The Last Days
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Lesson 40 | 09/28/25
Revelation 8:1-6 | The 7th Seal: Faithful Vengeance
Today we begin chapter 8 in our study of Revelation as Jesus opens the final seventh seal of this scroll, Revelation 8:1-6. This Seventh seal unleashes the Seven Trumpet Judgements of God. We have already seen great devastation on the earth as the first six seals are being opened, but this is just the beginning. In my estimation, the first six seals are taking place within the first couple of years of the 7-Year Tribulation. And as the 7th seal is loosened, the intensity of God’s Wrath begins ramping up because the 7th seal ushers in the 7 Trumpets. The 7 Trumpets then take us up to the middle of the week. At that time, the Antichrist is empowered and breaks the covenant with Israel, and then the bowls are unleashed as God’s wrath continues to intensify until the culmination of His Wrath comes when Jesus Himself comes back in final Judgement.
The events that take place from chapter 8 onward are so devastating, that even heaven itself seems to take a breath before this wrath continues. Notice verse 1...
8:1) When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.
This may be the same pattern in Revelation, quiet through the 6 trumpets, chapters 8-9, then a shout at the 7th trumpet, Revelation 11:15- Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!”
Is it possible that there will be silence in heaven all through the 6 Trumpets and then a shout at the 7th?
8:2) And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets.
So these Judgements seem to be a response to this cry of Vengeance. Notice verse 5...
8:5) Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And there were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake.
There is another name for this Day that helps describe its purpose, it is also known as, “The Day of Vengeance.”
Isaiah 34:8- For it is the day of the Lord’s vengeance, The year of recompense for the cause of Zion.
Isaiah 63:4- For the day of vengeance is in My heart, And the year of My redeemed has come.
Jeremiah 46:10- For this is the day of the Lord God of hosts, A day of vengeance, That He may avenge Himself on His adversaries.
God is serious about taking vengeance on His enemies. Paul tells us in Romans 12:19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. This is His inheritance. It is His right, vengeance is His reward, Psalm 2:8-9.
Nahum 1:2- God is jealous, and the Lord avenges; The Lord avenges and is furious. The Lord will take vengeance on His adversaries, And He reserves wrath for His enemies;
Micah 5:15- I will execute vengeance in anger and fury On the nations that have not obeyed.”
Isaiah 1:24- Therefore the Lord says, The Lord of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel, “Ah, I will rid Myself of My adversaries, And take vengeance on My enemies.
This is the promise of His Second Coming. Shortly after Jesus began His ministry, He went into a small synagogue in His hometown of Nazareth and He read the words of the prophecy of the coming Messiah in Isaiah 61 saying, Luke 4:18–19-18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; 19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”
After reading this, He gave the book back to the attendant and sat down and said, Luke 4:21 “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” But this was only part of the original prophecy of Isaiah. Our Lord stopped at a comma. If you continue reading in Isaiah 61:2-3 you will find the fulfillment of this prophecy, Isaiah 61:2–3-2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, (the 2,000 year church age comma) And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, 3 To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”
This last part of the prophecy has not yet been fulfilled and will not be fulfilled until the events of the book of Revelation are completed. Jesus first came as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, John 1:29. But when Jesus comes again, He is not coming as the Lamb slain, but as the Lord God Almighty, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the King of kings and Lord of lords, to take vengeance on His enemies and usher in His Everlasting Kingdom of Righteousness. This is the Day of Vengeance of our God.
David wrote many Psalms about God taking vengeance on his enemies because there is great joy and comfort in knowing that God is Righteous and He will expel evil from among us,
Psalm 58:10–11-10 The righteous shall rejoice when he sees the vengeance; He shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked, 11 So that men will say, “Surely there is a reward for the righteous; Surely He is God who judges in the earth.”
Notice what Isaiah says of this Day of Vengeance,
Isaiah 35:3–4-3 Strengthen the weak hands, And make firm the feeble knees. 4 Say to those who are fearful-hearted, “Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, With the recompense of God; He will come and save you.”
There is Hope in these words. Be strong, do not fear! Your God is coming! Behold Your King is Coming!
This Day of Vengeance on His enemies should give us great comfort and peace because Jesus is the Righteous Judge who will expel evil from His Kingdom and usher in Everlasting Righteousness. This is the promise of Isaiah 61:2 the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn.
At the end of chapter 7, as the Tribulation saints are standing before the throne, having endured the horrors of the Tribulation, have been rescued from the evil of this world by means of death and notice the promise Jesus gives them, Revelation 7:16-17. He wipes away every tear. He is comforting those who mourn.
8:6) So the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.
As the Seventh Seal is loosed, which ushers in more Righteous Wrath, the Seven angels prepare themselves to sound. This is a result of the prayers of the Tribulation Saints who are standing before the alter of God.
God is our faithful God, the God of Comfort, the God of Righteousness
and He is fulfilling His promise
Parallels between Joshua and Revelation
The Purpose: A conquest led by God to expel the enemy (ungodly inhabitants) out of His land in order to set up His Kingdom to come.
PREVIOUS LESSON 39 ← GO TO → NEXT LESSON 41
The events that take place from chapter 8 onward are so devastating, that even heaven itself seems to take a breath before this wrath continues. Notice verse 1...
8:1) When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.
- There is silence in heaven for half an hour, ὡς ἡμιώριον, just as half an hour. This is the only place this word is used.
- John is in heaven, outside of time, so I don’t believe this has any association with earth time (30 minutes) other than to say that Heaven is taking a deep breath before the plunge.
- I believe Zechariah prophecies of this silence in heaven in Zechariah 2:10-13.
- John is in heaven, outside of time, so I don’t believe this has any association with earth time (30 minutes) other than to say that Heaven is taking a deep breath before the plunge.
- Heaven isn’t usually silent, there is worship happening continually, Rev 4:8. So for there to be silence means what is about to take place is extremely serious.
- The intensity is building and the silence is increasing the intensity of the moment
- This reminds me of the silence before Jericho fell. There seems to be a parallel between the Trumpets of Revelation and the Trumpets of the battle of Jericho in Joshua 6. Remember, pattern is prophecy
- In fact, the book of Joshua as a whole seems to foreshadow the events of Revelation.
- Same purpose- to expel the enemy out of God’s land
- same leader- Jesus Christ
- same duration- 7 years
- Two witnesses at the beginning
- 7 trumpets
- and many other allusions leading to the same promise of restoration.
- I have detailed this in the back of your notes.
- In fact, the book of Joshua as a whole seems to foreshadow the events of Revelation.
This may be the same pattern in Revelation, quiet through the 6 trumpets, chapters 8-9, then a shout at the 7th trumpet, Revelation 11:15- Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!”
Is it possible that there will be silence in heaven all through the 6 Trumpets and then a shout at the 7th?
8:2) And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets.
- These are “the” seven angels, those who stand before God. τοὺς ἑπτὰ ἀγγέλους
- Out of the myriads of angels that exist, these are 7 select angels who are given the special privilege of releasing God’s Judgement
- These are probably the same 7 angels who will pour out the bowls of wrath, Rev 15:5-7
- These are Holy angels depicted as wearing pure bright linen and a golden band, Rev 15:6
- The linen is not the same as the ἱμάτιον garment of the elders, Rev 4:4
- Or the στολή robe of the Tribulation saints, Rev 6:11
- Out of the myriads of angels that exist, these are 7 select angels who are given the special privilege of releasing God’s Judgement
- Another angel, an 8th angel ἄλλος ἄγγελος, an angel of the same kind.
- This is not Jesus Christ or a different type of archangel.
- The altar is the golden altar of incense, τὸ θυσιαστήριον τὸ χρυσοῦν
- When Moses made the furniture of the tabernacle and later Solomon of the temple, these were copies of the heavenly things, Heb 8:5.
- This golden altar in heaven is the original altar of incense to offer prayers and praise to God
- There is no sacrificial altar. Jesus was the final sacrifice.
- This golden altar in heaven is the original altar of incense to offer prayers and praise to God
- When Moses made the furniture of the tabernacle and later Solomon of the temple, these were copies of the heavenly things, Heb 8:5.
- This golden altar of incense is mentioned many times in the book of Revelation
- Rev 6:9- Tribulation Martyrs, souls of those who were slain under the altar.
- In chapter 7, Tribulation Saints are standing before the throne (Rev 8:3- the altar is before the throne)
- It seems the Tribulation Saints are always gathered before the altar before the throne of God
- In contrast, the 24 Elders are seated on thrones around the throne of God
- In chapter 7, Tribulation Saints are standing before the throne (Rev 8:3- the altar is before the throne)
- Rev 8:3-4- Trumpet Judgements coming out from this altar
- Rev 9:13- Voice coming from the four horns of the golden altar before God
- Rev 11:1; 14:18; 16:7- Judgement continuing to come from this altar... WHY???
- Rev 6:9- Tribulation Martyrs, souls of those who were slain under the altar.
- This is where the Tribulation Saints are crying out for Vengeance, Rev 6:9-10.
- They are offering their prayers and requests to God at the altar of incense
So these Judgements seem to be a response to this cry of Vengeance. Notice verse 5...
8:5) Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And there were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake.
- The censor is filled with fire from the altar
- This symbolizes the prayers and cries of the Tribulation Martyrs
- The noises, thunderings, lightnings, and earthquake
- symbolize the Judgement that is coming from the throne onto the earth in response to the prayers of the saints
There is another name for this Day that helps describe its purpose, it is also known as, “The Day of Vengeance.”
Isaiah 34:8- For it is the day of the Lord’s vengeance, The year of recompense for the cause of Zion.
Isaiah 63:4- For the day of vengeance is in My heart, And the year of My redeemed has come.
Jeremiah 46:10- For this is the day of the Lord God of hosts, A day of vengeance, That He may avenge Himself on His adversaries.
God is serious about taking vengeance on His enemies. Paul tells us in Romans 12:19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. This is His inheritance. It is His right, vengeance is His reward, Psalm 2:8-9.
Nahum 1:2- God is jealous, and the Lord avenges; The Lord avenges and is furious. The Lord will take vengeance on His adversaries, And He reserves wrath for His enemies;
Micah 5:15- I will execute vengeance in anger and fury On the nations that have not obeyed.”
Isaiah 1:24- Therefore the Lord says, The Lord of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel, “Ah, I will rid Myself of My adversaries, And take vengeance on My enemies.
This is the promise of His Second Coming. Shortly after Jesus began His ministry, He went into a small synagogue in His hometown of Nazareth and He read the words of the prophecy of the coming Messiah in Isaiah 61 saying, Luke 4:18–19-18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; 19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”
After reading this, He gave the book back to the attendant and sat down and said, Luke 4:21 “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” But this was only part of the original prophecy of Isaiah. Our Lord stopped at a comma. If you continue reading in Isaiah 61:2-3 you will find the fulfillment of this prophecy, Isaiah 61:2–3-2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, (the 2,000 year church age comma) And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, 3 To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”
This last part of the prophecy has not yet been fulfilled and will not be fulfilled until the events of the book of Revelation are completed. Jesus first came as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, John 1:29. But when Jesus comes again, He is not coming as the Lamb slain, but as the Lord God Almighty, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the King of kings and Lord of lords, to take vengeance on His enemies and usher in His Everlasting Kingdom of Righteousness. This is the Day of Vengeance of our God.
David wrote many Psalms about God taking vengeance on his enemies because there is great joy and comfort in knowing that God is Righteous and He will expel evil from among us,
Psalm 58:10–11-10 The righteous shall rejoice when he sees the vengeance; He shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked, 11 So that men will say, “Surely there is a reward for the righteous; Surely He is God who judges in the earth.”
Notice what Isaiah says of this Day of Vengeance,
Isaiah 35:3–4-3 Strengthen the weak hands, And make firm the feeble knees. 4 Say to those who are fearful-hearted, “Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, With the recompense of God; He will come and save you.”
There is Hope in these words. Be strong, do not fear! Your God is coming! Behold Your King is Coming!
This Day of Vengeance on His enemies should give us great comfort and peace because Jesus is the Righteous Judge who will expel evil from His Kingdom and usher in Everlasting Righteousness. This is the promise of Isaiah 61:2 the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn.
At the end of chapter 7, as the Tribulation saints are standing before the throne, having endured the horrors of the Tribulation, have been rescued from the evil of this world by means of death and notice the promise Jesus gives them, Revelation 7:16-17. He wipes away every tear. He is comforting those who mourn.
8:6) So the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.
As the Seventh Seal is loosed, which ushers in more Righteous Wrath, the Seven angels prepare themselves to sound. This is a result of the prayers of the Tribulation Saints who are standing before the alter of God.
God is our faithful God, the God of Comfort, the God of Righteousness
and He is fulfilling His promise
Parallels between Joshua and Revelation
The Purpose: A conquest led by God to expel the enemy (ungodly inhabitants) out of His land in order to set up His Kingdom to come.
- Joshua- the Promise Land, Josh 1:11
- Revelation- the whole earth, Rev 11:15
- Joshua Ἰησοῦς in the LXX foreshadow the Lord Jesus.
- The Commander of the Lord’s Army, pre-incarnate Jesus appears to Joshua, Joshua 5:14-15
- Revelation- the Risen Lord Jesus Christ; the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, Rev 5:5
- Joshua- 1405BC – 1398BC, Josh 2:1; 6:22
- Revelation- 70th Week, Daniel 9:27; 3-1/2 yrs, 1260 days, times, time, half a time, Rev 11:3; 12:6; 13:5
- Joshua- two spies, Josh 2:1; 6:22
- Revelation- two witnesses, Rev 11:3-6
- Joshua- 7 priests bearing 7 trumpets, Josh 6:4
- Revelation- 7 angels given 7 trumpets, Rev 8:2
- Joshua- march 6 days without making a sound, then shout on the 7th, Josh 6:10, 16
- Revelation- silence in heaven during 6 trumpet judgments, then loud voices in heaven on the 7th, Rev 8:1; 11:15
- Joshua- Adoni Zedek, the Lord of Righteousness, Josh 10:1
- Revelation- the Antichrist, Rev 13:1-6; 2 Thess 2:3-4
- Joshua- coveted possessions of Babylon, Josh 6:18; 7:21
- Revelation- the mark of the Beast, alliance with Babylon, Rev 13:15-18; 14:9-10
- Joshua- Sun and moon stand still, Josh 10:13; large hailstones, Josh 10:11
- Revelation- sun darkened, moon to blood, stars fall; large hailstones, Rev 6:12; 8:7, 12; 9:2; 16:8
- Joshua- 5 kings, Josh 10:16
- Revelation- kings of the earth, Rev 6:15
- Joshua- the Lord will do to all your enemies, Josh 10:25
- Revelation- Day of Vengeance, Isaiah 34:8; 61:2; 63:4; Jeremiah 46:10
- Joshua- God gave to Israel all the land which He swore to their fathers, Josh 21:43
PREVIOUS LESSON 39 ← GO TO → NEXT LESSON 41