Sermon Tone Analysis
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Introduction:
Today is Father’s day.
One aspect of being a father is disciplining your own kids.
There are just a few times in each of my kids lives that I can recall where they have let me down--they made a wrong decision or two.
Perhaps the most frustrating part to that moment is when you know that they are capable of performing better--they know better!
I have gotten angry at my kids; I think most fathers can relate.
However, somehow my blood boils even hotter when I see other kids belonging to someone else commit a grievous offense toward my own kid.
To be brutally honest, I usually desire to see revenge in that scenario.
All of a sudden, when other kids are involved in horrendous sin, I somehow forget about the faults of my own child.
Transition:
I wonder if God, the Father, experiences these feelings.
Our passage this morning portrays the wrath of our Father against those that are not his own children.
His wrath is against those who have done harm to his own children.
but unlike my wrath, His is perfect.
In fact it is so perfect, He uses musical instruments to display His wrath:
Scripture Reading:
The seventh seal opening brings a dramatic pause of silence in heaven--the scroll is finally completely open.
The heavenly chorus of praise won’t resume again until the seventh angel blows his trumpet in Chapter 11.
These trumpet judgments are part of The Father’s response to the prayers of His children, who apparently continue to cry out to Him in prayer for deliverance and justice.
.
The heavenly chorus of praise won’t resume again until the seventh angel blows his trumpet in Chapter 11.
The trumpet judgments (8:7–9:21) are part of God’s response to the prayers of his people, who continue to cry out to him for deliverance and justice (8:2–6).
Transition:
The world hates Christ and all that he stands for.
So The Father’s chosen children suffer and some are put to death, but YHWH is still in total control.
He allows his children to suffer, but no suffering can go beyond what The Father has allotted.
When suffering results in His children being put to death for their faith, those who die are richly rewarded.
AND, the wicked are facing severe judgement from which God’s sealed people are exempt, and this produces awe among God’s children.
Transition:
The seventh seals ended in heaven (8:1).
Now, seven angels are assembling.
Each one has a trumpet to blow, and the trumpets take us back to the earth.
But before that, there is serious preparation:
I. Prepping for the Music (vv.1-6)
Rev
The hymn of heaven falls silent, reminding us of the prophetic announcement in [[]].
Then in [[ ]]
Then in [[ ]]
the Old Testament often associates silence with divine judgment, and such is the case here in Revelation
In addition, the silence creates this setting for our Father to hear the prayers of the saints (8:2–6).
is setting for our Father to hear the prayers of the saints (8:2–6), which in turn lead into the trumpet judgments (8:7–9:21).
These angels “were given” PASSIVE VOICE seven trumpets, indicating God as the ultimate source of the judgments to come.
Trumpets appear in the Old Testament to signal an attack or retreat in war, to sound an alarm, to announce a victory or good news, to enthrone a king, to celebrate sacred days.
In the New Testament trumpets are often associated with the return of Christ.
The trumpets of usher in the coming judgments of God.
These angels “were given” PASSIVE VOICE seven trumpets, indicating God as the ultimate source of the judgments to come.
Trumpets appear in the Old Testament to signal an attack or retreat in war, to sound an alarm, to announce a victory or good news, to enthrone a king, to celebrate sacred days.
In the New Testament trumpets are often associated with the return of Christ.
The trumpets of usher in the coming judgments of God.
ESV
Another angel, distinct from the seven angels, approaches God’s presence.
Before the blowing of the trumpets begins, the prayers of the saints go up before the Lord
The angel then receives incense and prayers of all God’s people (not just the martyrs) along with a censer (firepan) used to carry burning coals.
This scene portrays the coals of prayer being sprinkled with incense and ascending to God as a fragrant aroma
This pause implies that God’s answer to the prayers for the avenging of the blood of the martyrs (6:10) upon the earth dwellers, the focus of the hour of testing (3:10), begins with the trumpet judgments.
Illustration:
Our prayers matter
Scenario: For a moment, imagine you have received an invitation for a private audience with a wealthy, generous individual—Bill Gates, for instance.
The purpose of this meeting is clearly stated—he wants to hear you share about a cause near and dear to your heart and potentially provide resources for it.
Would you consider your words?
Would you prepare yourself and do all you could to take advantage of your interview?
Of course you would!
For a moment, consider this: YHWH has written your prayers into His plan for history.
Your prayers are intimately involved in ushering God’s purposes into being.
The God of infinite power and unfathomable love is waiting to hear from you.
Our prayers matter.
Transition:
In the book The Old Testament in Contemporary Preaching, by Walter Kaiser.
Old Testament scholar Walter Kaiser writes,
“North American society is headed for destruction and judgment.
And we had better believe it’s coming, because there is no sign that repentance is near.
It is coming, or else God is a liar and His word is not true.
The prophet’s message must be preached again today.”
Let’s now listen to that trumpet sound:
II.
Listening to the Music (vv.7-12)
The first five trumpet judgments are patterned after the plagues inflicted by God upon the Egyptians.
[[CHART]]
Rev
The first trumpet recalls the seventh plague where God sends lightning, thunder, and a huge hailstorm that devastates the land.
Revelation adds fire and blood to the mix, elements that are often associated with judgment (e.g., ; ; ).
As a result, a third of the earth and trees are burned up and all the green grass, a natural disaster of epic proportions.
The figure of “a third” occurs repeatedly throughout this series to indicate the limited nature of God’s judgment.
The intensity has increased from the “one-fourth” of the seal judgments, but it has not yet progressed to the fullness of the bowl judgments, where no fractions are used.
[[CHART]]
Exodus
1st trumpet (8:7)
Hail and fire mixed with blood
7th plague (9:22–25)
2nd trumpet (8:8–9)
Burning mountain turns sea to blood
This judgment alludes to the first Egyptian plague in which God turns the Nile River into blood.
The mention of a fiery mountain might have reminded John’s readers of a devastating volcanic eruption, such as the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79, which destroyed the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum.
Beale argues for , where Babylon is described as a burning mountain, as the primary background of the image, suggesting that the image refers to the judgment of a wicked kingdom (cf.
).
This judgment results in the destruction of one-third of the sea life and ships, a dire situation for a society such as Rome, which was heavily dependent on the sea for its survival.
1st plague (7:14–24)
3rd trumpet (8:10–11)
Blazing star makes fresh water bitter
1st plague (7:14–24)
4th trumpet (8:12)
Sun, moon, and stars darkened
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