ACT THREE:  CLIMAX OF MIDDLE PATH’S OPEN TEMPLE DRAMA

Portents of 7^th Trumpet:   The Appointed Time for Resurrection and Wrath “HAS COME”

        “The 7^th Angel trumpeted. There were great voices in heaven saying: The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and His Christ.  He shall reign unto the ages of the ages. The 24 elders sitting on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped saying: We thank thee O Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and dost reign.  The nations were wrathful and your wrath has come and the appointed time to judge the dead and reward your servants the prophets and the saints and all who fear your name, both small and great, and to destroy earth’s destroyers … the Temple of God was open in heaven and the ark of His covenant was seen. There were lightnings, and voices, and peals of thunder, and an earthquake, and great hail”.  Rev.11:15-19.

Sixty years ago I was a student at Faith Theological Seminary under the teaching of Dr. R. Laird Harris. In his exposition of the 7^th Trumpet, he suggested the Storm Theophany of verse 19 climaxes the 7^th Seal, 7^th Trumpet and 7^th Plague! All three occur on the same day that Christ comes in glory! This was a surprising and suspense-filled interpretation!!

That storm also ties the 3-Act Drama events together in quick sequence. Plague 7 empties before Seals 6 & 7 open but suspends in the air until God’s anger fills the Cup of Wrath at Trump 7. Plague #7 implodes. The 7^th Trumpet is the “Last Trump” of I Cor.15:52.

God’s anger mixes "full strength in the Cup of Wrath" after Seal 7 ends and Trump 7 sounds ... with each succeeded by an increasingly devastating storm scene. Victory-Day for suffering Saints in the conflict between God and Satan! The 24 elders bow and worship God at the sound of great voices and heaven’s only announcement that "God's wrath has come.

It’s "Appointment (kairos) Time to judge the dead and reward prophets and Saints and all who fear His name, both small and great; and to destroy the wicked"!  Rev.11:18.

Trump #7 is the Middle Path’s crisis point. Moments later the Saints, small and great, praise Almighty God. The Lamb's wedding “has come”. Wedding and rewards occur on the Lastday because Jesus “brings His rewards with Him." Rev.19:6-7; Rev.22:12; Matt.16:27. He must therefore raise up all believers on the last day”. John 6:38-40.

The Son of Man has been “presented to the Ancient of Days” and crowned as King.  Dan.7:13-14. The Praise of Act One, Prayers of Act Two and now the Portents of the Last Trump call for the Cup of Wrath. The Martyrs’ Testimony has revealed the Victory of the Saints, the Tribunal results in the Verdict of Seal 7 and the 7^th Angel reflects that God’s Vengeance of Wrath “has come”!  The Last Plague implodes in the air. Rev.16:18.

All Outer and Middle Path events occur between Rev.16:17 and Rev.16:18. Babylon falls between Rev.11:17 and Rev.11:18 (Rev.16:19; Cup of Wrath). The usual approach to the study of Revelation assumes the Day of the Lord’s wrath spans the 3½ times of Jacob’s trouble, i.e., 42 months or 1260 days. The popular idea is that 7 Trumpets “telescope” out of the 7^th Seal and 7 Last Plagues follow the Trumpets. But at Seal 6 the Beast’s armies are already gathered to Armageddon. The crisis reaches its fullness at the Tribunal and Verdict of Seal #7 and the Triumph and Vindication of Trump #7.

“God’s wrath has come” only at the 7^th Trumpet. God doesn’t wait for the 5^th Trumpet to telescope out of the last Seal. That 5^th Trumpet had killed no one as men suffered torment 5 months. The Angel of the #7 Trumpet doesn’t wait after Seal 7’s Verdict until the 6^th Trumpet to kill a 3^rd of mankind. God’s patience ends at Seal 7. The wicked have invaded Israel after refusing to repent in the 6^th Trumpet and 4^th and 5^th Plagues. Rev.9:20-21; Rev.16:9-11. “Coals of fire” cast to earth by the Angel of Fire (Seal 7) follows the decree out of the Temple: "It is Done"!

The Verdict of Seal 7 and Vindication of Trump 7 confirm the "Day of Wrath has come". Rev.6:17. The 7^th Angel also proclaims the time has come to resurrect and reward the Saints. And to take vengeance on those who shed the blood of the Martyrs. The Plagues “exhaust God’s patience” (Rev.15:1) before His anger mixes full strength in wrath’s cup! Rev.14:10.

The Day of God’s wrath begins at the signs of Seal 6 and the Hour of Wrath follows the third sounding of the 7^th Trumpet. With armies gathered to Armageddon, Jesus “blesses those who watch and pray” as the Hour approaches. He comes suddenly “as a thief” after the 7^th Plague empties in the air and the Martyrs sing and then testify at the Tribunal of Seal 7. There’s no time to change one’s clothes when the “sun turns dark and the moon to blood”. Rev.16:15. The Hour of Trial on earth immediately follows rejoicing in heaven.

The Last Day begins when the 7^th Plague empties in the air and the voice out of the Temple, from the Throne, decrees the End of Time “had occurred” (perfect tense). The Lamb opens Seal 6 for that Day’s 22 events. So Rev.16:12-17 precedes Rev.6:12-17 to launch the Day of the Lord and 100 verses that fulfill events between noon and twilight. Amos 8:9; Zech.14:6-7.  “No one enters the Temple until after the 7^th Plague empties in the air” and until Rev.15:5 when the smoke of God’s glory leaves the Temple. Rev.15:8.

The sworn words of the man in Dan.12:7 (regarding the 3½ times until the fixed END of time) correspond with the sworn words of a Mighty Angel in Rev.10:6-7 that the END of “chronos-time would occur in the days whenever the 7^th Trumpet is about to sound”.  Daniel was told it would end within 1290 days of setting the Abomination in the temple. Less than 30 of those 1290 days are cut short as Trump 7 sounds and Christ is crowned.

When the two Prophets finish their 1260-day task, not more than 3½ days remain for “some” who still face death by the Beast until the Lastday begins. Mark 9:1. The 2^nd woe, to kill a third of mankind, will have passed. Rev.11:14. Events of Seals 6 and 7 and of Trump 7 occur after the 1260 days are finished and the 7^th Plague empties in the air.

On one of those 3½ days the Prophets arise and ascend to heaven after the sun turns dark at noon, the moon becomes as blood, stars fall from heaven and a great quake kills 7,000 of the Beast’s elite Revolution Guard in a tenth of Jerusalem. Rev.11:12-14.

Seal 6's four great winds strike the sea, land and trees, causing men’s hearts to fail as 144,000 Harvest Firstfruit to God and the Lamb are sealed and rescued on Mt. Zion. These “Firstfruit are redeemed from earth, from among men, and follow Him wherever He goes”. Rev.14:3-4.

They attend the Son of Man as He reaps the earth and three angels “cast the wicked into the Winepress of God's great anger”. Rev.14:15-19. They present Him to the Father by singing a new song which only they can learn and sing as God sits on His Throne over a glassy sea mixed with fire. Rev.14:3; Rev.15:3. They attend the Son of Man “coming on the clouds of heaven and present Him to the Ancient of Days” as their worthy Bridegroom. Dan.7:13.

With God's anger exhausted, the Court of Seal 7 recaps in a half hour what Rev.8:6 to Rev.9:21 records. The Prophets are in the spirit in heaven when the last Plague empties. They ascend bodily to heaven for Testimony and Praise in Act One and the Tribunal and Prayers of Seal 7, Act Two. The prayers of millions of witnesses to these events ascend to God from the Altar in the Temple. The Angel of Fire renders the Verdict. Rev.8:3-5.

The Storm Theophany, and Triumph and Portents of Trump #7, Act Three, quickly follow Seal 7's Verdict.

The Signs of Seal #6 continue to warn of impending wrath during the Middle Path Drama in the “Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony”. The 7^th Plague remains suspended and about to implode under forces set loose by the Violence of Seal 6, Verdict of Seal 7 and Vengeance of Trump 7. An aftershock of the quake of Rev.6:12 strikes Jerusalem; 7,000 of the Beast’s Guard die. Rev.11:13. The Great and Wonderful sign of 7 Plagues having already “exhausted God’s patience” justifies the requirement that all 7 Vials must empty before the smoke of God’s glory and power clears from the Temple! Rev.15:1-5,8.

The time to open Seal 7 is not as obvious. Yes, it’s when the Martyrs come out from under the Altar on one of 3½ days after great tribulation. But also “after the things” of Rev.14:1 to 15:5. “These things” refer to Outer Path events during the initial Signs of the Day of the Lord. Matt.24:29-30; Rev.6:12-14. These signs augur the “whenever” of the uncertain timing of Act Two. The key phrase ends the songs of victory in Rev.15:2-5 but also introduces the entrance into the Temple in Rev.7:9. Act One of the Middle Path begins after 7 last Plagues "exhaust God’s patience” and after the Lamb rescues the Firstfruit and they join the Martyrs in songs of Victory! Rev.14:1 to Rev.15:5.

The 7^th Trump immediately follows Act Two. The wicked have invaded Israel and have been reaped to the “winepress of God’s great anger”. Matt.13:30, 41. These sons of the Devil will have refused to repent during God’s patience in the 6^th Trumpet and Plagues #4 and #6. They continue to blaspheme God and would destroy Israel. Earthquake deaths of 7,000 "men of names" in Jerusalem and continued calamities of Seal 6 will keep them in abeyance. The Temple Drama alone involves #4 to #6 of 7 things that “have come”!

Time Keys of “whenever” and “after these things” embrace each thing that “has come”. One to Three: In the Outer Path at Seal #6, Rev. 6:17, the Day of wrath has come. The Hour of Judgment, #2, and Hour to Reap, #3, has come. Rev.14:7,15. Four to Six: “After these things, in Act One of the Middle Path, a great multitude has come out of great tribulation for praise to God and the Lamb and for the Tribunal of Seal #7. Rev.7:13; Dan.7:13. In Act Two, #5, the Angel of Fire has come before God to review the evidence against the wicked. Rev.8:3. And then, #6,  “God’s wrath has come” at Trump #7. Rev.11:18.

Trump #7 anticipates 3 more things on the Lastday in addition to the Lamb’s wedding, #7. They are: 1) The “appointed (kairos) time to judge the dead”. This requires the First Resurrection. 2) “Rewards to the prophets and Saints”. This requires the “Gathering of all the Elect”. 3) “The appointed time to destroy the destroyers of earth. The kingdoms of earth have become the “Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ”. Rev.11:15-18; Dan.7:14-27.

The only texts stating God's Wrath has come are in Seal #6 (the Day) and Trump #7 (the Hour), both on the Lastday! Rev.6:17; Rev.11:18. Yet five chapters separate these two.  The Day of the Lord is not a period of months or years! The “Hour of Trial”, from which Believers will be kept, is a literal Hour. Unbelievers who “pray to escape from that Hour are also rescued and kept alive”! Rev.3:10-11; Luke 21:34-36; Joel 2:32; Luke 17:33; Rom.11:33.

Revelation interprets Matt.24:13 for those who “endure to the end”. They will be “kept from the Hour of Trial”. The two Prophets’ 1260-day demonstration of God’s power in Rev.11 ends with “some facing death” after the Two Prophets are killed. But the slaughter of 1/3 of mankind in the 6^th Trumpet of Rev. 9:15 will be over. “Treading the wicked in the winepress” occurs on the same Day in which Christ comes in great glory and power “with ALL the Saints” to be "king over all the earth". I Thess.3:13; Zech.14:5-9.

I see the signs of Seal 6, the songs of Moses and the Lamb and the Praise of Act One, the Prayers of Act Two and the Portents of Act Three occurring in quick sequence. At the first blast of the Last Trump, Plague #7 implodes. The wine of Wrath’s Cup pours out on Babylon at history’s greatest quake. That city splits into 3 parts. During the Inner Path’s “Hour of Trial”, aftershocks of this quake destroy earth’s cities and mountains. Rev.16:18-21. The Saints meet Jesus in the clouds before this “Hour of Trial” begins for all mankind.

Why the Lack of Interest in Reading Revelation? Revelation prepares the Saints facing martyrdom. Their reward is to “serve God in heaven’s Temple for 1000 years and the Lamb will shepherd them”. Rev.20:4-5; Rev. 7:15-17. Act Two, Seal 7, presents their case before the Court. Act Three projects their resurrection at the 2^nd sound of the Last Trump and their “gathering together above by the angels unto Jesus” at the 3^rd sound. I Thess.4:16; Matt.24:31; 2 Thess.2:1.

Millions now expect to be raptured before the great tribulation. This doctrine need not be debated because Revelation is primarily for the Martyrs. The Rapture is not mentioned in Revelation. But survivors must accompany the Martyrs in the “First Resurrection”.

The “appointed time” to reward the Saints requires the resurrection of the dead in Christ at Trump #7.  Trib-Martyrs are glorified in the “First Resurrection” because they will “serve God in the Temple of heaven”. Survivors to the End reign on earth. Jesus Christ will “rule the earth” as well as “lead the Martyrs to fountains of water in the Temple of heaven” simultaneously for 1000 years. Rev.2:26; Rev.7:15-17; Rev.20:4.

In Act One the Martyrs learn they will enjoy their reward to serve God in heaven and they “praise God and the Lamb for their salvation”… having “overcome to the end”. The lack of interest in Revelation may be due to the wrong reason for “comforting one another”; by saying: “We are not appointed to go thru great tribulation”. The Martyrs are prepared to be “overcomers”; they cannot possibly be “lukewarm” in serving the Lord.

My innovative view of a single 12-Hour Day of the Lord embraces the Rapture and Resurrection of all Believers on the same 12-Hour Day. The comfort of I Thess.4:18 is that all who are “alive and survive until the Presence of Jesus will be caught up to meet their loved ones”.  This Day is the Last Day and Jesus repeats His promise to “reward every Believer on the day He comes in glory”. Matt. 16:27; Rev.22:12.

Survivors are not the main subjects in Revelation. Yet all who “overcome to the end” are assured of “reigning with Christ on earth over the nations”. Rev.2:26-27.  Martyrs, the “called, elect and faithful, will come with the Lamb”!  Rev.17:14. They will “reign with Christ in heaven for 1000 years”. Rev.20:4.

While an “any-moment Rapture” offers some “comfort in the hope to escape great tribulation”, Paul assures Trib-survivors they will meet their loved ones who rise up first  ... “caught up to meet them at His Presence”. I Thess.3:13; I Thess.4:13-17. It is obvious that to “endure and remain until He comes” relates to those who “survive and keep His word to the End”!  Matt.24:13; Rev.2:26.

The flashback between the 6^th and 7^th Trumpets (Rev.10:1 to Rev.11:14) to the 1260-day task of the two Prophets reveals God’s Kingdom Power will be manifested during their entire conflict with the Beast until “Chronos-time is no longer” subject to a countdown. The unknown Last Day will then be imminent. The flashback to six Trumpets (Rev.8:6 to 9:21) similarly requires the Court’s Verdict (Seal #7) before the 7^th Trumpet sounds. At Rev.20:4 the Martyrs learn they will first “sit in judgment on their persecutors”!

The known time-frame of 1260 days ends “whenever the Last Trump is about to sound; when God’s mystery was finished”.  Rev.10:6-7; Rev.11:7-14. The 3½ days separating the deaths of the Prophets and the Last Trump allow for the invasion of millions of soldiers into Israel at Armageddon in Plague #6. The Prophets suddenly arise, while the sun is still dark, and four great winds cause giant tsunamis. A quake kills 7,000 of the Beast’s elite Revolutionary Guard in Jerusalem. The Remnant trembles but rejoices.

The Last Martyr triggers the End. The “parenthesis” of 25 Endtime verses between Trumps #6 and #7 (Rev.10:1 to Rev.11:14), and the 25 Outer Path verses between the end of the Beast’s reign in Rev.13 and the open Temple at Rev.15:5, reveal the pattern of Revelation. Just like the “playback” of six Trumpets in Seal #7 (Rev.8:6 to Rev.9:21), each parenthesis reveals and repeats a pattern by which John keeps returning to climactic Lastday events. These “parentheses” end with the victory scene of the Martyrs singing the song of Moses followed by their vindication at the 7^th Trumpet; Act Three of the Temple Drama!

The Outer Path ends and the Middle Path events begin as the Temple opens at Rev.15:5 and Rev.7:9. Martyrs sing before God on a sea of fire in the Outer Path. They praise God and the Lamb in the Middle Path’s Temple Drama of Rev.7. Sitting as judges at the Court of Seal 7 (Dan.7:22) they witness the verdict to avenge their blood. In each Path we find what “has come” on the Day of Wrath: Three things in the Outer Path; three in the Middle Path; and “the Lamb’s wedding has come” in the Inner Path. Rev.19:7.

The 7^th Trumpet climaxes the Middle Path and crowns Messiah as King to rule the kingdoms of earth. His Coronation occurs immediately before the Vengeance at Armageddon on the Day Christ is revealed. Zech.14:9; Dan.7:14; Rev.11:15-17; Rev.15:4; Rev.19:15-21. It is the Day of the Last Trump, of Deliverance for the righteous and Destruction for the wicked. Zechariah ties this day to the Feast of Tabernacles.  See accompanying message.

EASTER, RESURRECTION AND FEAST OF TABERNACLES

Our hope and salvation are based on Christ’s resurrection. Paul reveals the resurrection occurs simultaneously with the “souls of the saints” coming from heaven with Jesus. Only the 144,000, the two Prophets and Enoch are alive in heaven at His coming. Saints martyred in the great tribulation are resurrected so that Christ comes “with all the Saints”. I Thess.4:13-14. The resurrection occurs on the day Christ is crowned “King of kings”.

The “key” word is that each of 7 things “has come” on the “unique day” of God’s wrath. Signs of that day continue from noon in Israel until twilight. Amos 8:9; Zech.14:6-7. The 7^th Trumpet anticipates what Daniel and Zechariah reveal: “On this day all the holy ones come with the Lord and He will be king over all the earth”. He comes with the Saints to receive His Kingdom. Zech.14:5-9; Dan.7:14-27.

This day, the Feast of Tabernacles, always occurs at the time of the full moon; but it varies one or two days before the full moon to one or two days after the full moon from year to year on a Hebrew calendar.

That’s why, in Revelation, the 7^th Trumpet repeats what Jesus said about the “days after the tribulation”. In the days after “chronos-time ends,” the “appointed (kairos) time comes” for Resurrection, Rewards and Retribution. The 6^th of 7 things on that day “has come” at the 7^th Trumpet. That 6^th thing is “God’s wrath”. Here also are the “judgment of the dead (Resurrection), rewards to prophets and saints (by coming WITH Jesus; for He brings His Rewards with Him) and on the same day the total destruction of the wicked who are destroying the earth (Retribution)”. Rev.11:15-18; Rev.22:12; Matt.16:27.

At the Feast of Tabernacles, on which day Zechariah affirms “the Lord will be King over all the earth, a unique day when He comes with all the holy ones”, the *Resurrection* is announced by the 7^th Trumpet. It is the “last trump” for the Martyrs and will sound three times: First to crown Christ as King. Dan.7:14; Rev.11:15-17. Second, Jesus “brings the Saints in heaven with Him and gathers the elect from earth”. I Thess.4:13-17; Mark13:27.

And third He “sends the angels with the sound of a great trumpet to gather all the elect out of all the extremities of the heavens unto Himself”. Matt.24:31; 2 Thess.2:1.

Trib-Martyrs know they are part of the “first resurrection”; that they will “serve God in heaven’s temple for 1000 years”. Rev.20:4-5. Belief in the resurrection is more than hope. It’s the “sure anchor of the soul” for saints who need encouragement and strength to face death for the glory of Jesus Christ! Heb.6:19. Nothing can separate us from Him.

Perhaps anxiety makes some reticent about reading the Book of Revelation. But it is no mystery to me that Victory, Vindication and Vengeance come on the Day for the Feast of Tabernacles. Resurrection, Rewards and Retribution occur on the Day the Martyrs hear the Last Trump sound three times.

God’s wrath is intrinsically linked to the 12-Hour Day of Deliverance and Destruction when the Martyrs come out from under the Altar and enter the Temple. They come with Christ on the same day and in the same hour He is crowned King of kings and Lord of lords! Next: The Inner Path.  Mel Miller