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excerpts from:
FEATURE
A DAILY BIBLE STUDY GUIDE
Selected © FEATURE Devotionals From Past Issues
Revelation Chapter 8
Pastor Dennis Costella
Revelation 8:1
THE
SEVENTH SEAL IS OPENED
W with our
consideration of the 'Revelation of Jesus Christ" revealed to John on the isle of
Patmos. God promises a special blessing to those who read, understand and keep the
glorious, prophetic truths contained herein (1:2, 3). This study is intended to be an
overview in which a dispensational, literal interpretation is followed. There are various
interpretations of certain portions, and believers should not argue over such
interpretations unless the interpretation denies the clear intent of the Word or tries to
give a naturalistic explanation of what is stated to be miraculous. Previous chapter
studies are available upon request.
With the opening of the seventh seal, John resumes the
narrative that provides the subsequent developments that lead to Christ's second coming to
the earth. The seven trumpets and the seven bowls of the wrath of God that follow issue
forth from this seventh seal's opening. The blowing of the trumpets will usher in a new
series of judgments (notice how similar they are to the plagues in Egypt). Man is without
excuse; God has demonstrated by His dealings with man throughout history and forewarned in
His written Word the wrath to come upon unbelief. In this last generation, he is judged
for his rejection of God (Psa. 2:1-5). This is the calm before the storm (v.1). What
happens now upon the earth cannot be explained away by man’s reasoning or surmising.
The seventh seal finishes the unrolling of the scroll and the revealing of the final
events preceding Christ's return to the earth. DWC
Revelation 8:2-6
THE SEVEN
TRUMPETS ARE PREPARED TO SOUND
T HE SEVEN angels who will
sound the successive seven trumpets are introduced (vv. 2-6). The "prayers of all
saints" who have suffered at the hands of those upon the earth who are identified
with the Antichrist will soon be answered when God's wrath falls upon their persecutors.
It is revealed that many who dared to name the Name of Christ during the Tribulation and
suffered the wrath of Satan because of it will die the martyrs death. No doubt many died
with a prayer upon their lips that God's righteous recompense upon such terrible injustice
and wickedness would soon shortly come. Surely the opposition to the God of Heaven which
fell upon the faithful remnant will be judged according to the standard of infinite
righteousness, and this judgment will occur when the trumpets begin to announce God's
imminent wrath. The smoke of the incense ascends up before God, speaking of the efficacy
of the supplications of God's children before the throne of grace. The prayers of the
suffering saints will be answered. It may not come to pass until after they have reached
Heaven, but vengeance will fall upon their oppressors.
The voices, thunderings, lightnings and an earthquake are
witnessed on the earth as the fire from the censer, representing the judgments that will
follow, is cast down from heaven (v.5). Again, what transpires upon the earth during
Daniel's Seventieth Week is a direct result of what God has determined in heaven and had
written in the "little book." God's plan for the ages is surely coming to its
end. DWC
Revelation 8:7-9
THE FIRST AND
SECOND TRUMPETS
H AlL, FIRE and blood are
"cast upon the earth." This causes wide devastation upon the earth's vegetation.
Be sure to notice that this is not an ecological disaster that man has brought upon his
own environment, but rather the super-natural intervention by the Lord God of Heaven. It
seems a bit strange that many supposed church spokesmen of our day try to equate God-given
ministry for the church with radical environmentalism. Yes, we should pick up after
ourselves and be good stewards of God's creation, but we must not elevate that concern to
a biblical mandate and mission of the church. God is going to pollute this world and, in
so doing, effect judgment upon sinful man who has come to worship and exalt the creation
rather than the Creator. This sin-cursed world is headed for judgment. One-third of the
trees and all green grass will burn (v.7 cf. Ex. 9:18-26). As was true in Egypt’s
plagues, this description is to be taken literally if it is to make any sense.
The second trumpet blows and judgment upon the sea
follows, one-third of which turns to blood. A great object falling from heaven will
destroy ships and marine life (vv. 8, 9 cf. Ex. 7:17,18). The exact mechanics of the
judgments are not given by God, but the results of these catastrophes which are seen by
those on the earth are extremely real and indicate the literalness of these events. Trying
to interpret these judgments as changes in governments, ideologies or economies would not
have this kind of effect upon men. People actually die as this happens. DWC
Revelation 8:10-13
THE THIRD AND FOURTH TRUMPETS
T HE THIRD trumpet sounds and
God's judgment upon the rivers and springs is realized (vv. 10,11 cf. Ex. 15:23-25,
Egypt's inability to drink the polluted water). Wormwood speaks of a bitter herb. When
this divine judgment falls upon these final sources of water for the peoples of the earth,
incredible hardship in the form of thirst comes to all. Here there will be no
"healing of the waters," for this is in fact part of the "wrath of the
Lamb" and many die as a result. Literal? Note once again the cause and effect. The
nature of the judgment can be determined to a considerable extent by the impact it has
upon those who experience the event.
The fourth trumpet heralds the Lord's judgment upon the
heavenly bodies. The workdays and nights are disrupted because of actual changes taking
place in the light-giving heavenly spheres (v.12 cf. Lk. 21:25-28). The rapid withdrawal
of light reminds us of the plague of darkness in the land of Egypt (Ex. 10:21-23). Can God
bring such things to pass? Of course He can. Why, then, are so many quick to explain away
such supernatural phenomena with vague reasoning that attributes these judgments to
natural processes? These four judgments are upon the physical elements which are so often
taken for granted. The worst is yet to come (v.13). The "inhabiters of the
earth" are yet to experience the fullness of God's wrath to be poured out upon the
earth. What a great need there is to tell these "inhabiters" of the mercy and
grace of God before it is too late. We must make the Gospel known. DWC
continue with your study:
[ Up ] [ 1 Peter Chapter 5 ] [ Comforting Words - John ] [ Ephesians Chapter 4 ] [ Galatians Chapters 1 to 3 ] [ Galatians Chapter 4 ] [ Prayer ] [ Revelation Chapter 9 ] [ Revelation Chapter 8 ] [ The Names of God ] [ Truth ] [ Until He Returns ] [ Watching,Warning,Waiting ]
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