Revelation A to Z - Part H - Four Trumpets
Environmental destruction

As in school we have learned simple things first and gradually were progressing to more difficult, so it is with spiritual things, particularly with understanding God’s end time plans and purposes. For your own benefit, it is imperative that all “From A to Z - Revelation Made Plain” topics or posts would be read and studied in their chronological order, starting with “Part A” and progressing in alphabetical order. This way, your understanding of Revelation prophecies will progress from simple to more complex. Every week new part will be posted till complete understanding of Revelation is obtained.
This presentation is not affiliated with any church denomination or any Ministries.

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When Israel, in their seventieth week of years (prophesied in Dan.9:24) failed to accept Jesus as their Messiah, Jesus Himself, without Israel’s cooperation accomplished everything alone, and Israel lost the privileged status they had with God. Instead of Israel, God has invited anyone from all the inhabitants of the earth, who would believe and accept Jesus as their Messiah, to become His people. After seventy weeks of years given to Israel ended, God expanded the area of His influence and in 35 A.D. initiated new era which would have global reach - - the time of the Gentiles.
As the prophecies in the Old Testament were primarily concerned with Israel, so now in the New Testament and mainly in the book of Revelation the prophecies concern mainly the Gentiles and have global implication. There are some believers mistakenly assuming that the book of Revelation concerns mainly Israel.
First of all, notice that the book of Revelation is addressed to seven churches in the land of the Gentiles. It is not addressed to seven synagogues. The book is intended for Gentile believers, because it concern them, not only the Jews. This should be kept in mind, when believers try to interpret Revelation chapter seven. Today almost nobody understand who are the true144000 God’s servants selected from the 12 tribes of Israel.
Notice also that the language in many sections of Revelation is encompassing the whole world and not only the Middle East. As the warfare in the Old Testament between God and His enemy involved mainly Israel, so now in the time of the Gentiles, when God has given open invitation to the whole world, the warfare between God and Satan became global as well. For this reason the seven trumpets portray the end time warfare with global implications.


Part H:
Earth's history is filled with wars. So is the time of the end.
Seven trumpets are the most misunderstood and misinterpreted prophecies in Revelation. Because portion of them are shrouded in symbols, and also, because not all of them are written in chronological order as they will be fulfilled, many believers are confused concerning their interpretation. Some sense that this prophecy contains judgments, but have great problem to place them in proper time or sequence. Before we begin with detailed examination, we will briefly overview them.
Basically, three woes are coming on the inhabitants of the earth. They are the last three trumpets (5th; 6th & 7th). They will come in the order they are written and will increase in their intensity.

One very important section which is totally ignored by almost all believers who try to understand them is Rev.8:2-5. Before detailed description of the seven trumpets begin, John gave us brief preview of the events transpiring in the heavenly temple during the activity of these three woes.
In the Part B and C of studies “Revelation A to Z,” we have learned symbolic meaning of the layout of the temple in regard to the time plan of man’s salvation (Portico = time appointed to Israel; Holy Place = time given to the Gentiles; and the Most Holy Place = time appointed to Jesus’ reign). Now when we know when each time period begins and ends, we can figure out when the events described in trumpets begin and end as well. By comparing these events John wrote on the beginning of the trumpets with the symbolic significance of the earthly temple, which is a copy of the heavenly, and its services, we can understand when the events described in seven trumpets will start and when they will end.
Rev.8:2-5: And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets. Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne. The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, went up before God from the angel's hand. Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it on the earth; and there came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake.
When seven trumpets were given to seven angels to sound, the Bible portrays three distinctive events transpiring in heaven - and where else, but again in the most used of God’s symbols - in His temple.

1) Angel with golden censer is ministering at the altar of incense.
2) Censer is filled with fire and hurled on the earth.
3) There came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake

To understand better what these three events signify, and pinpoint when they transpire, it will be the easiest if we look at them in reverse order.

Re 3) There came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake.
Exactly the same events are described on the end of the seven last plagues:
Rev.16:17-18: ..."The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and out of the temple came a loud voice from the throne, saying, 'It is done!' Then there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder and a severe earthquake."
Bible places these events completely on the end. (It is done!) They will transpire after the seven last plagues are poured out. That would mean that these events will happen on the end, after all seven trumpets transpire as well.
Is our conclusion correct? Or are we only guessing?
Rev.11:19 - the end of the seventh trumpet is described as follows:
Rev.11:19: "Then God's temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant. And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a great hailstorm."
We can observe word to word repetition of the same events, with the addition of hailstorm. Now we know with certainty that the third event, described in Rev.8:5, depicts the time period when all seven trumpets have transpired. It happens at the same time when all seven last plagues are poured out as well. From these verses Bible indicates that the events portrayed under the seven trumpets, and the events described under the seven last plagues, will end or conclude at the same time. Here we have obtained another evidence, that the seals, the trumpets and the plagues don’t follow one another successively, but instead transpire in parallel. The trumpets will end at the same time when seven last plagues end. That however does not mean that both will begin at the same time as well.

Re 2) Censer is filled with fire and hurled on the earth.
In symbolic language, destructive judgments, mostly by fire, are sent on this earth. In previous studies, we have learned, that from 1995 we have entered into a transition period, in which, right on the beginning, court sits in heaven. When the verdict is reached, it will begin to be played out (fulfilled) or will be carried out on the earth.
The time period assigned to the Gentiles has already expired. We are living in days, in which we are entering the time period symbolized by the Most Holy place.
In symbolic service, when the High Priest entered once a year in the Most Holy Place, he also had to fill the censer with the fire from the altar before entering behind the curtain to intercede on behalf Israel. Hurling censer filled with fire on the earth signifies then two things:

1) The heavenly court reached the verdict and judgments can be sent on the earth.
2) At some point during these judgments, Jesus’ work as our defense attorney (mediator) in heavenly court ends.

Re 1) Angel with golden censer is ministering at the altar of incense.
This event represents a service of the priest in front of the curtain. Symbolically, angel is still ministering at the altar of incense, located in the Holy Place. Therefore this event is showing, that the trumpets will start to transpire already some time in the time-period which was appointed to the Gentiles.
Imagine, fulfillment of the trumpets is already in progress, possibly for some time now, and we are not even aware of it!
We can conclude: While on the earth are unfolding events portrayed under the seven trumpets, Bible is in symbolic language showing us in Rev.8:2-5, what is going on in heavenly temple. By comparing these events John wrote on the beginning of the trumpets with the symbolic significance of the earthly temple, which is a copy of the heavenly, and its services, we can understand when the events described in seven trumpets will start and when they will end.
In symbolic language Bible is showing us that:

1) The seven trumpets start transpiring already sometime in the time period symbolized by the Holy Place, when angel is still ministering at the altar of incense. Decoded, it means: They started to transpire already sometime in the time period appointed to the Gentiles - prior to 1994 A.D.
2) They stretch over into the time period symbolized by the Most Holy Place, in which God takes His seat in court, and judgments are poured out on the earth. (Censer filled with fire hurled upon the earth). Deciphered: They stretch over the transition period (1995 - 2034 A.D.)
3) Events presented in seven trumpets end at the same time the seven last plagues culminate. That is right on the end, just at Jesus' coming. (earthquake, lightening, rumblings and peals of thunder)
Now, when the Bible gave us preview when they will be transpiring, we can look at each trumpet in detail.

FIRST FOUR TRUMPETS:
Rev.8:7-12: The first angel sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled down upon the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.
The second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a huge mountain, all ablaze, was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned into blood, a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.
The third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water - the name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters turned bitter, and many people died from the waters that had become bitter.
The fourth angel sounded his trumpet, 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 turned dark. A third of the day was without light, and also a third of the night.

If the passage in the Bible makes sense, we should take it as it reads. All four trumpets are easy to understand, only if we don't tamper with them. Judgment is sent on the earth in the form of a destruction. Notice that it is sent on the dry land, on the seas, on drinkable waters, on the sun and on the atmosphere. It is sent on all elements necessary to sustain life. Even so this destruction, portrayed in the first four trumpets, may be caused either by God, by natural forces or by men, symbolically the Bible is showing to us, that these judgments are sent from above - they are falling down on the earth. In another words, they are the verdict reached in heavenly court.

In the first trumpet, we are told that hail, fire and blood (bloodshed) is being hurled (is coming) down upon the earth. Some kind of judgment (disaster, destruction) will burn one part of this earth. Since a third of the surface of the planet will be burned, logically the trees will be burned up with it. The Bible tells us that all green grass will be burned up at the same time as well. Here is described destruction of such a magnitude and so awesome, that even a single nuclear explosion pails in comparison. Book of Joel pictures similar conditions:
Joel 1:18-19: "How the cattle moan! The herds mill about because they have no pasture; even the flocks of sheep are suffering. To you, O Lord, I call, for fire has devoured the open pastures and flames have burned up all the trees of the field."

Rev.8:8-9 (second trumpet), does not tell us that a huge mountain will actually fall into the ocean. It only compares this something to it. Whatever will be thrown into the ocean, will kill third of the living creatures, and the effect will be as if a great mountain was thrown into it. It only makes sense, when in the first trumpet part of the surface of the planet will be destroyed, that this same destruction will affect also part of the oceans. It will be global destruction or disaster affecting an entire third of the planet. All life in the third of the oceans dies and a part of the ships will be destroyed also. When Bible specifies one third, I don’t think it means exactly 33%, rather it represents a portion close to that amount. What or who can cause such a massive destruction?

In the third trumpet the Bible pictures a great star falling (judgments falling from above)on one third of the world's fresh water supplies. When we put the information together with the previous two trumpets, Bible forms an awesome picture. This same destruction or disaster which will ruin third part of the planet (third of the earth, third of the trees, all green grass, third of the ocean and third of the ships in it) will also poison part of the world's fresh water supplies. In appearance, this poisoned water must be looking harmless, since Bible specifies, that many people will die as a result of drinking it. Today we know that use of nuclear weapons causes radiation poisoning and can accomplish precisely what is penned in the third trumpet. Could, let’s say, impact of a large meteor cause similar poisoning of fresh waters also? Are we getting the true picture of the magnitude of a destruction or a disaster, what the first four trumpets are trying to describe to us?

The fourth trumpet is showing us, that this same destruction pictured in the previous three, will so pollute our atmosphere, that only part of the light rays will penetrate it and reach the ground. The sun, the moon and the stars will be hazed by the dust particles and their light will be darkened. Even so the Bible in the fourth trumpet speaks about darkening the sun, the moon and the stars, it is only a result of a drastic pollution of our atmosphere.
Notice, what Joel 2:10 writes:
"Before them the earth shakes, the sky trembles, the sun and moon are darkened, and the stars no longer shine."


Why this singular partial destruction of our environment is described in four trumpets? Why not to describe it in only one? Why use four of them?
As the first four seals described one major event - releasing four winds and what they will accomplish, same way the first four trumpets give us a scope of the destruction these four winds will cause. It is written in four trumpets rather than in one, so we can understand that it is caused by releasing the four winds described in the first four seals.

Detailed explanation why it cannot be caused by anything or anyone else is as follows:
Today’s science and our present understanding is offering us several variants how it could happen:

1) Some natural catastrophe, or explosion of many volcanos simultaneously, causing pollution of the atmosphere and fresh water supplies.
2) Falling of a large meteor on our planet, causing instant destruction, similar to the one that caused extinction of dinosaurs, only on somewhat smaller scale.
3) Mankind waging wars, will use weapons of mass destruction (including nuclear) and will destroy self and the environment - at least partly.

By reading the words, which introduce each of the first four trumpets, even marginally intelligent person must admit, that those words fit very closely to a scenario suggested under point 2.

1st Trumpet) - Hail and fire mixed with blood is hurled down upon the earth.
2nd Trumpet) - Something like a huge mountain, all ablaze is thrown into the sea.
3rd Trumpet) - Great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky.
4th Trumpet) - As a result, darkening of the sun, the moon and the stars follows.

From all this it would seem, that a comet, meteor or an asteroid falling on our planet is the correct interpretation of the first four trumpets. Some interpret it as such. A shallow understanding of Revelation would obviously lead person to this explanation.
However, in the time sequence of the end-time events, this literal falling down of the stars (meteors) and darkening the sun and the moon can be placed only with the events portrayed under the sixth seal - the wrath of God, when seven last plagues are poured out.
Rev.6:12-17: I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as late figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. The sky receded like a scroll, rolling up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.
Large meteor could most certainly destroy to a large degree the earth’s environment. But, all this would have to be fully credited as an act of God. God would become the destroyer of the earth. Mankind would have no part in it. Yet Bible states that the wrath of God is partly attributed to the fact that mankind destroyed the earth.
Rev.11:18: The nations were angry; and your wrath has come. The time has come for judging the dead, and for rewarding your servants the prophets and your saints .... -- and for destroying those who destroy the earth."

Other verses in Revelation are giving us somewhat clearer information and picture, in regard to what, who or how exactly this beginning of the partial destruction of our environment will be accomplished.
Rev.7:1-3: After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth to prevent any wind from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree. Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea: "Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God."
The Bible is clear: It will be the four winds who will, sometime soon, harm the earth, the sea and the trees portrayed in detail in the first two trumpets. Up until now these four winds are held in check by the four angels. When the command is issued to release the four angels, they in turn will release the four winds, which will cause partial destruction. First four seals described these four winds. We understand now, that they are politico - military, economic and religious forces. Also forces of nature- - plagues and animals.

Does the Bible specifies precisely, which one of the four winds will be responsible?
Joel.2:2-6: Like dawn spreading across the mountains a large and mighty army comes, such as never was of old nor ever will be in ages to come. Before them fire devours, behind them a flame blazes. Before them the land is like the garden of Eden, behind them, a desert waste-- nothing escapes them. They have the appearance of horses; they gallop along like cavalry. With a noise like that of chariots they leap over the mountaintops, like a crackling fire consuming stubble, like a mighty army drawn up for battle. At the sight of them, nations are in anguish; every face turns pale.
Even so, on a first glance it may seem that a large meteor or a comet is the cause of the beginning of the destruction portrayed in the first four trumpets, deeper searching of the Scriptures points the initial cause of it clearly on the military armies of the world. It becomes clear that mankind will first partially destroy themselves and their environment by using their own military forces.
Notice that in the end God will be angry with the armies of all nations. Now, when you understand what the armies of the nations will do, you don’t have to wonder why God’s anger will be against them
Isa.34:1-2: Come near, you nations, and listen; pay attention, you peoples! Let the earth hear, and all that is in it, the world, and all that comes out of it! The LORD is angry with all nations; his wrath is upon all their armies. He will totally destroy them, he will give them over to slaughter.
Do you see how everything fits together and start making sense?
Rev.11:18: The nations were angry; and your wrath has come. The time has come for judging the dead, and for rewarding your servants the prophets and your saints .... -- and for destroying those who destroy the earth."

No comet, no asteroid and no meteor. Those things what John saw falling on the earth in the first three trumpets, most likely have been descending missiles falling on earth.
Do not forget: Satan will somehow deceive almost the whole earth into believing that he is the genuine Christ. This partial destruction of the earth and its inhabitants is the major trump card in Satan’s arsenal of deceptions.
First we have Satan’s counterfeit of the end, then we have God’s genuine end. Satan for his deception will use armies of the world. That is why the prophet Zechariah sees the red horses coming out first. Exactly how will Satan accomplish it, is portrayed in the next two trumpets.

Now, when we know who will cause the beginning of it, can we find out also the time, when it will happen?
Rev.7:3: "Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God."
Where does the Bible portray harming the land, the sea and the trees? This harming is shown in the first two trumpets! In other words, the angel is saying in the 3rd verse: Do not let the first two trumpets (where the harming of the land, the sea and the trees is actually done), do not let it come to pass until we seal God's servants.
We have already established, that releasing the four winds is accomplished by releasing four angels, who hold them. These four angels are released by the river Euphrates! Military conflict happening by the river Euphrates, some time after heavenly court convenes and most likely ends its first session, will be the starting point of the judgments causing eventually partial destruction of our planet.( could it be some time after 2001 A.D. ???)

Let's put these events in their proper order. First, the servants of God must be sealed on their foreheads. Then the four angels standing at the four corners of the earth will be released from holding the four winds. As a result, these four winds (portrayed under the first four seals) will be allowed to blow and will harm the land, the sea and the trees. It is important to remember the sequence of these events.

1st) Sealing God’s servants
2nd) Releasing four winds
3rd) Harming the earth

The only place where Bible portrays in more details harming the land, the sea and the trees, is in the first two trumpets. Consequently, they cannot happen until God's people are sealed and the four angels release the four winds.
In conclusion:

The first four trumpets give us detailed description of partial destruction of our environment.

The first four trumpets can be fulfilled only:

After the time period symbolized by the Most Holy Place begins (Rev.4:1) - after 1994 A.D.
After God’s servants are sealed (Rev.7:1-3) - after the time of seeming delay.
After the four angels release the four winds of strife (Rev.7:1-3) - by the river Euphrates (Rev.9:14)

God’s servants are sealed on their foreheads. It is not any mark or some visible identification! They are sealed by the Lord, who settles them into the understanding of God’s end time plans and purposes. They become actively involved with Him, in them. That way, they can be used as His servants and coworkers announcing coming of Christ’s thousand years kingdom and proclaiming warning of impending judgments. In other words, they will prophesy among many nations, peoples, languages and kings. (Rev.10:11)

Your friend in Jesus
HH