LESSON TWENTY-ONE

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“And there was WAR IN HEAVEN, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war, and they did not prevail, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven.” Revelation 12:7-8

Scripture to Read: Revelation 8, 9 & 11

Calendar: Trumpet judgments (yellow & pink)

Lord’s Feasts: Rosh Hashanah - 30 Days of Judgment (pink)

“And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and MEASURE the TEMPLE of GOD, and the altar, and them that worship therein. But the court which is WITHOUT the TEMPLE leave out and MEASURE it NOT; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.” Revelation 11:1-2

Just before the Great Tribulation is to begin, we see that John is instructed to measure the temple of God but leave out the court which is without the temple. What John is asked to measure is not a physical Jewish temple but the “temple of God” which dwells within those who believe. This chosen “temple of God” will be the Church and this measuring is to prepare for the rapture. Those without the temple “Holy Spirit” will be rejected.

“Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone destroys the temple of God, God will destroy that person; for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are.” 1 Corinthians 3:16-17

Because the Bible shows us that a third temple will not exist until Jesus Christ sets up his kingdom on earth, we must speculate on what is to be considered the “holy place”. Knowing that the One World religion is the abomination that will be set up, it must reference some place outside the temple mount. In Christianity, the term Holy place encompasses various sacred locations significant for worship and divine connection. So, this could suggest “holy place” to be all physical churches on earth who comply with this false religion.

“And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees, and the two CANDLESTICKS standing before the God of the earth.” Revelation 11:3-4

As John is measuring, he is reassured that there will be a replacement at this time also. Two anointed candlesticks (church leaders) will be given power and protection for 42 months. Who these two witnesses will be is undetermined, but many believe it will be Elijah, Moses or Enoch.

“When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them (God’s people) which be in Judaea flee into the mountains” Matthew 24:15-16

“And the woman (spiritual Israel) fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.” Revelation 12:6

It is at this time that the scroll’s seventh seal is removed, and heaven takes a deep breath. The 1260-day tribulation period begins with the sounding of the first trumpet as the heavenly continual sacrifices are taken away. You can see on the calendar highlighted in green that the 2300 days in Daniel 8 (based on Daniel 12 timeline) confirm that the abomination (image) will be set up exactly 140 days later. When God’s people in Judea see this abomination being set up, they are warned to flee with the reassurance that they will be protected during this period. As God informed Zechariah, only a third of the Jewish people will survive. This may be the number who chose to heed the warning and flee with the saints.

“And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the Lord, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God.” Zechariah 13:8-9

God’s calendar begins with the implementation of a false religious system which takes away the continual sacrifices in the heavenly sanctuary for 1290 days, two witnesses arrive to replace the raptured Church for 42 months and those in Judea flee for 1260 days. These days are based on a prophetic monthly calendar shown to us in Daniel 12 (highlighted in sage green). In Biblical prophecy, a 30-day month is often interpreted as part of a 360-day year. This is based on the concept of a Prophetic Year, which is considered to consist of 360 days, divided into 12 months of 30 days each.

God’s judgment begins with the kingdom of Satan, and a war breaks out in heaven between good and evil. Although there are some who believe that Michael already led a war in heaven and removed Satan in the past, Daniel 12 informs us that there is a final battle at the end and that “those who are written in the book of life will be rescued at that time”.  Revelation 12 also confirms the same event in the last days. 

There are both symbolic and literal events in the trumpets. The term “literal” describes something that is understood exactly as stated, without any additional interpretation. It refers to the concrete, straightforward meaning of words or phrases. In contrast, "symbolic" pertains to the use of symbols to represent ideas or concepts that may not be immediately apparent. Symbolic representations often convey deeper meanings, emotions, or abstract ideas. So, we will see that while a mystical war is going on in heaven, a literal natural disaster plagues earth.

“The FIRST sounded, and there was HAIL AND FIRE mixed with BLOOD, and it was hurled to the earth; and a THIRD of the earth was burned up, and a THIRD of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.” Revelation 8:7

1st Trumpet - Hail & fire mixed with blood destroy a third of the earth, trees & all the grass. There are 25,000 miles stretching around the edges of the Pacific Ocean called the RING OF FIRE, home to 75% of the world’s most active volcanoes and tectonic plates. The shifting of these tectonic plates will cause massive earthquakes and awaken the volcanoes along this Ring of Fire. The sheer concentration of volcanoes means that millions of people live in constant proximity to these natural giants. Even a single volcano in the Ring of Fire can have PLANET-WIDE effects in MERE HOURS. It will result in the first four trumpets, and the long-term effects will result in the bowl judgments. The level of destruction would not only cripple world food and livestock supplies, but it would also disrupt economics and destabilize society. Could the placement of the most powerful countries on earth along this Ring of Fire be coincidental? 

In the Bible hail or fire are used to symbolize God’s judgment. This hail and fire depicted in the first trumpet reflect God’s power and judgment to come on Satan’s kingdom and those on earth.

“The SECOND angel sounded, and something like a GREAT MOUNTAIN burning with FIRE was hurled into the sea; and a THIRD of the sea became blood, and a THIRD of the creatures which were in the sea and had life, died; and a THIRD of the ships were destroyed.” Revelation 8:8-9

2nd Trumpet – A third of the sea turns to blood; marine life dies and ships are destroyed. Volcanoes near or under the ocean can create shock waves causing tsunamis that race across entire seas. The impact of the fishing and shipping industries will be catastrophic. This could also start a breakdown of our atmosphere as ocean plant life produces oxygen.

“Then another sign appeared in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven crowns. And his TAIL swept away a THIRD of the STARS of HEAVEN and hurled them to the earth.” Revelation 12:3-4

In the Bible a “mountain” is used to symbolize a kingdom, and “stars” symbolize angels or messengers. This “great mountain” being hurled into the sea represents a third of the angels who because they choose to fight alongside Satan will be cast out of heaven.

“The THIRD angel sounded, and a GREAT STAR fell from heaven, BURNING like a torch, and it fell on a THIRD of the rivers and on the springs of waters. The star is named Wormwood; and a third of the waters became wormwood, and many people died from the waters because they were made bitter.” Revelation 8:10-11

3rd Trumpet – A third of rivers and springs become bitter poisoning mankind. Acid rain from volcanic emissions can damage crops and poison rivers. Acid rain can kill by altering the chemical balance of water, making it harder to disinfect and corrosive. It can leach heavy metals like copper and aluminum from soil into runoff and drinking water, making it toxic.

This great star “Wormwood” falling from heaven symbolizes Satan, once a mighty angel, being cast out of heaven to embitter the souls of mankind with his sinful nature.

“I saw a STAR FROM HEAVEN which had fallen to the earth; and the key to the shaft of the abyss was GIVEN to him. He opened the shaft of the abyss, and SMOKE ascended out of the shaft like the smoke of a great furnace; and the SUN and the AIR were DARKENED from the smoke of the shaft.” Revelation 9:1-2

An angel is given the key to the shaft of the abyss which he opens releasing the locust-like creatures. Because this angel is given a key, we must assume that he is instructed by God to open the shaft. The symbolic smoke released from hell into the air causes the literal darkness of sun and sky. This is simultaneous with the blowing of the fourth trumpet.

“The FOURTH angel sounded, and a THIRD of the SUN, a THIRD of the MOON, and a THIRD of the STARS were struck, so that a third of them would be DARKENED and the day would not shine for a third of it, and the night in the same way.” Revelation 8:12

4th Trumpet – When volcanoes erupt, their ash clouds can reach altitudes where commercial airplanes fly. This ash isn’t just dust; it’s sharp, abrasive, and can destroy in seconds. Sulfur Dioxide in the air creates a layer of particles that reflect sunlight, darkening the skies.

“Then I looked, and I heard an eagle flying in midheaven, saying with a loud voice, 'WOE, WOE, WOE to those who live on the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!” Revelation 8:13

Next an eagle warns people on earth of the last three trumpets described as the three woes. This means that the last three trumpets impact will not be caused by a natural disaster.

“The FIFTH angel sounded, then out of the smoke came LOCUSTS upon the earth, and POWER was GIVEN them, as the SCORPIONS of the earth HAVE power. They were told not to hurt the grass of the earth, nor any green thing, nor any tree, but ONLY the PEOPLE who do NOT have the SEAL of GOD in their foreheads. And they were NOT permitted to KILL anyone, but to TORMENT for FIVE MONTHS; and their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it stings a person. And in those days people will seek death and will not find it; they will long to die, and death will flee from them!” Revelation 9:1-6

5th Trumpet – Locusts are given the power by God to torment for five months those who are missing His seal in their forehead (Holy Spirit). It will not kill but will be so horrible that they will want to kill themselves. This is the first woe…

Locusts are short-horned grasshoppers that sometimes form large, hungry swarms that can destroy 300 million pounds of crops in a single day. These swarms are known for feeding on agricultural crops, trees, and other plants, leading to famine and starvation in communities. Locusts have been a pervasive plague throughout history. Locusts typically live for about 3 to 5 months, depending on environmental conditions like temperature and food availability.  Knowing this, we must assume that these locusts are not literal but a symbolic army. Their lifespan of five months will play a part in calculating the timeline, so keep that in the back of your mind.

These locusts are given an unusual power to torment. Scorpions are a type of pest related to spiders, ticks, and mites. They give painful and potentially life-threatening stings. They have a flexible tail with a stinger on the tip. Beside the stinger are two glands that hold venom. When a scorpion stings you, it injects venom under your skin. Most stings aren’t serious, and less than 5% will need medical attention. Death from scorpion stings is very rare in people over 6 years old. So basically, a scorpion sting is more of an agonizing torment then a death sentence. This is why the locusts are given this symbolic power.

As I was beginning to start the lessons for Revelation, the Holy Spirit directed me to the book of Joel. It was in this book that I found the answers to the fifth trumpet, and I was amazed to find the same reference to an army of locusts.

“For a NATION (locusts) is come up upon my land, strong, and without number, whose teeth are the TEETH OF LIONS, and he hath the cheek teeth of a great lion. It has made my vine a waste and my fig tree a stump. It has stripped them bare and cast them away; Their branches thereof are made white.” Joel 1:6-7

In the beginning of our study on Revelation we read Joel’s detailed summary of what the last days will entail. The first chapter of Joel, the locusts are described as a literal plague that devastates the earth’s agriculture.  

“…a GREAT PEOPLE and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations. Their appearance is like the APPEARANCE of HORSES; And like WAR HORSES, so they run. Like the NOISE of CHARIOTS on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a STRONG PEOPLE set in BATTLE ARRAY. And the Lord shall utter his voice before HIS ARMY: for his camp is very great: for HE is STRONG that executeth HIS WORD: for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?” Joel 2

In the second chapter of Joel, the locusts are described in military terms, likened to an unstoppable army, symbolizing God’s judgment and the consequences of sin.

“And the shapes of the LOCUSTS were like unto HORSES PREPARED unto BATTLE; and on their HEADS were as it were CROWNS like GOLD, and their FACES were as the faces of MEN. And they had HAIR as the hair of WOMEN, and their TEETH were as the teeth of LIONS. And they had breastplates, as it were BREASTPLATES OF IRON; and the sound of their wings was as the SOUND OF CHARIOTS of many horses running to battle.” Revelation 9:7-9

Through the understanding of Joel’s symbolic army, it became quite clear who these locusts in Revelation would be. First let’s look at the description of this massive army. They have “crowns like gold” which means authority, honor and divine favor. They have “faces like men and hair of women” meaning they consist of both men and women. They have “teeth like lions” and “breastplates of iron” meaning that they are unstoppable destroyers. 

“And they had a KING over them, which is the ANGEL of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is ABADDON, but in the Greek tongue hath his name APOLLYON.”  Revelation 9:11

Now here is the interesting part. Everyone has assumed that this angel is a demon because he is shown falling from heaven but notice that he is “given” the key. There is no reference to any angel named Apollyon or Abaddon in the Bible. The definition of these terms are more metaphoric for destruction, doom or a destroyer. Wouldn’t it make sense that this massive army of destroyers would have a general in charge of them?

Now that we can see that this is a massive army of men and women with authority and divine favor, it is perfectly clear who they will be and who will lead them. We need to remember that this army is instructed to torment only those without the seal of God. Also, we need to look at the timing of the fifth trumpet on the calendar, just 20 months after the false religion is set up and 12 months before the rapture. This direction from the Holy Spirit has undoubtedly confirmed what I already believed the fifth trumpet will be, a CHRISTIAN REVIVAL! Now let me show you one more thing that I found in the book of Joel.

“Put on sackcloth and MOURN, you PRIESTS; WAIL, you MINISTERS of the altar! Come, SPEND THE NIGHT IN SACKCLOTH, you ministers of my God, For the MEAT offering and the DRINK offering have been withheld from the house of your God. CONSECRATE A FAST, PROCLAIM A SOLEMN ASSEMBLY; GATHER THE ELDERS and ALL the INHABITANTS of the land to the HOUSE of the LORD your God, and CRY out to the Lord. WOE for the day! For the day of the Lord is near…” Joel 1:13-15

Knowing that Joel’s prophecy is concerning the Tribulation period of the last days, it could be understood that these verses above describe how this massive army of Christians will torment the world. It definitely looks like a revival to me! Whatever the torment, God planned this year before the rapture as a last opportunity to receive salvation. The symbolic swarm of locusts (144,000 servants) are now sealed and along with the two witnesses will begin their worldwide ministry. Those who trust in Jesus are the only ones who possess the seal of God, which is the Holy Spirit. Also, notice that it says “woe” and this is the first woe…

“You also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you BELIEVED, you were MARKED in him with a SEAL, the promised HOLY SPIRIT, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession” Ephesians 1:13-14

Evangelical Christians will rise up with the anointed witnesses to guide many away from the new false religious system that is implemented during the 1st trumpet. This could imply that the torment will be evangelism, painful but not deadly, and why it will not affect those who are sealed. So, what we find described in the fifth trumpet is a massive symbolic army of God (locusts) tormenting (scorpion’s sting) a literal group of people (unsealed).

“Then the SIXTH angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, 'Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.' And the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released, so that they would KILL a THIRD of mankind. The number of the ARMIES of the horsemen was TWO HUNDRED MILLION. And this is how I saw in my vision the horses and those who sat on them: the riders had breastplates the color of fire, of hyacinth, and of brimstone; and the heads of the horses are like the heads of lions; and out of their mouths came fire and smoke and brimstone. A THIRD of mankind was KILLED by these three PLAGUES, by the FIRE, the SMOKE, and the BRIMSTONE which came out of their mouths. For the POWER of the HORSES is in their MOUTHS and in their TAILS; for their tails are like serpents and have heads, and with them they do harm.” Revelation 9:14-19

6th Trumpet - Four cherubs are released from the Euphrates River to kill a third of mankind with an army of two hundred million.

Again, the trumpets are to be interpreted as both literal and symbolic events of judgment affecting both heaven and earth. The plagues of fire, smoke and brimstone from the volcanic eruption will "literally" kill a third of mankind. The described 200 million army of horsemen are the "symbolic" number of angels chosen to fight against Satan. The sixth trumpet depicts a spiritual war taking place in heaven while at the same time the fifth trumpet will be a spiritual war on earth. This will end the second woe…

Jesus fulfilled the spring Feasts of the Lord at his first coming and he will continue fulfillment of the fall feasts at his return. The next feast in the line up to be fulfilled is the Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah). During Rosh Hashanah trumpets are blown for 30 days leading up to the feast, and finish with the blowing of “the Last Trumpet.” The shofar was blown each day as a wake-up call to examine their ways, repent and remember their creator.

The fifth trumpet judgment mentions a period of five months. These five months have been assumed to reflect the lifespan of the locust, but it is there as a clue to the timespan of each of the six trumpets leading up to the last one on the feast day. Each trumpet of the six will last five prophetic months (150 days) for a total of 30 months. These 30 months represent the 30 days of trumpet blowing prior to the last trumpet on Rosh Hashanah. (30 days x 5 months = 150 x 6 trumpets = 900 months/2.5 years)

Also, the observance of Rosh Hashanah helps us understand God’s use of them in Revelation and Daniel prophecies. On Rosh Hashanah, also known as the Day of Judgment, Jesus our High Priest opens and reviews the books. If a person’s deeds are good, He writes their name in the Book of Life. If their deeds are wicked, He writes their names in the Book of Death. The unnamed third book is for those who fall between these two categories. So, as we see in Daniel 7 that the court was in session and the books opened, we can then see that the trumpets in Revelation also reference this same judgment. Knowing this we can now confirm that Jesus will fulfill the fall feasts and that a rapture is imminent at the blowing of the 7th and “last” trumpet of Rosh Hashanah. (refer to the green color-coded area of the Feasts)

“The REST of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not REPENT of the WORKS of their HANDS so as not to worship demons and the idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk; and they did not REPENT of their MURDERS, nor of their WITCHCRAFT(addiction), nor of their SEXUAL IMMORALITY, nor of their THEFTS.” Revelation 9:20-21

Unbelievers who are not killed by the events of the trumpets still refuse to repent. They show no remorse or indication of a change of mind and heart. They continue to practice idolatry by worshiping demons and manmade idols of gold, silver, bronze and wood. Whether in the literal sense of bowing to statues, or the symbolic sense of emphasizing wealth and pleasure above God, idolatry is among the most dangerous and most often condemned sins in Scripture. The plague against the unbeliever was to try and position them on the right side of GOD, but their chances of a rapture are now over. The books will stay open until Yom Kippur and those left on earth will have 10 months to repent before the books are permanently closed.