The 6th Trumpet (Day 18)

 

Revelation 9:13-21 ⁽¹³⁾The sixth angel sounded his trumpet, and I heard a voice coming from the four horns of the golden altar that is before God. ⁽¹⁴⁾It said to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” ⁽¹⁵⁾And the four angels who had been kept ready for this very hour and day and month and year were released to kill a third of mankind. ⁽¹⁶⁾The number of the mounted troops was twice ten thousand times ten thousand. I heard their number. ⁽¹⁷⁾The horses and riders I saw in my vision looked like this: Their breastplates were fiery red, dark blue, and yellow as sulfur. The heads of the horses resembled the heads of lions, and out of their mouths came fire, smoke and sulfur. ⁽¹⁸⁾A third of mankind was killed by the three plagues of fire, smoke and sulfur that came out of their mouths. ⁽¹⁹⁾The power of the horses was in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails were like snakes, having heads with which they inflict injury. ⁽²⁰⁾The rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk. ⁽²¹⁾Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts.

 

 

 

The Sixth Trumpet

 John saw the sixth angel blow his trumpet and that allowed for another judgment to take place. Let’s break the verses down, so that we may have a clearer look into John’s vision.

A.) A voice spoke from the four horns of the golden altar in front of God’s throne. The four horns are the four corners of the altar. Horns were made for the four corners of the altar during Moses’ day and is once again represented here at the throne of God. Exodus 27:2 Make a horn at each of the four corners, so that the horns and the altar are of one piece, and overlay the altar with bronze. (NIV)

B.) A voice told the sixth angel to release the four angels who are held at the Euphrates River. They had been bound for a specified time to kill one-third of the earth’s population. They had an army of 200 million. These angels are indeed evil ones. They have been held until God decides to release them. God has to always give the devil permission to do what he does for he cannot go against the will of God. We find evidence of this with Job when God told Satan that he could do anything he wanted to him except take his life. Job 1:12 The LORD said to Satan, "Very well, then, everything he has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger." Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD. (NIV) Even in the mist of evil, God is still in control. If this army’s number is literal, it would be very easy to have an army of 200 million people. China’s population count alone was 1.35 billion as recently as 2014. Therefore, many nations can come together to fulfill this part of the prophecy. However if not, either way, this means that there will be a host of demonic forces on the earth causing great harm. Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden along the Euphrates River when sin first started and it seems that it may be of relevance near the end.

 

 

 C.) John described seeing horses, but these horses seem to be different than the ones he described in the previous chapters. These horses had heads like lions and fire, smoke and sulfur came from their mouths. The riders wore armor that was red, blue and yellow. Let’s break this down.

a.) The red is normally a representation of blood and atonement. However, due to the wicked people’s rejection of Christ, it symbolizes sin. Leviticus 17:11 For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life. (NIV)

 b.) Blue is normally a representation of Heaven and grace. However, the opposite meaning in idolatry. The Bible tell us that those who are found to be idolaters will have no part with Him.

Exodus 24:9-10 ⁽⁹⁾Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel went up ⁽¹⁰⁾and saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was something like a pavement made of lapis lazuli, as bright blue as the sky. (NIV)

c.) Yellow is normally a representation of celebration and joy. However, the opposite meaning is disease. Man is full of sin that sickens the soul. Isaiah 51:11 Those the Lord has rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away. (NIV)

 d.) The horses had heads like a lion, which signifies great strength and power. Fire, smoke and sulfur came from their mouth. This seems to be military aircraft that have missile and nuclear power. They had power in their mouths and tails. Military aircraft are equipped with weaponry in the front and back. People would definitely be hurt from this type of weaponry.

 D.) Despite everything that had taken place, the people still refused to repent and submit to God. They continued to worship their idols and refused to repent of their sins. However, we know that these people will not make it to Heaven and those who believe that they will still enter in are trying to make God out of a lie. However, God will not be mocked. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 ⁽⁹⁾Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men ⁽¹⁰⁾nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. (NIV)

 

It is truly going to be sad for the wicked who have refused to accept the free gift of Salvation through Jesus Christ. There will be no second chances and there will only be a reward of eternal damnation. Let us be sure that we are found righteous in the sight of the Lord, so that we will be sealed and ready to be caught up in His glory.

 

 

 

We will continue our study of Revelation on Tomorrow's Blog. These lessons are available in print on Amazon.com.

Revelation: Removing the Prophet Veil Bible Lessons 1-11.