A Study of The Book of Revelation, Part #31

E. Gillespie

THE FIRST TRUMPET

Revelation 8:7:

Looking out of my window some time ago as a bad storm was raging, I began to sing an old African-American Spiritual that is no longer in vogue.  The words were as such, "My Lord, He calls me, He calls me by the thunder; The trumpet sounds within my soul, I ain’t got long to stay here. Green trees are bending, Poor sinners stand a-trembling; The trumpet sounds within my soul, I ain’t got long to stay here."  Isn't it strange that most modern day spiritual songs no longer focus on the return of Jesus?

Verse 7. 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.

The first of the seven angels assumed his position, raised his trumpet, and the blast went forth. Immediately, hail (chunks of Ice), fire (yes, literal fire), and blood . No "as" or "like" is used here to mean this is to be spiritualized   not symbolic fire, not symbolic blood, but real ice, real fire and real blood fell from the sky upon the earth.  One third of all the trees will perish, and all the green grass will be burned up. Visualize a large area  devastated by a forest fire.  If you find it difficult to accept that ice, fire and blood can come down out of the sky upon the earth, read Exodus 9:18-25,  remember that God Almighty changes not! He is the same, yesterday, today and forever.

 Many have begun to teach that God is not that kind of God.  He has been redefined and made a God of love who like to give gifts.  This sound good to the masses and draws people  into a particular assembly. If you teach this type of Gospel, if you have heard it from the lips of some preacher, it  makes no difference, you will face the judgment of God.  If you embrace any other Gospel other than the Gospel of Grace you will be here on earth when the tribulation began. According to the Bible, according to the Book of Revelation, that overlooked book, that obscured book, the terrible judgment of blood, ice and fire will be rained upon this earth when the angel sound the first trumpet. Judgement will be rained down upon this earth. and there will be no hiding place, there will be no escape, when God’s wrath is let loose!  This really don't sound like the God we hear so much about today do it?  This don't sound like the God whose works have been turned into vain aspirations by our testimoney. 

Visualize this, after the Rapture has occurred, after the saints of God have been caught up to meet Jesus in the air, one day the radio and television networks of the world will send out an announcement such as this: “Ladies and gentlemen, the sky looks very strange. The elements are extremely hot. In some sections it is reported that fire and ice mingled with a sticky red substance (some say it is blood) are falling upon the earth. Scientists, chemists, astrologers, and weathermen are baffled. No one seems to understand the cause of this terrible deluge of ice, fire and blood. Stand by for later information as we receive it.”

THE SECOND TRUMPET

Revelation 8:8-9:

8. 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; 9. 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.

The Bible is true in every minute detail. It is verbally inspired. The Holy Spirit is careful to point out here that this is not a literal mountain - but “as it were” a great mountain. In other words, we can understand how it looked when we think of a giant mountain falling into the sea. What John actually saw was no doubt an immense meteoric mass, ablaze with fire. Probably much larger than the one that fell in Russia some time ago.   God simply turned loose one of the giant meteors and it plunged to earth in a blaze.  No even NASA can protect us.  The verse says, “The sea became as blood” (notice - sea, not seas), probably referring to the Mediterranean sea, because Israel is back in her own land at this time.  Remember to spiritualize the children of Israel and to claim the blessing of Abraham for the church is to wreck the Bible.  Israel has not been forgotton, Israel and the church is not the same.  The Antichrist will be reigning from Jerusalem, the Temple will be rebuilt and the center of all these judgments will be upon the land of Israel. They will reach to the four corners of the earth, but will be most severe in the land of Israel. When this great burning mass fell into the sea, it turned a third part of the sea into blood.

Yes, the water became blood - not symbolic blood, just plain blood! If you doubt that water could be changed into pure blood, read concerning the first Egyptian plague when Pharaoh rebelled against God (Exodus 7:19-21). Read the account where God turned the waters of the Nile into blood: “And all the waters that were in the river were turned into blood. And the fish that was in the river died; and the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink of the water of the river; and there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt.” The only difference between this first Egyptian plague and the effect on the sea by the falling of the burning mass, is that only one-third of the sea shall become blood when the burning mountain strikes. Thus, only one-third of the living creatures shall die. Also one-third of the ships shall be destroyed. This will possibly occur by means of a giant tidal wave when the burning mountain falls into the sea causing earthquakes and tsunamis. Think of it! The first thing that come to memory is the 2011 tsunami that struct japan, only the judgment of God will be on a much larger scale.

THE THIRD TRUMPET

Revelation 8:10-11:

10. 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:

11. 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.

Note the words “burning as it were a lamp.” Here, John uses a lamp to illustrate the tremendous burning light that fell from the sky, as he used the mountain to illustrate the burning mass under the second trumpet. When the third trumpet sounded, John saw a great star fall from Heaven, burning like a giant torch. No doubt this will be another heavenly body - a meteor or such like - that God turns loose; and as it falls it will assume the form of a giant torch, in its blazing path down through the heavens as it speeds toward earth at an unknown rate of speed. We have already seen this on a smaller scale, these should serve as a warning of things to come.  When the gaseous vapors are scattered throughout the atmosphere, and these vapors explode, they will be absorbed by the waters - and a third of the rivers and fountains of water will be poisoned by the gasses from this burning torch. The waters will be made very bitter. Many men shall die from drinking the poisoned water. “Wormwood” is a perennial herb, extremely bitter used in the manufacture of absinthe, which is used as a beverage, and is much more intoxicating and destructive to the human body than ordinary liquors known in America.This time of judgment is foretold by the prophet, Jeremiah: “Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will feed them, even this people (the people Israel), with wormwood, and give them water of gall to drink" (Jeremiah 9:15).  If you are born again now you have nothing to fear or dread, for you will not be here. The born again, the believer in the Gospel of Grace will be seated at the marriage supper in the sky when these terrible judgments occur (Revelation 19:7-10). They will be receiving their Crowns.

THE FOURTH TRUMPET

Revelation 8:12-13:

12. 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.

13. And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!

In Daniel 4:26 we learn that the Heaven rules. Here when the fourth angel sends out the trumpet blast, a third part of the sun is smitten, a third part of the moon is smitten, a third part of the stars are smitten, a third part of the day is blacked out - and the night likewise.That means that a third part of daylight will be blacked out around the world. In this present time, when it is light here in the United States, it is dark in China; when it is light in China, it is dark here in the United States. But when the fourth trumpet sounds it will be dark a third part of the Chinese day and a third part of the American day, proving that Heaven does rule and that God controls the affairs of Heaven and earth. In Luke’s Gospel we read, “There shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken” (Luke 21:25,26).

Eight centuries before the birth of Jesus, God spoke to Joel and gave to him a picture of the plagues that will accompany the day of the Lord. Read these verses and tremble, if you are not born again. Read them and rejoice if you ARE saved, that you will not be here when these things come to pass. And then do your best to get every sinner saved that you possibly can! “Alas for the day! for the day of the Lord is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come. Is not the meat cut off before our eyes, yea, joy and gladness from the house of our God? The seed is rotten under their clods, the garners are laid desolate, the barns are broken down; for the corn is withered. How do the beasts groan! the herds of cattle are perplexed, because they have no pasture; yea, the flocks of sheep are made desolate. O Lord, to thee will I cry: for the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness, and the flame hath burned all the trees of the field. The beasts of the field cry also unto thee: for the rivers of waters are dried up, and the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness.

“Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand; a day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations. A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them. “The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run. Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array. Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness. They shall run like

mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks: Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded. They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief. The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining: And the Lord shall utter His voice before His army: for His camp is very great: for He is strong that executeth His word: for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?” (Joel 1:15-2:11).

 Verse 13: “And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of Heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!”

 Notice: John says, “I beheld and I heard.” Both the eye and ear are engaged, signifying the careful attention and interest of the beloved disciple in the events which pass before him. The angel is flying through mid-heaven . . . the firmament. He can scan the entire earth, from its center to the most remote boundary of the universe. The triple cry of “Woe! woe! woe!” announces the most horrible judgments ever announced . . . judgments that are far beyond the imagination of man.The “woes” are to be especially upon those who have their settled place of abode on the earth. Those who refuse to hear the solemn warnings from Heaven, and in spite of all the announcements of judgment cling to this earth as their home, their strange Gospels and their dwelling place, as if they would abide here forever. Such people are alive today. They are preaching a Gospel of prosperity and God is doing great things for them, they lie on God and the warnings signs go unheeded.

The term “inhabiters of the earth” is used twice before, in chapter 3:10 and 6:10, referring to the peoples upon whom the Tribulation will come, and having to do with the Philadelphia believers and the souls under the altar. The souls under the altar were comforted by being assured that the inhabiters of earth would be judged when their brethren had been killed (during the last three and one-half years of the Tribulation).  This is a distinct and manifest class of people, spoken of in the term “dwellers on or inhabiters of” the earth.  It will be against this perverse, unbelieving class that these terrible woes of God will be directed. first against the Jews, second against the inhabitants of the Roman earth and empire, and last, it will reach to every square inch of the universe and will have to do with every person who inhabits the earth. This will be the final, the omega, of God’s giant judgments of fury.

If we read slowly the verses of our lesson it is not hard to see the reality of the events spoken of.  There is and always have been a preparatory phase where warnings were given.  When I see the condition of humanity and the changing weather patterns, I can only think of one word, "Revelation"

to be continued