20161111 Friday, November 11 2016
Revelation 08: The Seals, Trumpets And Vials Of The Messiah's Return

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"Fall on us and hide us from the Face of Him who sits on the Throne and from the Wrath of The Lamb! For the great day of Their wrath has come, and who can stand?"

When the Messiah returned to Heaven in triumph (see The Messiah's Atonement Of Passover At God's Throne), God gave Him a prophetic scroll (see Who Is Worthy To Have The Scroll?) in which was written all that will be done when the LORD (see The LORD God Our Saviour) returns to restore the Paradise that existed when the Earth was created. Unfortunately, the antichrist politics and religions of humanity (see Is Iniquity Liberal Or Conservative? and The Signature Of The Antichrist) are not going to welcome His "Thy Kingdom Come" rule. So, the return will be accomplished with great power and wrath.

The rolled scroll has seven successive sections, each of which will be unsealed as the scroll is opened. The seventh seal is exponentially greater because it is divided into seven trumpets, and then the seventh trumpet is further divided into seven "bowls," or "vials." The return of Jesus Christ will happen during the seventh trumpet.

The first four seals are commonly known as the "four horsemen of the apocalypse."

The First Seal - Religious deception and persecution (Revelation 6:1-2)

The Second Seal - War (Revelation 6:3-4)

The Third Seal - Famine (Revelation 6:5-6)

The Fourth Seal - Pestilence (Revelation 6:7-8)

Then, as Satan's deceived world attempts to fight, terrible persecution will be inflicted upon those who hold true to the Word of God (see Why Does The LORD's Armour Attract The Devil's Fire? and Why Are True Prophets Hated? Why Are False Prophets Loved?).

The Fifth Seal - Tribulation and martyrdom of true Christians (Revelation 6:9-11)

Next, as the Messiah's return draws nearer, those of unrepentant humanity will begin to look up at great signs in the heavens that will cause the most arrogant to seek shelter: "Fall on us and hide us from the Face of Him who sits on the Throne and from the Wrath of The Lamb! For the great day of Their wrath has come, and who can stand?" (Revelation 6:12-17). God's true people will have no fear as their salvation draws near; for them, it will be a deliverance from evil (see The Feast Of Trumpets: The First Christian Salvation Day).

The Sixth Seal - Signs in the heavens (Revelation 6:12-17)

Then, the Seventh Seal, with its seven trumpets, and seven bowls / vials. The last three trumpets are known as the "three woes."

The Seventh Seal (Revelation 8:1-2)

The First Trumpet (Revelation 8:6-7)

The Second Trumpet (Revelation 8:8-9)

The Third Trumpet (Revelation 8:10-11)

The Fourth Trumpet (Revelation 8:12)

The Fifth Trumpet / First Woe (Revelation 9:1-11)

The Sixth Trumpet / Second Woe (Revelation 9:13-21)

The Seventh Trumpet / Third Woe

The First Bowl / Vial (Revelation 16:2)

The Second Bowl / Vial (Revelation 16:3)

The Third Bowl / Vial (Revelation 16:4-7)

The Fourth Bowl / Vial (Revelation 16:8-9)

The Fifth Bowl / Vial (Revelation 16:10-11)

The Sixth Bowl / Vial (Revelation 16:12-16)

The Seventh Bowl / Vial (Revelation 16:17-21)

So it is that we can now follow the course of the seals, trumpets and vials as we read through the Holy Scriptures.

"8:1 And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.

8:2 And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets.

8:3 And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. 8:4 And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand. 8:5 And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.

8:6 And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.

8:7 The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.

8:8 And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood; 8:9 And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed.

8:10 And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters; 8:11 And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.

8:12 And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.

8:13 And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!" (Revelation 8:1-13 KJV)

Fact Finder: What is the Messiah's appearance today?
See John's Eyewitness Of The Messiah And The LORD God