The sermon of this post is from the YouTube site, MLJTrust:
A sermon by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones on A Sermon on the Trumpets in Revelation https://www.mljtrust.org/sermons/grea…
MLJ noted in the sermon of this post, that he thought the 20th century troubles of mankind were due to men turning away in the 19th century. As a precursor to this sermon, the last post talks about how four preachers sought to address that turning away: Spurgeon; Machen; MacArthur; and Sproul.
So, if you did not read that post, you might want to after you hear the sermon of this post.
Sermon Description [by MLJTrust]:
What do the trumpets in Revelation stand for? Why are they in the book?
How can their teaching be applied today?
In this sermon on the trumpets, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones teaches more about these symbols from the book of Revelation. He notes that the trumpets afflict only one-third of their objects. This is contrary to the seals of Revelation, which afflict things as a whole.
What do the trumpets represent? They represent what happens to those who persecute God’s people. Many times when people are punished for their sin, it is easy to think that it is all a coincidence, but Dr. Lloyd-Jones reminds the listener that these calamities in Revelation are sent by God Himself.
This is important to remember because it is a reminder that God will judge those who have afflicted His people. Just like the plagues of Egypt, the trumpets in Revelation serve as a warning that God sees the trouble of His people and will seek justice for them.
Finally, are these trumpets meant to be taken and understood literally? Dr. Lloyd-Jones shows why this is not the case and how to best interpret these symbols of Revelation.
Video-page link: https://www.youtube.com/@MLJTrust/videos
Playlist-page link: https://www.youtube.com/@MLJTrust/playlists
Great Biblical Doctrines playlist: • The Eternal Decrees of God (Remastered)
Sermon Breakdown [by MLJTrust]:
- The book of Revelation consists of 7 parallel visions revealing the history of the church from Christ’s first coming to his second coming.
- The book can be divided into two main sections: Chapters 1-11 depict the conflict between Christ/the church and men. Chapters 12-22 depict the conflict between Christ/the church and spiritual forces of evil.
- Chapters 1-3 show the different spiritual conditions of the church throughout history.
- Chapters 4-7 show God’s people encountering opposition from the world through the opening of the seals. The seals show that forces are arrayed against God’s people because they are God’s people.
- Chapters 8-11 (the trumpet series) show what happens to those who oppose God and persecute the church. The trumpets are warnings of judgment and punishment on the ungodly.
- The trumpet judgments only affect 1/3 of things, showing they are partial judgments, unlike the bowl judgments in Chapter 16 which affect everything.
- The trumpet series parallels the plagues on Egypt for oppressing God’s people. The plagues were warnings for Pharaoh to let God’s people go.
- The things that happen to the ungodly (calamities, natural disasters) are ordained by God as punishment for sin and persecution of the church.
- The 5th trumpet shows hell being unleashed on earth and restraints being removed. This has happened at times in history and is happening now. God allows greater evil to punish the world.
- The 6th trumpet shows terrible wars that wipe out masses of people. These wars are God’s punishment on the world.
- Despite the judgments of trumpets 1-6, men do not repent (9:20-21). Calamities do not convert people – only the Holy Spirit can do that.
- Chapters 10-11 show the church during this time. The little scroll is sweet but bitter, symbolizing the sweetness of the gospel leading to the bitterness of suffering and persecution.
- The two witnesses in Chapter 11 are the Old and New Testaments. They prophesy and are eventually killed, symbolizing the suppression of the Scriptures. But they come back to life, showing the Scriptures can never be destroyed.
- Chapter 11:15-19 shows the final judgment, as in the 6th seal. The nations are angry but face God’s wrath. The temple is opened and the ark is seen.