Fifth Trumpet Sounds - First Woe
Revelation
And the fifth angel sounded
and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth
and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.
And he opened the bottomless pit
and there arose a smoke out of the pit
as the smoke of a great furnace
and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.
And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth
and unto them was given power
as the scorpions of the earth have power.
And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth
neither any green thing
neither any tree
but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.
And to them it was given that they should not kill them
but that they should be tormented five months
and their torment was as the torment of a
scorpion, when he striketh a man.
And in those days shall men seek death and shall not find it
and shall desire to die
and death shall flee from them
And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle
and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold
and their faces were as the faces of men.
And they had hair as the hair of women
and their teeth were as the teeth of lions.
And they had breastplates,
as it were breastplates of iron
and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle.
And they had tails like unto scorpions,
and there were stings in their tails
and their power was to hurt men five months.
And they had a king over them,
which is the angel of the bottomless pit
whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon,
but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.
One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter.
*******
Excerpt taken from--
Daniel and the Revelation by Uriah Smith
Verse 1 And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.
The Fifth Trumpet.--For an exposition of this trumpet, we shall again draw from the writings of Alexander Keith. This writer says:
"There is scarcely so uniform an agreement among interpreters concerning any other part of the Apocalypse as respecting the application of the fifth and sixth trumpets, or the first and second woes, to the Saracens and the Turks. It is so obvious that it can scarcely be misunderstood. Instead of a verse or two designating each, the whole of the ninth chapter of the Revelation, equal portions, is occupied with a description of both.
"The Roman Empire declined, as it arose, by conquest; but the Saracens and the Turks were the instruments by which a false religion became the scourge of an apostate church; and hence, instead of the fifth and sixth trumpets, like the former, being marked by that name alone, they are called woes. . . .
"Constantinople was besieged for the first time after the extinction of the Western Empire by Chosroes [II], the king of Persia." [1]
The prophet said, "I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth; and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit."
The historian writes of this time:
"While the Persian monarch [Chosroes II] contemplated the wonders of his art and power, he received an epistle from an obscure citizen of Mecca, inviting him to acknowledge Mahomet as the apostle of God. He rejected the invitation, and tore the epsitle. 'It is thus,' exclaimed the Arabian prophet, 'that God will tear the kingdom, and reject the supplications of Chosroes.' Placed on the verge of the two great empires of the East, Mahomet observed with secret joy the progress of their mutual destruction; and in the midst of the Persian triumphs, he ventured to foretell, that before many years should elapse, victory should again return to the banners of the Romans. At the time when this prediction is said to have been delivered, no prophecy could be more distant from its accomplishment, since the first twelve years of Heraclius announced the approaching dissolution of the empire." [2]
It was not on a single spot that this star fell, as did the one that designated Attila, but upon the earth.
The provinces of the empire in Asia and Africa were subdued by Chosroes II, and "the Roman Empire was reduced to the walls of Constantinople, with the remnant of Greece, Italy, and Africa, and some maritime cities, from Tyre to Trebizond, of the Asiatic coast. . . . The experience of six years at length persuaded the Persian monarch to renounce the conquest of Constantinople, and to specify the annual tribute or ransom of the Roman Empire; a thousand talents of gold, a thousand talents of silver, a thousand silk robes, a thousand horses, and a thousand virgins. Heraclius subscribed these ignominious terms; but the time and space which he obtained to collect such treasures from the poverty of the East, was industriously employed in the preparation of a bold and desperate attack." [3]
"The king of Persia despised the obscure Saracen, and derided the message of the pretended prophet of Mecca. Even the overthrow of the Roman Empire would not have opened a door for Mahometanism, or for the progress of the Saracenic armed propagators of an imposture, though the monarch of the Persians and chagan of the Avars (the successor of Attila) had divided between them the remains of the kingdoms of the Caesars. Chosroes himself fell. The Persian and Roman monarchies exhausted each other's strength. And before a sword was put into the hands of the false prophet, it was smitten from the hands of those who would have checked his career and crushed his power." [4]
"Since the days of Scipio and Hannibal, no bolder enterprise has been attempted than that which Heraclius achieved for the deliverance of the empire. He . . . explored his perilous way through the Black Sea and the mountains of Armenia, penetrated into the heart of Persia, and recalled the armies of the great king to the defense of their bleeding country. . . .
"In the battle of Nineveh, which was fiercely fought from daybreak to the eleventh hour, twenty-eight standards, besides those which might be broken or torn, were taken from the Persians; the greatest part of their army was cut in pieces, and the victors, concealing their own loss, passed the night on the field. . . . The cities and palaces of Assyria were opened for the first time to the Romans." [5]
"The Roman emperor was not strengthened by the conquests which he achieved; and a way was prepared at the same time, and by the same means, for the multitudes of Saracens from Arabia, like locusts from the same region, who, propagating in their course the dark and delusive Mahometan creed, speedily overspread both the Persian and the Roman empires. More complete illustration of this fact could not be desired than is supplied in the concluding words of the chapter [from Gibbon], from which the preceding extracts are taken." [6]
"Although a victorious army had been formed under the standard of Heraclius, the unnatural effort appears to have exhausted rather than exercised their strength. While the emperor triumphed at Constantinople or Jerusalem, an obscure town on the confines of Syria was pillaged by the Saracens, and they cut in pieces some troops who advanced to its relief, an ordinary and trifling occurrence, had it not been the prelude of a mighty revolution. These robbers were the apostles of Mahomet; their fanatic valor had emerged from the desert; and in the last eight years of his reign, Heraclius lost to the Arabs the same provinces which he had rescued from the Persians." [7]
" 'The spirit of fraud and enthusiasm, whose abode is not in the heavens,' was let loose on earth. The bottomless pit needed but a key to open it, and that key was the fall of Chosroes. He had contemptuously torn the letter of an obscure citizen of Mecca. But when from his 'blaze of glory' he sunk into the 'tower of darkness' which no eye could penetrate, the name of Chosroes was suddenly to pass into oblivion before that of Mahomet; and the crescent seemed but to wait its rising till the falling of the star. Chosroes, after his entire discomfiture and loss of empire, was murdered in the year 628; and the year 629 is marked by 'the conquest of Arabia,' and 'the first war of the Mahometans against the Roman Empire.' 'And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. And he opened the bottomless pit.' He fell upon the earth. When the strength of the Roman Empire was exhausted, and the great king of the East lay dead in his tower of darkness, the pillage of an obscure town on the borders of Syria was 'the prelude of a mighty revolution.' 'The robbers were the apostles of Mahomet, and their fanatic valor emerged from the desert.' " [8]
The Bottomless Pit.--The meaning of this term may be learned from the Greek {GREEK CHARACTERS IN PRINTED TEXT}, abyssos, which is defined "deep, bottomless, profound," and may refer to any waste, desolate, and uncultivated place. It is applied to the earth in its original state of chaos. (Genesis 1: 2.) In this instance it may appropriately refer to the unknown wastes of the Arabian desert, from the borders of which issued the hordes of Saracens, like swarms of locusts. The fall of Chosroes II the Persian king may well be represented as the opening of the bottomless pit, inasmuch as it prepared the way for the followers of Mohammed to issue from their obscure country and propagate their delusive doctrines with fire and sword until they had spread their darkness over all the Eastern Empire.
Verse 2 And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.
"Like the noxious and even deadly vapors which the winds, particularly from the southwest, diffuse in Arabia, Mahometanism spread from hence its pestilential influence--arose as suddenly and spread as widely as smoke arising out of the pit, the smoke of a great furnace. Such is a suitable symbol of the religion of Mahomet, of itself, or as compared with the pure light of the gospel of Jesus. It was not, like the latter, a light from heaven, but a smoke out of the bottomless pit." [9]
Verse 3 And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.
"A false religion was set up, which, although the scourge of transgressions and idolatry, filled the world with darkness and delusion; and swarms of Saracens, like locusts, overspread the earth, and speedily extended their ravages over the Roman Empire from east to west. The hail descended from the frozen shores of the Baltic; the burning mountain fell upon the sea from Africa; and the locusts (the fit symbol of the Arabs) issued from Arabia, their native region. They came as destroyers, propagating a new doctrine, and stirred up to rapine and violence by motives of interest and religion." [10]
"A still more specific illustration may be given of the power like unto that of scorpions, which was given them. Not only was their attack speedy and vigorous, but 'the nice sensibility of honor, which weighs the insult rather than the injury, sheds its deadly venom on the quarrels of the Arabs; an indecent action, a contemptuous word, can be expiated only by the blood of the offender; and such is their patient inveteracy, that they expect whole months and years the opportunity of revenge.' " [11]
Verse 4 And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.
After the death of Mohammed, he was succeeded in the command by Abu-bekr in A.D. 632, who as soon as he had fairly established his authority and government gathered the Arabian tribes for conquest. When the army was assembled, he instructed his chiefs on methods of conquest:
"When you fight the battles of the Lord, acquit yourselves like men, without turning your backs; but let not your victory be stained with the blood of women and children. Destroy no palm-trees, nor burn any fields of corn. Cut down no fruit-trees, nor do any mischief to cattle, only such as you kill to eat. When you make any covenant, or article, stand to it, and be as good as your word. As you go on, you will find some religious persons who live retired in monasteries, and propose to themselves to serve God that way; let them alone, and neither kill them nor destroy their monasteries: and you will find another sort of people that belong to the synagogue of Satan, who have shaven crowns; be sure you cleave their skulls, and give them no quarter till they either turn Mahometans or pay 'tribute.' " [12]
"It is not said in prophecy or in history that the more humane injunctions were as scrupulously obeyed as the ferocious mandate; but it so commanded them. And the preceding are the only instructions recorded by Gibbon, and given by Abubeker to the chiefs whose duty it was to issue the commands to all the Saracen hosts. The commands are alike discriminating with the prediction, as if the caliph himself had been acting in known as well as direct obedience to a higher mandate than that of mortal man; and in the very act of going forth to fight against the religion of Jesus, and to propagate Mahometanism in its stead, he repeated the words which it was foretold in the Revelation of Jesus Christ that he would say." [13]
Seal of God in Their Foreheads.--In remarks upon Revelation 7: 1-3, we have shown that the seal of God is the Sabbath of the fourth commandment. History is not silent upon the fact that there have been observers of the true seventh-day Sabbath all through the gospel age. But the question has here arisen with many, Who were those men who at this time had the seal of God in their foreheads, and who thereby became exempt from Mohammedan oppression? Let the reader bear in mind the fact already alluded to, that there have been those all through the Christian Era who have had the seal of God in their foreheads, that is, have been intelligent observers of the true Sabbath. Let him consider further that what the prophecy asserts is that the attacks of this desolating Turkish power are not directed against them, but against another class. The subject is thus freed from all difficulty, for this is all that the prophecy really asserts. One class of person is directly brought to view in the text, namely, those who have not the seal of God in their foreheads. The preservation of those who have the seal of God is brought in only by implication. accordingly, we do not learn from history that any of these were involved in any of the calamities inflicted by the Saracens upon the objects of their hate. They were commissioned against another class of men. The destruction to come upon this class is not put in contrast with the preservation of other men, but only with that of the fruits and verdure of the earth; thus, Hurt not the grass, trees, nor any green thing, but only a certain class of men. In fulfillment, we have the strange spectacle of an army of invaders sparing those things which such armies usually destroy, the face and productions of nature. In pursuance of their permission to hurt those men who had not the seal of God in their foreheads, they cleaved the skulls of a class of religionists with shaven crowns, who belonged to the synagogue of Satan. It would seem that these were monks, or some other order of the Roman Catholic Church.
Verse 5 And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man.
"Their constant incursions into the Roman territory, and frequent assaults on Constantinople itself, were an unceasing torment throughout the empire, which yet they were not able effectually to subdue, notwithstanding the long period, afterward more directly alluded to, during which they continued, by unremitting attacks, grievously to afflict an idolatrous church, of which the pope was the head. . . . Their charge was to torment, and then to hurt, but not to kill, or utterly destroy. The marvel was that they did not." [14] (In reference to the five months, see comments on verse 10.)
Verse 6 And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.
"Men were weary of life, when life was spared only for a renewal of woe, and when all that they accounted sacred was violated, and all they held dear constantly endangered; and when the savage Saracens domineered over them, or left them only to a momentary repose, ever liable to be suddenly or violently interrupted, as if by the sting of a scorpion." [15]
Verse 7 And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men.
"The Arabian horse takes the lead throughout the world; and skill in horsemanship is the art and science of Arabia. And the barbed Arabs, swift as locusts and armed like scorpions, ready to dart away in a moment, were ever prepared unto battle.
" 'And on their heads were as it were crowns like gold.' When Mahomet entered Medina (A.D. 622), and was first received as its prince, 'a turban was unfurled before him to supply the deficiency of a standard.' The turbans of the Saracens, like unto a coronet, were their ornament and their boast. The rich booty abundantly supplied and frequently renewed them. To assume the turban is proverbially to turn Mussulman. And the Arabs were anciently distinguished by the miters which they wore." [16]
"And their faces were as the faces of men." "The gravity and firmness of the mind [of the Arab] is conspicuous in his outward demeanor; . . . his only gesture is that of stroking his beard, the venerable symbol of manhood. . . . The honor . . . of their beards is most easily wounded." [17]
Verse 8 And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions.
"Long hair is esteemed an ornament by women. The Arabs, unlike to other men, had their hair as the hair of women, or uncut, as their practice is recorded by Pliny and others. But there was nothing effeminate in their character; for, as denoting their ferocity and strength to devour, their teeth were as the teeth of lions." [18]
Verse 9 And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle.
"The cuirass (or breastplate) was in use among the Arabs in the days of Mahomet. In the battle of Ohud (the second which Mahomet fought) with the Koreish of Mecca (A.D. 624), 'seven hundred of them were armed with cuirasses.' " [19]
" 'The charge of the Arabs was not, like that of the Greeks and Romans, the efforts of a firm and compact infantry; their military force was chiefly formed of cavalry and archers.' . . . With a touch of the hand, the Arab horses dart away with the swiftness of the wind. 'The sound of their wings was as the sound of many horses running to battle.' Their conquests were marvelous both in rapidity and extent, and their attack was instantaneous. Nor was it less successful against the Romans than the Persians." [20]
Verse 10 And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months. 11 And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.
"To Hurt Men Five Months."--The question arises, What men were they to hurt five months?--Undoubtedly the same they were afterward to slay (see verse 15), "the third part of men," or third of the Roman Empire--the Greek division of it.
When were they to begin their work of torment? The eleventh verse answers the question.
"They had a king over them." From the death of Mohammed until near the close of the thirteenth century, the Mohammedans were divided into various factions under several leaders, with no general civil government extending over them all. Near the close of the thirteenth century, Othman founded a government which has since been known as the Ottoman government, or empire, which grew until it extended over all the principal Mohammedan tribes, consolidating them into one grand monarchy.
Their king is called "the angel of the bottomless pit." An angel signifies a messenger, a minister, either good or bad, and not always a spiritual being. "The angel of the bottomless pit" would be the chief minister of the religion which came from thence when it was opened. That religion is Mohammedanism, and the sultan was its chief minister.
His name in the Hebrew tongue is "Abaddon," the destroyer; in Greek, "Apollyon," one that exterminates, or destroys. Having two different names in two languages, it is evident that the character rather than the name of the power is intended to be represented. If so, as expressed in both languages, he is a destroyer. Such has always been the character of the Ottoman government.
But when did Othman make his first assault on the Greek empire?-- According to Gibbon "it was on the twenty-seventh of July, in the year twelve hundred and ninety-nine of the Christian Era, that Othman first invaded the territory of Nicomaedia; and the singular accuracy of the date seems to disclose some foresight of the rapid and destructive growth of the monster." [21]
Von Hammer, the German historian of Turkey, and other authorities have placed this event in 1301. But to what date do the historic sources of this period testify? Pachymeres was a church and state historian, born at Nicaea, which was in the vicinity of the Ottoman invasion; and he wrote his history during this very period. He concluded his work about 1307, so he was a contemporary of Othman.
Possinus, in 1669, worked out a complete chronology of Pachymeres' history, giving the dates for the eclipses of the moon and the sun, as well as other events, recorded by Pachymeres in his work. Concerning the date 1299 Possinus says:
"Now it is our task to give the exact and fundamental epoch of the Ottoman Empire. This we shall try to effect by a thoroughgoing comparison of the dates given by Arab chronologists and the testimony of our Pachymeres. This last- mentioned author reports in the fourth book of this second part, chapter 25, that Atman [Greek name for Othman] grew strong by taking the command over a very strong band of bold and energetic warriors from Paphlagonia. When Muzalo, the Roman army commander, attempted to block his progress, he defeated him in a battle near Nicomedia, the capital of Bithynia. This city the lord of the battlefield henceforth kept as if it were besieged. Now, Pachymeres is very explicit in stating that these events took place in the immediate vicinity of Bapheum, not far from Nicomedia, on the 27th day of July. The year, we asseverate [affirm] in our synopsis, comparing carefully the events to have been of our Lord 1299." [22]
The synopsis to which Possinus refers gives the date of the uniting of these Paphlagonians with Othman's forces, which took place on July 27, as 1299 of the Christian Era, fifth year of Pope Boniface VIII, and the sixth year of Michael Palaeologus. The statement is as follows:
"Atman [Othman], the strap of the Persians, called also Ottomanes, the founder of the still reigning dynasty of the Turcs, grew strong by joining to himself a great number of fierce bandits from Paphlagonia." [23]
The Paphlagonians under the sons of Amurius joined Othman in this attack of July 27, so that Possinus gives the date for this event twice as 1299.
Gregoras, also a contemporary of Othman, supports Gibbon and Pachymeres in establishing the date 1299 in his account of the division of Anatolia. This division among ten Turkish emirs took place in 1300, as supported by reliable historians. Gregoras states that in the division of Bithynia, indicating that Othman had already fought the battle of Bapheum, and had conquered certain parts of this eastern Roman-Greek territory.
"The calculations of some writers have gone upon the supposition that the period should begin with the foundation of the Ottoman Empire; but this is evidently an error; for they not only were to have a king over them, but were to torment men five months. But the period of torment could not begin before the first attack of the tormentors, which was, as above [stated], July 27, 1299." [24]
The calculation which follows, founded on this starting point, was made and first published in a work entitled, Christ's Second Coming, by Josiah Litch, in 1838.
" 'And their power was to hurt men five months.' Thus far their commission extended, to torment by constant depredations, but not politically to kill them. 'Five months' [thirty days to a month, one hundred and fifty days], that is, one hundred and fifty years. Commencing July 27, 1299, the one hundred and fifty years reach to 1449. During that whole period the Turks were engaged in an almost perpetual war with the Greek Empire, but yet without conquering it. They seized upon and held several of the Greek provinces, but still Greek independence was maintained in Constantinople. But in 1449, the termination of the one hundred and fifty years, a change came," [25] the history of which will be found under the succeeding trumpet.
May God Bless and keep us as we continue to delve into the book of Revelation using the historians of the past to open our eyes to the truth of His words and the unfolding plan for our lives.
In Jesus, now and forever by His grace and mercy, in His love.
Amen
9/16/10
Heb 7:1 For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;
Heb 7:2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;
Heb 7:3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.
Heb 7:4 Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.
Melchisedec- God's High Priest. A man of mystery- made LIKE unto the Son of God. He wasn't the Son of God, He did not have a birth as Jesus had a birth- born of the Spirit-God become man. Melchisedec was not a God. But he was like the Son of God. Where is says 'without father without mother' we know that Jesus had a mother, that Jesus was born of a woman. Melchisedec's birth was unknown. Perhaps like any child abandoned in secret and found, raised by others, the parents are unknown- the origins of that child are unknown. Melchisdec could have been abandoned as a child. It's not unheard of and we really don't know. With no history- no descent- a person's heritage is completely unknown. We can guess at certain parts by the color of skin, the color of hair, and physical features but even those aren't perfect indicators. God chose Melchisedec to be His High Priest- a personal High Priest on earth not appointed by any man, but appointed by God Himself before the Levitical Priesthood institution was in place. When they say he had neither beginning of days nor end of life- again these are things that can't be verified all the time- this does not make Melchisedec a Son of God, it makes Him a Priest of God, a priest that abides continually. This was a great man and we are to consider how great-- so great that Abraham- promised of God- honored this man. He didn't honor Him as if he were God, but from God. God deserves a 10th of all we own, Abraham as God's chosen respected that Melchisdec was God's chosen High Priest and gave him a 10th of all the spoils he'd gained from the slaughter of the kings.
Chosen of God.
Heb 6:20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
God's High Priest!
It's important for us to know this, it really is. We have to understand that our Savior is a High Priest appointed so by His Father, appointed by God. It's necessary for us to consider the High Priest's role in God's plan. A High Priest is necessary. At first each man was a priest to himself, for his family offering sacrifices to God for their sins and the sins of their family. God's plan for the future involved High Priests above the priest role. God appointed the High Priests to offer sacrifices for the priests and for all, answerable only to God Himself. The Levitical system formalized this plan of God's, and all of it pointed towards the Innocent Lamb of God- God's Son who alone could offer a PERFECT sacrifice. Is it no wonder we have to recognize our Savior as our High Priest before God, appointed by God?
We don't live in a time and haven't lived in a time without God's ultimate Sacrifice for over 2000 years. We've gone far away from the idea of having a priest, or a high priest offering animal sacrifices so that our sins can be forgiven. The priest NEVER forgave sin, God forgave sins as the blood was offered by the priests. No man can forgive sin against God, only God can forgive that sin and the only acceptable sacrifice is His Son's perfection, His Son's sacrifice. We can try all we want to obtain forgiveness through rituals if that's what we want to do, but no ritual will give us that forgiveness, only Christ Himself can give us that forgiveness. We have to confess to Him, we have to repent of our sins, we have to seek forgiveness through HIM and no other. But to believe we don't have to confess to Him, to believe we can have forgiveness merely through knowing He exists, to believe we have forgiveness without repentance and confession is a fallacy that we need to understand. That repentance can't be found through another. Even though we like to believe that there is no priestly services involved in anything any more, it's not true. Heaven has a temple, our High Priest is in that temple, God's sacrificial system moved from type on earth to reality in heaven and we need to know this.
By the grace of God we will understand more and more of all we need to understand by His will. Our hope is in Christ and Christ alone. Our Savior is our only hope and our belief in our Savior is that hope. We must believe that He is.
Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Let us have faith!
By His love now and forever!
Amen.
9/16/11
The first trumpet...
The
First Trumpet Sounds
Revelation
So
far in our study we have seen that the Seven Churches and the Seven Seals all
follow a sort of parallel journey. We need to study the seven trumpets in the
same light to keep consistent.
Before
the Seven Angels with their trumpets sounded we were given a very solemn scene
in heaven where there was silence and then the prayers of the saints in smoke
from incense was sent up before God. The censer fire was then tossed to the
earth drawing our attention once more back to the earthly and out of the
heavenly.
We
know factually that with these goings on representing history that we are being
pointed to an eventual time when we will all be sealed and Christ will return
for us. That same conclusion must be drawn in the seven trumpets as well.
Because
history has played a key part in the others and the angels are sounding their
trumpets from heaven not leaving heaven just as the angels to the churches
revealed, and the seals were loosed in heaven, lets see if history doesn't
coincide in some manner with the seven angels trumpets sounding.
The
trumpets announce things- some good, some bad. They call to battle, they call
to feasts, and even as they call to those things they are announcing them are
they not?
Can
it be that the announcing these trumpets represent are showing battle scenes?
Let's
go to history and see if there isn't a time such as this would describe-
political struggles, wars.
Please
note- greater minds than mine have studied diligently to produce the facts
related here. In fact many great minds have studied this and the consensus
seems to be that it 'fits'. So if I point you to a number of things that I
haven't personally dug up in the sense that I've become a historian overnight,
please understand that I still believe what is being said based on the facts
that history reveals so much and God will guide us as He needs to.
In
the Seven Seals we were shown a parallel history with the Seven Churches that
for the most part aligned with each other to review the Christian era throughout
time- God's people throughout time. The Seven Trumpets seem to take on a
different point of view and tell the history of the political structure through
time.
Rev
8:7 The first angel sounded, and
there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the
earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt
up.
Taken
from the book Daniel and Revelation by Uriah Smith-
'The
First Trumpet.--The blast of the first trumpet has it location about the close
of the fourth century and onward, and refers to these desolating invasions of
the Roman Empire under the Goths.'
'Alexander
Keith has justly remarked on the subject of this prophecy:
"None
could elucidate the texts more clearly, or expound them more fully, than the
task has been accomplished by Gibbon. The chapters of the skeptical philosopher
that treat directly of the matter, need but a text to be prefixed and a few
unholy words to be blotted out, to form a series of expository lectures on the
eighth and ninth chapters of the Revelation of Jesus Christ." [1] "Little or
nothing is left for the professed interpreter to do but to point to the pages of
Gibbon." [2]
The
first sore and heavy judgment which fell on Western Rome in its downward
course, was the war with the Goths under Alaric, who opened the way for later
inroads. The death of Theodosius the Roman emperor, occurred in January, A.D.
395, and before the end of the winter the Goths under Alaric were in arms
against the empire.
The
first invasion under Alaric ravaged the Eastern Empire. He captured the famous
cities and enslaved many of the inhabitants. Thrace, Macedonia, Attica, and the
Peloponnesus, were conquered, but he did not reach the city of Rome. Later, the
Gothic chieftain crossed the Alps and Apennines and appeared before the walls
of the Eternal City, which fell a prey to the fury of the barbarians in A.D.
410.
"Hail
and fire mingled with blood!" were cast upon the earth. The terrible effects of
this Gothic invasion are represented as "hail," from the northern origin of the
invaders; "fire," from the destruction by flame of both city and country; and
"blood," from the terrible slaughter of the citizens of the empire by the bold
and intrepid warriors.
After
quoting at some length from Edward Gibbon's History of the Decline and Fall of
the Roman Empire, Chapters XXX-XXXIII, concerning the conquests of the Goths,
Alexander Keith has presented an admirable summary of the historian's words
emphasizing the fulfillment of prophecy:
"Large
extracts clearly show how amply and well Gibbon has expounded his text in the
history of the first trumpet, the first storm that pervaded the Roman earth,
and the first fall of Rome. To use his words in more direct comment, we read
thus the sum of the matter: The Gothic nation was in arms at the first sound of
the trumpet, and in the uncommon severity of the winter, they rolled their
ponderous wagons over the broad and icy back of the river. The fertile fields
of Phocis and Boeotia were crowned [sic] with a deluge of barbarians: the males
were massacred; the females and cattle of the flaming villages were driven
away. The deep and bloody traces of the march of the Goths could easily be
discovered after several years. The whole territory of Attica was blasted by
the baneful presence of Alaric. The most fortunate of the inhabitants of
Corinth, Argos, and Sparta were saved by death from beholding the conflagration
of their cities. In a season of such extreme heat that the beds of the rivers
were dry, Alaric invaded the dominion of the West. A secluded 'old man of
Verona' [the poet Claudian], pathetically lamented the fate of his contemporary
trees, which must blaze in the conflagration of the whole country [ note the
words of the prophecy,--'The third part of the trees was burned up']; and the
emperor of the Romans fled before the king of the Goths.
"A
furious tempest was excited among the nations of Germany; from the northern
extremity of which the barbarians marched almost to the gates of Rome. They
achieved the destruction of the West. The dark cloud which was collected along
the coasts of the Baltic, burst in thunder upon the banks of the upper Danube.
The pastures of Gaul, in which flocks and herds grazed, and the banks of the
Rhine, which were covered with elegant houses and well-cultivated farms, formed
a scene of peace and plenty, which was suddenly changed into a desert,
distinguished from the solitude of nature only be smoking ruins. Many cities
were cruelly oppressed, or destroyed. Many thousands were inhumanly massacred.
The consuming flames of war spread over the greatest part of the seventeen
provinces of Gaul.
"Alaric
again stretched his ravages over Italy. During four years the Goths ravaged and
reigned over it without control. And in the pillage and fire of Rome, the
streets of the city were filled with dead bodies; the flames consumed many
public and private buildings; and the ruins of a palace remained, after a
century and a half, a stately monument of the Gothic conflagration." [3]
After
making this summary, Keith completes the picture by saying:
"The
concluding sentence of the thirty-third chapter of Gibbon's History is of
itself a clear and comprehensive commentary; for in winding up his own
description of this brief but most eventful period, he concentrates, as in a
parallel reading, the sum of the history and the substance of the prediction.
But the words which precede it are not without their meaning: 'The public
devotion of the age was impatient to exalt the saints and martyrs of the
Catholic Church on the altars of Diana and Hercules. The union of the Roman
empire was dissolved; its genius was humbled in the dust; and armies of unknown
barbarians, issued from the frozen regions of the North, had established their
victorious reign over the fairest provinces of Europe and Africa.'
"The
last word--Africa--is the signal for the sounding of the second trumpet. The
scene changes from the shores of the Baltic to the southern coast of the
Mediterranean, or from the frozen regions of the North to the borders of
burning Africa. And instead of a storm of hail being cast upon the earth, a
burning mountain was cast into the sea." [4]
[1]
Alexander Keith, Signs of the Times, Vol. I, p. 241.
[2]
Ibid.
[3]
Ibid., pp. 251-253.
[4]
Ibid., p. 253.
*******
History
by a renown scholar uncontested
by others for it's factual content.
*******
I'm
no Bible scholar and certainly no historian, but I'm able to see when things
seem to fit.
I
could conclude that I'll never understand prophecy and stop looking, stop
studying, stop reading, but I'm not going to do that. I'm going to continue to
pray and hope that the Lord will guide me to all the truth I need to know so
that I may be His when He returns. If, as some suppose, these prophecies have
nothing to do with history, time will tell that too but for now as the pieces
of the puzzle seem to be falling into place we have to trust that we are being
guided in the right direction.
May
the Lord bless and keep us in Him now and forever, may the Holy Spirit sent to
guide us and keep us in truth do so now and forever, by the mercy and the grace
of Jesus Chirst, our Lord and Savior.
Amen.
And the fifth angel sounded
and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth
and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.
And he opened the bottomless pit
and there arose a smoke out of the pit
as the smoke of a great furnace
and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.
And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth
and unto them was given power
as the scorpions of the earth have power.
And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth
neither any green thing
neither any tree
but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.
And to them it was given that they should not kill them
but that they should be tormented five months
and their torment was as the torment of a
scorpion, when he striketh a man.
And in those days shall men seek death and shall not find it
and shall desire to die
and death shall flee from them
And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle
and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold
and their faces were as the faces of men.
And they had hair as the hair of women
and their teeth were as the teeth of lions.
And they had breastplates,
as it were breastplates of iron
and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle.
And they had tails like unto scorpions,
and there were stings in their tails
and their power was to hurt men five months.
And they had a king over them,
which is the angel of the bottomless pit
whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon,
but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.
One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter.
*******
Excerpt taken from--
Daniel and the Revelation by Uriah Smith
Verse 1 And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.
The Fifth Trumpet.--For an exposition of this trumpet, we shall again draw from the writings of Alexander Keith. This writer says:
"There is scarcely so uniform an agreement among interpreters concerning any other part of the Apocalypse as respecting the application of the fifth and sixth trumpets, or the first and second woes, to the Saracens and the Turks. It is so obvious that it can scarcely be misunderstood. Instead of a verse or two designating each, the whole of the ninth chapter of the Revelation, equal portions, is occupied with a description of both.
"The Roman Empire declined, as it arose, by conquest; but the Saracens and the Turks were the instruments by which a false religion became the scourge of an apostate church; and hence, instead of the fifth and sixth trumpets, like the former, being marked by that name alone, they are called woes. . . .
"Constantinople was besieged for the first time after the extinction of the Western Empire by Chosroes [II], the king of Persia." [1]
The prophet said, "I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth; and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit."
The historian writes of this time:
"While the Persian monarch [Chosroes II] contemplated the wonders of his art and power, he received an epistle from an obscure citizen of Mecca, inviting him to acknowledge Mahomet as the apostle of God. He rejected the invitation, and tore the epsitle. 'It is thus,' exclaimed the Arabian prophet, 'that God will tear the kingdom, and reject the supplications of Chosroes.' Placed on the verge of the two great empires of the East, Mahomet observed with secret joy the progress of their mutual destruction; and in the midst of the Persian triumphs, he ventured to foretell, that before many years should elapse, victory should again return to the banners of the Romans. At the time when this prediction is said to have been delivered, no prophecy could be more distant from its accomplishment, since the first twelve years of Heraclius announced the approaching dissolution of the empire." [2]
It was not on a single spot that this star fell, as did the one that designated Attila, but upon the earth.
The provinces of the empire in Asia and Africa were subdued by Chosroes II, and "the Roman Empire was reduced to the walls of Constantinople, with the remnant of Greece, Italy, and Africa, and some maritime cities, from Tyre to Trebizond, of the Asiatic coast. . . . The experience of six years at length persuaded the Persian monarch to renounce the conquest of Constantinople, and to specify the annual tribute or ransom of the Roman Empire; a thousand talents of gold, a thousand talents of silver, a thousand silk robes, a thousand horses, and a thousand virgins. Heraclius subscribed these ignominious terms; but the time and space which he obtained to collect such treasures from the poverty of the East, was industriously employed in the preparation of a bold and desperate attack." [3]
"The king of Persia despised the obscure Saracen, and derided the message of the pretended prophet of Mecca. Even the overthrow of the Roman Empire would not have opened a door for Mahometanism, or for the progress of the Saracenic armed propagators of an imposture, though the monarch of the Persians and chagan of the Avars (the successor of Attila) had divided between them the remains of the kingdoms of the Caesars. Chosroes himself fell. The Persian and Roman monarchies exhausted each other's strength. And before a sword was put into the hands of the false prophet, it was smitten from the hands of those who would have checked his career and crushed his power." [4]
"Since the days of Scipio and Hannibal, no bolder enterprise has been attempted than that which Heraclius achieved for the deliverance of the empire. He . . . explored his perilous way through the Black Sea and the mountains of Armenia, penetrated into the heart of Persia, and recalled the armies of the great king to the defense of their bleeding country. . . .
"In the battle of Nineveh, which was fiercely fought from daybreak to the eleventh hour, twenty-eight standards, besides those which might be broken or torn, were taken from the Persians; the greatest part of their army was cut in pieces, and the victors, concealing their own loss, passed the night on the field. . . . The cities and palaces of Assyria were opened for the first time to the Romans." [5]
"The Roman emperor was not strengthened by the conquests which he achieved; and a way was prepared at the same time, and by the same means, for the multitudes of Saracens from Arabia, like locusts from the same region, who, propagating in their course the dark and delusive Mahometan creed, speedily overspread both the Persian and the Roman empires. More complete illustration of this fact could not be desired than is supplied in the concluding words of the chapter [from Gibbon], from which the preceding extracts are taken." [6]
"Although a victorious army had been formed under the standard of Heraclius, the unnatural effort appears to have exhausted rather than exercised their strength. While the emperor triumphed at Constantinople or Jerusalem, an obscure town on the confines of Syria was pillaged by the Saracens, and they cut in pieces some troops who advanced to its relief, an ordinary and trifling occurrence, had it not been the prelude of a mighty revolution. These robbers were the apostles of Mahomet; their fanatic valor had emerged from the desert; and in the last eight years of his reign, Heraclius lost to the Arabs the same provinces which he had rescued from the Persians." [7]
" 'The spirit of fraud and enthusiasm, whose abode is not in the heavens,' was let loose on earth. The bottomless pit needed but a key to open it, and that key was the fall of Chosroes. He had contemptuously torn the letter of an obscure citizen of Mecca. But when from his 'blaze of glory' he sunk into the 'tower of darkness' which no eye could penetrate, the name of Chosroes was suddenly to pass into oblivion before that of Mahomet; and the crescent seemed but to wait its rising till the falling of the star. Chosroes, after his entire discomfiture and loss of empire, was murdered in the year 628; and the year 629 is marked by 'the conquest of Arabia,' and 'the first war of the Mahometans against the Roman Empire.' 'And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. And he opened the bottomless pit.' He fell upon the earth. When the strength of the Roman Empire was exhausted, and the great king of the East lay dead in his tower of darkness, the pillage of an obscure town on the borders of Syria was 'the prelude of a mighty revolution.' 'The robbers were the apostles of Mahomet, and their fanatic valor emerged from the desert.' " [8]
The Bottomless Pit.--The meaning of this term may be learned from the Greek {GREEK CHARACTERS IN PRINTED TEXT}, abyssos, which is defined "deep, bottomless, profound," and may refer to any waste, desolate, and uncultivated place. It is applied to the earth in its original state of chaos. (Genesis 1: 2.) In this instance it may appropriately refer to the unknown wastes of the Arabian desert, from the borders of which issued the hordes of Saracens, like swarms of locusts. The fall of Chosroes II the Persian king may well be represented as the opening of the bottomless pit, inasmuch as it prepared the way for the followers of Mohammed to issue from their obscure country and propagate their delusive doctrines with fire and sword until they had spread their darkness over all the Eastern Empire.
Verse 2 And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.
"Like the noxious and even deadly vapors which the winds, particularly from the southwest, diffuse in Arabia, Mahometanism spread from hence its pestilential influence--arose as suddenly and spread as widely as smoke arising out of the pit, the smoke of a great furnace. Such is a suitable symbol of the religion of Mahomet, of itself, or as compared with the pure light of the gospel of Jesus. It was not, like the latter, a light from heaven, but a smoke out of the bottomless pit." [9]
Verse 3 And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.
"A false religion was set up, which, although the scourge of transgressions and idolatry, filled the world with darkness and delusion; and swarms of Saracens, like locusts, overspread the earth, and speedily extended their ravages over the Roman Empire from east to west. The hail descended from the frozen shores of the Baltic; the burning mountain fell upon the sea from Africa; and the locusts (the fit symbol of the Arabs) issued from Arabia, their native region. They came as destroyers, propagating a new doctrine, and stirred up to rapine and violence by motives of interest and religion." [10]
"A still more specific illustration may be given of the power like unto that of scorpions, which was given them. Not only was their attack speedy and vigorous, but 'the nice sensibility of honor, which weighs the insult rather than the injury, sheds its deadly venom on the quarrels of the Arabs; an indecent action, a contemptuous word, can be expiated only by the blood of the offender; and such is their patient inveteracy, that they expect whole months and years the opportunity of revenge.' " [11]
Verse 4 And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.
After the death of Mohammed, he was succeeded in the command by Abu-bekr in A.D. 632, who as soon as he had fairly established his authority and government gathered the Arabian tribes for conquest. When the army was assembled, he instructed his chiefs on methods of conquest:
"When you fight the battles of the Lord, acquit yourselves like men, without turning your backs; but let not your victory be stained with the blood of women and children. Destroy no palm-trees, nor burn any fields of corn. Cut down no fruit-trees, nor do any mischief to cattle, only such as you kill to eat. When you make any covenant, or article, stand to it, and be as good as your word. As you go on, you will find some religious persons who live retired in monasteries, and propose to themselves to serve God that way; let them alone, and neither kill them nor destroy their monasteries: and you will find another sort of people that belong to the synagogue of Satan, who have shaven crowns; be sure you cleave their skulls, and give them no quarter till they either turn Mahometans or pay 'tribute.' " [12]
"It is not said in prophecy or in history that the more humane injunctions were as scrupulously obeyed as the ferocious mandate; but it so commanded them. And the preceding are the only instructions recorded by Gibbon, and given by Abubeker to the chiefs whose duty it was to issue the commands to all the Saracen hosts. The commands are alike discriminating with the prediction, as if the caliph himself had been acting in known as well as direct obedience to a higher mandate than that of mortal man; and in the very act of going forth to fight against the religion of Jesus, and to propagate Mahometanism in its stead, he repeated the words which it was foretold in the Revelation of Jesus Christ that he would say." [13]
Seal of God in Their Foreheads.--In remarks upon Revelation 7: 1-3, we have shown that the seal of God is the Sabbath of the fourth commandment. History is not silent upon the fact that there have been observers of the true seventh-day Sabbath all through the gospel age. But the question has here arisen with many, Who were those men who at this time had the seal of God in their foreheads, and who thereby became exempt from Mohammedan oppression? Let the reader bear in mind the fact already alluded to, that there have been those all through the Christian Era who have had the seal of God in their foreheads, that is, have been intelligent observers of the true Sabbath. Let him consider further that what the prophecy asserts is that the attacks of this desolating Turkish power are not directed against them, but against another class. The subject is thus freed from all difficulty, for this is all that the prophecy really asserts. One class of person is directly brought to view in the text, namely, those who have not the seal of God in their foreheads. The preservation of those who have the seal of God is brought in only by implication. accordingly, we do not learn from history that any of these were involved in any of the calamities inflicted by the Saracens upon the objects of their hate. They were commissioned against another class of men. The destruction to come upon this class is not put in contrast with the preservation of other men, but only with that of the fruits and verdure of the earth; thus, Hurt not the grass, trees, nor any green thing, but only a certain class of men. In fulfillment, we have the strange spectacle of an army of invaders sparing those things which such armies usually destroy, the face and productions of nature. In pursuance of their permission to hurt those men who had not the seal of God in their foreheads, they cleaved the skulls of a class of religionists with shaven crowns, who belonged to the synagogue of Satan. It would seem that these were monks, or some other order of the Roman Catholic Church.
Verse 5 And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man.
"Their constant incursions into the Roman territory, and frequent assaults on Constantinople itself, were an unceasing torment throughout the empire, which yet they were not able effectually to subdue, notwithstanding the long period, afterward more directly alluded to, during which they continued, by unremitting attacks, grievously to afflict an idolatrous church, of which the pope was the head. . . . Their charge was to torment, and then to hurt, but not to kill, or utterly destroy. The marvel was that they did not." [14] (In reference to the five months, see comments on verse 10.)
Verse 6 And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.
"Men were weary of life, when life was spared only for a renewal of woe, and when all that they accounted sacred was violated, and all they held dear constantly endangered; and when the savage Saracens domineered over them, or left them only to a momentary repose, ever liable to be suddenly or violently interrupted, as if by the sting of a scorpion." [15]
Verse 7 And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men.
"The Arabian horse takes the lead throughout the world; and skill in horsemanship is the art and science of Arabia. And the barbed Arabs, swift as locusts and armed like scorpions, ready to dart away in a moment, were ever prepared unto battle.
" 'And on their heads were as it were crowns like gold.' When Mahomet entered Medina (A.D. 622), and was first received as its prince, 'a turban was unfurled before him to supply the deficiency of a standard.' The turbans of the Saracens, like unto a coronet, were their ornament and their boast. The rich booty abundantly supplied and frequently renewed them. To assume the turban is proverbially to turn Mussulman. And the Arabs were anciently distinguished by the miters which they wore." [16]
"And their faces were as the faces of men." "The gravity and firmness of the mind [of the Arab] is conspicuous in his outward demeanor; . . . his only gesture is that of stroking his beard, the venerable symbol of manhood. . . . The honor . . . of their beards is most easily wounded." [17]
Verse 8 And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions.
"Long hair is esteemed an ornament by women. The Arabs, unlike to other men, had their hair as the hair of women, or uncut, as their practice is recorded by Pliny and others. But there was nothing effeminate in their character; for, as denoting their ferocity and strength to devour, their teeth were as the teeth of lions." [18]
Verse 9 And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle.
"The cuirass (or breastplate) was in use among the Arabs in the days of Mahomet. In the battle of Ohud (the second which Mahomet fought) with the Koreish of Mecca (A.D. 624), 'seven hundred of them were armed with cuirasses.' " [19]
" 'The charge of the Arabs was not, like that of the Greeks and Romans, the efforts of a firm and compact infantry; their military force was chiefly formed of cavalry and archers.' . . . With a touch of the hand, the Arab horses dart away with the swiftness of the wind. 'The sound of their wings was as the sound of many horses running to battle.' Their conquests were marvelous both in rapidity and extent, and their attack was instantaneous. Nor was it less successful against the Romans than the Persians." [20]
Verse 10 And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months. 11 And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.
"To Hurt Men Five Months."--The question arises, What men were they to hurt five months?--Undoubtedly the same they were afterward to slay (see verse 15), "the third part of men," or third of the Roman Empire--the Greek division of it.
When were they to begin their work of torment? The eleventh verse answers the question.
"They had a king over them." From the death of Mohammed until near the close of the thirteenth century, the Mohammedans were divided into various factions under several leaders, with no general civil government extending over them all. Near the close of the thirteenth century, Othman founded a government which has since been known as the Ottoman government, or empire, which grew until it extended over all the principal Mohammedan tribes, consolidating them into one grand monarchy.
Their king is called "the angel of the bottomless pit." An angel signifies a messenger, a minister, either good or bad, and not always a spiritual being. "The angel of the bottomless pit" would be the chief minister of the religion which came from thence when it was opened. That religion is Mohammedanism, and the sultan was its chief minister.
His name in the Hebrew tongue is "Abaddon," the destroyer; in Greek, "Apollyon," one that exterminates, or destroys. Having two different names in two languages, it is evident that the character rather than the name of the power is intended to be represented. If so, as expressed in both languages, he is a destroyer. Such has always been the character of the Ottoman government.
But when did Othman make his first assault on the Greek empire?-- According to Gibbon "it was on the twenty-seventh of July, in the year twelve hundred and ninety-nine of the Christian Era, that Othman first invaded the territory of Nicomaedia; and the singular accuracy of the date seems to disclose some foresight of the rapid and destructive growth of the monster." [21]
Von Hammer, the German historian of Turkey, and other authorities have placed this event in 1301. But to what date do the historic sources of this period testify? Pachymeres was a church and state historian, born at Nicaea, which was in the vicinity of the Ottoman invasion; and he wrote his history during this very period. He concluded his work about 1307, so he was a contemporary of Othman.
Possinus, in 1669, worked out a complete chronology of Pachymeres' history, giving the dates for the eclipses of the moon and the sun, as well as other events, recorded by Pachymeres in his work. Concerning the date 1299 Possinus says:
"Now it is our task to give the exact and fundamental epoch of the Ottoman Empire. This we shall try to effect by a thoroughgoing comparison of the dates given by Arab chronologists and the testimony of our Pachymeres. This last- mentioned author reports in the fourth book of this second part, chapter 25, that Atman [Greek name for Othman] grew strong by taking the command over a very strong band of bold and energetic warriors from Paphlagonia. When Muzalo, the Roman army commander, attempted to block his progress, he defeated him in a battle near Nicomedia, the capital of Bithynia. This city the lord of the battlefield henceforth kept as if it were besieged. Now, Pachymeres is very explicit in stating that these events took place in the immediate vicinity of Bapheum, not far from Nicomedia, on the 27th day of July. The year, we asseverate [affirm] in our synopsis, comparing carefully the events to have been of our Lord 1299." [22]
The synopsis to which Possinus refers gives the date of the uniting of these Paphlagonians with Othman's forces, which took place on July 27, as 1299 of the Christian Era, fifth year of Pope Boniface VIII, and the sixth year of Michael Palaeologus. The statement is as follows:
"Atman [Othman], the strap of the Persians, called also Ottomanes, the founder of the still reigning dynasty of the Turcs, grew strong by joining to himself a great number of fierce bandits from Paphlagonia." [23]
The Paphlagonians under the sons of Amurius joined Othman in this attack of July 27, so that Possinus gives the date for this event twice as 1299.
Gregoras, also a contemporary of Othman, supports Gibbon and Pachymeres in establishing the date 1299 in his account of the division of Anatolia. This division among ten Turkish emirs took place in 1300, as supported by reliable historians. Gregoras states that in the division of Bithynia, indicating that Othman had already fought the battle of Bapheum, and had conquered certain parts of this eastern Roman-Greek territory.
"The calculations of some writers have gone upon the supposition that the period should begin with the foundation of the Ottoman Empire; but this is evidently an error; for they not only were to have a king over them, but were to torment men five months. But the period of torment could not begin before the first attack of the tormentors, which was, as above [stated], July 27, 1299." [24]
The calculation which follows, founded on this starting point, was made and first published in a work entitled, Christ's Second Coming, by Josiah Litch, in 1838.
" 'And their power was to hurt men five months.' Thus far their commission extended, to torment by constant depredations, but not politically to kill them. 'Five months' [thirty days to a month, one hundred and fifty days], that is, one hundred and fifty years. Commencing July 27, 1299, the one hundred and fifty years reach to 1449. During that whole period the Turks were engaged in an almost perpetual war with the Greek Empire, but yet without conquering it. They seized upon and held several of the Greek provinces, but still Greek independence was maintained in Constantinople. But in 1449, the termination of the one hundred and fifty years, a change came," [25] the history of which will be found under the succeeding trumpet.
May God Bless and keep us as we continue to delve into the book of Revelation using the historians of the past to open our eyes to the truth of His words and the unfolding plan for our lives.
In Jesus, now and forever by His grace and mercy, in His love.
Amen
9/16/10
Heb 7:1 For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;
Heb 7:2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;
Heb 7:3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.
Heb 7:4 Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.
Melchisedec- God's High Priest. A man of mystery- made LIKE unto the Son of God. He wasn't the Son of God, He did not have a birth as Jesus had a birth- born of the Spirit-God become man. Melchisedec was not a God. But he was like the Son of God. Where is says 'without father without mother' we know that Jesus had a mother, that Jesus was born of a woman. Melchisedec's birth was unknown. Perhaps like any child abandoned in secret and found, raised by others, the parents are unknown- the origins of that child are unknown. Melchisdec could have been abandoned as a child. It's not unheard of and we really don't know. With no history- no descent- a person's heritage is completely unknown. We can guess at certain parts by the color of skin, the color of hair, and physical features but even those aren't perfect indicators. God chose Melchisedec to be His High Priest- a personal High Priest on earth not appointed by any man, but appointed by God Himself before the Levitical Priesthood institution was in place. When they say he had neither beginning of days nor end of life- again these are things that can't be verified all the time- this does not make Melchisedec a Son of God, it makes Him a Priest of God, a priest that abides continually. This was a great man and we are to consider how great-- so great that Abraham- promised of God- honored this man. He didn't honor Him as if he were God, but from God. God deserves a 10th of all we own, Abraham as God's chosen respected that Melchisdec was God's chosen High Priest and gave him a 10th of all the spoils he'd gained from the slaughter of the kings.
Chosen of God.
Heb 6:20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
God's High Priest!
It's important for us to know this, it really is. We have to understand that our Savior is a High Priest appointed so by His Father, appointed by God. It's necessary for us to consider the High Priest's role in God's plan. A High Priest is necessary. At first each man was a priest to himself, for his family offering sacrifices to God for their sins and the sins of their family. God's plan for the future involved High Priests above the priest role. God appointed the High Priests to offer sacrifices for the priests and for all, answerable only to God Himself. The Levitical system formalized this plan of God's, and all of it pointed towards the Innocent Lamb of God- God's Son who alone could offer a PERFECT sacrifice. Is it no wonder we have to recognize our Savior as our High Priest before God, appointed by God?
We don't live in a time and haven't lived in a time without God's ultimate Sacrifice for over 2000 years. We've gone far away from the idea of having a priest, or a high priest offering animal sacrifices so that our sins can be forgiven. The priest NEVER forgave sin, God forgave sins as the blood was offered by the priests. No man can forgive sin against God, only God can forgive that sin and the only acceptable sacrifice is His Son's perfection, His Son's sacrifice. We can try all we want to obtain forgiveness through rituals if that's what we want to do, but no ritual will give us that forgiveness, only Christ Himself can give us that forgiveness. We have to confess to Him, we have to repent of our sins, we have to seek forgiveness through HIM and no other. But to believe we don't have to confess to Him, to believe we can have forgiveness merely through knowing He exists, to believe we have forgiveness without repentance and confession is a fallacy that we need to understand. That repentance can't be found through another. Even though we like to believe that there is no priestly services involved in anything any more, it's not true. Heaven has a temple, our High Priest is in that temple, God's sacrificial system moved from type on earth to reality in heaven and we need to know this.
By the grace of God we will understand more and more of all we need to understand by His will. Our hope is in Christ and Christ alone. Our Savior is our only hope and our belief in our Savior is that hope. We must believe that He is.
Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Let us have faith!
By His love now and forever!
Amen.
9/16/11
The first trumpet...
The
First Trumpet Sounds
Revelation
So
far in our study we have seen that the Seven Churches and the Seven Seals all
follow a sort of parallel journey. We need to study the seven trumpets in the
same light to keep consistent.
Before
the Seven Angels with their trumpets sounded we were given a very solemn scene
in heaven where there was silence and then the prayers of the saints in smoke
from incense was sent up before God. The censer fire was then tossed to the
earth drawing our attention once more back to the earthly and out of the
heavenly.
We
know factually that with these goings on representing history that we are being
pointed to an eventual time when we will all be sealed and Christ will return
for us. That same conclusion must be drawn in the seven trumpets as well.
Because
history has played a key part in the others and the angels are sounding their
trumpets from heaven not leaving heaven just as the angels to the churches
revealed, and the seals were loosed in heaven, lets see if history doesn't
coincide in some manner with the seven angels trumpets sounding.
The
trumpets announce things- some good, some bad. They call to battle, they call
to feasts, and even as they call to those things they are announcing them are
they not?
Can
it be that the announcing these trumpets represent are showing battle scenes?
Let's
go to history and see if there isn't a time such as this would describe-
political struggles, wars.
Please
note- greater minds than mine have studied diligently to produce the facts
related here. In fact many great minds have studied this and the consensus
seems to be that it 'fits'. So if I point you to a number of things that I
haven't personally dug up in the sense that I've become a historian overnight,
please understand that I still believe what is being said based on the facts
that history reveals so much and God will guide us as He needs to.
In
the Seven Seals we were shown a parallel history with the Seven Churches that
for the most part aligned with each other to review the Christian era throughout
time- God's people throughout time. The Seven Trumpets seem to take on a
different point of view and tell the history of the political structure through
time.
Rev
8:7 The first angel sounded, and
there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the
earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt
up.
Taken
from the book Daniel and Revelation by Uriah Smith-
'The
First Trumpet.--The blast of the first trumpet has it location about the close
of the fourth century and onward, and refers to these desolating invasions of
the Roman Empire under the Goths.'
'Alexander
Keith has justly remarked on the subject of this prophecy:
"None
could elucidate the texts more clearly, or expound them more fully, than the
task has been accomplished by Gibbon. The chapters of the skeptical philosopher
that treat directly of the matter, need but a text to be prefixed and a few
unholy words to be blotted out, to form a series of expository lectures on the
eighth and ninth chapters of the Revelation of Jesus Christ." [1] "Little or
nothing is left for the professed interpreter to do but to point to the pages of
Gibbon." [2]
The
first sore and heavy judgment which fell on Western Rome in its downward
course, was the war with the Goths under Alaric, who opened the way for later
inroads. The death of Theodosius the Roman emperor, occurred in January, A.D.
395, and before the end of the winter the Goths under Alaric were in arms
against the empire.
The
first invasion under Alaric ravaged the Eastern Empire. He captured the famous
cities and enslaved many of the inhabitants. Thrace, Macedonia, Attica, and the
Peloponnesus, were conquered, but he did not reach the city of Rome. Later, the
Gothic chieftain crossed the Alps and Apennines and appeared before the walls
of the Eternal City, which fell a prey to the fury of the barbarians in A.D.
410.
"Hail
and fire mingled with blood!" were cast upon the earth. The terrible effects of
this Gothic invasion are represented as "hail," from the northern origin of the
invaders; "fire," from the destruction by flame of both city and country; and
"blood," from the terrible slaughter of the citizens of the empire by the bold
and intrepid warriors.
After
quoting at some length from Edward Gibbon's History of the Decline and Fall of
the Roman Empire, Chapters XXX-XXXIII, concerning the conquests of the Goths,
Alexander Keith has presented an admirable summary of the historian's words
emphasizing the fulfillment of prophecy:
"Large
extracts clearly show how amply and well Gibbon has expounded his text in the
history of the first trumpet, the first storm that pervaded the Roman earth,
and the first fall of Rome. To use his words in more direct comment, we read
thus the sum of the matter: The Gothic nation was in arms at the first sound of
the trumpet, and in the uncommon severity of the winter, they rolled their
ponderous wagons over the broad and icy back of the river. The fertile fields
of Phocis and Boeotia were crowned [sic] with a deluge of barbarians: the males
were massacred; the females and cattle of the flaming villages were driven
away. The deep and bloody traces of the march of the Goths could easily be
discovered after several years. The whole territory of Attica was blasted by
the baneful presence of Alaric. The most fortunate of the inhabitants of
Corinth, Argos, and Sparta were saved by death from beholding the conflagration
of their cities. In a season of such extreme heat that the beds of the rivers
were dry, Alaric invaded the dominion of the West. A secluded 'old man of
Verona' [the poet Claudian], pathetically lamented the fate of his contemporary
trees, which must blaze in the conflagration of the whole country [ note the
words of the prophecy,--'The third part of the trees was burned up']; and the
emperor of the Romans fled before the king of the Goths.
"A
furious tempest was excited among the nations of Germany; from the northern
extremity of which the barbarians marched almost to the gates of Rome. They
achieved the destruction of the West. The dark cloud which was collected along
the coasts of the Baltic, burst in thunder upon the banks of the upper Danube.
The pastures of Gaul, in which flocks and herds grazed, and the banks of the
Rhine, which were covered with elegant houses and well-cultivated farms, formed
a scene of peace and plenty, which was suddenly changed into a desert,
distinguished from the solitude of nature only be smoking ruins. Many cities
were cruelly oppressed, or destroyed. Many thousands were inhumanly massacred.
The consuming flames of war spread over the greatest part of the seventeen
provinces of Gaul.
"Alaric
again stretched his ravages over Italy. During four years the Goths ravaged and
reigned over it without control. And in the pillage and fire of Rome, the
streets of the city were filled with dead bodies; the flames consumed many
public and private buildings; and the ruins of a palace remained, after a
century and a half, a stately monument of the Gothic conflagration." [3]
After
making this summary, Keith completes the picture by saying:
"The
concluding sentence of the thirty-third chapter of Gibbon's History is of
itself a clear and comprehensive commentary; for in winding up his own
description of this brief but most eventful period, he concentrates, as in a
parallel reading, the sum of the history and the substance of the prediction.
But the words which precede it are not without their meaning: 'The public
devotion of the age was impatient to exalt the saints and martyrs of the
Catholic Church on the altars of Diana and Hercules. The union of the Roman
empire was dissolved; its genius was humbled in the dust; and armies of unknown
barbarians, issued from the frozen regions of the North, had established their
victorious reign over the fairest provinces of Europe and Africa.'
"The
last word--Africa--is the signal for the sounding of the second trumpet. The
scene changes from the shores of the Baltic to the southern coast of the
Mediterranean, or from the frozen regions of the North to the borders of
burning Africa. And instead of a storm of hail being cast upon the earth, a
burning mountain was cast into the sea." [4]
[1]
Alexander Keith, Signs of the Times, Vol. I, p. 241.
[2]
Ibid.
[3]
Ibid., pp. 251-253.
[4]
Ibid., p. 253.
*******
History
by a renown scholar uncontested
by others for it's factual content.
*******
I'm
no Bible scholar and certainly no historian, but I'm able to see when things
seem to fit.
I
could conclude that I'll never understand prophecy and stop looking, stop
studying, stop reading, but I'm not going to do that. I'm going to continue to
pray and hope that the Lord will guide me to all the truth I need to know so
that I may be His when He returns. If, as some suppose, these prophecies have
nothing to do with history, time will tell that too but for now as the pieces
of the puzzle seem to be falling into place we have to trust that we are being
guided in the right direction.
May
the Lord bless and keep us in Him now and forever, may the Holy Spirit sent to
guide us and keep us in truth do so now and forever, by the mercy and the grace
of Jesus Chirst, our Lord and Savior.
Amen.