The 7th Seal And A Third Of The Earth ON Fire

 Dear Saints,

The number seven is very significant in the Bible. “God stopped on the seventh day. In Hebrew, the number “seven” has the same consonants as the word for completeness or wholeness”.  Jesus is now opening the 7^th seal of the Scroll which continues the beginning of the completion of His judgments of people on earth. We saw the opening of the first six seals in Revelation 6. We will see the sounding of the first four trumpets in this chapter 8.

Please keep in mind that apostle John (the writer) is in a heavenly vision and seeing what will happen on earth in this portion of the book of Revelation - the Great Tribulation. In addition, the rapture is already taken place and we believers in Christ are in heaven. We will see a couple of sevens: seven angels, and seven trumpets. The sounding of the first four trumpets set fire on a third, partial destruction on the earth (land, sea, rivers) and heavenly bodies. 

Unlike the last destruction of earth with a flood (Genesis 9:11), this time it will be by fire, 2 Peter 3:10-12:  ”But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.”

Let’s read Revelation 8:

8 When He [Jesus] opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. ² And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets. ³ Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. 

⁴ And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand. ⁵ 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. ⁶ So the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.

First Trumpet: Vegetation Struck

⁷ The first angel sounded: And hail and fire followed, mingled with blood, and they were thrown to the earth. And a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.

Second Trumpet: The Seas Struck

⁸ Then the second angel sounded: And something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood. ⁹ And a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.

Third Trumpet: The Waters Struck

¹⁰ Then the third angel sounded: And a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. ¹¹ The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the water, because it was made bitter.

Fourth Trumpet: The Heavens Struck

¹² Then the fourth angel sounded: 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 were darkened. A third of the day did not shine, and likewise the night.

¹³ And I looked, and I heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, “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!”

I trust you noted the silence in heaven vs.1. Why? I am not sure but I believe that heaven is not rejoicing for the impending judgment. God’s hand has been pushed to the limit and therefore His judgment begins. Also, note the effect of prayers of the saints. God hears all our prayers and will in due time answer because they please God signifying our surrender to God’s will. We have been praying "thy kingdom come on earth as it is heaven." Now God answers. Please never cease to pray. 

Note also, the destructions of “a third” of the earth’s seas, rivers, grass and trees, sun and heavenly bodies. No one can stop these God ordained natural disasters. In fact, these judgments of the first four trumpets resemble some of the plagues of Egypt through Moses for Pharaoh to see the mighty power of God (See Exodus 7 - 12). For example the Nile river turned to blood just like in the second trumpet judgment. It has happened before, and it happen again in greater magnitude.

Imagine earth where a third of the natural environment is gone? And guess what? “Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth” because more intensive calamities are coming on the people not on the natural environment as seen in the first four sounding of the trumpets. You don’t want to be around then. Please repent (turn around) and put your trust in Christ as your Lord and Savior if you have never done so.

Saints, the earth we know of today will burn up. That is why we must warn all and live with a new and different attitude that this place is not our permanent home. Hear Apostle Peter continue:  ¹¹ Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, ¹² looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? ¹³ Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells (2 Peter 3:11-13).

I am looking forward to the new heaven and new earth. Let’s not kill ourselves by buying up everything on this earth. Let’s help the less privileged people with our resources and all people with the Gospel. People will go to heaven but things will not. “What manner of persons” are we? How about your next “I must have it” purchase/pleasure?  

Lord, please help us to live wisely for your glory. Thank you Lord for saving us from the judgment/wrath that is coming on the earth. Amen.