Chapters 4 through 7 deal with events during the first 3 1/2 years of the Birth-pains. Chapters 8 and 9 deal with events during the last 3 1/2 years of the Birth-pains. Though there will be physical judgments on the earth, we will also point out the spiritual ramifications of these idioms and phrases also.
v 1…And when he broke the seventh seal (the seventh of each of the three judgments of the seals, trumpets and bowls gives the idea of completion), there was (literally “came to be”) silence (in anticipation, expectation; like in the Temple at the Incense offering, meaning “to wait”-Psa 62.1) in heaven (the Temple on earth was made like the one in heaven) for about half an hour (meaning “a short time”).
v 2…And I saw the seven angels (the definite article “the” means this was a special group and are not named in Scripture) who stand before God; and seven trumpets were given to them (these angels are bringing unification to the world through the coming judgments).
v 3…And another angel (Gabriel is associated with prayer and judgment-Dan 8.16, 9.21-23; Dan 10.10-12; Luke 1.11-20 and stands before the Lord) came and stood at the altar (the golden altar of incense before the veils), holding a golden censer (gold is the metal of purity. The closer to the throne, the purer the metal. The outer courts had bronze, meaning judgment. In the sanctuary you climbed stairs, ascending to God. As you entered there was a silver table to the right. The 12 loaves of bread called the “Bread of the Faces” brought in on the Sabbath were placed there and then taken in to the Shulchan ha Lechem ha Pannim (table of the Bread of the Faces) for seven days. As the old bread was removed, the new bread was placed on the table. As it was taken out it was placed on a golden table opposite the silver table at the entrance. This was for the priests to eat. The reason for this is once the bread had “ascended” onto a golden table and level of purity, it could not “descend” back to the level of silver. This was designed to teach that when one ascends in purity, you must not decrease); and much incense was given to him that he might add it to the prayers of all the saints (the time of incense offering in the Temple, was the designated time for prayer-Luke 1.10) upon the golden altar which was before the throne (the Holy of Holies, or Kodesh Ha Kodeshim).
v 4…And the smoke of the incense with the prayers of the saints, went up before God (there were many miracles in the Temple, and one of them was that the smoke from the incense always went straight up. We are commanded to know the Temple and everything about it in Ezek 43.7-12. That is why the Book of Revelation is misunderstood by many) out of the angel’s hand.v
v 5…And the angel took the censer and he filled it with fire of the altar and threw it to earth (judgment is coming-Luke 12.49) and there followed peals of thunder (controversy) and sounds (voices) and flashes of lightning (illumination) and an earthquake (upheaval).
v 6…And the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound them (people will be crying out to the Lord “How long till you avenge us.” There are many tragedies today and people ask “How could God allow this?” There is a great truth in 2 pet 3.7-10. Man and Satan have been allowed 6000 years in order to establish that God is not “just.” God is not slack in answering these tragedies but judgment is coming at the beginning of the last 1000 year period called the “Lord’s Day” or “Day of the Lord.” People get impatient, but it shows God’s integrity-Luke 12.49; Ecc 8.11).
v 7… And the first sounded, and there came hail (a hard truth) and fire, mixed with blood (life threatening), and they were thrown to the earth; and a third of the earth was burnt up (by war because the false messiah has defeated Russia near the middle of the Birth-pains and he comes to Jerusalem. The Jewish people flee because they have rejected him and the Abomination of Desolation is set up), and a third of the trees (the higher rank of people, princes, nobles, rulers-Isa 2.13) were burnt up (consumed), and all the green grass (vitality of life in common people) was burnt up.
v 8… And the second angel sounded and something like (not literally, but “something like”) a great mountain (kingdom) burning with fire (judgment) was thrown into the sea (the wicked-Isa 57.20); and a third of the sea became blood (life was threatened)
v 9… and a third of the creatures which were in the sea (mankind is like a tossing sea-Isa 57.20) and had life died; and a third of the ships (when Yeshua taught in ships it alluded to congregations) were destroyed (Leviathan, a type of Satan and the false messiah, is said to be connected to “ships” in Psa 104.25-26 and these judgments are directed toward the false teaching coming out of that realm on congregations because the kingdom of God is coming. Psa 107.23-24 alludes to spiritual travel when going “down to the sea in ships”).
v 10…And a third angel sounded and a great star (Satan’s power behind all false teaching-Luke 10.18; Rev 12.8-9; Isa 14.12; Jude 13) fell from heaven burning like a torch (to guide the path, but it was false), and it fell on a third of the rivers (rivers are channels of teaching) and on the springs of waters (teachers);
v 11…and the name of the star was called Wormwood (meaning bitter because the pure water of the Torah and truth is corrupt due to the wicked and idolatry-Deut 29.18; Prov 5.4; Lam 3.19; Amos 5.7 and 6.12); and a third of the waters (the teachers, theologians) became wormwood (bitter teaching contrary to Torah) and many died (spiritually) from the waters (false teachings), because they were made bitter (only the Torah can change these bitter waters-Exo 15.23-25).
v 12…And the fourth angel sounded and a third of the sun (true doctrine of the Messiah) and a third of the moon (the corporate testimony of believers-v 9) and a third of the stars (individual testimony of believers) were smitten (persecuted) so that a third of them might be darkened (their spiritual light and testimony diminished or obscured) and the day might not shine for a third of it and the night in the same way.
v 13…And I looked, and I heard a vulture (Greek “aetou”, a bird of prey) flying in mid-heaven (to be seen by all), saying with a loud voice, “Woe, woe, woe (“woe” means “lamentation” and impending doom awaits you) to those who dwell on the earth, because the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!”
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