Week of February 20, 2022
SERIES: Revelation (Part #2): The New Exodus
TITLE: Week #7 – The Trumpet Judgments
Revelation 8-11
Message Preview:
This weekend Pastor Brian continues our series in the book of Revelation. Below is a preview of the message, “The Trumpet Judgements” from Revelation 8-11.
Introduction:
A. Today, we are going to answer the question, “What does the Text say?”
B. New Exodus: Out of bondage and brokenness through judgement and into promise.
C. The Great Tribulation: 7 years. (3 ½ year division – 1260 days.) D. Chapters 8-11 continue to describe this season.
#1: 6 of 7 Trumpet Judgements (Revelation 8-9)
A. This corresponds with the Exodus. (See chart below)
| The Exodus Plagues and Revelation’s Trumpets | |
| Trumpets in Revelation | Plagues in Exodus |
| 1. Rev.8:7, hail, fire | 7th, Ex.9:23-25, hail, fire |
| 2. Rev.8:8-9, sea of blood, 1/3 of living creatures die | 1st, Ex.7:20-21, Nile to blood, fish died |
| 3. Rev.8:10-11, rivers and springs made bitter | 9th, Ex:7:19, rivers, canals |
| 4. Rev.8:12, 1/3 of the sun, moon, and stars darkened | 9th, Ex.10:21-29, 3 days of darkness |
| 5. Rev.9:1-11, darkness, locusts like scorpions. The locust 9th & 8th, Ex.10:21-29, have a king. The angel of the bottomless pit. Abaddon = the darkness, Ex.10:12-20, destroyer (Satan) – 9:11. locusts | |
| 6. Rev.9:12-19, angels released, mounted troops, fire, smoke, sulfur kill 1/3 of humanity | 10th? Ex.11:1-10; 12:29- 32, death angel? |
| 7. Rev.10:1, angel wrapped in a cloud with legs like pillars of fire | Israel led out of Egypt by the pillar of cloud by day and fire by night |
A. People sealed by God are protected to a degree.
1. Revelation 9:4 ESV “They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any green plant or any tree, but only those people who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.”
B. People will want to die but death eludes them.
1. Revelation 9:6 ESV “And in those days people will seek death and will not find it. They will long to die, but death will flee from them.”
C. Even after all of this, many people do NOT repent.
1. Revelation 9:20-21 ESV ““The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands nor give up worshipping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk, nor did they repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.”
2. This gives us significant insight into the level of depravity of the human soul.
#2: Interlude Before the 7th Trumpet (Revelation 10-11:14)
A. Mighty angel and the little scroll.
1. The mighty angel comes with a message and a scroll for John.
a. Message: Revelation 10:7 ESV “…but that in the days of the trumpet call to be sounded by the 7th angel, the mystery of God would be
fulfilled just as he announced to his servants the prophets.”
b. Scroll: John is to assimilate the message (eat the scroll) and
prophesy. The scroll is described as sweet in his mouth but bitter to his stomach. A glorious message that makes his stomach churn. It’s hard to preach. (Revelation 10:8-10)
B. Two Witnesses
1. These are Jewish witnesses who come on the scene during the Tribulation with ministries that resemble Moses and Elijah’s ministries.
2. Revelation 11:3-6 ESV “And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. And if anyone would harm them, fire pours from their mouth and consumes their foes. If anyone would harm them, this is how he is
doomed to be killed. They have the power to shut the sky, that no rain may fall during the days of their prophesying, and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague, as often as they desire.”
3. The two witnesses:
a. Untouchable for a time. (11:5)
b. Power like Elijah and Moses. (11:6)
c. When they finish their testimony, the beast makes war on them and kills them. (11:7)
d. Their dead bodies are left in the streets of Jerusalem for 3 ½ days. People rejoice. (11:8-10)
e. They are resurrected after 3 ½ days. (11:11) – There is great fear for those who see it.
f. They ascend into heaven in a cloud (11:12)
g. There is a great earthquake. A tenth of city collapses. 7000 people die. The rest were terrified and brought glory to God. (11:13-14)
#3: The 7th Trumpet
A. A celestial announcement!
B. Revelation 11:15 ESV ““The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our LORD and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.”
1. Response is the worship of the 24 elders. (11:16-18)
a. In power you begin your reign. (Always sovereign but reigning in a new way.)
b. Nations raged, you poured out your wrath.
c. You judged the dead.
d. You rewarded your servants, prophets, saints, and those who fear you.
e. You destroyed the destroyers of the earth.
2. Temple in heaven was opened.
a. The Ark of the Covenant is there. (Presence and promise. Mercy seat. Atonement.)
b. Lightening, thunder, earthquake, and heavy hail. (The powerful presence of God.)
C. Hebrews 9:23-24 ESV “Thus it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ has entered not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.”
Response Application
A. Our choice of king and kingdom in this life is a really big deal.
1. You have to ask yourself when you read Revelation: “Which side of this am I on?”
B. People choose allegiances to kings and kingdoms all the time. You can tell what king they follow and what kingdom they call home by the way they walk and talk.
C. Jesus said, “Seek first the kingdom of God.”
D. Two Steps:
1. Step #1: Jesus is Lord!
2. Step #2: Hear and obey.
ICEBREAKER QUESTIONS & DISCUSSION
Begin your discussion by encouraging one another through God Moments from this past week. Use the questions below to prompt your discussion.
1. What are the “God moments” from this past week? How have you seen God at work that is unmistakably Him?
a. How has He been working not just in your life personally, but in the lives of your family (spouse, kids, grandkids)?
2. How did God speak to you through His Word this past week?
a. How are you hearing and obeying?
3. How can we specifically pray for you this week?
Pray as a group – thanking God for how He is at work and asking Him to answer the requests that were mentioned.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: Ask and discuss the following questions.
Q: What is one thing that stood out to you, challenged you, encouraged you, or confused you from today’s passage?
Q: After hearing the sermon and reading the Text, how would you describe the Great Tribulation? Is it important for believers to know and understand this coming time? Why or why not?
Q: How should understanding the Tribulation influence how we live our lives today?
Q: Read Revelation 9:20-21. What insight can we gain from this passage when it comes to the level of depravity of the human soul? Where do we find hope in light of this?
Q: Describe the work, ministry, and events surrounding the “two witnesses” in Revelation 11:1-14. What is significant about these two and their work?
Q: What message is given from Heaven in Revelation 11:15? How is this good news?
Q: Read Revelation 11:18. This verse brings hope for some. Who is judged and who is rewarded as God unleashes His judgement? How can this verse give us hope today?
Q: Why is our choice of king and kingdom such an important thing? How can you tell what king a person follows and what kingdom they call home?
Q: What does your walk and talk reveal about your king and kingdom allegiance?
WRAP-UP
Let’s discuss a few more questions as we end out time and look to living out what God has spoken to us this week.
1. What did you hear?
a. What is your one “take-away” from this week? How did God speak specifically to you through this week’s passage and study?
2. What do you think?
a. How did this passage and study affirm, challenge, or change the way you think about God and the truths shared?
3. What will you do?
a. What is your next step? How will you take the truth of God’s Word and apply it to your life this week?
Pray for any needs that were shared. Pray for the families represented in the group. Pray for the next steps shared by your group this week.
SCRIPTURES FROM THIS WEEK’S MESSAGE:
Revelation 8-11; Revelation 9:4, 6, 20-21; Revelation 10:7, 11-14, 15-19; Hebrews 9:23- 24.
UPCOMING MESSAGES:
▪ Series: Revelation: The New Exodus
— February 20th – Week 8: Rev. 12:1-14:20
— February 27th – Week 9: Revelation 18:1-24
▪ Series: Revelation: Restoration of all Things
— March 6th – Revelation 15:1-16:21
— March 13th – Revelation 17:1-18
— March 20th – Revelation 18:1-24
— March 27th – Revelation 19:11-20:15
— April 3rd – Revelation 21:1-27
— April 10th – Revelation 22:8-21