MAX KLEIN BIBLE MINISTRIES
The Seven Baptisms
Written by: Max Klein
Baptism means identification or association:
Introduction:
1. This meaning began in Homer's time. Homer wrote of the one-eyed giant, Cyclops who had trapped Ulysses and his men in a cave and was eating them one at a time. The ingenious Ulysses devised a plan. He had his men sharpen a large log and together they rammed this log into the eye of the one-eyed Cyclops rendering him blind. They identified (baptized) the sharpened log with Cyclops’ eye which changed Cyclops from a seeing giant to a blind giant. Having blinded the Cyclops, they were able to maneuver their way out of the cave. Another example by Homer: Homer's Odyssey, book 9, used baptism for hot metal identified (baptized) with water when a smith dipped a piece of hot iron into water. This is how a blacksmith would temper swords in the ancient world. After this identification, the sword was made stronger and so less likely to bend.
2. Xenophon said that the Spartan military recruits after finishing infantry training would identify (baptize) their spears with pig’s blood. They would run by a barrel of pig’s blood and thrust their spears into this blood. This ritual, identified their spears with killing and the soldier’s readiness for combat with the enemy.
3. Euripides used the word for a ship identified with the bottom of the sea when it sank. Before sinking, the ship was valuable; after sinking it had no value at all.
4. So "baptize" in the classical Greek meant to identify one thing with another so that the characteristics of the original thing were altered. Therefore, the interpretation of the word "baptism" is identification with something that brings about a change.
5. There are a number of cognates related to this Greek word such as bapto, baptizo, baptisma, baptismos, baptistes, and embapto. A few examples follow:
6. John 13:26, “Jesus then answered, ‘That is the one for whom, I shall dip [the future of the Greek word bapto] the morsel and give it to him. So, when he had dipped [the aorist participle of bapto; the sop now takes on a new meaning that of honor] the sop [the morsel], He took and gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.”
To give someone a sop [a special bit of food usually a piece of bread or meat with a tasty sauce] was the highest honor of a banquet. At a banquet a special piece of bread or meat was prepared along with a special sauce for the guest of honor who would then honor someone by giving it to that person. Jesus as the guest of honor took this sop and dipped it into a special sauce and gave it to Judas. In this way, the Lord Jesus Christ honored Judas as a member of the family of God, and for his ministry as an apostle to the Lost Sheep of Israel. This honor should have given Judas second thoughts regarding his plan to betray Jesus to the Sanhedrin.
7. Matthew 3:7, “but when he [John the Baptizer] saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism [identification: the Greek word baptisma], he said to them, “You brood of vipers [poisonous snakes], who warned you to flee from the wrath to come [Baptism of Fire: identification with the fire of Torments and then the Lake of Fire]?”
8. Hebrews 6:1-2, “Therefore, leaving behind the elementary teaching about Christ, let us advance to maturity, not laying again the foundation [of the basics such as]: a change of thinking about dead works [just as an unbeliever must have a change of mind about Christ to obtain salvation, so the believer must have a change of mind about legalism (dead works) in order to obtain the spiritual life], and of faith toward God [Faith-Rest Drill], (2) doctrine of baptisms [the Greek word baptismos; a reference to the seven types of baptism as found in Scripture] as well as the laying on of hands [ritual rebound in the age of Israel], and of resurrection from the dead, and of eternal judgment [the Great White Throne Judgment].
9. Matthew 3:1, “In those days John the Baptizer [the Greek word baptistes; when John baptized someone into the Jordan River, the converts were identified with the plan of God and his kingdom.] came proclaiming [as a herald] in the desert of Judea.”
There are two categories of identification in Scripture namely an actual identification or a real baptism and a representative identification or a ritual baptism which uses water.
The four real or actual identifications with something that has significance.
1. The Baptism of Moses: 1 Corinthians 10:1-2 presents the baptism of Moses, "For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea; (2) and all were baptized [the Greek word baptizo] into Moses in the cloud [the Lord] and in the sea." This was a real identification in which Moses was identified with the Lord and the open path through the Red Sea and the Jews were identified with Moses. By the way, none of the Jews got wet, only Egyptian unbelievers who were immersed in the water as a means of death.
2. The Baptism of the Cross is found in Matthew 20:22, “But Jesus answered [Salome by addressing her sons] and said, “You [plural: a reference to James and John] do not know what you [James and John] ask. Are you [James and John] able to drink of the cup [bear the punishment of all the sins of the world] that I am about to drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism [the sins of the world identified with Christ followed by the Father judging them] that I am baptized with [identified with]?” They [James and John] said to Him, “We are able. [the dumbest statement that James and John ever made]” [I selected the longer text as did Jerome.]
3. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit (Retroactive Positional Truth and Current Positional Truth) occurs at salvation for Church Age believers only.
Colossians 2:12. Having been buried [aorist participle] with Him [Jesus Christ] by means of the baptism [God the Holy Spirit identified us with the burial of Jesus Christ as part of our salvation] by means of which [Baptism] you have been raised up [main verb] with Him [in union with Jesus Christ seated at the right hand of the Father] through faith [at the point of salvation] in the operational power from the source of God who has raised Him [the humanity of Christ was given a resurrection body] out from the dead [physical death].
Romans 6:3-9:
Romans 6:3: Or do you not know that all of us who [a correlative] have been baptized into [identified with] Christ Jesus [Current Positional Sanctification: we are in union with Christ in his life in heaven], have been baptized into His death [Retroactive Positional Truth and so identified with his substitutionary spiritual death on the cross]?
Positionally, (in union with Christ) we share His righteousness, heirship, priesthood, destiny, election, eternal life, royalty, sonship etc. All these making us a new spiritual species in Christ Jesus. The plural correlative hosoi (ὅσοι) means that if we were identified with Christ in heaven and we were, then also we have been identified with Christ in his substitutionary spiritual death in which he removed the power of sin nature. Thus, the sin nature should not have power over our lives.
A few more points will be noted:
1. Note that the baptism of the Holy Spirit at salvation enters the believer into union with Christ at the right hand of God the Father which union is called current positional truth.
2. This verse also mentions identification with Christ in His spiritual death on the cross which identification theologians call retroactive positional truth. Retroactive positional truth also includes identification with Christ in His physical death and burial as well.
3. Identification with Christ in His death, then, has a two-fold connotation namely all personal sins were judged at the cross and since that is the case, God the Father is free to provide in grace, the Recovery Procedure. The second connotation is that good and evil were rejected by Jesus on the cross since good and evil are a part of Satan’s policy and plan. On the cross, Jesus relied on the proto-type spiritual life which operated under the two power options namely God’s power system.
4. So, the old sin nature’s ruling power over the Christian has been broken since all sins were judged on the cross and the Recovery Procedure has been provided. So, Retroactive Positional Truth has destroyed the sovereignty of the old sin nature over the life of the Christian.
5. Also, since Jesus rejected the good and evil policy of Satan so should the believer reject Satan’s policy of good and evil as the believer applies Retroactive Positional Truth.
Romans 6:4: Therefore, we have been buried together with Him through the identification [Baptism of the Spirit] into His death [physical], in order that just as Christ has been raised up from the dead [on Resurrection Sunday], through the glory of the Father [through the Father’s power], [So also we, the dead in Christ, will be raised from the dead by the power of the Father, and those alive at the Rapture, by the power of the Holy Spirit.] in this manner we also might walk in newness of life [Experiential sanctification should reflect our future ultimate sanctification.].
Christ had to die physically “and Jesus having shouted clearly with a loud voice said, Father, into your hands I deposit my [human] spirit, and having said this, he exhaled” (Luke 23:46). This last exhale caused His soul and spirit to depart from his mortal body resulting in physical death. Just as Christ had to die physically in order to obtain his resurrection body, so we must depart from our body of corruption, or mortality in order to receive our eternal body called our resurrection body.
The Newness of Life:
1. The newness of life provided through the baptism of the Spirit includes positional freedom from producing good and evil. Not only are we free from the tyranny of good and evil but we are also free from having to produce good and evil.
2. The believer has no obligation to improve the devil’s world through social action, socialism, welfare state, communism, environmentalism, or any social gospel, social action, getting involved, etc.
3. The human race is protected from Satan’s policy of good and evil through the laws of divine establishment which promote freedom instead of improvement at the cost of freedom.
4. In addition to the Laws of Divine Establishment the believer is insulated from good and evil positionally through the baptism of the Spirit.
5. Divorced from the Old Sin Nature positionally and its useless activity of human good and the function of evil, the life of the believer can be devoted to glorifying the Lord Jesus Christ through maximum knowledge and application of Bible doctrine.
Romans 6:5: For if we have become united with Him [Christ, the new husband] in the likeness of His death [the substitutionary spiritual death of Christ on the cross], and we have, and not only this, but also, we shall be [united in the likeness] of His resurrection [Current Positional Truth: in union with the resurrected Christ].
Romans 6:6: Be knowing this [through Retroactive Positional Truth], that our old man [our former husband, the sin nature dates back to the Garden] has been crucified together [with Him], in order that the [human] body, with reference to its sin nature, [the sin nature located in the body] might be rendered powerless [when we use Recovery Procedure and the two power options], that we should no longer be slaves to the sin nature.
“Our old man has been crucified with Him” meaning that the power of the sin nature has been broken on the cross. Since the power of the sin nature was broken by the work of the cross, we as believers have no excuse for not executing the spiritual life. We will not be able to say to Christ at our evaluation that our sin nature was too powerful for us to execute the spiritual life.
A few points for further clarification:
1. Retroactive positional truth is that phase of the baptism of the Holy Spirit at salvation which identifies the believer with Christ in His spiritual death, physical death and his burial.
2. In the substitutionary spiritual death of Christ on the cross all the personal sins in human history were imputed to Christ, but at the same time the other two trends of the old sin nature were not imputed for judgment.
3. Good and evil is the policy of Satan as the ruler of this world and the function of the old sin nature as the sovereign of human life. In fact, the sin nature functions as the agent of Satan.
4. Good and evil were not imputed for judgment on the cross. Hence, in the spiritual death of Christ on the cross they were rejected to remain an issue in the angelic conflict, rejected to be perpetuated in human history as an issue every believer must face, and either overcome through the intake of doctrine or be entrapped by ignorance of doctrine and therefore lose out in glorifying God in time.
5. We are identified with Christ in His spiritual death, which means that we must understand that our sins have been judged and that good and evil has been rejected.
6. It all adds up to the fact that the sovereignty of the old sin nature over human life has been made powerless through retroactive positional truth.
7. The imputation of all personal sins of the human race to Christ on the cross means that the believer through the rebound technique is instantly forgiven sins, cleansed from all wrong doing which includes Satanic good and evil, restored to fellowship and filled with the Spirit.
Romans 6:7: For we who have died [the Christian is identified with the substitutionary spiritual death of Christ: theologically called Retroactive Positional Truth] have been acquitted [positional deliverance] from [the power of] the sin nature.
A few points for further clarification:
1. A dead person is discharged from the obligations of his former sphere of life. This is why the word “death” is used in this context. It is not a literal, physical death we are discussing but identification with Christ in His death.
2. As unbelievers we were under the authority of Satan as the ruler of this world, and under the authority of the old sin nature as the sovereign of human life.
3. Both the power of Satan and the old sin nature have been abrogated through the baptism of the Holy Spirit at salvation.
4. This passage, then, emphasizes the annulling of the power and the authority of the old sin nature as the sovereign of human life.
5. Positionally, the power of the sin nature has been broken. Experientially, the old sin nature controls to the extent that we fail to understand and utilize the provision and support of logistical grace.
Romans 6:8: Now if we have died with Christ, and we have [retroactive positional truth], we also believe that we shall live in association with Him [the instrumental of association; a reference to Current Positional Truth].
In this verse, the 1st Class conditional sentence shows the relationship between Retroactive Positional Truth with Current Positional Truth. The protasis, the ‘if’ clause states the reality of Retroactive Positional Truth and the apodosis, the concluding clause states the doctrinal inference and the reality of Current Positional Truth. While Retroactive Positional Truth presents positional rejection and separation from good and evil as the policy of Satan and the function of the old sin nature, Current Positional Truth relates the believer to the function of the royal family of God. In other words, they have separate functions.
Romans 6:9: Knowing that because Christ has been raised from the dead [He received a resurrection body], no longer can He die; [physical] death is no longer a master over Him.
Analysis:
1. Retroactive positional truth destroys the sovereign authority of the old sin nature over human life. Current positional truth, on the other hand, destroys the limited authority of physical death in human life.
2. Instead of being ruled by the old sin nature located in the cells of the human body and influencing our souls toward sin, good and evil, we now have a new sovereign, the Lord Jesus Christ. We are identified with Him in His deaths, in His burial, resurrection, ascension and session.
3. Before salvation and the baptism of the Holy Spirit our lives were under the absolute rule of Satan who is the ruler of this world and under the rule of the old sin nature which is the ruler of life, and under the limited rule of physical death. All of that, of course, has been changed since salvation.
4. Now both retroactive and current positional truth have abrogated the authority and power of these former rulers. The power of Satan over our lives has been broken through identification with the rejection of good and evil namely Satan’s policy and plan and through our position in union with Christ. The power of the old sin nature is broken through retroactive positional truth and the power of physical death is broken through current positional truth.
5. Therefore, having studied these things by principle and by implication we are now ready for application, verses 12 & 13 specifically.
6. Having been positionally liberated from the sovereignty of the old sin nature as an absolute ruler, and the authority of physical death, we must recognise and apply doctrine for the experiential victory commanded in verses 11-13.
Galatians 3:25-28, “But now that faith has come, we are no longer under the authority of [have need of] a school bus. (26) For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. (27) For all of you who were baptized into Christ [identified with Christ through union with Him] have clothed yourselves with Christ. (28) There is neither Jew nor Greek [no racial distinction], there is neither slave nor free man [no social or economic distinction], there is neither male nor female [no gender distinction]; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. [All Christians have the same privileges and opportunities to execute the spiritual life.]”
Current Positional Truth, Elaborated:
In the Church Age, Current Positional Truth establishes our relationship with Christ as opposed to religion. It refers to the Church Age believer in union with Christ and is the key to understanding the Church Age and how the royal family came into being. Therefore, it is the basis for distinguishing between Christianity and religion. Christianity is a relationship with God without merit whereas religion is a system of works to gain the approbation of God. Never shall the twain meet!
The mechanics of Current Positional Truth is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, whereby the Spirit enters us into union with Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:13, “For also by agency of the one Spirit we are all baptized [identification resulting in becoming a new spiritual species] into one body [in union with Christ], whether Jews or Greeks [racial distinctions are removed], whether slave or free [class and economic distinctions are removed], even all were made to drink [the aorist passive, the voice of grace] the one Spirit [The Holy Spirit did not ask us whether we wanted to be put into union with Christ or not.].” Ephesians 4:5, “One Lord [becomes our Lord positionally at Salvation]), one faith [faith alone in Christ alone; Acts 16:31], one baptism [Baptism of the Holy Spirit takes place at salvation].”
Current Positional truth guarantees that there will be no judgment for believers in eternity, Romans 8:1, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Thus, the condemnation which occurred at the first birth was removed at the 2nd birth. As a result of being born with the sin nature and the imputation of Adam’s Original Sin, we were condemned to the Lake of Fire for all eternity, but now that has been removed. Romans 5:12, “For this reason just as through one man [Adam] the sin [nature] entered into the world [procreation], and so spiritual death through the sin [the imputation of Adam’s Original Sin to the sin nature], and so spiritual death spread to all mankind, because all sinned when Adam sinned [since we were all genetically in Adam when he sinned, we will receive Adam’s Original Sin].” However, at our spiritual birth, the 2nd birth, our pre-salvation sins were all forgiven including Adam’s Original Sin. After which, the Spirit entered us into union with Christ where there is now no condemnation (Romans 8:1).
Current Positional truth qualifies the believer to live with God forever. To live with God forever, the believer must have eternal life and God’s perfect righteousness, 1 John 5:11-12, “And this is the deposition [testimony] that the God [the Father] has given to us, eternal life, and this life is in his son [Since we are in union with Christ, we share this life.]. (12) and he who has the son [a relationship with the Son] has the life [eternal life] and the one who does not have the son of God [relationship with the Son] does not have the life [eternal life].” 2 Corinthians 5:21, “And He [the Father] made Him who knew no sin [perfection] to be a sin offering [imputation of sins on the cross] as a substitute for us so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him [current positional truth].” To live with God forever means you must have His life, and you must be as righteous as He is.
Positional truth guarantees the believer’s eternal security, Romans 8:38-39, “For I am persuaded that neither death [nothing in death] nor life [nothing in life] nor angels nor principalities [ruling angels] nor powers [human organizations] nor things present nor things to come (39) nor height [nothing in heaven] nor depth [nothing in Hades] nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Eternal life in Christ is for all eternity!
Positional truth belongs to all categories of believers whether they be apostate, mature, immature, spiritually adult, or carnal. Since Current Positional Truth occurs at the point of salvation before experience in the Christian life begins, it doesn’t depend on that experience. 1 Corinthians 1:2, “to the church of God which is in Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus [at salvation], called saints together with all who call upon the person of Our Lord Jesus Christ, their [Lord] and ours.” So, even though you may be carnal or in reversionism, you still have positional truth. Being in union with Christ has nothing to do with what you do [experiential righteousness], or don’t do [failure to execute God’s plan]. Current Positional sanctification is completely the work of God the Holy Spirit and so is not based upon our volition, but on the sovereign decision of God. We make the decision to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, but we don’t make the decision to enter into union with Christ “all were made to drink the one Spirit” as per 1 Corinthians 12:13. God the Holy Spirit graciously did that for us and so it cannot be undone.
Current Positional truth creates a new spiritual species in Christ as per 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ and he is, he is a new spiritual species. The old things have lost their power; behold, new things have come to pass.” You become a new spiritual species at salvation by being put into union with Christ. It is what God does for you, and therefore it is grace. It is not what you do after salvation, such as the self-righteous works of legalism. The “old things” have to do with spiritual death and those things related to that death; the “new things” refer to things you receive at salvation such as the 40 assets and the unique spiritual life.
Positional truth should motivate the production of divine good and a pattern of life compatible with royalty as per Ephesians 2:10, “For we are his creation, having been created in Christ Jesus [a new spiritual species with many assets] for the purpose of divine good production [via experiential sanctification] which the God [the Father] has prepared in advance [in eternity past, God the Father provided election and predestination as part of our Portfolio of Invisible Assets], that we in the sphere of them [election and predestination] may pattern our lives.”
Even though a Christian may die the Sin on to Death, he will not lose his position in union with Christ (1 John 5:18-20), and so cannot lose his salvation. In order for a believer to lose his position in Christ, he would have to sin in that status, but since the believer cannot sin in union with Christ, he cannot lose his position in Christ and so cannot lose his salvation. Thus, it is comforting and reassuring to a believer to know that even though a loved one may have died the ‘sin on to death’, he has not lost his salvation.
Because we are in union with Christ, we share His:
1. Eternal life, 1 John 5:11, “And this is the deposition [testimony] that the God [the Father] has given to us, eternal life [At salvation, God the Father imputes this life to the human spirit], and this life is in his son [The Christian also shares the life of Christ through union with Him]. (12) and he who has the son [a relationship with the Son] has the life [eternal life] and the one who does not have the son of God [relationship with the Son] does not have the life [eternal life].”
John 14:6, “Jesus said to him [Thomas], ‘I am the way, the truth and the life [eternal life]; no person [in human history] comes face to face with the Father [having an eternal relationship with the Father] except through Me.’”
2. Perfect righteousness, 2 Corinthians 5:21, “And he (God the Father) made him [Jesus] who knew no sin (perfection) to be a sin offering as a substitute for us so that we might become the righteousness of God in him [positional truth]. Sharing the righteousness of Christ, we become the objects of God the Father’s love as per Romans 8:39.
3. Election, Ephesians 1:4, “just as He [the Father] has elected us for Himself in Him [Jesus Christ] before the creation of the world [in eternity past], that we may be set apart [experiential sanctification] and blameless [ultimate sanctification] in the presence of Him [Father].”
4. Destiny, Ephesians 1:5, “By means of love, He has predestined us for the purpose of adoption as adult sons to Himself through Christ Jesus our Lord according to the grace purpose of His will.”
5. Sonship, Galatians 3:26, “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.”
6. Heirship, Romans 8:16-17, “The Spirit Himself testifies together [bears witness] with our [human] spirit, that we are the children of God. (17) Now, if we are children and we are, also heirs, on the one hand heirs of God [the Father], and joint heirs with Christ. If indeed [if it is true that], we suffer with Him [pass all three stages of undeserved suffering], that also we might be glorified with Christ.”
7. Sanctification, 1 Corinthians 1:2, “to the church of God which is in Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, called saints together with all who call upon the person of Our Lord Jesus Christ, their [Lord] and ours.”
8. Priesthood, Hebrews 7:12-19, “For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change in the Law also. (13) For the One [the Lord Jesus Christ] concerning whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe [the tribe of Judah] from which no one has officiated at the altar. (14) For it is evident that our Lord has descended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests, (15) and this is clearer still, if another priest arises similar to Melchizedek, and there has, (16) who has become a priest not on the basis of physical requirement [a reference to the Levitical Priesthood] but on the basis of indestructible life [the Lord’s priesthood is forever]. (17) For this reason, it is witnessed, ‘You are a priest forever similar to the order of Melchizedek.’” [We are in union with Christ. Therefore, we are royalty and priests forever. We represent ourselves before God as royal priests.] (18) For, on the one hand, there is a rescinding of the former commandment [the Mosaic Law that authorized the Levitical priesthood] because of its weakness and uselessness (19) (for the Law brought nothing to completion), but on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope [the second door of hope for the Church Age believer—a personal sense of destiny—by which we enter the adult spiritual life] through which we draw near to God.”
Hebrews 7:26-28, “For it is fitting that we should have such a high priest, impeccable integrity, the One who cannot do evil, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens; (27) Who does not need daily, like those Levitical priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for their own sins, and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He [Jesus] offered up Himself. (28) For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of His [God the Father’s] oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, who has become perfect forever [Jesus Christ is a perfect high priest].”
9. Royalty, 1 Peter 2:9, “ But you and only you are an elect [elect by God the Father] race [as a new spiritual species], a royal priesthood [since Jesus is a king-priest], a holy nation [God’s entity: a nation of priests: every Christian is a priest], a people for God’s own possession [a protected people], so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him [Christ] who has called [in eternity past] you out of darkness [spiritual death and the Cosmic Systems] into His amazing light [his plan];”
10. New Spiritual Species, 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ and he is, he is a new spiritual species. The old things have lost their power [Old Covenant]; behold, new things have come to pass [This would include the New Covenant to the Church.].”
Current Positional Truth changes our relationship with Angels.
1. Through current positional truth the believer is higher than angels positionally.
2. Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father, and so superior to all angels. By virtue of being in union with Christ, every believer is now positionally superior to angels.
3. Positional truth has fulfilled the believer’s triumph with Christ in the angelic conflict. We are victorious with Him already.
4. Furthermore, positional truth demands compatibility with experiential righteousness. Therefore, the believer’s walk on this earth must be compatible with positional truth since we have perfect security in Christ, we have the freedom to choose for Jesus Christ, to love Jesus Christ, to respond to His love, and to fulfill our purpose on this earth.
What positional truth is not?
1. It is not an experience, emotions or ecstasies.
2. It is not progressive; it cannot be improved in time or eternity.
3. It is not related to human merit or ability.
4. It cannot be changed by God, man or angels. It is eternal in nature.
5. It is not obtained gradually as you grow in grace, but in toto at salvation.
6. It is not known apart from the metabolization of doctrine.
7. From understanding the doctrine of positional truth, we progress in our spiritual life, but we cannot improve it since it is perfect at salvation.
8. We are not in Christ because of what we do (execution of the spiritual life) or fail to do (fail to execute the spiritual life), but because of what God has done.
A few points of explanation:
1. The conclusion from positional truth, whether retroactive or current, is that the Christian must apply these doctrines to his spiritual life.
2. In Romans 7:1-4 where we have an illustration of a woman whose first husband has died freeing her to marry another. This is what actually happens to us as believers at salvation. The old sin nature is the husband up to the point of salvation, but at the moment we believe in Jesus Christ positionally the sin nature is dead, as it were, the first husband has died and we have a new husband through union with Christ. Retroactive Positional Truth removes our first husband, the sin nature whereas Current Positional Truth enters us into union with Christ, our new husband.
3. The old sin nature-husband is still around, still seeking to regain his control over his former wife, the believer. But union with the second husband, the Lord Jesus Christ, has broken the first husband’s authority over the former wife.
4. The Baptism of Fire:
Matthew 3:11, “On the one hand I [John the Baptizer] baptize you [believers] by means of water because of a change of thinking [about Christ], but the one coming after me is mightier than I whose sandals I am not worthy to lace [loosen, remove]. He himself will baptize by means of the Holy Spirit [a reference to the Baptism of the Holy Spirit in the Church Age] and by means of fire [a reference to the Baptism of Fire at the 2nd Advent].”
Baptism of Fire: The baptism of fire (identification with fire) is defined as the judgment of unbelievers both Jew and gentile at the Second Advent. They will be removed from the earth and placed in fire for 1000 years until the Last Judgment, Luke 3:16-17; Mathew 25:31, 33. The analogy to the Baptism of Fire is found in Matthew 24:36-41. The one left in the field is the mature believer; the one taken is the unbeliever.
Parables of the Baptism of Fire:
1. The wheat and the tares (the unbelievers), Matthew 13:24-30, 36-40.
2. The good and bad fish (unbelievers), Matthew 13:47-50.
3. The ten virgins: five wise, five foolish (the unbelievers), Matthew 25:1-13.
4. The sheep and the goats (the unbelievers), Mathew 25:31-46.
5. The talent test, Matthew 25:14-30. The one talent man represents the unbeliever.
If Jesus Christ had not been rejected by the Jewish people, then the age of Israel would have continued until its completion (the Tribulation completes the age of Israel). (However, they did reject Jesus Christ as Savior and Messiah and so the client nation was destroyed, and the Church age was intercalated that is inserted before the age of Israel was complete.) After the completion of the age of Israel at the end of the Tribulation, comes the wrath of God namely the Baptism of Fire when the Lord removes both Jewish and gentile unbelievers from the earth and identifies them with fire forever. After which, the Millennial reign begins.
The Three Ritual Baptisms. None are extant at the present time. They are representative identifications in which water is used as a training aid to represent some principle of doctrine.
1. The Baptism of John is found in Matthew 3:2-6, “Saying, ‘Change your thinking [regarding Christ] for the kingdom of heaven is near.’ [The future king was already on the earth] (3) For this is what was communicated through Isaiah, the prophet saying, ‘The voice of one [John the Baptizer] proclaiming loudly in the desert [of Judea]. Prepare [the aorist tense is a one time-decision] the way of the Lord [an idiomatic expression for salvation]. Keep on making upright [the use of the Recovery Procedure followed by the development of experiential righteousness] His paths!’ (Isaiah 40:3) (4) Now, John himself kept on having a garment of camel’s hair [very uncomfortable] and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. (5) Then [after John went where God wanted him to be] Jerusalem kept on going out to him [face to face] and all Judea and all the districts around the Jordan. (6) and they were being baptized [identified with the kingdom] by him [under John’s authority] in the Jordan River [where Israel crossed when they entered the land], and they kept on confessing their sins [post-salvation confession of sins].”
MAX KLEIN BIBLE MINISTRIES
The Book of Revelation: Chapter Eight
A verse-by-verse commentary by Max Klein
Let us bow our heads; If we need to use the Recovery Procedure as found in 1 John 1:9, let us do so at this time that we might be in fellowship. (pause) Father, we thank you for the privilege and opportunity to study your word and for the freedom that you have provided for us here in Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S.A.; furthermore, we express our appreciation to God the Holy Spirit who will enlighten us regarding the message this evening. We as priests pray this through the person of our Lord Christ Jesus, our High Priest, Amen.
Outline:
1-2. The transition from seals to trumpets
3-6. The answer to the imprecatory prayers of the martyrs of the Tribulation
7-13. The first four trumpet judgments
Revelation 8:1
Then, when He had opened the seventh seal [the seven trumpets originate from the seventh seal], there was silence in heaven for about a half an hour.
Καὶ ὅταν ἤνοιξεν τὴν σφραγῖδα τὴν ἑβδόµην, ἐγένετο σιγὴ ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ ὡς ἡµίωρον.
We begin, then, with the transition from the seal-judgments to the trumpet judgements. We note in verse one, the opening of the seventh seal which will contain the seven trumpets. Great silence follows. This is a very unusual thing because silence is not the way in which most of the drama and disasters of the Tribulation are expressed; they are generally expressed through a loud noise of one kind or another. However, so great are the trumpet judgements that when the seventh seal is opened by our Lord Jesus Christ there will be great silence in heaven due to the severity of these Trumpet Judgments. The silence here is a reference to the shock of the supernatural nature of the trumpet judgements. This one half-hour of silence has to be classified, therefore, as dramatic silence. The trumpet judgements are supernatural in character which judgments are the result of bad decisions by a large portion of the world’s population which calls for a system of supernatural judgements.
The silence of shock therefore becomes the silence of worship, as illustrated by certain passages where all worship is related to silence on the part of the congregation, Habakkuk 2:20, “But the Lord is in His holy temple. Let all the earth be silent before Him.” Zechariah 2:13, “Be silent, all flesh, before the Lord; for He is aroused from His holy habitation." This silence also connotes a recognition of God’s authority, as found in 1 Timothy 2:11-12, “A [Christian] woman must learn [Biblical instruction] in quietness [concentration] and with full submissiveness. (12) In fact, I do not permit a woman to teach nor exercise authority over a man [in the church] but she must be in silence.”
The seventh seal is the amplification of the various historical trends of the Tribulation including Satan’s demon invasions, dictatorship and the evil function of religion. Out of the seventh seal there are two categories of historical trends yet to be studied: the trumpet judgements of Revelations chapters 8-14 and the drinking goblet-judgements of chapters 15:7 to chapter 18.
Note the contrast of sealing with the seal-judgments. In Revelation 7:3 we have the sealing for blessing of 144,000 evangelists of the Tribulation. This sealing is designed for the blessing of mankind through the presentation of the gospel. Now, by way of contrast, in Revelation 8:1 we have the breaking of a seal of judgment from which comes the seven trumpet judgements. Hence, a seal of cursing. The relationship between Revelation chapter seven and chapter eight brings out the concept of grace preceding judgment.
As we get into the various trumpet judgments, we are going to note that they are supernatural in character. Our Lord not only created the universe but He sustains it. The continuation of the universe and its creatures depends, therefore, on who and what Jesus Christ is. The omnipotence of Christ is the means of handling these things. The immutability of Christ is also involved. He is the secret, therefore, to so-called scientific law. Really, there is no such thing as a scientific law. These are divine laws rather than scientific. Scientific laws are simply the manifestation of God’s faithfulness. Science has no way of enforcing these laws. Science cannot guarantee that they will continue from day to day and operate in exactly the same way. It is the faithfulness of God that provides this. So-called scientific laws are based upon the statistical assumption that the universe which operates according to a fixed norm will continue to do so, yet science can observe but science cannot guarantee any law. In the meantime, so-called scientific laws are often set aside in the Tribulation that the Lord might administer supernatural judgements.
Revelation 8:2
Then, I saw seven angels [Pursuivant Messengers from the College of Heralds: this and other terms by R.B. Thieme Jr. are used to explain the rank of angels and their protocol-function] who stood before God, and seven trumpets [for the Seven Trumpet Judgments] were given to them.
καὶ εἶδον τοὺς ἑπτὰ ἀγγέλους οἳ ἐνώπιον τοῦ θεοῦ ἑστήκασιν, καὶ ἐδόθησαν αὐτοῖς ἑπτὰ σάλπιγγες.
To understand these seven trumpet judgments, we need to go back to chapter six, verse 9 and note again the martyrs of the Tribulation, for it is these martyrs who are responsible for the seven trumpets. These most unusual judgements in history, supernatural judgements in fact, are the result of a category of prayer we call imprecatory.
Why the trumpets? The trumpet was used as a system for giving commands. It was an alert system, an alert for something unusual which we have anticipated by the silence in heaven for half an hour. Verbal commands were often impossible for they did not have the systems of communication such as we have today whereby voice commands could be given to thousands of troops. So terrible are the trumpet judgements that the trumpet is used because of the din, the confusion, the unusual noises of nature and human beings combined in great agony.
These judgements are divided into two categories. Four of them are found in chapter eight, the other three are found in other chapters and they are called “Woes.” The first four judgements are all related to nature. Supernatural events in nature are brought against mankind. These four trumpet judgements are presented in verses 7-13 as a part of the answer to the imprecatory prayers of the martyrs of the Tribulation. The last three trumpet judgements are directed against mankind. All of these judgements are going to combine to make life horrible for those who persecuted believers in the Tribulation.
Trumpet Judgments:
1. The first trumpet is found in Revelation 8:7. It is a judgment against vegetation where one third of the topsoil, vegetation, rain forest, is removed from the earth. We will see what happens under those conditions and how this becomes a fantastic judgment.
2. The second trumpet is found in Revelation 8:8, 9. It is a judgment against salt water.
3. The third trumpet is found in Revelation 8:10, 11. It is a judgment against fresh water.
4. The fourth trumpet judgment in Revelation 8:12 is going to bring great darkness to the earth.
5. The fifth trumpet judgment is called the first woe, found in Revelation 9:1-12. It is a judgment involving a demon invasion from the Abyss, and where we meet the number two fallen angel, Abaddon (Apollyon).
6. The sixth trumpet is found in Revelation 9:13-21. It is a demon invasion of 200 million fallen angels from under the Euphrates River.
7. The seventh trumpet or third woe is found in Revelation 11:15 through 12:17, another woe on demon activity, the demon attack against Israel, the greatest movement of anti-Semitism in all of human history.
The angelic hierarchy of elect angels is divided into two categories: the College of Heralds and the Angelic Order of Battle.
The Angelic College of Heralds, a system of Aristocracy:
1. The Commander-in-Chief, the “Angel of the Lord,” is a reference to the Lord Jesus Christ as the ruler of the College of Heralds. Passages which identify the Angel of the Lord as God include: Genesis 16:7-13 (the Angel of the Lord appeared to Hagar), 22:11-18 (the Angel of the Lord told Abraham on Mount Moriah not to slay his son), 31:8-13 (the Angel of the Lord blessed Jacob’s flocks); Exodus 3:1-2 and Acts 7:30-35 (the Angel of the Lord appeared to Moses in a burning bush); Judges 6:11-23 (the Angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon), Judges 13:9-20 (the Angel of the Lord appeared to the parents of Sampson). All of these appearances were theophanies. (Jesus appeared as a man during the dispensation of the Hypostatic Union. After the resurrection, Christ appeared as a Christophany. The last appearance as a Christophany was to John on the Island of Patmos.)
2. At the time of the judgment of Satan and the fallen angels, the elect angels received their eternal awards. Cherubs with four wings were the highest creation of angels from God prior to the fall of Satan and his fallen angels. Seraphs with six wings were designated a higher category after the fall of Satan and his angels. Wings are a badge of rank and so the more wings, the higher the rank and authority. Angels are possibly made of light, and so can be visible or invisible. The Seraph, Gabriel functions as a herald in the College of Heralds. Gabriel’s announcements of the coming births of John the Baptist and Jesus Christ. The announcement of the birth of John the Baptizer is made in Luke 1:11-20. Gabriel is identified in Luke 1:19, “And the angel answered and said to him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God; and I have been sent to speak to you, and to bring you this good news.” The Archangel Gabriel is also the one who brought the good news to Mary in Luke 1:26-27, “Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee, called Nazareth, (27) to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.” Gabriel’s trumpet-call to assemble all living believers at the Rapture of the Church is found in 1 Thessalonians 4:16, “Because the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a command [will give a command through Gabriel], with the voice of the archangel [for mortality to receive immortality] and with the trumpet of God [the Father’s trumpet command for corruption to become incorruption], in fact, the dead in Christ will rise first [in their resurrection bodies].”
The four Angelic Heralds as per Revelation 4:6-8 also mentioned in Isaiah 6:2 and the King of Arms called the powerful angel as per Revelation 5:2 and 10:1 are Seraphs. It appears that the King of Arms (the powerful angel) is higher in rank than are the four Angelic Heralds.
3. The cherubim heralds, namely the Pursuivant Officers have four wings as a badge of rank.
a. The cherubs who guard the gate of the Garden of Eden, Genesis 3:24, “So He drove the man [Adam] out; and at the east of the garden of Eden He stationed the cherubim and the flaming sword which turned every direction to guard the way to the tree of life.”
b. The four cherubs, one at each wheel of the chariot of fire, Ezekiel chapters 1 and 10.
c. The pursuivant officer who commands the weather machine, Revelation 7:2, “Then, I saw another angel [Pursuivant Officer, a cherub, the commander over the weather machine] who had the seal of the living God, coming up from the East and shouting a command in a loud voice to the four angels [pursuivant messengers] to those who were given the authority or power to damage the land and the sea [via the wind cells].”
d. The evangelistic cherub in charge of all evangelism in the Tribulation, Revelation 14:6-7, “Then I [John] saw [constative aorist: verses 6-20; vision] another angel [the pursuivant officer from the angelic college of heralds] flying at high noon [the zenith point of the sun in any given time zone], and he has the eternal Gospel [grace precedes judgment] to announce the good news [during last half of Tribulation] to those who are residing on the earth, both to every nation [Gentiles] and tribe [Jews scattered throughout the world] and language [floating population, not associated with any nation] and people [wandering or dislocated people]. (7) And he [Pursuivant Officer] spoke with a loud voice, "Fear [imperative of entreaty: an appeal to human volition: such fear of eternal God that they might believe in Christ] God and give glory to Him [believe in Christ], because the hour of His judgment is about to come [a reference to the Baptism of Fire which follows the 2nd Advent]; and worship Him [involves homage and veneration] who created the atmosphere [1st heaven] and the land mass and the oceans and other salt water bodies [98% of this planet is salt water; 2 % is fresh with most frozen] and fountains of water [fresh water on the land masses including rivers, lakes and inland seas].”
e. The cherubs or Pursuivant officers who announce the fall of ecumenical religion in the Tribulation, Revelation 14:8, “Then, another angel [another cherub: a pursuivant officer], the second one, followed and kept saying, "Babylon the great [ecumenical religion] has fallen, Babylon the great has fallen, she [the Greek article] has caused all the nations to drink from the wine of wrath [divine judgment on ecumenical religion] of her fornication [spiritual: unfaithfulness to God and his plan].”
f. The cherub who warns the human race about the consequences of being converted to ecumenical religion during the Tribulation, Revelation 14:9-10, “Then, another angel, the third one, followed them [the other two Pursuivant Officers], and kept saying [at high noon], "If anyone worships the beast-dictator and his image [assumed to be true: abomination of desecration] and receives [futuristic present] his mark [identification] on his forehead or on his hand, (10) he [those who say no to the gospel] also shall drink from the wine of the wrath of God [Revelation 16:2: divine judgment against religion followed by the Baptism of Fire], which has been concentrated [is very unpalatable] in the cup of His anger, and he will be tormented in fire and burning sulfur [Torments] before the holy angels [elect] in the presence of the Lamb [The Lord Jesus Christ resolves the angelic conflict].”
g. The cherub who carries a sickle and administers judgment in the last half of the Tribulation as a representative of the supreme court of heaven, Revelation 14:17, “Then, another angel [the one who commands the execution squad of 7] came out of the temple which is in heaven [heavenly headquarters], and he also had a sharp sickle. [the symbol of divine judgment]” Revelation 14:19, “Then the angel [a Pursuivant Officer in command of the execution squad of verse 17] swung his sickle against the earth [the administration of the seven last plagues of the Tribulation], and he harvested the vines of the earth [areas of degeneracy and ecumenical religion], and he threw them into the great wine press of the wrath [descriptive genitive] of God [this anticipates the 7 last plagues].” Revelation 16:5-6, “And I heard the angel of the waters saying, "Righteous are You, who are and who was, O Holy One, because You judged these things; (6) for they poured out the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink. They deserve it."
4. The wingless messengers of judgment are Pursuivant Messengers.
a. The angelic messengers who spent the night with Lot in Sodom, Genesis 19:1ff, “Now, two angels [Pursuivant Messengers] came to Sodom in the evening as Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them and bowed down with his face to the ground. (2) And he said, "Now behold, my lords, please turn aside into your servant's house, and spend the night, and wash your feet; then you may rise early and go on your way.’ They said however, ‘No, but we shall spend the night in the square. (3) Yet he urged them strongly, so they turned aside to him and entered his house; and he prepared a feast for them, and baked unleavened bread, and they ate. (4) Before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, surrounded the house, both young and old, all the people from every quarter; (5) and they called to Lot and said to him, ‘Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us that we may have relations with them [rape them all night], (6) but Lot went out to them at the doorway, and shut the door behind him, (7) and said, "Please, my brothers, [hypocrisy] do not act wickedly [do not rape these men]. (8) Now behold, I have two daughters who have not had relations with man; please let me bring them out to you, and do to them whatever you like; only do nothing to these men, inasmuch as they have come under the shelter of my roof [religious people have no integrity, but only hypocritical self-righteousness]. (Now in verse 13, these angels speak.) (13) for we are about to destroy this place, because the outcry against its people has become great before the Lord, and the Lord has sent us to destroy it.”
b. The destroying angel of 2 Samuel 24:10-16, “Now, David's heart troubled him after he had numbered the people. So, David said to the Lord, ‘I have sinned greatly in what I have done, [he had taken a census of the people and in so doing violated the privacy of the citizens of Israel] but now, O Lord, please take away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have acted very foolishly.’ (11) When David arose in the morning, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying, (12) Go and speak to David, 'Thus the Lord says, ‘I am offering you three things; choose for yourself one of them, which I will do to you.’ (13) So, Gad came to David and told him, and said to him, ‘Shall seven years of famine come to you in your land? Or will you flee three months before your foes while they pursue you? Or shall there be three days' pestilence in your land? Now consider and see what answer I shall return to Him who sent me.’ (14) Then, David said to Gad, "I am in great distress. Let us now fall into the hand of the Lord for His mercies are great, but do not let me fall into the hand of man.’ (15) So, the Lord sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning until the appointed time, and seventy thousand men of the people from Dan to Beersheba died [There is not only blessing by association but also cursing by association]. (16a) When the angel [a wingless angel, a Pursuivant Messenger] stretched out his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, the Lord relented from the calamity and said to the angel who destroyed the people [the 70 thousand], "It is enough! Now relax your hand!”
c. The destroying angels of Psalm 78:49-51, “He sent upon them His burning anger, fury and indignation and trouble, A band of destroying angels [Pursuivant Messengers]. (50) He leveled a path for His anger; He did not spare their soul from death, but gave over their life to the plague, (51) and smote all the firstborn in Egypt, the first of their virility in the tents of Ham [the Egyptians were descendance of Ham].”
d. The executioners of the city of Jerusalem, Ezekiel 9:1-11. Ezekiel 9:1, “Then He cried out in my hearing with a loud voice saying, "Draw near, O executioners [Pursuivant Messengers] of the city [Jerusalem], each with his destroying weapon in his hand [to destroy the sinfully evil people of Jerusalem]."
e. The man clothed in Linen who acts as the messenger of the chariot of fire, Ezekiel 10:2-10, “He [the Lord] spoke to the man clothed in linen [a Pursuivant Messenger], ‘Enter between the whirling wheels under the cherubim and fill your hands with coals of fire from between the cherubim and scatter them over the city [of Jerusalem], and as I watched, he entered. (3) Now, the cherubim were standing on the south side of the temple when the man [the Pursuivant Messenger] entered, and a cloud filled the inner court. (4) Then, the glory of the Lord rose from above the cherubim and moved to the threshold of the temple, and the temple was filled with the cloud and the court was filled with the radiance of the glory of the Lord. (5) Moreover, the sound of the wings [badge of rank] of the cherubim could be heard as far away as the outer court, like the voice of God Almighty when he speaks, (6) and it came to pass when He [the Lord] commanded the man in linen [a Pursuivant Messenger], saying, ‘Take fire from between the whirling wheels, from between the cherubs,’ and he entered and stood beside a wheel. (7) Then, one of the cherubim reached-out his hand to the fire [representing judgment] that was among them and took some of it and put it into the hands of the one clothed in linen [the Pursuivant Messenger] who took it and went out [and scattered it over the city of Jerusalem symbolizing judgment]. (8) (Under the wings of the cherubim could be seen what looked like human hands.) (9) Then, I looked, and saw four wheels beside the cherubs, one wheel beside each cherub; and the appearance of the wheels was like the gleam of an emerald [representing God’s promise to always protect the mature believer no matter how great the disaster]. (10) And as for their appearance, the four of them look alike, each as if one wheel were within the other wheel [In other words, they were exact duplications as far as their appearance.].”
f. The four angels each having a hemisphere who restrain the wind cells of the weather machine in Revelation 7:1, “After these things [the breaking open of the first 6 seals] I saw four pursuivant angels [these are wingless angels who control the weather machine, one angel for each hemisphere] standing ready [to administer divine judgment] at the four corners of the earth [the four hemispheres: NW (three wind cells namely the Hadley, Ferrel, and the Polar cells are in operation), NE (three wind cells namely the Hadley, Ferrel, and the Polar cells are in operation), SW (three wind cells namely the Hadley, Ferrel, and the Polar cells are in operation), SE (three wind cells namely the Hadley, Ferrel, and the Polar cells are in operation)] restraining the four winds of the earth [Within these hemispheres, there are wind cells namely the Polar cells driven by temperature: as air moves toward the poles it sinks and forms easterly surface winds, the Ferrel cells (located between the Polar and the Hadley cells and so are dragged by these two wind cells and not by temperature), and the Hadley cells (equatorial cells) circulate hot air through the atmosphere from the surface to high altitudes and back again in a circular fashion.], in order that no judgment or disciplinary wind should blow on the land or on the sea or against any tree.”
The global circulation can be described as the world-wide system of winds by which the necessary transport of heat from tropical to polar latitudes is accomplished. In each hemisphere there are three cells (Hadley cell, Ferrel cell and Polar cell) in which air circulates through the entire depth of the troposphere (The inner layer of the atmosphere varying in height between 6 to 12 miles in which nearly all cloud formation occurs and weather conditions manifest themselves.
The horse latitudes were named by the crews of sailing ships, who sometimes threw horses overboard to conserve water when their ships were becalmed in the high-pressure belts.
Trade Winds: a wind blowing steadily towards the equator from the northeast in the northern hemisphere or the southeast in the southern hemisphere, especially at sea. Two belts of trade winds encircle the earth, blowing from the tropical high-pressure belts to the low-pressure zone at the equator.
g. The angels with the seven trumpets, Revelation 8:6, “Then the seven angels [pursuivant messengers] who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves that they might sound their trumpets [for judgment].”
h. The Seven Thunders are teachers of eschatology, Revelation 10:3-4, “Then he [the powerful angel, the King of Arms] shouted with a loud voice [made his proclamation that Jesus Christ is the legitimate ruler of the world], just as a lion roars [can be heard at a great distance] and when he had shouted [made his announcement], the seven thunders [angels who rank below the powerful angel; referred to as Pursuivant Messengers] relayed the proclamation with their voices. (4) Now, when the seven thunders relayed the proclamation, I [John], was about to write it down [the present tense means that he had already made notes], but I heard a voice from heaven [here and verse 8: the voice of God the Holy Spirit] saying, "Seal up [close it up] what the seven thunders have spoken and do not write it down."
i. Also, there are seven angels [Pursuivant Messengers] bearing the seven goblet judgments [the Seven Plagues] of the wrath of God as per Revelation 15:1, “Then I saw [constantive aorist tense: the vision of the seven last plagues of chapters 15-16] another [of the same kind: another system of judgment similar to the seven seals and seven trumpets] sign [something contrary to the usual course of nature, a miraculous sign] in heaven [the 3rd heaven], great and remarkable [astonishing: judgments from God are always awesome], seven angels who had seven plagues [ same as the bowl judgments of Revelation 16: seven disasters], which are the last ones [the terminating ones of history], because in them [the seven last plagues] the wrath of God has been completed [no more judgments except putting down the Gog Magog Revolution].”
The Angelic Order of Battle:
1. Jesus Christ, as the Lord of the Armies is the commander of the armies of elect angels. I have picked two passages where the title, “The Lord of the Armies” is used both in the Masoretic Text and in the Septuagint.
As the Lord of the Armies, the Lord punishes nations that abuse Israel. In this passage, Isaiah is prophesying the destruction of the Chaldean Empire. Isaiah 13:4-5 and verses 15-19, “A sound of tumult on the mountains, like that of many people! A sound of the uproar of kingdoms, of nations gathered together! The Lord of the Armies [יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת κύριος σαβαωθ] is mustering the army for battle. (5) They [the Persians and the Medes] are coming from a far country, From the farthest horizons, the Lord and His instruments of indignation, to destroy the whole land [of Chaldea]. (15) Anyone who is found will be thrust through, and anyone who is captured will fall by the sword. (16) Their little ones also will be dashed to pieces before their eyes; Their houses will be plundered and their wives ravished. (17) Behold, I am going to stir up the Medes against them, who will not value silver or take pleasure in gold. (18) And their bows will mow down the young men; They will not even have compassion on the fruit of the womb, nor will their eye pity children. (19) And Babylon, the beauty of kingdoms, the glory of the Chaldeans' pride, Will be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.”
Isaiah illustrates in Isaiah 13:6-14 from the 2nd Advent, how the Lord Jesus Christ destroys nations that attack Israel. This was to encourage Israel. “Wail, for the day of the Lord is near! It will come as destruction from the Almighty. (7) Therefore, all hands will fall limp, and every man's heart will melt. (8) They will be terrified; Pains and anguish will take hold of them; They will writhe like a woman in labor; They will look at one another in astonishment, their faces aflame. (9) Behold, the day of the Lord is coming, cruel, with fury and burning anger, to make the land a desolation; And He will exterminate its sinners [all those invading the land of Israel at the 2nd Advent] from it. (10) For the stars of heaven and their constellations will not flash forth their light; The sun will be dark when it rises and the moon will not reflect its light [There will be supernatural darkness upon the earth on the Day the Lord returns at the 2nd Advent]. (11) Thus, I will punish the world for its evil and the wicked for their iniquity; I will also put an end to the arrogance of the proud and abase the haughtiness of the ruthless. (12) I will make mortal man scarcer than pure gold and mankind than the gold of Ophir. (13) Therefore, I will make the heavens tremble, and the earth will be shaken from its place at the fury of the Lord of the Armies [יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת κύριος σαβαωθ] in the day of His burning anger. (14) And it will be that like a hunted gazelle, or like sheep with none to gather them; They will each turn to his own people, and each one flee to his own land.’
1 Samuel 1:10-19, Hannah prays to the Lord of the Armies. “She greatly distressed, prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly [She is out of fellowship with God because she had reacted to her husband’s other wife regarding her situation of barrenness. This explains why the Lord continued to keep her womb closed.]. (11) She made a vow [This is not why the Lord will answer her prayer for the Lord is not a businessman with whom you can bargain.] and said, ‘O Lord of the Armies, [יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת κύριος σαβαωθ] if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and a razor shall never come on his head [He would be a Nazarite].’ (12) Now, it came about, as she continued praying before the Lord, that Eli was watching her mouth. (13) As for Hannah, she was speaking in her heart, only her lips were moving, but her voice was not heard. So, Eli thought she was drunk. (14) Then, Eli said to her, ‘How long will you make yourself drunk? Put away your wine from you.’ (15) But Hannah replied, ‘No, my lord, I am a woman oppressed in spirit; I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have poured out my soul before the Lord. (16) ‘Do not consider your maidservant as a worthless woman [a drunkard], for I have spoken until now out of my great concern [regarding being barren] and provocation.’ (17) Then, Eli answered and said, ‘Go in peace; and may the God of Israel grant your petition that you have asked of Him [This prayer request of Eli, the Lord will answer because Hannah will get back into fellowship.].’ (18) She said [to Eli], ‘Let your maidservant find favor in your sight.’ So, the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad [depressed; Eli’s statement encouraged her to get back into fellowship with God. She now will have capacity for a child. Since being in fellowship, she will be able to apply the doctrine she had learned over her lifetime.]. (19) Then, they [Elkanah and Hannah who is now in fellowship with God] arose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord, and returned again to their house in Ramah, and Elkanah had relations with Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her [Notice that prayer alone was not enough to solve this problem of barrenness. For example, you may pray to make America great again, but this prayer cannot be answered unless American Christians return to learning and executing the spiritual life].
Concluding principles:
1. Elkanah had two wives namely Hannah and Peninnah. It is inevitable that there will be problems related to having a multiplicity of wives. 1 Samuel 1:6-7, “Her [Hannah’s] rival [Peninnah], however, would provoke her bitterly to irritate her, because the Lord had closed her [Hannah’s] womb. (7) It happened year after year, as often as she went up to the house of the Lord, she [Peninnah] would provoke her [Hannah would react to this provocation]; so, she wept and would not eat.”
2. The Lord had closed the womb of Hannah for a reason. Even though she and her husband were believers with doctrine, Hannah had reacted to the provocations of the other wife, and consequently had lost her relationship with the Lord and her capacity to rear children.
3. Once Hannah got back into fellowship with the Lord, her capacity resumed and thus, the Lord opened her womb.
2. The archangels are seraphs and commanders of angelic armies. Two archangels Gabriel and Michael helped to drive out a powerful demon-ruler from the Persian capital. Daniel 10:13, “But the prince [a very powerful and brilliant demon-ruler assigned to represent Satan in the capital] of the kingdom of Persia resisted me [the Archangel Gabriel had gone to the capital of Persia to answer Daniel’s prayer for the rebuilding of the Temple; However, there was a standoff between this powerful demon and Gabriel] for twenty-one days [this standoff between this powerful demon and Gabriel]; then behold, Michael, one of the chief princes [an Archangel], came to help me [Gabriel by driving off the powerful demon from the capital], and I was left there with the kings of Persia [Gabriel remained to help the Kings of Persia to resist demon influence and possession; Gabriel will remain in the court from 516 B.C. to 323 B.C. to keep out of the Persian court these powerful demons].”
Daniel 12:1, “Now, at that time, Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people [speaking to Daniel] will arise; and there shall be a time of distress [the Tribulation] such as never occurred since there was a [client] nation until that time: then at that time [the Tribulation] your people every one who is found written in the book [of Life] will be rescued.”
The Archangel Michael protected the body of Moses. Michael as an archangel had great power and strength and could have physically removed Satan from the site of Moses, but his great humility caused him to refrain from doing so. Rather, he disputed with Satan over the body of Moses and refrained from maligning Satan (Jude 9; 2 Peter 2:11). Jude 9, “But Michael [meaning: who is like God] the archangel, when verbally disputing with the devil and kept arguing concerning the body of Moses, did not dare [presume to] pronounce against him [Satan] a maligning judgment, but said, ‘May the Lord rebuke [aorist middle optative] you!’” This is a parenthetical verse to show the comparison of the humility of Michael with the arrogance of the apostates in these passages. The devil wanted the body of Moses for some devious purpose. He apparently was going to use it for some type of demon worship. So, the Lord had sent Michael to the location to make sure that the body would not be stolen.
Michael, the archangel in the middle of the Tribulation with his army will be able to defeat Satan and his army. After which Satan and all the fallen angels will be removed from heaven. Revelation 12:7-9, “Now there was war in heaven and Michael and his army of elect angels fought against the dragon [Satan]. Furthermore, the dragon and his fallen angels fought back. (8) Nevertheless, he [Satan & his demon assault army] did not win, in fact, a place was no longer found for them in heaven. (9) Then, the great dragon, the ancient serpent [related to the garden] who is called the devil [accuser, maligner] and Satan, who keeps on deceiving the entire inhabited earth was thrown out of heaven; he was thrown down to earth, furthermore his angels were thrown out of heaven with him.”
3. The twenty-four angelic general staff as found in Revelation 4. These are either cherubs or seraphs. Revelation 4:4, “Around the throne were twenty-four thrones; and upon the thrones I saw twenty-four angelic staff officers [the Greek ‘presbuteros’ is a word for authority translated as elders in most translations] sitting, clothed in white [or translucent] garments [the uniform of glory], and golden wreathes on their heads.”
The 24 staff officers are further described in Revelation 4:10-11, “and the twenty-four staff officers [of the angelic general staff] will fall down before Him [submission to divine authority] who sits on the throne, and they will worship Him [the Lord Jesus Christ] who lives forever and ever, and they will lay down their crowns [since they have glory, they are able to give glory] before the throne [as part of their worship] and say, (11) You, O Lord, our God are worthy to receive glory and honor, also the power [to rule in the Millennium and the Eternal State], because You have created all things, also because of Your sovereign will, they existed, and they were created.” These would be comparable to our G1, G2, G3 and G4 designations for the General Staff in the U. S. army. These 24 staff officers are wearing a white or translucent uniform and golden wreaths similar to what great believers of the Church Age will receive at the Evaluation Throne of Christ. Just as in the prehistoric angelic conflict in which Satan’s forces were pitted against God’s elect, so in human history. These 24 staff officers excelled in this prehistoric angelic conflict so believers in the Church Age have the same opportunity.
4. Extra-biblically (in the book of Enoch), Raphael and Uriel are mentioned as archangels.
5. Luke 2:13-14, “And suddenly there appeared with the angel [probably Gabriel, a Seraph] a multitude of the heavenly army [wingless rank-and-file] praising God and saying, (14) Glory to God in the highest, and on earth prosperity among men with whom He is pleased [the advanced believer].”
Guardian Angels. There are three categories of guardian angels. The first two categories deal with the rank-and-file.
1. The guardian angels [a military function] of children. All children have a guardian angel to protect them during their childhood. Matthew 18:10, “See to it that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I say to you that their guardian angels [wingless angels] in heaven continually see the face of My Father who is in heaven.”
2. Angels are the guardians of Church Age believers who are superior to angels. Hebrews 1:13-14, “But to which of the angels has He ever said, ‘Sit down at My right hand, until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet?’ (14) Are they not all ministering spirits [wingless angels of the Angelic Army], sent out to provide service for those who inherit eternal salvation?” The function of guardian angels in explained in Psalm 91:7-14, “A thousand shall fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not approach you. (8) You will only observe it with your eyes, and see the punishment of the wicked. (9) If you say the Lord is my refuge and make the Most-High your dwelling place [occupation with Christ], (10) then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. (11) For He will command His angels concerning you [the Exodus Generation, but the concept applies to all believers], to guard you in all your ways. (12) They will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. (13) You will tread upon the lion and cobra; you will trample down the young lion and the snake. (14) Because he loves Me, therefore I will rescue him; I will protect him, because he acknowledges My name.”
3. Archangels are guardians of nations as we have seen in Daniel 10:13. Michael is the guardian of Israel with help from Gabriel. Furthermore, Gabriel may command an army to protect Gentile Client Nations.
Revelation 8:3
Then, another angel [the King of Arms] came and took his place before the altar [the Golden Altar of Incense located in the heavenly Temple], and he had an incense shovel made of gold; consequently, much incense was given to him in order that he might offer it with the prayers of all the saints [the martyrs of the Tribulation] on the golden altar [of Incense] which is before the throne.
Καὶ ἄλλος ἄγγελος ἦλθεν καὶ ἐστάθη ἐπὶ τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου ἔχων λιβανωτὸν χρυσοῦν, καὶ ἐδόθη αὐτῷ θυµιάµατα πολλὰ ἵνα δώσει ταῖς προσευχαῖς τῶν ἁγίων πάντων ἐπὶ τὸ θυσιαστήριον τὸ χρυσοῦν τὸ ἐνώπιον τοῦ θρόνου.
According to Exodus 30:6, the Altar of Incense was placed just in front of the second veil. The second veil was the one that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies in the tabernacle and, later on, the temple. This is where the angel will stand. This is the heavenly original from which the tabernacle and the temple were patterned.
Exodus 30:34-35, “Then the Lord said to Moses, "Take for yourself spices: stacte (myrrh was used for embalming and thus speaks of the death of Jesus) and onycha and galbanum [a gum resin with a pungent odor; When mixed with a fragrant substance it has the effect of increasing and prolonging the sweet odor of the incense. It emphasizes the power of prayer from believers in fellowship,], spices with pure frankincense (a white gum depicting the impeccability of Jesus who became our high priest]; there shall be an equal part of each. (35) With it you shall make incense, a perfume, the work of a perfumer, salted, pure, and holy.”
Incense represents the prayers of believers. Luke 1:7-13, “And they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both advanced in years. (8) Now it came about, while he was performing his priestly service before God in the appointed order of his division, (9) according to the custom of the priestly office, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense [representing the prayers of believers]. (10) And the whole multitude of the people were in prayer outside at the hour of the incense offering. (11) And an angel [Gabriel] from the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. (12) And Zacharias was troubled when he saw him, and fear gripped him. (13) But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John.”
Revelation 8:4
Then, the smoke of the incense along with the prayers of the saints [imprecatory prayers first mentioned in Revelation 6:9-11] went up before God from the hand of the angel [the King of Arms].
καὶ ἀνέβη ὁ καπνὸς τῶν θυµιαµάτων ταῖς προσευχαῖς τῶν ἁγίων ἐκ χειρὸς τοῦ ἀγγέλου ἐνώπιον τοῦ θεοῦ.
Revelation 6:9-11, “And when He [the Lord Jesus Christ] had broken the fifth seal [the historical trend of great martyrdom in the Tribulation], I saw under the altar [of the burnt offering in heaven] the souls [John actually sees their interim bodies which house their souls] of those who had been murdered [slaughtered like sheep], because of the word of God [they advanced rapidly in their spiritual lives], and because of the testimony [of integrity] which they had maintained [they remained faithful to the Lord to the point of their martyrdom]. (10) Furthermore, they [the one’s martyred] shouted and said, "O sovereign Lord [They chose this word wisely for it means unlimited authority and power. It connotes an absolute ruler with unlimited use to exercise His power; They understand that they are addressing the one who controls history through his integrity and power], holy [the integrity of Christ as God] and true [the integrity of the humanity of Christ], how long will it be before you will judge and avenge our blood on the population of the earth?" [They will not be as specific in their imprecatory prayer as David had been.] (11) Also, a white robe [The Roman Stola was a long flowing robe: a reference to the Interim Body.] was given to each one of them [martyrs of the Tribulation. So, even though their mortal bodies were destroyed, they were given a much better body.]; and they were told that they should refresh themselves [enjoy their happiness in their interim bodies] for a little while longer until they, that is until their fellow-servants, even their brethren, those who were destined to be killed [in the Divine Decree] even as they had been killed, should be completed.”
Revelation 8:5
Then, the angel took the incense shovel, and he filled it with fire from the altar [of the Temple in the 3rd Heaven] and hurled it to the earth [he had authority over the fire: Revelation 14:18]; and there followed peals of thunder, loud noises [audible warning], flashes of lightning [a visual warning] and an earthquake [a frightening warning: all of these are warnings of coming judgments: still time for people to change their minds].
καὶ εἴληφεν ὁ ἄγγελος τὸν λιβανωτόν, καὶ ἐγέµισεν αὐτὸν ἐκ τοῦ πυρὸς τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου καὶ ἔβαλεν εἰς τὴν γῆν· καὶ ἐγένοντο βρονταὶ καὶ φωναὶ καὶ ἀστραπαὶ καὶ σεισµός.
Revelation 8:6
Then the seven angels [pursuivant messengers] who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves that they might sound their trumpets [for judgment].
Καὶ οἱ ἑπτὰ ἄγγελοι οἱ ἔχοντες τὰς ἑπτὰ σάλπιγγας ἡτοίµασαν αὑτοὺς ἵνα σαλπίσωσιν.
The function of the Pursuivant Messengers in answer to the imprecatory prayers of the martyred believers. God the Father processed those imprecatory prayers; the Son then put everything into action. From the Son, they went to the Pursuivant officer and then to the Pursuivant Messengers who will sound the seven trumpets. This whole system is to allow time for change of attitude toward Jesus Christ.
The four trumpet-judgments verses 7-13.
Revelation 8:7
Then, the first one [a Pursuivant Messenger] sounded his trumpet [a signal for administration of the first judgment: judgment upon the earth's vegetation], and there followed hail and fire [a supernatural thunderstorm from heaven] which had been mixed with blood [of the martyrs of the Tribulation], and it [the storm] was hurled to the earth [producing wind shear or a down-burst]; with the result that one third of the land surface was destroyed by fire, both one third of the trees were burned up, plus one third of all of the green grass [crops cultivated for food, and grazing land].
Καὶ ὁ πρῶτος ἐσάλπισεν· καὶ ἐγένετο χάλαζα καὶ πῦρ µεµιγµένα ἐν αἵµατι, καὶ ἐβλήθη εἰς τὴν γῆν· καὶ τὸ τρίτον τῆς γῆς κατεκάη, καὶ τὸ τρίτον τῶν δένδρων κατεκάη, καὶ πᾶς χόρτος χλωρὸς κατεκάη.
The terrestrial vegetation of the world may be classified into three categories of plant life: grassland, high desert areas where grazing exist and forests. The grasslands of the world actually cover 13,000,000 square miles of valuable grazing land. Of this area three and a half million square miles are suitable for the production of cold weather crops, grass like wheat, rye, oats. Six million eight hundred thousand square miles are suitable for warm weather crops, cotton, etc. Two million seven hundred thousand square miles are suitable for grazing only. That is what the grasslands produce and the grasslands are caught in this judgment so that one third of that is destroyed. What about the desert grazing land? The high desert-lands cover some 17,000,000 square miles of good grazing land and when irrigated can be used for farming. The natural forests of the world cover an area of approximately 22,000,000 square miles and about 14,000,000 square miles are capable of being converted into crop-producing land. This would also include the great rain forests like those in Central and South America, or those in the Congo basin, or the Indo-Malayan rain forest.
In summary, the fire or lightning in this thunderstorm will have great destructive effect for it destroys one third of the land surface, one third of the trees and one third of the green grass, both natural vegetation and cultivated plant life like agricultural grains. Along with the trees, all plant life provides oxygen on the surface of the earth for both humans and animals. The devastation of this judgment and its consequences staggers the imagination.
A similar prophecy is found in Joel 1:15-20, “What a dreadful day! [the day of the Tribulation] for the day of the Lord is near [the Second Advent], and it will come as destruction from the Almighty. (16) Has not food been cut off from before our eyes, yes, joy and gladness from the house of our God? (17) And the seeds shrivel under their clods, the storehouses for food are desolate, barns are torn down; for grain has dried up. (18) How the cattle groan! the herds mill about, because there is no pasture; yes, even the flocks of sheep are suffering. (19) To you, O Lord, I call: for fire has devoured the open pastures, and the flame has burned up all the trees of the forests. (20) Even the wild animals of the field pant for you: for the watering holes have dried up, and fire has devoured the open grazing land.” This is an amplification of the first trumpet judgment.
Revelation 8:8
Then, the second angel [a Pursuivant Messenger] sounded his trumpet and like a great mountain of burning fire, it was hurled into the sea, and a third of the seas [including oceans] became blood [judgment on salt water].
Καὶ ὁ δεύτερος ἄγγελος ἐσάλπισεν· καὶ ὡς ὄρος µέγα πυρὶ καιόµενον ἐβλήθη εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν· καὶ ἐγένετο τὸ τρίτον τῆς θαλάσσης αἷµα,
The seas and oceans of the world with their salt water form ninety-eight per cent of the world’s water supply which means that two per cent of all the water available on the earth’s surface is fresh water. This would be more than adequate were it not that the world’s greatest reserves are locked inaccessibly in our ice caps. The problem therefore is to provide fresh water when and where it is needed and to ensure that it is not used faster than it can be replaced. The oceans of the world are nature’s reservoirs for this. Water evaporates from them to fall as rain and snow over land, and from the land it returns mostly through rivers to the sea. Therefore, the maximum amount of fresh water available depends on precipitation which depends on evaporation from the seas and oceans.
The significance of the blood here is twofold. First of all, it is a reminder to the unbelievers of the Tribulation that they have rejected the only way of salvation which has been given to them through evangelism and personal witnessing under the title: “The blood of Christ, God’s Son cleanses from all sin,” a reference to redemption, reconciliation and propitiation. The second reason is that the blood acts as a pollution, a salt water pollution. The importance of oceans and seas in sustaining the natural balance cannot be overestimated. Pollution on the ocean therefore becomes a very serious matter. The great mountain of burning fire will pollute oceans and seas up to one third by turning them in to blood. The results of the second trumpet will be noted in verse nine.
Revelation 8:9
Then, a third of the creatures in the sea, having life, died; also, a third of shipping was destroyed.
καὶ ἀπέθανεν τὸ τρίτον τῶν κτισµάτων τῶν ἐν τῇ θαλάσσῃ, τὰ ἔχοντα ψυχάς, καὶ τὸ τρίτον τῶν πλοίων διεφθάρησαν.
Fish and other sea food offer valuable protein in the diet of mankind. Many of the countries of the world depend on sea foods for their very existence. Hunger is one of the great causes for death in the Tribulation. There is also an effect on shipping, for it says at the end of this verse, “a third of the shipping was destroyed,” The economic wealth of many nations depends on their shipping and their trade.
The largest ocean in the world is the Pacific which covers 63,855,000 square miles, with a maximum depth of 36,198 feet. It is deeper than the highest height, Mount Everest. Next is the Atlantic which has 31,744,000 square miles. When you add these up plus all of the many other seas of the world it can be seen how devastating this second trumpet judgment will be.
That brings us, then, to another body of water, fresh water, in verses 10-11, the judgment of the third trumpet.
Revelation 8:10
Then, the third angel sounded his trumpet, and a giant meteor, incandescent like a lamp, fell from the sky, and it fell on a third of the rivers and lakes [judgment on fresh water].
Καὶ ὁ τρίτος ἄγγελος ἐσάλπισεν· καὶ ἔπεσεν ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ ἀστὴρ µέγας καιόµενος ὡς λαµπάς, καὶ ἔπεσεν ἐπὶ τὸ τρίτον τῶν ποταµῶν καὶ ἐπὶ τὰς πηγὰς τῶν ὑδάτων.
Though the Greek word aster (ἀστὴρ) many times is translated star, here it refers to a meteor. This is a giant meteor, a transient celestial body that enters the earth’s atmosphere with great velocity. It has incandescence with heat. It is luminous and shiny with the heat generated by the resistance of the air.
Revelation 8:11
And the name of the meteor is called Wormwood [Absinthe]; now, one third of the waters became affected because of this wormwood [producing a poison], in fact many people died from the waters that were made bitter [from this poison].
καὶ τὸ ὄνοµα τοῦ ἀστέρος λέγεται ὁ Ἄψινθος. καὶ ἐγένετο τὸ τρίτον τῶν ὑδάτων εἰς ἄψινθον, καὶ πολλοὶ τῶν ἀνθρώπων ἀπέθανον ἐκ τῶν ὑδάτων, ὅτι ἐπικράνθησαν.
At this point we stop to notice a principle of interpretation. All three of these first judgements talk about a third being affected. The judgements are literal, they are local, they are they are locked in. These judgements are not to be taken symbolically. These judgements come from heaven; they are related to natural literal phenomena, but they are administered in a supernatural way by the angelic college of heralds. Secondly, we note that these judgements are local. That is, a third of the earth or a third of the seas and oceans, or a third of the lakes and rivers, are affected. It is the local area where the hail and the fire and the giant meteor hits that is the area affected. So, when these areas are affected, it is wherever the judgment hits and from there it moves out locally to one third of planet earth. Finally, we note that these judgements are locked in. The certainty of these future judgements as a part of historical trends of the Tribulation is as certain as the Word of God which abides forever and ever.
Now we have a giant meteor called Wormwood because it is the vehicle for the administration of God’s justice on unbelievers of the Tribulation. Wormwood connotes divine judgment and the giant meteor is the means of administrating that judgment under the fifth trumpet. We must remember that Wormwood is the name of the meteor and not what pollutes the water. So, the giant meteor, incandescent, burning like a lamp or a torch, is a symbol of divine judgment on fresh water upon planet earth. The judgment is literal for wormwood always connotes some form of divine judgment.
Pollution of fresh water falls into three categories: a microbe such as virus and bacteria, natural pollution from human or animal waste, environmental pollution such as industrial chemicals and toxic waste, acid rain from polluted air. However, this judgment of the third trumpet far exceeds any problem or any danger hitherto known to man or anything that is related to fresh water problems. This pollution of water is supernatural and will claim the lives of hundreds of thousands and perhaps millions of unbelievers in the Tribulation.
Perhaps a few scriptures will give us an idea as to exactly what the Bible has in mind by calling this meteor “Wormwood.” Proverbs 5:3-4, “For the lips of an adulterous woman drip honey, and her palate is smoother than oil of frankincense, but in the end, she is as bitter as wormwood.” A bitter experience is what it connotes here. Jeremiah 9:15-16, “Therefore thus saith the Lord of the armies, the God of Israel [our Lord Jesus Christ]; Behold, I will feed this people [referring to Israel about to be punished with the fifth cycle of discipline] with wormwood [wormwood is the administration of the fifth cycle of discipline to Client Nation Israel], I will give them poisoned water to drink. (16) I will scatter them among the nations whom neither they nor their fathers have known [the Chaldeans in 586 B.C. and the Romans in 70 A.D.]: I will send the sword after them until I have annihilated them.” So, wormwood when from God is always some form of judgment.
The fourth trumpet is the most difficult of all. This is the one that is going to affect the atmosphere.
Revelation 8:12
And, the fourth angel sounded his trumpet, then a third of the sun, a third of the moon and a third of the stars [planets] were struck [the loss of 1/3 of the light and radiation at the source], so that a third of them might be darkened so that the day might not give light for a third of it, and the night likewise.
Καὶ ὁ τέταρτος ἄγγελος ἐσάλπισεν· καὶ ἐπλήγη τὸ τρίτον τοῦ ἡλίου καὶ τὸ τρίτον τῆς σελήνης καὶ τὸ τρίτον τῶν ἀστέρων, ἵνα σκοτισθῇ τὸ τρίτον αὐτῶν καὶ ἡ ἡµέρα µὴ φάνῃ τὸ τρίτον αὐτῆς, καὶ ἡ νὺξ ὁµοίως.
The stars here refer to the planets in the solar system only. They will be struck, meaning loss of light, loss of radiation at its source. The passive voice: the sun, the moon, and the planets [stars] receive the action of the verb, they will be struck so that their light will be lost up to one third.
Some information regarding the sun just to explain the gravity of this situation. The sun is a rotating nuclear furnace composed mostly of hydrogen and helium which constantly emit energy. Periodically, magnetic fields develop on the surface areas of the sun called sunspots. Associated with these disturbances which last for weeks are streams of gas which are called prominences. Such activity affects the earth’s magnetic fields as well as its atmosphere and weather.
In our passage, when this fourth Pursuivant Messenger, a wingless angel blows his trumpet, light, solar winds, and radiation from the sun is cut down by one third at the source. The same is true of the moon and the planets in the solar system,
Revelation 8:13
Then, I observed and I heard one eagle [one of the angelic heralds of Revelation 4:7] flying in mid heaven [the 2nd heaven, the realm of angelic activity], and he said in a loud voice, "Woe, woe, woe [trumpet judgments 5, 6, and 7: assaults by demon armies] to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpets from the three angels who are about to sound off.
Καὶ εἶδον, καὶ ἤκουσα ἑνὸς ἀετοῦ πετοµένου ἐν µεσουρανήµατι λέγοντος φωνῇ µεγάλῃ, Οὐαὶ οὐαὶ οὐαὶ τοὺς κατοικοῦντας ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ἐκ τῶν λοιπῶν φωνῶν τῆς σάλπιγγος τῶν τριῶν ἀγγέλων τῶν µελλόντων σαλπίζειν.
A problem arises immediately. Is this an eagle or an angel? By interpretation, it is an angel; by translation, it is an eagle. Revelation 4:7, “Now, the first angelic herald [literally, the first living creature; each bears 1/4 of the arms of the Lord Jesus Christ: arms are the hereditary heraldic device of a family] was like a lion [the coat of arms of our Lord's second royal patent as the Son of David, from the tribe of Judah who will rule Israel forever], and the second angelic herald was like a young bull [coat of arms of the First Advent of Jesus Christ emphasizing His submission to the Father's plan in going to the Cross], and the third herald had a face like a man [coat of arms of the third royal patent: King over kings and Lord over lords celebrating the strategic victory of the First Advent], and the fourth angelic herald was like a flying eagle [the coat of arms emphasizing Jesus Christ the one controls history].” So, the fourth angelic herald who bears the eagle escutcheon is the one who proclaims the coming of the three woes of the last three trumpet judgements.
