SEAL SEVEN - TRUMPETS OF JUDGEMENT

The Seventh Seal is unique, in that it is sub-divided into Seven Trumpets, and the last three of these Trumpets are described as Three Woes. If as we have seen, the first Four Seals describe the decline of the Pagan Roman Empire, then the first Four Trumpets of the Seventh Seal describe the inevitable downfall before the Barbarian hordes. Before going on to examine the first Four Trumpets, let us look briefly at the introduction to the Seventh Seal, where once again we meet:-

AN ANGEL AND ANGELS

"And when he had opened the Seventh Seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. And I saw the seven angels, which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets. And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer and there was given to 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 lightenings and an earthquake. And the seven angels, which had the seven trumpets, prepared themselves to sound." - (REVELATION 8:1-6)

ANGELS OF JUDGEMENT

The fact that these angels like those in the previous chapter are described as standing at the Throne of God once again indicates that they were in a constant state of preparedness to do the bidding of the Almighty. The fact that these angels are equipped with trumpets is a clear indication that their work would be one of retributive judgement, for trumpets were always blown to sound an alarm or to pronounce judgement upon a wicked city or nation. In Old Testament times, the blowing of trumpets heralded the fall and destruction of Jericho before the hosts of Joshua, and also the defeat of the Midianites by Gideon. Furthermore the symbols used in the verses; VOICES, THUNDERINGS, LIGHTENINGS and EARTHQUAKE, all indicate violent political upheaval as we have already seen. In fact the secular historian Gibbon tells us that between 375 - 476 A.D.:-

"The greater part of the Roman world was shaken by a violent and destructive earthquake ... and they considered these alarming strokes as the prelude only of still more dreadful calamities."

The Historian - Edward Gibbon

ANOTHER ANGEL

As we have already learned this is a phrase or expression used to denote our Lord Jesus Christ, and further evidence of His identity is to he found in these verses.

THE GOLDEN CENSER

We find the Lord described as having a golden censer in His hands, and a study of the Old Testament would prove that this was the exclusive right of the High Priest in Israel. We know that Jesus is indeed Israel's great High Priest and Kinsman Redeemer. Furthermore the Epistle to the Hebrews tells us

"that we have a great High Priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus Christ the Son of God." - (HEBREWS 4:14)

What then is meant by the symbol of :

THE INCENSE

Under the Mosaic ritual as carried out in both the Tabernacle and the Temple, there were strict rules regarding the offering of incense, which carried the death penalty for those who broke them. It was only to be made from certain ingredients, it was only to be made by the priesthood, and it must only be lit by the fire which came down from heaven. We read in the Old Testament of the punishment of Korah, Dathan, Abiram and King Uzziah of Judah who presumed to offer incense and of Nadab and Abihu who offered up strange fire on the altar of God.

Jesus our great High Priest has gone into the very Holy of Holies in Heaven, to the right hand of majesty on high, where the Scriptures declare that He ever lives to make intercession for us. He it is as our only Mediator and Advocate, who hears and answers the prayers of His people, described in this passage as all saints. We do not need the smoking incense and strange fire offered up to the Virgin Mary and the so-called Saintly Intercessors, on the altars of the Roman Catholic, Anglo-Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches.

Two more expressions used in this section require a brief explanation:-

This phrase is used in connection with the object of the angels' retributive judgements. It is an obvious reference to the three-fold division of the Roman Empire in this era of history. The first Four Trumpet judgements fell upon the Western European section of the Roman Empire, described in the Apocalypse, as "the earth" and embracing Italy, Gaul and the Iberian Peninsula. This was the area from which the Ten Kingdoms, symbolised in Daniel's visions as Ten Horns on the Beast and Ten Toes on the feet of the Metallic Image, would emerge. We exclude Britain from this, since the last Roman Legions left England by 410 A.D. to defend the European Empire in the West from the first waves of Barbarian invaders. Thus our island home had ceased to be in any way a part of the Roman Empire, some sixty-six years before its final end.

THERE WAS SILENCE IN HEAVEN ABOUT THE SPACE OF HALF AN HOUR

The heaven in this instance is not the dwelling place of God, but rather the heaven of political authority within the Roman Empire. Between the violent cataclysmic scenes of the Sixth Seal, which had heralded the fall of Paganism, there was a brief interlude of peace and tranquillity, when persecution ceased and Emperors who were at least nominal Christians ruled from the Imperial Throne. However it was during this very period of silence in heaven when the Church was enjoying the respite and unprecedented popularity, that apostasy took root, calling forth the Seven Angels with their Trumpets of Judgement, under the Seventh and final Seal.

Now let us look at:-

THE FIRST TRUMPET

"The first angel sounded, and there followed hail, and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of the trees were burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up." - (REVELATION 8:17)

Early in the year 395 A.D. the Emperor Theodosius died, and before the end of that year there swept down upon the Western Roman Empire, the armies of Alaric, King of the Visi-Goths. From then until 410 A.D. these Gothic invaders ravaged and rampaged across this section of the Empire, devastating its provinces by fire and the sword, thrice invading Italy and twice besieging Rome itself. Together with these Gothic invaders came an army of a quarter of a million Vandals, Suevi and Burgundians, under the leadership of Rhadagasius, whose bloodthirsty advance is described by Gibbon the historian:-

"The consuming flames of war spread from the banks of the Rhine over the greatest part of the seventeen provinces of Gaul; the scene of plenty was suddenly changed into a desert."

It is also interesting to note that Gibbon, describing the siege of Rome by the Goths, used the very language of the Apocalypse and says:-

"The inhabitants were awakened by the tremendous sound of the Gothic trumpet."

BLOOD, HAIL AND FIRE

These symbols remind us of the Plagues, which God poured out on Pharaoh's Egypt. Their purpose was to free God's people, Israel, from heathen tyranny, and similarly under the Seventh Seal, the blowing of this First Trumpet, the Gothic invasions, resulted in the withdrawal of the Roman Legions from England and Wales, thus freeing Israel in the Isles from the yoke of Imperial Rome, the Fourth or Iron Kingdom, which Daniel had seen in his vision. Fire and blood need no explanation, for they followed the Gothic armies, whilst hail is used in Scripture to symbolise warfare.

TREES AND GREEN GRASS

These have both a literal and symbolic meaning. The Goths pillaged the rich farms and vineyards of Gaul and Italy, leaving the environment as scorched earth. The late Rev. Bickersteth in his "Commentary on Revelation" says that by these symbols:-

"are perhaps intimated those more prominent institutions and multitudinous arts which adorn and clothe the life of civilised nations."

Certainly in Judges Chapter 9, trees are used as a symbol of the chief men in society, and without doubt many were the generals and governors of Imperial Rome who fell before Alaric and the Goths.

It is interesting to note before passing on to the next Trumpet, that Alaric showed mercy to the Christian places of worship, and whilst palaces and villas were sacked, churches were spared. This may have been because a section of the Goths had embraced a form of Christianity, through the ministry of Ulphilas, and some even believe that the Goths contained pockets of true Israelites amongst them.

THE SECOND TRUMPET

"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." - (REVELATION 8:8-9)

THE SYMBOLS USED

Once again John has made use of the volcanic symbols, which I explained under the Sixth Seal. They are a perfect symbol of the next group of Barbarians to ravage the Roman Empire; the Vandals, under the leadership of Genseric.

THE HISTORICAL FULFILMENT

The Vandals, having swept across the Iberian Peninsula (modern Spain and Portugal), crossed the Straits of Gibraltar and began to ravage the hitherto untouched North African sector of the Roman Empire. In 430 A.D. they besieged and burned Hippo, home city of Augustine, the protagonist of the "spiritual Israel" theory. Nine years later they conquered Carthage and dominated the Mediterranean coastline of North Africa from Morocco to Libya. Their fleets roamed the Mediterranean attacking shipping and coastal towns, and even sailing up the River Tiber to sack proud Rome itself. The islands of Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica, Majorca and Minorca fell before them, as in fulfilment of Bible Prophecy, they brought judgements to the seas, ultimately destroying the fleet of Imperial Rome. The once mighty Roman Empire which had ruled the world was now tottering on its feet of clay, when there came the sounding of:-

THE THIRD TRUMPET

"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 Mountains of waters; and the name of the star is called Wormwood ; and many men died of the waters because they were made bitter." - (REVELATION 8:10-11)

WHO WAS THE STAR WORMWOOD?

As we have already seen, stars represent ruling powers and authorities. Therefore a great star would represent a mighty leader to come on the stage of world history, in this case one who would cause great bitterness, misery, death and destruction.

Furthermore, if the Goths brought judgement on land, and the Vandals by sea, then we are looking for a leader whose people brought destruction to the river valleys of the Alpine regions. History records that just such a leader was Attila the Hun.

THE HISTORICAL FULFILMENT

The Huns, whose name has endured to the very day as a symbol of terror were amongst the fiercest of all the Barbarians whoswept into Western Europe at that time. 

Attila ruled over a territory bordered by the Danube, the Volga and the Baltic. Historians describe him as deformed in appearance, with a large head, square shoulders, swarthy complexion, deep eyes and flat nose. By all accounts he must have appeared sub-human, yet he seemed invincible in battle and he soon earned his title "The Scourge of God" as his forces advanced through the Alps and Apennines into Northern Italy, sacking the cities of Padua, Verona, Milan and Turin. In the scene here depicted, a Bishop appeals to Attila to spare a French town during the devastating rush of the Huns through France.

Not only did his armies bring bloodshed, but famine and pestilence in their wake. They were to reach the very gates of Rome before being persuaded to turn back by Pope Leo. With the subsequent death of Attila, the Empire of the Huns collapsed and had disappeared by 453 A.D.

One more final Barbarian onslaught was all that was needed to bring down Imperial Rome in the West, which was now a mere shadow of its former self. This event is recorded for us in the symbolism of:-

THE FOURTH TRUMPET

"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." - (REVELATION 8:12)

THE SYMBOLISM USED

The darkening of the sun, moon and stars, the ruling powers and the authorities, denotes the final end of the Western Roman Empire, which was to he eclipsed in 476 A.D. with the abolition of the Imperial title, and the departure from Rome of Romulus Augustulus, the last occupant of the Imperial Throne. To find out how this came to pass let us look briefly at the:-

HISTORICAL FULFILMENT

The final downfall of Imperial Rome can be attributed to Odoacer, chieftain of the Heruli. His father Edecon had been ambassador and secretary to Attila the Hun. A nominal Christian of the Arian sect who denied the Deity of the Lord Jesus, he received a prophecy from a hermit who told him:-

"Go to Italy and you shall rise to honour and cast away your coarse garment of skin for nobler vestures and your wealth will be equal to the liberality of your mind."

Odoacer brought his forces to act as mercenaries in what remained of the Western Roman Empire, quickly rising to be a general. He marched his armies into Italy where he had little problem in compelling the last Emperor of Rome to abdicate. Thus were the sun, moon and stars of Caesar's mighty Empire extinguished into oblivion.

CONCLUSION - THE THREE TRUMPETS OF WOE

"And I heard and behold an angel flying through the midst of heaven saying with a loud voice, Woe, Woe, Woe to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the Trumpets of the three angels which are yet to sound." - (REVELATION 8:13)

We have now come to the end of our studies, for with the close of the eighth chapter of the Apocalypse, the scene of Divine Judgement moves from the Western to the Eastern section of the Roman Empire known as Byzantium. These last Three Trumpets are described as Woes, and the first Two are covered in our verse by verse commentary on Revelation 9, entitled "Islam in Prophecy" in which we showed that:-

TRUMPET 5 - 1st WOE: ISLAM UNDER THE ARABS

TRUMPET 6 - 2nd WOE: ISLAM UNDER THE TURKS

What a wonderful book the Apocalypse is - unveiling the history of our world, whilst at the same time uplifting the Lord Jesus, as the soon-coming world ruler. Whilst our Revelation Studies are aimed at those who are already Christians, should anyone reading this be uncertain regarding their spiritual condition, we urge you to make your calling and election sure, by repenting of your sins, trusting in the atoning blood of Jesus, the Lamb of Calvary for forgiveness; and we encourage and exhort you to go on in obedience to His command by taking His name in water baptism by total immersion, and seeking your individual personal sealing by the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.