Revelation Lesson 9

Lesson 9 Revelation

Trumpets and Bowls

Revelation Chapters 8-18

Well, we are moving rapidly on in our brief course of Revelation. And in this lesson we will cover many events.

And, since the best way to look at many events is to view them as a big picture instead of focusing on tiny details, we will mainly be looking, in this lesson, at the big picture of the events during the outpouring of God's Wrath and Judgment on those who do not choose to serve and obey Him.

So, to get this big picture of many of the events of the book of Revelation and especially of the events of the 7 years, we will begin, of course, by reading the actual accounts as John related them to us.

So get out your colored pens or pencils, your Bible or your printouts of the Book of Revelation, and a few blank pieces of paper to write on.

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OK. All ready! Great!

Your first assignment is to read Chapters 8 - 18 of Revelation and, as you read do the following:

1. List the events and note how long each lasts (if stated) or approximately how long it could or might last if no exact time interval is given. If the event seems to be an explanatory passage or a description of or an expansion upon some event instead of a new event, put YES under the column titled explanatory passage ... to the left of the event.

2. Also, as you read these chapters, mark every reference to EARTHQUAKE by putting a BROWN zagged oval or circle around the word.

3. Whenever you see any reference to TIME, such as 1260 days, 42 months, time time and a half times, hour, three and one half days, etc. circle the word or phrase in RED or, draw a little clock on the word or phrase. Oh, and by the way, in the Jewish Calendar, a month is always 30 days. Therefore 30 days times 42 months = 1260 days.

4. When you see any reference to the BEAST OUT OF THE SEA (the Antichrist) put a Black or Brown B1 on the word or any word used in place of it such as he, him, etc.

5. Similarly, when you see any reference to the BEAST OUT OF THE EARTH (the False Prophet), put a Black or Brown B2 on that word or any word used in place of it such as he, him, etc.

6. Whenever you see the word MARK (in 13:16-17; 14:9;16:2; 19:2) put a Big BLACK M or X on the word.

7. Put a GREEN Circle around every occurrence of the word, WORSHIP.

8. Put a RED Circle around REPENT (in 2:5; 2:16,21; 3:3,19; 9:21; 16:9,11)

I will begin by listing the events in the first 7 Chapters for you by way of review, since we have already studied them, and also the first few events in chapter 8 to give you an example of how to record your information. My time suggestions, for the most part, will be, like yours, only guesses when they have not been directly stated for us in the text. So, as always, feel free to change them or any of these conclusions, if you do not agree, based on your studies as a Berean.

EVENTS IN REVELATION 1-18

explanatory

passage

(yes /no)

..........Chapter.........THE EVENT...........................................HOW LONG IT LASTED

no...........1......John sees a vision and is told to write 7 churches.....................? a day or less ?

no.......2&3......The messages to the 7 churches............................................? a day or less?

no..........4........God is on His throne and being worshiped in heaven............? an hour or less?

no..........5........Jesus, the Lamb, is worshiped in heaven and takes scroll.....? an hour or less?

no..........6......................Jesus opens first 6 seals...

1. White horse and rider conquering and to conquer.......?hour or less?? months??years??

2. Red horse & rider take peace/make men slay others...?hour or less?? months??years??

3. Black horse and rider....pair of scales...?famine?.........?hour or less?? months??years??

4. Pale horse & rider kill by sword, famine,plague, wbs....?hour or less? months??years??

5. Martyrs under the altar.....crying out "how long..."...................a few seconds or minutes

6. EARTHQUAKE, ...............................................................................a few seconds or minutes

sun black, ETC... ..........................................................................a few seconds or minutes

kings, etc. cry out, "Great Day of (God's) Wrath has come.."..a few seconds or minutes

no..........7..

Angels hold back winds...another angel comes from east....................................?seconds ??

144K sealed............................................................................................seconds??? a minute??

Great Multitude in Heaven........................................................a second or less or seconds??

no.........8.......................Jesus opens 7th seal

7. Silence in heaven ..........................................................................................about 30 minutes

the 7 trumpets are given to 7 angels............................................................? a few seconds

the Golden Censer is thrown to earth.........................................................? a few seconds

peals of thunder, rumblings...EARTHQUAKE..........................a few seconds or minutes

Trumpets 1-4 are sounded

1. hail /fire/blood to earth (1/3 of earth, trees, all grass burned)...?a few minutes or hours?

2. blazing mt. into sea (1/3 of sea blood, creatures die of ships destroyed)..............minutes?

3. star/torch falls on 1/3 of rivers...turn bitter...many die...........................a few hours? days?

Ok...you get the idea.... so continue this chart it from here.... and go through chapter 18. Use as many extra pages as it takes. Be detailed.

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You will probably need to do this on a separate piece of paper.

Wow! What an awesome series of events! And your list is a wonderful and detailed list of the events and the approximate order in which they occur. Now that we have the big picture, let's think about a few of the events and things individually and in some detail..

First of all, we want to ask ourselves WHY! Why are all these things happening? And to Whom are they mainly happening.

So, based on what you have read in Chapters 8-18, WHO were the people being injured or killed by these various events in the Trumpets and the Bowls (Plagues/Vials)? Circle your answerS from the following choices:

the 144K..............the Church..............Unbelieving Jews..........Unbelieving Gentiles

Explain your answer: _______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

Correct. These horrible events are happening to all the Unbelievers (in God and Jesus), both Jews and Gentiles or to those who believed after the rapture and now are having to endure these things. The 144K had been sealed and are protected and the Church is gone, having been previously raptured out.

WHY are these things happening? Hint: before you answer this, read the following verses frp, Revelation, and as you read them, WRITE them down in the space provided because we will refer to them again later. (If you find others you want to add to this list, feel free to do so as I did not give you ALL the references.)

9:20-21

14:9-11

16:9

16:11

18:3

18:5-8

Were any people turning to God, believing in Him and turning from their wickedness during these events? Hint: Read 11:1,13; 13:15; 14:12-13; 14:14-16; 15:2-3; 18:4 etc. Again. this is not a complete list but will help you with your answer. So, now, let me ask you again: Were any people turning to God and believing in Him and turning from their wickedness during these events?.....................................YES...................NO

Which Trumpets are the WOE Judgments? (Hint: read 8:13, 9:12, 11:14) ____________

Why do you think the Trumpets 5,6 and 7 called WOE Judgments? (Hint: what happens in them?)

____________________________________________________________________

In Chapter 11, we read about the Two Witnesses. What did or could they do? (11:3-7)

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

How are they killed and who killed them? (11:7) _______________________________

Who is the Beast that comes up from the Abyss (Bottomless pit) and kills them. (9:11)

Circle your answer: ..............the Devil............the Antichrist (B1)...............Don't know

What happens after they are killed? (11:9-13) ______________________________

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In Revelation 13 you read about B1 (the Antichrist) and B2 (the False Prophet). List what you learned about each in the chart below. I will begin with the first few facts to show you how to do this.

....B1 (The Antichrist).........................................B2 (The False Prophet)......................

came out of the sea came out of the earth

had 10 horns and 7heads had 2 horns like a lamb

This same Beast, The Antichrist, is also described in several places in the New Testament. One of these places is in 2 Thessalonians. As you read this passage, mark every reference to the Antichrist by putting a B1 on his name, as you did in Revelation. Also, underline words or phrases that describe B1. Then, when you have finished, add the information about him to the chart.

2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to Him, we ask you, brothers, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come. Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness (The Antichrist, the Beast, B1) is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God. Don't you remember that when I (Paul) was with you I used to tell you these things? And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time.For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.

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You will recall that the 144 K were sealed in Chapter 7. When and where do we see them again? (hint: read 14:1-4) _____________________________________________________

Had their sealing in Chapter 7 protected them from the events of the Trumpets and Bowls?

...............................................................YES....................NO

What happened after the 144K were taken to heaven? (14:6-11) _____________________

Yes, 3 angels flew in midair and made very important announcements to those still alive on earth. What were these announcements?

Angel 1 (14:6-7) ________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

Angel 2 (14:8) _________________________________________________________

Angel 3 (14:9-11)_______________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

Is God REALLY serious about people NOT worshiping anyone or anything except Himself?................................YES...........................NO

Explain your answer: ____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

What do the 7 Bowls (Plagues / Vials) represent? (15:1; 15:7) _____________________

_____________________________________________________________________

It is interesting that the punishments inflicted by the 7 Trumpets, the 7 Bowls, and at the time of the Exodus of the Jewish Nation from Egypt are in some ways similar. There is not an exact duplication, but it is interesting to note the similarities especially when comparing the Trumpets and the Bowls. So, let's do that. In the chart below, note what happened in each of the 7 Trumpets and 7 Bowls and in the Plagues of the Exodus (remember there were 10 plagues). (Read Exodus 7:1-11:30 for details of the Exodus plagues.) And, of course, Not all of the Exodus plagues correlate as closely as the Trumpets and Bowls more frequently (but not always) do. I will give you an example.

........Exodus Plagues......................7 Trumpets in Rev..................7 Bowls in Rev

1. Ex. 9:10

.....Boils hail, fire, blood .....................1/3 of ... burn up ......................... painful sores

2. none

3. Ex 7:19-21

4. Ex: 10:21-23

5. Ex. 10:21-23 & Ex 10:13:15

6. Ex 8:15

7. Ex. 9:22-26

Also, perhaps you have heard that some people believe that the events of the Seals, Trumpets, and Bowls are all the SAME and are just repetitions or reiterations of the same events. Based on what you have read and studied, would you agree with that view?..............YES..............NO

Explain your answer: _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

Well, there are many other things we could examine concerning the many events that occur in the time of God's wrath. But, let's just wind up our study today by thinking about WHY these things happened and what we can learn from them.

First of all, WHY?

Earlier in this lesson, you read in the Book of Revelation itself, several passages which explained WHY. I am listing them here along with a few of the many other passages which tell us the reason WHY the Wrath of God comes during the 7 Years, the Time of Jacob's trouble. There are also many other passages in the Bible which explain WHY. And I am including ONE of these for you. It is from 2 Thessalonians. As you read these passages, underline in BLACK what it is that people were DOING or NOT DOING that they should have been doing that caused them to have to endure these judgment punishments. Also circle in GREEN every occurrence of the word WORSHIP or any word or phrase used in the place of that word.

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Rev 9:20-21 The rest of mankind that were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood - idols that cannot see or hear or walk. Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts (sorceries), their sexual immorality, or their thefts.

Rev 13:3-4 ....The whole world was astonished and followed the beast (instead of God). Men worshiped the dragon (satan) because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, "Who is like the beast? Who can make war against him?" ...

Rev 13:8 All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast -- all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world.

Rev 13:12 He (the False Prophet) exercised all the authority of the first beast on his behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast (instead of God) ...

Rev 14:7 ... He (angel 1 flying in the air) said in a loud voice, "Fear God and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come. Worship Him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.

Rev 14:9-11 A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: "If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives his mark on the forehead or on the hand, he, too, will drink of the wine of God's fury which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath (orge). He will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment rises for ever and ever. There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and his image, or for anyone who receives the mark of his name."

Rev 16:2 The first angel went and poured out his bowl on the land, and ugly and painful sores broke out on the people who had the mark of the beast and worshiped his image.

Rev 16:4-7 The third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood. Then I heard the angel in charge of the waters say: "You are just in these judgment, you who are and who were, the Holy One, because you have so judged: for they have shed the blood of your saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink as they deserve.: And I heard the altar respond: "Yes, Lord God Almighty, true and just are your judgments."

Rev 16:9 They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God, who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify Him.

Rev 16:10-11 The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom was plunged into darkness. Men gnawed their tongues in agony and cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, but they refused to repent of what they had done.

Rev 16: 19-21 The great city split into 3 parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. God remembered Babylon the Great and give her the cup filled with the wine of the fury of His wrath (orge). Every island fled away and the mountains could not be found. From the sky huge hailstones of about 100 pounds each fell upon men. and they cursed God on account of the plague of hail, because the plague was so terrible.

Rev 17:1 One of the 7 angels who had the 7 bowls came and said to me, "come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters. With her the kings of the earth committed adultery and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries." ...

Rev 18:3 ...for all the nations have drunk the maddening wine of her (the great prostitute, Babylon) adulteries. The kings of the earth committed adultery with her and the merchants of the earth grew rich from her excessive luxuries.

Rev 18:5-8 for her (..Babylon) sins are piled up to heaven, and God has remembered her crimes. Give back to her as she has given; pay her back double for what she has done. Mix her a double portion from her own cup. Give her as much torture and grief as the glory and luxury she gave herself. In her heart she boasts, 'I sit as a queen; I am not a widow, and I will never mourn.' Therefore in one day her plagues will overtake her: death, mourning and famine. She will be consumed by fire, for mighty is the Lord God Who judges her.

Rev 18:23 ... By your (Babylon) magic spell all the nations were led astray. In her was found the blood of prophets and of the saints, and of all who have been killed on the earth.

Rev 19:2 ...for true and just are His (God's) judgments. He has condemned the great prostitute who corrupted the earth by her adulteries. He has avenged on her the blood of His servants.

Rev 2: 14-16 Nevertheless, I (Jesus) have a few things against you (the church in Pergamum); You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality. Likewise you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Repent, therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

Rev 2:20-23 Nevertheless, I (Jesus) have this against you (church in Thyatira). You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am He Who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.

Rev 3: 10 ... I (Jesus) will also keep you (church of Philadelphia) from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth.

Rev 6:9-10 When He (Jesus) opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. They called out in a loud voice, "How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until You judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?" ...

2Thess. 1:4-10 Therefore, among God's churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring. All this is evidence that God's judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering. God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you. With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith. We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. {Or God and Lord, Jesus Christ}

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Ok, now briefly summarize what you have learned about WHY God judges the world and inflicts His wrath on the inhabitants. What had those being punished done that was deserving of these punishments?_____________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

What had they NOT done? ____________________________________________

Who and or what had they worshiped and served with their time, interests, love, money, thoughts, desires, etc ? _________________________________________________

Who should they have worshiped with their whole heart, soul, mind and body? _______

What happens to those who do confess their sins and turn from their sinful and wicked ways and turn to God and serve and worship Him Only? ________________________________

And what happens to those who did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood - idols that cannot see or hear or walk. Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts (sorceries), their sexual immorality, or their thefts.'?

________________________________________________________________________

Yes, God is a God of Love BUT He is also a Holy God and a God of Justice. Because God is Holy, He can not associate with, look upon, or tolerate ANY sin! And, Because God is a Just God (a God of Justice), ALL unconfessed sin MUST be punished! It can NOT be tolerated. It can NOT be overlooked. It can NOT be swept under the rug and ignored. It MUST be dealt with.

So, either you and I will recognize our sin, confess it to God, ask His forgiveness, turn from our wicked ways, and serve Him ONLY OR we won't. If we DO, God will forgive us and we will NOT have to face or endure punishment and His WRATH. If we DON'T, God will not, indeed He cannot, overlook our sin, whether it be great or small. ALL sin is sin and, if unconfessed and repented of, MUST be punished!

As we end this lesson, then, let's stop and reflect upon our lives. Do you or I have ANY unconfessed sin? Are you worshiping and serving any one or any thing other than God? Does any one or any thing take first place in your life over God? You have seen what happens to those who refuse to repent of their sins and who refuse to stop worshiping anything or any one other than God. Don't let it happen to you.

There is still time to get things right with God. His Wrath judgments (at least at the time of the writing of this lesson) have not yet begun. But, they could begin at any instant. If you are wise, you will repent, confess your sins to God, turn to Him, serve and Worship Him, AND escape the horrible events about which we have read and studied in this lesson. If you don't! Well, you have read what will happen!

So, if you are wise, you will end this lesson in a time of personal examination of and in reflection on your life and in prayer to God. Spend as much time as you need. Be SURE you are worshiping and serving the One and Only True God, the Creator and Ruler of Everything!

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are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION.

Used by permission of Zondervan Publishers

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