7 Trumps & Seals

Let's read the text like we are Israel when given the blessings & curses if we disobey.

Leveticus-

Divine Blessing: Its Causes and Characteristics

(26:1-13)

The divine blessings outlined in verses 4-13 are the result of keeping the conditions set down in verses 1-3. In its broadest definition, God’s blessings on Israel are conditioned by Israel’s keeping of the Mosaic Covenant: “If you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments so as to carry them out, then I shall give you …” (Lev. 26:3-4a).

Verses 1 and 2 speak of this obedience as manifesting itself in both positive and negative ways. Negatively, the Israelites must keep themselves from the idols and the idolatry of their heathen predecessors: “‘You shall not make for yourselves idols, nor shall you set up for yourselves an image or a sacred pillar, nor shall you place a figured stone in your land to bow down to it; for I am the LORD your God’” (Lev. 26:1).

Such idols would lead to false worship, worship directed to false deities, rather than toward the God who had saved them from bondage in Egypt.

Positively stated, the Israelites should give heed to God’s sabbaths and His sanctuary: ‘“You shall keep My sabbaths and reverence My sanctuary; I am the LORD’” (Lev. 26:2). God’s people must not only abstain from making and worshipping idols, they must actively observe God’s sabbaths and revere His sanctuary. We know, of course, that other actions are required of God’s people, but this is the heart of the covenant, and is thus emphasized.170

The blessings which God promised Israel are directly related to her possession of the land of Canaan. . They can be summed up in three categories: (1) PEACE; (2) PROSPERITY; (3) THE PRESENCE OF GOD.

Peace can be seen in several areas. First, there is peace from Israel’s enemies. It does not mean that there won’t be any war,171 but rather that God will grant Israel victory over her foes, and that they will not live in constant fear of attack or of defeat. There will also be peace with respect to the wild animals which could endanger the Israelites. There is a deep sense of security promised for those who keep God’s covenant.

Prosperity is principally material. Agriculturally, the Israelites will prosper because God will give them the needed rains, at the proper time, which will make their harvests bountiful.172 Also, God will give great fertility to the Israelites and to their cattle, which will cause them to prosper greatly. It should be recalled, at this point, that the religions of Canaan and the ancient Near East had fertility as a central focus. Many of the pagan gods were fertility gods. God promised prosperity and fertility, but it would come when Israel worshipped Him and avoided idolatry and heathen worship. Implied by its removal in the cursing section (v. 16) is the prosperity of good health, which enables one to enjoy the “good life.”

Finally, Israel was blessed by the presence of God in their midst. Israel was His people, and He had promised to dwell in their midst: “‘Moreover, I will make My dwelling among you, and My soul will not reject you. I will also walk among you and be your God, and you shall be My people’” (Lev. 26:11-12).

One of the great issues at stake as an aftermath of Israel’s “fall” in the worship of the golden calf (Exod. 32) was whether or not God would be present with His people (cf. Exod. 33:3, 14-16; 34:9). God’s covenant with Israel promised His presence, but only of His people kept His statutes and ordinances (cf. Exod. 34:10ff.). The tabernacle and the sacrificial system was one of the prerequisites for God’s presence, and thus it is easy to see why the Israelites must “reverence His sanctuary” (Lev. 26:2).

It is my opinion that this last category of blessing, the presence of God, is the ultimate blessing, and that it is also the basis for the other blessings. God’s presence assures Israel of prosperity and peace, as His absence will bring poverty and peril. The ultimate joy of heaven is the presence of God (1 Thes. 5:17; John 14:3), just as hell 1/the grave is banishment from God’s presence (2 Thes. 1:9). Thus, one can truly feel blessed, even in the midst of tribulation and persecution, knowing that God is with them in their distress (cf. Ps. 73:21-28; Matt. 28:20; Heb. 13:5, 6). In God’s “absence” or removal, man brings many of the evils which Leviticus 26 describes on himself, as is the case in the progressive judgment of Romans chapter 1.

These three categories of blessing are promised to God’s people, if they but obey His commandments and keep His covenant: peace, prosperity, and God’s presence. We shall also see that these are the areas in which God’s discipline will come as a result of Israel’s disobedience and disregard for His covenant. Let us look, then, to the “cursings” of our text, which outline the consequences of disobedience.

The Consequences of Israel’s Disobedience

The “cursings” of this chapter are virtually a reversal of the promised blessings. While the cursings are presented differently, we can summarize them in terms of these same three categories:

(1) FROM PROSPERITY TO POVERTY

(2) FROM PEACE TO PERIL;

(3) FROM GOD’S PRESENCE TO HIS ABSENCE173

Instead of prosperity, disobedience will bring poverty. Initially, Israel’s crops will be consumed by raiding enemies (26:16). If Israel’s disobedience persists, as it surely will, the rains will cease, Israel’s crops will fail, and thus a famine will result (26:26). It is not stated but is likely implied that fertility will also cease.174 Not only will new life be limited by infertility, but men will be killed by hostile animals (26:22). Pestilence will kill many (26:21, 25), and eventually this people will turn against one another, resorting to cannibalism (26:29). This took place during the Jewish Roman war. One woman was eating her own baby she was so hungry.http://www.mesacc.edu/~thoqh49081/handouts/josephus-jerusalem.html

Instead of peace and security, disobedience will bring about insecurity, peril, and fear. Initially, Israel will suffer from the raiding attacks of some of their neighbors, who will steal their crops (26:16). Then, Israel will be defeated by her enemies and delivered into their hands, so that they are ruled by them (26:17, 25). Finally, the Israelites will be driven from the land and will live, dispersed and scattered, in the land of their conquerors (26:31-32, 36, 38). The remnant who remain in the land will suffer as much as those who are taken away (26:39). The peace and security which they could have known is traded for insecurity, fear, and constant apprehension (26:36-37).

In place of the presence of God in the midst of His people, Israel will experience a growing separation from Him. He will first set His face against His people (v. 17). Then, because His people have been hostile against Him (26:21, 23), He will become their enemy (26:24, 28). He will drive them from His sanctuary (which they have not reverenced) to the land of their enemies, far from His (perceived) presence. In their absence, the land will enjoy the sabbaths which the Israelites never observed (26:34-35).

God blessed Israel under the Mosaic law when they obeyed . He cursed them when they disobeyed.

We know that according to the famous Jewish historian Josephus who recorded the Jewish Roman war that took place in the lifetime of the early church that the biblical Israelites, their temple and city were destroyed by God. This was because they did not obey the Mosaic law and rejected their Messiah by having him killed and killing his saints. Also, because they rejected the new covenant. The Roman soldiers destroyed Israel. No one is under the Mosaic law anymore. That should be proof enough that the seven trumps and seals are not for us but were for the unbelieving Israelites living in the first century. Did Jesus and his disciples not warn them of what was to come ? Revelation was written to seven churches that are no longer in existence . The very first chapter of Revelation says, these are things which may shortly take place. Not 2000 years and counting in the future. If you truly believe that we are under the new covenant of grace then you know for sure that the seven trumps and seven seals are a past event . The biblical Jews were destroyed with the exception of the early church that escaped to the mountains and the slaves sold throughout the world. No one knows what happened to them . The modern-day Jews of today are Gentile Khazars that converted to the religion of Judaism in the 7th-10^th centuries according to the universal Jewish encyclopedia and many other Jewish sources. https://sites.google.com/site/thefinishedworkofchrist/home/jews-admit-their-not-from-abraham-s-bloodline according to Scripture Israel received all the land promises. They are not future. https://sites.google.com/site/thefinishedworkofchrist/home/jews-admit-their-not-from-abraham-s-bloodline

Language of the book of Revelation is biblical imagery and its message is referring to the fulfillment of the Old Testament Scriptures from which its language originates, especially the four sevenfold judgments previously mentioned in Leviticus 26. Keep in mind that the amount of each judgment is recorded in the corresponding scriptures of Revelation. The following chart compares Revelation with Leviticus 26:

7 Seals A One-Quarter Judgment

...if they don't repent, God will send 7 stronger judgments.

Revelation 5 & 6 Leviticus 26:18

7 Trumpets A One-Third Judgment

...if they don't repent, God will send 7 stronger judgments.

Revelation 8 &9 Leviticus 26:21

7 Thunders Not Revealed (possibly a one-half judgment)

...if they don't repent, God will totally destroy them.

Revelation 10Leviticus 26:24

7 VialsThe Final Judgment

...the total destruction of Jerusalem—Babylon is fallen.

Revelation 16Leviticus 26:28

Note that the seventh occurrence of each of these judgments in the book of Revelation uses approximately the same language: Voices, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake. Moses experienced similar occurrences on Mount Sinai when he received the Law from God. In both instances God was showing how He would use the Law to judge those who refused His grace. These judgments were used in the Jewish Roman war. God allowed their enemies to curse them. They lost their prosperity , peace and God's presence. At the end of the Jewish war a loud voice was heard led us depart from here. Jesus said, that he did not desire to dwell in a temple made with hands. The Bible says the kingdom of God is within man. Jesus became the one time sacrifice for sin. There is no need for a physical temple anymore.