Reading Revelation - Chapters 8-11

May 5-11
Revelation 8:2-11:19
Week 6 of 12

The Seventh Seal: A Trumpet Fanfare to the Victory of God (Revelation 8:2–11:19)
Dr. Robert Wall

Suggestions for Daily Readings

Revelation 8:2-13
Revelation 9:1-12
Revelation 9:13-21
Revelation 10:1-11
Revelation 11:1-14
Revelation 11:15-18 (memorize & mediate…and listen to the Hallelujah Chorus of Handel’s Messiah!)

With the Lamb opening the seventh seal on the scroll in 8:1, the remainder of the book of Revelation is the account of the enacting of the contents of this scroll.  Following the divinely-written secret script now revealed by Jesus, the Lamb, the final scenes of God’s plan of salvation take place. 

This is where the reading of Revelation often bogs down.  The opening of the scroll has somewhat of a “Pandora’s box” impact – all kinds of fantastical things happen, and just keep on happening…relentlessly. 

 

In a sense, reading Revelation is like a being on a roller coaster.  It starts with anxious anticipation – we’ve heard what a thrill ride it is.  After the first few chapters, we’ve gained a sense of confidence in the gentle ups and downs – maybe this will be a manageable or even enjoyable experience after all!  But the lead-up to the opening of the seventh seal reveals itself to be much like the long uphill ascent before the plunge into two minutes of terror.  So what can we do, other than throw our hands up and scream for the remainder of the ride?

 

One suggestion is to read Dr. Robert Wall’s commentary.  He’s ridden this coaster many times, and he has the ability to help us slow down and appreciate the intricacies of what’s happening.  Another suggestion is to read the text in a Study Bible.  Around this point in Revelation I find my eyes ping-ponging back and forth between the biblical text and the verse notes at the bottom of the page.  One thing you learn from both these sources is that in this week’s reading, the trumpets announce divine judgment loosely based on the Egyptian plagues (those of us who know Exodus might have some fun with this!). 

One aspect of Revelation I’m noticing in this reading is the way Hebrew religious imagery is presented to Greek-speaking, Roman empire-governed readership.  One small example of this is in the description of the angel king of the bottomless pit in 9:11.  It is revealed that in Hebrew his name is Abaddon (meaning “destruction”) and in Greek he is called Apollyon (meaning “destroyer”).  Pay special attention to this interplay between Old Testament imagery and Greco-Roman society.

Bottom line.  Just keep reading.  If this is your first time on this ride, just let the ride take its course.  You don’t have to understand everything at first.  Notice the sights, sounds, characters, and the words that these characters say.  And there’s no shame in raising those hands in the air and letting out a scream now and then!

Here are some questions to reflect upon or discuss:

The Scene

What does the scene look like?  What stands out to you visually?

Revelation contains a strange mix of vision elements – some readily understood and others quite mysterious.  What do you understand?  What remains mysterious?

The Characters

Who are the living characters who appear in this scene?  What does the text tell you about them?  How do they interact with one another…what is the dramatic action?  What remains mysterious about them?

The Message

What do the characters do or say or sing?  If you were to summarize this in a word or phrase, how would you put it?  What remains unclear or mysterious with regard to a message in the text?

 

Questions for Application

• The trumpet announcements are associated with purifying fire.  What real-life examples of fire or heat as a purifying agent are you aware of? 

 

•  What in this world today…and in your own heart…needs purification in order to be restored to God’s created goodness?

 

Memorize or Meditate on Revelation 11:15-18

¹⁵ The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said:
“The kingdom of the world has become

    the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah,

    and he will reign for ever and ever.”

¹⁶ And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, ¹⁷ saying:
“We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty,

    the One who is and who was,

because you have taken your great power

    and have begun to reign.

¹⁸ The nations were angry,

    and your wrath has come.

The time has come for judging the dead,

    and for rewarding your servants the prophets

and your people who revere your name,

    both great and small—

and for destroying those who destroy the earth.”