The Trumpets Sound, Revelation Lesson 3

Anyone who has been praying will attest to a time where they have wondered if their prayers really mattered. When will true justice and goodness be restored? It seems the more we pray, the worse things become. Sometimes we feel our prayers bouncing off the walls and ceiling, and often, we wonder if they'd even gotten airborne in the first place!


Revelation Chapter 8 gave the persecuted churches (and us!) some perspective.


Observation


This is the chapter that opens up the cycle of the trumpets. Please remember that the 7 trumpets is the same story as the 7 seals, told from a different perspective. Seven in all, the trumpets talk about the judgement befalling the earth. After the 7th Seal was opened, there was silence in heaven for about half and hour (symbolism for "a short time"). Then another angel appeared with a golden censer and stood at the altar. There was incense and prayers on the golden altar before the Throne of God. The incense, prayers and fire from God were thrown down on earth, resulting in thunders, lightning, etc.


Food for thought


The prayers of saints play a very important role in the judgement of God. What is the real masterpower behind our world, what are the deeper secrets of our destinies? The prayers of the saints and the fire of God. More powerful than any dark forces and mighty powers in the world, is the power of prayer set ablaze by the fire of God and cast upon the earth. (Torrance)


Chapters 8-11
Further Observation

Trumpet 1 - 1/3 of earth burnt up
Trumpet 2 - 1/3 of sea became blood
Trumpet 3 - 1/3 of of water became bitter wormwood
Trumpet 4 - 1/3 of light darkened

Trumpet 5 - Locusts torture men without God's seal
Trumpet 6 - 1/3 mankind killed by plagues; people don't repent

Interlude - witnessing church is persecuted and vindicated

Trumpet 7 - Mystery fulfilled, Kingdom come



We see that Trumpets 1-4 mirror the plagues of Egypt (Ex 7), which grew in intensity after each time Pharoah refused to relent to God. When Trumpet 5 sounded, the judgement grew more serious. From natural calamities, it has grown to spiritual oppression. Locusts (noted as demons here by some scholars) were released to torture those "who do not have the seal of God in their foreheads" (v 4). They were only allowed to torture humans for a symbolic "5 months" though, which is the length of the locusts' lifespan. During Trumpet 6, a third of mankind (not the majority, but a significant number) was killed. Despite this, the others still would not repent and turn to God.

The interlude talks about The Two Witnesses (the church by some scholars) who were witnessing and facing great persecution at this point. Many miracles were displayed and the Two Witnesses even got silenced and killed, before they were resurrected and went up to heaven in full view of their enemies. The people were terrified and gave glory to God

At the 7th Trumpet, we are back in heaven. The mystery of God is fulfilled (10:7) and God's Kingdom has come.


Food for thought!



Well, there is just too much in this cycle! Basically it is a landscape of judgements, beginning from the the "mildest" to the most severe, culminating in the arrival of the Kingdom. This is told from the perspective of the inhabitants of the earth. If you notice carefully, Chapter 11:9 has actually finished the entire story of Revelation, although not its details (which will be explored in subsequent chapters).

I want to bring your attention to a particular reference "but in the days when the seventh angel blows his trumpet, the mystery of God will be fulfilled, as He announced to his servants and prophets." (10:7). Compare this "mystery" with Ephesians Chapter 3 - the Gentiles sharing the promise of Christ through the gospel.

Question:
Is the mystery fulfilled? Or is it awaiting a future fulfillment?


One comment that popped up was "I am sure God will protect those whom He has sealed (9:4) from the oppression of the locusts". Well, if the New Testament is anything to go by, God will surely protect His own in and not necessarily from the days of evil. If He has purposed that we live in such times, so must we. And so we must be found faithful to the end, no matter what kind of evil may / have already arrived. Was this not how the apostles and saints of old endured and overcame? Was this not how our Lord and Master triumphed? Let us then, not be afraid of pain, suffering and the hardship that comes when we remain faithful and obedient to Christ.




Recommended Reading: The Heavenly Man, story of Brother Yun, co-written by Paul Hattaway





..........

The Cycle Begins - Revelation Lesson 2, Part 2

If you have ever been involved in a single camera film shoot, you won't be surprised when the actors repeat one scene over and over again. The first time round, the camera may be picking up just wideshots, the second time it is close ups of the actors' expressions; the 3rd time the director may be taking pickup shots. In short, every detail in the location has to be taped on camera, even if it did not seem significant then. This is to make sure that when the footages are edited, it has all the finesse of a polished piece of filmaking with all the nuances and different angles making up the same story.




Reading Revelation is the same. First we must wade through the text itself. In chapters 6 - 7, the actual drama unfolds. Three times throughout Revelation, visions are carefully structured in sets of seven (chapters 6-7, 8-11, 15-16). Just imagine that the camera is in one position in chapters 6-7, and it has taped one story, ie one cycle has completed. Then imagine that the camera shifts position in chapters 8-11, so that it will get a different angle of the same reality from another perspective. Same goes for chapters 15-16.

Clearer?

No? Do not worry. It is actually very simple. We read chapters 6-11 in cycles.

Cycle 1 - Chapters 4:1 - 8:1
Cycle 2 - Chapters 8:2 - 11:18

Each cycle tells the same story, but from a different perspective or angle. The rest of the structure in Revelation will follow this pattern of cycles. Note that this structure is help observe the text structure, not interpret it!

Good.

Chapter 6
Observations
This passage is famously known as the Four Apocalyptic Horsemen.

Horseman 1: White, rides out to conquer. he seems to be like Jesus. Widely held views think this is the AntiChrist, or a spirit of conquest or delusion (false prophets and doctrine). His bow indicates he is a warrior, his crown indicates he is a ruler.

Horseman 2: Red, rides out with war and violence. Men slaughtering each other, peace taken away from the earth

Horseman 3: Black, rides out with economic adversity. Note that prices of staples (wheat, barley) has become extremely high, famine.

Horseman 4: Pale, riding out with death. Violence, hunger, pestilence and killings by wild animals.




Question: Do you think the horsemen appears chronologically, one after another? Or?


The 4 horsemen were represented by 4 seals. In the 5th seal, we see martyrs crying out to God asking for revenge. God gave them white robes and told them to relax while waiting for their complete number to fill up. There will be more martyrs coming soon.

Food for thought: Martyrs absorb the tension of the colliding worlds between that of Christ and non-Christ's. The church is caught in the crunch of this collision. Her role is to absorb this suffering, so that others may have a shot a redemption too.



When the sixth seal was opened, it describes the Day of the Lord. A cosmic meltdown as God takes His hands off creation. As God holds the universe together in His hands, it is unimaginable when He takes it off! This will not just be climate calamities, tornados, tsunami and earthquakes... this will be nothing creation has ever witnessed... nature melting away. People will run helter skelter to the caves hoping the rocks will fall on them, rather than face the wrath of God. Who is able to stand???


Chapter 7
Observations
Good news! God tells us who will be able to stand on that terrible Day (or time). Four angels holding back the full wrath of God, with instructions not to damage anything until the servants of God had been marked! Note the 12 tribes of marked people here are not the original 12 sons of Israel.

Question: Do you think the 12 tribes mentioned here signify a "physical Israel"?


Food for thought: Those who had put their trust in Christ will / may be required to go through tribulation, but they are never under the wrath of God. Tribulation (suffering and death) is clearly a part of what the church was enduring and yet to endure. God's wrath, on the other hand, is His judgement poured out upon those who had afflicted God's people. It is very clear from Revelation that God's people will not endure God's wrath when it is poured out on their enemies, but equally clear that they will indeed suffer at the hands of their enemies. This distinction is in keeping with the New Testament spirit.




Chapter 8
Observation
If you had watched "Pirates of the Carribean 3" or "Ironman" recently, you will find out there is a scene at the end of the credit roll. This scene sets the stage for the sequel that is coming soon.

Chapter 8 is that extra scene at the end of the story. It sets the stage for the next cycle - the 7 Trumpets. It is like a "table of contents" at the beginning of a book that pre-emps the reader what to expect before he proceeds to read.

More shall be discussed as we enter the cycle of the 7 Trumpets.


........

Revelation Lesson 2, Part 1 - The Cycle Begins

When we come to chapters 4 till 8 of the book, we begin to see a grand landscape of breathtaking visions. It is also a new section in the book which reveals the terrifying events that will occur in the future. This is the main section of the Apocalypse.


Observation
Chapter 4 describes the Throne Room in majestic splendour, where all creation, represented (4:7) by the lion (mightiest of all wild animals), the ox (representing all tame animals), human (mightiest of all creation) and the eagle (mightiest of all birds). Correspond this with Ezekiel 10. They all fall down and cry "Holy, holy holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come."




It must be noted that although the church is told that God reigns in majestic splendour, His Son is depicted as the Lamb that was slain. Jesus triumphed through his obedience and death, so this is how his followers are expected to triumph as well (12:11). The Lion is a Lamb who redeems humankind through His suffering.


Observations
If Chapter 4 describes the atmosphere in the Throne Room, then Chapter 5 brings us to the matter at hand. There is a scroll. On the scroll was 7 seals. This scroll is an authoritative and important document which contains the judgements and redemption as seen in later chapters. In short, the scroll contains God's eternal plan for the universe.

Now, the scroll cannot be read until all its seven seals are opened. Since the scroll contained the judgements and redemption (refer para above), it may also be the scroll that was sealed in Daniel 12:4. And also an allusion to the scroll the Lord handed Ezekiel in Eze 2:9.

And in all creation, no one was found worthy to open the scroll. John wept. Then behold, the Lion and Slaughtered Lamb was identified as the Worthy Scroll-Opener, and a new song was being sung in heaven! The 24 elders and 4 creatures worshipped the Slaughtered Lamb, followed by myriad of myriads of angels, followed by every creature in creation. Progressive worship.




The handing over of the scroll from Father to Son shows that all authority has been given to Jesus. The prayer of the saints (believers) play an important role in the Lamb's opening of the scroll and the ensuing judgement (8:1-6) We shall see in the next chapter the content of the seals.



Food for thought: One comment that popped up was..."If this is what heaven's going to be like, it'll be a very boring place!". I think this sums up what a lot of people believe today, Christians and non-Christians alike. The modern view is that if we are going to wear crowns and long white robes playing harps all day, then we are better off with the attractions on earth, thank you very much. So we are "compelled to" choose the temporal pleasures over eternal joy.

Is this what you are struggling with? Like a good detective, I urge you to continue investigating God's word, because they not only have answers for those questions, but also a grander perspective that will change you.


......

Revelation Lesson 1

WARNING! If the Tribulation and Rapture is your main goal of studying this book, please do not proceed lest you be disappointed. Sorry, those are but minor themes, and you will not get what you are looking for.

Two things are required before we start on this often-misunderstood but utterly majestic book.
1. The Spirit of God to lead in all truth
2. A degree of humility as no one has all the answers

We will quickly go through the basics of Revelation, as these are stuff you can easily pick off the Net. They are:

Location where book was written - Patmos, a tiny island in Greece (map)
Date written - Approx AD95
Author - John the apostle
Purpose of Book - to encourage the saints undergoing persecution to have patient endurance to the end




Group Findings
Our group consists of Allan, Beatrice, Lai Peng and Jeremy. The exercise was to colour code the characters, locations and phrases that Jesus said. This inductive approach will help in our observation of the text.

CHAPTER 1:
Observations
1.Jesus personally appeared to the author, John. He commissioned John to write the letter (the book) to the seven churches in Asia - Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea.

2. John did not recognise Jesus. He last saw Jesus being taken up to heaven approx 60 years before. From history, we can deduce that since then, he had been witnessing for his Lord and encountered persecution. The rest of the apostles were all dead, martyred. John is about 90 years old, and exiled in tiny island Patmos because of the testimony of Jesus. John knew the churches he was writing to, he was sharing in their persecution (1:9).

3. The Jesus who appeared to John was different and unrecognisable. John was terrified and fell as though dead. Jesus appeared in a long white robe with golden sash across chest - garment of a Roman judge.

4. Jesus said "I am the the Beginning and End" twice.

Food for thought: For John, now an old man in his 90s, who has suffered persecution and loss of his friends the other apostles, persecution is nothing new. He has seen Jesus taken up to heaven while in his 30s, then the destruction of the temple of Jerusalem when he was approx 70. Then it was persecution all the way. As long as one was either a Christian or a Jew, persecution was to be expected. Nearing the twilight of his tumultous earthly life, John meets Jesus again after 60 years, and Jesus' words to him were: "I am the First and the Last"

Would I be able to recognise Jesus when He returns? Is He truly the "First and Last" to me?



CHAPTERS 2 & 3
Observations
1. Jesus is in the midst of the churches. He knows their works, strengths and weaknesses. To each church He appears in a different character - suitable for the situation in that particular church, ie, to Pergamum which had compromising doctrine, He appears as the One with a sharp two-edged sword.

2. To each church Jesus had a charge against them, except Smyrna (Persecuted church) and Philadelphia (Missionary church).

3. All the churches had individual promises if they repent. The promises also correspond to the situation the particular church was in...ie, to the spiritually dead church of Sardis, Jesus promised that if they overcome, He will not blot out their name from the book of life (2:5)... etc


Food for thought: Jesus is intimate with the churches, even though they are far from perfect. Group decision agrees that the churches represent congregations of all ages in all time, ie, it is not probable that Jesus meant the first church (Ephesus) to represent the first century / age church, and so on. The pattern of description here is parallel and not progressive.


This concludes the first part of the study, which is quite straightforward and literal in its approach. Next we will go to chapters 4 - 8, with its apocalyptic, cyclical pattern.


Recommended Reading: Revelation:The Triumph of Christ by John Stott

Revelation Introduction Lesson

As promised, here is the outline of an overview of the book of Revelation. Please take note that the purpose of our study is not to pin down a date, time, nor even a chronology of events to interpret the Last Days syndrome. So please, at the risk of courting controversy, I am asking you to please get this notion out of your heads before we even proceed.

Right. Now that we've straightened that out, let's sort out some foundational ideas.

1. Stop approaching Revelation with preconceived ideas. All of us, myself included, have a coloured view of the book whether we like it or not. While most of us will fall into any of the 4 major views of interpreting the book, we will try our best to be as unbiased as we can, as each view has its own strengths and weaknesses. Our approach will be inductive. We shall go through the 4 views, and each student will have to decide at the end of the book study, which view (or if there are others) that he / she intends to take.

2. There are plenty of details and icons from FantasyLand in the book of Revelation. Because they make good fodder for speculation and fire up the imagination, it is easy to get sucked into the details and lose sight of the Big Picture. Don't get mired in the maze. Always pull back and ask yourself... what is the book of Revelation about???

3. The main aim of the study is to get as close as possible to what the text meant to its original reader. That means, my friends, you have to step into the shoes of a persecuted Christian circa AD90 thereabouts.

4. That also means, although the main bulk of our study is from the book of Revelation, we also have to check out the external evidence, ie, historical records to gain a more accurate picture of what exactly went on and why the author made all those bizarre and symbolic references.

In order to navigate through the apocalyptic visions of the book, let us first understand how to read it like its original reader.

Revelation is a very special book because it contains a mix of the different genres of literature found in the Bible. As we all know, the Bible contains 66 books written by different people from different backgrounds and eras, over a time frame of a couple thousand years. What binds it together is that it is authored by the Holy Spirit (2 Tim 3:16). And therefore, if we look closely enough, it will have an underlining recurring theme. However, the Bible contains literature of different genres - historical narratives (Genesis, Exodus, etc), Prophetic (Daniel, Ezekiel), Wisdom (Psalms, Ecclesiastes) and Epistles (Paul's letters), just to name a few. (Think action flicks, romantic sitcoms, fantasy adventure, horror where movies are concerned).

Again, Revelation is very special coz it has narratives, prophetic/ apocalyptic, epistles and wisdom genres all crammed into one book. *Gasp* In order to wade through all that muck (to quote a friend), we will have to understand the different ways each kind of genre is meant to be understood.

I find the most helpful way of understanding Revelation is always zooming out to the Big Picture of the book. Look at an overview of the book... if you get lost / confused (and it will happen), do not despair... tweak the lens of your mind to the widest possible, and look at the entire book's overview again, in order to find your bearings.

Next, we will detect where the different genres of literature are located throughout the book. With this as a structural indicator, we can hopefully avoid the pitfall of getting lost in the descriptions and imagery which border on the weird and kooky. We will also explore the authorship of the book, its purpose and intention. Stay tuned.

Recommended Reading: How to read the Bible for all its worth, by Gordon D.Fee & Douglas Stuart