The end of the world, part 2.
The multitude in heaven
Revelation 7:9-17
The seventh seal is opened
Revelation 8:1-6
The first four trumpets
Revelation 8:7-13
The fifth and sixth trumpet
Revelation 9:1-21
The angel with the little book
Revelation 10:1-11
The Temple measured
Revelation 11:1-2
The two witnesses
Revelation 11:3-13
The seventh trumpet
Revelation 11:14-19
Together with the Jews, a multitude beyond number from every country on earth are brought out of tribulation. God’s purposes are not thwarted by disaster - a huge number of people are saved. And saved is the word, because the world is crashing round their ears and they must be rescued and taken to a better place. This is not a vision of a restored perfect earth, but of being brought into a new place - into God’s presence for ever.
When the final seal is opened, silence falls.
A sudden and dramatic contrast.
Then another set of seven starts - seven trumpets. More trouble on the earth.
The people left on earth are generally giving themselves up to wickedness and evil, and John is told to prophesy against them. He is made to eat a scroll of God’s words - which tastes sweet at first, but turns sour inside him. There are echoes of Ezekiel’s vision, as John is told to measure the Temple. All this would spark off lots of meaning to people steeped in the Old Testament, and they would be able to draw parallels between the world they lived in, the apparent power and glory of Rome, but the picture that’s emerging saying that the real power is in God’s control room in heaven.
The multitude in heaven
Revelation 7:9-17
The seventh seal is opened
Revelation 8:1-6
The first four trumpets
Revelation 8:7-13
The fifth and sixth trumpet
Revelation 9:1-21
The angel with the little book
Revelation 10:1-11
The Temple measured
Revelation 11:1-2
The two witnesses
Revelation 11:3-13
The seventh trumpet
Revelation 11:14-19
Together with the Jews, a multitude beyond number from every country on earth are brought out of tribulation. God’s purposes are not thwarted by disaster - a huge number of people are saved. And saved is the word, because the world is crashing round their ears and they must be rescued and taken to a better place. This is not a vision of a restored perfect earth, but of being brought into a new place - into God’s presence for ever.
When the final seal is opened, silence falls.
A sudden and dramatic contrast.
Then another set of seven starts - seven trumpets. More trouble on the earth.
The people left on earth are generally giving themselves up to wickedness and evil, and John is told to prophesy against them. He is made to eat a scroll of God’s words - which tastes sweet at first, but turns sour inside him. There are echoes of Ezekiel’s vision, as John is told to measure the Temple. All this would spark off lots of meaning to people steeped in the Old Testament, and they would be able to draw parallels between the world they lived in, the apparent power and glory of Rome, but the picture that’s emerging saying that the real power is in God’s control room in heaven.
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