Revelations 8 and 9

Starting with chapter 8, the focus is on events that occur in the seventh of the thousand year periods. The events in this chapter and the next cover events before the second coming. There are a series of woes that are going to happen prior to the second coming and the beginning of the millennium, sometime after this thousand year period begins. The millennium actually begins when the Lord commences his rule on the earth. His reign could actually begin prior to the second coming in Adam Ondi Ahman when Adam returns with all of the previous prophets and they give back the keys that the Savioir gave them.

There are a series of woes that must happen first and because of them, the Lord's second coming is delayed. So we are at the beginning of the seventh period, but many things must occur before the second coming. One of the signs is silence in heaven for a half-hour. Reckoning by the Lord's time of a day equals a thousand years, this could be 21 days. We don't know what this signifies. But in the Book of Mormon, there was silence for many hours after the destruction that followed the Lord's crucifixion. Seven trumpets signal the pouring out of judgments or woes. There will be an earthquake of major proportions and it appears there will be a worldwide devastating war. I personally think that the fires refer to nuclear war.

The description of the war includes the last battle called Armageddon where an innumerable host of armies and weapons will appear. They are symbolized as locusts that will devour the earth for five months. Five months is the actual lifespan of a locust. The destructive forces are lead by Satan and the wicked, one third of the world's population, will be destroyed. Like the Book of Mormon, in spite of all that is happening, the wicked still will not change and repent. The righteous, those marked in the head, will be saved. I relate this to the temple ordinances. Some wonder if some of the descriptions given by John are attempts to describe modern weapons and things such as missiles, jets, etc., that would be incomprehensible to him.