The Mountain Thrown into the Sea

1. At the sound of the second trumpet of Revelation, the following scene is presented: «The second angel sounded. And something like a great burning with fire was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became ; and a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the were destroyed.» The Word of God will give us the keys we need to decode this symbolism.

2. By comparing the content of the second trumpet with other passages in the Bible, we see that a «mountain burning with fire thrown into the sea» symbolizes a chastisement sent by God in order to punish a specific sin. What is that sin?
   Coveting the property of others.
   Robbing God in tithes and offerings.
   Transgressing the Sabbath day.
   Oppressing the people of God.

3. In Bible prophecy, what does a mountain symbolize?
   A kingdom, a political power.
   A Church, a religious power.
   The Holy Spirit.
   A mountain, literally.

4. In Bible prophecy, what does a burning mountain symbolize?
   Satan.
   A persecuting kingdom that will be destroyed.
   A very destructive natural cataclysm.
   The kingdom of God.

5. In Bible prophecy, what does the sea symbolize?
   A kingdom, a political power.
   A sparsely-populated place, a desert.
   Peoples, multitudes, nations.
   The sea, literally.

6. In Bible prophecy, what do the ships floating on the sea symbolize?
   God's angels.
   Those who hold dominion over the peoples of the earth.
   The twelve apostles.
   Ships, literally.

7. The key to understanding the second trumpet of Revelation is found in an Old Testament story, which is closely linked to the symbolism of this trumpet. What is that story?
   The Flood.
   The Red Sea Crossing.
   The Destruction of Jericho.
   The Fall of Babylon.

8. When the second trumpet of Revelation sounds, who is the oppressor of God's people?
   Babylon.
   The Greek Empire.
   The Roman Empire.
   The Barbarian tribes.

9. Just as the sea submerged the burning mountain of the second trumpet, peoples rose up and brought about the fall of the Roman Empire. Among the Barbarian tribes that contributed to this fall, history mentions the following ones (check off all the right answers):
   The tribe of the Visigoths, led by Alaric.
   The tribe of the Vandals, led by Gaiseric.
   The tribe of the Heruli, led by Odoacer.
   The tribe of the Franks, led by Clovis.

10. Finally, the symbolism of the second trumpet of Revelation is closely linked to these words of Jesus, reported in the Gospel according to Mark, saying that no obstacle, not even the mighty Roman Empire, will prevent God's work from progressing: «Have in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this , "Be removed and be cast into the ", and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will come to pass, he will whatever he says.»

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