The first angel blew his trumpet
Sun, 17 December, 2006: Today’s Bible readings.
6 Now the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to blow them.
7 The first angel blew his trumpet, and there followed hail and fire, mixed with blood, and these were thrown upon the earth. And a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.
8 The second angel blew his trumpet, and something like a great mountain, burning with fire, was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood. 9 A third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.
10 The third angel blew his trumpet, and a great star fell from heaven, blazing like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. 11 The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many people died from the water, because it had been made bitter.
12 The fourth angel blew his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, and a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of their light might be darkened, and a third of the day might be kept from shining, and likewise a third of the night.
13 Then I looked, and I heard an eagle crying with a loud voice as it flew directly overhead, “Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth, at the blasts of the other trumpets that the three angels are about to blow!”
In response to the prayers of the saints, God begins to meet out judgment against those who are rebelling against Him on the earth. In our chapter for today, we have four of seven trumpets of judgment sounded.
The judgments are severe, as one third of the earth, trees, grass, sea, ships, rivers, sprints, sun, moon, and stars are struck. But it isn’t a final, complete judgment. Two thirds are spared.
What do we learn from this?
As people continue in their rebellion against God, He will eventually bring judgment upon them. A society that continues to reject God will face His just condemnation. But as we see in this case, God, even in His judgment in time, grants opportunities for people to repent and turn to Him. God does not completely destroy everyone and everything. He spares some, giving them further opportunity to repent and find forgiveness.
God could instantly usher all who are in rebellion against Him into eternal punishment. But instead He has mercy upon us, giving us the opportunity to repent and turn to Him.
Where is Christ in this passage?
In our chapter today, one third are ushered into eternity due to God’s judgment against their sin. But two thirds are granted the opportunity to repent of their sins and turn to God through faith in Jesus Christ.
As long as we have life, we have the opportunity to repent. But once we die, our fate is sealed. What we did with Jesus Christ during our lifetime here on earth decides where we spend eternity.
So we are again encouraged to turn to God in faith, trusting in Jesus Christ as the substitute for our sins. He is the only way we can avoid God’s eternal punishment against our sins.
