Apocalypse Whenever

Above Durer’s Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. My close reading of Revelation with groups continues. I find new light, but not secret dates, prophesies fulfilled, and so on. Others look into that vigorously. Blessings on them! What turns me on is God’s purpose of redeeming all who will turn to God, and how tenderly God shepherds God’s own through the chaos.

Gathering Clouds of Judgment

Revelation 6-16

In ch 6-16 are three series of judgments.

The first two series follow a pattern of 4/2/1.

These judgments recall the plagues of Egypt, by which God defeated Israel’s ancient enemy. See Exodus 7-12. The first two series are partial, the second more severe.

By them God hopes to bring people to repentance. (See 9.20-21.)

 The third series brings final and total destruction; repentance is not possible.

 First Series: the Lamb breaks seven wax seals

1. 6.2 Conquest
2. 6.4 Slaughter
3. 6.6 Famine of essentials, but luxuries plentiful
4. 6.8 Death
5. 6.9-11 Martyrs at rest, reassured
6. 6.12-14 Natural disaster, earthquake. The unrepentant hide, crying out, “Who shall stand?”

 These will stand:  7.1-8, spiritual Israel (church on earth); 7.9-17, the great multitude (church in heaven)

    7. 8.1 Seventh seal, silence in heaven. Seven trumpets seen 

 Second Series: Angels blow seven trumpets

1. 8.7 Hail/fire, 1/3 of earth, trees, grass burned up
2. 8. 8 Fire mountain turns 1/3 of sea to blood. 1/3 ships, sea life destroyed
3. 8.10 Wormwood star makes 1/3 fresh water bitter
4. 8.12, 1/3 of light in sky darkened

Eagle announces three woes (= last three trumpets)

     5. 9.1-12 (1^st woe) demonic locusts from bottomless pit
     6. 9.13-19 (2^nd woe) 2,000,000 (1000x1000x2) cavalry east of Euphrates released, 1/3 humanity die. 9. 20-21 Rest of humanity remain unrepentant

INTERLUDE

• 10.1-7, John hears seven thunders, these sealed because there will be no more delay!
• 10.8-11, John’s prophetic commission, eats the scroll (see Ezek 2.8-3.3)
• 11.1-2 John measures the inner courts of the temple, symbolic of identifying for purpose of protecting (see Ezek 40-42; Zech 2.1-4, the Lord, a wall of fire around it)

11.3-14 The Two Witnesses

• 11.3 Granted authority for 1260 days (= 3 ½ years), a short period
• 11.4-6 Period of success, having characteristics of Moses and Elijah (see also Zech 4.1-13)
• 11.7-12 Their death, resurrection and ascension
• 11.13-14 Cataclysmic earthquake, 1/10^th of city destroyed, 7000 (7×1000) die

    7. 11.15-19 7^th trumpet, loud voices proclaiming God’s victory

God’s victory enacted

1. 12.1-6 Woman clothed with sun
2. 12.7-17 Dragon defeated in heaven, on earth
3. 12.18-13.10 Beast from sea (Roman emperor)wages war for 42 months (3 ½ years)
4. 13.11-18 Beast from land enforces emperor worship (666 = Nero)
5. 14.1-5 Vision of the Lamb and 144,000
6. 14.6-13 Three angels cry out
7. 14.14-20 Harvest of grain and grapes

Third Series: Angels pour drinking bowls upon the earth

15.1-8 Introduction: John sees the seven angels with the last seven plagues of God’s wrath.

1. 16.2 Painful sores
2. 16.3 All the sea turns to blood, all sea life dies
3. 16.4-7 All fresh water turns to blood
4. 16.8-9 Sun’s heat scorches people, who curse and do not repent
5. 16.10-11 Intense darkness
6. 16.12-16 River Euphrates dries up, allowing kings of the east to invade; defending armies assemble at Harmagedon (Mount Megiddo)
7. 16.17-21 Shouts in heaven “It is done!”; earthquake, hail