Notice how quickly the bible reveals the first 4 trumpets are released. Immediately after the release of the 7th seal; the first 5 trumpets follow rapidly. Although the last 3 trumpets are so severe; that even the bible calls them the "woe" trumpets. Notice specifically with the first 4 trumpets that one-third of the earth, water, ships, day and night is taken from the earth or destroyed.
Those that believe, including ourselves, that the release of the 6th seal is "nuclear fallout", realize that all of this can quickly following a nuclear war. Even if this is not the case; for our planet not to receive one-third of its day or night; this would mean we would have to have moved out of orbit.
The mighty earthquake and the falling rocks from the sky; confirm that the earth is no longer in a place where it used to be. But we also know that the first 5 trumpets occur in rapid succession due to information released in the release of the 5th trumpet.
This star that falls to the earth, is not just another rock or meteor as some might suggest. We know this as it is given a key and no impersonal object can receive something. Many people believe that this is finally Satan himself that is cast down to earth. Do not get confused here; because although initially Satan was cast out from the presence of God; he has not yet been cast down to the earth. That is why he is often referred to as the principle and power of the air. We are also told later in Revelation 13:5; that Satan has authority on the earth for a period of 42 months or 3 1/2 years - The last part of the tribulation.
We are also told later in Revelation that Satan is chained down in the "abyss/pit" for 1 000 years; whilst Jesus reigns on earth during this period. We also see that Satan opens up the abyss and fire and smoke emerges with millions of locusts; its ruler being abbadon, which means "the one that brings destruction".
Lets quickly highlight the description of these locusts:
Locusts appeared like armed horses
Gold crowns on there heads
Human faces with long hair
Teeth like a lions
Armour was made of iron
Wings roared like an army of chariots in war.
They had tails that stung like scorpions.
Now there are a few viewpoints who these locust type creatures are. Some believe that these are literal locusts perhaps with mutated genes from all the wars, others believe that these are demonic forces, whilst others believe they are demonic forces that take on a physical appearance. We know that they are no ordinary locusts; because unlike the swarms that Pharoa experienced for failure to let Moses and the Jews leave Egypt; these locusts:
Eat no grass, trees or vegetables as ordinary locusts do. (Rev 9 : 4)
They cannot be destroyed by fire or smoke from the abyss
They are ruled by a king - Abaddon ( Rev 9 : 11) Also take note that earthly locusts have no king.
However, the biggest clue as to who these locusts are lies in the fact that people are fearful of them. People will seek death during this period; but will not find it. These locusts defintely have physical attributes; in other words, they are capable of being seen, unlike demons. We also need to consider that horses in scripture have often been used to represent angels. For referencing see Zech 6:1-6.
In the previous section, under Revelation 11, we mentioned that the 2 witnesses who prophecy over Israel for 1 260 days are killed. Specifically, the scriptures reveal the following information as to their deaths:
A “Beast emerges for the bottomless pit” and wages war against the 2 witnesses, conquers them and kills them. Their dead bodies lie in the street where Jesus was crucified. These dead bodies are not allowed to be buried and remain in the street for people of all nations to see. Everyone on earth will gloat over their death and send each other gifts. (Rev 11 : 7 – 10)
Oh you say – somewhere before I have read about the beast from the bottomless pit ….. You are RIGHT. After the 5th trumpet judgment, the “ 1st Catastrophe is announced, Star falls to the earth – a bottomless pit is opened - Abaddon or Apollyon emerges from the pit and tortures those that were not sealed by God (144 k)
So it is obvious that for the beast from the bottomless pit to kill the 2 witnesses, trumpet # 5 must have been blown.
It therefore follows on that as the witnesses have prophesized for 1 260 days, we have now entered the 2nd half of the tribulation; and these 2 witnesses can therefore only prophecy during the first 1 260 days or 3 ½ years of the tribulation.
It therefore also confirms that all the six seals have already occurred in the first half of the tribulation AND that trumpets one to five have to occur very quickly; literally within a few days of each other. Obviously, this can be complex; but the important point to note is that this allows us to establish when these events occur - Its like putting a puzzle together ... We have just clarified another end time issue.
Apart from timelines, let us now take this a step further.
The witnesses are not buried and every nation sees their dead bodies for 3 ½ days. Now this scripture 200 years ago would have been very puzzling. But with the invention of the television, this scripture is no longer confusing. We all know that with the gulf war coverage, the Afghanistan war, etc; the whole world was watching as events unfolded. With CNN and SKY TV, etc, we have the ability to see anything whilst being thousands of kilometres away from this event.
