When the seventh seal is broken, a chain of events begin which continue through the remainder of the tribulation from Revelation 8 through Revelation 19:10.
The seven trumpets are included under the seventh seal and the seven bowls are included under the seventh trumpet. When the seventh seal is broken, a chain of events begin that are culminated in the last 3½ years of the tribulation after the seventh trumpet. These events are consecutive and do not appear to have a delay of time except where mentioned.
Revelation 8:1-2 NKJV When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets.
At the opening of the seventh seal, the book of God’s eternal plan of redemption is open for the Lamb to read.
After the praise and worship of the redeemed from all nations, tribes, peoples and tongues, and the events involved with the first six seals, there is silence in heaven. The seven angels with the seven trumpets are probably the seven archangels that stand before God. While the seven angels prepare to sound their trumpets, another angel comes and stands at the altar. The sounding of the seven trumpets is an announcement of God’s intent to take vengeance on the earth.
Revelation 8:3 NKJV Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.
In Revelation 5:8, the twenty-four elders had golden bowls full of incense which are the prayers of the saints. Now this angel comes with a golden censer and stands before
the altar with much incense and offers it on the golden altar with the prayers of the saints. The prayers of the saints are being added to the cry of the martyrs (6:10), “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?”
Unlike the cry of the martyrs, the offering of the incense with the prayers of the saints brings an immediate response.
Revelation 8:4 NKJV And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand.
As soon as the smoke of the incense reached the throne, God took action and the silence was broken.
Revelation 8:5 NKJV Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And there were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake.
The act of throwing the golden censer with the prayers of all the saints seems to precipitate God’s action. After the opening of the fifth seal, the martyred saints under the altar cried loudly, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” (Revelation 6:10) Now, the hot coals and fire from the altar demonstrate the outpouring of God’s fiery judgments on a wicked world. Just after the opening of the seventh seal and before the sounding of the first trumpet, the martyred (tribulation) saints appeared around the throne of God. Then the wrath of God began to be poured out, (7:9-17).
The silence in heaven is broken with noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake.
These are the same phenomena that happened on Sinai when God came down and revealed Himself to the people of Israel, (Exodus 10:16-19). These same events accompany God’s judgment throughout Biblical history. As soon as the golden censer is thrown to the earth, the seven archangels around the throne prepare to blow their trumpets.
Revelation 8:6 NKJV So the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.
With the sounding of the first trumpet, God begins bringing judgment upon a wicked world.
The First Trumpet
Revelation 8:7 NKJV The first angel sounded: And hail and fire followed, mingled with blood, and they were thrown to the earth. And a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.
Hail and fire mixed with blood are thrown to the earth.
As a result, ⅓ of the grass and trees were burned up.
Some suppose this would be a result of a nuclear accident or global warming. We do not have to suppose what kind of natural events could cause this. In earlier events during the seven seals, mankind and all beast react in war, murder, social and class rioting when peace is taken from the earth. This happens as a direct result of God’s action in heaven.
The Second Trumpet
Revelation 8:8-9 NKJV Then the second angel sounded: And something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood. And a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.
Some say this is a gigantic meteor, others suppose it is the eruption of a huge volcano.
The Bible says, “something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea.”
As a result of this, ⅓ of the sea becomes blood. ⅓ of the creatures of the sea die. ⅓ of the ships are destroyed. It is easy to see that ⅓ of everything living in the seas dies.
The Third Trumpet
Revelation 8:10-11 NKJV Then the third angel sounded: And a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the water, because it was made bitter.
Third trumpet — a star falls or huge asteroid that falls from heaven that is called wormwood.
⅓ of the fresh waters are poisoned when the third trumpet sounds.
Wormwood is a bitter and poisonous plant.
The second and third trumpets bring devastation on ⅓ of the earth’s waters.
The impact of these two judgments not only impacts the water but all living creatures on earth. The plagues upon the waters remind us of the first plague on Egypt in the exodus. Water is connected with life throughout the Bible. When water becomes poisoned, an undesignated amount of humanity suffers and dies.
The Fourth Trumpet
Revelation 8:12 NKJV Then the fourth angel sounded: 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 were darkened. A third of the day did not shine, and likewise the night.
⅓ of the sun, moon and stars will be darkened in day and night.
There are two possible ways to consider these events.
- The light produced from the sun, moon, and stars is diminished by ⅓ of their intensity.
- The duration of the day and night was without light.
Either of these possible interpretations would have a devastating impact on life as we know it on earth.
The last sentence of verse 12 says, “did not shine.” The text sounds like a complete blockage of ⅓ of all heavenly bodies 8 of every 24 hours of every day.
This is much different from a lunar eclipse. Consider the confusion and blackness of darkness when there is no light from the sun, moon or stars for ⅓ of every day. No time sequence or duration is mentioned in any of these judgments except the five months of the plague brought on by the fifth trumpet. It appears that when these trumpet judgments begin, they do not stop until the millennial reign of Christ on earth.
With the judgment of the fourth trumpet, three woes are announced on inhabitants of earth.
Revelation 8:13 NKJV And I looked, and I heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, “Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!”
These three woes refer to the impact of the devastation of the remaining three trumpet judgments.
Several translations say “I heard an eagle crying with a loud voice as it flew directly overhead.” This is not one of the seven angels that blow a trumpet. It appears this is an angel in the form of an eagle that screams, “Woe! Woe! Woe to the inhabitants of earth.”
By the end of the next three trumpets an additional ⅓ of the earth’s population will be destroyed.
The Fifth Trumpet
Demon locusts will be released from the bottomless pit to hurt and torment those on earth.
Revelation 9:1 NKJV Then the fifth angel sounded: And I saw a star fallen from heaven to the earth. To him was given the key to the bottomless pit.
At the sounding of the fifth trumpet, an angel falls from heaven and streaks through the sky like a falling star. He is given the key to the bottomless pit. There is an extreme urgency in the angel’s assignment to go and unlock the bottomless pit and release the evil that is imprisoned there. The unlocking of the bottomless pit increases the flood of demonic powers and evil on the earth. The bottomless pit is mentioned here and also in Revelation 20:1, where Satan will be bound for 1,000 years. The bottomless pit is also the place from which the beast ascends (Revelation 11:7, 17:8).
Revelation 9:2 NKJV And he opened the bottomless pit, and smoke arose out of the pit like the smoke of a great furnace. So the sun and the air were darkened because of the smoke of the pit.
When the bottomless pit is opened, the sun and air will be darkened from smoke from the pit, as from a furnace. This darkening of the sun and air will add to the dismal atmosphere and increases the darkness of the fourth trumpet.
Revelation 9:3 NKJV Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth. And to them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.
These demon locusts are unlike anything that has been seen before on earth. They are evil spirits that have been locked up by God in the bottomless pit. Jude 6 tells of angels who did not keep their proper domain, that God reserved them in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day. These demon locusts are another class of supernatural hosts of evil who will afflict torment on people for five months.
Revelation 9:4 NKJV They were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.
This plague is directed upon all people who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. The 144,000 Jewish remnant who have the seal of God will be protected from these demon locust. Unlike the locusts that were sent in the plagues on Egypt, these demon locusts are supernatural hosts of evil that are released from the pit to torment humanity.
Revelation 9:5-6 NKJV And they were not given authority to kill them, but to torment them for five months. Their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it strikes a man. In those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will desire to die, and death will flee from them.
During these five months, death will flee from man and their torment will have no relief.
Revelation 9:7 NKJV The shape of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle. On their heads were crowns of something like gold, and their faces were like the faces of men.
It appears that these supernatural hosts of evil have some rank or status among the demons from the pit. Each of them have crowns upon their heads.
Revelation 9:8-10 NKJV They had hair like women’s hair, and their teeth were like lions’ teeth. And they had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots with many horses running into battle. They had tails like scorpions, and there were stings in their tails. Their power was to hurt men five months.
Some have suggested that these are helicopter gunships of the Antichrist. Nothing in the prophecy or in their detail suggests this. Everything about their description describes a class of demonic beings that are released from the bottomless pit to torment humanity. It is also noteworthy that they are not given authority to hurt the plant life on earth. They have been locked up in the bottomless pit for this time of judgment.
Revelation 9:11 NKJV And they had as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, but in Greek he has the name Apollyon.
The word Abaddon means “Destruction” and Apollyon means “Destroyer.” These names refer to Satan.
Revelation 9:12 NKJV One woe is past. Behold, still two more woes are coming after these things.
At the conclusion of the five months of the fifth trumpet, an announcement is made that the first woe is past and two more woes are coming, (9:12). The first woe begins with the opening of the seventh seal and involves the events of the first five trumpet judgments. The sixth and seventh trumpets bring the next two woes.
Sixth trumpet
Revelation 9:13 NKJV Then the sixth angel sounded: And I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God,
Throughout the five months of the fifth trumpet, death flees from mankind.
When the sixth trumpet sounds, four angels are released to kill ⅓ of the population with three plagues, 9:13-21.
The sixth trumpet brings the second woe.
Some think the voice from the four horns of the altar is the cry of the martyrs from under the altar, while others think this is the cry of the altar. The voice from the four horns of the golden altar speaks with authority. This is not the voice of an angel, but the Lamb of God. When Jesus received the scroll from the Father’s hand, He was declared worthy to carry out the Father’s judgments.
Revelation 9:14 NKJV saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.”
These are four fallen angels that have authority over a second demonic host. They have specific authority over the region around the river Euphrates.
Revelation 9:15-16 NKJV So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released to kill a third of mankind. Now the number of the army of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them.
This is a testimony of God’s sovereign control of the timing of His eternal plan. These four angels had been prepared for that hour, day, month, and year. When they are released, they lead an army of two-hundred-million. Some have reported that China is able to muster an army of this size. The description of them shows that they are not human but a second horde of demonic hosts. The previous demon locusts tormented humanity for five months.
The three plagues that come as a result of these horsemen brings about the death of ⅓ of the human population.
Revelation 9:17-19 NKJV And thus I saw the horses in the vision: those who sat on them had breastplates of fiery red, hyacinth blue, and sulfur yellow; and the heads of the horses were like the heads of lions; and out of their mouths came fire, smoke, and brimstone. By these three plagues a third of mankind was killed—by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone which came out of their mouths. For their power is in their mouth and in their tails; for their tails are like serpents, having heads; and with them they do harm.
It is important for us to remember that the 144,000 Jews who have the seal of God are exempted from the attack of this demonic army.
Revelation 9:20-21 NKJV But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk. And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.
This is a true tragedy. The judgment that comes as a result of the sixth trumpet does not produce repentance. Even with the destruction brought about by demonic hordes, they did not stop worshipping demons, idols of gold, silver, stone, and wood. They did not repent of their murders, sorceries, sexual immorality, or thefts. Their rebellion against God only leads to greater evil and rebellion.
Between the Sixth and Seventh is an interlude.
A mighty angel, a little book, seven thunders, and two witnesses
Revelation 10:1 NKJV I saw still another mighty angel coming down from heaven, clothed with a cloud. And a rainbow was on his head, his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire.
Although no name is given to this mighty angel, he is supposed by many to be Gabriel or Michael. His description leads many to assume that this is Christ. However, Jesus does not set His foot on the earth again until the end of the tribulation when He returns to set up His earthly kingdom. This angel who comes from the presence of God is similar to the strong angel who declared that the Lamb is worthy to take the scroll and open its seals, (Revelation 5:2).
Revelation 10:2 NKJV He had a little book open in his hand. And he set his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land,
This little book is not the same as the unsealed scroll that is opened in the Lamb’s hand. His stand on the sea and land is a testimony of great worldwide dominion and power. What he is about to release is greater in scope than what has been revealed thus far.
Revelation 10:3-4 NKJV and cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roars. When he cried out, seven thunders uttered their voices. Now when the seven thunders uttered their voices, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered, and do not write them.”
When John heard what was said, a voice from heaven said, “Seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered, and do not write them.” The seven thunder judgments are so terrible that God withholds them until the time they will be revealed on earth.
Revelation 10:5-6 NKJV The angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised up his hand to heaven and swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things that are in it, the earth and the things that are in it, and the sea and the things that are in it, that there should be delay no longer,
This is an announcement that the time of the sounding of the seventh trumpet has come.
Revelation 10:7 NKJV but in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished, as He declared to His servants the prophets.
When the seventh angel sounds his trumpet, these mysterious events will be finished. These are secrets that have been hidden by God until this time. This verse is an anticipation of the ultimate consummation of the end of Satan and his rule of evil.
The next section is a renewal of the commission that John has been given to be a prophet to all people.
Revelation 10:8 NKJV Then the voice which I heard from heaven spoke to me again and said, “Go, take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the earth.”
This is not the scroll that had the seven seals upon it.
Revelation 10:9-11 NKJV So I went to the angel and said to him, “Give me the little book.” And he said to me, “Take and eat it; and it will make your stomach bitter, but it will be as sweet as honey in your mouth.” Then I took the little book out of the angel’s hand and ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth. But when I had eaten it, my stomach became bitter. And he said to me, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings.”
It is sweet to read of God’s judgment over Satan and his kingdom. There is a bitterness over the judgment that must come upon a wicked and unbelieving world. John was also being informed that his prophetic ministry was not finished. He would prophesy again to many peoples, nations, tongues and kings. No doubt this is an extension of his prophetic ministry to include the events of the last half of the tribulation.
The Temple
Revelation 11:1 NKJV Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, “Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there.”
John’s position has shifted from heaven to the earthly city of Jerusalem and the temple.
In the Old Testament measuring communicates the idea of ownership, preservation and protection.
Zechariah, Ezekiel and Habakkuk along with John were instructed to measure Jerusalem or the Temple, (Zechariah 2:1-5:11; Ezekiel 40-42, Habakkuk 3:6; Revelation 11:1-2).
- Solomon’s temple was built about 960 BC and was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar in 586 BC.
- The Persians allowed the Jews and Zerubabel to rebuild the temple.
Herod enlarged that temple and it was still in existence when Jesus entered and ministered there.
Titus and the Romans destroyed that temple in 70 AD.
- The third temple will be rebuilt and Jewish worship will be restored during the first 3 ½ years of the tribulation.
According to Ezekiel 40-48, the temple will be reconstructed and the Jewish people will offer sacrifices there.
There is no designation given as to the exact time when this temple will be built.
- A fourth temple will be built during the millennium, after the seven years of tribulation, (Ezekiel 40-47).
Many erroneously believe the temple mentioned here is the church that is built up a spiritual house on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Jesus Christ the Chief Cornerstone., (Ephesians 2:19-21).
All of the measurements and details of the building refute this idea.
This temple must be built by the middle of the Tribulation.
2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 NKJV Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
The temple will ultimately be desecrated and defiled, (Revelation 13:14-15).
Daniel prophesied that the Antichrist would defile this temple, take away the sacrifices, and place in it the abomination of desolation, (Daniel 9:27, 11:31, 12:11).
Daniel 11:31 NKJV And forces shall be mustered by him, and they shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then they shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation.
Jesus also spoke of an abomination that would be standing in the holy place, (Matthew 24:15-16, 24:21).
Matthew 24:15 NKJV “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.
John was told to not only measure the temple but also those who worship there.
The measuring of the temple and the worshippers indicates ownership, protection, and preservation.
This measuring may also mean God’s ownership of the temple and the worshippers.
Some believe that the measuring of those who worship there will protect them during the last half of the tribulation, but unbelieving Gentiles will be excluded.
Those who worship at the temple exclude the Gentiles that are outside the temple proper.
They are not included in the ones that are measured or protected.
There is no evidence to indicate that any will be protected from the events of the second half of the tribulation except the 144,000 Jews and the two witnesses.
Revelation 11:2 NKJV But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months.
These 42 months finish out the last half of the 7 years of tribulation.
At the end of the tribulation, the Gentile nations will no longer trample the holy city underfoot.
This is a message against the ungodly and wicked who will desecrate the holy city.
The worship of the Antichrist in the temple of God is no doubt being referred to by this prophecy.
The Two Witnesses
Revelation 11:3 NKJV And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.
Although there is much speculation about them, the two witnesses are not identified.
Some speculate since Moses and Elijah appeared at the Mount of transfiguration with Jesus, they are the two witnesses. Others suppose Enoch and Elijah will be the two witnesses because it is appointed unto man once to die, and both of them were taken without experiencing death, (Hebrews 9:27). There is also a reference to Joshua the high priest and Zerubbabel the governor, the two olive trees and lampstands of Zechariah 4:2-14. Whoever they are, they will be empowered to prophesy 3 ½ years or 42 months.
Revelation 11:4 NKJV These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth.
The two witness will be anointed and empowered by the Holy Spirit to do supernatural miracles. The anointing and Holy Spirit power will be unhindered upon them.
Revelation 11:5 NKJV And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner.
God will put such power and anointing upon them that they cannot be harmed during their assigned ministry. Anyone who attempts to harm them will be struck down by the power of their word.
Revelation 11:6-7 NKJV These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire. When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them.
After the assigned 42 months of ministry, the beast from the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them. This is the first mention of the beast who is the Antichrist that is mentioned often later in Revelation, (13:1; 14:9,11; 15:2; 16:2; 17:3,13; 19:20; 20:10).
Revelation 11:8 NKJV And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.
The mention of Sodom and Egypt is a description of the abominations, immorality, idolatry, and wickedness that will be done in Jerusalem at that time.
Revelation 11:9 NKJV Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their dead bodies three-and-a-half days, and not allow their dead bodies to be put into graves.
These are literal 3 ½ days that their bodies will lie on the streets of Jerusalem for the peoples of the world to see.
Revelation 11:10 NKJV And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.
Their deaths will be considered a great victory by the Antichrist, Satan and the wicked people on the earth. Humanity will declare a new holiday and rejoice by sending gifts to one another and have a celebration party.
Revelation 11:11 NKJV Now after the three-and-a-half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them.
The celebration about their deaths will be short lived. God will resurrect their dead bodies while the world is watching and celebrating. Breath and life will enter them, and the world will greatly fear.
Revelation 11:12 NKJV And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them.
While the world is watching, they will ascend to heaven in a cloud in the same way Jesus did, (Acts 1:9).
Revelation 11:13 NKJV In the same hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. In the earthquake seven thousand people were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven.
When the two witnesses are resurrected, an earthquake destroys ⅒ of Jerusalem, and seven thousand people will die. As a result of what happens, many will give glory to God. This does not mean that they became true believers, but simply that they were forced to acknowledge God’s sovereign power.
Revelation 11:14 NKJV The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe is coming quickly.
The second woe covers the events under the sixth trumpet, (9:12 – 11:14). Involved in this time are the events that are introduced in the interludes between the sixth and seventh trumpets: the mighty angel, a little book, seven thunders, and the two witnesses.
The Seventh Trumpet
Revelation 11:15 NKJV Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!”
Loud voices are heard in heaven declaring the dominion of Christ and His reign, (11:15-19).
In conjunction with the sounding of the seventh trumpet come lightnings, noises, thunders, an earthquake and great hail.
These events often accompany key moments in Biblical history, (Exodus 19:18; 1 Kings 19:11-12; Matthew 27:51). All of the events of chapters 12 and 13 happen immediately following the sounding of the seventh trumpet. The seven seals and seven trumpets signal 14 consecutive events which will be fulfilled in the order in which they are given from the beginning to the middle of the tribulation. In addition to these are the 7 thunders that accompany the sounding of the sixth trumpet. The trumpet judgments as well as the wrath of God in the sixth seal are literal judgments. From the sounding of the seventh trumpet until the end of the tribulation is 3 ½ years, (11:1-3; 12:6, 14; 13:5). The first six trumpets must be fulfilled before the sounding of the seventh trumpet. It is important to remember that once the seven seals and seven trumpets start, the impact of them carries through the remainder of the seven years of the tribulation. The seventh trumpet introduces and includes the judgments of the seven vials that are poured out by seven angels.
When the seventh trumpet sounds the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ is introduced.
This is the middle of the 7 year tribulation and the beginning of the last half of the tribulation.
