Previously: Revelation 8: the fourth trumpet
The first post in the Revelation series
To recap the trumpet judgments so far in Revelation 8:
378: The battle of Hadrianople; the beginning of Roman military defeat – the earthquake of vs. 5 which heralds the start of the trumpet judgments
378 – 410: Invasion of the Goths under Alaric – the first trumpet
409 – 455: Invasion of the Vandals under Genseric – the second trumpet
445 – 452: Invasion of the Huns under Attila – the third trumpet
456 – 476: Invasion of the Germans under Odoacer – the fourth trumpet
Just as the first four seals were linked together in meaning and time, the first four trumpets were linked together in meaning and time. They described the barbarian invasions which brought about the fall of Rome; each invasion coupled with a march on or sack of Rome. And just as the first four trumpets struck the land, sea, rivers, and lights, the first four bowls of wrath to come will also strike the land, sea, rivers, and lights.
In the very next verse following the blowing of the fourth trumpet, something interesting happens:
Then I looked, and I heard an eagle crying with a loud voice as it flew directly overhead, “Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth, at the blasts of the other trumpets that the three angels are about to blow!” Revelation 8:13
The events of the three remaining trumpets are the three woes to come. We can prove that the three woes are the events of the three remaining trumpets. The very next verse states:
And the fifth angel blew his trumpet, [followed by a description of the event of the fifth trumpet from verses 9:1-11, then the next verse states:] The first woe has passed; behold, two woes are still to come (vs. 9:12).
So the event of the fifth trumpet judgment is the first woe. Next we read:
Then the sixth angel blew his trumpet, [followed by a description of the event of the sixth trumpet from verses 9:13-21, then we have a description of the interval period describing spiritual events from verses 10:1-11:13, just as we had an interval between the 6th and 7th seals, and just as we will have an interval between the 6th and 7th bowls of wrath; then the next verse states:] The second woe has passed; behold, the third woe is soon to come (vs. 11:14).
So the event of the sixth trumpet judgment is the second woe.
To be continued …
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Update: continued in Revelation 8: the woes to come, part two
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