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The 7 Trumpets! Revelation 8:19:21! "

This guide is a tool to help you lead your group into spiritual transformation. Use it as a resource to train your group into potential disciple-makers and lead your group in discovering, owning, and applying the truths of Gods Word. There may be aspects you do not want to use and there may be instances where you just want to focus on a particular point or truth. Some questions may bring out emotions and cause people to dwell on an aspect of their relationship with God. Your role is to help facilitate this encounter with God in His Word with His Body, not just to complete the guide. Use this as a flexible teaching tool not a rigid group task list.!

Relate . . .!
Begin your group time by engaging in relational conversations and prayer that may include the following elements:!

Welcomea simple, brief time to greet one another (especially new friends),
enjoy refreshments, and make announcements.!

Reviewa time to review the truths discussed last week and report on how
members have had success or frustrations in applying those truths during the week. (The leader will want to provide encouragement and shepherding during this time.) Periodically, the leader will also want to review the gospel and allow members to share reports about opportunities theyve had to share the gospel. Occasionally, the leader will want to review the vision for the group and discuss ways to accomplish that vision better.!

Prayera time of general prayer with the whole group praying for struggles
regarding the application of truths, for those with whom the group is sharing the gospel, and for understanding of todays truths.!

Reflect . . .!
Use the following summary and questions to review this weeks message and reflect on its implications for our lives. (As a training tool, leaders might want to have various members summarize the teachings in their own words each week sharing how they think the Scripture applied to the original hearers and how the principles apply to us today.)!

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CONTEXT: This is our seventh week in our study of the Revelation. Remember we are looking at the book from this perspective:" [SLIDE 1]!

" ! Following the removal of the Church, we are saying that Ethnic Israel comes to faith in the midst of the tribulation. Then they are sealed so that the Judgement will not harm them. "

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So the Church is Protected FROM Tribulation." Redeemed Israel is Protected THROUGH Tribulation. ! # [SLIDE 2]" CONTEXT: We have seen a few weeks ago, God the Father with a scroll in his hand that was sealed with 7 seals. No one was found who could approach the Ancient of Days and take the scroll and open the seals. John wept. The elder said, weep no more - behold the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. # # Last time we were together we covered the opening of the rst 6 seals, " [SLIDE 3]!

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The white horse: AntiChrist. vv. 1-2; Mark 13:7" The red horse: War. vv. 3-4; Mark 13:8a" The black horse: famine, economic inequity. vv. 5-6; Mark 13:8c" The pale horse: death and Hades. vv. 7-8; Mark 13:12" The martyrs under the altar: persecution. vv. 9-11; Mark 13:11" The earthquake, moon, and stars: Day of wrath. vv. 12-17; Mark 13:24-25# Interlude: God's Servants Sealed and Saved. 7:1-17"

Now we are looking at the 7th seal, which unleashes 7 trumpet judgements. " TEXT: Revelation 8:19:21 (ESV)" 1 When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. "

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Now, I have heard that some speculate that this verse serves as irrefutable proof that there are no women in Heaven. I dont believe that of course, but there is some compelling evidence. "

Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them."

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NOW - Trumpets in the Bible served the same purpose of a siren in our day. !

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ILLUSTRATION: If you are walking down the street, then all of a sudden you hear a LOUD siren behind you, what do you do? You move out of the way, you go into alert mode, you try to discover what the emergency is. You try to see if anyone you know is involved. You try to see if there is anything you can do. These trumpets are to have the same effect. "

And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer, and he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne, 4 and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel." So here we see Israel, now once again as Gods chosen people, 12,000 from every tribe. Greatly increasing in number. And they are suffering under the persecution of ungodly people. And a KING (AntiChrist) has arose that knows, not Jesus. The prayers of Israel has arisen before the throne of God. God is going to Judge the ungodly and protect His people THROUGH the judgement. "

" Does this sound at all familiar? ! "

This is world wide replay of the EXODUS. What Israel experienced in Egypt thousands of years ago, they will now experience on a Global stage in these last days. "

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As Moses lead Israel in to the promised land then, Jesus will lead Israel into the Millennium now. ! Then the angel took the censer and lled it with re from the altar and threw it on the earth, and there were peals of thunder, rumblings, ashes of lightning, and an earthquake. 6 Now the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to blow them."
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The 7 Trumpet Judgements is God ! calling Nature to REBEL against Rebellious Humanity. ! Just as Moses Called Nature to turn against Pharaoh and Egypt. ! Just as the Jews were protected in the valley of Goshen, here they are protected by the seal of God. !

It should be no surprise to us that there will be signs in Nature as the Second coming draws near. !

A. Jesus Created Nature !

John 1:1-3 1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2. He was in the beginning with God. 3. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.# Colossians 1:16-17 16. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authoritiesall things have been created through Him and for Him. 17. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.# Hebrews 1:2 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.#

" b. Nature Suffers Because of Sin! " "

Romans 8:20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope 21. that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.22. For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.# o Remember the ground was cursed at the fall of man. " o As lovely and enjoyable as Gods creation is always remember, this is not how its suppose to be. One day it will be MUCH better. He who began the good work of creation will some day complete it. The Dream of Eden will be realized. !

" c. Nature Responded to her Makers rst coming ! " There was a new star in the heavens" " d. Nature Responded at the Cross! " "

Matthew 27:45-46# 45. Now from the sixth hour darkness fell upon all the land until the ninth hour.#

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Matthew 27:51# 51. ... and the earth shook and the rocks were split. " #

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So one would only expect that there would be some reaction from Nature as her creator draws near to set all things right. !

I nd the writings of C.S. Lewis helpful at this point as it grants to creation some sense of personality. That is not entirely unwarranted. "

" e. Nature will Respond to her Makers Return! "

1. Trumpet #1 - Hail and Fire!
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The rst angel blew his trumpet, and there followed hail and re, mixed with blood, and these were thrown upon the earth. And a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up. "

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So this is Gods attacking the land. Suddenly, the landscape becomes barren and sparse. Crops are destroyed. No doubt this will add further stress to the economy. The cost of food will sky rocket. "

2. Trumpet #2 - Sea Becomes Blood !

The second angel blew his trumpet, and something like a great mountain, burning with re, was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood. 9 A third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed."

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This is God attacking the Oceans. It is very hard to imagine how dependent we are on the oceans of this planet. Transport of goods, provision of food. "

3. Trumpet #3 - Fresh Water Becomes Bitter Poison!

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The third angel blew his trumpet, and a great star fell from heaven, blazing like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. 11 The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many people died from the water, because it had been made bitter. "

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4. Trumpet #4 - 1/3 of Light Taken (Sun, Moon, Stars)!

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The fourth angel blew his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, and a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of their light might be darkened, and a third of the day might be kept from shining, and likewise a third of the night. "
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Then I looked, and I heard an eagle crying with a loud voice as it ew directly overhead, Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth, at the blasts of the other trumpets that the three angels are about to blow! !

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5. Trumpet #5 - Locust Attack Lost Humanity, 1/3 Killed!

And the fth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star fallen from heaven to earth, and he was given the key to the shaft of the bottomless pit. 2 He opened the shaft of the bottomless pit, and from the shaft rose smoke like the smoke of a great furnace, and the sun and the air were darkened with the smoke from the shaft. 3 Then from the smoke came locusts on the earth, and they were given power like the power of scorpions of the earth. 4 They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any green plant or any tree, but only those people who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. "

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So you see that the seal of God made them a friend of God, we will see later that it simultaneously makes an enemy of Antichrist. Isnt that the way it always is friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God, friendship with God makes you an enemy with the world. "

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So you must choose your poison wisely. Do you want to face the world as an enemy or God? "

They were allowed to torment them for ve months, but not to kill them, and their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it stings someone. 6 And in those days people will seek death and will not nd it. They will long to die, but death will ee from them. "

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6. Trumpet #6 - Death Angels Come and Attack 1/3 of Humanity Destroyed!

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saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates. 15 So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour, the day, the month, and the year, were released to kill a third of mankind."

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So remember 1/3 has been killed in the 5th trumpet, now 1/3 of those remaining will be killed. " I believe these are the same Angels mentioned in Genesis 6:4 prior to the ood (ESV) 4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of man and they bore children to them. These were the mighty men who were of old, the men of renown."

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" These are those angels. " " GODS PURPOSE IN JUDGEMENT! "

Jude 6 (NASB95)" 6 And angels who did not keep their own domain, but abandoned their proper abode, He has kept in eternal bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day,"

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1. To Vindicate His Holiness!
# God never has overlooked a single sin, no matter how small. They will all be judged. From the rst bite of fruit to the nal rebellion - all sin is judged. No one ever gets away with anything. "

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2. To Avenge His People !

Remember this is all started by the prayers of Gods people. If you are a follower of Jesus and you are walking in repentance of sin...Dont ever think God is not listening when you pray. He is listening. He is storing your prayers on an alter of incense and He will most surely and radically answer. "

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3. To Motivate Repentance !
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The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands nor give up worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk, 21 nor did they repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts."

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Ezekiel 33:11 (ESV)" 11 Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?" Jude 5 (NASB95)" 5 Now I desire to remind you, though you know all things once for all, that the Lord, after saving a people out of the land of Egypt, subsequently destroyed those who did not believe." Deuteronomy 30:19 (ESV)" 19 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live,"

Group Discussion !
Use the following questions to help review the application of Gods Word to our Head (What does God want me to know?), to our Heart (What does God want me to desire/value?), and to our Hands (What does God want me to do?). !

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As you consider Gods character revealed through the seven bowls of wrath, which character trait has given you the greatest sense of peace lately? How have you valued His character more deeply as youve walked through trials? ! Have you accepted the fact that apart from Gods grace, you are infinitely deserving of Gods eternal wrath? Why is it important to remember that fact daily? How does realizing that reality change the way you value Christ and share the gospel? ! Do you severely underestimate the severity of your own sinand the One against whom you sin? How does the answer to that question drive you to a deeper hunger for Gods Word? ! Why is the cross the only source of hope for humanity? What are we to do in response to the cross? ! In sharing the gospel, how would you articulate the way Gods love, justice, and wrath are all important parts of His character? ! How may we allow Gods wrath motivate holiness in our lives, not because we fear His wrath, but because we feel his hatred of sin. Once we put our faith in Christ, its easy to forget about His wrath since we understand we are no longer under it. But why is that a dangerous practice? In what specific ways should we allow Gods wrath to motivate us? In other words, because Gods just wrath is real, what does God want us to do? !

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. Respond . . . !
Encourage your group to break out into smaller, same-gender groups where they will respond to the truths of todays study. These groups will share with one another based on the following questions and then close in prayer: ! What are some of the main truths that God wants you to know from this study? ! How do your thoughts need to adjust to align with these truths? ! According to the truths from this study, what does God want you to desire/value? ! How do your values need to change to align with His values? !

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What actions does God want you to take according to the truths of this study? ! What is an action that you can start to implement today or tomorrow? ! What is going to be the most difficult aspect of this study to apply personally? ! Close this time by praying for each other, specifically for strength to apply these truths, for personal needs, for the lost people with whom you are seeking to share the gospel, and for our weekly prayer focus as a church. !

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