
“And I looked, and I heard an angel fly in the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on earth, because of the other trumpet blasts that are about to sound the three angels!”
Note: Many bibles translate eagle where it says angel (Interlinear, LBLA, Peshita, NVI…), since the oldest manuscripts do not say anguélou but aetoú (eagle), and mention aloud three woes indicating the three plagues that are to come, which will be worse than the first four.
(Pastors Gonzalo and Andrea Sanabria)
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