Try to meditate on the image above. Revelation speaks of 3 sets of seven types of judgment, trumpets, seals and bowls. They represent the 3 phases of God’s judgment upon the earth, and the various angelic interventions upon the earth.
What we need to see in the judgments is that man is aware that the judgments are coming from God. This is what spurs on man in his stubborness. He knows God is sending them but he does not repent.
In this Word tonight we are going to examine each judgment. We are going to examine their implications.
Seals
The whole sense of the seals of the Book in Revelation 5 is that they have to be opened. They cannot be opened by anyone in heaven, John realizes this, and he weeps, knowing that there was a qualification. He had to be worthy. The Lamb who became the Lion was FOUND worthy. His whole mission on the earth, the Cross, and His Resurrection, winning, overcoming death is a qualification .The Book is closed until Jesus comes forward to open the 7 seals. This in judgment terms is the realms of correctional judgment are opened. When we come to Revelation 8 we see the opening of a judgment at the prayers of the saints. There is a persecution and some die for their faith. Their prayers contrast from the prayers in modern day churches today, the bless me, provide me. These prayers invoke the vengeance of their righteous blood spilled in the Name of Jesus. The Lord is calling the Church to move into the type of prayers, walk of witness, where the Lord of Hosts opens the seals in response. There are dual realms of judgment and recompense about to flow to the people of God.
Could it be that the seal dimension of the judgments is in response of two seals revealed in the end times? I believe so, when God has sealed His sons, then when the judgment goes out by the angels, the Sealed Sons are spared. The other seal revealed is that which is imposed on mankind by the Beast. This seal has judgments in this life and eternal judgment in the eternal realms. The Seal we receive is of the Holy Spirit, guaranteeing our eternal estate. So when you read of the 7 seals, you are reading the judgment that is OPENED upon the earth, and upon mankind.
For the Book that is sealed are all the promises of the Word, the prophecies, the principles of the Word, and as we walk in the Word so we shall see judgments and recompenses flow.
Trumpets
The Trumpets in these judgments in the Book of Revelation are those that PROCLAIM, in their proclamation, the sound of the trumpets they USHER IN EACH JUDGMENT. These trumpets of silver which Moses was commanded to make was to make a certain sound called a “ruah”, which would invoke “teruah” of God, which brings the warfare of God to the earth. The 7 angels with 7 trumpets will sound the certain sound to invoke the judgments of God. The “Teruah” is the sound of a spiritual jubilee.
I believe that God wants His Church to be like a trumpet, to proclaim the Name of the Lord, and just like Acts 4:31, the unified trumpet sound of the Church praying the Word brings the shaking, filling, speaking by the authority given by the Holy Spirit. This brought recognition in the community that Jesus was really with them. The two trumpets symbolize the manifestation of Jesus, the King and the Priest in our day. So as the 7, symbolizing the perfect, sound, they are invoking the Judgments which God gave to His Son to execute, says John 16. So when judgments are PROCLAIMED PROPHETICALLY know the trumpets are sounding.
Bowls
The judgment of the 7 Bowls are those judgments which are POURED OUT. So when you discern the outpouring of judgment, with overflow, know you are seeing the 7 celestial bowls pouring out. What fills the bowls are the cries of the prayers and outcry of the oppressed, persecuted, ostracized. They fill up so that when each bowl is poured out it is full. As the Church is filled with God, so the bowls fill, and are poured out in their time. In Psalm 23, David speaks of the Table set out before enemies, it speaks of his cup, his bowl, being full to overflowing, means that the fillings of the Spirit in each Church generation paves the way for the 7 bowls to be a phase of judgment.
When we are focussing on judgments, where there are signs in the heavens, signs on the earth, pestilence, war, craziness, murder, robbery, betrayals, for which God prepares us for. The earth will wax worse in the final days, but God’s people will recognise the judgments on the earth, and recognise their own recompense also coming, where God’s people will come into peace and joy.
Concluding words
It gives God no pleasure to judge and banish people to a lake of burning fire. He has provided a way through Calvary’s Cross. Through faith in Christ’s shed blood we can enter His Kingdom where these calamitous signs are recognised as a process to perfection not cruelty on display.
May we recognise His Word and prepare ourselves to live and work with Him for eternity.
Maranatha!
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