Richard Vandagriff

Interpreting the First Four Trumpets. The trumpets sound after the interlude in heaven following the opening of the seventh seal. As stated, the first four trumpets are no different than the forces unleashed in the first four seals, which also appear as the four winds of C. 7. Rather than new events under each of these signs, it is a repetition of the same forces or conditions in each instance; indicating the surety, nearness and scope of the coming tribulation.…

“And when the seal was broken there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.” The silence is in heaven, not on earth. This indicates a gathering or coming situation or condition, the calm before the storm (so-to-speak) or the prequel to events – a short time. Seven angels prepare to sound their trumpets. The trumpets, here as with any use of trumpets in the scriptures, herald events, or call forth forces. Another angel with golden censor prepares to offer…

There is an interlude in heaven, which is visited as the events are unfolding upon the earth. The four winds are the same forces as the four horsemen previously mentioned (C. 5).  Verse 1) Some restraint is brought about of the forces on the earth through the administration of the first four seals. The winds appear to be another symbol for the spiritual forces unleashed with the breaking of the first four seals, now being held back for a short…

When the seals are opened by the Lamb things begin to happen. The first four seals are rightly called by others the “four horsemen of the apocalypse” (apocalypse is anglicized from the Greek word for revelation). Okay. When each of the first four seals is opened, when one of the four living creatures speaks, the vision is of a horseman coming forth. The point of the signs is to show that a sequence of events is now unfolding with the…

In the right hand of God Almighty on the throne, is a scroll “written inside and out” sealed and closed with seven seals. As the book was written all over and already sealed, that means you and I don’t get to speculate on its content. It is finished and complete. So much for the notion of continuous revelation and visions. As the contents of the book have been set, the action therefore cannot be fulfilled until the seals are removed.…

  Have you ever wondered why we feel compelled to try and interpret Revelation and each sign in such distinct and minute detail? The answer to that lies in the mystique that has enveloped the letter over the centuries. It is simply the most uniformly misunderstood book in the scriptures. This is in part due to the attempts to locate various dates, ideologies and doctrines within its signs and symbols. If we begin the study of the visions that unfold…

General comments on the letters --- 1.) Ephesus: the church at Ephesus suffered from indifference - they had "lost their first love." Many good things are mentioned (v.2&3). Nicolaitans are listed by Irenaeus to be followers of Nicolas, one of the seven listed as deacons in Acts, although that is likely nothing more than some want-to-be folklore leaving a stain against the name of one of the first deacons, of whom nothing certain is known beyond his appointment in Jerusalem.…

Ephesus was the most prominent city of Asia and the eventual capital of the Roman province. It was home to the Temple of Artemis (Greek: Diana) considered one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world, which was at the center of the controversy involving Paul as was recorded in Acts 19. The temple was important because it was the major bank for the Mediterranean world. This simple fact should make clear to students the center and seriousness of the…

Why churches in these seven cities were identified first recipients of the first set of visions is, as noted, a subject of conjecture. These seven cities also act as a type for the churches in Asia rather than being the only churches worthy of address. While the letters are specific to these seven, the letters may be viewed certainly today as representative of problems common to many assemblies. It is again useful to note that the letters are listed in all texts…

The addressing to the angels of the seven churches is noted in verse 11. The vision is revealed to John and is to be delivered to the identified assemblies; and he was told to write the message in each case “to the angel of the church...” Why these are recorded to seven angels has always been viewed with some imposed difficulty by us groundlings. As has been noted, the word for angel may also correctly be translated as a messenger.…