The First Four Trumpets

Then the seven angels with the seven trumpets prepared to blow their mighty blasts.

Revelation 8:6 (NLT)

The seven seal judgments have just been completed. Now comes the seven trumpet judgments which will preclude the seven bowl judgments. As bad as it has been so far, God’s final and complete judgment has not yet come. Each of these series of judgments are only partial and God’s full wrath has not yet been unleashed.

As we read about the first four trumpet blasts we are left with a frightful picture. Imagine 1/3^rd of everything that you find familiar on earth gone. Imagine an earth with no green grass and a third of all the trees gone. Imagine the earth having one-third less drinking water. Imagine the days becoming darker and shorter and even the night sky less illuminated because of God’s judgment. In just six verses in chapter eight we are left with a very scary picture of what life on earth will be like when Jesus really does return (and NO it is not going to be on October 21^st!).

We have already read about the seal judgments which brought war, famine, disease, death and great earthquakes upon the earth in such magnitude that all the great leaders of this world hide themselves in caves in fear. Now we find out it is just going to get worse. Hail, fire, a falling star and the sun and moon becoming darkened coincide with trees, grass, oceans and ocean life becoming consumed and dying.

All of these images are pretty vivid and in my minds eye I can picture them quite clearly. Revelation may use imagery and symbolism in large quantities but there is nothing vague or hard to understand about these great calamities that are to befall upon the earth. But what’s up with the trumpets?

According to my study Bible the mighty blasts that the angels blew served three purposes: (1) to warn the world that judgment was undeniable, (2) to call the forces of good and evil to battle, and (3) to announce the return of the King.

As a believer in Christ I believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God. Because of that I believe and am certain that impending judgment is coming for everyone. I also believe that the forces of good and evil are battling right now and not just during the end times. Satan and his minions are constantly attacking and working in ways to lure people away from God. The Good News is that Jesus is coming back though. And He wins.

Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.

1 Peter 5:8 (NLT)

Don’t fear these judgments if you have put your faith in Christ. We saw in chapter seven verses two and three that for those of us who claim Jesus as Lord we will have protection. We are His children and no spiritual harm will come to us. So when the singing eagle cries out, “Terror, terror, terror to all who belong to this world because of what will happen when the last three angels blow their trumpets” (v. 13) know that that doesn’t pertain to you. You don’t belong to this world, you belong to Jesus.

Next week we will look at the remaining trumpet judgments. Until then may God bless you and grant you grace and peace.

Well That was Awkward!!

“However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son Himself. Only the Father knows.”

Well, May 21^st came and went. The clock struck 6:00pm all over the world and an amazing thing happened. Jesus didn’t return as Harold Camping predicted. You see nowhere in the Bible does it say that Jesus is coming back on May 21, 2011 at 6:00pm. So what exactly does it say? In light of all the attention on this topic this week I want to pause from our study of Revelation to look at the verses in the New Testament that have to do with the end times (ironic because our entire study of Revelations has to do with earth’s final days and the judgment that is to befall upon it).

Matthew 24:4-44

This is probably the biggest discourse in the New Testament besides the book of Revelation on what is to transpire coinciding with the return of Jesus. When the disciples asked Jesus for a sign of His second coming the first words out of His mouth were, “Don’t let anyone mislead you”! He then spoke of intense persecution and false prophets springing up all over the place deceiving many of His followers. Then He goes on to say that the Gospel must be preached throughout the whole world before He allows the world to end. So if you and I are eagerly awaiting the rapture and being brought up to heaven by Jesus then I guess we better get busy preaching the Gospel!! Jesus then closes out His dialogue by telling us to be prepared and to remain watchful for no one knows when the end is going to come.....no one that is except God Himself.

Mark 13:5-33

For the most part this account parallels what Matthew tells us. The part I love the most is in verse 26 and 27. “Then everyone will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds with great power and glory. And He will send His angels to gather His chosen ones from all over the world-from the farthest ends of the earth and heaven.”

Luke 17:20-37

Jesus warns us that we will be partying and living lives of excess right up until the time that He returns. And when He does return He will come as a flash of lightening that lights up the sky from one end to the other (V. 24). This doesn’t say that first Jesus will appear in one time zone, then He will move steadily from East to West and at exactly 6:00pm He will hit the next time zone.......

I think that when He returns everyone will see Him at exactly the same time, just as a flash of lightening is seen by all. When I heard of Mr. Camping’s prediction that Jesus would return at 6:00pm in each subsequent time zone I thought he was making Jesus awfully small.

Luke 21:8-36

Here again the Gospels are in harmony with one another. Just about everything in these verses can be found in the other two Gospel accounts. Jesus tells about great persecution happening and family members turning on one another. He also promises that when we are standing trial and undergoing persecutions because we follow Him that the Holy Spirit will give us the words that we need. This is the perfect opportunity to tell others about Jesus! In verse 19 Jesus says, “By standing firm, you will win your souls.”

1 Thessalonians 4:14-5:3

I found a 2008 survey by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life that said that most American religious believers, including most Christians, say eternal life is not exclusively for those that accept Christ as their savior. In chapter 4, verse 14 Paul says, “For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with Him the believers who have died.” I don’t know about you but this sounds pretty exclusive. I’m sorry if this offends anyone but I believe that if you don’t believe that Jesus is God, and that He died to pay the penalty for your sins, and He was raised to life and is now seated in Heaven you are not going to participate in eternal life with Him. This may sound pretty narrow minded to some of you and to you I say.....you bet it is. That’s what the Bible says and that’s what I believe! So instead of lashing out in defiance at us “narrow minded” Christians you have another choice. Let the Holy Spirit in to soften your heart and open your eyes to the truth. Your life will never be the same! Questions about this...contact me (jc85050@yahoo.com).

2 Thessalonians 1:6-2:12

Here Paul is encouraging us to stand firm under persecution. God will take care of those He calls His own. Paul goes on to warn us just as Jesus did because there will be more than just one Harold Camping out there to try and trip us up. Instead, Paul tells us to live a life worthy of the call that Jesus has placed on us.

2 Peter 3:3-12

Are you tired of waiting for Jesus to return? Are you starting to doubt that He is ever going to come back? It’s been two thousand years after all! What’s He waiting for? We know that our God is loving, holy, and just and that He does not want anyone to perish. He is waiting for His Word to reach every tribe, every nation, and every tongue so that all will have an opportunity to choose Him. Peter reminds us that God exists outside of the realm of time and space. To God a day is the same as a thousand years and a thousand years is just like a day. God isn’t slow. He is patient.

You see, it is good that we don’t know exactly when Jesus is coming back. Imagine if we did what chaos would ensue. We would probably do what many of Harold Camping’s followers did. I read about one family that racked up credit card debt by going on a lavish trip to Disneyworld thinking that they wouldn’t have to pay it back. How’d that work out for ya?? Others quit there jobs and spent their remaining days sitting around waiting. If we knew the exact time we too might be tempted to become lazy in our service to Christ. Some of us might plan on a massive sin binge only to repent right before the end came. This and many other reasons that only God knows are why He has not revealed the exact day and time of His return.

Heaven is not our only goal. We have work to do here as followers of Jesus. The only time for rest is upon death or the unmistakable, and it will be unmistakable, return of our Savior.

Next week we will pick up our study of the book of Revelation in chapter 8 looking at the first four trumpet judgments. Until then may God bless you and grant you grace and peace.

Silence is Golden

When the Lamb broke the seventh seal on the scroll, there was silence throughout heaven....

Revelation 8:1 (NLT)

I am a busy person. I’ve spoken many times in this blog of how crazy an average day is for me. As I write this I know that as crazy as my days can sometimes be, some of you have it much more hectic than I do. Some of you have multiple children to deal with on a daily basis and as much of a blessing as children can be they are also a lot of work. Some of you work longer hours with much more responsibility than I have in my job. Some of you have sick family members that need care. For most of us an average day is jam packed with to do lists, responsibilities, and people that expect and demand things from us. It’s hard to sit back, sit still, and be silent. Heck for some of you even if you do get a chance to sit still your mind is racing a million miles an hour planning and preparing for the next day.

Up to this point the book of Revelation was cruising along. We read about the six seals being opened in chapter six at breakneck speed. Horses were galloping all over the world and judgments were falling. The earth was moving and shaking and stars were falling out of the sky!! Then something strange happens.

Before the seventh seal is opened we read last week that a pause occurred until all of God’s people were marked with the guarantee of God Himself. Then heaven erupted with praise and worship. Now just as the Lamb breaks the seventh seal on the scroll silence ensues for about a half an hour. Calm, peace, stillness, quiet, motionlessness, tranquility even; that’s what was going on in heaven. Why the dramatic pause? Does God have a taste for the theatrical? Why silence? Why now?

“Be still and know that I am God!

I will be honored by every nation.

I will be honored throughout the world.”

Psalm 46:10 (NLT)

You see, while business in our lives is inevitable, so is God’s final victory. At that time everyone will stand quietly before the all-powerful Creator. While the earth shakes and mountains are laid low we will stand in quiet reverence before God. While stars are hurtling to the ground and the sun and moon are changing colors we will honor God with silence for His power and majesty.

If in the craziness of the end times we will stand silent before God than how come we can’t do so now? If as the world as we know it ceases to exist and we reverently humble ourselves with silence than how come we can’t find five minutes a day to sit in utter silence before God and just listen?

In a lot of different religions throughout the world converts take a vow if silence. Not us Christians though. You can’t shut us up. We are far too busy yapping, condemning, reproving, and reproaching. If only our yapping was filled with the Gospel imagine how many could be saved!!

Silence is beneficial. Silence is golden. We must seek God in times of silence. Our prayers are filled with us talking but how many of us (me included) take an equal amount of prayer time to listen? It is proper for us to be quiet and honor God for His power and might with silence. We should each take time throughout our busy day to be silent and exalt God.

You must all be quick to listen and slow to speak.

James 1:19 (NLT)

God gave us two ears and one mouth for a reason. We should do twice as much listening and half as much talking.

Next week we will discuss the first four trumpet judgments. God bless you and have a great week.