The 7 Trumpets
7 Trumpets, 2 Beasts, and America in Prophecy
3rd Weekend Revelation Seminar
Notes of Marlan Knittel
Begun 11-13-2001
I. Review Principles of Interpretation
A. Bible Interprets itself
B. Revelation Reveals Jesus
C. Take a passage literally and at face value. Only after exhausting that should you move into into the symbolic
D. Law of Repetition and Enlargement
E. Chiastic Structure of Book
F. If a passage is not self-explanatory or explained elsewhere, ask “where do I see this or these symbol(s) elsewhere? (Law of first use also valuable here)
II. Timing of Trumpets
A. Review Sanctuary
B. Compare the condition of God’s people in Revelation 7:1-3 with Revelation 9:4.
C. Review the Feasts
Spring Feasts Fulfillment
1. Passover: (14th day of 1st Mo-Nisan) Jesus Death
2. Unleavened Bread (15th-21st day) Jesus in Tomb
3. First Fruits (during Unleavened) Jesus resurrection?
4. Feast of Weeks/Pentecost 50 days 50 days fr. 1st Fruits
Fall Feasts Fulfillment
1. Trumpets(Tishri 1-7th mo) End-time Call to Worship/ Cleansing
2. Day of Atonement(Tishri 10) End-time Day of Atonement/Judgment
3. Tabernacles(Tishri 15-21)
III. Review Day of Atonement
A. The priest on a daily basis killed the lamb, offered its blood in the Holy Place and trimmed the lamps there and offered incense. But Lev 16:2 states that the priest was forbidden to go into the MHP at any time lest he should die.
B. There was, however, one exception. On the 10th day of the 5th month, late fall (Leviticus 23:27) the High Priest alone could enter this sacred place.
C. In Leviticus 16:8-9, two goats are chosen. One is literally ‘to Yahweh’ and the other is ‘to Azazel’. What happens to the Lord’s or ‘Yahweh’s’ goat?
D. In the next step, Leviticus 16:12-13, what does the High Priest take with him into the Most Holy Place with the Ark of the Covenant(Ark of the Testimony).
E. In Leviticus 16:15-16, where is the blood of the Lord’s Goat sprinkled? ______. What will the sprinkling of that blood do?
F. In Leviticus 16:18-21, what is cleansed after the Most Holy Place is cleansed. ______.Is this just a clenasing of physical buildings? How far does this cleansing extend?____
G. In 16:29-31, what actions would you be taking if you were involved in this day of atonement? ______And what would be the result of those actions?
H. When an Israelite sinned, he would bring a lamb to be sacrificed at the temple for his sin. This was in recognition that he was deserving of death and needed Someone to take his place. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23, NKJV. The sinner laid his hands on the head of the lamb, confessing his sins and metaphorically his sins passed from him to the lamb. The lamb was killed and the priest took the lamb’s blod into the Holy Place and sprinkled it before the veil. Metaphirically the blood was passed from the sinner to the lamb, to the sanctuary. While his sin was forgiven, there was still a record of the sin in the sanctuary. All throughout the Jewish year, the sins wwere metaphorically accumulating in the sanctuary.
Once a year, the Yom Kippur or Day of Atonement(also called Cleansing of he Sanctuary or Day of Judgment) metaphorically eradicated those sins from the camp. During that day the priest took the blood of a goat, symbolizing Jesus, and sprinkled this cleansing blood in each major area of the sanctuary. During this process the High Priest uses censers filled with smoking incense, symbolizing on-going intercession. At the end of the Day of Atonement, the High Priest would throw the contents of the censers away, symbolizing an end of intercession. He would then change into his king-like robes. Metaphorically, during this process, the High Priest took back upon himself all of the sins of the people committed during the entire year and placed them on the head of Azazel’s goat. When the goat went into the wilderness, the camp of Israel was entirely free from sin. This time was a time of rejoicing. The High Priest celebrated the time with a feast with his friends and the day was followed by the Feast of Booths, which was a reunion time for al l of Israel to come together to worship God in peace and joy.
IV. Nature of Trumpets
1. Call to worship
2. Feast of trumpets
3. Jericho
V. Read Revelation 8:2-5
A. Identity of Angel
1. List the identifying characteristics of this angel
2. 1Ti 2:5 “For there is one God, and one ______ between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;” Who only is called a mediator, one who goes between God and man?
3. “But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:24,25, NKJV.
An intercessor is one who is on our side, who understands our needs and wants . He is the golden link between humanity and the divine.
B. The earthly a model of the heavenly temple.
1. After describing Jesus as our intercessor/priest, Hebrews continues in Hebrews 8:1-5. For what purpose did God have Moses make the earthly temple? (example of heavenly things)
2. If you want to know what the heavenly temple looks like, look to the earthly. If you want to understand more fully how Jesus, the Lamb, and the Priest, saves us, look to the earthly temple. In it’s symbols and rites one finds an understanding of the mind and purposes of God.
3. Since Hebrews tells us that Jesus went to the Sanctuary above as a High Priest, we have to ask what ministry he was doing. The obvioius answer, according to Hebrews is that He is our intercessor, essentially doing the ‘daily’ ministry. However, if we hold to the type/antitype model, we must be open to a shift in ministry from Intercessor, to Judge since Moses’s sanctuary also saw a shift in priestly ministry from the daily to yearly.
4. The opening scene shows us what will happen in heaven while the trumpets are blown and affect the earth. Sometime during the trumpets Jesus’ special ministry of intercession will cease and He will prepare to come and rescue his people. Romans 8:35-39 tells us that nothing will separate us from the love of Christ and his ministry to us. Yet there will come a time when Jesus ends his special work for sin. Revelation 22:11 says, ““He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still.”” As time continues, people in this planet either gravitate towards God or away from Him. Finally the last trumpets picture a time when all the world is either solidly in love with Jesus or avidly hating Him and controlled by another Power.
5. The Trumpets, then, really, are a passionate warning/call to all to be aware of the ‘much incense’ that Jesus has during this time. Heb 7:25* Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” No matter where we are spiritually, the trumpets call us to come to the One who is able to rescue and restore us completely.
6th Trumpet
3 Sections in it.
1. 9:13-21
2. 10:1-10 Little Book
3. 10:11-11:14 Prophesy Again
Contrasted Daniel 12 with this.
10:1 This is Jesus Himself
10:3 Cries w. loud voice
Note the 2 witnesses in Rev 10 are the antithesis to Revelation 13. Rev 13 reveals the Devil’s 2 witnesses.
7 Thunders happen after 10:1-2
9:13 if this is a woe and we’re looking at the altar of incense, does this compute? Is there anything in 5th trumpet that caused us to reflect on judgment ended? 9:4.
If this is a redemptive act, then who is the target audience? Could it be possible that the last 3 trumpets are directed at those who aren’t yet sealed?
1st 4 trumpets could be directed at those.
5th Trumpet. Jesus opens pit.
Pit is Satan’s holy place.
MHP reveals character of God
Satan’s pit is revealing Character of Satan
Compare the opening of the both places. Beginning of three woes, pit is opened, end of three woes, MHP is opened. Darkness here, lightning there. Smoke rose up at end of Day of Ateonement. Here is it’s antithesis.
5th Trumpet has lions, crowns, faces, just like Ezekiel 1.
9:17 has Red, blue, and yellow. So does Ezek 1. Again, a false picture of God.
If MHP is about creating people who look like God
Then Satan is creating His people, who look like God’s people. Great power, but no sweet love.
Recap:
Smoke reminds of MHP. Where else does smoke come up?
Both places are a sanctuary. One is real, one is counterfeit. List the similar elements:
1. Smoke. “It is the darkness of the misapprehension of God that…. At this time, a message of God is to be proclaimed.” COL
2. Each reveals the character of the one they worship
3. Beginning of three woes, pit is opened, end of three woes, MHP is opened. Satan reveals, then Devil does. Devil is usually premature.
4. If MHP is about creating people who look like God. Then Satan is creating His people, who look like God’s people.
5. In MHP, God indwells, in 5th Trumpet, it is Satan who indwells.
6. Link tween humans and evil spirits: Abyss is domain of Evil Spirits w. out people to inhabit. Opening of pit is allowing them to go free(i.e. inhabit human beings). Maybe allow Evil Spirit’s to appear as demons.
7. Appear spiritual, but are inhabited by demons.
Could it be these are the imitation of 4 Living creatures around throne?
8. This is a preparation for the events of 16:13, 3 spirits like frogs
9. Elijah vs. God. Each has priests, sacrifices, smoke, ceremonies, people. Finally at appropriate place, God tells everyone to step aside.
10. Darkness associated w. pit, light associated w. MHP.
11. “And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird!” Revelation 18:2, NKJV.
a. ““And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them.” Exodus 25:8, NKJV.
b. 2 falls. Fallen spiritual fall. Literal fall.
6th Trumpet
1. Julie brought point about 4 corners out. Euprhates was center of world. They knew it was round. And no corners on round worlld. Thus 4 corners had to be from one central point.
2. Chapter 9’s angels enlarge on rev 7’s angels.
Trumpets: 3rds. 2 developsments when trumpets sound. 1 positive, one negative.
a. Wakeup call to people of God
b. Judgement appears to be focused on the professed people of God. Harden their hearts.
—End of 6th Trumpet. Hardened Hearts.
Trumpets have to call God’s people into Holiness. When God’s people are called to holiness, then God will have a people who will truly represent him, and will be able to bring a message to the world. Trumpets then deal with God’s Professed people!! Judgment begins with the house of God.
Note: 10 days of trumpets prep for Day of Atonement
10 days of prayer for Outpouring of HS in Pentecost
Questions: 9:14 and 7:1 4 angels the same??
1. 4 Angels in both
2. both mention location
3. In one you have holding back, the other you have a release
4. 1st one not to blow on, but in 9:3-4, that is associatged w. harm. In 9:14, their release leads to death of a 3rd.
5. ?4 corners Euphrates considered center of earth. ?
Diff’s: 4 corners vs. River Euphrates
Timing
3. Can we look at 9:4 if angels are loosed in 9:14. 9:4, winds are loosed. In 9:4, the seal is already given to the 144,000!
4. Ch 7 & 9:14 commands both given to 4 angels. But in 9:14, the winds have become locusts. God uses instruments that are not necessarily of the good variety to bring about good things. Is it possible that the means by which the winds are working are through these locusts.
5. Note progresion tween 5th & 6th trujmpet. 5th, they’re only harmed, 6th they’re killed.
Timing of close of probation?
6th Church is parallel. Apostate church controlled by spirits of demons(synagogue of Satan). Counterfeit sanctuary! What if the 7 churches and the condition of the people in them are described in the 7 thunders? Note that the 6th Church
“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.” Revelation 3:7-12, KJV.
7th Church: Invitation to open the door
7th Trumpet: Most Holy Place wide open
Focus is on river Euphrates. Angels are loosed there. Why bound in Euphrates? It is the life-blood of Babylon. Forces of Babylon given free reign. They are going to kill the 2 witnesses. Hate them and kill them.
Euphrates is associated with Babylon. Forces of Babylon have not been free to do their devilish work, and they are now free. The 5th trumpet demons goad on the forces of Babylon(Euphrates). Jews did not see center of earth as Euphrates, it was Jerusalem.
Note numbers 16: Coals thrown to earth. 16:37