Sermon Tone Analysis

Recap / Introduction

What does the seventh trumpet indicate?

In Chapter 11, verses 15-19 we finally see the seventh trumpet revealed.

This seventh trumpet indicates the Second Coming of Christ -

How do we know for sure this is the Second Coming?

Notice closely as it outlines the actions that take place; 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”.

The 24 elders fall on their faces and worship God giving thanks and saying the nations raged but your wrath came, and the time for the dead to be judged, and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints and those who fear your name both small and great and for destroying the destroyers of the earth.

So, when else would it make sense for Christ to return and establish the 1,000 year millennial reign?

Those who oppose Christ are to be eliminated, giving us a picture of the peace that will come during His establishment of the millennial kingdom on earth.

Notice this is just the beginning, we will not see the end result of this return until Chapter 16, when the seventh bowl of wrath is poured out and God declares “It is done”.

We find examples throughout scripture of what will occur during the second coming prediction in the Old Testament:

All of these verses point to things that will be fulfilled at the Second Coming which makes it clear to us that this seventh trumpet parallels the events that are predicted at the return.

The seventh trumpet also introduces the seven bowls of wrath, which again are detailed in Chapter 16.

These coming chapters - 12 through 15 give us the perspective of what will be involved in the second half of the seven-year period.

The Seventh Trumpet Detailed

The Woman

Who does the woman symbolize?

When we look at this vision, we see a depiction, the symbolism, of the nation Israel.

This was the first event in a series of “signs” or “miracles” that will occur.

Who do the sun and moon symbolize?

The sun and the moon referred to Jacob and Rachel, Joseph’s parents.

The stars in the woman’s crown clearly related to the 12 sons of Jacob and identified the woman as Israel fulfilling the Abrahamic Covenant.

What do the labor pains indicate?

It also points out that she (Israel) was pregnant symbolizing the pain and agony, the suffering Israel would have to endure before the second coming.

Who do the red dragon and ten heads depict?

The second sign is the great red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and on his seven heads there were seven diadems (an ornamental, jeweled, and probably metal headdress signifying sovereignty).

In scripture, we see this dragon represents Satan, and the 10 horns symbolize the 10 kings who reign with the world ruler mention in:

and again in

What significance can be found in the attempt to devour the child?

The dragon will bring with him destruction, bloodshed, and a third of the stars will be cast out of the sky.

Satan is trying to extend power over those who oppose him by showing his limited power in heaven and on earth.

The attempt to devour the child indicates the nature of Satan, trying to destroy Christ as the infant Jesus.

Think back all the way to King Herod and his attempt to destroy Jesus.

When the male child was born, he was caught up to God and to his throne.

Oh isn’t this a wonderful description of the man-child who is Jesus?

There is no other person it could point to!

Being caught up to God refers to the ascension after Christ’s death and the deliverance of the woman, Israel, occurs after 1,260 days…3 1/2 years…42 months (of 30 days).

The predicted timeline of the last half of the great tribulation.

The predicted route of travel into the wilderness, the mountains described in:

Why did the woman flee?

Because there was a coming battle, a war, that was beginning to take place between the forces of good and evil.

The time of this war in heaven was not given, but the context refers to the end time.

What is the outcome of the war in heaven?

The outcome of the war was that Satan was thrown down to earth, and with him went the fallen angels of his realm.

While the concept of Satan in heaven is difficult to comprehend, it is clear that he is now the accuser of saints.

One thing we will see in coming chapters is, even though Satan was defeated at the first coming of Christ his sentencing and execution is delayed and comes in stages.

Here we see him being cast out of heaven in the middle of the Tribulation.

Later (chapter 20) he will be bound for the millennial reign, and finally will be thrown into the lake of burning sulfur with the antichrist and the false prophet.

Anyways, what we see is Satan identified as that ancient serpent, AKA the devil or Satan, and was declared to be the one who led the whole world astray.

When he will be cast into the earth, all the fallen angels or demons will be cast down with him.

Once he is cast out of heaven, there is another loud voice in heaven that announces his fall.

It is announced that he has been conquered - by the blood of the lamb and by word of their testimony - not only did Christ provide victory, but those who were martyred took part in the victory also.

What significance does the 1,260 days have in end times related to satan?

It caused the heavens to rejoice, but we also see a warning to earth that satan is filled with wrath, fury, anger - because he knows his time is short.

His time is now limited to 1,260 days, 3 1/2 years, 42 months, a time and a time and a half.

Now do we see the importance of the number symbols?

What is the significance of the dragon pursuing the woman?

The woman introduced in verse 1 became the special object of Satan’s persecution.

She was given supernatural help symbolized by the two wings of a great eagle which enabled her to fly to the place prepared for her in the desert.

This hiding place was not clearly identified.

Some suggest that it might be Petra, fortress capital of the Nabateans in Edom, south of the Dead Sea.

This city has a narrow access which could easily be blocked but which opens up into a large canyon capable of caring for many thousands of people.

Though Scripture is not specific, some believe the 144,000 of chapter 7 are to be preserved here.

The Scriptures themselves speak of God’s seal of protection on them.

The two wings probably do not refer to modern airplanes but rather to God’s delivering power, and are a figure of speech taken from such Old Testament passages as Exodus 19:4 and Deuteronomy 32:11–12.

The flight of Israel to a place of safety was also indicated in Matthew 24:16; Mark 13:14; and Luke 21:21.

Though Revelation 12:6, 14 referred to the refuge as a desert and the Synoptic passages referred to mountains, this is no contradiction as both desert and mountains are in a wilderness area.

The length of time of her preservation was said to be a time, times, and half a time.

This refers to the three and one-half years of the Great Tribulation with “a time” equaling one year, “times” equaling two years, and “half a time” indicating 6 months (cf.

Dan.

7:25; 12:7 with the 42 months referred to in Rev. 11:2; 13:5).

References to these specific time periods show that the Great Tribulation is not the entire present Age but the three and one-half years preceding the second coming of Christ.

What happens when the serpent tries to overtake the woman?

Pursuing the woman, the devil as the serpent originated a flood to sweep her away with the torrent, but the earth swallowed up the water.

Some have taken this as a literal flood, but since Israel could flee in every direction the contour of the Holy Land does not lend itself to such a flood.

Probably the flood represents Satan’s effort to exterminate Israel.

This is thwarted by the rough terrain which provides hiding places.

In some way God assists the Israelites so that they are not completely destroyed, though Zechariah 13:8 indicates that “two-thirds will be struck down and perish.”

Though only one-third of Israel in the land is thus preserved (of which the 144,000 of Rev. 7 are a portion), Satan the dragon continues to war against the rest.

Revelation 12 introduces four important persons and one group of people living at the end time: Israel, Satan, Christ, the archangel, and the remnant of Israel.

In Revelation 13 two important persons complete the scene.