Introduction:
After a brief reprieve, the breaking of the seventh seal marks the resumption of Lamb’s end time administration of judgment. With the “144,000” sealed from among the Tribes of Israel, and full number of His people now raptured up to heaven, God’s unabated wrath is about to be visited upon the inhabitants of the earth as marked by seven angels blasting seven trumpets (8:1-5). And yet, even though God’s judgments are greater than they have ever been (Mat. 24:21), there is still a sense of withholding on God’s part. God has elected not to destroy the earth all at once, but in increments so that the people of the earth may take warning and repent.
I. The First Four Trumpets: God is to be Feared
8:6: Seven Angels and Seven Trumpets
“In the Old Testament, trumpets sounded the alarm for war and threw the enemy into a panic, or they called an assembly of God’s people. These seven trumpets will sound as God’s battle-alarm during the great tribulation.” (David Guzik)
8:7: First Trumpet: Hail Mixed With Blood
A third of the earth and its vegetation is burned up and destroyed. Mankind’s ability to produce food and excavate resources from the ground is affected.
8:8-9: Second Trumpet: A Huge Mountain All Ablaze
A third of the sea is turned to blood and a third of all sea creatures die. Mankind’s ability to travel and trade is affected.
8:10-11: Third Trumpet: A Great Star Blazing Like a Torch
A third of rivers and springs are polluted by “Wormwood” and many people die as a result. Mankind’s sources of usable and drinkable water are affected.
8:12: Fourth Trumpet: A Third of the Sun, Moon and Stars Turn Dark
A third of the day and a third of the night are darkened as a result of the heavenly bodies being struck. Mankind’s ability to comprehend the world around them is affected as the uniformity of nature itself is thrown into chaos (Mat. 24:29).
8:13: Woe to the Inhabitants of the Earth (Three Woes to Come)
Only “one third” of the earth has been affected thus far, inferring that the judgment is still only partial, and that God withheld some of His wrath. The warning issued here gives us a clue as to why the judgments throughout the entire Book of Revelation are gradual, as opposed to destroying the earth and humanity all at once: That those living on the earth might know that God alone is to be feared (Ex. 7:5, 9:16, 14:18; Rev. 14:6).
II. The Fifth and Sixth Trumpets: Mankind is to Repent
9:1-11: Fifth Trumpet: Apollyon
A fallen star (or a fallen angel, i.e. a demon) has fallen to earth. As a result, the Abyss (lit. “bottomless pit”), a prison for powerful demonic beings, has been opened. They are permitted only to harm those who do not have God’s seal upon them (9:4). They take the form of locusts (Ex. 10:4-14; Dt. 28:38; Joel 1:4), and are able to afflict their victims with intense pain, but not kill them. “The idea of death as an escape is a demonic deception.” (David Guzik)
9:12-19: Sixth Trumpet: Four Angels from the Great River Euphrates
Appointed for a particular hour and day, four angels are released to kill a third of mankind. They originate from the Great River Euphrates (near ancient Babylon), and with them a fierce army of horsemen numbering “ten thousand times ten thousand” terrorize mankind. Whether this imagery represents a human militia or something else, make no mistake that this is supernatural at bottom.
9:20-21: The Rest of Mankind Did Not Repent
John’s narration here gives another reason as to why God’s judgments are as stretched out as they are: That those living on the earth might repent (Ez. 18:23, 32; 2 Pet. 3:9). Sadly, they do not repent, but persist in their evil ways. God knows all and knows those who will perish, even when given every chance to repent. But, God, who is slow to anger and rich in love (Ps. 103:8), patiently allows sinners to experience His temporal blessings (Mat. 5:45) and continually offers them mercy until it is too late (Rom. 2:1-4).
III. The Angel and the Little Scroll: The Nations are to Fear
10:1-7: Seven Thunders
Following the sixth trumpet is an interlude wherein John receives specific instruction and revelation. At least some of what he hears is sealed up and not to be written down or shared (10:4), and we would be careful not to speculate about it. However, “the mystery of God” is about to unfold, things God revealed to His prophets long ago. There have been many “mysteries” (puzzling prophecies and promises in the Old Testament) that were revealed at the first coming (Rom. 11:25; Eph. 3:3-11; Rom. 11:25; Col. 1:27-2:3; Col. 4:3). But there are still “mysteries” on the way concerning that are yet to be revealed.
10:8-11: Eat the Scroll
John is now given to eat. The scroll contains a prophetic message that John is to declare concerning “peoples, nations, languages and kings.” Even if these prophecies directly speak to events in a future generation, let those living today be warned. There will come a time when the peoples of the earth think they can organize, rise above God’s judgment, elect a Beast to save them, enslave themselves to the Harlot, form an army to fight God, and somehow come out on top. As crazy and foolish as that sounds, that is what the nations have been doing since Babel. No matter what ideological or religious motivation they claim, no matter what language they speak or ethnic background they claim, the nations of the earth today that resist God, suppress His Word and do harm to His people are engaged in the same kind of futile rebellion. The Book of Revelation serves as a warning to the nations that “There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord” and “The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the Lord” (Pr. 20:30, 31). We, too, then share the content of this Book of Prophecy that “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance” (Ps. 33:12).