Revelation 8-9 ~ The Trumpets of Heaven
While the wall of Jericho came falling down after the 7 trumpet sounds (held by the 7 priests), we see a similar picture in Revelation 8-9 where the 7 trumpets are now held by the 7 angels. These 7 trumpet sounds occur simultaneously with the events revealed by the 7 seals (recorded in the prior chapters of Revelation). It is interesting to note that because of the prayers of the saints (Revelation 8:4), the response that followed was one of thunder, rumblings, lightning and earthquake (Revelation 8:5). A little more on this later...
Throughout the first six trumpet blasts, we see a sequence of attacks on creation. Hail and fire (Revelation 8:7) marks the general physical natural disasters happening around us while economic downhill takes place as ships were destroyed (Revelation 8:9). The "a third" references made throughout the passage symbolizes something significant. The turn of events in chapter 8 can be compared to that of the ten plagues recorded in the book of Exodus - and plagues show judgment on people...
The blast of the fifth trumpet unfolds an even worse plague of an army and battle imagery of locusts. These, however, are no ordinary locusts. They were told not to harm the grass or any green plant or any tree but were allowed to torment those who are not God's people yet not kill them (Revelation 9:4-5). The locusts are a metaphor for the things of this world that give people so much pain to the extent that they would rather seek death (Revelation 9:6). While Christians can similarly suffer, the pain experienced is different than that described here as 1 Thessalonians 4:13 comforts us that we do not grieve as others do who have no hope, but we have our hope in Jesus.
The sixth trumpet heralds the release of four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates (a border of evil that separates barbarians from the civilized world), who similarly killed those who did not belong to God by the plagues of the four horses and riders previously discussed in Revelation 6 (Revelation 9:13-19). The selective focus here is that those killed are not God's people.
A note that those killed (as well as those who were not) were destroyed because of their various sins such as idol worship, murders, sorceries, sexual immorality or thefts (Revelation 9:20-21). As we can see from the list, it begins with idol worship itself - putting trust in our own works and achievements rather than in God. The irony is that even the best idols cannot see or hear or walk (Revelation 9:20). It reveals the very nature of self-centredness rather than God-centredness. 1 John 2:15-17 warns us: Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world - the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions - is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with irs desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
This passage (as well as others) in Revelation shows us that all the plagues and tragedies that happen have multiple causation: nature, Satan, God (the idea of "given" and "allowed" in Revelation 8:2; 9:1, 5 and 13), sin (we all deserve judgment), and interestingly (as foreshadowed earlier), prayers of God's people. The infamous line of "hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come" from the Lord's Prayer should shed some light as to why this is one of the causes - it is a prayer that asks for God's justice to be revealed!
More importantly, are we heeding to the call of the warning trumpets? Or are we recalcitrant and unyielding to repentance? Friends, let us not be like those who did not repent of their sins. Instead, we should turn to God and ask Him for His forgiveness as we start a life anew in Christ.
Amen.
Throughout the first six trumpet blasts, we see a sequence of attacks on creation. Hail and fire (Revelation 8:7) marks the general physical natural disasters happening around us while economic downhill takes place as ships were destroyed (Revelation 8:9). The "a third" references made throughout the passage symbolizes something significant. The turn of events in chapter 8 can be compared to that of the ten plagues recorded in the book of Exodus - and plagues show judgment on people...
The blast of the fifth trumpet unfolds an even worse plague of an army and battle imagery of locusts. These, however, are no ordinary locusts. They were told not to harm the grass or any green plant or any tree but were allowed to torment those who are not God's people yet not kill them (Revelation 9:4-5). The locusts are a metaphor for the things of this world that give people so much pain to the extent that they would rather seek death (Revelation 9:6). While Christians can similarly suffer, the pain experienced is different than that described here as 1 Thessalonians 4:13 comforts us that we do not grieve as others do who have no hope, but we have our hope in Jesus.
The sixth trumpet heralds the release of four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates (a border of evil that separates barbarians from the civilized world), who similarly killed those who did not belong to God by the plagues of the four horses and riders previously discussed in Revelation 6 (Revelation 9:13-19). The selective focus here is that those killed are not God's people.
A note that those killed (as well as those who were not) were destroyed because of their various sins such as idol worship, murders, sorceries, sexual immorality or thefts (Revelation 9:20-21). As we can see from the list, it begins with idol worship itself - putting trust in our own works and achievements rather than in God. The irony is that even the best idols cannot see or hear or walk (Revelation 9:20). It reveals the very nature of self-centredness rather than God-centredness. 1 John 2:15-17 warns us: Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world - the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions - is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with irs desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
This passage (as well as others) in Revelation shows us that all the plagues and tragedies that happen have multiple causation: nature, Satan, God (the idea of "given" and "allowed" in Revelation 8:2; 9:1, 5 and 13), sin (we all deserve judgment), and interestingly (as foreshadowed earlier), prayers of God's people. The infamous line of "hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come" from the Lord's Prayer should shed some light as to why this is one of the causes - it is a prayer that asks for God's justice to be revealed!
More importantly, are we heeding to the call of the warning trumpets? Or are we recalcitrant and unyielding to repentance? Friends, let us not be like those who did not repent of their sins. Instead, we should turn to God and ask Him for His forgiveness as we start a life anew in Christ.
Amen.
Labels: Australia, Christianity, Revelation
posted by Shih Ying GUN (Jane) @ 6:45 PM
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