Revelation 3

Revelation 8-11

Objective: 

• TheSeventh ThroneSeal: inPrelude Heavento the Seven Trumpets

• 7 Trumpets

• The LambMighty TakesAngel with the ScrollLittle Book

• John Eats the Little Book

• The 7Two SealsWitnesses

Resources:

• Fr Tadros Y Malaty Commentary
• Catena Bible Commentary
• Fr Dawoud Lamie Bible study (Arabic)

Reading:

• Revelation 48
• Revelation 59
• Revelation 610
• Revelation 711

Key verse(s):

"RememberAnd thereforethe smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from where you have fallen; repent and do the firstangel’s works"hand" Revelation 5:28:4

Comments:

• The word translated “Revelation” means “unveiling.
• The verb simply means “to uncover, to reveal, to make manifest.”
• Apocalypse = Revelation = unveiling = uncover = to make manifest
• The author is St. John the Beloved

• Author	St. John the Beloved
  Place	Patmos during exile
  Date	96 AD
  Theme	The things which are things which you have seen the things which will take place after this
  Key verse	Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this-1:19

• St.The John7th wasSeal exiledleads to Patmosthe whenseven GodTrumpets
revealed
• Trumpets = Warnings
  • Trumpets were used in old times to him His mysteries
  • It iswarn the only writing that St. John mentioned his name in
  • Ch. 4
    • The throne of God is also mentioned in Ezekiel 1,10 and Isiah 6
    • The Church planned for this scene to bepeople in the Sanctuarycity so that whenagainst the People are praying, they are always seeing the Heavenenemies
    • ThisWarnings chapterto withalert allpeople itsnot detailsto describesdestroy
    the Liturgy

  • 

• Ch. 5
  • Seals mean: things hidden from humans
  • 7 = complete number
  • In the old times, they used to seal each scroll with a seal for privacy and security
  • This scroll had 7 seals for the complete hiding
  • The priest told St. John to look at the Lion from the tribe of Judah, but St. John saw a lamb
    • Our Lord is strong like a lion and simple like a lamb
  • The standing lamb as though it had been slain applies only on the Cross
  • V.8: Incense = the prayers of the saints. We believe that the saints are always present with us and praying with us and for us
  • V.9-12: the words of this heavenly praise were taken by the Church and the words and concepts are used often - "worthy, slain, redeemed us, Lamb, strength and honor and glory and blessing"
• V.6-7
  • Church fathers mention that these are 7 periods that will come on the Church

  • 

  • First Seal: White horse = First Church of the Apostles. Very strong and conquered
  • Second Seal: Red horse = Era of martyrdom
  • Third Seal: Black horse = Era of heresies
  • Fourth Seal: Pale/Green = Era of a big heresy or a strong person who will give the Church very hard time and a quarter of the earth followed it/him
  • Fifth Seal: A joyful seal for encouragementCh.8

    • AllV.1: We can't know how long the NThalf-hour martyrsis areas linkedit tois in the AltarHeaven. andThe wereheavenly readycreatures tostopped givepraising upfor theirsometime livesuntil toGod Christdeclares His final judgment (7th Seal). But then God extends the time on earth for repentance by sending another 7 warnings (Trumpets)

    • V.10:2: Cried"were becausegiven theyseven trumpets" signifies that all things are stilldone alive

      by
    and

    • Each one was given a white robe as a symbol of victory. And after they askedthrough God about his judgment and vengeance, God asked them to "rest a little while longer". Why the wait? God is waiting for many other believers to join themHimself

    • V.11:4: Smoke of incese + prayers of saints: A request of mercy and forgivness. The angel offered incese as to intereced for the martyrspeople before the Trumpets

    • Only 'thirds' were destroyed. This is God's warning in our lives. Not all is destroyed, but only a third to warn us

    • First Trumpet: Vegetation Struck

      • A third of trees and the saints under the altargrass are "fellowburnt. servantsSignifies and their brethren"famines

    • SixthSecond Seal:Trumpet: CosmicThe DisturbancesSeas Struck

      • The"a samegreat signsmountain thatburning Christwith gavefire" his= disciplesa thatgreat willungoldy happenleader beforecausing the second comingwars
      • TheSymbolizes peoplea whogreat arenation notthat readycaused fora great war and then that nation fell in the secondsea comingand wantkileed toa hidethird of the creatures

    • Third Trumpet: The Waters Struck

      • "a great star fell from Hisheaven" face= a big famous religous figure
      • V.15:Signifies Alla big leader leading to a big heresy leading to many people willfollowing bea judgedwrong dogma
      • "Wormwood" very bitter. This is the resuly and iftaste theyof heresies
      • "Bitter war" The teachings were sinfulfalse and pridefulwrong. Destoryed the poeple. Looks like normal/good water, but leads to death

    • Fourth Trumpet: The Heavens Struck

      • Signifies that poeple will bestart scaredto doubt the Faith in Christ, His Church, and the saints
      • "third of Himthe sun" = The image of Christ the "Sun of Righoutsness" is distorted
      • a third of the moon" = The image of the Church  is distorted. Moon gets its light from sun. Church gets her light from Christ 
      • "third of the stars" = People haing doubts in God's leader and servants (Saints)
    • Ch.V.13: 7:The last four Trumpts/warning were tough. But the upcoming ones are harder to bear
      • TellingThe usthree aboutwoes will be discussed in the saintsnext whochapter. wereThe savedthreew fromwoes are more linked to the fifthtime sealbefore second coming
    • Ch.9
      • Fifth Trumpet = First woe
        • V.1-2: The devil was given authority to test the people after being somewhat released
        • 144,000:"the 12smoke of OTa xgreat 12furnace" tough and hard ideas of NTthe xdevil 1000in (greathis completewar
        unlimited
        • This number)should =encourge resemblingus to grow in the great unlimited numberword of saintsGod to be able to differentiate and believerscombat his wars
        • Thr trumpet also included the locusts attack.
        • V.3:4: The seallocusts =were Sacramentgiven clear instructions not to destroy anything "green" which symbolizes the faithful and righteous people
        • Grass < Green thing < Tree: Different righteous people with different levels of Chrismationspirituality. thatGod givesis usprotecting the beginners and strong in faith. The locusts only harm those who don't have the "seal"
        • V.5: Five months = 150 days. The tribessame number of Israelthe referflooding days at the time of Noah. Church Fathers look at this as if the locust will torment people for five months. This will torment them enough for them to therequest Church
        death
        • Theand tribethey ofwon't Judah was mentioned first because it is the tribe of our Lord
        • Mentioning every tribe ensuresget that every saint is counted and not forgotten byrest. God wants His people to repent, but they requested death over God.
        • V.9:7: TheSins saintsare lucrative in heaventheir will be from everywhere and not set for a certain numberlooks
        • V.12:8: OurWoman's praisehair: attractive. Lions teeth in Paschatheir strenght that hurt badly
        • Abaddon & Apollyon = Destroyer
          • Satan and sins look lucrative and strong to appeal but they are "destroyer"
      • Sixth Trumpet= Second woe
        • Refer to the four angles mentioned in (Rev. 7:1-3). These four angles are still pasuing and now they were given the order to release after the righouts were "sealed"
        • River Euphrates in Babylon. Babylon is a symbol of sin in the Bible
        • This Trumpet is the first to affect the humans
        • V.14:16: "two hundred million" are the soldiers in the armies
        • We don't know the exact meaning of this war. But what we need to know is that this is a big war (200 Million) who will be linked to sin (Babylon) and will destroy 1/3 of the people who are not sealed. The greatreason tribulationfor this is to repent!
        • V.21 shows that people still did not repent after all of this
    • Ch. 10:
      • V.1: St. John saw Christ. He described Him as an Angel as St. John couldn't clearly recognize Him in His glory. The rainbow is a sign of promise and compassion since Noah.
      • "little open book"
        • small = End of the world withis allnear. itsThis tribulations.book Allhas events less than the saintsone hadif tribulationsCh.5 inwhich theirwas livessealed (poverty,Scroll sickness,with loss7 ofseals)
        a beloved, persecution, etc.).
        • NormallyNot bloodsealed: will stain. ButBecause the Bloodrightous ofnow Christknow purifiesGod's andways makesvs thingsthe whitedevils wars
        • V.17:3: After all the wars and warnings that happened. Christ appears as a strong roaring lion protecting His people
        • V.4: God instructed St. John to not write about the seven thunders as God did not want to declare them to us
        • V.5: Shows that God has authority over the land, sea, and heaven
        • V.9:
          • "Eat" means to know and understand to decalre it to the people
          • "Sweet in the mouth" : God's word is sweet and joyful
          • "Bitter stomach" : Scholars said that this is because of the events St. John saw or because of the people's resistance to repentance. Also reading God's word reproach us to repent
          • Most scholars agreed that this "little book" is the Bible. Means we read, study, understand, and digest the Bible. This meaning was also mentioned in (Jer. 15:16 , Ez. 1:1-3 , Psalm 119:103)
          • Small book: The rewardBible awaitingis alla thosesmall whofraction cameof fromthe tribulation.things God delcared to us and what we will learn in the Heavens
      • Ch. 11:
        •  
        • Seventh Trumpet = Third woe

    Review/recap questions:
    **Servant may add more questions

    1. 1. What isdo seenthe trumpets symbolize and what do they remind you of in the midstOld Testament?
    2. What does the fire from the altar symbolize?
    3. “Then the fifth angel sounded: And I saw a star fallen from heaven to the earth” What the Apostle did mean by “A star fell from heaven to the earth”?
    4. Locusts have enough power to destroy any green things” Where else in the Holy Bible are locusts mentioned?
    5. Who is that mighty angel and aroundhow does St. John describe Him?
    6. “It was as sweet as honey in my mouth. But when I had eaten it, my stomachbecame bitter”.
    7. Why were the throne?little Howbook honey in his mouth and bitter in his stomach?
    8. Who are the two witnesses and why are they described?called olive trees and lamp stands?
    9. WheneverAs expressed in the praise of the twenty four creatures offer glory, honor, and thanks to God,elders, what happens?
    had
    10. Why did St. John weep and what comforted him?
    11. Why did they deem the Lamb worthy?
    12. What is seen when the fourth seal is opened? What was given to them?
    13. What is seen when the fifth seal is opened? What are they saying?
    14. Why did the tribes' order start with the Tribe of Judah?
    15. What future blessings the great multitude in white are promised to receive?come? 

    Homework:
    **Servant may add more questions

     
    1. Who says without rest day or night “Holy, Holy Holy”?
       a) the angels b) the four living creatures c) the 24 elders d) St. John
    2. The third living creature was like a:
       a) lion b) calf c) man d) eagle
    3. What was in the hand of Him who sat on the throne?
       a) a golden lamp b) a golden bowl c) a scroll d) a harp
    4. Who took the scroll from Him who sat on the throne?
       a) the elders b) a living creatures b) St. John d) a lamb
    5. What colors were the horses seen in the vision?
    6. What was given to the oneseven angels in Chapter 8?
    7. The star fallen from Heaven was given the key to:
       a) the Heavenly Kingdom b) Jerusalem c) the bottomless pit d) the earth
    8. The tails of the locusts were like:
       a) scorpions b) serpents c) fire d) lions
    9. The mighty angel had on thehis red horse?head:
       a) a crown b) a bowhat c) a swordcloud d) a pair of scalesrainbow
    10. What wasdid St. John do with the numberlittle of those who were sealed?book?
        a) 40read it b) 140wrote it c) 14,000ate it d) 144,000burned it
    11. "TheyThe shalltwo neitherwitness _______were anymoregiven norto thirstprophesy anymore;for: the
        a) ________42 shalldays notb) strike1260 them,days norc) any _______; "for the ______ who is in the midst of the throne will ________ them3 and leadhalf themdays tod) living1260 _______of waters. And God will wipe away every ______ from their _____."years