Last time we saw the results of the first four angels blowing their trumpets:

Trumpet 1: 1/3 of the earth was burned up

                   1/3 of the trees were burned up and all the grass

Trumpet 2: 1/3 of the sea turned to blood

                   1/3 of the sea creatures died

                   1/3 of the ships were destroyed

Trumpet 3: 1/3 of the rivers and springs turned bitter

                   many people died from the bitter water

Trumpet 4: 1/3 of the day was without light

                  1/3 of the night was without light

The final three trumpets are called "woes."

Trumpet 5 (1st woe): a plague of stinging locusts that tormented people for five months.

Trumpet 6 (2nd woe): an army of 200 million horsemen that kill 1/3 of the people by fire, smoke and sulfur. But the survivors still did repent of their idolatry, murders, witchcraft and sexual immorality.

10:1-11 John's vision continues with him seeing a powerful angel robed in a cloud, a rainbow above his head, face like the sun, and fiery pillars for legs. He held a little scroll in his hand and "planted" his right foot on the sea and his left on the land. He gave out a roar like a lion. Then "the seven thunders" spoke but John was told not to write down what they said. The angel swore an oath that there would be no further delay but the "mystery" would be accomplished with the sounding of the seventh trumpet. Remember the '"mystery" Paul talked about in Ephesians 3:3-12. The mystery was that Jews and Gentiles would be heirs together. John ate the little scroll that was in the angel's hand. It tasted sweet in his mouth but was bitter in his stomach. He was told to "prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages and kings."

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2 Corinthians 7:1-9:15  

we and us = Paul and his coworkers in ministry

you = the Corinthian believers.

7:1 The promises God made (to be a Father to His children, to be their God, and live among them) should motivate the Corinthian believers to "purify" themselves and get rid of whatever might "contaminate" body or spirit. They should try to grow in holiness because of their reverence for God.

v. 2-3 Paul feels shut out by his readers and longs for them to let him back into their hearts. He and his coworkers have never corrupted or exploited anyone. On the contrary, they would be willing to die for the believers in Corinth.

v. 4-7 Next Paul tries to encourage the readers and build a better relationship with them. He praises them and asks for their participation in an offering for the impoverished saints in Jerusalem. He begins by telling them that when he came to Macedonia he was troubled by outside opposition and fears within himself. But God comforted him through Titus' visit. Titus told Paul how the Corinthians were deeply concerned about him. This comforted Paul greatly and serves as an example of what he said at the beginning of this letter (1:3-7)-- that God comforts believers so they can pass that comfort on to others.  

God → comforted Corinthians → comforted Titus→ comforted Paul

v. 8-16 Paul knows he caused them sorrow by his previous letter  

(1 Corinthians) which contained so much correction. He knows it hurt them but now that he sees how it brought them to repentance he doesn't regret sending it. He speaks of two kinds of sorrow: godly sorrow and worldly sorrow. Godly sorrow brings repentance and leaves no regret. Worldly sorrow is more like feeling sorry that you got caught. It doesn't bring about repentance therefore the sin continues and leads to death. But godly sorrow has produced in these readers earnestness, indignation, alarm, eagerness to clear themselves, and readiness to see justice done. This is all in the context of the man who was having an affair with his father's wife (1 Cor. 5:1-13). The church accepted Paul's correction, experienced godly sorrow, repented of having tolerated this man who was openly living a sinful life, and cleared themselves by removing him from their fellowship.

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