MASSIVE LOSSES IN THIRDS (PART 1)

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

Then the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to sound them.

The first angel sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled down on the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.

Revelation 8:6-7

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

After a wonderful Advent and Christmas/New Year series of messages, we return to a study of the Book of Revelation today. Back at the end of November, we left off with the opening events after Jesus broke the last of seven seals on the scroll He had taken from the right hand of His Father God. You’ll remember that John, the one who shared the vision given to him by Christ, shared that Jesus was the only One worthy to open the scroll (Revelation 5).

Starting in Revelation, chapter 6, we read about events triggered after Jesus broke six of the seven scrolls, each unleashing an event. You’ll recall that the first four scrolls unleashed different colored horses with riders, each bringing a specific affliction to the people on earth. They included:

Seal 1: “...a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.” Revelation 6:2

Seal 2: “...another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make people kill each other. To him was given a large sword.” Revelation 6:4

Seal 3: “...before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, “Two pounds of wheat for a day’s wages, and six pounds of barley for a day’s wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!” Revelation 6:5-6

Seal 4: “...before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.” Revelation 6:8

The fifth seal didn’t set forth any form of judgment per se but rather involved all the souls of those who had been martyred for the cause of Jesus after the Rapture to be assured that they would have a place in eternity. Given white robes, they were instructed to “to wait a little longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers and sisters, were killed just as they had been.” Revelation 6:9-11

Seal number six released the greatest calamity and chaos yet. The scriptures tell us that “there was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. The heavens receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.” Revelation 6:12-14

The events struck fear into the hearts of even the most powerful people on earth as we read this in the closing verses of chapter 6:

Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone else, both slave and free, hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can withstand it?” Vv.15-17

Unfortunately, the worst was yet to come as we will see once the seventh seal is broken. To review, at first nothing happened. There was “silence in Heaven for about a half an hour” (Revelation 8:1). After this time had ended, seven angels came before God and each was given a trumpet while another angel brought a “golden censer” to the altar which was filled with “much incense to offer, with the prayers of all God’s people”. We read where the “smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God’s people, went up before God from the angel’s hand before the “angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it on the earth” causing “peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake” (Revelation 8:2-50).

Now all this might have seemed like enough judgment but as we will see, the Lord was just getting started for the angels with the trumpets were about to take center stage, each bringing massive losses in thirds We’ll begin with the first one today and these words from Revelation, chapter 8, verses 6 and 7:

Then the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to sound them.

The first angel sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled down on the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.

It’s important to note that these seven judgments, initiated by the sounding of the seven trumpets, will take place during the Tribulation period, a period that comes after the Rapture. The scriptures tell us that the first trumpet launched “hail and fire mixed with blood” from Heaven onto earth. Additionally, one third of the world’s trees would be incinerated and all green grass burned. The ecological impact would be incredible and all animal life and birds that relied on trees for shelter or grass for nourishment would be affected.  

Losing a third of anything in the world would be an incredible loss in some way or another. Here, we it’s the trees but as we are going to see, there are more horrific changes coming that will impact more thirds of the earth. Tomorrow, we’ll see what the second trumpet will bring but ultimately, my prayer is that anyone who has not yet accepted Jesus as Savior will do so today because doing so would give you a pass from having to go through this unbelievable punishment from God. Like those who are in Christ, you will be rescued at the Rapture and ushered away from this world before the worst comes upon it.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.