A Warning - Prepare for Judgment

Thursdays are for the New Testament
1/31/19

Osborne, Grant R. Revelation. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2002. Location: Ellis BS 2825.53.O73 2002
III. God in Majesty and Judgment (4:1-16:21) pp. 218-602.

1. God’s Sovereignty in Judgment (4:1-11:19) pp. 219-450.
   

3. “Seven Trumpets (8:2-11:19) pp. 339-450.

Osborne observes that the three groups of judgments; seals, trumpets, and bowls, appear superficially similar, the seals are preliminary while the trumpets and bowls are more clearly related to one another. The trumpets have a special relationship to judgments on idolatry (Osborne 2002, 339). There are significant parallels between the trumpets and the plagues of Egypt from Exodus. Osborne notes an intensification of the judgments by steps from Exodus to the trumpets to the bowls (Osborne 2002, 340).

1. “Introduction to Trumpet Judgments (8:2-6)” pp. 341-348.
   

Revelation 8:2-6 serves as an introduction in which a chiasm is found. In verse 2 the angels are given trumpets, while in verse 6 they prepare to sound the trumpets. In verses 3-4 an angel is present with a golden censer, and in verse 5, the prayers (incense) gain a response (Osborne 2002, 341). When in verse two the seven angels are given trumpets, Osborne considers who these angels might be. He concludes they are standing before God’s throne so may well be ruling angels identified in the traditions from Tobit 12 and 1 Enoch 20 (Osborne 2002, 342). The use of the trumpets turns the angels into divine heralds. An additional angel appears, who is to bring prayers before God. He has a priestly function. While some take this to be the Christ, Osborne notes that in other places angels do function as priests (Osborne 2002, 343). The incense used in worship was of a very particular formula and used only to accompany prayers (Osborne 2002, 344). This is the usage in Revelation 8. The imagery here is that the prayers rise before God along with the smoke of the incense. Osborne considers these prayers to “most likely refer specifically to the imprecatory prayers for vengeance and justice in Rev. 6:9-11” (Osborne 2002, 345).

In Revelation 8:5, God hears the prayers of the saints and responds (Osborne 2002, 346). The angel takes the censer and fills it with fire, which will now be used to execute God’s judgment in response to the prayers of his people. The angel throws fire upon the earth, with thunder and lightning (Osborne 2002, 347). The angels with the trumpets prepare to sound them, one at a time, each bringing a different judgment from God (Osborne 2002, 348).

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