IN THE LAST TRUMP
Trumpets
Trumpets were appointed in Israel by God to serve
numerous purposes (Num. 10:1-10), and, in every land today,
the sound of the trumpet gives a particular, specific signal.
That signal could be any one of a large number of things. In
Israel the sound of the trumpet might signify solemnity, or
festivity, or danger. It might bring the people together as a
whole, or it might bring only the princes. A certain sound
would signify one thing, while a slightly different sound
would signify another thing. The people could discern the
desire of the trumpeter by the particular sound he blew. The
blowing of the trumpet gave a specific signal. It always gave
a message to someone. It was never officially blown without a
special purpose. Anyone who has been in any branch of the
armed forces knows well that the trumpet, or bugle, conveys a
message. John says "and the first voice
which I heard was as it were a trumpet talking with
me" (Rev. 4:1).
In Rev. 10:7, we read, "But in the
days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin
to sound." The voice of the seventh angel is the sound
he blows. Thus, the sounding of the seventh trumpet gives a
message to someone. The voice of the seventh angel will carry
a message to all creation, but especially to the saints for
then they will be raised and raptured. The message of the
first six trumpets will not be so general for they will not
be heard by mankind. This fact will be justified in the mind
of the reader when he has clearly understood the relationship
between the "last trump" and the
seventh trumpet.
As I have already shown and will illustrate yet
again, the sixth seal and the seventh trumpet deal with the
same time element, that is, the coming of Christ in glory
which begins the wrath of God. The careful examination of
this fact alone (not including the other proofs which will be
given) will firmly establish that the first six trumpets are
the same in time with the first five seals (actually seal 2
through 5). This fact further demands that the first six
trumpets do not describe the judgments of God, but the
judgments of the Antichrist, the False Prophet, Satan, etc.
May the reader very carefully and thoroughly examine the
developments under the seventh trumpet. The
wrath of God will not begin under the trumpets until the
seventh one (Rev. 11:18). Not until
the seventh trumpet will God and Christ begin to "destroy
them which destroy the earth (Rev. 11:18). This fact
MUST be THOROUGHLY understood before one can correctly
understand the developments under the first six trumpets, or
even the seventh trumpet. It is most clearly evident that the
activities under the fifth and sixth trumpets are not the
works and judgments of God. The execution of such activities
are related to God only in that He
permits them to happen. It is also very evident that these
activities are wrought by super-human creatures (demon
spirits, etc). Thus I would like to give some thoughts
relative to God's permissive will concerning the activities
of such evil creatures.
WICKED SPIRITS IN HEAVENLY PLACES
It appears quite clear from many scriptures that
Satan was in the beginning an obedient creature of God. The
purpose of God's creating him was evidently much different
than that of man. Yet there came the time when sin was born
in the heart of Satan, and at that time he led in a very
great rebellion against God. His sin, in particular, was that
he desired greater glory than he deserved, even greater than
God. A careful study of Isa. 14:12-17; Ezek. 28:11-19; Isa.
45:18; Gen. 1:2, and many other such scriptures is quite
relative to these matters. It is true that the kings of
Babylon and Tyrus are addressed in the first two of the above
scriptures, but the Lord also spoke to Satan who had gotten
into the thinking and conduct of the apostle Peter (Matt.
16:23; Mark 8:33). One might just as easily debate whether
Jesus spoke to Satan, or Peter.
There is sufficient evidence to establish that God
has created many intelligent creatures other than angels and
men. The four beasts around the throne are a good example
(Rev. 4 and 5). Ezekiel also saw intelligent creatures quite
different than the ones John saw (Ezek. 1). It appears that
there may be a difference between cherubim, seraphim and
angels, though the first two are probably orders of angels.
The locusts of the fifth trump and the beasts of the sixth
trumpet are evidently real creatures that were in the
rebellion with Satan but were confined to the bottomless pit
to be released at the appointed time for a specific (though
limited) purpose, then finally to be cast alive into the lake
of fire where they shall remain eternally.
At the time of Satan's rebellion, he was cast out of
heaven (Luke 11:18), and all of his followers with him. When
Adam sinned, his authority over the earth passed into the
hands of Satan, which evidently gained Satan permission to
re-enter heaven and appear in the presence of God (Rev. 12;
Job 1). From Rev. 12:8-12, we learn that Satan and at least
some of his angels have admission into heaven, and that Satan
stands there day and night accusing the saints. We can easily
see the legal (court) proceedings of God in relation to the
earth and man. In Job 1 we observe that Satan boldly appears
before the throne of God and speaks concerning things on the
earth, particularly man.
Look carefully at II Chron. 18:18-22 where we
observe similar activities. King Ahab hated the prophet of
God because of the prophet's righteous testimony against the
wickedness of the king. The prophet always told Ahab the will
of God, but the words of God were despised. Ahab always
desired to be convinced of a different testimony than that of
the prophet, therefore God accommodated his wicked desires by
sending a lying spirit to fill the mouths of the false
prophets. The prophet, Micaiah, said, "I saw
the Lord sitting upon his throne, and all the host of heaven
standing on his right hand and on his left. And the Lord
said, Who shall entice Ahab, King of Israel, that he may go
up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one spake saying after this
manner, and another saying after that manner. Then there came
out a spirit, and stood before the Lord, and said, I will
entice him. And the Lord said unto him, Wherewith? And he
said, I will go out, and be a lying spirit in the mouth of
all his prophets. And the Lord said, Thou shalt entice him,
and thou shalt also prevail: go out, and do even
so."
This lying spirit that prevailed by putting lies
into the mouths of the false prophets was certainly not one
of the righteous angels of God, for they are not liars. This
spirit was an evil spirit who, like Satan, had permission to
enter heaven, appear before God, and obtain permission to
perform certain wicked activities on earth. These wicked
activities are not the works of God, but God permits them (as
in this case -- II Chron. 18) because rebellious, wicked men
on earth hate the righteousness of God, and are continually
seeking to destroy the servants of God who faithfully testify
of God's righteousness. This is one of the ways in which God
brings judgment upon wicked men. They love falsehood and hate
the truth, therefore God permits them to be filled with their
own ways. God warns such evil men. He pleads with them again
and again, but when they continue to stiffen their necks
against God, and refuse His counsel, they must reap of that
which they have sown. God then permits them to be filled with
their own wicked ways by sending upon them a strong
delusion.
There is a very similar illustration recorded for
our understanding in I Sam. 16:14: -- "But
the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit
from the Lord troubled him." Does God participate in
wicked activities? How absurd! Then what is the explanation
for such things? The explanation is the same here as in the
preceding passage. God hates wickedness of every nature. He
hates evil spirits, and will at the appointed time confine
all of them in the lake of fire eternally. This evil spirit
obtained permission from the Lord to come and trouble Saul.
The Holy Spirit had repeatedly pleaded with Saul and warned
him, but to no avail. Saul was bent on disobeying the Lord.
Of his own will he chose to follow evil; therefore, after a
great many efforts to turn him had failed, the Lord permitted
an evil spirit to trouble him.
Observe how boldly Satan enters into the presence of
God in Job 1 and 2, and speaks in relation to things on
earth, and boasts of his authority and mastership over it. We
must remember that Satan is the prince of the power
(authority) of the air (Eph 2:2). Paul says, "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but
against principalities, against powers
(authorities), against the rulers of the
darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness
(evidently spiritual forces of wickedness) in high places" (Eph 6:12). One of the main
reasons for the defeat of many Christians in their lives as
they fight against evil influences is that they do not
understand, or else do not keep in mind, the import of this
verse of scripture. How can we fight a good fight of faith if
we do not know who they are with whom we fight? Our fight is "not against flesh and blood," but
"against the rulers of the darkness of this world."
These rulers are demon spirits of whom Satan is the prince.
They are spoken of as principalities, powers, etc., which
means that they are organized forces of wicked spirits who
are permitted to exercise rulership over this earth. God is
able to destroy everyone of them in one moment with
everlasting confinement in the lake of fire (which, of
course, He will do at the appointed time); yet the righteous
wisdom of God has allotted to these wicked spirits such
momentary powers.
How did Satan become such a ruler over the earth? He
obtained such authority when man gave obedience to him rather
than to God. In the beginning authority to govern and rule
the earth was given to man. Through the obedience of man to
Satan, everything under the authority of man, including man
himself, passed into the grasp and mastership of Satan. This
is a very important matter and should be studied very
carefully.
How is it that Satan has the permission to enter
heaven? Because, according to court proceedings, Satan has
the privilege of standing before the judge to set forth his
claims to the earth and its fullness (which claims are based
upon the obedience of man to him rather than to God). Though
God has supreme power and all that Satan can do is only
through the permissive will of God, yet, through that
permissive will, he rules the earth and the area around the
earth as far as the heavenly bodies (sun, moon, stars, etc.),
all of which were subjected to the service of man in the
beginning.
In Daniel chapter 10 we find that Daniel, earnestly
desiring to understand the words of the Lord, fasted for
three full weeks, at the end of which he saw a vision of an
angel (evidently Gabriel who is always seen giving
understanding) who said, "Fear not, Daniel:
for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to
understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words
were heard, and I am come for thy words, But the prince of
the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days; but,
lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I
remained there with the kings of Persia. Now I am come to
make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the
latter days: for yet the vision is for many days" (Dan
10:12-14).
The prince that engaged in battle with such power
that he was able to delay Gabriel for 21 days, and was still
so powerful that it was necessary for Michael to come and
relieve Gabriel so that the latter could come and give
understanding to Daniel, was certainly NOT "flesh and blood."
Flesh and blood, regardless of its power and number, could
never resist one of the mighty princes of God such as
Gabriel, or Michael. This prince of the kingdom of Persia was
either Satan himself, or probably one of the chief princes of
Satan, who did not want Daniel to be given the understanding
of God's word concerning the latter days. From Dan 10:20-21
we further see that Gabriel confessed this prince of Satan to
be of such power that it would be necessary for him to return
and help Michael defeat him. No doubt, this prince of Satan
was accompanied by many of the other angels of Satan.
Undoubtedly there have been many such battles in the heavens
immediately above the earth of which we know nothing. We
might wonder why Satan and his angels are permitted to engage
in such prolonged struggles against the powerful angels of
God when the Holy Spirit could give such power to Gabriel and
Michael that in one moment the enemies would be stripped of
any resistance whatever. This is a part of the wisdom of God
and Christ concerning the work of redemption that we will one
day understand and rejoice over. Yet, even now these things
aid us to understand that God has granted to Satan the
exercise of certain authorities about the earth. We must keep
in mind, however, that if man had not in the beginning
wilfully chosen to obey Satan rather than God, Satan would
never have been able to exercise such authority over the
earth.
At the present time Satan and his angels have access
into the presence of God where Satan accuses the saints day
and night, yet, at the appointed time, God will order him to
leave. Christ has already by His own blood redeemed man's
forfeited possessions, therefore God can righteously order
Satan to leave the heavens as it pleases Him. But Satan
refuses and makes war, even in heaven, against the forces of
God (Rev. 12). Satan and all his demon army are cast out of
heaven, and immediately they come back to the earth and begin
to exercise exceedingly great wrath.
This brings us to the place where I believe we can
better appreciate the activities under the first six
trumpets. Although the angels of Satan are permitted to
sometimes engage in battle against the mighty ones of God,
yet Satan and his forces are definitely under the restraint
of the Holy Spirit. From II Thess. 2:3-12 we find that this
restraint will be very greatly lifted for the reign of the
Antichrist, to the extent that he is permitted to come "after the working of Satan with all power and
signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of
unrighteousness in them that perish," etc. The "power and signs and lying wonders" of the
Antichrist will reach as far as to cause fire to come down
out of heaven on the earth in the sight of men (Rev. 13).
This is exactly what we see under the first four trumpets.
During this time the principalities, powers, rulers of
darkness, and spiritual forces of wickedness (Eph 6:12) will
be more active than at any time in the history of man, for
the scriptures say, "Woe to the inhabiters
of the EARTH and of the SEA! for the devil is come down unto
you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but
a short time" (Rev. 12:12). Under the first six
trumpets we find that the earth and the sea both are smitten
as Satan is granted authority to cause fire to come down out
of heaven upon them as he and his angels work in harmony with
the Antichrist and the second Beast.
As one reads the 8th chapter of Revelation it is
easy to get the impression that the trumpets fall under the
seventh seal, but such is not so. It is quite necessary that
the first six trumpets fall under seals 2 through 5, which
makes good harmony where otherwise such harmony is lacking. A
correct analysis of trumpets 5 through 7 will demand that the
activities under the first six trumpets are those of Satan
and not of God. This means that such activities come before
the things described under the sixth seal take place. Also,
these same activities, even under the first trumpet, do not
fit the time period under the first seal, therefore the first
six trumpets must come under seals 2 through 5.
Seal 2 fits the time when the Antichrist shall break
the covenant in the midst of the week. It is at this time
that the abomination of desolation is caused to stand in the
holy place (Matt. 24:15). At this same time the man of sin is
revealed by the removing of the Holy Spirit's restraint upon
him (II Thess. 2). This is when the Antichrist exalts himself
above God and proclaims himself to be God (II Thess. 2:4).
This is the time when the Devil gives to the Antichrist "his power, and his seat, and great
authority" (Rev. 13). This is also the time when the
Devil and his angels make war in heaven and are cast out
(Rev. 12). This is the time the seven angels make ready to
give their message by the blowing of their trumpets.
After the seven angels are given their trumpets, yet
before they begin to sound, we read that 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. And the smoke of
the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints,
ascended up before God out of the angel's hand. 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" (Rev.
8:2-5).
What is the connection between this angel offering
up the prayers of the saints and the blowing of the seven
trumpets? There must be a relationship of some kind since it
is mentioned after such a fashion. The most reasonable answer
appears to be that, though these judgments of Satan are not
directed especially at the saints, yet the saints will
definitely be found in great agonies during this period,
greatly as a result of the developments under these trumpets.
These judgments of Satan (the first six trumpets) are to
convince all nations of the claims of the Antichrist, that
is, that he is God (II Thess. 2:4). God permits Satan to
bring the rebellious nations to their knees by the aid of
super-human creatures out of hell (trumpets 5 and 6). We must
remember that God shall send upon them "strong delusion" "because
they received not the love of the truth, that they might be
saved" (II Thess. 2:9-12). In the midst of all this,
the saints are found in exceedingly great agonies. Some may
be inclined to think that God would not permit such a thing
to happen to the saints. Nevertheless, the scriptures show
plainly that there are saints on the earth at this time (Rev.
9:4; 6:9-11; 7:9-17; etc). The mention of the prayers of the
saints here serves the same purpose as under the fifth
seal.
What is meant by the angel filling the censer with
the fire of the altar and casting it into the earth? Why did
there follow "voices, and thunderings, and
lightnings, and an earthquake?" To whom do the voices
speak and what might be their message? It is very
unreasonable to say that these voices have no significance,
or message for someone. It does not appear reasonable that
they are heard by mankind, but rather, that they are heard by
the principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this
world, etc. (Eph 6:12). As far as mankind is concerned, the
heavenly forces are in complete silence until the end of the
reign of the Antichrist when the whole heavens will be ripped
open and folded up. The day of the Lord must come as a thief
in the night. These voices give notification to the angelic
forces of Satan relative to such activities that they will be
granted by the sounding of the first six trumpets. Satan and
his angels have just been cast out of heaven, and therefore
are not able to enter into the presence of God to obtain
permission to exercise their wicked activities. These voices,
and the sounding of the trumpets, therefore, give the message
granting the permission to the evil forces to work their evil
devices and deceptions. This is the "strong
delusion" which God sends upon rebellious and
unbelieving men.
THE SOUNDING OF THE TRUMPETS
When the first angel sounded
his message, "there followed hail and fire
mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and a
third part of the trees was burned up, and all green grass
was burned up." Let us remember that Satan's man of
sin will come with "all power and signs and
lying wonders" (II Thess. 2:9). The sounding of the
trumpet will announce to Satan and his forces what they will
be permitted to do. Satan will, of course, work side by side
with his man of sin and the False Prophet who calls fire down
out of heaven in the sight of men for purposes of deception
(Rev. 13).
"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; 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" (Rev. 8:8-9). It is
certainly reasonable to think that the Revelation would give
us some description of the exceedingly great power and
deception that will be worked by Satan, the Antichrist, and
the False Prophet. The vials are completely devoted to the
wrath of God, and the more one studies the matter the more he
is able to see that the trumpets (the first 6) give a similar
description of the works of Satan's forces. He is the prince
of the power of the air, therefore we can expect him to
display such authority.
"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 foundations of waters; 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" (Rev. 8:10-11).
Observe the repeated usage of the words "third part." They are used twelve times in
the first six trumpets. Some have advanced that this is God's
number and signifies God's judgments, although, when we look
at the vials where a similar succession of developments
occur, and where we are clearly told that such are God's
judgments, we find that the judgments are full and entire,
not just a "third part." What is the
significance of the "third part?"
From Rev. 12:1-4 we find that the term is used of Satan --
"And his tail drew a third
part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the
earth." The "third part" is
used under the sixth trumpet in connection with the four
angels who work with the hellish horses and their riders who
are evidently of the army of the Antichrist. The continual
reference to the "third part" adds
greater emphasis than ever that these are the judgments of
Satan through the Antichrist and the False Prophet.
"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" (Rev. 8:12). It is only
reasonable (even necessary) that the Antichrist should show
power over the sun, moon and stars since he claims that he is
God. Paul said that God will send upon unbelieving humanity a
"strong delusion" that they might
believe the lie of the Antichrist (II Thess. 2). This is
partly expressed by God's granting him permission to smite
those heavenly bodies which are certainly in the power of
their true Creator. Remember that the Antichrist will come
with "all deceivableness of unrighteousness
in them that perish" (II Thess. 2). Observe further
the progression of the developments: (1). The earth is
smitten. (2). The seas are smitten. (3). The rivers and
fountains are smitten. (4). The heavenly bodies are smitten.
As the Antichrist seeks to prove himself to be God, he is
granted permission to smite these four great spheres of
creation. In the vials the same progression is followed,
although there the judgments are full and entire, not merely
a third part. God sends a strong delusion upon the unbelieving world
by granting the exercise of exceedingly great powers to the
Antichrist, while He reserves from Himself the exercise of
immeasurably greater power, and by such proves who is truly
God.
Because of the lengthy description of the
developments that occur when the fifth angel
sounds, I will not quote the passage. When this
trumpet is blown the "bottomless pit" is opened to release a
great number of superhuman creatures (called locusts) upon
the earth. I am of the firm conviction that these are real
creatures that have been confined to the pit. These locusts
have a king over them "whose name in the
Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but the Greek tongue hath his name
Appollyon." Their king is evidently Satan. He is the
angel of the pit. The verse does not say that the angel was
also locked up in the pit with the locusts. That these
locusts are real, demon-creatures, please observe the
following:
(1). The fact that they come out of the "bottomless
pit" gives proof that they are real, yet demon, creatures.
There is no reason to say that the language here is
figurative.
(2). The fact that they have a king shows that they
are real, spiritual creatures. They have a king which they
obey and follow. They are not propelled by men or some other
force.
(3). The fact that their king is an angel demands
that they are real demon-creatures. We would naturally expect
the locusts to be of a similar nature to their king.
(4). The description of the locusts demands that
they are a demon-creature of some kind. We do not doubt that
the "four beasts" of Rev. 4 and 5 are real living creatures
(good ones, of course). We do not argue that the "first
beast" and the "second beast" of Rev. 13 are real persons
(though these terms may have a two-fold application). We
understand the "dragon" to speak of the devil. Therefore, it
should not be difficult to understand that these locusts are
real creatures, and that the language describing them is
literal.
Though Satan is not permitted to hurt the saints who
have the seal of God in their foreheads (Rev. 9:4), yet he
does use these creatures to force obedience upon those who do
not yield to the claim that the Antichrist is God. The
Antichrist at this time (the time of this trumpet) is
dominating Europe through a reorganized Roman empire, yet the
kingdoms of the North and South are not yet obedient to him
(Dan. 11:40), and he is permitted to use these horrible
creatures against them. Let the reader carefully observe that
we cannot possibly say that these locusts are the forces of
God. These are unquestionably the activities of Satan, which
further demands that the first six trumpets are descriptive
of the works of the evil forces.
After the sixth angel
sounded he was told to "Loose the
four angels which are bound in the great river
Euphrates" (Rev. 9:13-14). Surely these angels are not
the angels of God for God's angels are not bound. It may be
that the binding of these angels resulted from the battle
which Gabriel and Michael had with the prince of Persia who
did not want Daniel to be given the understanding of the
latter days (Dan 10). A good analysis of this passage under
the blowing of the sixth trumpet will reveal that these
beastly horses are also real creatures and are of the forces
of the Antichrist. After the proof that the Antichrist gives
under the first four trumpets that he is God, there are still
whole nations who will not bow down to him. He then is
granted permission to send out the terrible locusts and by
them seek to bring into submission the still rebellious
nations of the North and South (Dan 11:40). The nations
become very angry and make a last effort for freedom from the
Antichrist by the battle that is described under the sixth
trumpet. The developments under this sixth trumpet are a
result of the developments under the fifth trumpet.
This battle is NOT the Armageddon battle for the
following reasons:
(1). This battle is fought under the sixth trumpet
before the seventh trumpet sounds.
The wrath of God does not begin until the seventh trumpet
sounds (Rev. 11:15-19). The vials are all filled with the
wrath of God, therefore do not start until the seventh
trumpet is blown. The Armageddon battle is
not fought until the seventh vial.
(2). This battle is not only called but fought under
the sixth trumpet, while the Armageddon battle is called
under vial 6 and fought at the end of vial 7.
(3). When the Armageddon battle is
finished all the wicked will have been destroyed from the
earth (Matt. 13:36-43; Luke 19:11-27; II Thess. 1:7-9;
Isa. 13:9; Rev. 19:21; etc). After this
battle (sixth trumpet) is finished there are two-thirds of
mankind (Rev. 9:15) left who continue in their open
wickedness and defiance of God (Rev. 9:20-21) which does not
in any wise harmonize with the results of the Armageddon
battle.
(4). The victorious army in trumpet
6 rides upon beastly horses which have heads like
lions, emitting fire, smoke and brimstone. These horses also
have tails like snakes, and the tails have heads. These
beastly horses are evidently out of the bottomless pit as
were the locusts.
This description certainly does not fit the
Armageddon battle. It is undoubtedly the same as that
mentioned in Dan 11:40-46, both of which take place near the
end of the reign of the Antichrist. Study them carefully. The
language used here fits the army of the Antichrist. The four
angels certainly appear to be the Devil's. The two hundred
million man army evidently belongs to the Antichrist. This
army is used by the Antichrist to put down the kings of the
North and South who are stirred up in rebellion against him
because of the locusts under trumpet 5. The kingdom of the
North and the kingdom of the South are terribly defeated, yet
they choose to serve the Antichrist rather than God.
Under the seventh trumpet (11:15-19) we see that the
whole picture is changed around. It is no more the activities
of Satan that are in the spotlight. Just as suddenly and
unannounced as described under the sixth seal, the whole
earth experiences an about-face. Christ takes over openly and
visibly, and the kingdom or kingdoms of this world becomes
the kingdom of God and Christ. Christ comes in flaming fire
taking vengeance upon those who have been destroying the
earth. In the Greek text of Rev 11:15, the word "kingdoms" is
singular both times (once understood). The reason for this is
that the first time it refers to the kingdom of the
Antichrist. He has just finished making the whole Earth his
kingdom under the sixth trumpet. Here in the seventh trumpet
the kingdom of the Antichrist becomes the kingdom of Christ.
The kingdom of Christ will of course be one kingdom, not
many.
I will send the giving a detailed examination of the
things of this trumpet again, therefore I will pass by it for
now.
VIALS
The purpose of all seven vials is to pour out the
much delayed wrath of God upon the rebellious nations of the
earth. Seal 6, trumpet 7, and all seven vials are the same as
to time, except, of course, the vials are progressive; one
following the other. Since I have already discussed the vials
to some length in chapter VI, I will not repeat here. The
most significant thing about the vials is wrath; the wrath of
God. The references to the word "wrath" in the Revelation
should be associated together. It is very great folly to
think that God starts and then stops His wrath a half dozen
times. The failure to associate these references to the wrath
of God is one of the things that has contributed so greatly
to the vast amount of confusion relative to the end-time
events and the book of Revelation. Simply because the wrath
of God is mentioned a number of times throughout the
Revelation does not mean that it will be SPLATTERED, as if
one took a hand full of mud and threw it at the side of a
house. One of the greatest blunders we can make when studying
the book of Revelation is to seek to make each chapter fall
into chronological order. One should study the book of
Revelation after the same manner of the book of Daniel where
the same period of time is covered repeatedly. Daniel saw
slightly different pictures of the same things a number of
times. This is true of both the reign of the Anti-christ and
the wrath of God in the Revelation.
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