The Trumpets of Judgment

I have a series of Bible study books by a scholar named, Irving L. Jensen, so below are a few outline notes from the one on the Revelation. Why the Revelation? My church has an adult Bible study where we just started a study in this book. This is an outline of Jensen’s work with a few of my own additions.

These judgments defy human comprehension. Language is inadequate to describe these visions. Remember that all judgments have their ultimate source in God. Some are permitted by God (Revelation 9:1) and others are sent directly from him (Revelation 8:7). We don’t need to expect God to use elements that already exist (consider a great mountain blazing with fire – Revelation 8:8). Some judgments God uses the satanic world of demons which defy description (like the locusts of Revelation 9:1-11). Supernatural judgments are already a part of OT history, so why would God not do the same in the last days (2 Peter 3:1-7, Exodus 9:8-12)?

Prophecies in the Revelation concern two realms: spiritual and physical/political. a literal interpretation does not transfer from one to another. For example, a great mountain cast into the sea (Revelation 8:8) – literally is would be a large physical object thrown into the water, yet figuratively is could be a powerful nation falling in defeat.

Revelation 8:1-5 begin with the censer of fire (Revelation 8:2-3) and the casting of fire upon the earth (Revelation 8:4-5).

1. Trumpet 1 – (Revelation 8:6-7, Exodus 9:18-26)
   1. Hail, fire, mixed with blood.
   2. A third of the earth burned up.
   3. A third of the trees burned up.
   4. All the green grass is consumed.
2. Trumpet 2 – (Revelation 8:8-9, Exodus 7:17-25)
   1. Something like a huge mountain was thrown into the sea.
   2. A third of the sea turns to blood.
   3. A third of the sea creatures died.
   4. A third of the ships were destroyed.
3. Trumpet 3 – (Revelation 8:10-11, Exodus 9:8-10) what might be the meaning of “as it were” or “something like” in Revelation 8:8?
   1. The star Wormwood falls from the sky (who could this star be? Isaiah 14:12-17, Luke 10:18, Revelation 12:7-9). “Fall” could be translated as “has fallen”.
   2. Hitting a third of the rivers and springs of water.
   3. A third of the waters turned bitter.
   4. Many people died due to the water.
4. Trumpet 4 – (Revelation 8:12-13, Exodus 10:21-23)
   1. A third of the sun was struck.
   2. A third of the moon was struck.
   3. A third of the stars were struck.
   4. A third of the say was dark.
   5. A third of the night was dark.
   6. A woe to the people of the earth, for the next three trumpets.
5. Trumpet 5 – (Revelation (9:1-12)
   1. Their home: a star had fallen to the earth, having a key to the shaft of the abyss.
      1. The open abyss releases smoke from a giant furnace.
      2. The sun and sky was darkened by the smoke.
   2. Their action: from that smoke came locusts.
      1. They had the power of scorpions.
      2. They were not to harm the grass or any trees.
      3. They were to harm only those who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads.
      4. They were not to kill them, but only torture them for five months.
      5. The agony of the people was like being struck by scorpions.
      6. The people will seek death but not find it.
   3. Their appearance: the locusts look like horses prepared for battle.
      1. Golden crowns on their heads.
      2. Faces resembled humans.
      3. Hair like a woman.
      4. Teeth like a lion.
      5. Breastplates of iron.
      6. The sound of their wings: like horses and chariots thundering.
      7. Tails with stingers, tormenting people for five months.
   4. Their administrator: they had as king over them the angel of the abyss named “Destroyer” (Abaddon/Apollyon).
   5. The first woe is past, the other two are yet to come.
6. Trumpet 6 – (Revelation 9:13-21)
   1. Their home: a voice from the four horns of the golden altar.
   2. Their release: the four angles who are bound at the Euphrates.
   3. Their hostility: they have been kept ready (year, month, day, hour) for this occasion, to kill a third of mankind.
   4. Their number: 10,000 times 10,000.
   5. Their nature: horses and riders looked like…
      1. Breastplates: red, blue, yellow.
      2. Horses heads resembled lions’ heads.
      3. Out of the horses’ mouths came fire, smoke, and sulfur, killing a third of mankind.
      4. The power of the horses came from their mouths and tails (which were like snakes inflicting injury).
   6. Their reaction: the rest of mankind not killed did not repent of their deeds, their worshiping demons and idols, their murders, magic arts, sexual immorality, or thefts.
      1. They refuse to repent.
      2. They continue to rebel.
7. Trumpet 7 (the little book, two witnesses, and the seventh trumpet are in the next lesson).

NOTES:

1. Altar (Revelation 8:3) – the word appears eight times in the Revelation (Revelation 6:9, 8:3, 11:1, 14:18, 16:7).
2. Saints (Revelation 8:3) – both an OT and a NT word (Revelation 8:4, 11:18, 13:7, 10, 14:12, 15:3, 16:6, 17:6, 18:24, 19:8, 20:9).
3. An Angel (Revelation 8:13) – the best manuscripts read “an eagle.”
4. Bottomless pit (Revelation 9:1) – translated as abyss, the abode of demons or wicked spirits (Revelation 9:2, 11, 11:7, 17:8).
5. Locusts (Revelation 9:3) – some interpret locusts to be symbolic and the horses (Revelation 9:16) as literal (see Deuteronomy 28:38, 42, Nahum 3:15, 17, Amos 7:1-3 where locusts are symbolic of God’s judgment).
6. Five Months (Revelation 9:11) – literal interpretation my be intended but the emphasis is on an extended time that is not permanent.
7. A King Over Them (Revelation 9:11) – the locusts of this judgment are a unique host (Proverbs 30:27, were locusts have no king).
8. Magic Arts (Revelation 9:21) – may include the use of drugs associated with witchcraft.