Bowls and Trumpets of Revelation

1. Introduction

The seven trumpets and bowls in Revelation 8 & 16 were all fulfilled within the forty-two-month and five-month prophecies of Revelation. We have no need to fear this happening in our lifetime because Jesus promised the Great Tribulation would happen within forty years.

A. Similarities Between Bowls and Trumpets

In Revelation 8-9, seven trumpets are identified, while seven bowls are found in Revelation 16-17. Both the bowls and the trumpets are released by a numbered angel, indicating that the first bowl and first trumpet are released by the first angel. The second angel then releases the second trumpet and the second bowl, and this pattern continues.

B. Revelation is Not Chronological

With the same angel releasing both the trumpet and the bowl there is obvious similarities between them, showing a repeat in Revelation 16 and 17 from Revelation 8 and 9. This highlights the importance of understanding that this is not a chronological book. Sometimes it looks into the future end of the Millennium, other times it reverts back to the time of Jesus birth (Revelation 12) and the birth of the church (Revelation 13) and His enthronement (Revelation 4).

Theologians such as William Hendricksen have recognised the kingdom’s repetitive nature throughout Revelation in his book More Than Conquerors.

Here is a pictorial timeline:

2. First Trumpet: Vegetation Destroyed

The first angel sounds the first trumpet, bringing the destruction of one-third of the trees and all the green grass.

The first angel sounded: And hail and fire followed, mingled with blood, and they were thrown to the earth. And a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.

Revelation 8:7

A. Thrown to the Earth

This trumpet was followed by hail and fire. The hail with fire is a sign of God’s defeat of His enemies, as seen in the story of Moses and Egypt.

And Moses stretched out his rod toward heaven; and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and fire darted to the ground. And the LORD rained hail on the land of Egypt.

Exodus 9:23

Revelation describes Jerusalem as being like Egypt, which is interpreted as a warning of judgement to come upon the city.

And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.

Revelation 11:8

B. Trees Cut Down

The trumpet signalled the burning of one-third of the trees. It was a common Roman practice to fell all the trees surrounding a city under siege. This was demonstrated during the siege of Jotapata in 67 CE, and in Jerusalem they cut down trees up to 16 kilometres around the city to construct siege works. These trees were also used for cooking and heating at night and to send fiery rocks over the city walls.

The Romans, … raised their banks in one-and-twenty days, after they had cut down all the trees that were in the country that adjoined to the city, and that for ninety furlongs round about

Josephus’ War of the Jews 6.5

C. Grass Burned

During the siege of Jerusalem, grass, orchards and hedges were also destroyed. Furthermore, the Jewish forces fired flaming arrows at the Romans, which would have ignited the summer grasses.

So they threw down all the hedges and walls which the inhabitants had made about their gardens and groves of trees, and cut down all the fruit trees that lay between them and the wall of the city, and filled up all the hollow places and the chasms, and demolished the rocky precipices with iron instruments; and thereby made all the place level from Scopus to Herod’s monuments, which adjoined to the pool called the Serpent’s Pool.

Josephus War of the Jews 5.108-109

D. Famine

We also know that one of the worst famines in human history occurred during the forty years from Jesus’ prophecy to the destruction of Jerusalem. It spread from Rome to India and involved Judea. The severity of the famine caused the land of modern Iran and Iraq to take 100 years to rebuild its population to its pre-famine level. The grasses would have been burned up during this famine.

Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar.

Acts 11:28

E. Siege of Jerusalem

However, another interpretation of this verse is more specific to the five-month prophecy of Revelation that appears in the next chapter as the fifth trumpet. The Roman siege weapons launched rocks (hail) that were often set ablaze (fire). They also would send the heads of people and even whole bodies across the walls (mingled with blood). This interpretation becomes more likely when we see the same mentioned in the seventh bowl.

And great hail from heaven fell upon men, each hailstone about the weight of a talent. Men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, since that plague was exceedingly great.

Revelation 16:21

F. Do Not Destroy the Trees or Grass

If we read on to the Fifth Trumpet in Chapter 9, it appears that there is a contradiction. However, we have looked at this mistranslation in detail in the topic of the five-month prophecy of Revelation.

3. First Bowl: Loathsome Sores

During Jerusalem’s five-month siege, the city was divided into three factions: John of Gischala, Simon ben Giora and his Gentile Idumeans, and those who desired submission to Caesar. This is what Revelation 16:19 refers to:

Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell.

Revelation 16:19

The bodies of those murdered by the Idumeans under John of Gischala, including those killed by Simon ben Giora’s Idumeans and Jewish zealots, were piled up in the thousands. They lay in subterranean caves, houses and streets for a full five months, which would have undoubtedly brought pestilence upon the city of Jerusalem.

So the first went and poured out his bowl upon the earth, and a foul and loathsome sore came upon the men who had the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image.

Revelation 16:2

However, it was those who bore the mark of the beast who were afflicted by this. As the cities fell in April 67 CE, John of Gischala permitted people to enter Jerusalem to recruit for his army. Many of these individuals, from all social classes, attempted to persuade others to submit to Nero (the Antichrist) after the Passover of 67 CE. Those who expressed a desire to surrender the city to Nero were executed.

It was these individuals who were compelled to conceal themselves among the deceased from John of Gischala, Simon ben Giora and the Idumeans. This resulted in the rapid spread of disease from the dead to the living, with sores spreading.

4. The Sea Turns to Blood

The second angel sounded the trumpet concerning judgement on the sea

Then the second angel sounded: And something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood. And a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.

Revelation 8:8-9

The second angel also poured out a bowl onto the sea

Then the second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it became blood as of a dead man; and every living creature in the sea died.

Revelation 16:3

A. Mediterranean Sea Piracy

The Jewish community had engaged in piracy in the Mediterranean since the Maccabean revolt. At the outset of the First Jewish-Roman War, they commenced the construction of a new fleet of pirate vessels.

They also built themselves a great many piratical ships, and turned pirates upon the seas near to Syria, and Phoenicia, and Egypt, and made those seas unnavigable to all men.

Josephus War of the Jews 3.9.2

In July 67 CE, Vespasian arrived at Joppa, the pirates’ base, forcing them to flee to sea. A violent storm subsequently caused the ships to sink. The Jews attempted to reach shore, where they either drowned or were massacred.

although the greatest part of them were carried by the waves, and dashed to pieces against the abrupt parts of the rocks, insomuch that the sea was bloody a long way, and the maritime parts were full of dead bodies; for the Romans came upon those that were carried to the shore, and destroyed them; and the number of the bodies that were thus thrown out of the sea was four thousand and two hundred.

Josephus War of the Jews 3.9.3

B. Sea of Galilee Defeat

There was a battle on the Sea of Galilee between the Roman and the Jewish ships during the attack on Caesarea. Josephus tells us that the Sea of Galilee turned red because of the vast number of Jews killed when Vespasian followed them out onto the water.

And for such as were drowning in the sea, if they lifted their heads up above the water they were either killed by darts, or caught by the vessels; but if, in the desperate case they were in, they attempted to swim to their enemies, the Romans cut off either their heads or their hands; but as many of these were repulsed when they were getting ashore, they were killed by the darts upon the lake; and the Romans leaped out of their vessels, and destroyed a great many more upon the land: one might then see the lake all bloody, and full of dead bodies, for not one of them escaped. And a terrible stink, and a very sad sight there was on the following days over that country; for as for the shores, they were full of shipwrecks, and of dead bodies all swelled; and as the dead bodies were inflamed by the sun, and putrefied, they corrupted the air… This was the upshot of the sea fight. The number of the slain, including those who were killed in the city before, was six thousand and five hundred.

Josephus War of the Jews 3.10.9

5. Third Angel: The Waters Turn to Blood

A. Third Trumpet

We see a similar occurrence in the rivers and springs of water, firstly with the third Trumpet sound:

Then the third angel sounded: And a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the water, because it was made bitter.

Revelation 8:10-11

B. Third Bowl

Then the third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood.

Revelation 16:4

The fulfilment of this prophecy is evident in Josephus’ writings concerning the Great Tribulation.

and Jordan could not be passed over, by reason of the dead bodies that were in it, but because the lake Asphaltitis was also full of dead bodies, that were carried down into it by the river

Josephus War of the Jews 4.7.6

C. Contaminated Wells

The Greek word for “springs of water” can also refer to wells. It was common Roman practice In Galilee and Judea to dispose of dead bodies in wells, sometimes with the deliberate intent of contaminating the water and forcing inhabitants to abandon the area.

D. Jews Drank Other Jews’ Blood

The Jewish leaders and Idumeans directly fulfilled the prophecy delivered by the angel of the waters:

For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink. For it is their just due.”

Revelation 16:6

Josephus confirms that Simon, John and the idumeans drank the blood of the other Jews they slaughtered.

And he who was utterly despoiled of what he had by Simon was sent back again to John, as of those who had been already plundered by John. Simon got what remained, insomuch that they drank the blood of the populace to one another, and divided the dead bodies of the poor creatures between them

Josephus War of the Jews 5.10.4 

E. Kill the Prophets

Revelation 6:6 states that they also killed the prophets. Jesus predicted that prophets would be killed in that generation, which is why judgement was coming on the city.

I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers.  Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town.  And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.  I tell you the truth, all this will come upon this generation. “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you

Matthew 23:34-36

Josephus also refers to the cruel treatment of prophets by the populous during the Great Tribulation (equates to the First Jewish-Roman War).

6. Fourth Trumpet: Heavenly Bodies Struck

Then the fourth angel sounded: And a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them were darkened. A third of the day did not shine, and likewise the night.

Revelation 8:12

A. Darkness

Revelation 8’s description of celestial darkness is realised twice during the five month siege of Jerusalem from Nisan 15 to Elul 14 of 70 CE. Firstly, a blood moon occurred on the day the five-month prophecy of Revelation 9 commenced—when Titus laid siege to Jerusalem. Secondly, from 1–7 September 70 CE, the full moon turned red, the sun was darkened and the stars were obscured as Jerusalem burned.

Firstly, on the day the five-month prophecy of Revelation 9 commenced—when Titus laid siege to Jerusalem—a blood moon occurred.

Then, from 1–7 September 70 CE, the full moon turned red, the sun was darkened, and the stars were obscured as Jerusalem burned.

B. Joseph’s Dream

However, there is a spiritual interpretation to the fourth trumpet sound. In his dream concerning Jacob and the 12 tribes, Joseph has a dream of sun, moon and stars:

Then he dreamed still another dream and told it to his brothers, and said, “Look, I have dreamed another dream. And this time, the sun, the moon, and the eleven stars bowed down to me.”
So he told it to his father and his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall your mother and I and your brothers indeed come to bow down to the earth before you?”

Genesis 37:9-10

Both Jacob, Joseph and the other eleven sons all understood what it meant. They were the sun, moon and stars – the twelve tribes of Israel. Here, Jesus is warning that one-third of all Jews will die during the Great Tribulation.

C. One-Third of the Jews’ Deaths

In the fourth trumpet passage it says one third of the Jews will die. In our topic on Wars and Rumours of Wars, we found the following statistics:

One-third of all Jews were indeed killed by war alone in the first forty years of Jesus’ Last Day’s Prophecy. While it is accurate to state that only 31% were killed, not 33.3%, it is important to note that this table only accounts for those in major cities. Many more died in the fields and villages surrounding them.

7. Fourth Bowl: Men Are Scorched

Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and power was given to him to scorch men with fire. And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory.

Revelation 16:8-9

A. Mount Gerizim

This mountain associated with the blessings in Deuteronomy 27. Mount Ebal stands to the south with a valley inbetween. It was on Mount Ebal that the curses of Deuteronomy were shouted.

According to Josephus, on 27 June 67 CE, the Jews ascended Mount Gerizim to escape the Romans during the siege of Jotapata.

Now it happened that the Samaritans, who were now destitute of water, were inflamed with a violent heat (for it was summertime, and the multitude had not provided themselves with necessaries), insomuch that some of them died that very day with heat, while others of them preferred slavery before such a death as that was, and fled to the Romans.

Josephus War of the Jews 3.7.32

At the mountain’s base, the Romans observed the death toll rise.  The Jews refused to surrender and by the day’s end, their severely weakened opponents from dehydration prompted the Romans to attack.  The sun and resulting battle claimed 11,600 lives on the mountain that day.

B. Old Covenant Blessings No Longer Protect

Mount Gerizim was the mountain associated with the blessings in Deuteronomy. They were clinging to the promises of the Old Covenant, believing these could save them.

And Moses commanded the people on the same day, saying, “These shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people, when you have crossed over the Jordan: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin; and these shall stand on Mount Ebal to curse: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.

Deuteronomy 27:11-13

This is a valuable lesson for us. The law has died, along with both the blessings of Mount Gerizim and the curses of Mount Ebal. Some think we can still claim the blessings of the Old Covenant, but if the law has died, then all of it has passed away. The Jews believed that if they stood on this mountain, blessings would be bestowed upon them. For example:

“The LORD will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before your face; they shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways.

Deuteronomy 28:7

In 67 CE, the Jews may have quoted this scripture with great faith but 11,600 still perished on the very mountain as the promises of a broken covenant proved futile.

C. Mountain of Beatitudes.

Under the New Covenant, there are also blessings from a different mountain, 60km north east in Galilee. Following his resurrection, Jesus instructed the disciples to travel to the mountain in Galilee where he had delivered the Beatitudes.

Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them.

Matthew 28:16

The Great Commission was delivered on the Mountain of the Beatitudes, not on Mount Gerizim where the Old Covenant’s blessings were bestowed 60 kilometres southwest.

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Matthew 28:18-20

D. New Covenant Mount of Blessing

The New Covenant Blessings aren’t found in Deuteronomy 27 and the curses of chapter 28 don’t affect us.  Instead our blessings are those summarised by Jesus in the Beatitudes in the gospels.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. 
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5:3-11

E. Samaritan Woman at the Well

So He came to a city of Samaria which is called Sychar, … Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” … Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” …Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship.” …Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

John 4:5-24

On the map, Sychar is near Mount Gerizim.  When she mentioned “this mountain” she was referring to it.  Jesus was saying the blessings of “this mountain” were about to be superseded by a New Covenant. This covenant would permanently grant the Holy Spirit to anyone who believed.

Her life was cursed like on Mount Ebal.  She had been married five times and now lived with a man who hadn’t married her. The reason for this was unknown. Perhaps each husband had died or she had been legally divorced. However, this was about to change.

F. Sychar

She hailed from the picturesque town of Sychar, renowned for its fertile fields and hidden underground fountains that supplied Jacob’s well.  However, its name ironically translates to drunkenness or strong drink.

Located just a kilometre from the Canaanite city of Shechem where Abraham first fed his flock, Sychar was a city similar to Shechem.  It was a mocking play on words by the Jews who despised the Samaritans.  Interestingly after the Old Covenant was nailed to the cross and the Holy Spirit descended at Pentecost the same disciples would be “drunk” with the Holy Spirit under the New Covenant. 

8. Fifth Trumpet: Bottomless Pit Opened

I have covered this in detail in our topic on the Five-Month Prophecy of Revelation from Nisan 15 to Elul 14, 70 CE, according to the Hebrew calendar. It covers the first day of the siege until Jerusalem’s fall.

9. Fifth Bowl

Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues because of the pain. They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and did not repent of their deeds.

Revelation 16:10-11

This bowl is poured directly onto the beast’s throne unlike the second, third and fourth bowls.

A. Judgement on Rome

Evidence suggests this judgement effectively targeted the beast’s very heart, which was Rome under Nero.

The devastating fire in Rome in 64 CE plunged the city into darkness for nine days as the inferno blocked out the sun.  The following year a horrific plague claimed up to 30,000 lives.

B. Sores on Those Wanting to Join the Romans

An alternative interpretation is specific to the Jews during the Great Tribulation. Simon Ben Giora, John of Gischala and the Idumeans injured and killed anyone who expressed a desire to cross or surrender to the Romans.

In April 67 CE, Simon and the Idumeans massacred the high priests, priesthood and their families.  Those wishing to allow the Romans entry into the city continued to follow the Mosaic Covenant until the final animal sacrifice on 17th July 70 CE.

Hunted for their wealth and even their bodies, they sought refuge in subterranean caves.  However, once the siege of Jerusalem commenced these caves became the site of corpse disposal.  Consequently those who wished to allow the “Beast of Rome” into Jerusalem suffered severe skin diseases.  Forced into hiding they couldn’t buy or sell and ultimately died of thirst and starvation in the caves.  Those who survived failed to repent by continuing to follow the Old Covenant.

10. Sixth Trumpet and Bowl: Euphrates Dries Up

During our discussion on the crossing of the Euphrates we discovered that this event also occurred during the Great Tribulation.

saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released to kill a third of mankind.

Revelation 9:14-15

To fully understand this prophecy a comprehensive study of the Greek text is crucial, complemented by an exploration of the Armies of the Euphrates.

Here is a summary of the lesson:

• The four angels were the commanders of the four legions
• Revelation 9 in Greek translates accurately as “Now the number of the horsemen’s army was ten thousand and a second army of ten thousand”.
• The first army of horsemen was the Tenth Legion Equestris, literally the “Legion of Horsemen”.  Its primary role was guarding the Euphrates.
• The ten-thousand-strong Twelfth Legion Fulminata, the second army, had been banished to the Euphrates in October 66 CE after its defeat by the Jews.

11. Seventh Bowl: Earthquake in Jerusalem

The seventh angel hurls the bowl into the air, causing a spectacular display.

Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth.

Revelation 16:17-18

A. Jesus’ Warning about Earthquakes

Throughout the 40 years of Jesus’ Last Days Prophecy, as we explored in our topic on Last Days Proofs, there were far more earthquakes than at any other time in Jewish history.

The most significant event of that 40-year period was Jesus’ death and the subsequent resurrection of many people.  John then predicts that Jerusalem will be divided into three parts in the next verse.

Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell.

Revelation 16:19

However, the city wasn’t divided into three parts by an earthquake then so this isn’t the one he was referring to.  We shouldn’t assume it was a physical earthquake either as he doesn’t say it caused it.  The text simply states the great city was divided into three.

B. Earthquake of 67 CE

Another significant earthquake occurred in 67 CE.  This is detailed in our topic on 67 CE: Year of Signs, which describes a violent earthquake accompanied by a mighty noise and the sound of angels declaring “Let Us Go Hence”.

C. Jerusalem Divides Into Three

Just a week after the earthquake, Simon arrives causing discord among Jerusalem’s Jewish leaders.  A month later John arrives and the Idumeans arrive in Jerusalem dividing the city into three sections.

• The Jews sympathetic to Roman rule
• Simon ben Giora and his army
• John and the Gentile Idumeans who would trample Jerusalem for the next forty-two months.

12. Seventh Trumpet: Kingdom Proclaimed

Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!”

Revelation 11:15

A. After the Two Witnesses

We first notice the separation of the seventh trumpet from the others.  Secondly, this is a blessing rather than a judgement like the previous trumpets or the bowls of wrath.

Between the other trumpets and the seventh are the Two Witnesses of Revelation.  Previously we learned these aren’t future individuals but rather the two anointings given to the church.  These are the priestly and kingly anointings mentioned by the apostles and exemplified throughout the period from Pentecost in 30 CE until Revelation’s writing.  Immediately after the seventh Trumpet, Revelation returns to the birth of Christ in Chapter 12.

B. Is This Resurrection Day?

I’ve mentioned elsewhere that the Kingdom was available from the day Jesus died and rose again.  While that’s true, there are several reasons why the reference to the seventh trumpet is unlikely to be connected to the resurrection.

C. Linked to Other Trumpets

The first reason is that this is a trumpet and trumpets are often associated with the Great Tribulation, particularly in 70 CE.  Therefore it’s reasonable to assume this is also connected to that event.

D. Wrath of God

As we continue reading through the seventh trumpet we discover that the nations are angry and the wrath has arrived.

The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come,

Revelation 11:18

The Roman army wasn’t a single nation of Romans but rather a diverse force comprising soldiers from across the globe.  Nero had been trying to appease the Jews until their defeat of the XIIth Legio fulminata on 28 October 66 CE.  This defeat, coupled with the capture of the golden eagle standard (the Aquila), angered the four legions in the area, Vespasian and Nero.

In December 66 CE, after the legion’s commander, Cestius Gallus, approached Nero, he ordered Vespasian to conquer the Jews. This sparked the First Jewish-Roman War and the Great Tribulation.

E. The Kingdoms of This World

It was not until the destruction of the Temple, the killing of the High Priests and the fall of Jerusalem that the Jewish nation and the whole Old Covenant sacrificial system came to an end.

At that point the kingdoms of this world, especially the Jewish sacrifical system, came to an end. 

F. The Kingdoms of Our Lord and His Christ

In our discussion of 67 CE: A Year of Signs, we discovered that the 1260-Day, 1290-Day and 1335-Day Prophecies of Daniel commenced on Passover that year.  This also marked the beginning of the 42-month Prophecy of Revelation.

In our discussion on Daniel’s 1335-day promise, starting Passover 67 CE, we explored the fate of the 97,000 Jewish captives after Jerusalem fell.  Around 60% of the Jews eventually arrived in Antioch with Titus. Many of them decided to stay and were brought to Christ over the next years. Antioch became the centre of Christendom for the next millennium, beginning the Millennium around 13 December 70 CE.

G. Millennial Reign

In our topic on the Millennium we learned that this is not a literal one thousand years as it is a completely differnt word from a numerical thousand. It is during this Millennium that the church learns to rule and reign with Christ.

And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

Revelation 20:4

When we examine this verse it appears those beheaded ruled. However the word “AND” isn’t a copulative conjunction so it doesn’t necessarily mean the same people as those who had already died.  Furthermore the word “THEY” isn’t present in the Greek text so we can translate it as follows:

H. Ask of Me

If we want to Rule and Reign with Him, then we need to simply ask Him for it:

“I will declare the decree:
The LORD has said to Me,
You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.
Ask of Me, and I will give You
The nations for Your inheritance,
And the ends of the earth for Your possession.
You shall break them with a rod of iron;
You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.'”

Psalms 2:7-9

While it’s true this refers to Jesus Christ, we shouldn’t assume “begotten” carries any special meaning like in John 3 where it specifically refers to the only begotten son (Gk: monogenes).  Here the Hebrew word is equivalent to the Greek “gene” meaning genetically a son.

This promise in Psalm 2 applies to you just as it did to Jesus.  You can ask God for the nations and since you rule and reign He will begin the process of giving them to you as an inheritance. I have travelled to every continent except Antarctica, witnessing over 50,000 people accept Christ and I believe God for even more.  The nations are my inheritance and yours too.

13. Summary

A. First Three Angels

The seven trumpets and bowls in Revelation are not chronological and they repeat events. The first trumpet and bowl describe the destruction of vegetation and a famine during the siege of Jerusalem. The second trumpet and bowl depict the judgement on the sea, referencing Jewish piracy and naval battles. The third trumpet and bowl portray the contamination of rivers and springs, leading to many deaths.

B. Fourth Angel

The Greek word for ‘springs of water’ also refers to wells, a common Roman disposal site for the dead in Galilee and Judea. This practice, along with the killing of prophets and the darkening of heavenly bodies, is interpreted as a fulfilment of biblical prophecies. The fourth trumpet judgement, symbolising the death of one-third of the Jewish people, is linked to the siege of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Old Covenant blessings.The fourth bowl relates to the destruction of 11,600 holding onto the blessings of the Old Covenant, thinking that will save them.

C. Fifth and Sixth Angel

The fifth bowl judgement, poured directly onto the beast’s throne, symbolises Rome’s downfall under Nero. This was marked by devastating fire and a plague.  It also reflects the suffering of Jews during the five-month siege of Jerusalem, particularly those who yearned for Roman rule and faced persecution and death.  The sixth angel then permits the two legions to arrive from the Euphrates to aid Titus in destroying Jerusalem. These four legions, who destroy Jerusalem, are led by four demons mentioned in Revelation.

D. Seventh Angel

The seventh bowl judgement, causing a great earthquake and dividing Jerusalem, is linked to the events of 67 CE, including the arrival of Simon ben Giora and the Idumeans, leading to the city’s division and the eventual fall of Jerusalem.

The seventh trumpet reflects the 1335-Day prophecy of Daniel and the start of the millennium.

© Use by Permission Awakening Impact Ministries/ Dr Neville Westerbeek van Eerten D. Miss. BVSc. 2026