The Trumpet Judgments

every Saturday morning at 10.30 a.m.,

the emergency weather siren goes off in Kenosha.

It's a big test.

And every Saturday morning at 10.30 a.m.,

I'm usually in my office writing a sermon,

and I hear that siren, and my heart drops.

And then I remember it's 10.30 Saturday morning.

This is just a test.

Well, the purpose of the trumpeting of the emergency weather siren

on Saturdays at 10.30 is to test the emergency warning system.

But when it gets warm out,

it's mid-July, late Friday afternoon,

and we hear that siren blare,

and there are these dark, imposing thunderstorms

rolling in with a fierce wind,

it's not practice anymore.

At that moment, we're being warned.

And when you're warned of an impending danger like that,

you've got to stop what you're doing,

and you make sure you can find some cover.

And if you've got time,

you're going to make sure those around you

stop what they're doing

so that they can find cover with you.

This morning, you're going to be hearing

the blaring of the seven trumpets of judgment

from Revelation chapter 8 and 9 and into 11.

Revelation 8 · chapter mention

And this is no Saturday morning practice.

This is not a practice test this morning.

This morning, you're going to hear

real warning of judgment

blowing in on God's winds.

So this morning, don't ignore the warning calls.

Don't ignore God's mercy

in the face of judgment.

Like I mentioned,

we've got a lot of real estate

to cover this morning,

so I first want to kind of give you

a lay of the land

of where we're going to be going,

so I want to kind of place

some things in your minds.

So what you're going to see

in chapter 8, verses 1 through 6,

is an opening scene.

It's essentially in verse 6,

it's the raising of the trumpets to Blair.

And then in chapter 8, verse 7,

all the way through chapter 9,

you have the six trumpets blasting

one after another.

There's some really interesting details in this.

But when we get to chapter 10,

we've got a break in the action.

The six trumpet sounds,

and then in chapter 10,

in 11, 1 through 14,

we have what's called an interlude

between the sixth trumpet

and the seventh trumpet.

If you remember the sixth

and the seventh seals,

there was an interlude there too.

It's chapter 7 of Revelation.

And it's about the church

in chapter 7,

and chapter 10,

in 11, 1 through 14,

it's about the church too.

It's about what we must be doing

with these sirens going off

in the trumpets.

We're going to come back to that

over the next two weeks.

But what you have in chapter 11,

verses 14 through 19,

is the seventh trumpet.

And what's interesting

about the seventh trumpet

is that you're no longer in earth.

You're in heaven

seeing something going on.

And surprise,

instead of devastation,

you're seeing celebration.

What's up with that?

This morning,

it's possible to hear these trumpets

as some kind of Saturday morning

practice test of a warning system.

It's not a practice test.

These are real warnings

for us all today.

Judgment is coming.

So stop what you're doing.

Stop living a life against God

and find cover in the Lamb.

And if you've already found cover

in the Lamb,

we need to be telling others

about the judgment to come

so that they can find cover

in the Lamb with us.

So let me begin

by pointing you

to this opening scene

in chapter 8, 1 through 6.

It sets up the trumpets.

Chapter 8, verse 1,

the Lamb opens the seventh seal

of the scroll of God's plan

for the fullness of time.

And remember,

up until this point,

heaven has been a loud place.

The Lamb and the one on the throne

have been worshipped

after by many,

24 elders,

four living creatures,

myriads of angels.

Up until this point,

heaven is a loud place.

And then all of a sudden,

we read,

the Lamb opens the seventh seal

and there's a half hour of silence.

It makes you ask the question,

what's the silence about?

Well, look at verse 2.

All of a sudden,

there are seven angels

who are standing before God

and they have been given

seven trumpets.

Now look down at verse 6.

Now those seven angels

who had the seven trumpets

prepare to blow them.

So they're given the trumpets.

Verse 6,

that they raise them

to blow them

and then something happens

in between them

that's very important.

In verses 3 and 4,

we see another angel

coming and standing

in the heavenly,

before the heavenly altar.

It's gold before the throne.

This is in heaven

before God

and he's holding in his hand

a golden censer.

Basically,

that's a ceremonial fire pan

that you burn incense in

in the worship of God

in the heavenly temple.

What's this incense

that we're reading about?

Well, we hear,

what we read in verse 3,

he was given much incense

to offer with the prayers

of all the saints

and in verse 4,

the smoke of the incense

with the prayers

of the saints.

Now flip back

to chapter 5,

verse 8.

And when he had taken

the scroll,

the four living creatures

and the 24 elders

fell down before the lamb,

each holding a harp

and golden bowls

full of incense,

which are the prayers

of the saints.

It's best to understand

that incense

is our prayers

being offered to God.

Your praying

is being pictured

as an offering

to God

here in Revelation chapter 8.

Revelation 8 · chapter mention

It's the prayers

of all the saints.

So here's what we're getting at.

Heaven is silent,

trumpets are given,

still silent

so that God

can hear

the prayers

of his saints.

Not that there was

a distraction before,

it's focus.

God's interested

in the prayers

of his saints.

He hears

all

the saints'

prayers

and he hears them

with pleasure.

The silence

is to hear

his saints.

Those

sealed of God,

chapter 7,

verse 3,

those

whom Jesus

is the

exclusive

center

of their

lives

and Jesus

is becoming

more and more

important.

It's by his blood

that we even have

access into the throne room

to begin with.

The last prayer

we have come across

from God's people

is in Revelation

Revelation 6 · chapter mention

chapter 6

and it comes from

a select group

of the saints,

the martyrs,

the fifth seal.

They're below the altar,

this altar,

and they are

saying to God,

how long,

O Lord,

how long

until you vindicate

and judge

those who dwell

on the earth

for our blood?

The last prayer

we've come across,

God hears all

the prayers

of his saints,

but the last prayer

in the book of Revelation

is a prayer

of vindication.

God,

when will you

show us

justice?

justice?

When will you

do us right?

God hears

all of his saints,

but here,

what is being shown

in particular

is God hearing

the particular prayers

of his suffering

saints

calling out

for justice.

incense?

Verse 4,

they rise up,

these prayers

rise up

with smoke

to God,

incense,

from the censer

in the angel's

right hand.

Verse 5,

after those prayers

are offered,

the censer

is empty

and that angel

takes the same censer

that offered

the prayers

and then

grabs a whole

bunch of

altar fire

in the same

altar

and then

he throws

it down

upon the earth.

Do you see

what's going on?

See what's being

pictured?

Our prayers

offered up,

God responds

by the pouring

out of

holy fire

upon the earth.

It's very

important to notice

that the first

three trumpet

blares

deal with

burning

objects

being

cast

down

onto earth.

It's an

outworking

of this.

So,

verse 5,

the angel

throws

down

the holy

fire

judgment

in response

to the prayers

of the saints.

There is

this

thunder,

rumblings,

flashes of lightning,

earthquake,

this is

theophany,

God is at

work,

and then

in verse 6,

the seven angels

pick up their

seven trumpets

to blow.

That's

setting up

the trumpets.

And now

let's turn

to the

trumpets

themselves.

Before,

let me just

say this.

Remember how

Jesus taught

us to pray,

our Father

who is in

heaven,

hallowed be

your name,

your kingdom

come.

come.

This

puts some

weight on

that.

When we

pray,

your kingdom

come,

we're asking

God,

God,

bring justice

on this

earth

with your

reign.

We're

praying for

Jesus to

come.

These

seven trumpets

are sounded

in response

to the

prayers of

the saints.

it's a

response of

justice.

It's your

opening scene.

Now let's

look at

verses

seven

through

twelve

where we

read of

the first

four trumpets.

What we

have in

the trumpets,

the first

six at least,

they're broken

up,

they're divided.

The first

four,

then the next

two,

and then the

last one,

the seventh.

And there's a

reason for it.

But what we

notice is that

all start

with a

trumpet

player.

So they

have some

commonalities.

The first

four in

particular have

some things

in common

I want to

point out.

In chapter

seven, we

read the

first angel

blew his

trumpet.

And then

verse seven,

then verse

eight, the

second angel

blew his

trumpet.

Verse 10,

the third

angel blew

his trumpet.

Verse 12,

the fourth

angel blew

his trumpet.

When you

hear the

word trumpet,

don't think

Dizzy

Gillespie,

don't think

Wynton

Marsalis,

Louis Armstrong,

Miles Davis

playing their

metal horn.

These aren't

those.

These are

shofars.

These are

ram's horns.

These are

the trumpets

of Israel.

These are

the kinds

of trumpets

that were

handed to

the seven

priests in

Joshua 6

who led

out before

the ark

and they

blared their

trumpets

before

Jericho,

blaring

judgment,

the city

falls,

the people

enter the

promised land.

It gets

played out

the next

four chapters

in Revelation.

What this

trumpet blaring

does is it

announces

judgment

like an

early

warning

weather

siren.

But it's

more than

that.

Each trumpet

blown is

announcing

the lamb

reigns.

Because each

of these

trumpets

are being

blown by

an angel

who's in

the throne

room,

who's been

given a

trumpet

by the

lamb.

He's behind

it all.

So these

trumpets are

announcing

something,

judgment

and the

reign of

the lamb.

and it

also

notice

that these

first four

trumpet

judgments,

they fall

on creation.

In the

first one,

hail

falls on

the land.

The second

one,

it looks

like some

kind of

volcanic

eruption

on the

sea.

And then

what appears

to be a

blazing

meteor in

the third

judgment

falls into

the water.

and then

darkness

comes upon

the sun,

moon,

and the

star in

the fourth

trumpet

judgment.

All creation

will be

affected by

these four

judgments and

it will affect

all of

humanity,

both those

who've been

sealed by

the seal of

the living

God,

chapter 7,

verse 3,

Christians,

as well as

those who

have not been

sealed with

the,

the seal of

the lamb,

but with

the mark

of the

peace.

These are

cataclysmic

events that

will change

life on

earth as

we know

it.

We can't

get around

it.

It's going

to affect

the way

that we

live.

Now,

the first

one is

very

interesting.

It talks

about hail

coming down

and the

earth being

burned up

and a

third,

a third of

the trees

were burned

up.

I don't

know about

you.

I don't

know how

this,

how this

intersects

with global

warming,

but it

should do

at least

this.

It should

give you

at least

a third

option in

explaining why

our world

is warming

up.

Option number

one,

human

pollution.

Option number

two,

just regular

kind of,

kind of

rhythms of

creation.

Option number

three,

maybe this

is God

at work.

Raising

the

temperature,

causing

questions to

be asked.

Why would

God be

willing to

start destroying

his creation?

Here's why.

God is

willing to

destroy his

creation in

order to

rescue sinners

from being

destroyed.

Why?

Why?

Why?

Why?

Why?

Why?

Why?

Why?

Why?

Why?

Why?

So we

see these

judgments

being poured

out on

creation.

And what I

also want to

point out to

you here is

there are

allusions

to the

plagues

in Exodus.

Each of

the four

judgments

here,

and then

we'll see

it more

to come,

are allusions

to the

plagues

in Exodus.

Remember,

Moses,

let my

people go,

and Pharaoh's

like,

whatever.

And then

God starts

pouring out

plagues

on them.

Judgments

leading to

Egypt,

that idolatrous

nation,

their downfall,

in order to

deliver his

people into

the promised

land.

Trumpet

one corresponds,

alludes to

plague seven

of the hail

coming down,

Exodus chapter

nine.

Trumpets

two and

three have

allusions to

plague number

one of

blood,

the Nile

turning to

blood.

Fish

dying,

undrinkable

water.

Trumpet

number

four corresponds

to plague

nine,

darkness

covering the

land,

Exodus

10.

Trumpet

five,

plague

eight,

a plague

of locusts,

wait till you

see those,

and then

trumpet six.

What you're

going to see,

there's no

specific allusion

to one of the

plagues in

Exodus,

just the word

plague gets

explicitly

used there.

So,

why would

plagues

in Exodus

be showing

up in

Revelation

chapters

eight and

nine?

because plagues

in Exodus

were God's

warning to

Egypt,

to Pharaoh

in particular,

to force

his hand to

let his

people go.

There were

judgments

leading to

deliverance.

And all

throughout

Exodus and

these plagues,

there's a

refrain,

that you

may know

that I

am

the Lord.

The gods

of Egypt

cannot deliver

you,

only

I,

the Lord,

can.

So,

these trumpet

judgments

are God's

modern-day

plagues,

like warnings

to idolaters

in response

to his

suffering servants

crying out

for deliverance.

and they're

purposed.

I'm not sure

if you've

noticed this,

but there

is a

repeated

little phrase.

It's

the phrase

a third

that shows

up in all

of these

four judgments.

A third.

It's used

13 times.

And what's

it getting

at is

restraint.

God's

restraining

his judgment

on creation.

The point

is that

it's one

third,

not two

thirds,

or three

thirds.

It's a

fraction

of creation

being

destroyed

and

disrupted,

and it's

for a

reason.

When you

read that

little phrase

a third,

you need

to be

thinking

mercy.

13

times

mercy.

God's

mercy

is

restraining

his

justice

and his

wrath

for this

purpose,

to give

those who

dwell on

the earth

opportunity

to repent,

to stop

their

idolatrous

worship,

to stop

their sinful

ways,

and to

find cover

in the

lamb.

him.

His

mercy

restrains

for the

purpose

to save.

Now,

if you flip

over to

2 Peter

2 Peter 3:9

chapter 3

verse 9,

it's another

section

talking about

the last

days,

God's

coming

judgment,

and verse

9 says,

the Lord

is not

slow to

fulfill

his

promise,

as some

count

slowness,

but is

patient

toward you,

not wishing

that any

should perish,

but all

should reach

repentance.

These are

warning trumpets,

warning sirens

going off

for those

on the

planet who

have yet

to repent.

It's

announcements

of comprehensive

devastations on

only part

of creation.

One third

is mercy.

It's not a

practice warning.

The warning

is real.

So if you're

in the room

right now,

and you're not

a follower

of Jesus,

you've got to

stop what

you're doing,

what you're

living for.

If it's not

Jesus,

you've got to

stop it.

And what you

need to do

is you need

to turn

from that

and turn

to Jesus

and find

cover in

him.

Those are

the four

trumpet

judgments

to start.

And then

in verse

13 of

chapter 8,

we have

a rather

interesting

transition.

We read

this.

Then I

looked and

I heard

an eagle

crying with

a loud

voice as

it flew

directly

overhead.

Woe,

woe,

woe to

those who

dwell on

the earth

at the

blasts of

the other

three trumpets

that the

three angels

are about

to blow.

The last

three trumpets.

This

angel flying

like an eagle,

it's a

reference back

to 4

verse 7,

one of the

living creatures

like an

eagle flying.

He's saying

the last

three trumpets

are way

worse than

the first

four.

Woe.

Woe on

those who

dwell on

the earth

when these

judgments

roll in.

Because these

judgments are

going to be

increasing in

intensity and

narrowing in

focus.

When we

read about

those who

dwell on

the earth,

I mentioned

a couple

weeks ago

in a

sermon that

that's a

technical way

of talking

about non-Christians.

It's not

talking about

all the

inhabitants on

the planet.

It's talking

about those

on the

planet who

are not

living for

Jesus but

for

themselves,

which ends

up being

part of

beastly

worship.

So,

these warnings

are those

who are

persisting in

the rejection

of the

lamb.

This eagle

is saying

woe,

woe,

woe to

them.

So,

let's look at

these three

trumpet blasts,

these warning

woes.

In the

fifth trumpet,

which is

Isaiah 9 · chapter mention

chapter 9,

1 through

12,

9, 1

starts again

with the

blowing of

a trumpet

by an

angel.

And remember,

that is an

announcement of

judgment.

This time,

it's going to be

increasing in

intensity and

narrowing in

focus.

And it's

also declaring,

brings us back

to the throne

room,

the lamb

reigns.

The lamb

reigns.

He's behind

this.

The first

four trumpet

judgments,

they were

natural forces

bringing

devastation to

creation.

The next

two judgments

are supernatural

forces,

demonic

forces,

wreaking

havoc on

the dwellers

of the

earth,

non-Christians.

It's going

to hurt

you to

read this.

9, 1,

we read

about a

star that

is falling

from heaven

to earth.

It's a

reference to

Satan,

the devil.

Jesus in

his ministry

in Luke

10, 18,

he almost

used the

same language.

He has

sent out his

72 disciples

that have

come back,

they've seen

demons obey

them, and

Jesus says

this,

I saw

Satan fall

like lightning

from heaven.

Jesus'

ministry on

earth resulted

in Satan

falling from

heaven.

You'll see in

Revelation 12

that it's

talking about

the dragon

being thrown

down to

earth,

the subjugation

of the devil.

We read here

that he's

given a

key,

key.

And I just

want to

remind you

that we've

already seen

some keys.

It was on

Jesus, the

risen, radiant,

and wonderful

Lord in

Revelation 1.

He's got a

key chain, and

on his key

chain is the

key to death

and Hades.

Well, the

devil is given

a key.

And what that

means is he's

being allowed to

do something.

He's on a

leash.

leash.

Have you ever

seen a

convict who

wears the

ankle bracelet

that tells

officials where

they're at at

any given

time?

Satan, the

serpent, has

an ankle

bracelet.

He doesn't do

anything outside

of God's

purposes.

He's on a

leash.

And here we

see him being

thrown down, and

who throws him

down?

God himself

threw him

down through

the death and

resurrection of

Jesus.

And now he's

given a key,

and that key

turns the lock

on a shaft of

the bottomless

pit, verse 2.

Think of it as a

hell hole.

And those who

are resident in

that hell hole

are angels that

have been

imprisoned, 2

2 Peter 2:4

Peter 2,

verse 4.

And they're not

partying down

there.

They're raging.

So here what we

see happening is

Satan, he's been

thrown down, he's

given permission to

release a demonic

horde from a

hell hole, a

demonic horde that

God put there.

And now God is

allowing their

release, and the

question is, why

would he let them

be released?

Let's keep on

reading.

Verse 2, the

hell holes opened

up, smoke like the

smoke of a great

furnace comes out,

smoke coming out of

the shaft.

And with that smoke

coming out of the

shaft, verse 3,

came locusts on the

earth.

You should be

thinking plague

ate.

But these aren't,

these aren't your

ordinary locusts.

These locusts do

something other than

what normal locusts

do.

What do normal

locusts do?

Swarms of normal

locusts in a plague,

they eat green stuff.

Anything,

everywhere.

These locusts are

told not to eat any

green thing, plant or

any tree.

But here's what

they're to do, verse

4.

Their job, their job is

to torment.

Torment those people

who do not have the

seal of God on their

foreheads.

That word torment is

used in Revelation not

to describe so much of

a physical torment but

a psychological torment

to wreak havoc on the

minds of non-Christians.

So much so, our

non-Christians friends

and family would rather

die than to suffer the

mental anguish these

demons are bringing to

bear on them in this

play.

It's a horrific sight.

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

Whoa to those non-

Christians who are on the

planet when this happens.

These locusts represent a

demonic onslaught from a

hell hole to torment

non-Christians, the

dwellers on the earth.

In verses 7 through 10, we

see a description of these

locusts like demons and it's

kind of grotesque and they're

bent on tormenting.

And you know what the irony of

it all is?

These are demonic.

Released by Satan.

And they're attacking those with

the mark of the beast.

Those who don't have the seal of

the lamb.

It's horrific.

Satan is tormenting his

quote unquote own.

In verse 11, we read that

there is an angel of the

bottomless pit, the king of the

hell hole.

His Hebrew name is Abaddon.

His Greek name is Apollyon.

One means destruction.

The other means destroyer.

You can call him the

exterminator.

He wreaks havoc.

Some think that he's Satan.

But I tend to think that this is

an early introduction to the

beast.

And here's why.

When we get into the bull

judgments.

Where God's wrath is

unrestrained.

In the corresponding bull

judgment.

The fifth bull.

The throne of the beast.

Gets whacked.

Whether it's Satan or the

beast.

It's Apollyon.

He's a destroyer.

I tend to think about him as the

second person of the anti-trinity.

He's the destroyer.

Not the savior.

The first woe is the releasing of a

demonic plague from a hell hole on

non-Christians.

But there's restraint.

There's mercy.

There's mercy.

There's mercy.

There's mercy.

There's mercy.

There's mercy.

There's mercy.

There's mercy.

Even in this.

The lamb wants these unrepentant

ones to stop what they're doing

and find cover in his blood.

They're tormented.

Not killed.

Mercy.

And they're tormented for five

months.

It's a mercy.

It's a mercy.

And there's another kind of a

mercy.

mercy.

The church is still on earth.

This torment is on only those who do not have the seal of God.

Which means that at this time, those with the seal of God are present.

They're there.

Which means this.

Those of us who are here at this time, we're not going to be looking at those people suffering

mental anguish from demons and being saved like, oh, I told you so.

I knew that was coming.

Sorry, buddy.

We're going to be doing things like this.

No, no, no.

You can find shelter in the lamb still.

There's still time.

Come find shelter in the blood of Jesus.

There's mercy present in the first woe, the fifth trumpet.

There's opportunity to repent.

But judgment is increasing in its intensity and narrowing in its focus, which brings us

to the sixth trumpet, the second woe.

This is chapter 9, verses 12 through 21.

Isaiah 9:12–21

Again, we start with the trumpet in verse 13.

And when you hear that trumpet, Blair, you need to be thinking, one, judgment, and two,

the lamb is on his throne reigning.

And in verse 13, we hear a voice from the heavenly altar.

I tend to think it's the lamb's voice.

And this is to remind us that what is happening is in response to his saints' prayers.

And this voice says to the sixth angel who's blowing this trumpet, he says to the angel,

release the four angels bound at the great river Euphrates.

And just make sure you understand, these four angels aren't nice guy angels.

They're not good angels.

There's a reason why they're bound.

It's like those demons who've been in the hell hole.

These two have been bound at the river Euphrates because they're evil.

The reference to the Euphrates, maybe that's making a, well, why is that there?

Well, the Euphrates was classically the eastern border of ancient Israel and Rome at this time.

And the Euphrates formed a natural barrier against military invasion for both Israel and Rome.

And so what we're seeing here is this trumpet is announcing some kind of invasion militarily.

I'm not sure if you noticed this, but in verse 15, if you look,

so the four angels who had been prepared for the hour, the day, the month, and the year

were released to kill a third of mankind.

These angels had been prepared for this day.

This has been a long time coming, which is really interesting because this is also a response

to the saints' prayers.

And so what we have in a little microcosm is this really interesting intersection between

human responsibility in our praying and God's sovereignty in His planning.

Both are true.

Both are true.

But they're invading with a purpose.

The purpose is to kill.

Released with a purpose.

To kill one third of mankind.

Increasing intensity and narrowing of focus.

The first four trumpets, natural forces on creation.

Trumpets five and six, supernatural forces on unrepentant mankind.

And now the question becomes, how are these angels going to wipe out one third of mankind?

And the answer is war.

Sixteen.

The number of mounted troops was twice ten thousand.

We go from a description of these four angels to now all these troops.

Two hundred million is if you do the math, literally.

Massive amounts of troops.

Seventeen through nineteen, we read descriptions of these horde, these riders of horses.

They're corresponding in their colors.

But the focus lands on the horses.

And from their mouth, three plagues.

Plagues come.

Destroying one third of mankind.

There's the word, plague.

Exodus is behind this.

Woe to those one third.

Now I tend to think that this is a demonic force, but it also could be a demonic force mobilizing human armies.

We're just going to let God's word show us what it is as we go along.

But don't miss the irony.

It's a dark irony.

It's demonic forces mobilizing an army that will destroy one third of those who have not repented before the Lamb.

Satan destroying his own.

But again, there is restraint in even the sixth trumpet.

It's not all of mankind.

It is a third of mankind.

Mercy.

The Lamb is showing mercy to the unrepentant.

Woe to those who die.

Woe to those who die.

And may it be a message for everyone else to stop what they're doing and find shelter in the presence of God.

Can you hear the words echoing?

That they may know that I am the Lord.

Here's one of the most tragic things you'll read.

Despite all the mercy.

Despite all the warning trumpets.

Despite all that's going on.

I'm just going to read chapter 9 verses 20 and 21.

The rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues.

Did not repent of the works of their hands.

Nor give up worshiping 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.

Those left after the sixth trumpet stubbornly resist the mercy of the Lamb.

They choose not to stop what they're doing.

They choose not to find cover in the Lamb.

Heartbreaking isn't it?

We get to the end of the seventh trumpet.

And maybe you're starting to ask the question.

Hey what about the church?

What's going on?

Where's the church?

What's up?

What's up?

Well that's answered in the next chapter and a half.

Chapter 10 and the first half of chapter 11.

And in these passages we're shown two pictures that call us to be courageous in our witness to those who are suffering.

And being called to repent.

Like I said we'll come back to that in the next couple weeks.

If you pick up in chapter 11.

If you turn to chapter 11 now.

Verse 14.

The second woe has passed.

Behold the third woe is soon to come.

And with what we've been through already you're thinking woe.

Okay.

What kind of devastation is next?

11.15.

The seventh angel blows the last trumpet.

It's an announcement of judgment right?

The lamb reigns right?

But what happens is surprising.

We don't see a woe.

There's nothing woe-ish about what we read next.

Seemingly.

And there were loud voices in heaven saying the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ.

And he shall reign forever and ever.

All of a sudden we're off the earth and in heaven.

We're being shown something in the future that has present implications.

There's a multitude.

Loud voices in heaven.

I'm guessing it's a multitude who are standing.

I'm guessing it's a multinational multitude.

A multi-ethnic multitude.

A multi-lingual multitude who have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus.

And they're saying the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of the Lord and of his Christ.

It's the surprise.

Instead of devastation, we're seeing celebration.

Celebration in heaven.

And what they're celebrating is that God has removed all his adversaries on earth.

It's like this big giant all clear being sounded.

It's done.

All of his enemies have been put down.

It's a picture of what will happen following Christ's return when he wipes out all of his opposition.

All of God's people are saying yes.

Jesus wins.

Yes.

And that's good news for us.

Jesus wins.

It's good news for us.

To see this picture when it's all done.

And simultaneously, it's woeful news for the unrepentant.

Our celebration of what he will do in fullness is woe to those who are unrepentant because our celebration happens simultaneously to their ultimate destruction.

Do you know how I know that this takes place after the return of Jesus?

It's because five words are missing in verse 17.

Five words are missing.

The church says the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of Christ.

There are 24 elders who sit around the thrones.

They fall on their faces and worship God.

In verse 17, they say,

We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, who is and who was.

For you have taken your great power and begun to reign.

Something missing.

Flip back to chapter 1, verse 8.

I am the Alpha and the Omega, says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come.

The Almighty.

Chapter 4.

Verse 8.

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come.

Five words are missing here.

Who is and who was.

He's already come.

And when he comes, he comes against raging nations against him in his wrath.

And at that time, all the dead will be judged.

Verse 18.

At that time, the rewarding of his servants, both small and great.

At that time, the destruction of the destroyers.

Revelation 20.

Judgment.

Revelation 21.

Reward.

Revelation back to 20.

The destruction of the destroyers, the devil, the beast, the false prophets, even death,

are tossed with a hip check into the lake of fire.

This is great news for us.

Our victory is as good as done in Jesus.

But that in lies the woe for the unrepentant.

Our coming victory is their coming doom.

And it's sure.

This morning we have looked at the seven trumpets.

And I'm trying to tell you, this is not some Saturday morning practice test.

You are really being warned.

By God.

Judgment is coming.

So if you're not a Christian yet.

So if you're not a Christian yet, stop your idolatrous worship in your sinful living.

And find shelter in the blood of the Lamb.

The one who is warning you is welcoming you.

With wrists bearing nail marks.

The wrath to come you can avoid because Jesus bore the wrath already on the cross.

And what you non-Christian, if you're not a follower of Jesus, all you need to do is this.

Jesus, I'm trying to find shelter.

And I'm here and it's you.

Shelter me.

Shelter me.

He will shelter you.

Stop what you're doing and find shelter in the Lamb.

And for those of us who have been sealed with the seal of God.

We've repented of our sin.

We've turned to Christ.

We know we're being sheltered on that day.

We're being given time.

We're being given time.

We're being given time.

To tell others of what is coming so that they too can stop what they're doing.

And with us find shelter in the Lamb.

That's what we're going to look at the next two weeks.

We're going to start with praying.

We're going to start with praying.

Would you bow with me now?

Lord God, if this is all true and we believe it is, this informs the way we live.

It compels us to live for you.

To help those who don't know of the coming judgment.

God, would you give us unprecedented opportunities in this city.

Unprecedented opportunities to make people aware of the trumpets blaring.

So that we, God, can point them to find shelter in you, Lord Jesus.

With us.

God, would you, by your spirit, would you pour out your spirit on our city.

Bringing conviction of sin and judgment to come.

And awakening sinners to the Lamb.

Who was slain and is standing.

We pray this in the name of Jesus.

Amen.

We pray this in the name of Jesus.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.