Revelation
The Lamb of God: On His Throne and Among His People
God's Glory in Salvation through Judgment
Revelation 8:1-13

• Read or quote the verse of the week together:

Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

•  Before reading this week’s text, consider the suggested outline that James Hamilton has proposed for Revelation 8 – it is listed in the extra notes. Read the text in sections, stopping to compare the trumpet judgments with the plagues in Egypt (also listed below – someone be ready to read the Exodus passages), and to make observations as you go.
  • Do you think these catastrophes are the result of natural disasters, or do they belong to the category of supernatural disasters, well beyond what you would expect of a world gone bad?
  • Do you think these disasters will occur literally as they are written, or do you think they are symbolic of God’s judgment on unbelievers throughout history? It is okay if you say, “I have no idea.”

• In view of Revelation 8, reflect on the application points from the sermon and discuss the Scripture that is connected to each point:
  • Prayer, suffering, and God’s will go together – get all the help you can find for prayer: Romans 8:18-30
  • Power will never fully defeat power; victory only comes through the cross – trust the one who sits on the throne to do what is right: 1 Peter 2:21-23
  • Do not be ashamed of the one who loves you and chose you for his side – follow Jesus gladly: Mark 8:34-38

• Read the prayer at the bottom of the extra notes from The Valley of Vision and spend time in prayer asking the Lord to help you live up to the life he has called you to live on this side of eternity.

Extra Notes

Quotes and Thoughts

James Hamilton, professor of biblical theology at Southern Baptist Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, has proposed that the primary theme in Scripture can be summarized in these few words: God’s Glory in Salvation Through Judgment. There are many theologians who would say that the Bible cannot be so easily and simply summarized, but few would question Hamilton’s contribution to our understanding of God and his ways. Think about how we see God’s glory in salvation through judgment at the Garden, with Noah and his family in the ark, with God bringing the Israelites out of Egypt and establishing the nation in the Promised Land, in bringing salvation to many of us through Jesus’ death on the cross, and, last, at the Second of Coming of Christ when the sheep will be separated from the goats, and some will go to glory while others will go to eternal punishment.

Suggested Outline for Revelation 8 (from the same James Hamilton)

1. 8:1-5 Our prayers will be answered
2. 8:6-12 The first four trumpets: wrath on the world
3. 8:13 Woe to the earth dwellers

Scripture associated with Revelation 8 

Silence in the OT is often observed before or after judgment.

Habakkuk 2:18 “What profit is an idol

    when its maker has shaped it,

  a metal image, a teacher of lies?

For its maker trusts in his own creation

    when he makes speechless idols!

19 Woe to him who says to a wooden thing, Awake;

    to a silent stone, Arise!

Can this teach?

Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver,

    and there is no breath at all in it.

20 But the Lord is in his holy temple;

    let all the earth keep silence before him.”

See also: Psalm 46; Zechariah 2:13-3:2; Zephaniah 1:7-18

To connect the prayers of the saints in Revelation 8:3-5 with other Scripture, read Exodus 2:23-25, Psalm 3, Psalm 141:2, Matthew 6:9-13 – especially verse 10 – and Revelation 5:8. The trumpets (much like the plagues in Egypt) are a response to the prayers of God’s people.

The heavenly altar of incense in Revelation 8:3-5 is the same altar of Revelation 6:9, and the one upon which Exodus 30:1-10 is modeled.

The prayers of God’s people for judgment on his enemies cannot be fully answered until God’s work on earth is completed, which includes the persecution and martyrdom of God’s people (Rev 6:9-11).

Jeremiah 9:15: Therefore thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will feed this people with bitter food, and give them poisonous water to drink.

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

John 10:10 The thief (Satan) comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I (Jesus) came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

Romans 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

1 Peter 2:21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 25 For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Mark 8:34 And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. 36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? 37 For what can a man give in return for his soul? 38 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

Connections between the trumpets and the plagues of Egypt

The first trumpet (Rev 8:7) = the seventh plague (Ex 9:23-25) – hail and fire

The second trumpet (Rev 8:8-9) = the first plague (Ex 7:20, 21) – water turns to blood

The third trumpet (Rev 8:10-11) = the first plague (Ex 7:19) – rivers, canals, ponds turn to blood

The fourth trumpet (Rev 8:12) = the ninth plague (Ex 10:21-29) – pitch darkness for unbelievers, but God’s people were not afflicted with God’s judgment

The trumpets at Jericho – read Joshua 6

From The Valley of Vision

O God of grace, teach me to know that grace precedes, accompanies, and follows my salvation; that it sustains the redeemed soul, that not one link of its chain can ever be broken.

From Calvary’s cross, wave upon wave of grace

reaches me,
deals with my sin, 
washes me clean,
renews my heart,
strengthens my will,
draws out my affection,    
kindles a flame in my soul, 
rules throughout my inner man,
consecrates my every thought, word, work,
teaches me Your immeasurable love. 

How great are my privileges in Christ Jesus.

Without him I stand far off, a stranger, an outcast.
In him I draw near and touch His kingly scepter.

Without him I dare not lift up my guilty eyes.
In him I gaze upon my Father-God and friend. 

Without him I hide my lips in trembling shame
In him I open my mouth in petition and praise. 

Without him all is wrath and consuming fire.
In him is all love, and the repose of my soul. 

Without him is gaping hell below me, and eternal anguish. 
In him its gates are barred to me by His precious blood!

Without him darkness spreads its horrors before me.
In him an eternity of glory is my boundless horizon. 

Without him all within me is terror and dismay,
In him every accusation is charmed into joy and peace. 

Without him all things external call for my condemnation.
In him they minister to my comfort and are to be enjoyed with thanksgiving. 

Praise be to You for grace, 
and for the unspeakable gift of Jesus.