And I saw and I heard a vulture flying in midheaven saying with a loud voice, "Woe, woe, woe, to those who live on the earth, because of the rest of the sounds of the three angels who are about to blow their trumpets." Rev. 8:13.
The book of Revelation marks out the role of the trumpets more clearly than most people realize. The key to understanding them is Revelation 6:9-11. There the "souls under the altar" cry out, "'How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?'" (verse 10, NIV). The "inhabitants of the earth" are those who have persecuted and martyred God's faithful people. These "inhabitants" appear again in Revelation 8:13. The three woes of trumpets five, six, and seven fall on "the inhabitants of the earth." The seven trumpets, therefore, are judgments on those who have martyred and persecuted God's faithful people.
Revelation 8:2-6 tells us that the trumpets sound in response to the prayers of the saints, which rise up like incense from the altar (verses 3, 4). What are those prayers? They are the martyred saints (Rev. 6:9-11) calling out for justice. When those prayers reach heaven mingled with incense, judgments hurl down to the earth (Rev. 8:5,6). The seven trumpets, therefore, carry a powerful message to those abused, neglected, and killed because of their faith. The trumpets assure them that God is actively confronting those who oppressed them. And those judgments begin already in this life.
A friend of mine was a professor at a school of medicine. A church officer pleaded with him to leave his job at great professional and financial cost to himself and work for the church, living in a small church-owned apartment. Out of love for Jesus he accepted without hesitation. He joyfully threw himself into the work of the church.
But one day my friend had a difference of opinion with the church officer. The latter felt that my friend had offended his dignity and challenged his authority. Without warning he arranged for my friend to be fired. Stunned, for several hours my friend dazedly cleaned out his desk and office. Having been a man of wealth and influence in his country, he now had no job and no source of income.
In discouragement he went home only to find the locks of the church apartment changed and all his belongings tossed out on the sidewalk, up for sale to anyone who would pass by. His wife had discovered them there and was sitting on a couch, sobbing uncontrollably. While revenge would be a thought on most people's minds, my friend decided to leave that up to God. The trumpets assure us that God marks the injustices of our world and will make them right in His time.
Lord, thank You for the assurance that everything that happens to me matters to You.
The book of Revelation marks out the role of the trumpets more clearly than most people realize. The key to understanding them is Revelation 6:9-11. There the "souls under the altar" cry out, "'How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?'" (verse 10, NIV). The "inhabitants of the earth" are those who have persecuted and martyred God's faithful people. These "inhabitants" appear again in Revelation 8:13. The three woes of trumpets five, six, and seven fall on "the inhabitants of the earth." The seven trumpets, therefore, are judgments on those who have martyred and persecuted God's faithful people.
Revelation 8:2-6 tells us that the trumpets sound in response to the prayers of the saints, which rise up like incense from the altar (verses 3, 4). What are those prayers? They are the martyred saints (Rev. 6:9-11) calling out for justice. When those prayers reach heaven mingled with incense, judgments hurl down to the earth (Rev. 8:5,6). The seven trumpets, therefore, carry a powerful message to those abused, neglected, and killed because of their faith. The trumpets assure them that God is actively confronting those who oppressed them. And those judgments begin already in this life.
A friend of mine was a professor at a school of medicine. A church officer pleaded with him to leave his job at great professional and financial cost to himself and work for the church, living in a small church-owned apartment. Out of love for Jesus he accepted without hesitation. He joyfully threw himself into the work of the church.
But one day my friend had a difference of opinion with the church officer. The latter felt that my friend had offended his dignity and challenged his authority. Without warning he arranged for my friend to be fired. Stunned, for several hours my friend dazedly cleaned out his desk and office. Having been a man of wealth and influence in his country, he now had no job and no source of income.
In discouragement he went home only to find the locks of the church apartment changed and all his belongings tossed out on the sidewalk, up for sale to anyone who would pass by. His wife had discovered them there and was sitting on a couch, sobbing uncontrollably. While revenge would be a thought on most people's minds, my friend decided to leave that up to God. The trumpets assure us that God marks the injustices of our world and will make them right in His time.
Lord, thank You for the assurance that everything that happens to me matters to You.
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