Chapter 8
Seven Angels — Seven Trumpets
In the seventh chapter John saw four angels standing on “the four corners of the earth . . . holding the four winds of the earth”. The events of chapter 6 concluded with the accession to power of Constantine.
By the year A.D. 324 this ruler’s victory over paganism was completed and for the following 14-1 5 years peace reigned over the Empire until Constantine’s death in A.D. 338.
The first verse of chapter 8 informs us that there was silence in “heaven”, that is the place of rulership or political heaven, “about” the space of half an hour.
Dr. Thomas makes a suggestion regarding the time, which appears to be a reasonable solution of the period mentioned. It is this: a Jewish year comprised 360 days. One month was therefore 30 days. The day comprised 12 hours. On the basis of Ezekiel 4. 6 a day prophetically represents one year; one twelfth of a year would be 30 days. Half an hour would therefore be about 15 days, which extended to a day for a year is 15 years. However the prophecy says “about” half an hour. Actually the period only lasted a little over 14 years.
Seven Angels
According to the first verse of chapter 8 the Seventh Seal opened in A.D. 324 with Constantine’s victory over Paganism.
This seal is not finished until the Lord Jesus Christ returns. The seal, of course, includes within its period Seven Trumpets, the seventh of which contains the Seven Vials, the seventh of which contains the Seven Thunders or final outpourings of Divine wrath upon a world ripe for judgment. John tells us that seven angels stood before God, and to each of them was given a trumpet.
Seven Trumpets
Trumpets have traditionally been used through the ages as a means of summoning people together. Generally the purpose has been to summon people to battle. (See Numbers chap. 10 and Leviticus 23. 24.) It is to be noted that although the angels receive the trumpets, they are not used immediately. Verse 3 of chap. 8 informs us that another angel comes and stands at the altar having a golden censer.
To him was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of the saints, or sanctified or set-apart ones; who were actually Christ’s servants. In chap. 5. 8 we are informed that the saints had vials or bowls full of “odours”. The margin gives the alternative word for odours as incense. We are further informed that such incense represented the prayers of saints, or Christ’s “sanctified ones” (see also Luke 1. 10).
Although peace had been experienced by the ordinary citizens of the Empire during the “silence in heaven”, or 1 4 years to A.D. 337-338, this was not the lot of Christ’s true servants, who were persecuted by the State-controlled church.
The saints’ answer to their persecution was to address their prayers through Christ to the throne of the Father, thereby seeking relief from the pressure brought to bear against them. (See Psalm 14 1 -2. )
Saints Prayers Answered
In v. 5 of chap. 8, the reader is informed that the censer of the angels was filled with “fire”. Fire represented the spirit of God, which was to be poured out on the “earth.” or habitable. The result was that there issued forth, “voices, thunderings, lightning and an earthquake”. Herein was symbolised war and revolt, within the Roman Empire.
Upon Constantine’s death his three sons assumed control of their father’s dominion. The three sons were Constantine (2nd), Constantius and Constans.
Constantine the second ruled over Britain, Gaul and Spain. Constantius ruled Thrace and the eastern section. Constans took over Illyricum, Italy and Africa.
The brothers each having the rich prize of the Empire before him, could not agree. Consequently, Constantine the second and Constans used their armies against each other. Constantine was killed and Constans was later assassinated. The remaining brother, Constantius, took over as sole ruler and the 24 years of his reign were constantly disturbed by threats and upheavals within the Empire and attacks from outside it.
Persia from the east constantly attacked the Roman forces and came as far west as the Hellespont. (See Gibbons’ “Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire”, Vol. 1, Persian wars.) The Alemanni and Franks of the west also assailed the Empire.
Constantius was cruel and ruthless. So much so indeed that he murdered all his relations except Gallus and Julian. Julian was an able and successful general and upon the death of Constantius became Emperor.
His elevation brought about a political earthquake, as, never having been a Christian, he restored Paganism. Strangely enough he persecuted the Catholics and protected the Donatists, as the true believers were known. This sect was quite numerous, and this ruler’s actions appear to be part of God’s answer to the prayers of the saints. Unfortunately, the changes of his reign did not continue beyond his death, and Jovian who succeeded him in A.D. 363 re-established State Catholicism, himself being a Catholic.
The Angels Prepare to Sound
Verse 6 of chap. 8 states that the seven angels with the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound. The next 32 years brought increasing discord within the Empire, with political, civil and religious disorders, and the reigns of the next four Emperors, Valentinian, Valens, Gratian, and Theodosius were filled with strife and trouble, which was, however, but the precursor of catastrophe.
Barbarians on the move
The Goths crossed the Danube in A.D. 366. This had been recognised as the northern border of the Empire, and their power was eventually taken to the Baltic sea. The Allemanni and Ostrogoths also violated the Empire’s borders, and the Saxons attacked Gaul, or France as we now call it. Under these conditions troops had to be withdrawn from the perimeter of the Roman domain, and so humbled was the once proud power that a treaty was signed with the Barbarians.
This treaty allowed a considerable number of the Barbarians to settle as citizens of the Empire in Thrace, Phrygia and Illyricum. However, they were not loyal to Rome and secretly plotted to overthrow the power they professed to serve.
A terrible holocaust was soon to burst upon the Empire and the year A.D. 395 was to bring the opening of the First Trumpet, which will be dealt with next month.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One