TEACHING NOTES Part 12: Seals, Trumpet, Bowls Introduction In this session we are going to attempt cover a very large section of Revelation. For sake of time we will not cover every verse or detail of Rev. 6-16. The goal is to understand how the seals, trumpets, and bowls are related and learn how to read this part of the book correctly. Along the way we will see that many of these events in Revelation have historical connections to the Jewish War in 66-70 AD. Disclaimer: If you have been taught that all the events in Revelation 6-16 are describing events in our future—often called “The Great 7-Year Tribulation”—this session is going to challenge that view. Please remember that a future, 7-year tribulation view is the newest view and did not exist before the 1800s. Also, scholars who have studied Revelation more than any normal Christian are divided of these issues. We should not be dogmatic nor harsh about the view we hold. There has never been absolute agreement on end times in all of church history. Understanding the Seals, Trumpets, Bowls While there are many various interpretations of these sections of Revelation, if we read closely there are many clues in the text that will help us understand. We do not need a complex theological or eschatological system. We just need to read the text closely and compare scripture to scripture to realize what is being described. (see PDF - Table: Comparison of Seals, Trumpets, Bowls) A Few Observations: Revelation tells us the amount of time that these judgments will happen. When we compare the seals/trumpets/bowls by putting them next to each other, we notice that there is overlap. For example: the last seal reveals angels with seven trumpets—meaning the 7th seal begins the 7 trumpets. When we compare the seals/trumpets/bowls by putting them next to each other, we notice that the same events are being described but with increasing intensity. For example: the 6th seal describes people hiding in caves, the 6th trumpet describes numerous human and demonic armies attacking people, and the 6th bowl reiterates the same. Are the seals, trumpets, and bowls the same events? While there are many various interpretations, the text seems to be telling us that the seals, trumpets, and bowls are describing the same events. It seems to say that there is a progression with the bowls being the finalization. Seals = The announcement/introduction/overview of judgments. The seals are like a general overview of what will happen being read from a scroll. Imagine a president on TV announcing that the country is going to war and giving the seven stages of the strategy. Trumpets = The beginning stages of judgments. The trumpets are like a battle trumpet indicating the beginning of war—like when a general yells “Charge!” Bowls = The final stages of judgments. The bowls are describing the actual final events that will end the war once and for all. Timeline: 3 1/2 Years Revelation states several times, and in various ways, that the timeline of the judgments described as “42 months” (Rev. 11:2; 13:5) or “1,260 days” (Rev. 11:3; 12:6) or as “a time, times, and half a time” (Rev. 12:14). All of these descriptions refer to a period of 3.5 years. This also happens to be the exact amount of time between the beginning and end of the Jewish War and the destruction of Jerusalem. 42 Months: When John is told to measure the temple, he is told that the nations (Gentiles) will trample the holy city for 42 months (Rev. 11:1-2). This is exactly what Jesus was describing in Luke 21:20-24 (this is Luke’s account of Matt. 24:15-28). Also, we learn from Rev. 13:5 that the beast is allowed to have authority for 42 months. 1,260 Days: Jesus tells John that He will have two witnesses who will prophesy during this judgment time of 1,260 days (Rev. 11:3). Also, in Rev. 12:6 we find that God’s people (symbolized as a woman) will be protected for 1,260 days. This corresponds to Jesus’ words in Matt. 24:15-28 about the elect being saved. A Time, Times, Half a Time: John is told that the woman (God’s people) will flee to the wilderness and be nourished for a time, times, and half a time (Rev. 12:14). Five Months: In Rev. 9:5, 10 we find a period of five months of torment. The final siege in the Jewish War of AD 70 was exactly five months. Possible Interpretation: Given the similarities between the timeline of the Jewish War and the timeline of judgment in Revelation, it is possible that these are the same events. Perhaps John is seeing the judgment of Jerusalem from a heavenly or visionary perspective. If that is the case, then the events described in the seals, trumpets, and bowls have already occurred in the first century AD. This view also helps to explain why John and Jesus both describe Revelation’s events were to happen soon. *Compare the first four seals with Zech. 1:7-17; 6:1-8. Both include four horsemen with similar colors. In both Zechariah and Revelation, the horsemen are tasked with declaring peace or taking away peace from the land. Also, compare the four horsemen to Ezek. 14:21 “For thus says the Lord God: How much more when I send upon Jerusalem my four disastrous acts of judgment, sword, famine, wild beasts, and pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast!” ​ Revelation 6:1–2 ESV 1 Now I watched when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, “Come!” 2 And I looked, and behold, a white horse! And its rider had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering, and to conquer. The 1st Seal = The white horse will show up again in Rev. 19:11 where its rider is called “Faithful and True” (Jesus) and also came out “conquering and to conquer.” This rider has a crown, which indicates that He is King. This seal indicates that war is coming and that Jesus is ultimately behind it. This carries on the theme stated in Rev. 1:7 “Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.” This rider has a bow, indicating that He is going to pierce those who pierced Him. The 1st Trumpet = Rev. 8:7 Hail, fire, and blood are thrown on the land. As a result, a third of the land, trees, and grass were burned. Josephus records that during the Jewish War the Roman cut down many the trees around Jerusalem to build siegeworks, and they burned most of the surrounding land and villages. The 1st Bowl = Rev. 16:2 Harmful and painful sores come on the people who have the mark of the beast and worship the beast. During the Jewish War the Romans blocked all the gates of Jerusalem causing a severe famine inside the city. This led to starvation and disease, which would eventually cause painful sores. ​ Revelation 6:3–4 ESV 3 When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!” 4 And out came another horse, bright red. Its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that people should slay one another, and he was given a great sword. The 2nd Seal = The rider on the red horse will take peace from the land. Specifically, people will begin to slay one another. This is exactly what happened in the Jewish War. Not only did Rome fight against the Jews, but Jews fought against themselves. There were actually three factions of Jews fighting each other within Jerusalem before Rome ever arrived (compare to Rev. 16:19). The 2nd Trumpet = Rev. 8:8-9 A great mountain is thrown into the sea and a third of the sea becomes filled with blood. Jesus told His disciples, while looking at Jerusalem (which sits on top of a mountain), “Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him.” (Mark 11:23; Matt. 21:21). It seems that this “great mountain” is Jerusalem. John also sees that a third of the ships were destroyed. Josephus records that the shores of the Sea of Galilee were filled with destroyed ships during the Jewish War. The 2nd Bowl = Rev. 16:3 This bowl is poured out on the sea and the sea becomes filled with blood. During the Jewish War so many were killed in the Sea of Galilee and in the Jordan River that Josephus said it was filled blood and dead bodies. ​ Revelation 6:5–6 ESV 5 When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, a black horse! And its rider had a pair of scales in his hand. 6 And I heard what seemed to be a voice in the midst of the four living creatures, saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius, and do not harm the oil and wine!” The 3rd Seal = The rider on the black horse seems to symbolize justice and judgment. The pair of scales could be a symbol of justice/judgment, or a symbol of famine, or likely both. The statement “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius” refers to the rationing of food during famine. The phrase “do not harm the oil and wine” could represent luxury/expensive items, but more likely represents God’s people. Throughout Revelation the angels and evil spirits are occasionally told not to harm those who are sealed for God. The 3rd Trumpet = Rev. 8:10-11 A great star (stars usually represent angels in Revelation) fell from heaven and fell on a third of the rivers and springs making them bitter. The star’s name is Wormwood, which is a bitter plant that grows in that area. Josephus records that there was so much blood in the Jordan River during the Jewish War that it had become bitter and deadly water. The 3rd Bowl = Rev. 16:4-7 Again we’re told that the rivers and springs became blood and that an angel is in charge of them. But here we’re told why this happened— “For they have shed the blood of the saints and prophets” (Rev. 16:6). Shedding the blood of saints and prophets is always attributed to Jerusalem in the New Testament (see Matt. 23:29-36; compare with Rev. 17:6; 18:24). ​ Revelation 6:7–8 ESV 7 When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!” 8 And I looked, and behold, a pale horse! And its rider’s name was Death, and Hades followed him. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by wild beasts of the earth. The 4th Seal = The pale horse’s color is actually pale green—symbolizing disease and death. The rider is called “Death” and Hades is following him. Before the death and resurrection of Christ, all people went to Hades (Sheol in Hebrew) after death. After the cross, believers do not go to Hades but to heaven after death. This passage is connected to Rev. 1:17-18 where Jesus says He has the keys to Death and Hades. This seal tells us that judgment will include war, famine, and pestilence. Also, the Greek word for “wild beasts” here is therion, which is the same word used in Rev. 13 to describe “the beast” that will make war on the saints. The 4th Trumpet = Rev. 8:12-13 Here we’re told that a third of the sun, moon, and stars were struck and darkened. When Jesus is describing the destruction of Jerusalem, He uses similar language of the sun, moon, and stars being darkened (Matt. 24:29). The 4th Bowl = Rev. 16:8-9 This bowl is poured out on the sun, but instead of being darkened in the 4th trumpet, it now shines so bright that it scorches people like fire. This shows a progression where the sun was first darkened but is now burning bright. So, it seems that these judgments increase in intensity over time. ​ Revelation 6:9–11 ESV 9 When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. 10 They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” 11 Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been. The 5th Seal = This presents a major theme in Revelation that will come up again—the prayer/cries of the martyrs. Those who have been killed for their faith in Christ are asking Him how long before their persecutors will be judged. They are told to rest a little longer until the rest of the martyrs are killed. It’s important to realize that in the time between the resurrection of Jesus and the writing of Revelation, Christians were mostly persecuted by the Jewish leaders. It was not until AD 65 that the Roman Emperor Nero began persecuting Christians. Nero’s persecution lasted 42 months, which is exactly what Rev. 13 describes. Note: Between the 4th and 5th trumpets John sees an eagle (symbol of Rome) flying overhead saying, “Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on earth” (Rev. 8:13). If we pay close attention as we continue reading, we notice that these three woes are intended to be followed and counted (see Rev. 9:12; 11:14). This seems to indicate that the attack would have three phrases. The Jewish War began with an initial attack (first woe) by the Roman general Cestius Gallus and the 12th Legion (whose symbol was a thunderbolt), but fled for no reason right before winning. After a long break, Rome returned and began closing off the city to create famine (second woe). The last five months of the war were the most intense and most brutal (third woe). The 5th Trumpet = Rev. 9:1-12 This is one of the most detailed judgments. We’re told that a star falls from heaven to earth (compare to Rev. 12:7-12) and opens the bottomless pit. Out of this abyss comes locusts like horses with human faces, long hair, gold crowns, lion’s teeth, iron breastplates, and tails like scorpions. The angel who leads these is called Apollyon. One of the four Roman Legions who attacked Jerusalem was the 15th Legion whose name was Apollinaris/Apollo and their symbol was a half eagle, half horse with a stinging scorpion tail. Also, if you look at a first century Roman soldier they have a brass helmet with long hair attached, a shield with four wings and stinging tails painted on it, and they are carrying spears. Lastly, the Romans used a weapon that was a large rolling bow that shot flaming spears. This weapon was called the scorpion. The 5th Bowl = Rev. 16:10-11 Here, the kingdom of the beast is plunged into darkness. This does not mean that its kingdom was destroyed, but that it became even more evil. The 5th trumpet tells us that the abyss was opened to let out evil spirits. The beast’s kingdom is actually getting more dark/evil. People gnawed their tongues from starvation, but still refuse to repent. ​ Revelation 6:12–17 ESV 12 When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, 13 and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale. 14 The sky vanished like a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. 15 Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, 16 calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, 17 for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?” The 6th Seal = This seal describes cataclysmic events and warfare. We must remember that we are reading apocalyptic literature, which should not be taken absolutely literal. In the Bible, this kind of language is meant to communicate extreme conditions, but is not meant to be taken literally in every detail. Every time the Old Testament prophets spoke of God’s judgment on Israel, these same terms and phrases were used—but they did not literally happen (see Isa. 13:9-13; Joel 2:31). This passage seems to be based on Isa. 34:4 “All the host of heaven shall rot away, and the skies roll up like a scroll. All their host shall fall, as leaves fall from the vine, like leaves falling from the fig tree.” Note: Between the 5th and 6th trumpet we’re told that the first woe has passed and two more are still to come (Rev. 9:12). The 6th Trumpet = Rev. 9:13-21 A voice from the altar says, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates” (Rev. 9:13-14). The number of troops are “twice ten thousand times ten thousand” but this translation is misleading. The Greek says dismyrias (20,000) myrias (10,000), which would literally read 30,000 troops. In the Jewish War, four complete legions (20,000 soldiers) from the Euphrates joined another 10,000 troops from the south to finish the war in Jerusalem. The 6th Bowl = Rev. 16:12-16 Again the Euphrates river is mentioned. This time the river dries up to provide armies from the east a quicker passage toward Jerusalem. Now the dragon (Satan), the beast (Rome), and the false prophet let out demonic frog-like spirits who assemble the kings of the “whole world” (Grk. oikoumene - empire, not world) together for battle. This battle will take place at Armageddon. In Hebrew, Har Magedon is two words meaning “Mount of Assembly” which in the Bible is always Jerusalem. Many have thought that Armageddon is Mount Megiddo, but there is no mountain in Megiddo. This war and destruction will take place on the mount of assembly (think temple) in Jerusalem. Also, lines from Jesus’ teaching on the Mount of Olives is quoted connecting these events in Revelation to the events Jesus spoke of in Matt. 24. Interlude: Rev. 7 Before the 7th seal is opened there is an interlude where John sees 144,000 Jews from the 12 tribes and another multitude standing in heaven. This will be covered next week. ​ Revelation 8:1–5 ESV 1 When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. 2 Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. 3 And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer, and he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne, 4 and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel. 5 Then the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and threw it on the earth, and there were peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake. The 7th Seal = This final seal begins with silence in heaven for half an hour. John sees seven angels with seven trumpets. Another angel offers incense (the prayers of the saints) at the altar. God is hearing their prayers and answering with judgment. John also hears “rumblings” which is the Greek word phonai meaning loud voices. Note: Before the 7th trumpet there are two interludes: (1) The Angel and Little Scroll (Rev. 10), (2) The Temple and Two Witnesses (Rev. 11:1-13). After this we are told that the second woe has passed (Rev. 11:14). These will be covered in the coming weeks. The 7th Trumpet = Rev. 11:15-19 The 7th seal is connected to the 7th trumpet where John also hears loud voices— Rev 11:15 “Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, 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.’” We also learn that God is about to answer the prayers of the saints (Rev. 11:18). Note: After the 7th trumpet, there are seven interludes: The Woman and the Dragon (Rev. 12:1-6) The War in Heaven/Satan Thrown Down (Rev. 12:7-17) The First Beast: from the sea (Rev. 13:1-10) The Second Beast: from the land (Rev. 13:11-18) The Lamb and the 144,000 (Rev. 14:1-5) The Messages of Three Angels (Rev. 14:6-13) The Harvest of the Land (Rev. 14:14-20) The 7th Bowl = Rev. 16:17-21 The 7th bowl also describes lightning and an earthquake. The city is split into three parts (Jerusalem was split into three opposing factions during the war). And 100lb hailstones are seen, which Josephus also described in detail. During the war, the Romans used catapults to hurl 100lb white stones, usually lit on fire, over the walls of Jerusalem. Once the Romans realized that the Jews could see the stones coming and move out of its path, they covered them in black tar. Conclusion There are numerous connections between the events described in Revelation and the historical record of the Jewish War in 66-70 AD. The timeline of judgment in Revelation (3.5 years) matches the timeline of the Jewish War. The timeline of Roman persecution of Christians (42 months) matches the timeline of the beast’s authority to kill the saints (Rev. 13:5-10). The timeline of the Gentiles trampling the holy city (42 months) matches the timeline of Rome’s attack on Jerusalem (Rev. 11:2). The historical record of the Jewish War mentions many events that match the judgments in Revelation. John tells us ten times in Revelation that these events (at least some of them) were going to happen soon and that the time was near. The Jewish War began within 1-2 years after Revelation was written. Therefore, it seems likely—or at least possible—that Revelation 6-19 is describing the Jewish War and destruction of Jerusalem in 66-70 AD, which was coming soon in John’s future. There are so many connections that it seems unlikely that these events are in our future.