Lesson 10
background notes
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doctrinal points
- The Fifth Trumpet Judgment involves opening
the abyss..
- The Sixth Trumpet Judgment involves releasing
a great army.
practical application
Don’t think that pain necessarily leads to repentance.
questions
- When do we believe these trumpet judgments
will occur?
- What is apocalyptic literature?
- What does the star in Revelation 9:1 represent?
- Where is Satan now? What is the abyss?
- What is the toll on mankind following
these judgments?
answers
- During the last 3 1\2 years of the Tribulation
Period, known as the Great Tribulation
- Apocalyptic literature involves visions
concerning the future. This style of literature
is highly symbolic, but it is not all symbolic.
- The star is symbolic of an angel – probably
Satan himself (see Revelation 12:12).
- At the present time, Satan is not in hell.
He is free to roam about the earth and has
access to heavenly realms. The abyss or bottomless
pit is not hell, but many demons are confined
there (Luke 8:31-32). There Satan will be
bound for 1000 years during our Lord’s
future millennial kingdom (Revelation 20:1).
- Following the sixth trumpet judgment, the
death toll rises to 1/3 of mankind. Combined
with the death tolls of the other judgments,
at least ½ of the world’s population
will have perished at this point in the Tribulation
Period.
discuss\ consider
- Discuss the dilemma of interpreting apocalyptic
literature with its highly symbolic language.
How do you work to interpret these passages
as literally as possible?
- We tend to think that if an unbeliever
experiences enough pain he will turn to God
and repent. We see this is certainly not
the case in the Tribulation Period (see Revelation
9:20-21). Discuss why pain does not necessarily
lead to repentance. What does cause repentance?
challenge
Recall the point in your life when you were brought to repentance
and trusted Christ. Praise the Lord for this!
memorize
