The Trumpet Judgements Unveiled
Chapter 1
Fundamental and Foundational Principles
The first and most important Biblical principle is knowing who you are in Christ. This is the foundation that begins one on the journey of Truth to know the Savior and Creator, Jesus Christ. The Remnant of Israel is the true Church made up of true Christians. They are the 144,000 and the Multitude [1] spoken about in the book of Revelation. [2] They also include all of the saved Remnant of times past but the Remnant of Israel that we will be focusing on is the end times Remnant of Israel, the last Christians of this age.
The Remnant of Israel has come out of Babylon (The spiritual construct of the church) and has embraced the truth in the knowledge that they are the true Jew. Not a Jew in the flesh, but a spiritual Jew [3] which is afforded all of the promises of the Old and the New Testament; the recipients of God's promise to his elect.
The Remnant of Israel has come out of Babylon (The spiritual construct of the church) and has embraced the truth in the knowledge that they are the true Jew. Not a Jew in the flesh, but a spiritual Jew [3] which is afforded all of the promises of the Old and the New Testament; the recipients of God's promise to his elect.
From the Flesh to the Spiritual
A principle given to us to understand the prophetic is from the realm of the Spirit. Through the Spirit we can discern events playing or to be played out in the Natural. When one looks at the Trumpet Judgements from the Natural, one sees meteor showers, asteroids hitting the earth, and these weird creatures that can only be explained, as some type of genetic engineering. When one looks at these things from the Spiritual, they are viewed again as natural physical events just mentioned until one crucial piece is added. That is the opening of the books and prophecies.
When the books are opened, the veil is taken off and we can now understand the Spiritual aspect of these things; which is completely different from the way these have been understood previously. The veil has been removed.
This concept is substantiated by Amos. Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.” - Amos 3:7
The Lord is ready to move this world into the Great Tribulation. He will not do that until His servants, the prophets know what He is about to do. This takes us back to the 144,000. Their purpose during the Tribulation is to minister to the Multitude. To teach the Multitude the error of their ways and give them an answer when they seek the Lord during these troublesome times.
And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean. - Ezekiel 44:23
If we don=t know how things are going to transpire, we are in the blind, and we are of little use to anyone. But we are not blind; we have eyes to see and ears to hear. As the time of the Tribulation draws near, the Lord will open our understanding to the events that will transpire. Hence, our spiritual understanding of the events becomes clear and then we will understand how they will play out in the physical.
When the books are opened, the veil is taken off and we can now understand the Spiritual aspect of these things; which is completely different from the way these have been understood previously. The veil has been removed.
This concept is substantiated by Amos. Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.” - Amos 3:7
The Lord is ready to move this world into the Great Tribulation. He will not do that until His servants, the prophets know what He is about to do. This takes us back to the 144,000. Their purpose during the Tribulation is to minister to the Multitude. To teach the Multitude the error of their ways and give them an answer when they seek the Lord during these troublesome times.
And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean. - Ezekiel 44:23
If we don=t know how things are going to transpire, we are in the blind, and we are of little use to anyone. But we are not blind; we have eyes to see and ears to hear. As the time of the Tribulation draws near, the Lord will open our understanding to the events that will transpire. Hence, our spiritual understanding of the events becomes clear and then we will understand how they will play out in the physical.
The Players
During the Tribulation there are four players or groups of people that the Lord refers to continually throughout the scriptures. These four groups are the main characters during the Tribulation. The first group is the 144,000 that are sealed prior to the commencement of the blowing of the trumpets in Rev. 7:1-8
The second group is the Great Multitude that goes through the Tribulation. [4] They are taken into captivity and slain as martyrs of Jesus. [5]
The third and the fourth groups are the 2/3 of the apostate church. The Multitude and the 2/3 apostate are what is currently known as the church. The Lord divides the church into three parts. “And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried ...” – Zechariah 13:8,9
The third part He brings through the fire, that being the Multitude. The fire is the Tribulation. The Multitude is refined through this process. The 2/3 gets cut off and dies. This signifies both physical and spiritual death. We can find another instance of a threefold division.
And thou, son of man, take thee a sharp knife, take thee a barber's razor, and cause it to pass upon thine head and upon thy beard: then take thee balances to weigh, and divide the hair. [2] Thou shalt burn with fire a third part in the midst of the city, when the days of the siege are fulfilled: and thou shalt take a third part, and smite about it with a knife: and a third part thou shalt scatter in the wind; and I will draw out a sword after them. [3] Thou shalt also take thereof a few in number, and bind them in thy skirts. [4] Then take of them again, and cast them into the midst of the fire, and burn them in the fire; for thereof shall a fire come forth into all the houses of Israel. [5] Thus saith the Lord GOD; This is Jerusalem... - Ezekiel 5:1-5
Ezekiel's hair is divided into three parts. The two parts that are burned in the fire are the 2/3 that are cut off and die; the 2/3 of the apostate church. The third part that he scatters in the wind and draws a sword out after is the Multitude. The sword signifies physical death. The few in number that are bound in Ezekiel's skirt are the 144,000; placed there for safety and protection. That is a picture of the sealing of the 144,000.
We know that this is the church by the identification that the Lord gives this group. This is Jerusalem. The 2/3 of the apostate are burned and the other 1/3 (the Multitude), are brought through the fire. All of the thirds either are burned by fire or come through the fire. We can find a corresponding verse that states “For every one shall be salted with fire...” [6]
The Lord also tells us that He will execute judgements upon Jerusalem and upon the 3/3. “...I, even I, am against thee, and will execute judgements in the midst of thee...” [7] And where does judgement begin? “For the time is come that judgement must begin at the house of God...” [8] Judgement begins at the house of God. The Tribulation and the Trumpet Judgements are focused upon these players that comprise today's “house of God,” the church.
The second group is the Great Multitude that goes through the Tribulation. [4] They are taken into captivity and slain as martyrs of Jesus. [5]
The third and the fourth groups are the 2/3 of the apostate church. The Multitude and the 2/3 apostate are what is currently known as the church. The Lord divides the church into three parts. “And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried ...” – Zechariah 13:8,9
The third part He brings through the fire, that being the Multitude. The fire is the Tribulation. The Multitude is refined through this process. The 2/3 gets cut off and dies. This signifies both physical and spiritual death. We can find another instance of a threefold division.
And thou, son of man, take thee a sharp knife, take thee a barber's razor, and cause it to pass upon thine head and upon thy beard: then take thee balances to weigh, and divide the hair. [2] Thou shalt burn with fire a third part in the midst of the city, when the days of the siege are fulfilled: and thou shalt take a third part, and smite about it with a knife: and a third part thou shalt scatter in the wind; and I will draw out a sword after them. [3] Thou shalt also take thereof a few in number, and bind them in thy skirts. [4] Then take of them again, and cast them into the midst of the fire, and burn them in the fire; for thereof shall a fire come forth into all the houses of Israel. [5] Thus saith the Lord GOD; This is Jerusalem... - Ezekiel 5:1-5
Ezekiel's hair is divided into three parts. The two parts that are burned in the fire are the 2/3 that are cut off and die; the 2/3 of the apostate church. The third part that he scatters in the wind and draws a sword out after is the Multitude. The sword signifies physical death. The few in number that are bound in Ezekiel's skirt are the 144,000; placed there for safety and protection. That is a picture of the sealing of the 144,000.
We know that this is the church by the identification that the Lord gives this group. This is Jerusalem. The 2/3 of the apostate are burned and the other 1/3 (the Multitude), are brought through the fire. All of the thirds either are burned by fire or come through the fire. We can find a corresponding verse that states “For every one shall be salted with fire...” [6]
The Lord also tells us that He will execute judgements upon Jerusalem and upon the 3/3. “...I, even I, am against thee, and will execute judgements in the midst of thee...” [7] And where does judgement begin? “For the time is come that judgement must begin at the house of God...” [8] Judgement begins at the house of God. The Tribulation and the Trumpet Judgements are focused upon these players that comprise today's “house of God,” the church.
Parables and Metaphors
Another principle to understand, are the prophetic parables and metaphors used by Jesus during the course of his ministry. He used parables and metaphors to teach us about the prophetic. When we understand what is meant by these parables and metaphors, the time is drawing near for the fulfillment of these things. Metaphors are used throughout the Bible and when understood opens our understanding of prophecy.
What are parables and metaphors?
A parable is a story teaching a moral lesson and is usually an allegory. An allegory is a story in which people, things, and happenings have another meaning, or another identity. [9]
A metaphor is referring to a thing symbolic, or in place of something else. An example might be That's food for thought. The word food is not referring to food that you eat, but something that might be considered or pondered. In other words, think about it.
A metaphor is using a word(s) applying an identification of something (person, place, or thing) to an identification of something else (person, place, or thing). It is actually a coded word or phrase that means something else than what is being spoken about.
Throughout the trumpet judgements we will be discovering that the objects and descriptions of events are metaphors. By applying this principle, we will see through spiritual eyes, the prophetic nature of the trumpets and how the trumpets play out in the physical. You will also understand the secrets of unlocking Bible prophecy. There is caution one has to heed when studying these things. One must consider the context of the verses when following the metaphors through scripture. There is a definite pattern and synchronicity to this principle.
Some of the metaphors used for the 1st third of the apostate referenced throughout the scriptures are as follows: the sun, fowls of the heaven, leopards, wolves, summer, summer house, wild beasts of the island, scorpions, locusts, the south, iron, briers, and more not yet discovered. Identities are Babylon, Egypt, Esau, Edom and more not yet discovered.
Some of the metaphors used for the 2nd third of the apostate referenced throughout the scriptures are as follows: the stars, beasts of the field, winter, winter house, wild beasts of the desert, lions, serpents, vipers, dragons of the wilderness, the north, thorns, wild asses, and more not yet discovered. Identities are Babylon, Esau, Edom, Chaldeans, Assyria, and more not yet found.
The Multitude are referenced by the following metaphors: the moon, lambs, calves, fishes of the sea, doves of the valley, man child, remnant, and many others not yet discovered. Identities are Babylon, Egypt, Assyria, Ashkelon, Kedar, Hazor, Tyrus, Ahola, Aholiba and many more not yet discovered.
The 1st third of the apostate are these strange creatures of the 5th trumpet. They are the locusts that have the tails of scorpions. They have the appearance of horses and lion's teeth. These descriptions are metaphors that are used to identify attributes and traits of this group. This group will be referred to as the Scorpions or the 1st third of the apostate throughout this book.
The 2nd third of the apostate are horses with heads of lions and tails with serpent heads. There is fire, smoke and brimstone coming out of their mouths. Here again, these are metaphors to describe the attributes and traits of this group of the apostate. This group will be referred to as the Serpents or the 2nd third of the apostate throughout this book.
The Multitude is a group of people that are Christians. They will be stripped of all they own by the Scorpions and murdered by the Serpents. They are the Overcomers described in the seven churches of Revelation. They will be referred to as the Multitude throughout this writing.
Where you must be cautious in identifying these groups throughout the scriptures is that an overall metaphor such as the fowls of the heaven which refers to the 1st third of the apostate, can have a more defined bird such as the doves of the valley. [10] Doves of the valley are a metaphor for the Multitude.
The eagle can be an eagle of protection for the 144,000, [11] or death. The gathering of the eagles is the 2nd third of the apostate gathered where the dead bodies of the Multitude are. The Multitude are the ones that are taken in the 'one shall be taken and one shall be left' [12] passages.
The one taken and the one left is also referring to the parable of the ten virgins. In the parable of the ten virgins, you have a 50/50 split: five wise virgins and five unwise virgins. In the one taken/one left, you have a 50/50 split. Remember, this is a parable which is an allegory.
The five wise virgins are a metaphor for the 144,000. The five unwise virgins are a metaphor for the Multitude. The Multitude is taken (violently gathered) in judgement during the 5th and 6th trumpets.
The 144,000 are left to minister to the Multitude during the Great Tribulation. They will instruct the Multitude of the errors of their ways. They will inform them of their coming persecution and death at the hands of the apostate church. The apostate church will have a mandate for the killing of the Multitude.
What are parables and metaphors?
A parable is a story teaching a moral lesson and is usually an allegory. An allegory is a story in which people, things, and happenings have another meaning, or another identity. [9]
A metaphor is referring to a thing symbolic, or in place of something else. An example might be That's food for thought. The word food is not referring to food that you eat, but something that might be considered or pondered. In other words, think about it.
A metaphor is using a word(s) applying an identification of something (person, place, or thing) to an identification of something else (person, place, or thing). It is actually a coded word or phrase that means something else than what is being spoken about.
Throughout the trumpet judgements we will be discovering that the objects and descriptions of events are metaphors. By applying this principle, we will see through spiritual eyes, the prophetic nature of the trumpets and how the trumpets play out in the physical. You will also understand the secrets of unlocking Bible prophecy. There is caution one has to heed when studying these things. One must consider the context of the verses when following the metaphors through scripture. There is a definite pattern and synchronicity to this principle.
Some of the metaphors used for the 1st third of the apostate referenced throughout the scriptures are as follows: the sun, fowls of the heaven, leopards, wolves, summer, summer house, wild beasts of the island, scorpions, locusts, the south, iron, briers, and more not yet discovered. Identities are Babylon, Egypt, Esau, Edom and more not yet discovered.
Some of the metaphors used for the 2nd third of the apostate referenced throughout the scriptures are as follows: the stars, beasts of the field, winter, winter house, wild beasts of the desert, lions, serpents, vipers, dragons of the wilderness, the north, thorns, wild asses, and more not yet discovered. Identities are Babylon, Esau, Edom, Chaldeans, Assyria, and more not yet found.
The Multitude are referenced by the following metaphors: the moon, lambs, calves, fishes of the sea, doves of the valley, man child, remnant, and many others not yet discovered. Identities are Babylon, Egypt, Assyria, Ashkelon, Kedar, Hazor, Tyrus, Ahola, Aholiba and many more not yet discovered.
The 1st third of the apostate are these strange creatures of the 5th trumpet. They are the locusts that have the tails of scorpions. They have the appearance of horses and lion's teeth. These descriptions are metaphors that are used to identify attributes and traits of this group. This group will be referred to as the Scorpions or the 1st third of the apostate throughout this book.
The 2nd third of the apostate are horses with heads of lions and tails with serpent heads. There is fire, smoke and brimstone coming out of their mouths. Here again, these are metaphors to describe the attributes and traits of this group of the apostate. This group will be referred to as the Serpents or the 2nd third of the apostate throughout this book.
The Multitude is a group of people that are Christians. They will be stripped of all they own by the Scorpions and murdered by the Serpents. They are the Overcomers described in the seven churches of Revelation. They will be referred to as the Multitude throughout this writing.
Where you must be cautious in identifying these groups throughout the scriptures is that an overall metaphor such as the fowls of the heaven which refers to the 1st third of the apostate, can have a more defined bird such as the doves of the valley. [10] Doves of the valley are a metaphor for the Multitude.
The eagle can be an eagle of protection for the 144,000, [11] or death. The gathering of the eagles is the 2nd third of the apostate gathered where the dead bodies of the Multitude are. The Multitude are the ones that are taken in the 'one shall be taken and one shall be left' [12] passages.
The one taken and the one left is also referring to the parable of the ten virgins. In the parable of the ten virgins, you have a 50/50 split: five wise virgins and five unwise virgins. In the one taken/one left, you have a 50/50 split. Remember, this is a parable which is an allegory.
The five wise virgins are a metaphor for the 144,000. The five unwise virgins are a metaphor for the Multitude. The Multitude is taken (violently gathered) in judgement during the 5th and 6th trumpets.
The 144,000 are left to minister to the Multitude during the Great Tribulation. They will instruct the Multitude of the errors of their ways. They will inform them of their coming persecution and death at the hands of the apostate church. The apostate church will have a mandate for the killing of the Multitude.
The Judas Cycle
The Judas Cycle is a process that the Multitude and the 2/3 apostate participate, fulfilling the roles of Judas, Jesus, and the Scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees.
The 1st third of the apostate (Scorpions of the 5th trumpet) are in the position of Judas. They have an alliance with the Serpents. They betray the Multitude and allow them to be taken by the 2nd third of the apostate. (The Serpents of the 6th trumpet). The Scorpions receive reward from the serpents for betraying the Multitude.
And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. - Luke 21:16
The Serpents are in the position of the Scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees which accuse the Multitude of blasphemy, who are claiming their true birthright as the Remnant of Israel. The Serpents work in collusion with the Government to kill the Multitude. The Government is in the position of Pontius Pilate. All three groups, the Scorpions, the Serpents, and the Government all have blood on their hands, the blood of the Multitude.
The violence done to me and to my flesh be upon Babylon, shall the inhabitant of Zion say; and my blood upon the inhabitants of Chaldea, shall Jerusalem say. - Jeremiah 51:35
This will be a statement made by the Multitude. It is through Babylon that the Multitude will be betrayed and murdered. They are in Babylon, but they are residents of Zion and Jerusalem. Upon the acknowledgment of the truth when one becomes one of the Multitude, their identity shifts from an inhabitant of Spiritual Babylon to an inhabitant of Spiritual Zion and Spiritual Jerusalem.
The 1st third of the apostate (Scorpions of the 5th trumpet) are in the position of Judas. They have an alliance with the Serpents. They betray the Multitude and allow them to be taken by the 2nd third of the apostate. (The Serpents of the 6th trumpet). The Scorpions receive reward from the serpents for betraying the Multitude.
And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. - Luke 21:16
The Serpents are in the position of the Scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees which accuse the Multitude of blasphemy, who are claiming their true birthright as the Remnant of Israel. The Serpents work in collusion with the Government to kill the Multitude. The Government is in the position of Pontius Pilate. All three groups, the Scorpions, the Serpents, and the Government all have blood on their hands, the blood of the Multitude.
The violence done to me and to my flesh be upon Babylon, shall the inhabitant of Zion say; and my blood upon the inhabitants of Chaldea, shall Jerusalem say. - Jeremiah 51:35
This will be a statement made by the Multitude. It is through Babylon that the Multitude will be betrayed and murdered. They are in Babylon, but they are residents of Zion and Jerusalem. Upon the acknowledgment of the truth when one becomes one of the Multitude, their identity shifts from an inhabitant of Spiritual Babylon to an inhabitant of Spiritual Zion and Spiritual Jerusalem.
Babylon
The destruction of Babylon begins at the 5th trumpet and ends at the 7th trumpet. All 3/3 of the church is Babylon. An implosion occurs within Babylon. The 2/3 of the apostate turns on the 1/3 of the Multitude and destroys them. The term “Babylon is fallen, is fallen” is referring to the falling of the 1st and the 2nd third of the apostate.
The woes begin at the 5th trumpet and include the 5th, 6th, and 7th trumpets.
And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound.” – Revelation 8:13
There is a clue within this verse that will give us timing aspects pertaining to the verses in both the New Testament and the Old Testament. The clue is the woes. There are three woes listed: one woe for the 5th trumpet, one for the 6th trumpet, and one for the 7th trumpet.
When you research the word woe in the Bible and read verses with one woe in it, this will be referring to the 5th trumpet. Remember, you must look at the context of the verses. Not every verse that has the word woe is referring to the 5th trumpet. This next verse is referring to the 5th trumpet.
The execution of the judgements begins at the 5th trumpet, the first woe.
Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea, for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. – Revelation 12:12
At the blowing of the 5th trumpet there is a star that falls from heaven. [13] This is Satan that gets cast down to earth. This scripture warns us that when the devil is cast down, (At the 5th trumpet)
the persecution begins. "Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea". There are other words that are used for the word woe; the words alas and ah.
I have set the point of the sword against all their gates, that their heart may faint, and their ruins be multiplied: ah, it is made bright, it is wrapped up for the slaughter. - Ezekiel 21:15
One woe, alas, or ah, would be referring to the fifth trumpet. When any of these words are used conjunctively, particularly the word alas, it would be referring to the fifth and sixth trumpets together. An example would be alas, alas.
Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city, for in one hour is thy judgment come. - Revelation 18:10
Therefore the LORD, the God of hosts, the Lord, saith thus; Wailing shall be in all streets; and they shall say in all the highways, Alas, alas, and they shall call the husbandman to mourning, and such as are skilful of lamentation to wailing. - Amos 5:16
This previous verse in Amos is speaking about Israel; the destruction of Israel. But even in the complete destruction of Israel/Babylon/Jerusalem, the Lord will always leave a remnant, that being the Multitude. They will die a physical death, but in return will receive eternal salvation. This is the 1/3 of the hair that is scattered into the wind. We have another verse that corresponds with the dividing of the hair, and it just happens to be Babylon. "And the great city was divided into three parts..." [14]
Babylon is divided into three parts. We know the division and their identifications through the dividing of the hair in Ezekiel chapter 5; the three-fold division into the 2/3 of the apostate and the 1/3 of the Multitude.
This is a passage that gives us clues to the 5th and 6th trumpets and links the 5th trumpet to the beginning of the destruction Babylon.
For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Go, set a watchman, let him declare what he seeth. [7] And he saw a chariot with a couple of horsemen, a chariot of asses, and a chariot of camels; and he hearkened diligently with much heed: [8] And he cried, A lion: My lord, I stand continually upon the watchtower in the daytime, and I am set in my ward whole nights: [9] And, behold, here cometh a chariot of men, with a couple of horsemen. And he answered and said, Babylon is fallen, is fallen; and all the graven images of her gods he hath broken unto the ground. - Isaiah 21:6-9
A watchman is set, and he sees three chariots coming: a chariot of horsemen, a chariot of asses, and a chariot of camels. These three chariots represent the three woes: the 5th, 6th, and 7th trumpets. We know this by two clues that we find in these verses. Firstly, the watchman cries “A lion.” The definition for lion is of course; a lion, but another meaning is violence [15]in association with the root word meaning; to gather or pluck. [16]
Put simply, the lion the watchman sees is a metaphor for a violent gathering. The one taken in judgement (Multitude) is gathered violently. The betrayal, captivity and murder would fit this metaphor of the lion.
The second clue gives us the timing of this violence. The watchman then sees a chariot of men with a couple of horsemen. When this chariot approaches, he says, "Babylon is fallen, is fallen". The chariot of horsemen is a metaphor for the 5th trumpet.
It is interesting to note that in both the 5th and 6th trumpets, horses are mentioned. The 6th trumpet has a connection to asses which we will investigate further into the study.
We=ve been discussing the 5th and the 6th trumpets, which is the destruction of Babylon. But what about the four trumpets before the woes? The four trumpets are separated from the woes in that they are actually judgements and pictures of what occurs spiritually and physically to the 2/3 apostate and the Multitude; but these four trumpets are focused upon the Multitude.
These first four trumpets are the Four Winds.
[1]. “The 144,000 and the Multitude” written by Sue Patterson
[2]. Revelation chapter 7
[3]. Romans 2:28,29
[4]. Revelation 7:9-17
[5]. Revelation 20:4
[6]. Mark 9:49
[7]. Ezekiel 5:8
[8]. 1 Peter 4:17
[9]. Webster’ New World Dictionary
[10]. Ezekiel 7:16
[11]. Revelation 12:14
[12]. Luke 17:34-36
[13]. Revelation 9:1
[14]. Revelation 16:19
[15]. Strong’s 738
[16]. Strong’s 717
The woes begin at the 5th trumpet and include the 5th, 6th, and 7th trumpets.
And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound.” – Revelation 8:13
There is a clue within this verse that will give us timing aspects pertaining to the verses in both the New Testament and the Old Testament. The clue is the woes. There are three woes listed: one woe for the 5th trumpet, one for the 6th trumpet, and one for the 7th trumpet.
When you research the word woe in the Bible and read verses with one woe in it, this will be referring to the 5th trumpet. Remember, you must look at the context of the verses. Not every verse that has the word woe is referring to the 5th trumpet. This next verse is referring to the 5th trumpet.
The execution of the judgements begins at the 5th trumpet, the first woe.
Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea, for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. – Revelation 12:12
At the blowing of the 5th trumpet there is a star that falls from heaven. [13] This is Satan that gets cast down to earth. This scripture warns us that when the devil is cast down, (At the 5th trumpet)
the persecution begins. "Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea". There are other words that are used for the word woe; the words alas and ah.
I have set the point of the sword against all their gates, that their heart may faint, and their ruins be multiplied: ah, it is made bright, it is wrapped up for the slaughter. - Ezekiel 21:15
One woe, alas, or ah, would be referring to the fifth trumpet. When any of these words are used conjunctively, particularly the word alas, it would be referring to the fifth and sixth trumpets together. An example would be alas, alas.
Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city, for in one hour is thy judgment come. - Revelation 18:10
Therefore the LORD, the God of hosts, the Lord, saith thus; Wailing shall be in all streets; and they shall say in all the highways, Alas, alas, and they shall call the husbandman to mourning, and such as are skilful of lamentation to wailing. - Amos 5:16
This previous verse in Amos is speaking about Israel; the destruction of Israel. But even in the complete destruction of Israel/Babylon/Jerusalem, the Lord will always leave a remnant, that being the Multitude. They will die a physical death, but in return will receive eternal salvation. This is the 1/3 of the hair that is scattered into the wind. We have another verse that corresponds with the dividing of the hair, and it just happens to be Babylon. "And the great city was divided into three parts..." [14]
Babylon is divided into three parts. We know the division and their identifications through the dividing of the hair in Ezekiel chapter 5; the three-fold division into the 2/3 of the apostate and the 1/3 of the Multitude.
This is a passage that gives us clues to the 5th and 6th trumpets and links the 5th trumpet to the beginning of the destruction Babylon.
For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Go, set a watchman, let him declare what he seeth. [7] And he saw a chariot with a couple of horsemen, a chariot of asses, and a chariot of camels; and he hearkened diligently with much heed: [8] And he cried, A lion: My lord, I stand continually upon the watchtower in the daytime, and I am set in my ward whole nights: [9] And, behold, here cometh a chariot of men, with a couple of horsemen. And he answered and said, Babylon is fallen, is fallen; and all the graven images of her gods he hath broken unto the ground. - Isaiah 21:6-9
A watchman is set, and he sees three chariots coming: a chariot of horsemen, a chariot of asses, and a chariot of camels. These three chariots represent the three woes: the 5th, 6th, and 7th trumpets. We know this by two clues that we find in these verses. Firstly, the watchman cries “A lion.” The definition for lion is of course; a lion, but another meaning is violence [15]in association with the root word meaning; to gather or pluck. [16]
Put simply, the lion the watchman sees is a metaphor for a violent gathering. The one taken in judgement (Multitude) is gathered violently. The betrayal, captivity and murder would fit this metaphor of the lion.
The second clue gives us the timing of this violence. The watchman then sees a chariot of men with a couple of horsemen. When this chariot approaches, he says, "Babylon is fallen, is fallen". The chariot of horsemen is a metaphor for the 5th trumpet.
It is interesting to note that in both the 5th and 6th trumpets, horses are mentioned. The 6th trumpet has a connection to asses which we will investigate further into the study.
We=ve been discussing the 5th and the 6th trumpets, which is the destruction of Babylon. But what about the four trumpets before the woes? The four trumpets are separated from the woes in that they are actually judgements and pictures of what occurs spiritually and physically to the 2/3 apostate and the Multitude; but these four trumpets are focused upon the Multitude.
These first four trumpets are the Four Winds.
[1]. “The 144,000 and the Multitude” written by Sue Patterson
[2]. Revelation chapter 7
[3]. Romans 2:28,29
[4]. Revelation 7:9-17
[5]. Revelation 20:4
[6]. Mark 9:49
[7]. Ezekiel 5:8
[8]. 1 Peter 4:17
[9]. Webster’ New World Dictionary
[10]. Ezekiel 7:16
[11]. Revelation 12:14
[12]. Luke 17:34-36
[13]. Revelation 9:1
[14]. Revelation 16:19
[15]. Strong’s 738
[16]. Strong’s 717