The Middle of the Tribulation.
The next three trumpets take place from the middle of the tribulation to the end. They are
the 5th, 6th and 7th trumpets. These are so terrible that they are referred to as `woes.`
`And I looked and I heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven,
saying with a loud voice,
“Woe, woe, woe, to the
` One woe is past. Behold, still two more woes are coming after these things.` (Rev. 9: 12)
The 6th trumpet also signals great destruction and woe upon mankind.
`The 6th angel sounded,
and I heard a voice from the horns of the golden altar
which is before God,....`
Christ Delivering the Great Multitude. (Rev. 7: 9 – 17)
God`s hand of mercy is still stretched out even amid His judgments. We are shown that a great multitude turn to God during the great tribulation. They are from every nation, tribe and tongue. So great a number that it says `no one could number.` How wonderful is God`s great mercy!
The Palm branches are symbolic of the Feast of Tabernacles, indicating that they will go upon the earth and be the `na
The 7 Trumpets: God`s Call to Repentance & Judgment.
`Then the angel took the censer;
filled it with fire from the altar, & threw it to earth.....
So the 7 angels who had the 7 trumpets prepared themselves to sound.`
(Rev. 8: 5 & 6)
The tim
Christ the Minister of the Sanctuary.
We are now shown the third vision of the Lord in His High office as Mediator of the Covenant. A mediator not only brings reconciliation between two parties but also applies retribution on the guilty.
This is a solemn time and this is shown by the `silence in heaven.` The Judgment scroll has been opened and revealed what is to come and thus there is a silence before the actual judgments take place.
OVERVIEW
In the next section of the Book of Revelation, from Ch. 8 – 13, God reveals Christ to us as the one who not only executes the judgments but the one who is the great Mediator to God and man. We will study many aspects of His work dealing with many peoples, nations and leaders.
When Christ executes the judgments we see that they will span just short of 7 years tribulation. However at near the midway point this signals what is called, the Great Tribulatio
The Federations being brought to Judgment.
As the Lord removes the seals on the scroll we see the four different confederacies that are vying for world domination. Each are under a `strong delusion,` because they would not receive the truth.
1. British Empire - Conquering.
`Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals,
and I heard one of the four living creatures saying, with a vo
When the final Great Federation comes to power in the Middle of the tribulation it will demand allegiance to it. Many will follow, thinking this is the way to peace, however many others will not obey but turn to God. Some of these will be martyred.
5. Martyrs – Under the Altar.
`When He opened the fifth seal,
I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God
Christ Sealing His Priests in Israel. (Rev. 7)
We have just looked at the overview of the tribulation, but before any judgments begin, the Lord Jesus has some important tasks. He sends four angels to hold back the winds of the earth. This would make for a very eerie stillness, a calm before the storm of judgments.
` After these things I saw 4 angels standing at the four cor
3. The European Union – Market Economy.
`When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say,
“Come and see,” And I looked, and behold, a black horse,
and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand.
And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying,
“A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts
Christ on His Own Throne.
Let us now look closer at the One on this throne -the High Priest and King. The gem stones are given to reveal more understanding to us.
The Gem Stones.
`And he who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius in appearance;...`
(Rev. 4: 3)
The Jasper gem stone was the last on the High Priest`s breastplate. It stood for t
Christ Fulfills the Legal Credentials.
We know that the Father gave Christ the authority to execute the judgments. However to do this Christ needed to fulfil the legal requirements to be ruler over the kings of the earth. Israel was promised that they would be the ruling nation over the other nations of the world.
Thus Christ had to come from Israel and from the ruling house of David. Christ fulfilled these requirements and then prevailed against the enemy. He is worthy t
Christ Opening the Scroll. (Rev. 6)
When Christ takes the scroll, only He is worthy to open and read what is written. This is symbolic of Him receiving the authority over the earth and bringing the judgments that
had been sealed up by God.
` Is this not laid up in store with Me, sealed up....?
Vengeance is Mine, and recompense;`
Worship.
Finally there is a great anthem of praise and worship for what the Lord has done through His ministries, (King, sacrifice, man and deity, represented by the `living creatures.) The Body of Christ prostrate in honour and worship before the Lord.
`Now when He had taken the scroll,
the four living creatures and the 24 Elders fell down before the Lamb,
The Body of Christ will be involved in this restoration of all things for they will be with the Lord on His own throne.
`To him who overcomes,
I will grant to sit with Me on My throne,
(Rev. 3: 21)
The 24 Elders.
These 24 Elders are representative of the wh
Worship.
The `living creatures,` representing the Lord`s work bring honour to His Holy name. They are the four ministries of Christ (King, sacrifice, man and God) that are functioning continually by the Holy Spirit, with all wisdom & knowledge, displaying God`s holiness
`And the four living creatures, each having six wings,
were full of eyes around
Next we are shown the power and authority to bring about these judgments as part of the covenant of the restoration of all things.
The 7 fold Spirit.
`And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne,
Which are the seven spirits of God.`
(Rev. 4: 5)
Immediately we see that the
A Throne Set in Heaven.
Now we know that the Godhead rules over all, and that no one can approach them, as they dwell in unapproachable light. They are Spirit.
`who alone has immortality,
dwelling in unapproachable light,
whom no one has seen or can see,...`
Christ on the Father`s Throne.
When the Lord ascended to glory after His resurrection, He went to the Father`s throne. This is above the created order.
`when he (Christ) had purged our sins,
sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,...`
(Heb. 1: 3)
There He sat at the Father
CHRIST THE HEIR OF ALL THINGS.
Overview.
In the next chapters of Revelation. (5 - 7) we are ushered in to behold the most astounding celebration in all of God`s great kingdom. Christ moves from the Father`s throne to His own throne as the Sovereign King and Heir of all things. He is described and displayed in all perfection of His wondrous person and vocation, exercising His Sovereign authority and His hereditary right.
Previously Lucifer was a King and a Priest in t
Christ Appearing for Israel and the Nations. (Power over the Nations. Rev.2: 26 & 27)
The Lord`s coming for the Body of Christ is as the `Morning Star.` However when He comes to deliver Israel and bring judgment upon the nations He is described as `the Sun of Righteousness.`
`For behold the day is coming, burning like an oven,
and all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble.
Christ`s Holy Priests. (Pillar in God`s Temple. Rev.3: 12)
`He who overcomes,
I will make a pillar in the temple of my God,
and he shall go out no more.`
(Rev. 3: 12)
The Temple was Israel`s storehouse of national treas
Christ`s Kings. (Sit on Christ`s New Throne. Rev.3: 21)
`To him who overcomes,
I will grant to sit with Me on My throne
as I also overcame and sat down with My Father
on His throne.`
(Rev. 3: 21)
These are the overcomer
