Don't miss the pictures of the zoo days. The Lord willing, Creation Creature Features soon.

Review: See the previous sermon notes on the Web -

Every warning, struggle, temptation, promise, strategy, and victory 
in the Revelation can also play out in your life, your family, and your church!  
The choice is yours ................

The Text ("Blue Letter Bible"):  Revelation 8-9
(Strong's numbers, Hebrew-Greek lexicons, cross references, etc., can be accessed from the above link)

Review: Outline of The Revelation:  Key verses = Rev 1:8 & 19

I.  Character of Christ  for His Father's Glory (Who Was) (Things You've Seen) Chapter 1
What about your character, & your family's character, & that of your church?
Can other people see Jesus' goodness, unselfishness, & humility through each one?
  A.  Introduction (1:1-8) Of Jesus to His servants (1:4 Church)  (see also 6:1 Israel)
  B.  Post-Incarnate, glorified Jesus (1:9-18)

II.  Counsel of Christ for the Church (Who Is)  (Things Which Are)  Chapters 2-3
This counsel also applies to you personally, your family, your local church, & all of "Christianity".
  A.  Command to Prophesy (1:19)
  B.  Seven Churches Counseled (1:20) ESP-TS-PL  (Praise before correction!)
  C.  Ephesus (2:1-7)                Loveless
  D.  Smyrna (2:8-11)               Persecuted
  E.  Pergamos (2:12-17)          Compromising
  F.  Thyatira (2:18-29)             Corrupt
  G.  Sardis (3:1-6)                   Dying
  H.  Philadelphia (3:7-13)         Revived
   I.  Laodicea (3:14-22)           Lukewarm (no praise)

III.  Consequences of Christ for the Church, Israel & the World  Chapters 4-22
         (Who is to come again!) (Things which will happen soon!)
Are you ready for your future?  The judgment seat of Christ?
  A. Church In Heaven

1.  The Rapture  (Jesus Rescues His Bride) up to Heaven (4:1)
2.  The King & His Bride prepare for the future. (4:1-5:14) (see also Ch 19)

  B. Tribulation of Israel (Jacob's) Trouble on Earth (6:1-18:24) (Daniel's 70th Week)

1.  Seals (Seven) of Judgments (Rev 6:1-8:2), includes chapter 7's message of encouragement
                ** Ch. 7 Who Can Stand?  Those God Has Chosen, & Who Choose Him
        2.  Trumpets (Seven) of Judgments (Rev 8-9)
                ** Chs. 10-11  Up close and Personal
            3.  Players (Seven) on the Tribulation Stage (Rev 12-14)
                  * These three chapters are an interlude, zooming in for a personal look at the people.
                        4.  Bowls (Seven) of Judgments (Rev 15-16)
                                5.  Babylon's Final Fall (Rev 17-18)

  C.  Christ's Wedding & War (19:1-21)
  D.  Millennial Kingdom (20:1-6)
  E.  Final Futile Rebellion (20:7-10)
  F.  Great White Throne & Second Death (20:11-15)
  G.  New Heaven & Earth Coming (21-22:15)
  H.  Jesus' Promise & Warning for YOU, your family, & your church (22:16-21)

III. B. 2.  Seven Trumpet Judgments (4 + 2 + 1)

        Wake Up & Smell the Smoke!  Revelation 8-9

From Green Peace to Red-hot Hell
A reversal of creation
(Order to disorder ..... entropy)

Trumpet # 1:  Plants
Trumpet # 2:  Sea  
Trumpet # 3:  Fresh Water
Trumpet # 4:  Light
Trumpet # 5:  Demonic Torment
Trumpet # 6:  Demonic Death
Trumpet # 7:  Seven Bowls

Background & Introduction: 
The Revelation is the most organized book of the Bible - 

-  Core arranged according to a series of sevens (7 seals, 7 trumpets, 7 personalities, 7 bowls).
-  Literally presented as future, chronological reality (every symbol explained in the text).
-  Harmonization of all Bible prophecy only fits a macroliteral viewpoint.
        (Joel 2:30; Nah 2:13; Mat 24; Luk 17; 21; 
-  Egyptian plagues (also literally real) parallel many of the Revelation trials.
-  Disorder increase in frequency and severity (exponential escalation of entropy).
-  Falling Apart:  "It just seems like everything is falling apart around me".
-  Worst trouble earth will ever experience, & could not have yet occurred (Mat 24:21-22).
-  Anti-allegorical:  No symbolic explanation can be given for the detail in these revelations.
-  Law: of Unintended Consequences.  (Like gravity for a man with no wings)
-  Rebellion:  man refuses to submit to God, so God pulls back His protection & provision.
-  Seal consequences resulted from man's social and technological disorder. (1/4 destroyed)
-  Trumpet consequences result from disorder of physical and spiritual creation. (1/3 destroyed)
-  Silence:  Shock!  Grief!  Awe!  The calm before the firestorm!
-  Angels 7:  Angels are often associated with God's judgment, especially with Israel.
-  Trumpets 7:  Trumpets in Scripture announce, warn, & call people to focus on God.
-  Subdivisions:  Trumpets, like the seals, are subdivided as 4 - 2 - 1 (Nature - Demons - Bowls)
-  Uncreation:  Trumpets 1-4 = reversal (disordering) of creation (destroying plants, waters, light).
        (Rom 1:25, from "Green Peace"  to "Red-hot Hell on Earth")
-  Woes 3:  Trumpets #s 5, 6, 7.
-  Scientific:  Amazingly accurate knowledge of facts not known in the first century.
-  Altar of Incense:  Exo 30:3-6; Isa 6:6; Eze 10:2 Closest to the Holy of Holies.
        Critical mass of powerful prayers (James 5:16)
-  Firestorm:  Merciful warning to repent and seek refuge under God's might hand of grace.
-  Hardened hearts are revealed as many people still refuse to submit and seek Jesus Christ.
-  Salvation however eventually comes to a many across the world, & to Israel as a nation.

Trumpet # 1:  Plants - Meteorites
    (¹/₃, global warming!, meteorites, lava blasts, violent updrafts, & storms)  Exo 9:25
    Dr. Henry Morris, Ph.D. (Hydrologist, theologian)  "The masses of water vapor blown skyward might well condense in the intense updrafts as hailstorms. . . . contaminated with dust and gases as to appear blood-red."  (The Revelation Record. Tyndale, 1983, p. 146).

Trumpet # 2:  Sea - Asteroid 
    (¹/₃ of creatures and ships destroyed.  Exo 7:20-21; Zeph 1:3)Silt, lack of oxygen, and tidal waves create massive disorder in this life sustaining reservoir on which every creature depends.  This is the foundation of the food source for entire global ecosystem.  How did John know of the reality of huge asteroids that could hit the earth?  How could he have known that the speed of entry into our atmosphere and the friction would cause such a "mountain" of rock to ignite?  The only explanation is God's direct revelation.

BRITAIN PREPARES TO PROTECT THE WORLD FROM ASTEROIDS
February 25, 2001
UPI reports: "The British government announced Saturday it had drafted special measures as part of an international effort to defend Earth against an asteroid, comet or meteor impact that could wipe out much of life on the planet. The program outlined by Science Minister Lord Sainsbury include stepped-up monitoring of space objects coming anywhere near Earth, preparations for evacuation of areas that might be struck by smaller bits of interplanetary debris, and developing ways to divert larger chunks.  ‘. . . The potential threat of asteroids and other near-earth objects (NEOs) to our planet is an international problem requiring international action,’ Sainsbury said.

Trumpet # 3:  Fresh Water - Comet
    (¹/₃, Luke 21:11; Exo 7:21, 24; "like a torch", a comet will trail a stream of contaminating elements and chemicals, which will rain down fouling the fresh water of the world.  Wormwood is a term often used in Scripture for bitter, poisonous waters  Jer 9:15).

Luke 21:11  "11 "And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven."

Trumpet # 4:  Light - Smoke
    (¹/₃,  Luke 21:25; Mark 13:24; Exo 10:21-22; The comforting source of soothing warmth and vision enabling light will fail become dark, cold, and terrifying.  Then later, Rev. 16:8-9 the sun will shift to other extreme in its death throws of escalating entropy and scorch the earth.  Isa 13:9-10; Ezek 32:7-8).

Luke 21:25-26  "And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven will be shaken.

Warning !!  Three Worse Woes are Coming ...........
 (All Hell Breaks Loose !!)

Angels originally served God in His process of creating order from the "formless & void" heaven and earth.  Now these fallen angels are released from restraint, and they come not to create but to DESTROY.

Trumpet # 5:  Demonic Torment (Mercy allows time to repent)
    Woe One - Only the unsealed are hurt, for 5 months.  Satan is given permission as when he tormented Job, to unleash his demonic hordes from the "pit" - abusos, abyss; Gen 6:1-4; Luke 8:31; 1 Pet 3:18-20; 2 Pet 2:4; Jude 6-7, Tartarus; Rev. 9:2, 11; 11:7; 17:8; 20:1, 3, 10, 13-14 abusos.    But they are not allowed to kill.  These are not real locust, but like locust.  They are apparently a swarm of demons that either look like this, or are taking this form, or possessing genetically engineered creatures just as Satan used the Serpent.  Real locusts have not king, according to Proverbs, but these beings do.  Their King, Abaddon/Apollyon, Destroyer, Anti-Creator.  Not Satan, but perhaps his second in command.  A powerful angelic being, who originally had great authority.  But those who have submitted to the Good Shepherd's protection will not be attacked!

Trumpet # 6:  Demonic Death  ("Time's Up!" - Holiness won't tolerate rebellion forever.)
    Woe Two - ¹/₃ of mankind killed.  "THE" Four Demons are released at the Euphrates, near Eden, near Babylon, near Jerusalem, etc..  These are a special class of fallen angels, indicated by the use of the definite article "THE".  They are demonic princes (Dan 10) who lead over demonic armies, that have been restrained up until this point in His-story.  How many?  200,000,000 soldiers, "I heard the number"!  This could be the number of demons, or the number of human soldiers controlled by the demons.  Never in history has their been an infantry this numerous, until now.  The most recent CIA public report listed the standing army of China (east of the Euphrates) as 200,000,000 soldiers.  The horses could be descriptions of armored vehicles used by human soldiers, or actual horses similar to the one Jesus and his angels will ride at the second coming.
Even in the face of such devastating destruction, many people will not repent of their idolatries, immoralities, and their pharmakon (psychoactive drugs Eph 5:17-18).   As the pain and fear and depression increase, those who insist on self-deification will turn to drugs and alcohol in order to bear the stress.  They will stand in self-deceptive, self-deification, and suffer the unintended consequences of their attitude and actions.  The motto of generation-X today, "No Rules, No Fear".  The spirit of the "lawless one" is already energizing the leaders of tomorrow (2 Thes 2).

Our six year old, son, David during family devotions about idols asked:
"Dad, why do they worship idols if THEY made it, and it can't even move?"
The Answer is:  Willful ignorance (Romans 1).

Trumpet # 7:  Seven Bowls are
    Woe Three - The opening of the seven bowls, the most severe and intense disorder ever to hit the universe.  Creation has begun to come apart at the seams.  During the bowl judgments it will come close to absolute entropy (Mat 24:21-22).  Except for the mercy and grace of God, all flesh would be destroyed.  Yet Christ will come again at the prayerful request of the leaders of Israel (Zech 12), and He, alone, will stop this escalating process of disorder.  He will come to bring LAW & ORDER, for 1,000 years of restoration, demonstrating the power, love, and wisdom of God.   

Remember, every warning, struggle, temptation, promise, strategy, and victory in the Revelation can also play out in your life, your family, and your church!  
The choice is yours ................
What do you need to change?

(The final question to ask God, whenever you study God's Word)
Lord, how am I doing on your conflict meter, for your glory?
Giving Up < < < < Standing Firm > > > > Blowing Up

Remember there are only two modes for a believer:
* Marching forward with the gospel.
* Standing firm when conflict arises!

Return to related articles from "The Bible:  One Bite at a Time" -

Biblical Prophecy:  A Jigsaw Puzzle with Pieces Throughout the Bible
How to Interpret Prophetic Passages: Four Different Views with Important Consequences
Why "Normal" Interpretation is the Key to Prophetic & Apocalyptic Passages
Daniel's 70 Weeks: The Heart of God's Prophetic Puzzle 
      (Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Zechariah, Mat 24, 2 Th 2)
Introduction & Outline of The Revelation
 . . . . . . . 

For further study of prophecy:

Prophecy Today - http://www.gospelcom.net/shofar/pp/htm/report.shtml
Soulcare's Recommended Materials on Prophecy (books, audios, videos, etc.)
http://www.soulcare.org/Resources_Biblical_Authority.htm#Prophecy
Booklet:  The Rapture, by Thomas Ice & Timothy Demy
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1565073924/qid%3D980349983/104-6768955-3395119
John MacArthur, D.D., The Second Coming of Jesus: Signs of Christ's Return & the End of the Age.
     - Book: This text is an excellent overview, placing the puzzle pieces together until the picture is clear.
   *- Audio Set (9 tapes): This tape set is the best I've heard yet. Nothing beats the spoken word for clarity.
J. Vernon McGee, B.D., M.Th., Th.D.,, Thru the Bible Commentary Series, Revelation.  Dr. McGee's commentaries are probably the simplest, most practical, yet thorough and biblical that are available on the Bible.
_______, Reveling Through Revelation.
Chuck Missler, Revelation Commentary in MP3 on CD.  Chuck's commentaries on Daniel, The Revelation, etc., on CD not only contain extensive study notes, but also many hours of audio teaching.
Henry Morris, Ph. D. (Physical Science doctorate), The Revelation Record.  A theologically and scientifically sound commentary on the book of The Revelation.  Dr. Morris explains the amazingly accurate scientific parallels described in the Revelation that were unknown to the culture of the first century.  Only God's direct revelation to John can explain such accuracy.  For example, the "flaming mountain" crashing into the sea during the second trumpet judgment.  How would John have known of even the possibility of massive asteroids that would ignite in our atmosphere as a result of the friction and tremendous speed?
Dwight Pentecost, Ph.D., Things to Come: A Study in Biblical Eschatology. This is a 600 pp encyclopedic reference to all of the major passages, topics, and issues involved.
_________ Thy Kingdom Come:  Tracing God's Kingdom Program & Covenant Promises Throughout History.  1995.
Randall Price, Ph.D. Jerusalem in Prophecy (Th.M. graduate of   Dallas Theological Seminary and holds a Ph.D. in Middle Eastern Studies from the University of  Texas at Austin. He has done graduate study at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and  conducted archeological excavation in Israel with the University of  Texas in conjunction with the   teaching of courses in biblical archaeology and the history and culture of modern Israel.)
Renald Showers, Th.D., Maranatha, Our Lord, Come! A Definitive Study of the Rapture of the Church.  [Dr. Showers, a graduate of Grace Theological Seminary, serves with Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry, as well as the Institute of Biblical Studies.]
John F. Walvoord, Every Prophecy of the Bible.  This reference commentary is over 600 pages long and is an invaluable tool for those studying prophecy regardless of their perspective.  When studying eschatology, nothing is more important that having a comprehensive awareness of all that the Bible says on the subject.  This new work is more than comprehensive.  It is exhaustive.  Dr. Walvoord was on the faculty of Dallas Theological Seminary for 50 years, and is recognized even by those who do not hold to a premillennial perspective as being one of the most knowledgeable scholars in the area of prophecy and eschatology.

Audio Message: "The Rapture: The Great Escape", John Ankerberg
http://www.khouse.org/media/conferences/steeling/stmankerberg98.html
Article:  "The Great Snatch", by Chuck Missler
http://www.khouse.org/articles/prophetic/19950101-35.html
Article:  Byzantine Text Discovery & the Rapture
http://www.khouse.org/articles/biblestudy/19950601-39.html