Day 151

“The first sounded, and there was hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled to the earth; and a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.” Rev 8:7 NASB.

History is brutal. The events triggered by the trumpets in Revelation denote God’s intervention in history in response to the prayers of His people. While the seals concern primarily those who profess to be God’s people, the trumpets herald judgments against the inhabitants of the earth (Rev8:13). At the same time, they are warnings for those who dwell on the earth to bring them to repentance before it is too late. 

The seven trumpets cover the course of events from John’s time until the conclusion of this earth’s history (Rev11:15-18). They are blown while Jesus’ intercession goes on in heaven (Rev8:3-6) and the gospel is being preached on earth (Rev10:8-11-11:14). The judgments of the trumpets are partial; they affect only “one-third” of creation. The seventh trumpet announces that the time has arrived for God to assume His rightful rule. The seven trumpets apply approximately to the same periods covered by the seven churches and the seven seals: 

1. The first two trumpets herald judgments upon the nations that crucified Christ and persecuted the early church: rebellious Jerusalem and the Roman Empire. 
2. The third and fourth trumpets portray heaven’s judgment against the apostasy of the Christian church in the medieval period. 

1. The fifth and sixth trumpets describe the warring factions in the religious world during the late medieval and post-Reformation periods. These periods are characterized by increasing demonic activity that ultimately draws the world into the battle of Armageddon. 

In case you are wondering – does that mean God caused e.g. the Black Death of the “Medieval Period?” The answer is no. In a previous devotional we talked about how the word of God was lost sight of and the knowledge that would have prevented or minimised the plagues was obscured. God in effect had to stand aside. Man brings his own judgments. Incidentally, the Jews were often blamed for causing the plague because they weren’t being infected. They were following the OT health laws!