First Four Trumpets
Included in the Seventh Seal are the Trumpets and the Bowls. This article deals with the first Four Trumpets and the damage they do to the earth. Have you given your life to Jesus, yet?
This is a Bible Study. Have your own Bible handy to look up the references mentioned.
If you do not have a Bible, I invite you to go to BibleGateway.com or another online Bible.
“The blowing of the trumpets does not introduce symbols or secrets. The plagues here are literal plagues.” (McGee, Thru the Bible: Volume V: [Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1983], 962)
6. The seven angels are prepared with their seven trumpets. They are ready to sound them.
The Great Tribulation is here! (Easley, Holman New Testament Commentary: Revelation. [Nashville: B&H, 1998], 143)
The earth is moving into a divine judgment period that it cannot survive. (Easily, 143)
You will learn what God’s Wrath is all about.
The First Angel
7. Hail and fire are used to show divine judgment. (MacArthur. New Testament Commentary: Revelation 1-11. [Chicago: Moody Publishers, 1999], 245)
God has patiently tried to show sinners He will forgive them. People have not repented and accepted Him.
The fact that they are mixed with blood “is reminiscent of Joel 2:30, which also describes the Day of the Lord”. (MacArthur, 245)
And this mixture was cast upon the earth.
Is it possible that this caused an earthquake which triggered “worldwide volcanic eruptions”? (MacArthur, 245)
I have heard that underneath Yellowstone National Park in the United States is a volcano waiting to happen. And when it erupts the ash will affect the whole world. No, I have no idea when it might happen, but God could be holding it back for this very time.
And the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.
I cannot imagine what the earth will look like or be like after this.
Easley calls this “a divine warning of worse disasters to come, just like the ancient plagues on the land of Pharaoh”. (144)
All three commentaries listed at the bottom of this article compare this plague with the plagues that happened in Egypt (Exodus 7 through 11).
See a comparison chart of the ( Plagues in Exodus and Revelation )
The Second Angel
8. And the second angel sounded,
This reminds me of Mark 11:23:
Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him.
As it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea
Is this an asteroid coming through the atmosphere and burning up?
8d. A third of the sea became blood,
When this something hit the sea a third became blood, a third of the creatures which were in the sea and had life, died.
9. I wonder if a third of the creatures which were in the sea died, and a third of the sea became blood, then did the death of sea creatures cause the blood? I do not know.
Then with a third of the ships being destroyed was it caused by a huge tsunami? (MacArthur, 248)
The Third Angel
10. The third angel sounded,
We have all seen “shooting stars” but this is different.
This is a great star that fell from heaven, burning as it were a lamp
It fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters;
Was this a comet or meteor? (MacArthur, 248)
Drinking water will become an issue. When a third of the fresh water becomes bitter (verse 11) what will we drink? (McGee, 964)
11. The name of the star is Wormwood.
Wormwood is mentioned eight times in the Old Testament, where it is associated with bitterness, poison, and death. (MacArthur, 249)
And the third part of the waters became wormwood
Many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.
It sounds like a horrible death to me.
Do you really want to be here? Repent and trust Jesus.
The Fourth Angel
12. Many of us, if not all, have seen an eclipse when the moon goes in front of the sun, causing the earth to slightly darken.
This will be much worse!
And the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars
Something to think about when a third of the sun, moon and stars are gone.
Life will not be pleasant.
“The heavens …are destroyed.” (Easley 145)
“God is dismantling nature—land, sea, and sky—to bring people to repentance.” (Easley 146)
Also, it was prophesied.
Isaiah 13:9-10 Ezekiel 32:7-8 Amos 8:9 Read Joel 2 and 3
13. “Depicted in the vision as flying in midheaven, the bird would be at the height of the midday sun, thus visible to all. His loud voice assures that all will be able to hear his pronouncements. The eagle’s dire warning is that the last three trumpet judgments will be even more devastating that the first four.” (MacArthur, 251)
Woe, woe, woe is one threat for each of the following trumpets. (MacArthur, 251)
God’s wrath and judgment will come upon those who dwell on the earth. [NASB1995] (MacArthur, 251)
Still the people on the earth are not repenting and turning to Jesus.
The other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!!
Are you going to harden your heart? Hebrews 3:7-8
In this article Scripture quotations taken from KJV.
Scripture quotations taken from the NASB1995. Copyright by The Lockman Foundation.
Easley, Kendell H., Holman New Testament Commentary: Revelation. Nashville: B&H, 1998
MacArthur, John. New Testament Commentary: Revelation 1-11. Chicago: Moody Publishers, 1999
McGee, J. Vernon, Thru the Bible: Volume V: Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1983
