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Let The Trumpets Blow!
(Revelation 8:1 - 9:21)
Chapter 9

"And when He had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.  And I saw the seven angels (spirits, messengers) which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets."      (Revelation 8:1-2).

"The Lord is in His holy temple: let the earth keep silence before Him." (Habakkuk 2:20).  In His awesome presence we bow, with no demands, no babbling of voices, but in silent adoration we worship Him.  We are His to command-- and the unfolding of His purpose is at Hand.

Beyond the silence is a knowing that we are His!
Beyond the silence is the enwrapment of His love!
Beyond the silence is the joy that overflows!
Beyond the silence the song of the ages will be sung!
Beyond the silence is the energy force of God
Beyond the silence is the sounding of the trumpets!
Beyond the silence is a ministry of reconciliation

Silence must not be misconstrued as idleness, but here it marks a transition point, that which was long awaited is now on the threshold of fulfillment.  John beheld, "Another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the 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..." (Revelation 8:3-4).

Reference is made of these prayers in Revelation 5:8, of the "golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of the saints."  And we know that they were "heard and held," for they are not answered according to the timing of men, but according to the purpose of God.  For many long years  "the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage.  And God heard their groaning."  God was not indifferent to all this praying, but He works all things with a rare purpose and design, and so, at the proper time, God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them." (Exodus 2:23-25).  Respect-- the Hebrew word is "yada" meaning: to know, to be acquainted with.  It speaks of TIME FOR INVOLVEMENT-- time to answer the cry-- and He did, with a mighty deliverance from Egypt.

Likewise, the prayers of the saints have ascended, even "groanings which cannot be uttered."  (Romans 8:26).  Prayers for the salvation of loved ones; prayers for a world-wide outpouring of His Spirit; prayers for a visible manifestation of the establishment of His kingdom in the earth.  "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven."  (Matthew 6:10).  Prayers of the saints ascending, and be assured, GOD HAS RESPECT UNTO THEM.  He hears every prayer, and they are kept in the "golden vial," until this appointed hour.  Now they are blended with the incense worship and praise, and offered upon the altar-- ascending up before God.  And the TIME FOR THE ANSWER HAS COME! "And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake." (Revelation 8:5).  Events are now set in motion for the fulfillment of those prayers-- and an awesome new era begins.

"And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound." (verse 6).

Again we find the scene is rooted in the Old Testament, and as is often the case, the first time a word is used denotes its meaning and purpose.  The sounding of the trumpet is first spoken of in Exodus 19:13, 16, When the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount. - And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud: so that all the people in the camp trembled."  Israel was called to the mount-- to come before the Lord.  Thus we establish the purpose of the trumpet, for the calling of assemblies, and in particular, to come before the Lord.  When God purposes to have dealings with His creation, He has ways and means of alerting our attention.  There were specific sounds for specific commands of action, whether it was a call to battle, or to celebrate an occasion, for people were alerted for that happening. And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking."  (Exodus 20:18).

When God delivered the city of Jericho into the hand of Israel, "The seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams' horns passed on before the Lord, and blew with the trumpets: and the ark of the covenant of Lord followed them."  (Joshua 6:8). Sending a signal to all the inhabitants of the cities around about-- the message was that the GOD of Israel was present, and ready to do battle with any that opposed His will.  The victory that followed this blowing of the trumpets is truly awesome.

Hear the prophet Zephaniah cry out in his day, "The great day of the Lord is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the Lord - A day of the trumpet and alarm..."  (Zephaniah 1:14, 16).

Joel also joins in, "Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in My holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the and tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand." (Joel 2:1)  Moffatt reads: "Till the citizens all tremble!  For the External's day is coming-- here it is! near it is!"  It is time for the message to penetrate into the consciousness of every man, the day of reckoning is here!  "Prepare to meet thy God." (Amos 4:12).

Let it go on record, "Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision (or threshing): for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.  The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining.  The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter His voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake..."  (Joel 3:14-16).

In the sounding forth of the seven trumpets, methinks we have the outworking process of redemption for the whole earth.  That which was wrought in the overcoming firstfruits, must now be wrought in all mankind.  How could it be otherwise?  The scroll that is unsealed is the scroll of redemption-- redemption that is for  ALL, though it has been "every man in his own order."  Seven is the number of perfection, completeness, and in this seventh seal, once all the other trumpets have sounded, and fulfilled their ministry, when we come to the seventh trumpet, we read, "In the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as He hath declared to His servants the prophets."  (Revelation 10:7).

Though there is much to yet be wrought out in the redemption of mankind, this promise bespeaks of the solid victory of the "Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world."  We have seen the triumph of our Lord, He hath prevailed!  And we have glimpsed this same victory in the overcomers, now rightly called "His Christ," i.e.  His anointed ones.  Together they shall see the reconciliation of all things, regardless of how many ages are required for its outworking.  Thus He will complete "The times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began."  (Acts 3:21).

The trumpets blow a specific message.  If the trumpet give an uncertain sound, how shall the inhabitants of the earth know what is being declared?  Therefore the seven angels are first seen "standing before God," And remember, "in the midst of the throne... stood a Lamb." It is from this Lamb that the message comes.  It is from the Redeemer that the messengers were "given seven trumpets." They would not blow an uncertain sound, they received their Word directly from Him who is "The Way, Truth, and Life."

Jesus Christ has but one message to offer-- "Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." (John 1:17).  He said, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."  (John 10:10). Truly, He "brought life and immortality to light through the gospel."  (2 Timothy 1:10).

Religion has some strange doctrines of all the horrible things God plans to do to men.  But there is GOOD NEWS! Jesus Christ does not "damn men to hell." "For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved."  (John 3:17).  His message and His purpose have not changed over the years. "And He is the propitiation (the mercyseat) for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world." (1 John 2:2). God "sent Him to bless you, in turning every one of you from his iniquities."  (Acts 3:26).  How very positive the message! How glorious "the revelation of Jesus Christ."

"The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingles with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up."  (Revelation 8:7).

Trees symbolize men of stature.  Grass refers to common people.  "All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field:  The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the Spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass." (Isaiah 40:6-7).  Were this the totality of the message, it would not be good news.  Of the vanity and frailty of man we know.  But the word came, "Comfort ye, comfort ye My people, saith your God." And in that message of comfort, he declared, "And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, AND ALL FLESH SHALL SEE IT TOGETHER. (Isaiah 40:5).  And when this is mentioned again, in Luke 3:6, it reads, "And all flesh shall see the salvation of God." Glory-- salvation-- all flesh shall see, shall partake thereof!

What then is this message of the trumpet?  Surely it bespeaks that the time of God's judgments have come-- as "God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before Me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth."  (Genesis 6:13).  And Peter writes, "The world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:  But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved into fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men."  (2 Peter 3:6-7).

First it was "judgment by water," and now it is "judgment by fire." If all judgment were to "damn" men, there would be no good news in this at all, but the fact is that all His judgments are REMEDIAL, a correction unto life! "Behold My Servant, whom I have chosen; My Beloved, in whom My soul is well pleased: I will put My Spirit upon Him, and He shall shew judgment to the nations.  He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear His voice in the streets.  A bruised reed shall He not break, and smoking flax shall He not quench, till He send forth judgment unto victory.  And in His name shall the nations trust."  (Matthew 12:18-21).  What a glorious victory!  When He shall have finished His judgment process, every individual of every nation shall learn to trust Him.

The Greek word for judgment is "krisis," and literally speaks of the process of correction unto rightness.  This word is carried over into our English language, replacing the letter "k" with the letter "c" to make it read, "crisis," which is a decisive moment, a turning point.  In fact, it comes from the Greek word "krinein"-- to separate.  It is a process of separation, truth from error, good from evil, life from death, light from darkness.  It is to separate you from selfhood's rebellion, giving you a turning point, and heading you in the right direction, into the will of God. 

Indeed, out of every crisis comes the occasion to be reborn.  This is well expressed in the Chinese language, where the written character for the word crisis is made up of two symbols: one stands for danger, and one which stands for opportunity.  It is a crucial time, but with Him the end is secure-- the end of evil and the establishment of His righteousness.  Therefore Peter wrote on "nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness."   (2 Peter 3:13).

Yes, the processing is BY FIRE. "Our God is a consuming fire."  To burn out the dross, the chaff, the self-will and rebellion of man-- but it is "unto victory."  The haughtiness of man shall be brought low, but when the processing has been concluded in them, "They shall be called tress of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He might be glorified."  (Isaiah 61:3).

"And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood; and the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships was destroyed." (Revelation 8:8-9).

A great mountain-- mountains speak of kingdoms, but this is the entrance of HIS KINGDOM, burning with fire, coming to cleanse that which has been so utterly corrupted and defiled.  Again we turn to the Old Testament for a point of reference, for King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream which Daniel interpreted for him.  "Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them in pieces. - And the stone that smote the image became a great mountain that filled the whole earth." (Daniel 2:34-35).  There is but one great mountain-- the triumphant kingdom of our Lord, which will ultimately smite all the kingdoms of man, and FILL the whole earth! Here is redemption's outworking in beautiful portrayal.

Ships bespeak of the organized system of commerce.  That God for the hope that "Kingdom economics" will be realized.  It will be a tremendous upheaval.  "They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; these see the works of the Lord, and His wonders in the deep. - They will reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and be at their wit's end."  But then, praise God, the next verse reads, "They cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and He bringeth them out of their distresses."  (Psalm 107:23-24, 27-28).  Man's ways will end; God's ways will be established. 

But if ever there was an area that needs the ministry of this "great mountain burning with fire," it is in the realm of religious business.  Peddlers are making merchandise of the gospel.  But He who "went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, and said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves,"  (Matthew 21:12-13), this One, we say, shall surely purge WITH FIRE the religious merchandisers of these days.  The personal kingdom-building of man, with all its worship of the golden calf, shall die out, replaced with pure, unselfish motives to freely serve all, to the glory of God.

Religious institutions have long proclaimed a negative message of doom and judgment, emphasizing earth's calamities.  They conjure up images of all the fearsome things that will befall the flesh.  But Jesus said, "This is the judgment, that light is come into the world."  (John 3:19).  Therefore, if we are to look for HIS JUDGMENTS, we must needs LOOK FOR THE LIGHT. Judgments, without the light would not be effective.  when the hour of correction is come, then "I will make My judgment to rest for a light of the people."  (Isaiah 51:4).  "For when Thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness."  (Isaiah 26:9).

Herein is more of the "revelation of Jesus Christ." For HE IS the Judgment, He is the Light, "For judgment I AM come into this world."  (John 9:39).  Wherever He goes judgment goes.  He is the Living Standard of righteousness, the Light which exposes all that does not measure up to the standard-- not for the purpose of condemnation, but that it might be corrected and brought up to the standard.  How positive! How marvelously victorious He is!

"And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountain of waters." (verse 10).

Rivers and fountains bespeak of teachings, doctrines, creeds.  If ever a purging was needed, it is here! "For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh..." (2 Peter 2:18).  "In vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."  (Matthew 15:9).  All of "These regulations look wise with their self-inspired efforts at worship, their policy of self-humbling, and their studied neglect of the body.  But in actual practice they do honor, not to God, but to man's own pride."  (Colossians 2:23, Phillips).

Volumes could be written on how the traditions of men have distorted and perverted the truth.  Indeed, "His visage was so marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men."  They defame His nature and His character.  But when He is REVEALED in flaming fire, "The kings shall shut their mouths at Him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider."  (Isaiah 52:14-15).

He has promised, "I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,"  (Joel 2:28).  "And when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth."  (John 16:13).  And then, "Out of your innermost being shall flow rivers of living water."  (John 7:38).  And then shall they bring good tidings, "that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! (John 16:13).  And then, "Out of your innermost being shall flow rivers of living water." (John 7:38).  And then shall they bring good tidings, "that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!  (and then) thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye..."  (Isaiah 52:7-8).

Bitter as the wormwood might be that is used to purge out the error of tradition, carnal concepts, the false self-images, etc. yet when He has finished this tremendous judgment, "The earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea."  (Habakkuk 2:14).  God has appointed HIS CLEANING AGENTS and they shall be most effective in their working, and though bringing death to the old, it also bespeaks of the preparation for the birthing of the new.  Praise God!

"And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and a third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise."  (verse 12).

Now the luminaries are dealt with a Jesus foretold. "The sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken."  (Matthew 24:29).  The lamp of man is going out.  "The sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken."  (Matthew 24:29).  The lamp of man is going out.  "The ages great lights/leaders have risen, and others have followed in their light.  But there comes a day when God diminishes that shining, for however brilliant it may first have appeared, it is "of the world. And the world passeth away,..."  (1 John 2:16-17).

"For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.  And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible."  (Isaiah 13:10-11).

We watch as the world's statesmen fall from their high places, religious leaders diminish and their light is darkened.  If this is all that is seen, it is a very dark and gloomy happening.  But the Lamb has OPENED THE SEALS FOR REDEMPTION, and with the extinguishing of earth's lights, comes the forth-shining of God's luminaries of the new creation order.  HE IS "the True Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world."  (John 1:9).  And He is also  "The Father of lights..." (James 1:17).  He births after His own kind.  "Now are ye light in the Lord."  (Ephesians 5:8).

To the new order He speaks, "Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.  For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people:"  (as thee, and His glory shall be seen upon thee.  And the nations shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of they rising."  (Isaiah to the dawning of the new.  Turn to see that new light arising, and your back is to the diminishing former lights.  O, to behold Him, and with a single eye to follow on, for "the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day."  (Proverbs 4:18).

"And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, wore, wore, to the inhabitants of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound."  (verse 13).

The redemption of mankind is the responsibility of the Redeemer, and our Lord is fully qualified for the task, reigning until all things are reconciled.  But this does not leave us without our accountability to respond to His inworkings.  Thus there have been many "warnings" given throughout the Scriptures-- "woe, woe, woe."  In every realm, spirit, soul, and body, God shall deal with every creature.  "For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; how shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?" (Hebrews 2:2-3).

"And the fifth angel sounded..." (Revelation 9:1).  Sounding forth from heaven the wisdom of God-- this is more than just a "toot, toot," on a horn, it is a declaration of His will and working, and it furthers "the revelation of Jesus Christ." And now the ministry intensifies, with ramifications which are far-outreaching. "And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, and overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone.  Thus will I magnify Myself, and sanctify Myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and THEY SHALL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD." (Ezekiel 38:22-23).

"And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth:... 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."  (verse 3-4).

Those who have been "sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,"  (Ephesians 1:13), with the renewing of their mind, and becoming "joined unto the Lord in one spirit,"  (1 Corinthians 6:17), and untouched by this particular working of God.  To them He has said, "Come, My people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpassed."  (Isaiah 26:20).  But religious gameplaying is ended.  Now the attention is focused upon the corrupt and idolatrous Christians.  Those who are "lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof:...  (2 Timothy 3:4-5), such will feel the brunt of this wave of cleansing/purging that will sweep over the earth.

"The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways,"  (Proverbs 14:14), and to such it is written, "Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God, and that My fear is not in thee, saith the Lord of hosts."  (Jeremiah 2:19).

Yet it is also written, "Turn, O backsliding children, saith the Lord; for I am married unto you..."  (Jeremiah 3:14), and again, "I will heal their backsliding, I WILL LOVE THEM FREELY." (Hosea 14:4).  He remains the Redeemer-- and regardless of how corrupt and idolatrous they might become, with cords of love He will draw them.  And though the corrections are heavy, when He has finished, they also shall wholeheartedly love and serve the Lord.

Yes, for a time, "Because thou are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of My mouth,"  (Revelation 3:16), but God will not cast off His creation for ever.  "For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee.  In a little wrath I hid My face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer."  (Isaiah 54:7-8).  Praise His wonderful name!

There is an incredible rebellion in the self-will of man, and in the subduing and conditioning until man is ready to surrender, some severe and drastic measures are often necessary.  Yet be assured that our Lord is equal to the task.  ALL POWER is in His hand, and all forces are under His control, to use as He sees fit.  The Psalmist knew this, and declared, "Praise the Lord from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps: fire, and hail; snow, and vapour; stormy wind fulfilling His Word."  (Psalm 148:7-8).  View it as you may, all elements and powers, negative and otherwise, are marshalled to DO HIS WILL, and bring forth praise to our God.

"And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them."  (verse 6).  There will be no escaping the processings of God!  No matter how much they would like to avoid facing up to Him.  "Whither shall I go from Thy Spirit? or whiter shall I flee from Thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, Thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, Thou art there.  If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall Thy hand lead me, and Thy right hand shall hold men."  (Psalm 139:7-10).

The "revelation of Jesus Christ" is on-going, and we see Him in so many aspects of victory, but perhaps one of the most encouraging is to see Him in total control of the interplay of good and evil.  These locusts" as they are described, are but another manifestation of "My great army which I sent among you."  (Joel 2:25).  Obviously these are no ordinary, literal locusts which "have no king," (Proverbs 30:27), but they signify wicked men, or demons.  Their king/leader is named "Abaddon," literally, a destroyer, being ordained by God for the purpose of destroying the old order, that He might establish the new.

"The Lord hath made all things for Himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil." (Proverbs 16:4).

"Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth and instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy." (Isaiah 54:16).

How vividly this is illustrated in the life of Job, when "the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life."  (Job 2:6).  So the waster had his day-- not only all of Job's flocks, herds, servants, children, were taken away or destroyed, but then his own body was sorely afflicted.  BUT the Lord remained in control, and out of it worked an ultimate good.

Paul, knowing this, instructed the Corinthians concerning an evil doer in their midst, "In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, to deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus."  (1 Corinthians 5:4-5).

And Jesus Himself said to Peter, "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not." (Luke 22:31-32).  It was a violent shaking-- it exposed a lot of chaff for the removing, but the final outcome was secure, his faith would not fail, literally, the Greek reads, would not go into an eclipse.  Jesus Christ is ever in control of the SIFTING.  He has prayed for us-- that we might LIVE, therefore, regardless of how devastating the destruction, He is able to bring forth a new creation in His more abundant life.

The locusts were not permitted to kill, but to "torment." The Greek word means "to test metals by the touchstone."  The object being to test, prove, and whatever  did not meet the specification, would have to be dealt with, purged and cleansed and brought up to the quality of the standard.  REDEMPTION IS THE ULTIMATE OUTCOME!

"And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God."  (verse 13.) This is not a message from the Dark World, nor a purpose designed in Hell.  This is not a Diabolical Scheme of mayhem!  But the Word issues forth from the golden altar-- and it is a message of hope, or purity, of cleansing, for the more all sin, the flesh, the world is dealt with, the more the way is prepared for "the new heavens and the new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness."

No wonder Jesus said, "And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh."  (Luke 21:28).  The process may be intense, and its application be far more sever than we can imagine, but the ultimate victory is so secure, one can only rejoice in the hope that is set before us.  Death and destruction are not the final end-- the Redeemer rules and reigns until "He hath put all enemies under His feet.  The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death."  It is self-evident that when the last enemy is destroyed, none remains.  When all death is destroyed, there is NO MORE DEATH!  Then shall be fulfilled that Word, "that God may be all in all."  (1 Corinthians 15:28), which the Amplified translation gives so beautifully, "that is, be everything to everyone, supreme, the indwelling and controlling factor of life."  What victory!

The trumpets sound-- the Word goes forth-- I have sworn by Myself, the Word is gone out of My mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto Me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear."  (Jeremiah 23:30).

Awesomely described in the most picturesque of language, in signs and symbols that depict processings which encompass far more than our minds can comprehend-- yet, ever the Word which was sounded forth returns to the Lord, it will have accomplished all that He desired.  And we are brought to that climactic hour,  "In the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as He hath declared to His servants the prophets."  (Revelation 10:7).

"And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever."  (Revelation 11:15).

The prayer is made, "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven." AND THE PRAYER IS ANSWERED! All is under His control, yes, HE IS Lord of all!