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Session 10
The Wrath of God
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The last session we will deal with depicts the
events that will comprise God's wrath in the Day of the Lord. These
events are foretold in the book of Revelation symbolized by the
sounding of the seven trumpets and the pouring out of
the seven bowls.
As we focus on the wrath of God, we will be
narrowing in on the Day of the Lord that takes place as the saints
of God are raptured from the earth to heaven.
Rev 8:1-6 (NIV) When he opened the
seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an
hour. {2} And I saw the seven angels who stand before God,
and to them were given seven trumpets. {3}
Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar.
He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all the
saints, on the golden altar before the throne.
{4} The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of
the saints, went up before God from the angel's hand. {5}
Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar,
and hurled it on the earth; and there came peals of thunder,
rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake. {6}
Then the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to sound
them. (emphasis added)
The division of the trumpets and bowls in the book
of Revelation allow us to separate God's wrath into two parts that
we will call the "beginning wrath" and the "final wrath." The wrath
of God will begin as the seventh seal (Rev 8:1-6)
on the scroll of "The Day of the Lord" is broken and the
scroll is opened.
 The
First Trumpet
Rev 8:7 (NIV) The first angel
sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and fire mixed with blood,
and it was hurled down upon the earth. A third of the earth
was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all
the green grass was burned up.
As the first trumpet sounds a fiery hail storm burns
up 1/3 of the earth. We are told 1/3 of the trees and all green
grass are also affected.
 The
Second Trumpet
Rev 8:8-9 (NIV) The second
angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a huge mountain, all
ablaze, was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea
turned into blood, {9} a third of the living creatures in the
sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed. (emphasis added)
At the second trumpet, something like a volcano is
described either erupting or crashing into the sea. It kills 1/3 of
sea-life and turns 1/3 of the seas into blood.
 The
Third Trumpet
Rev 8:10-11 (NIV) The third
angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch,
fell from the sky on a third of the rivers and on the springs of
water-- {11} the name of the star is Wormwood. A third
of the waters turned bitter, and many people died from the
waters that had become bitter. (emphasis added)
At the third trumpet it appears a meteor or meteor
shower strikes the earth and spoils 1/3 of all fresh water. Names in
the Bible give meaning and significance - and here this meteor is
named Wormwood. Wormwood is defined as "a nonpoisonous but bitter
plant common to the Middle East. Wormwood often is used in analogy
to speak of bitterness and sorrow" (Holman Bible Dictionary).
 The
Fourth Trumpet
Rev 8:12-13 (NIV) The fourth
angel sounded his trumpet, and a third of the sun was
struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the
stars, so that a third of them turned dark. A third of the
day was without light, and also a third of the night. {13} As
I watched, I heard an eagle that was flying in midair call out in a
loud voice: "Woe! Woe! Woe to the inhabitants of the
earth, because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded by the
other three angels!" (emphasis added)
At the fourth trumpet a third of the day and night
become darkness. There is also a warning that things are about to
get worse.
 The
Fifth Trumpet
Rev 9:1-12 (NIV) The fifth
angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from the
sky to the earth. The star was given the key to the shaft of the
Abyss. {2} When he opened the Abyss, smoke rose from it like
the smoke from a gigantic furnace. The sun and sky were darkened by
the smoke from the Abyss. {3} And out of the smoke
locusts came down upon the earth and were given power like
that of scorpions of the earth. {4} They were told not to
harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those
people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads. {5}
They were not given power to kill them, but only to torture
them for five months. And the agony they suffered was like
that of the sting of a scorpion when it strikes a man. {6}
During those days men will seek death, but will not find it; they
will long to die, but death will elude them. {7} The locusts
looked like horses prepared for battle. On their heads they wore
something like crowns of gold, and their faces resembled human
faces. {8} Their hair was like women's hair, and their teeth
were like lions' teeth. {9} They had breastplates like
breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the
thundering of many horses and chariots rushing into battle. {10}
They had tails and stings like scorpions, and in their tails they
had power to torment people for five months. {11}
They had as king over them the angel of the Abyss, whose name in
Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek, Apollyon. {12} The
first woe is past; two other woes are yet to come.
The Sixth Trumpet
Rev 9:13-21 (NIV) The sixth
angel sounded his trumpet, and I heard a voice coming from the horns
of the golden altar that is before God. {14} It said to the
sixth angel who had the trumpet, "Release the four angels who are
bound at the great river Euphrates." {15} And the four angels
who had been kept ready for this very hour and day and month and
year were released to kill a third of mankind. {16}
The number of the mounted troops was two hundred million. I heard
their number. {17} The horses and riders I saw in my vision
looked like this: Their breastplates were fiery red, dark blue, and
yellow as sulfur. The heads of the horses resembled the heads of
lions, and out of their mouths came fire, smoke and sulfur. {18}
A third of mankind was killed by the three plagues of
fire, smoke and sulfur that came out of their mouths. {19}
The power of the horses was in their mouths and in their tails; for
their tails were like snakes, having heads with which they inflict
injury. {20} 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. {21} Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic
arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts.
The Small Scroll
Rev 10:1-3 (NIV) Then I saw another mighty
angel coming down from heaven. He was robed in a cloud, with a
rainbow above his head; his face was like the sun, and his legs were
like fiery pillars. {2} He was holding a little scroll,
which lay open in his hand. He planted his right foot on the sea and
his left foot on the land, {3} and he gave a loud shout like
the roar of a lion. When he shouted, the voices of the seven
thunders spoke. (emphasis added)
The small scroll signifies that the work of the
large scroll is complete and now the small scroll is opened.
Events Completed by Large Scroll
-
Daniel’s 70th Week is completed (Dan 9:24)
-
Israel’s transgression will be completed
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Israel’s sin will be ended
-
Israel’s iniquity will be atoned for
-
The Times of the Gentiles will be fulfilled (Luke
21:24)
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The Fullness of the Gentiles will have come in (Rom
11:25)
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The first woe is completed (Rev. 9:12)
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The 6th Trumpet Judgment is finished (Rev. 11:13-19)
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The 3½ year ministry of the two witnesses will be
done (Rev 11:7)
Rev 10:4 (NIV) And when the seven thunders
spoke, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven say,
"Seal up what the seven thunders have said and do not write it
down." {5} Then the angel I had seen standing on the sea and
on the land raised his right hand to heaven. {6} And he swore
by him who lives for ever and ever, who created the heavens and all
that is in them, the earth and all that is in it, and the sea and
all that is in it, and said, "There will be no more delay!
{7} But in the days when the seventh angel is about to
sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished,
just as he announced to his servants the prophets." {8} Then
the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me once more: "Go,
take the scroll that lies open in the hand of the angel who is
standing on the sea and on the land." {9} So I went to the
angel and asked him to give me the little scroll. He said to me,
"Take it and eat it. It will turn your stomach sour,
but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey."
{10} I took the little scroll from the angel's hand and ate it.
It tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I
had eaten it, my stomach turned sour. (emphasis
added)
Sweet:
Sour:
Rev 10:11 - 11:2 (NIV) Then I was
told, "You must prophesy again about many peoples,
nations, languages and kings." {11:1} I was given a reed like
a measuring rod and was told, "Go and measure the temple of God and
the altar, and count the worshipers there. {2} But exclude
the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the
Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months.
{3} And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will
prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth… {5}
If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and
devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them
must die. {6} These men have power to shut up the sky so that
it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have
power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with
every kind of plague as often as they want. {7} Now
when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up
from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them.
(emphasis added)
As the large scroll completes, the ministry of the
two witnesses comes to a close and the 30 day reclamation period
begins...
Rev 11:11-14 (NIV) But after the three and a
half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on
their feet, and terror struck those who saw them. {12} Then
they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here."
And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked
on. {13} At that very hour there was a severe earthquake and
a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in
the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to
the God of heaven. {14} The second woe has passed; the
third woe is coming soon. (emphasis added)
Events Initiated by the Small
Scroll
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The 30 day Reclamation period begins (Dan 12:11)
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Everlasting righteousness will be brought in to
Israel (Dan 9:24)
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Seal up vision and prophecy (Dan 9:24)
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Death and resurrection of two witnesses (Rev
11:7,11-12)
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The second woe is completed (Rev 11:14)
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The seventh trumpet is sounded (Rev 11:15)
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Almighty God begins His reign over earth (Rev 11:17)
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The last of God’s wrath begins (Rev 11:18, 15:1)
 The
Seventh Trumpet
Rev 11:15 (NIV) The seventh
angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven,
which said: "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our
Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever.“
(emphasis added)
Rev 15:1 (NIV) I saw in heaven another great
and marvelous sign: seven angels with the seven last plagues--last,
because with them God's wrath is completed. (emphasis
added)
The Final Wrath
Rev 15:7-8 (NIV) Then one of the four living
creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls filled
with the wrath of God, who lives for ever and ever. {8}
And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from
his power, and no one could enter the temple until the seven plagues
of the seven angels were completed. (emphasis added)
Now the final wrath of God will be poured out upon
those dwelling on the earth. It is symbolized by seven golden bowls
that will be poured out upon mankind. We have stated that these
judgments will happen quickly, possibly in as little as 25 days.
The First Bowl
Rev 16:1-2 (NIV) Then I heard a loud voice
from the temple saying to the seven angels, "Go, pour out the seven
bowls of God's wrath on the earth." {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. (emphasis added)
The Second Bowl
Rev 16:3 (NIV) The second angel
poured out his bowl on the sea, and it turned into blood
like that of a dead man, and every living thing in the sea
died. (emphasis added)
It is important to note that whereas the trumpets
affected 1/3 of the seas, waters, earth, etc. The bowls now affect
everything.
The Third Bowl
Rev 16:4-7 (NIV) The third angel
poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and
they became blood. {5} Then I heard the angel in
charge of the waters say: "You are just in these judgments, you who
are and who were, the Holy One, because you have so judged; {6}
for they have shed the blood of your saints and prophets,
and you have given them blood to drink as they deserve." {7}
And I heard the altar respond: "Yes, Lord God Almighty, true and
just are your judgments." (emphasis added)
 The
Fourth Bowl
Rev 16:8-9 (NIV) The fourth angel
poured out his bowl on the sun, and the sun was given power to
scorch people with fire. {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. (emphasis
added)
Note that even in the intense throe's of judgment,
people still are hard-hearted and refuse to repent. Even in the
pouring out of His wrath - God's goal is that people may finally
recognize Him and repent of their selfish ways.
 The
Fifth Bowl
Rev 16:10-11 (NIV) 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 {11} and cursed the God of heaven
because of their pains and their sores,
but they refused to repent of what they had done. (emphasis added)
The description of the "pain and sores" refers back
to the first bowl judgment, which shows the rapid progression of
these judgments.
 The
Sixth Bowl
Rev 16:12-16 (NIV) The sixth angel
poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was
dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the East.
{13} Then I saw three evil spirits that looked like frogs;
they came out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the
beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet. {14} They
are spirits of demons performing miraculous signs, and they go
out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them for the battle
on the great day of God Almighty. {15} "Behold, I
come like a thief! Blessed is he who stays awake and keeps his
clothes with him, so that he may not go naked and be shamefully
exposed." {16} Then they gathered the kings together to
the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon. (emphasis
added)
 The
Seventh Bowl
Rev 16:17-21 (NIV) The seventh angel
poured out his bowl into the air, and out of the temple came a loud
voice from the throne, saying, "It is done!" {18} Then
there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder and a
severe earthquake. No earthquake like it has ever occurred
since man has been on earth, so tremendous was the quake.
{19} The great city split into three parts, and the
cities of the nations collapsed. God remembered Babylon the
Great and gave her the cup filled with the wine of the fury of his
wrath. {20} Every island fled away and the mountains
could not be found. {21} From the sky huge
hailstones of about a hundred pounds each fell upon men. And
they cursed God on account of the plague of hail, because the plague
was so terrible. (emphasis added)
The Bowl Judgments
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They happen quickly possibly in as little as 25
days
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The trumpet judgments affect 1/3 of mankind
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The bowl judgments affect all mankind
Armageddon
Rev 19:17-21 (NIV) And I saw an angel
standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds
flying in midair, "Come, gather together for the great supper of
God, {18} so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals,
and mighty men, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all
people, free and slave, small and great." {19} Then I
saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered
together to make war against the rider on the horse and his army.
{20} But the beast was captured, and with him the false
prophet who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf. With
these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the
beast and worshiped his image. The two of them were thrown
alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. {21} The
rest of them were killed with the sword that came out of the mouth
of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on
their flesh. (emphasis added)
The 45 Day Restoration Period
The Millennial Reign of Christ!
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