FIFTH TRUMPET

Heavenly view:
Hebrews 9:11-12 But Christ (after His ascension in 31 A.D.) became an high priest of good things to come, in a greater and more perfect tabernacle. Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

Rev. 8:3-4and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer [it] with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, [which came] with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.

Thanks to Jesus sacrifice and mediation the prayers of God's people, being mixed with the precious merits of Christ, find forgiveness and mercy at the throne of God

Earthly view:
Rev. 9:1-2 And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit,

That star had already fallen in the third trumpet.
As noted in previous posts, the fallen star is a church leader.
In Revelation 1:20; we are told that stars are seven angels or leaders of the churches, through whom (in chapter 2 and 3) God sent letters to the church members. But this is a fallen star, a church leader that has fallen from truth, sitting in the seat of Satan in Rome, receiving his power and authority from the dragon. (Rev. 13:4)

There was also smoke ascending -- a counterfeit of Christ's work in the heavenly sanctuary.
A counterfeit system of merits has been established. An earthly substitute pretending to dispense forgiveness and grace,

Rev. 9:2 And to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.
From the pit rises deception. The bottomless pit is ultimately the place of death and destruction.

The keys were claimed by the papacy.
In Matt. 16:19 is a verse the papacy, firmly claims for themselves. They claim the KEYS.
But those keys are not the heavenly keys that bring salvation and life, they are counterfeits that only bring deceptions.

Heavenly view:

Rev. 1:18 Jesus says, "I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death."
Rev. 3:7: he that is true, has the key of David, it is he that opens, and no man shuts; and shuts, and no man opens?
John 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

The key belongs to Jesus!

Earthly view:

Revelation 9:2 and there arose 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.

The smoke from strange fire, from a strange altar - from the pit is darkness, a suffocating smoke, deadly. Sinful humans cannot cleanse anyone's sins. Claiming to have that power and even making merchandise of God's grace is Blasphemy. Enforcing laws demanding people confess their sins to priests who supposedly also have the power to refuse and consign someone to hell, brings darkness and extinguishes the light of God's grace.

Rev. 9:3 And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth and unto them (the locusts) was given power,

In prophecy locusts become a symbol of divine intervention in human affairs. A call to turn from sin and come back under the protective arms of God.
Their sudden appearance, vast numbers, and devastating impact are symbolic of God's judgement.

Heavenly view:

2 Chron 7:13-14 If I ... command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

FIFTH TRUMPET

Heavenly View:
Byzantine Empire, though shattered by the fourth crusade, was allowed to re-conquer it's lost city and lands and re-establish itself. A second chance.
"Turn from evil and do good; then you will dwell in the land forever." Psalm 37:27
"Repent, then, and turn to God, so that he will forgive your sins." Acts 3:19

Christ was still standing before the golden altar of incense. Would they return to the true gospel of salvation?

EARTHLY VIEW
1054 AD The Great Schism
1204 AD The fourth crusade attacks and conquers Constantinople.
1261 AD the Byzantine Empire was re-established.
1299 AD the "locusts" The Ottoman's were starting to rise to power. 150 years begin.
1449 AD the end of the 150 years of Grace -- a couple years later Constantinople falls.

Rev.9:4 And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.
Rev. 9:5 And to them it was given that they should not kill them,

The Christian world still had a certain amount of protection from God, against these "locusts". They were sorely "tormented" by them but they were not conquered by them.

THE SEAL
God's seal is not just something unique at the end of the age, the Holy Spirit works to develop it in us now.
Ephesians1:12-13... who first trusted in Christ. In whom they believed, after they heard the word of truth, the gospel of their salvation. In Him also after that you believed, you were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Who is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption
Ephesians 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby you are sealed unto the day of redemption.

Christ's followers have the seal of promise through the Holy Spirit, all through Christian history. This is the recognition that they are Christ's people. The Sabbath is a key part of that sign.

THE SABBATH

Ez. 20:12 Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD that sanctify them.
Ez. 20:20 20:20 And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that you may know that I am the LORD your God.

The eastern church still had seventh day Sabbath Christians.

"We read of a group called "Nazarenes" who "observe the Sabbath of the Jews" who dwelt in Constantinople .
Nazareness was a term used for early Christians, as Roman governor Felix heard that Paul was "a creator of dissension" and "a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes" (Acts 24:5).
Nazarenes were early Christians with a high percentage of them being Jews converted to Christianity. This group was still around centuries latter in Constantinople and elsewhere.

About 1054 a historian - Neale_ wrote in
"A History of the Holy Eastern Church" Vol. 1, p.731
"The observance of Saturday is as everyone knows, the subject of a bitter dispute between the Greeks and the Latins.
Written in reference to the Great Schism of 1054.

Earlier (800's) there had been a strong movement in the eastern church to honour the second commandment -- generally known as the great icon controversy or Iconoclasm.

There were other issues which showed the east still had a strong resistance to the encroachments of Latin Papal dogmas. These led to "The Great Schism" between Papal Rome and the Byzantines in 1054.

Then the armies of the 4th crusade from the west, conquered Constantinople and destroyed the Byzantine Empire in 1204. But the former Byzantine people reconquered and started over in 1261. How would they reshape their religious life?

RESTORED BUT NOT REFORMED
The Byzantine Emperor gathered the religious power and glory to himself. Yes, the Patriarch was the religious leader, but the Emperor positioned himself as the final word and protector of the church. He would go so far as to build a special platform with light arrangement that made him look like the sun was rising when he ascended.

The Byzantine Empire was given 150 years more to repent and return to the true gospel.

Rev. 9:5 but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment [was] as the torment of a scorpion, when he strikes a man.

The time "five months" is symbolic. The rule being that in apocalyptical prophecies in a passage that speaks in symbols, the time is also symbolic. In the fifth trumpet we see symbolic scorpions, symbolic locusts, and symbolic descriptions of horses -- and symbolic time. 50 months = 50 X 30 days = 150 symbolic days which equal 150 years.

Not only is time presented in symbolic format in the 5th trumpet, but we also know it is not until after the sixth trumpet that time prophecies END (Rev. 10:6) Time prophecies (the ability to calculate time) ended in 1844.

Thus -- to say the references to time (50 months/150 years, and the 391 days/years) in these prophecies are prophesying a length of time yet in the future is going against inspired writings.

The forces developed in history will manifest themselves all at once in a final show down, but that is NOT prophecy repeating.
Prophecy told the history about them, shows how they developed in sequential development throughout Christian history, warns us against them, but it's NOT prophecy repeating when they all sound in one terrible blast together in Satan's last desperate effort to stamp out God's faithful. History repeats, not prophecy.

Sixth Trumpet

Rev. 9:14-15 Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.
And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men.

Are these the same four angels which we find in Rev. 7: 1-3?

Four Angels in Rev. 7:1-3 (The last seal)	Four Angels in Rev. 9:14-15 6th trumpet
Location: These angels stand on the four corners of the earth, meaning they surround the earth, east, west, north, south.	These angels are at the river Euphrates They have no real power beyond the river.
These angels are active -- restraining the winds of strife, they "hold in check the fierce winds of human passion" all over the world.	These angels are bound, they were contained in their local territory.
These angels prevent destruction	These angels are destructive once released from the Euphrates,
The angels release the WINDS from all four directions	The four bound angels are released
These angels do not stop holding back the winds of strife coming from all direction, until all the servants of God have received the seal in their foreheads.	These angels radiate trouble outward from one location -- the Euphrates. There is still hope people will sense their need and repent
This takes us to the end of probation, and the deliverance of the saints who stand before God's throne.	These angels making trouble is not the end, Rev. 10 & 11 is still part of the 6th trumpet, and shows in Rev.11:2,3 that it takes us to the end of the 1260 years, which ended with the French Revolution. Then there is a very sweet but bitter experience, after which God's people are told they must prophecy again.

So no, I can not see four angels from the Euphrates in the sixth trumpet as being the same as the four grand angels holding back the world's total descent into strife, of Revelation 7..

Sixth Trumpet
Rev. 9:13
And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard
a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God,
Rev. 9:14 Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.

We know from Rev. 8:2,3 that Jesus is ministering before the heavenly altar of incense during the duration of the trumpets.

Four horns on the altar of incense symbolize the four corners of the earth.
In Hebraic thought, the earth is likened to a large altar dedicated to God.
The four horns symbolize Christ's work which includes the whole earth and everyone in it. His work of intercession and grace is over all those four corners of earth.
Horns also symbolize strength, or power. Duet. 33:17, 2 Sam. 22:3, Ps. 18:2.

There are four "angels" that are bound in a limited area of the earth. -- By the Euphrates.

Angels symbolize messengers or messages.

Wisdom and knowledge had been collected, stored and studied in the lands by the Euphrates for hundreds of years. These are messages which were the accumulated knowledge of ages, information which had concentrated in the east and which the fall of Constantinople released, spread out and scattered throughout Europe, Russian and on into the the world. This was happening throughout the 391 years. The four "angels" were not four generals that died shortly after 1449. The accumulated wisdom of the ages was being released.

We usually only hear of European history-- buta lot was happening east of Europe, while in the west society was living in a darkened age. What has been labeled as the islamic golden age of learning was taking place.

The Legacy of the Islamic Golden Age was taking place.
They had collected knowledge far in advance of what was happening in the west. Not just scientific and mathematic, they had religious books and scrolls of the scripture dating back in years.

The fall of the Byzantine Empire 1449 - 1453 to the Ottomans, scattered the Orthodox Christian believers into Russia and the west. They took with them many of the ancient writings including Greek manuscripts of the Bible. It opened the way for Protestantism to grow.

But there was more, as the knowledge spread, we begin to see the world developing more sophisticated knowledge in math, medicine, astronomy, weaponry, etc. The world was being prepared for Daniel 12:4 prediction to be fulfilled "many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. "

It didn't bring forth a "golden age of peace", the opposite as increased knowledge outside of God's wisdom does not bring peace, it tends to bring increased violence and destruction.
The sixth trumpet contains the French Revolution as a result, in which reason tried to eliminate God's Word -- which shows just how wrong the thinking is that peace is the result of pushing God aside.
The sixth trumpet also points to a group (a remnant) which studied the prophecies (the little book) and sought to obey God and longed for His coming, but they need to prophesy again. The end was not yet. It's not till the seventh trumpet begins to sound that the mystery of God will be finished. We are in the seventh trumpet now -- no more counting of time. Just proclaiming the three angel's message and waiting and watching for Jesus.

The biggest issue I see in the various attempts to lift the trumpets out of the historicist setting and place them all in the final days, is their failure to see they reach a climax at the end of the 2300 years with trumpet six. The sixth trumpet does NOT end with the close of probation, it brings prophecy to the end of the 2300 day/year prophecy and the beginning of a fuller understanding of Christ's sanctuary work which must yet be preached to all the world before the second coming. (Rev. 10:11) The 1260 years of "trampling" have ended (Rev. 11:2-3) It includes Christ moving away from the altar of incense, taking the golden censor into the Most Holy Place and beginning the pre-Advent judgment.

Though the revisionists may see there is some kind of a climax with trumpet six, most do not see that the section of Rev. 10:1 to 11:14 is very much connected with what happens at the end of the six trumpets, and thus do not connect it with the ending of the 2300 years, nor the transition that takes place leading into the seventh trumpet. These Rev. 10:1 to 11:14 texts tend to be dismissed as not part of the sequence within the trumpets, even though Rev. 11:14 states the end point of the sixth trumpet comes after these verses.

The sixth trumpet marks the ending of both the 1260 day/years and the ending of the 2300 day/year periods.

In Revelation ten, the sixth trumpet is ending and a mighty heavenly Messenger declares under oath "and swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things that are in it, and the sea and the things that are in it, that there should be time no longer" Rev. 10:6



There has always been a strong resistance to the importance of the ending of the 2300 years and the transition into the "judgment hour" in 1844. Yet the bible shows it to be very important.

Daniel 7 shows Christ, as the "son of man" representing the human race, appearing before the ancient of days in the heavenly court, to be declared as the rightful owner of the dominion of this earth. He presents the names of all who overcome in His name as heirs of this kingdom along with Him. (Rev. 3:4-5) Daniel 7 shows this takes place sometime after the 1260 years are completed, and Daniel 8 places it at the end of the 2300 years.

After the "end of timelines" there is a time when truth is to be restored, a short window in earth's history when the gospel goes to all the world in the light of glory, it's called the three angel's message, but satan comes with full fury against it (Rev. 12:17) and all the evil forces developed during the six trumpets, though temporally held back, will make one last attempt to stamp out the truth. Yes, the nations will be angry (as we read in the seventh trumpet) BUT Christ will win!

Ellen White writes a lot concerning those verses included in the sixth trumpet leading into seventh trumpet.






We can see in the years 1798 to 1844 the world was changed -- the anti-righteous developments in the history of the six trumpets were all restrained so the last gospel could go to all the world -- and it will, but the forces of evil are also at work, for all the evil of the six trumpets will again descend in full fury against truth to try and seal it off. But Christ will win and His followers will be sealed for His everlasting kingdom!

Identity	Problem	Crises	Transition after 6th trumpet
Trumpet 1 and 2	Nationalism	Both in Judaism and Roman empire, political power determine and enforce a religious view as the proper and national religion to which all must adhere--persecution results.	Near end of sixth trumpet -- American constitution, brings separation of church and state, offering freedom to worship. The power of monarchs was also greatly reduced.
Trumpet 3 and 4	The development of the powerful, counterfeit religion.	Bore the name Christian, but Christ's atonement, priestly ministry and grace were hidden. Spiritual darkness reigned.	The Reformation opened the way, bringing light, but it was at the end of the sixth trumpet that papal power received a fatal wound, and Christ's sanctuary work was revealed and understood in it's cleansing, sanctifying wholeness. Rev. 10 happened as a result of understanding the ending of the 2300 years.
Trumpets 5 and 6	Powers with a religious flavor, but anti-Christian, not recognizing Christ as Savior and Lord, based on works and reason and humanism.	Released a lot of knowledge into the world. Reason becomes "god", which was often used for destructive purposes both physical and spiritual.	The French Revolution near the end of the sixth trumpet, gives a horrifying picture of what happens when God's ways are replaced with human passion and reason. Rev. 11: 4-13 happened. The "old world" system disrupted. But God used the disruption to allow truth to also be taken world wide like never before.
Trumpet 7	Nations are angry, but Christ is finishing the work	The dead are judged. The righteous in Christ vindicated. Those who studied the book open in Rev. 10, have taken their mission to prophecy again seriously and take the three angels' message to the world, they have realized Christ is in the most holy before the ark of the covenant in which are the ten commandments. (11:17) They must "prophecy again" and then Jesus, in all His glory will come. Praise to our Savior, Jesus!	These truths were "discovered" at the end of the sixth trumpet and beginning of the seventh. The seventh trumpet begins in 1844, covers the judgment hour, and takes us to the end when there will be thunders and lightnings when the censor is cast down and probation has closed.
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