1. Read Revelation 8. What is the relationship between the seals and the trumpets?
a. Read Revelation 8:1-5 again. What happens during the seventh seal?
(1 Why do you think there is silence in heaven?
(2 What follows the silence?
(3 What was offered to God?
“censer. A firepan used to hold live charcoal for the burning of incense (cf. Ex 27:3; 1 Ki 7:50). NIV Study Bible
(4 What causes thunder, rumblings, lightning and an earthquake?
b. Read Revelation 6-12 again. What was destroyed during the first four trumpets?
(1 What plague on Egypt does the first trumpet judgment resemble and how does it resemble it (Exodus 9:13-25 Ezekiel 38:22)?
(2 Why does the second trumpet judgment resemble the first plague on Egypt ((Exodus 7:20-21)?
(3 What did this star, Wormwood, cause?
“Wormwood. A plant with a strong, bitter taste. It is used here as a metaphor for calamity and sorrow (Pr 5:3-4 Jer 9:15 La 3:19). It is not poisonous, but its bitterness suggests death.” NIV Study Bible
(4 How does this trumpet judgment resemble the ninth plague on Egypt (Ex 10:21-23)?
“References to the Egyptian plagues suggest that in Revelation we have the final exodus of God’s people from the bondage of a world controlled by hostile powers.” NIV Study Bible
c. Read Revelation 8:13. How do the three woes relate to the judgments of God (Revelation 9:12; 11:14 (10:1-11;13 is a parenthesis); the seven bowl judgments of Revelation 15-16 constitute the third woe.)
2. Read Revelation 9. What trumpet judgments does this Scripture cover?
a. Read Revelation 9:1-12 again. How long does this judgment last?
(1 When the fifth angel sounded his trumpet a star fell from the sky to earth. Who was this star (Revelation 20:1). Is this the same as the star of Revelation 8:10?
(2 What comes out of the Abyss? Notice who else comes from the Abyss (Revelation 11:7). What does this tell you about these creatures and this man?
“Abyss. Conceived of as the subterranean abode of demonic hordes (see 20:1; Lk 8:31) The Greek word means ‘very deep’ or ‘bottomless,’ and is used in the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the OT) to translate the Hebrew word for the primeval deep (see Ge 1:2; 7:11; Pr 8:28). Seven of the nine NT references of in Revelation.” NIV Study Bible
(3 Compare to the plague of the locusts on Egypt (Ex 10:1-20).
“locusts…Joel 1:2-2:11 interprets the locust plague as a foreshadowing of the devastations that accompany the Day of the Lord. Locusts traveled in enormous swarms and could strip a land of all vegetation.” NIV Study Bible
(4 Who were the people that did not have the seal of God on their foreheads (Revelation 7:3)? How long could the locusts torture them? How did they torture them (Revelation 9:5, 10)?
“five months. A limited period of time suggested by the life cycle of the locust or the dry season (spring through late summer, about five months, in which the danger of a locust invasion is always present.” NIV Study Bible
“scorpions. Large spider-like organisms that injure or kill by means of a poisonous barb in the tail.” NIV Study Bible
(5 Revelation 9:8 says men seek death, but will not find it. How is this possible? Notice Hosea 10:8 Luke 23:30 and Revelation 6:16.
(6 Describe the locusts. Do you think this is a literal description of symbolic?
“breastplate. The breastplate was a coat of mail that protected the front.” NIV Study Bible
(7 Who was king over the locusts (Revelation 9:11)? Proverbs 30:27 says that “locusts have no king” implying that they are a demon host.
“Abaddon. A personification of Destruction (cf. Pr 15:11) NIV Study Bible
b. Read Revelation 9:13-21. Who was killed at the sixth trumpet judgment?
(1 Any ideas of the identity of the voice that came from the horns of the golden altar that was before God? What did the voice say? To whom?
“horns of the golden altar. The horns were projections at the four corners of the altar (Ex 27:2)Those fleeing judgment could seek mercy by taking hold of the horns (1 Ki 1:50-51; 2:28).” NIV Study Bible This was not always a refuge (1 Kings 2:28-34; Amos 3:14).
(2 Who do you think the four angels are? What did they have to do with the mounted troops?
“four angels. Apparently in charge of the demonic horsemen.” NIV Study Bible
(3 If this were your only passage of Scripture, what would give you a clue as to the location of these events?
(4 What was the number of the mounted troops? Why do you think the Scripture mentions that John heard their number? Describe these troops. Do you interpret this as literal or symbolic?
(5 How did the rest of mankind who were not killed in these plagues react? Why (John 3:19-20)?
i. What are idols (Deuteronomy 4:28 1 Corinthians 10:18-23)?
ii. What happens to those who worship idols (Psalm 115:5-7)?