by Darren | Aug 29, 2016 | 10 Week Bible Podcasts, Podcast, Podcasts, Revelation
Podcast Week 6 | Revelation 10-11
Week 6: Revelation 10-11
Day 1: 10:1-7
Last time we ended with the blowing of the sixth trumpet, and now we will take another break from the action to be given more background information. This is the second parenthetical section of Revelation and it will set up the majesty that is the seventh trumpet.
This section of Revelation will show us that God fully intends to speak to His people prophetically during the tribulation period. God will not leave His people in the dark during the darkest days of history, but He will speak to us and give us direction when we need it the most.
The Seven Thunders
- This angel carries great authority, and looks physically different
- Stands on the sea and the land
- Announces that the seventh trumpet ushers in something important
- They mystery of God will be revealed at the seventh trumpet
The Seven Thunders
- No accident John heard this
- There is more to be revealed in the end times
Day 2: 10:8-11
The Scroll
- Just like Ezekiel’s scroll from Ezekiel 3:1-3
- Tastes sweet but turns their stomachs sour
- Represents the reality of prophecy: sweet to hear from God, but difficult to bear up under the weight of it when confronting people—prophecy is truly a bittersweet reality of God’s kingdom
Day 3: 11:1-14
The Two Witnesses
- Is it a real or figurative temple?
- John is asked to measure it, which makes it seem like it will be real
- 42 months & 1,260 days—first reference in Revelation matches Daniel’s 3-1/2 years—the last half of the Great Tribulation
- They have great power and authority. They are divinely protected
- The Beast (have not yet been introduced to him) will kill them at the end of 3-1/2 years
- Sodom and Egypt? Why is Jerusalem called this?
- Great rejoicing over their death
- Resurrected as everyone watches their ascension to heaven
Day 4: 11:15-19
Seventh Trumpet
- The earth is becoming God’s kingdom forever
- God is going to “begin to reign” now that the seventh trumpet has been sounded
- Time to judge the dead and reward the prophets
- Destroy those who have destroyed the earth with their sinfulness
- Paul speaks about this event in 1 Corinthians 15:52:
51Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— 52in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
This is the moment that God will rapture His beloved bride—we will indeed be “caught up” (in Latin, “rapio”, or “rapture”) as Paul also calls it in 1 Thessalonians 4:17.
We will see that as soon as Jesus’ bride is raptured (taken away, “caught up”), God will now pour out His wrath on earth and make it His own. The Seventh Trumpet brings to a close the 1,260 days of the Great Tribulation, and now this “mystery of God” will be revealed.
by Darren | Aug 22, 2016 | 10 Week Bible Podcasts, Revelation
Podcast Week 5 | Revelation 8-9
Show notes for Week 4
Week 5: Revelation 8-9
Day 1: 8:1-6
In chapter 8, we are immediately whisked back into the midst of the seal judgments as the seventh and final seal is opened.
The final seal is what has held back the opening of the scroll that God the Father gave to Jesus, and as we see it opened, we will now hear trumpet blasts announce the judgments written within it.
Seventh Seal
- Silence in heaven for 30 minutes: what does that look like?
- Holy moment just like when Solomon dedicated the temple in 1 Kings 8: silence
- The saints’ prayers are mixed with incense from heaven that release the trumpet judgments
Day 2: 8:7-13
First Trumpet
- I don’t know what hail and fire look like, and being mixed with blood is a complete mystery, but it will be terrifying.
- The world’s supply of firefighters will surely be put to the test and will be unable to stop the fires until 1/3 of all the trees and grass of earth burn.
Second Trumpet
- Great mountain thrown into the sea: sounds like a comet or meteor
- We will see a theme of thirds in the trumpet judgments
- 1/3 of the sea creatures die along with 1/3 of ocean-going vessels will be destroyed.
- Is this one large meteor/comet, or is it many that this happens to 1/3 of the entire earth, or just one large part of the earth?
Third Trumpet
- What exactly is meant by star is unknown, but it will surely be seen by all
- Wormwood means sulfur. 1/3 of the fresh water will become undrinkable.
- Like the sea, will this be 1/3 of the water worldwide, or a localized 1/3?
- In addition to who has already died and who will be killed in the future, this undrinkable water will result in death.
Fourth Trumpet
- How is a third of the sun struck? The moon? The stars?
- Are the days getting shorter? Is the earth moving faster? Is there something in the sky blocking the light?
- What kind of impact will this have on food, emotions, etc.?
Woe, Woe, Woe
If this all hasn’t been bad enough already, we are told that things are about to get much, much worse for the inhabitants of earth.
Day 3: 9:1-12
Fifth Trumpet
- John again calls this thing a star that crashes to the earth
- We quickly see that the angel wasn’t kidding about the “woe” – whatever the “abyss” is, it seems really horrible
- What on earth are these locusts? Machines? Demonic creatures? Created beings reserved until this very moment?
- We learned about a seal in chapter 7 – is this the same or something different? – We will soon understand
- If you’re not terrified by these creatures, you’re not reading Revelation
- Abaddon, Apollyon, Destroyer – these things are meant to destroy and torture, pure and simple
Day 4: 9:13-21
Sixth Trumpet
- Four angels have had no duties in eternity except for this moment
- They are captains over this vast army
- Is this army human, angelic or demonic?
- There were not 200 million people alive on earth in John’s day – unthinkable number, but John heard it specifically
- 1/3 of the earth will die by three plagues inflicted by these odd horses.
- If you’re doing the math, 1/4 + 1/3 = 1/2. 1/2 of the earth has died between the seals and the bowls
- We see clearly here that people know who is doing this, why He is doing it, and they still refuse to repent. Their rebellion is open and obvious—there is no confusion.
We will have another parenthetical section before the seventh trumpet, and we will see that this is a tremendous, holy moment for those watching from heaven. Whatever the last trumpet is, it is one of the greatest moments in human history. We will see that it is the culmination of the plans of God on earth—the greatness of His creation!
Day 5: Recap
