The Way - Day 218 (Revelation 8)

Pastor Tom's Journal on Today's Reading:
Revelation 8:1-13
Revelation 6:12-17 described the sixth seal judgment during the seven-year tribulation period. This judgment was filled with universal catastrophe affecting the environment. Revelation 7 yielded a break in the happenings on earth to provide a personal glimpse for John to meet two groups of people -
- The 144,000 Jewish witnesses who would spread the gospel throughout the earth (Revelation 7:1-8)
- Those who have been saved during the tribulation period, but martyred for their faith (Revelation 7:9-17)

After this brief respite in the seven seal judgments, the supernatural vision John has received continues with the seventh and final seal judgment upon the earth. When Jesus opens the seventh seal of the scroll, it unleashes another series of judgments which are referred to as the seven trumpet judgments.

“When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets. Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And there were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake. So the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.” (Revelation 8:1-2, 5-6)

Let’s take time to remember that these judgments are being poured out on all those who have rejected Jesus Christ as the One sent to save mankind from sin. Although some tend to think of any type of punishment as unfair, most of would agree that there must be some system of accountability for wrongdoing. Without consequences, our world would be chaotic. In the same way, God must hold sinners accountable for their sin; however, instead of punishing the sinner God sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to take the punishment upon Himself (2 Corinthians 5:21). Therefore, God is not unfair because He has offered the free gift of salvation to those who will repent of sin and believe in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ as the payment for sin (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). God has been patient and even delayed His return to earth because He is "…not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9).

But those who continue in their sin and reject God’s offer of forgiveness will be subject to judgment. During this second series of judgments, God allows catastrophic events to occur throughout the earth. The following summarizes four of the seven trumpet judgments unleashed on the rebellious inhabitants of the earth -

• First Trumpet Judgment - one-third of trees and grass burned (Revelation 8:7)
• Second Trumpet Judgment - one-third of sea turned to blood, which results in one-third of its inhabitants dying and one-third of the ships being destroyed (Revelation 8:8-9)
• Third Trumpet Judgment - one-third of all freshwater polluted (Revelation 8:10-11)
• Fourth Trumpet Judgment - one-third of the sun, moon, stars will be darkened (Revelation 8:12-13)

After the fourth trumpet judgment, John sees an angel fly through heaven saying, "Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!" These words of warning from the angel is a precursor to the devastation about to take place in the next three trumpet judgments.

Dear God, I understand that You must judge those who have rejected Jesus Christ, but please use me to spread the message of hope through Jesus Christ to as many people as I can.