Building Christians Up From The Foundation & Unto Perfection
Hebrews 6:1-3
Hebrews 6:1-3
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Before you read: This article is part of a larger series that builds on itself from the foundation up, with each study building on the last. If something in this article does not make sense to you or if you believe it to be incorrect please be sure you have read over the entire course before passing your final judgment. Also be sure to visit this page’s FAQ And Objections Page
We left off explaining the sixth seal and then spoke briefly about the hour of temptation. The sixth seal signaled the end of the tribulation period. But there is one last seal to be opened. Once the seventh seal of Revelation is opened we see seven angels given seven trumpets.
These announce the coming of the King of kings. These events will take place AFTER the tribulation. They do not have a set time of completion. So no man can know the day or hour of the return of Jesus. We only know that it will be at the last trumpet. Lets read over them now.
Revelation 8:7
7 The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.
Revelation 8:8-9
8 And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood; 9 And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed.
Revelation 8:10-11
10 And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters; 11 And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.
Revelation 8:12
12 And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.
Each trumpet brings a sign. They are all very plainly spoken of in these verses. But you may be wondering about verse 12. How can the sun and moon be smitten when seal six already shows them going dark? The answer is simple. The sun would not shine when Jesus was on the cross. But then it came back out. This is quite simply the same thing. For a time the sun goes dark. But then with the fourth trumpet we see it repeated.
Revelation 8:13
13 And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!
As if the first four trumpets were not enough! Many people have already been killed. But the next trumpet don’t kill. It leaves men in torment!
Revelation 9:1
And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.
Revelation 9:3-6
3 And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. 4 And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads. 5 And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man. 6 And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.
Note they are told to only hurt those that don’t have the seal of God in their foreheads. There is a distinction made here because there are people still on earth that DO have the seal of God in their foreheads. We are shown here again the protection God has placed over His servants to keep them from this horrible wrath.
I will not go into detail about the locusts right now. I only want to cover the events rather than going too deep into the symbolism. Remember, this is only Christianity 101 after all.
Revelation 9:13-15
13 And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, 14 Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates. 15 And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men.
Again, I’m not going to go into detail here. But, there are 4 angels bound in this river. There are some apocryphal books that attempt to explain this. The book of Enoch being one of them. I do not recommend viewing these apocryphal books as canon. But, some of them may have a small amount of truth. I can not say for certain. They got their ideas from somewhere though.
Revelation 9:16
16 And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them.
Revelation 9:18
18 By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths.
Apparently these angels lead an army. I encourage you to look at the description of this army and compare it with the description of the locusts in the Bible. You will find that they are nearly the same. This could indicate that they ARE the same. These are no doubt demonic.
Revelation 10:11
11 And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.
Before John tells us what happens when the seventh angel blows the trumpet he is told to prophesy again. In other words we are breaking the chronological order of the story here. Before we continue John is going to tell us about something else.
He goes on in chapter 11 to tell us about the ministry of the two prophets God will be sending to earth during the tribulation. If we were watching a movie it would be like a flashback. Then we are brought back to the events taking place when in verse 14 it jolts us back saying the second woe is past and the third comes quickly.
Revelation 11:15
15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
Revelation 11:18-19
18 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth. 19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.
And so now we see the return of Jesus. The dead are raised and then we which are alive and remain meet Him in the air. The seals are all open, the trumpets have blown. It is done.
The next few chapters of Revelation tell the story again but in more detail and through symbolism. In chapter 14 we read in detail about the final day when Jesus returns to call His people to be with Him.
Revelation 14:14-16
14 And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. 15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. 16 And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.
Beginning in verse 14 we see Him reap the earth gathering in the servants of God, the harvest. This is the time of fulfillment of the prophecy that says He will return in the clouds and gather the saints up to be with Him in the clouds.
Revelation 14:17-19
17 And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. 18 And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. 19 And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.
In 17 through 19 we see the angels also gather the lost to have the wrath of God poured out upon them. After this John tells us what happens when we are gathered to Jesus and there are none left on earth but the lost. Seven more angels pour out the last plagues upon the earth. A few more chapters tell us about those plagues and also recap certain events.
But after the lost are gathered together to receive the full wrath of God we also see that Jesus and all the saints with Him will return to tread over the lost that have been gathered together to fight against Him. This is seen in chapter 19:11-21. After these things the Bible tells us about the city of God coming down from heaven.
You now know the timeline for the seals, the trumpets, and the 7 vials. There are many more things to learn and many details to discover. But if you have gone through this entire Christianity 101 course you should have a firm grasp on the basic foundational truths found in the Bible.
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April 28, 2022 at 9:23 pm | | No comment
