Below are some preliminary questions to assist in the study of this passage. For a comprehensive study of the passage, download the Study Guide (PDF download).
1. What happens when the first trumpet blast is sounded? See Revelation 8:7 (printed below) What do you think this represents?
The first angel sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and they were hurled down upon the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burnt up, and all the green grass was burnt up. (Revelation 8:7)
With the sounding of the First Trumpet “there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and they were hurled down upon the earth.” When Revelation 8:7 speaks of “hail and fire mingled with blood,” it is stressing the destruction of human life by means of these natural calamities. As a result of this plague unleashed against the world, “a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burnt up, and all the green grass was burnt up.” Note: the present series of judgments (The Seven Trumpets) is more severe than the previous series (The Opening of the Seven Seals.) Previously, “one fourth of the earth” was affected (Revelation 7:8;) now “one third of the earth” is affected. Just as the birth pains become more intense and severe as the time of birth approaches; so, too, the temporal judgments become more severe and widespread as the final judgment approaches.
2. What happens when the third and fourth trumpet blasts are sounded? See Revelation 8:10-12 (printed below) What do you suppose this represents?
The third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the heavens. It fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water—(11) the name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters were turned into wormwood, and many men died from the waters that had become bitter. (12) The fourth angel sounded his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, and a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them were darkened. Consequently, a third of the day was without light, and also a third of the night. (Revelation 8:10-12)
When the Third Trumpet sounds John watches as “a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the heavens.” With the falling of this star we see that God’s judgment will involve the “de-creation” (i.e.; the destruction of the universe in the reverse order of its original creation) of the whole universe, not just the earth (note 2 Peter 3:10). This falling star bears the name “Wormwood” because it turns a third part of the waters to wormwood; “wormwood” is synonymous with bitterness, misery and affliction (cp. Proverbs 5:4 and Lamentations 3:19). When the Fourth Trumpet sounds “a third of the sun was struck,” and the moon and the stars were likewise affected. Here is a further reference to the “de-creation” (destruction) of the entire universe.
3. What does John see happening when the fifth trumpet blast is sounded? See Revelation 9:1-2 (printed below) What do you think is being represented?
The fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from heaven to the earth. The star was given the key to the shaft of the abyss. (2) When he opened the shaft of the abyss, smoke arose out of it like the smoke from a gigantic furnace. The sun and the atmosphere were darkened by the smoke from the abyss. (Revelation 9:1-2)
With the sounding of the Fifth Trumpet we see a star; this star has fallen out of heaven down to the earth. What is being depicted here is the devil, having been cast out of heaven, wrecking havoc on the earth (note, also, Revelation 12:7-9,12). To this “star” was given “the key to the shaft of the abyss.” The devil is given authority by God to unleash demonic forces against the world (“the abyss” is the habitation of demons, note Revelation 17:8). When the devil opened the shaft of the abyss, smoke came billowing out; the smoke permeates the atmosphere and engulfs the world, indicating how the forces of evil are unleashed to engulf and darken the world with their demonic activity.
4. What comes forth out of the smoke and what do these creatures do? See Revelation 9:3-7 (printed below)
Out of the smoke locusts came down upon the earth, and they were given ability like that of the scorpions of the earth. (4) They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any green plant or any tree, but only those men who did not have the seal of God upon their foreheads. (5) They were not allowed to kill them, but only to torture them for five months. Their torture was like the torture inflicted by a scorpion when it strikes a man. (6) In those days men will seek death, but will by no means find it; indeed, they will desire to die, but death will flee from them. (7) The locusts looked like horses prepared for battle. On their heads they wore something like crowns of gold, and their faces resembled human faces. (Revelation 9:3-7)
Out of the smoke came forth hoards of “locusts.” The “locusts” of Revelation 9 are commanded not to touch the vegetation, but only to harm men. The “locusts” of Revelation 9 are distinguished from natural, literal locusts; they represent something else. These peculiar, demonically-inspired “locusts” are compared to horses prepared for battle; here is pictured a vast army bent on conquest and pillage. These hoards of “locusts” are, indeed, representing vast armies of men possessing demonic power to conquer. These demonic hoards of “locusts” are not to kill, but to torment. God’s intended purpose is not to use such armies to annihilate mankind, but to expose the world to the terrors of judgment as it comes in the form of war so as to bring men to repentance and salvation.
5. When the seventh trumpet blast is sounded what does John see? Note Revelation 11:19 (printed below) What is the significance of this?
Then the temple of God that is in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen in his temple. And there came flashes of lightning and rumblings and peals of thunder and an earthquake and a great hail storm. (Revelation 11:19)
As the vision of the Seven Trumpets comes to a close, the apostle John observes, “the temple of God that is in heaven was opened.” The heavenly sanctuary of God, the very dwelling place of God, is now revealed: this means that God is now revealing Himself in all of His divine fullness. As the sanctuary of God stands open, two antithetical sights are revealed. “The ark of his covenant” is seen in His sanctuary: the presence of the ark in the Old Testament represented the presence of God with His people in fellowship and blessing (note Exodus 25:22). Furthermore, “there came flashes of lightning and rumblings and peals of thunder and an earthquake and a great hail storm”—these elements of devastation represent God’s judgment poured out upon the ungodly and unrepentant. Consequently, what is revealed as the heavenly sanctuary of God stands open is the eternal state of experiencing the immediate, direct presence of God, which inevitably involves the experience of either heaven or hell.
