The Trumpets Begin to Sound
REVELATION 8:1-13
(December 17)
If you remember from a couple of days ago, we talked about the seals being broken. Out of the seven seals, we heard what happened when six of them were broken. But what about that final seal?
In today's reading, John witnesses the Lamb breaking the seventh seal. When it was broken, there was silence all through heaven for about half an hour. Then John saw each of the seven angels receive a trumpet.
Another angel appears, this one holding a gold incense burner. He stood at the alter and took the large amount of incense that was given to him. Why was so much given? It was to mix with the prayers of God's holy people. This was an offering on the gold alter before the throne.
The prayers, mixed with the smoke, rose up to God from the alter. When that was done, the angel filled the incense burner with fire from the alter and threw it down on the earth. WHOA! That was followed by thunder, lightning and a terrible earthquake.
It was then that the seven angels began to blow their trumpets. We will hear about the first four of them today.
When the first angel blew his trumpet, hail and fire, mixed with blood were thrown down on the earth. One-third of the earth was burned, along with one-third of the trees and all the grass.
Angel number 2 blew his horn and a huge fire was thrown into the sea. One-third of the water turned into blood, one-third of the sea creatures died, and one-third of the ships were destroyed.
When the third angel blew his trumpet, a huge star fell from the sky onto the earth. This star had a name ... Bitterness. So, when it fell, it left one-third of the water bitter, causing many people to die from drinking it.
The trumpet sounding from the fourth angel caused the sun, one-third of the moon, and one-third of the stars to go dark. Because of this, one-third of the day was dark, and one-third of the night.
Then John saw an eagle flying through the air with a loud cry. The eagle was a symbol of swiftness and destruction. The picture we should be getting here is that there is a strong, powerful bird flying over all the earth, with a warning of all the horrible things that are about to take place. "Terror, terror, terror to all who belong to this world because of what will happen when the last three angels blow their trumpets." (Verse 13)
Does this all sound frightening to you? This book is filled with information that can get us really scared, if we let it. The thing we need to remember as believers is that we have the victory. While we may experience the terrors described in Revelation, we will be protected from spiritual harm. It is the unbelievers who will meet spiritual harm during these coming events.
Many say that this particular book is a struggle to read. I thought so too until the Sunday I walked into First Christian Church as a new member of the congregation. Pastor Ed was preaching a sermon series on Revelation, and I gained so much from sitting there each Sunday, listening as he broke it down, and taking a multitude of notes. Once I understood it a little better, it wasn't quite so frightening. When we, as Christians, realize our place in all that is to come, it eases our fears.
My prayer is that as we continue to break this book down into smaller sections, that you, too, will understand better and feel lighter about the contents.