The verses before us this morning are universally accepted as some of the most difficult to interpret in the entire Apocalypse.

In this test, John identifies another mighty angel coming down from heaven. Who is this mighty angel? Furthermore, verse 8-11 are equally intriguing.

The sixth angel blows his trumpet and thus we have a detailed account of what is set loose. This is the second woe, the second terror. The intense text introduces us to a demonic cavalry of unparalleled number and ferocity - 200,00,000- and they come charging across the eschatological scene of history.

In verses 1-12, we have a scary, mysterious account of the fifth angel sounding forth the fifth trumpet. These verses are dreadful in their statement of what happens next.

Revelation 8 and 9 contain the second great series of judgments: the seven trumpets. As you may recall, chapter 6 begins the account of the divine tribulation. Chapter 19 will bring it to its rightful conclusion with the second coming of Christ to the earth to establish His earthly reign.

This morning our objective is to investigate what the Scripture teaches about "The Book of Life."

As you may recall, chapter six ended with the question: “...for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?” In chapter 7, John provides the definitive answer: the 144,000 and a great multitude from every nation.

In the sermon text before us this morning, the Lamb opens the fifth and sixth seals. In verses 1-8 of chapter six, we read of the wrath of God. In these verses, 9-17, we read of what sounds like a total contradiction, which is “the wrath of the Lamb” (6:16).

The four horsemen introduce us to the first of God’s three series of judgments in Revelation: the SEAL judgments in chapter 6; the TRUMPET judgments in chapters 8 and 9, and the BOWL judgments in chapters 15 and 16.

Before pressing ahead into chapter six of Revelation, it seems prudent to take a moment and define a “complex of events” known as the great tribulation.