Also See The Judgement of God.. The First Six Trumpets: describes The Day of the Lord.. a phrase used to describe the final judgment of the world. A time that Jesus describes as one of great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. He went on to say that “... if those days had not been shortened, no human being would be saved” [Matt 24:21-22] That Earth Shaking Seventh Trumpet: The Seventh Trumpet is, in a sense, the most consequential of all the judgments, since at this call significant and apparently rapid changes take place. This last Trumpet brings an end to the mystery of God... Jesus appears before the Face of God for us and the atonement complete, He reaps the earth (what we call the Rapture) and the doors to the Kingdom are closed forever.
God publicly reclaims His rightful rule over the earth as He makes an end of all things in the Seven Bowls and Jesus returns to earth to establish His kingdom. The Seven Bowls/ The Last Woe. [Revelation 15, 16] And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels having seven plagues, which are the last, for in them is finished the wrath of God… And one of the four living creatures gave unto the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever…. And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and none was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels should be finished. And I heard a great voice out of the temple, saying to the seven angels, Go ye, and pour out the seven bowls of the wrath of God into the earth. [Revelation 15:1, 7, 8, 16:1. All Emphasis Added] The general tenor of the verses describing the Seven Bowls is that they are not long drawn out as are the Trumpets, but follow one another in quick succession. Also the kind of conditions described would make it impossible for people to survive more than a few days. It does not seem possible, as is believed by some, that the Bowls are a recapitulation of the events of the Trumpets… presenting them with greater severity as it were. Although there is a great deal of similarity in the two series, there are also significant differences. For example each of the first four Trumpets affect a third of the targeted area, while the corresponding bowl affects the whole earth. This is a crucial difference as the Trumpets cause Great Tribulation, defined as a state of great trouble or suffering, while the Bowls are designed to rapidly make an end of all things and conclude His wrath. The Seven Trumpets can be likened to the Ten Plagues of Egypt. Plague after plague, gradually increasing in intensity, fell on the Egyptians while the Israelites that lived in their midst were not affected. The story culminates in the total and quick destruction of the Egyptian army…. comparable to the Seven Bowls which will bring total and swift destruction. However some will survive the Bowls. Matthew 24:22 tells us that if those days were not shortened “no flesh would have been saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened”, implying that since the days were shortened, some flesh was saved.
The First Four Bowls are poured out on the natural realm (16:1-9). And the first went, and poured out his bowl into the earth; and it became a noisome and grievous sore upon the men that had the mark of the beast, and that worshipped his image. Revelation 16:2] And the second poured out his bowl into the sea; and it became blood as of a dead man; and every living soul died, even the things that were in the sea. [Revelation 16:3] And the third poured out his bowl into the rivers and the fountains of the waters; and it became blood. And I heard the angel of the waters saying, Righteous art thou, who art and who wast, thou Holy One, because thou didst thus judge: for they poured out the blood of the saints and the prophets, and blood hast thou given them to drink: they are worthy. And I heard the altar saying, Yea, O Lord God, the Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments. [Revelation 16:4-7] And the fourth poured out his bowl upon the sun; and it was given unto it to scorch men with fire. And men were scorched men with great heat: and they blasphemed the name of God who hath the power over these plagues; and they repented not to give him glory. [Revelation 16:8-9]
The Next Three Bowls seem to be aimed at the supernatural realm.. the Beast’s throne, the air etc. (16:10-21). Note that in Ephesians 2:2 Satan is called “the prince of the power of the air” And the fifth poured out his bowl upon the throne of the beast; and his kingdom was darkened; and they gnawed their tongues for pain, and they blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores; and they repented not of their works. [Revelation 16:10-11] And the sixth poured out his bowl upon the great river, the river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way might by made ready for the kings that come from the sun rising. And I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits, as it were frogs: for they are spirits of demons, working signs; which go forth unto the kings of the whole world, to gather them together unto the war of the great day of God, the Almighty. (Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walked naked, and they see his shame.) And they gathered them together into the place which is called in Hebrew Har-magedon. [Revelation 16:12-16] And the seventh poured out his bowl upon the air; and there came forth a great voice out of the temple, from the throne, saying, It is done: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunders; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since there were men upon the earth, so great an earthquake, so mighty. And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and Babylon the great was remembered in the sight of God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. And great hail, every stone about the weight of a talent, cometh down out of heaven upon men: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof is exceeding great. [Revelation 16:17-21] This is followed by The Millennium... The thousand year reign of Jesus Christ.
Comparison of Trumpets and Bowls
There is a great deal of similarity in the judgments of the trumpets and bowls. In both, the first series deals with the earth (8:7 with 16:2), the second series deals with the sea (8:8-9 with 16:3), the third series deals with the rivers and fountains of water (8:10-11 with 16:4), the fourth series deals with the sun (8:12 with 16:8), the fifth series deals with darkness (8:12 with 16:10), the sixth series deals with the Euphrates (9:13-14 with 16:12), and the seventh series deals with lightning, thunders, and earthquakes (11:19b with 16:17-21) 1st Trumpet and 1st Bowl
Revelation 8:7 And the first sounded, and there followed hail and fire, mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of the earth was burnt up, and the third part of the trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up. Revelation 16:2 And the first went, and poured out his bowl into the earth; and it became a noisome and grievous sore upon the men that had the mark of the beast, and that worshipped his image. At the first trumpet there is hail and fire mixed with blood cast to the earth; 1/3 of the earth, trees and grass are burned (1/3 denoting a partial or limited judgment). At the first bowl the earth and its inhabitants are afflicted with grievous sores.
2nd Trumpet and 2nd Bowl Revelation 8:8-9 And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood; [9] and there died the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, even they that had life; and the third part of the ships was destroyed. Revelation 16:3 And the second poured out his bowl into the sea; and it became blood as of a dead man; and every living soul died, even the things that were in the sea. At the second trumpet third part of the sea becomes blood killing 1/3 of everything in it. 1/3 of the ships are destroyed (judgment). At the second bowl the sea again becomes blood, but now everything dies (total destruction).
3rd Trumpet and 3rd Bowl
Revelation 8:10-11 And the third angel sounded, and there fell from heaven a great star, burning as a torch, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of the waters; Revelation 16:4 And the third poured out his bowl into the rivers and the fountains of the waters; and it became blood. [11] and the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter. At the third trumpet only 1/3 of the rivers, and other water sources are made bitter killing many. At the third bowl there is no limitation placed on how much of the rivers, springs, and waters are affected. Once again, many people die from drinking.
4th Trumpet and 4th Bowl
Revelation 8:12 And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; that the third part of them should be darkened, and the day should not shine for the third part of it, and the night in like manner. Revelation 16:8 And the fourth poured out his bowl upon the sun; and it was given unto it to scorch men with fire. At the fourth trumpet 1/3 part of the sun, moon, and stars are smitten and there is darkness (again, a partial judgment). At the fourth bowl again the sun is again affected, which does not bring overwhelming heat.
5th Trumpet and 5th Bowl
Revelation 9:1-3 And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star from heaven fallen unto the earth: and there was given to him the key of the pit of the abyss. And he opened the pit of the abyss; and there went up a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit. And out of the smoke came forth locusts upon the earth; Revelation 16:10 And the fifth poured out his bowl upon the throne of the beast; and his kingdom was darkened; and they gnawed their tongues for pain, At the fifth trumpet unbelievers are tormented by locusts for five months (a specific, limited time) and are in such pain that they long to die. The very air is darkened. At the fifth bowl unbelievers are tormented and their pain is so bad that they gnaw their tongues and blaspheme God. The kingdom of the beast is darkened.
6th Trumpet and 6th Bowl
Revelation 9:13-14 And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the horns of the golden altar which is before God, [14] one saying to the sixth angel that had one trumpet, Loose the four angels that are bound at the great river Euphrates. Revelation 16:12 And the sixth poured out his bowl upon the great river, the river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way might by made ready for the kings that come from the sun rising. At the sixth trumpet four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates are released. The fire, smoke and brimstone that comes out of the mouths of the armies of the horsemen are called three plagues that kills 1/3 of mankind. (again, partial judgment). At the sixth bowl the great river Euphrates is dried up and three demonic spirits gather the people for the final battle, Armageddon.
7th Trumpet and 7th Bowl
Revelation. 11:15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there followed great voices in heaven, and they said, The kingdom of the world is become the kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ: and he shall reign for ever and ever. Revelation 16:17-21 And the seventh poured out his bowl upon the air; and there came forth a great voice out of the temple, from the throne, saying, It is done: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunders; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since there were men upon the earth, so great an earthquake, so mighty. And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and Babylon the great was remembered in the sight of God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. And great hail, every stone about the weight of a talent, cometh down out of heaven upon men: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof is exceeding great. At the seventh trumpet we have reached the consummation. There are loud voices in heaven speaking. There is lightning, sounds, and peals of thunder. The temple of God is mentioned, as is the throne. Divine wrath comes upon unbelievers. There is an earthquake and a hailstorm. At the seventh bowl we have again reached the consummation (“It is done,” 16:15). There is a loud voice from heaven speaking. There is lightning, sounds, and peals of thunder. The temple of God is mentioned, as is the throne. Divine wrath again comes upon unbelievers. There is a huge earthquake and hail that weighs some 100 pounds.
Nuclear Weapons In The End Times?
The following is excerpted from an article by Dennis Pollock… The book of Revelation talks about the poisoning of the oceans, the burning up of the grass and the trees, and the sun scorching people with great heat. It also tells us that horrible plagues will afflict mankind, that there will be widespread wars and famines, and that the atmosphere will become so polluted as to reduce visibility by one third. In the midst of all this devastation, the earth's population will flee to the caves, as people cry to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!" (Revelation 6:16). There are three possible sources of the kind of devastation portrayed above. 1) It is brought about supernaturally by God Himself without any other possible explanation. Until the nuclear age this was the primary view, as it was hard to see how such a scenario could be brought about by natural human means. In the Old Testament we find God killing 185,000 of Israel's enemies by one angel, without any natural explanation. If one angel can wipe out that many people, it should not be too much trouble for all the hosts of God's angelic armies to destroy three quarters of the earth's population. 2) The disturbances are created by a comet whose path leads it uncomfortably close to the earth. Global earthquakes and tidal waves, resulting in famines on an unprecedented scale would almost certainly be the result. Some, but probably not all, of these judgments could be brought about this way. 3) A nuclear holocaust. IN other words God simply steps back and allows man to blow himself up in which case the plagues and judgments seen and described by John, are a first century man's description of a thermonuclear war. John did not use terms like "nuclear weapons, ICBM's, or fractional orbital bombs", but described things like "hail and fire," "a great mountain burning with fire," and "a great star . . . burning like a torch." This is what we would expect of a first century man, describing things he had no knowledge of in the only terms he knew to use.
The sun becoming black as sackcloth and the moon becoming like blood perfectly describes the phenomena that would result from massive amounts of dust and debris blown into the sky by multiple nuclear bursts. Revelation 6:14 says And the atmosphere was pushed apart like a scroll when it is rolled together" In a nuclear explosion the atmosphere literally rolls back on itself. A tremendous rush of air back into the vacuum that causes much of the destruction of a nuclear explosion. John's words in this verse are a perfect picture of an all-out nuclear exchange... The whole world will be literally shaken apart! Zecheriah 14:12 says "Now this will be the plague with which the Lord will strike all the peoples who have gone to war against Jerusalem; their flesh will rot while they stand on their feet, and their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongue will rot in their mouth."
Certainly the poisoning of the waters (Revelation 8:11), the severe reduction in visibility (Revelation 8:12), the death of much of the earth's vegetation (Revelation 8:7), malignant sores (Revelation 16:2), the end of ocean life (Revelation 16:3), and the inability of the atmosphere to block out harmful ultraviolet rays, resulting in severe burns (Revelation 16:8) are all expected results of nuclear war.
[raptureforums.com/IsraelMiddleEast/nuclear.cfm] This is a very real possibility but nothing we can know with absolute certainty. | 
Index to Section 9B... 
