Revelation 8 reminds me of the power of music to transport us. Time and distance fall away as a song plays. We suddenly recall every detail and emotion of an exact moment. Today’s lesson is about the heavy tunes of the last days. The chapter begins as Jesus opens “the seventh seal”. John writes: “there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.” This is clearly a solemn moment. Centuries of tears will be avenged in God’s perfect timing. John sees “seven angels who stand before God” silently waiting, “and seven trumpets were given to them.” Another angel approached with a “golden censer”. As he stood in front of the altar, “He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all God’s people.” Together they “went up before God from the angel’s hand.” Apparently, our prayers do not have an expiration date. Next, the angel: “took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it on the earth.” Leviticus 6 says, the altar was the place in the temple where the sin offering, and guilt offering were burned. But first there must be repentance and restitution by the people. Here, sin will be judged on Earth, but notice, without repentance there is no forgiveness. John writes: “there came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake.” Many ask, where is the modern church in this drama?
In Matthew 24, Jesus teaches about the last days. Although there will be signs, no one knows the day or hour. Jesus hints: “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.” All were invited to enter the ark, but few did. Before the rain fell, God shut the door; only those who believed the promise were lifted out of the judgment. I believe that in the last days, all who trust the promise will be taken up before the judgment. Mt 24:31 says: “He will send His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect.” The sound of this trumpet will bring joy to those that are ready for His return. The trumpets here are different. In the military, a bugle can be used to gather troops, to warn, to mourn, or signal attack. With the church removed, the judgement in Revelation continues: “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.”
The chapter closes with the second, third and fourth trumpets sounding. We see an action in heaven and the result on earth. It is significant to point out that each judgement is partial, meaning the majority are given an opportunity to seek forgiveness through the tribulation. I believe the Word of God will be available to those that are left behind. Some will seek and find His truth. John continues: “The second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a huge mountain, all ablaze, was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned into blood, a third of the living creatures in the sea died.” Will it be a huge meteor? We don’t know, but tyrants normally use disasters to take more control over the people. He continues: “The third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water… A third of the waters turned bitter.” This could be an asteroid, or even a military assault, but certainly people are now continuously looking toward heaven. John adds: “The fourth angel sounded his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them turned dark.” It seems to describe the view on Earth as ash and soot block out the sun. Finally, John sees an eagle crying out: “Woe! Woe! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth.” There are three more trumpets still to come. The trumpet sound will move all of us in the last days. It will be uplifting to some and sorrowful for others. Will you say woe, or wow?