Today, Wednesday April 27
Desolations on Land and Sea Revelation 8:6-9
“So the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound. 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. 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. And a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.”
Revelation 6 marks the beginning of the Seven-year Tribulation on the earth that begins after the Antichrist is revealed when he makes a peace treaty with Israel and promises peace to the earth. He immediately begins to set up a one-world economy, a one-world government and eventually a one-world religion. I believe this happens in the first three and a half years of the Tribulation.
As the seven seals are opened by the Lamb of God, they give us a preview of these first three and a half years. The seventh seal is followed by silence for thirty minutes and then the seven angels with seven trumpets begin to sound.
I feel like I often repeat and then repeat some more every day. It is difficult to say much in five minutes each day and write this blog without repeating some to catch up a first-time reader or listener. But honestly, one of the best ways to learn about something and remember it is to go over it again and again and again. So, if you are following these chats each day, you should have a pretty good ideal what is in the Book of Revelation before we finish and what it is all about! So please bear with me!
I believe the seven trumpets begin to sound at the beginning of the second half of the tribulation. Most of the judgments that happen seem to directly affect both the earth and mankind physically. I was thinking this morning how one of the purposes of the Tribulation is to prepare and purify the earth for the one-thousand-year reign of Jesus Christ that will follow it. That definitely will happen during this period of time.
When the first trumpet sounds in verse 7, desolations on the earth begins as a third of the trees and all the green grass is burned up. Next when the second trumpet sounds desolations on the sea takes place. “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. And a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.”
Turning water into blood reminds us of the first Egyptian plague (Ex. 7:19-21). Note that John did not say that an actual burning mountain was cast out of heaven, but that the fiery object was like a great mountain. A triple judgment resulted: a third part of the saltwater turned to blood, a third part of the marine life died, and a third of the ships were destroyed. This will be an ecological and an economic disaster of unprecedented proportions.
Considering that the oceans occupy about three fourths of the earth's surface, you can imagine the extent of this judgment. The pollution of the water and the death of so many creatures would greatly affect the balance of life in the oceans, and this would undoubtedly lead to further insoluble problems. In 2021 we are told that there were 50,000 ocean-going merchant ships registered. Imagine the shock waves that would hit the shipping industry if 16,666 valuable ships were suddenly destroyed. And what about their cargoes! You talk about a problem with the “supply chain”! Imagine the havoc that this will bring to every part of the earth.
Some interpreters take "the sea" to mean the Mediterranean Sea. However, this would make a relatively small impact on the world. It is likely that all the major bodies of saltwater are included in this judgment. So, the first two trumpets will bring devastating judgment on both the land and the sea, which are the beginning of the final catastrophes God will unleash on the sinful, rebellious world.
May the Lord grant us grace and courage to warn those around us of these coming judgments!
God bless!