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LESSON 13 -
CHAPTER 8:1-13
Pages 149 - 160
R E V E L A T I O N
Charles Caldwell Ryrie, p. 77-83
A
REMINDER
These lessons are written as an accompanment to
Charles C. Ryrie's [1996] Book
REVELATION
Everyday Bible Commentary
Moody Publishers
Chicago
ISBN: 978-0-8024-1825-8
(You Must Own your own copy)
(Ryrie's book text is not included in these
lessons)
THE SEVENTH SEAL AND
THE FIRST FOUR TRUMPETS
THE SEVENTH
SEAL AND
THE FIRST
FOUR TRUMPETS
8:1-13
Ryrie’s Introduction pg. 77 top
The Visualized Text
Revelation 8:1
When
he opened the seventh seal,
there was silence in heaven
for about half an hour.
J. B. Smith writes:
With the opening of this last seal the
book is now fully opened, and one would expect a holocaust to let loose.
Instead, there is silence. All of the choruses of the elders and the cries of
the angels cease. The stillness is so intense that it can be felt. This is a
silence of expectancy, for this is the last seal. It is also a silence of
foreboding that precedes the onslaught of judgments. It lasts for half an hour
(which may be understood just as literally as the other time designations in the
book). Silence at this point, after all the vocal expressions of worship
previously noted, would be an awesome thing.
With the
opening of this seal comes the series of trumpet judgments. It has already been
stated that I view these series of
judgments as successive, in which case the trumpets come out of and follow the
seals. This seems to be the simplest way to understand these judgments, although
others feel that there is overlapping and recapitulation.[1]
Our Comment
Chapter 7 gave
us a parenthetical view of the saved of the tribulation period and the sealing
of the remnant of Israeli and Gentile believers... but for many it will cost
their lives in martyrdom. We should understand that these we have studied, so
far, are not members of the Body of Christ, The Church, but these are a separate
post-rapture company.
Now the Seventh
Angel is revealed with the Seventh Seal and we should be filled with
apprehension as we wait through this half hour of silence from heaven.
The Presence Angels, 8:2, 6
The Visualized Text
2 And I saw the
seven angels
who stand before God, and
seven trumpets
were given to them.
6 And the
seven
angels who had the
seven
trumpets
prepared themselves to sound them.
Ryrie, Pg. 78 top
Their relationship.
John first saw seven angels. They are a distinct group (the definite article is
used) and they are before, or in the presence of, God. With the introduction of
these angels, no further mention is made of the seven Spirits of God, which
further indicates their special relationship to God and His purposes. (Could one
of them be Gabriel, cf. Luke 1:26?).
Their responsibility.
They are responsible for announcing the trumpet judgments, for the trumpets are
given to them (v. 2). The sounding of
trumpets is always followed by
something of outstanding importance. The first occurrence was at the giving of
the law (Ex. 19:16; 20:18; cf. Jer. 4:5; 1 Cor. 15:51—52; 1 Thess. 4:16).
Our Comment
We’re introduced once again to the number 7. Perfection is to be seen.
What these 7 angels and 7 trumpets are introducing is 7
perfect actions initiated through the Will of Almighty God. It may be hard to
see God’s perfect will through these angelic disciplines to the remaining human
race and the planet we live upon, that Our Lord is going to use vicious demonic
events through these 7 Angels and their 7 Trumpet judgments
The Priest Angel, 8:3—5
The Visualized Text
3 Another angel
came and stood at the altar,
holding a golden censer; and
much incense was given to him,
so that he might add it to the prayers
of all the saints on the golden altar
which was before the throne.
4 And the smoke of the incense,
with the prayers of the saints,
went up before God
out of the angel’s hand.
5 Then the angel
took the censer and filled it
with the fire of the altar, and
threw it to the earth;
and there followed
peals of thunder and
sounds and
flashes of lightning and
an earthquake.
Ryrie,
(The Priest Angel)
Pg. 78 lower 1/3
Our Comment
Again, we have
the imagery of Almighty God upon His throne and a single angel holding a golden
censer filled with the prayers of believers, perhaps from all ages including
martyred believers of the early stages of tribulation. Much incense is added to
the censer. Incense was used in the Tabernacle and the Temple to inform/remind
God in the Holy of Holies – through the veil of the prayers of His children
showing their worship and seeking His presence and help. The result was
immediately following the half hour of silence: Thunder, great sounds, flashes
of lightening, and an earthquake… heard and felt in heaven.
First Four Trumpets, 8:7—13
First Trumpet, 8: 7
The Visualized Text
7 The first sounded, and
there came hail and fire,
mixed with blood, and
they were thrown to the earth; and
a third of the earth was burned up, and
a third of the trees were burned up, and
all the green grass was burned up.
Ryrie, (The Second Trumpet)
pg. 79 mid
Our Comment
Ryrie’s last sentence is the
key to understanding this first angelic trumpet sounding. Can you imagine “Fire
coming down out of heaven upon one third of the earth”? I’m sure we can remember
the last few years when fires have raged across California, and other large
areas, and devastated the grass and trees – and the homes, work places, and
people – now visualize one third of the world so engulfed.. And this is just the
first angel’s trumpet blast.
Second Trumpet, 8:8—9
The Visualized Text
8 The second angel sounded, and
something like a great mountain burning with fire
was thrown into the sea; and
a third of the sea became blood, 9 and
a third of the creatures which were in the sea
and had life, died; and
a third of the ships were destroyed.
Ryrie,
(The Second Trumpet) Pg. 80 mid
Our Comment
My
first thought concerning this pronouncement was of an asteroid entering our
atmosphere, turning to a giant burning glob of stone/mineral/matter and slamming
into the earth in a major sea area killing everything there – and deep into the
shores of land all around the edges of that sea. Much like in the ancient
history of this earth – terminating large portions of life – not just in the
ocean – but on all life in a third of the planet.
Third Trumpet, 8: 10—11
The Visualized Text
10 The third angel sounded, 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 waters.
11 The name of the star is called Wormwood; and
a third of the waters became wormwood, and
many men died from the waters,
because they were made bitter.
Ryrie,
(Third Trumpet) 8:10-11 p. 81 Top
Our Comment
Wormwood is an herb that is extremely dangerous to ingest. While it has been
used by some cultures to aid certain problems with digestion, it causes
seizures, respiratory issues, and is extremely toxic, especially if pregnant, or
in contact with small children, especially those less than 6 years of age. Given
this knowledge – we should see that part of the judgment will result in those
pregnant, and those who are very young, will be the first to suffer – making the
suffering from this judgment so much more hurtful.
Fourth Trumpet, 8: 12—13
The Visualized Text
2 The fourth angel sounded, and
a third of the sun and
a third of the moon and
a third of the stars were struck, so that
a third of them would be darkened and
the day would not shine for a third of it, and
the night in the same way.
13 Then
I looked, and
I heard an eagle
flying in midheaven,
saying with a loud voice,
“Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth,
because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet
of the three angels who are about to sound!”
Ryrie,
(The Fourth Trumpet), 8:12-13
Our Comment
No
further comment
The Warning
Ryrie, Pg. 82 Top
Ryrie, Pg. 83
THE TRIBULATION JUDGMENTS
[Revelation 8-9 + 16]
The Book of
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