The book of Revelation is the pulling back of the curtain so that we can see what the future of God's people will be. This revelation is our glorious hope as we look to Jesus in these days of tribulation and know for sure he is coming back to take us home.

After a short interlude at the end of chapter 8, chapter 9 opens with the full force of the first woe that is brought on humanity who do not have the seal of the risen Lord Jesus on them. A plague of locusts, reminiscent of the plague that fell on Egypt, it presented as coming from the bottomless pit. They fly through the smoke and flame of the pit to bring havoc on a third of the earth. But their power is limited. They can only torment humanity but not kill them. But these locusts are not ordinary locusts. Their image is one that is different, but what is noticeable is that their power to inflict harm is in their tail, described as being like the tail of a scorpion.

The sixth trumpet sounds in verse 13 and the second woe begins. The image presented to us by John is of the enemies of God's people coming from the east across the River Euphrates. This is not to be understood as a physical place as God brings his judgement of death on a third of humanity, but digs into he history of Israel to remind them of the horrors that did come from the east by way of punishment from God for their unfaithfulness.

Revelation 9 warns us the severe judgments we will face if we rejection the salvation and lordship of Christ. God continues to display his grace while there is still time to trust in the Saviour and know the assurance of an eternal home in heaven.

Glorious Hope is a podcast teaching series from Annalong Presbyterian Church. You can find out more at http://www.annalongpc.org/sermons.

Get your copy of the ESV Scripture Journal (Revelation) wherever you get your Christian books to help your own study in this series.

A video of this podcast is available at https://youtu.be/SNLYg0BBDtY.

The book of Revelation is the pulling back of the curtain so that we can see what the future of God's people will be. This revelation is our glorious hope as we look to Jesus in these days of tribulation and know for sure he is coming back to take us home.

As much as there is nothing new in Revelation by way of what Scripture has already told us, so the book itself repeats its message and we see this here with the introduction of the seven trumpets. The seven seals have told us of what God will do in these end times. The opening of a seal doesn't create much noise, but the blast of a trumpet will get us all to sit up and pay attention!

The sound of a trumpet cannot be ignored and so the message of Revelation 8 is not to be ignored. The Lord's judgments are coming on the earth and all humanity outside of Christ will be judged for their rejection of the Saviour. But there is hope because there is still time! These judgments on the earth occur in the time between Christ's ascension and his return. So while there is yet time we are to trust in the Saviour so that we will pass through the judgement and be assured of home in heaven.

Paul's assurance for us in Romans 5:9 is to be headed that we have a Saviour who will willing to save to the utmost:

Glorious Hope is a podcast teaching series from Annalong Presbyterian Church. You can find out more at http://www.annalongpc.org/sermons.

Get your copy of the ESV Scripture Journal (Revelation) wherever you get your Christian books to help your own study in this series.

A video of this podcast is available at https://youtu.be/yrVeUOq812E.

The book of Revelation is the pulling back of the curtain so that we can see what the future of God's people will be. This revelation is our glorious hope as we look to Jesus in these days of tribulation and know for sure he is coming back to take us home.

As we leave chapter 7 and the great multitude before the throne the scene shifts to a moment of silence in heaven. John guesses that it was for about half an hour. This silence tells us that God is merciful and good and is giving time for the saints to continue in prayer to him and these prayers are then presented to him in an act of worship.

John also sees seven trumpets given to seven angels. This is to get us ready for judgement that will fall on the earth as a response to the prayers of God's people and he will answer the question 'how long?'

The silence in heaven is much like silence on earth—we will either enjoy it or fear it. To enjoy it means we understand that God is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love so we can come to him in prayer with all that we need. To fear the silence means we receive the judgement we deserve for our sins as the seven trumpets will sound. Our only opportunity for salvation is to lean into the steadfast love of God and know our salvation in the Lamb, the one who was slain for us.

Glorious Hope is a podcast teaching series from Annalong Presbyterian Church. You can find out more at http://www.annalongpc.org/sermons.

Get your copy of the ESV Scripture Journal (Revelation) wherever you get your Christian books to help your own study in this series.

A video of this podcast is available at https://youtu.be/R8jVaGtk7yE.