Revelation 9:13-19...The Sixth Trumpet

from Mike Fitzpatrick's sermon on 5/10/2020

 

Revelation 9:13-19 (NASB)

13  Then the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, 14  one saying 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 prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released, so that they would kill a third of mankind. 16  The number of the armies of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them. 17  And this is how I saw in the vision the horses and those who sat on them: the riders had breastplates the color of fire and of hyacinth and of brimstone; and the heads of the horses are like the heads of lions; and out of their mouths proceed fire and smoke and brimstone. 18  A third of mankind was killed by these three plagues, by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone which proceeded out of their mouths. 19  For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails are like serpents and have heads, and with them they do harm.

 

 

The trumpets are God's response to the prayers of the saints....God does respond to and is moved by the prayers of His people...God raises up both demons and men as His instruments...He does this without violating their will or forcing them to sin...He allows them to act as they want to act...the curtain is pulled back in this text and we see what the demonic world really looks like...we are tempted by the demonic world and demonic things and it often looks very good to us, but here we see what it really looks like...sadly, the rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent...God is preparing planet Earth for the King and His Kingdom with these judgments....

 

 

Revelation 9: 13-19

Mike Fitzpatrick

 

1. The distinctiveness of Trumpet 6 (v.13-14)

Initially, it’s what John hears, not what he sees

  • ​​The altar is the golden altar of incense

  • Connected to the prayers of God’s people

  • The Trumpets are God’s response to the prayers of the saints

  • Whose voice? 

    • The voice of the Lamb​

The angel sounding his trumpet assumes an active role in the judgment

  • God’s angels? or bad…

  • The great river of Euphrates

    • 1780 miles long

    • Formed a border in the land promised to Abraham

    • Separated Israel from it’s enemies to the northeast

 

2. The Four Angels (v.15-16)

God raises up both demons and men, using them as His instruments (2 Chronicles 18)...for example: the Assyrians, Babylonians, men arresting and crucifying Jesus, all according to God's plan)

  • He does this without overriding their will or forcing them to sin (James 1:13-15)

  • The evil choice these demons will make? To kill

The result of the 4 angels being “set free”:

  • Literal or figurative number? (a literal number)

  • Human soldiers or demonic?  (demonic)

 

3. The army described (v.17-19) 

… horses mentioned in the Bible = warfare

  • Breastplate… a defensive piece of armor

    • Rider or horse? (both...there's a strong case for this grammatically)

    • The colors mirror the 3 plagues

  • Heads like lions

    • Symbols of: terror      (roar)    (10:3)

    • ferocity     (locusts)  (9:8)

    • destructiveness (13:2)

    • Also: higher order of demon?

  • Mouths that breath fire, smoke and sulfur

    • 3 distinct plagues

  • Snake-like tail

 

​

 

Opening Reflection and Discussion

  1. What do you think of when you think of a "trumpet blast"?

  2. What is most moving to you about wildfires, earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, and tornadoes?

  3. Why do you think some people believe that everyone will go to heaven (that is, no one will be punished or sent to hell by God)?

 

Exploring the Text

  1. What were the trumpet blasts that John heard? (8:7-8, 10, 12; 9:1, 13-15)

  2. What events transpired when the sixth angel blew his trumpet? (9:13-19)

  3. How were the few human survivors affected by these horrible plagues and catastrophes? (9:20-21)

 

Applying the Text

  1. What significance is there to the plagues that will befall the world in the final days?

  2. Why will the survivors in the last days still refuse to turn to God—especially after seeing the horrible judgment all around them?

  3. What does this passage tell us about God?

  4. Why do you think so many of the plagues described here stop short of complete devastation?

  5. How can you use what you’ve learned in Revelation as a tool in talking with non-Christian friends who are looking for spiritual answers?

 

Being Doers of the Word This Week

  1. What changes can you make in your prayer life this week knowing that God responds to the prayers of His people?

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