THE TRUMPET JUDGMENTS BEGIN

Continuing our stroll through the book of Revelation, we have come to the second series of judgments.  Though there are some that teach that the seal, trumpet and bowl judgments are just one series of judgments presented different ways in more detail, I cannot accept that teaching.  Each series of judgments are unique and presented as impacting planet earth with increasing severity and devastation.

Revelation 8:6-12 “And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.  The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up. And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood; And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed. And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters; And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter. And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.”

Although no time frame is given, the 7th seal and the first four trumpet judgments seem to be authorized and dispensed in fairly rapid succession, as did the first four seals. 

The first trumpet judgment results in a great hailstorm mixed with fire and blood.  The major impact to planet earth is to burn up a third of the trees and all the green grass.  This judgment clearly seems to be in reference to a worldwide impact.

The second trumpet judgment John has to describe the best he can.  It looks to him like a big mountain of fire is cast into the sea (a meteor?).  As a result, a third of the sea became blood; it doesn’t say as blood; it says blood.  A third of the created living things in the sea die, and a third of the ships in the sea are destroyed. 

When the third trumpet is blown, a great star that is burning like a lamp falls upon a third of the rivers and fountains of fresh waters.  This appears to refer to a specific section of planet earth.  The star is called Wormwood (calamity, bitterness).  Many men die because of the bitter, acrid waters that are evidently poisonous.  Could this be the time about which Jeremiah prophesied? 

Jeremiah 9:15 Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will feed them, even this people, with wormwood, and give them water of gall to drink.

As I contemplate the possibility of meteors, it brings to mind the teaching of science that if a “great star” were to hit planet earth, it would pretty much destroy life as we know it.  Of course, we really don’t know the size of this “star” when it hits—just that it appears to be big as it is headed for earth.  Maybe God causes it to splinter into smaller, less devastating pieces that poison a third of the fresh waters on earth; that would represent a very large area of impact.

Once the fourth angel sounds his trumpet a third of the sun, the moon and the stars are darkened to the extent that there is absolutely no light for a third part of the day and a third part of the night.  In my mind this fits right in with the fact that darkness in scripture is connected to evil, and evil will be running rampant upon the earth at that time.

John 3:19-20 “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.”

(to be continued…)