Reading for April 28th

THE THREE BLASTS OF WOE in 8.13-11.18: As the first four trumpets were introduced by a short dramatic scene (8.3-5), so also are the last three (8.13). Only two of these woes are later marked (9.12; 11.14). The last trumpet is hardly a woe, for it contains nothing unpleasant. Read Revelation 8.13-9.12 In 9.1-11: The fifth trumpet. The star that has fallen is an apparent reference to the myth of Lucifer (see Isa 14; Luke 10.18). The opening of the pit unleashes demonic forces for the first time in the story (it will be close again in 20.3). In verse 3: The locusts echo the plague on Egypt (Ex 10.12-20) and are modeled on Joel 2.4: The seal of God refers to 7.1-3. In verse 10: five months is more that a third of a year, the only other use of five is at 17.10. In verse 11: Abaddon is the Hebrew term for the grave or the pit; Apollyon seems to be apun for its usual Greek translation ("apoleia," destruction), changed to suggest the sun god Apollo. Comments or Questions..