[2] The title of the sermon today is “REVELATION CHAPTER 8.”
- Please turn to Revelation Chapter 8 in your Bibles.
- We’ll be going through this chapter verse by verse today.
- While you’re turning there, I’ll give you a recap of where we are right now in Revelation.
- In Revelation Chapter 6, we see the seals being opened.
- The seals are not God’s wrath as we learned and it’s VERY clear that they aren’t God’s wrath.
- At the end of Chapter 6, we see the SIXTH seal being opened.
- A great earthquake, sun and moon darkened. The GREAT DAY OF HIS WRATH has come.
- At the end of Revelation 6, we see this:
[3] Revelation 6:17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
- So, it’s very clear that everything BEFORE this point in Revelation is NOT GOD’S WRATH.
- In Chapter 7, we see that God is preparing to pour out HIS WRATH.
- God’s wrath hasn’t yet started. But now, we get to Revelation Chapter 8.
- Now, we’re going to see God’s wrath being poured out here in Chapter 8.
- Let’s start there in verse 1.
[4] Revelation 8:1 And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.
- Now, we see the SEVENTH SEAL being opened.
- And whose opening this seventh seal? The LAMB OF GOD, Jesus Christ is opening this seal.
- When He opens the SEVENTH AND FINAL SEAL, there’s SILENCE in heaven for half and hour.
- So, this tells you time is being measured the same way. HALF HOUR or 30 minutes.
- All of heaven goes silent for 30 minutes. That means something TERRIBLE is coming.
- If you’re SAVED, you’ll be there in heaven to witness this 30 minutes of silence.
[5] Revelation 8:2 And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets.
- So, Jesus has opened all SEVEN SEALS at this time. He’s finished opening the seals.
- Do you see this? AFTER He’s finished opening the SEVEN SEALS, the 7 angels are given 7 trumpets.
- Those angels don’t have the 7 trumpets before the 7 seals are opened.
- I want to make sure you see this today BECAUSE of all the false teaching out there.
- There’s even a 30-minute time period of SILENCE between the last seal being opening and the trumpets being given to the seven angels.
Pre-Tribulation Rapture Teachers will say that the SIXTH SEAL is AFTER the Seven Trumpets.
- After you read Chapter 6, 7, and verses 1 and 2 of Chapter 8, there’s no way you can say that.
- It’s in perfect order. The seals are opened, silence in heaven for half an hour, and then the trumpets are given to the angels.
- And the angels haven’t sounded ANY of the trumpets at this time. NONE OF THEM have sounded yet.
- The seals are finished and the trumpets have not sounded yet.
- So, it’s definitely 100% without a doubt FALSE that the Pre-Tribulation Rapture is true.
- And pretty much EVERY CHURCH around here is teaching that.
You can’t read the Bible and understand it and teach a Pre-Tribulation Rapture.
- It’s simple and easy to see that a Pre-Tribulation RAPTURE is false.
- If you hear someone say, “Jesus can come back at any time now.”
- That’s a pre-tribulation rapture false teacher.
- And that’s why I will NEVER attend a church that teaches a Pre-Tribulation Rapture.
- That just tells me you don’t read and understand the Bible. You have no faith in God’s word.
- Instead, you’ve decided to listen to the doctrine of men versus GOD’S WORD in this Bible.
- If you have, let’s change it today and listen to God’s Word. Change your mind today.
Revelation 8 verses 1 and 2 PROVES that the trumpets FOLLOW the SEVEN SEALS.
- There’s a lot of false teaching besides the PRE-TRIBULATON RAPTURE.
- And it’s all due to people saying the trumpets are before the seven seals.
- So again, Revelation 8 verses 1 and 2 are very important to see today.
- In other words, the ONLY RAPTURE that is in this Bible is after the tribulation and before God’s wrath.
- We see the RAPTURE after the tribulation and before God’s wrath is poured out.
I know that we understand this very well today BECAUSE we’ve looked at Matthew Chapter 24 in detail, but watch this again:
- This is Jesus Christ HIMSELF speaking in Matthew Chapter 24.
- Remember, that Jesus is telling the disciples when He’s coming back.
[6] Matthew 24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
- So, what do you see right there?
- IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE TRIBULATION, the sun and moon is darkened and the stars fall from heaven.
- We’ve also studied all the other SCRIPTURE within the Bible that tells us the Day of the Lord is upon us when the sun and moon are darkened.
- But, take a look at Revelation Chapter 6 verse 12.
[7] Revelation 6:12-13 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; 13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.
- And what do you see right there? Compare Matthew Chapter 24 with Revelation Chapter 6.
- This is 100%, without a doubt, the EXACT SAME EVENT.
- Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21 all tell us about the second coming of Jesus Christ.
- The Book of Revelation tells us about the second coming of Jesus Christ.
Take what you see in Matthew, Mark, and Luke about the sun and moon being darkened AND find that in the Book of Revelation.
- The sun and moon being darkened occurs on the DAY OF THE LORD or the SECOND COMING OF JESUS CHRIST.
- The only spot in the entire book of Revelation that you’ll find this EXACT same event is right there in the verses you see on the screen.
- Revelation Chapter 6 is that SAME EVENT.
- So, when you see that event in Revelation Chapter 6, it MUST be AFTER THE TRIBULATION to match Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21.
- This means the TRIBULATION occurs in the book of Revelation BEFORE the verses you see there.
Anything after the SIXTH SEAL is not the TRIBULATION.
- The tribulation is FINISHED when we reach the opening of the SIXTH SEAL.
- Why is this? Because the sun and moon are darkened and the stars of heaven fall.
[8] Matthew 24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
- So we see the sun and moon darkened and the stars falling from heaven.
- This ONLY happens once the TRIBULATION is over. Do you see this today?
- It says right there: “IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE TRIBULATION” these things happen.
- So, everything we see in Revelation before the sixth seal is opened is TRIBULATION.
- Seal 6 and 7 are not tribulation so not all SEVEN SEALS equal Tribulation.
- Once the SIXTH seal is opened, everything else is NOT TRIBULATION.
- This means the TRUMPETS are not a part of the TRIBULATION!!!
- But yet, all the false preachers and teachers say that the trumpets are part of the tribulation.
- It’s very clear to see that the trumpets are NOT a part of the tribulation.
[9] Matthew 24:29-31 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: 30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
- So, what happens immediately after the tribulation?
- Sun and moon darkened. Stars fall from heaven.
- Verse 30 says: “AND THEN shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven.”
- “They shall see the SON OF MAN coming in the clouds of heaven.”
- Notice it says: “The Son of Man COMING in the clouds of heaven.” This is HIS SECOND COMING.
- Verse 31 shows the RAPTURE. The angels will gather together the elect.
- That’s the saved being gathered together.
- So obviously, Matthew Chapter 24 verses 29 through 31 PROVE that the Rapture is “IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE TRIBULATION.”
- Jesus can’t be MORE CLEAR right here.
If someone preaches the RAPTURE is before the tribulation, it’s FALSE. Pre-Tribulation = FALSE.
- If someone says there is more than ONE rapture, they’re a false preacher.
- There’s ONE RAPTURE. After the tribulation and BEFORE God’s wrath is poured out.
- Some false preachers are now adding additional raptures.
- Some say there isn’t even a Rapture any more. There’s 2, 3, 4, 5, 10 Raptures.
- When you know the Bible and understand it, it’s pretty straight forward. There aren’t any tricks.
Here’s something else to think about with Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21.
- What are these chapters talking about?
- They start out by asking Jesus when is the end of the world and when are you coming back?
[10] Matthew 24:3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
- These chapters talk about the TRIBULATION.
- They talk about the GREAT TRIBULATION that comes right before the SECOND COMING.
[11] Matthew 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
- Read the chapters. They’re talking about TRIBULATION before Jesus comes back.
- And then He comes back.
- You don’t see any of God’s wrath being discussed in those chapters.
- Nothing that relates to the trumpets or vials in the Book of Revelation.
- So, we KNOW 100% for sure that the TRUMPETS come AFTER the seals are opened.
- How do we know? Because the Bible is VERY clear in multiple passages of SCRIPTURE.
- The reason I’m spending time here is because everyone around teaches a PRE-TRIBULATION RAPTURE.
- And they will say that the seals don’t come before the trumpets. Here’s more proof against that.
In Revelation Chapter 6, you see the SIXTH seal being opened.
- In that chapter, we see the sun and moon darkened. Stars fall from heaven.
- “For the GREAT DAY of HIS WRATH “IS” come.” Here’s the last verse in Chapter 6 and the first verses in Chapter 7.
[12] Revelation 6:17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
[13] Revelation 7:1-3 And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. 2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, 3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
- So again, God’s wrath hasn’t been poured out yet. Why is that Scripture proof of that?
- Verse 3 says: “HURT NOT THE EARTH, NEITHER THE SEA, NOR THE TREES.”
- Why? Because the servants of God haven’t been sealed in their foreheads yet.
- Why do they need to be sealed? So they aren’t hurt by God’s WRATH!!!
- And remember what we learned during the Chapter 7 sermon.
- The 144,000 who are God’s servants are sealed BETWEEN the SIXTH and SEVENTH seal.
This FALSE TEACHING about the Pre-Tribulation Rapture is beyond ridiculous.
- The truth in the Bible is very simple and easy to understand. God didn’t make this difficult.
- FALSE PREACHERS make this difficult. Here’s what they say AS AN EXAMPLE.
- They will say that the SIXTH SEAL lines up with the SEVENTH TRUMPET.
- The Bible doesn’t say that anywhere. It’s very clear that’s false when you read the Bible.
- They say there’s SEVEN YEARS tribulation. The Bible doesn’t say that ANYWHERE.
- We went over that before, but there is no SCRIPTURE that says 7 years tribulation.
- Anything AFTER the SIXTH SEAL is not called TRIBULATION in the Bible.
- The very last time the word tribulation is used in all of the Bible is this verse in Revelation Chapter 7.
[14] Revelation 7:14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
- This is the verse in which the elder in heaven asks John where all these people who just showed up in heaven came from?
- This is the RAPTURE. These are people who appear in heaven suddenly from the RAPTURE.
- And where did they come from? “These are they which came out of great tribulation.”
- So Tribulation is now over!!! The rapture has happened.
- That’s the last time the word tribulation is used. The tribulation is now over.
- The trumpets haven’t yet sounded. The tribulation doesn’t continue after the Rapture.
- END OF STORY. PERIOD. OVER. DONE.
In Revelation Chapter 8, we’re going to see 4 angels sounding 4 trumpets.
- The other 3 angels who sound the 3 remaining trumpets will be covered in Chapter 9, 10, and 11.
- First 4 angels/trumpets are in Chapter 8. Fifth and sixth angel/trumpet are Chapter 9.
- The seventh and final angel/trumpet is in Chapter 11.
- And then remember that the story starts over in Revelation Chapter 12 with the birth of Jesus Christ.
- Then we see more details of all the prophecy when it repeats and adds more details.
- Now, let’s move back to Revelation Chapter 8 verse 1 as I want you to see something that’s important.
[15] Revelation 8:1 And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.
- That half hour time period ALWAYS stands out to me.
- God is being VERY, VERY SPECIFIC with this time. HALF HOUR or 30 minutes.
[16] Revelation 8:2 And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets.
- So we see SEVEN ANGELS with SEVEN TRUMPETS.
- This is the first time that we see 7 angels with the trumpets.
[17] Revelation 8:3 And 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.
- Now we see a different angel (not one of the 7) with a golden censer.
- This angel is given incense. The point of the incense is to offer it with the prayers of all saints.
- That means, if you’re saved, your prayers will be offered up right here at this point.
[18] Revelation 8:4 And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.
- Imagine that picture. The smoke of the incense with the prayers of the saints is ascending before God.
- Now, let’s watch what happens next as this is VERY important to see.
[19] Revelation 8:5-6 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. 6 And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.
- The same angel takes the censer and fills it with fire of the altar.
- He casts the fire into the Earth. Now, we know this is coming from God. Fire from heaven.
- The seals with TRIBULATION we KNOW were not coming from God.
- This is obviously coming from God in heaven. It’s very clear that God’s wrath has BEGUN.
- The seven angels with the seven trumpets are preparing to sound.
[20] Revelation 8:7 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 trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.
- The first trumpet sounds from the first angel.
- Hail and fire mingled with blood is cast upon the earth.
- What happens? The third part of trees are burned up. 100% of green grass is burnt up.
- Every continent in this world has green grass. Every nation has green grass.
- Even Antarctica has green grass. There won’t be ONE PLACE that isn’t on fire.
- Think about that. Only 1/3 of the trees are burned but all green grass will burn.
- Forest fires everywhere. Hail stones with fire and blood are cast upon the earth.
The Great Day of God’s Wrath has come.
- The Rapture has already happened and now God’s wrath has begun.
- This all matches Scripture perfectly. It all makes perfect sense with Scripture because it is Scripture.
- False preachers can’t make any sense of any of this.
- What do we see when God’s wrath begins? We see FIRE being rained down on earth from HEAVEN!!!
- And it starts on the SAME DAY of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ and the same day as the Rapture.
[21] Luke 17:29-30 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. 30 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.
- Do you see how all the Scripture comes together perfectly once we get it right? It’s amazing.
- You might remember this verse from 2 Peter Chapter 3.
[22] 2 Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
- So, now you can see how this verse fits with fire being rained upon earth from heaven.
- There will be so much fire that the elements upon the earth will be melting.
Some people will say: “My God would NEVER do something like this.”
- My God loves everyone no matter what. But look, they can’t explain the pouring out of God’s wrath.
- They can’t explain the flood destroying all life upon this earth.
- They can’t explain the children of Israel destroying all the men, women, and little children as God commanded them to do.
- They can’t explain God killing people in the camp of Israel when they complained about Him.
- They can’t explain Ananias and Sapphira. They can’t explain HELL.
- The Bible supports NONE of their statements about their god BECAUSE their god is a FALSE GOD.
So today, let’s see why God’s Wrath is being poured out with these 7 angels and 7 trumpets.
- Why is God raining fire upon the Earth?
- And remember, the saved people to this point in time have been Raptured.
- The only SAVED people left on Earth are the 2 witnesses and the 144,000 preaching the Gospel.
- So even through God’s wrath, people can be saved. But let’s see why God is pouring out HIS WRATH.
- Do you remember that God repays evil? Look up the words repay and recompense in the Bible.
- You’ll see all those instances of God talking about REPAYING or RECOMPENSING evil.
[23] Deuteronomy 7:10 And repayeth them that hate him to their face, to destroy them: he will not be slack to him that hateth him, he will repay him to his face.
[24] Romans 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
[25] Hebrews 10:30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
- God pays back the evil that is done in this Earth. We don’t pay it back. God PAYS it back.
- And look, He’ll do a MUCH better job than you could ever do. Let God take care of that stuff.
- So, God’s wrath is RECOMPENSING or REPAYING the evil. But why must this happen?
[26] Acts 3:20-23 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: 21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. 22 For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. 23 And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.
- Everyone who HAS NEVER BELIEVED on the Lord Jesus Christ will be destroyed.
- And it’s the MAJORITY of people. Understand that today. You might call yourself a Christian.
- But have you put all your trust and confidence on Jesus Christ to save you?
- Do you think you’re a good person? Do you think your good works get you into heaven?
- Do you think your baptism gets you into heaven? Do you think it’s your kindness?
- Do you think it’s all the good things you’ve done for other people? Does that get you into heaven?
- If you think so, you’re not saved. You need to understand that it’s JESUS alone that gets you there.
So look there at verse 21 on the screen.
- “Whom the heaven MUST RECEIVE until the times of RESTITUTION OF ALL THINGS.”
- What does the word restitution mean? Acts 3:21 is the last time the word restitution is used in the Bible.
- Here’s the first time the word restitution is used.
[27] Exodus 22:1-3 If a man shall steal an ox, or a sheep, and kill it, or sell it; he shall restore five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep. 2 If a thief be found breaking up, and be smitten that he die, there shall no blood be shed for him. 3 If the sun be risen upon him, there shall be blood shed for him; for he should make full restitution; if he have nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft.
- So, the word restitution is talking about PAY BACK for theft.
- So again, God’s wrath is PAY BACK for all the sin that they’ve committed against HIM.
- And understand, sin is GOING up against God Almighty. You don’t want to do that.
- That’s why you need to be SAVED from all your sin (past, present, future) TODAY.
- It’s very easy to explain why the flood happened. God’s love (TRUE LOVE) is HATING evil.
- Evil isn’t good for anyone. Getting rid of evil is good for everyone.
- Why does God’s wrath have to happen? Why did the flood happen?
[28] Genesis 6:5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
[29] Genesis 6:13 And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.
- Continuous evil God says. The earth is filled with violence God says.
- “BEHOLD, I WILL DESTROY THEM WITH THE EARTH.”
- Why did God rain fire upon the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah? He utterly destroyed them. Why?
[30] Jude 7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
- Notice it says they suffered the VENGEANCE of eternal fire. Why?
- Because they were ABOMINATIONS or greatly HATED by God. They went after strange flesh.
- That’s men with men and women with women. Sounds like today. Not good.
[31] Leviticus 18:22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.
[32] Deuteronomy 12:31 Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God: for every abomination to the LORD, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods.
- In other words, God HATES abominations. And man with man is an abomination.
- Woman with woman is an abomination the Bible says.
[33] Romans 1:27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
- Do you see the word RECOMPENSE right there towards the end of that verse?
- How are these people paid back? God REJECTS them He says in the very next verse of Romans.
- They will NEVER be saved. Their name is taken out of the Book of Life. It’s removed permanently.
- That’s PAY BACK for them not wanting anything to do with God and HIS DESIGN for them.
- It’s rather obvious they’re going against God’s design. They’re spitting in God’s face.
- Do you think He just allows it. Does He just forgive it? Does He just love them no matter what?
[34] Romans 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
- God giving you over to a reprobate mind is THE WORST THING that could ever happen to you.
- And REJECTS continue to laugh at that. It’s not a laughing matter. It’s sad. Eternal hell is not funny.
- Sodom and Gomorrha was just like that. The men wanted the angels who were with Lot. Sick stuff.
- You can see all of this all around in this world. It’s sick. It’s going to hell fast too. It spreads quickly.
- Fire being rained on Sodom and Gomorrha is going to happen again on a MUCH larger scale.
- It’s coming, and we see it in Revelation Chapter 8.
[35] Hosea 10:12 Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.