(Today’s devotional comes from Mako Kato, our summer intern. Thanks, Mako, for your work!)
Read Revelation 8:6-7.
Here we see the first of the seven trumpets blown by the first angel. When he blew his trumpet we see that hail and fire fell on the earth. Similarities can be drawn between this judgment and the plague of hail on Egypt (Exodus 9:13-35).
Something that I did not notice when I first read this passage in Exodus was that it also mentions fire, just like the passage in Revelation. It says in Exodus 9:24 “There was hail and fire flashing continually in the midst of the hail…” (ESV).
The difference between the passage in Revelation and the passage in Exodus is that the end times judgment will be much worse. Not only will there be hail and fire, but the hail and fire will be mixed with blood.
The scope of the destruction will be terrible. A third of the earth burned up and a third of the trees and all the green grass. It’s hard to imagine what that would like. Even Safeco Field’s infield, if it is still around, will be burnt to a crisp. But I doubt people will be thinking of baseball at a time like this…
But in looking at the plague of hail in the Old Testament we can get some perspective on this judgment of the first trumpet. In Exodus 9:16, before God sent the hail, he said that the purpose for which he raised the Egyptians up was to show his power so that his name would be proclaimed in all the earth.
In the next few days we will see the power of the Almighty God displayed in acts that will wipe out much of the earth. He will show his power and I hope that in the display of his power his name will be proclaimed. In Mike’s devotion from Revelation 7:9-10, on July 22, he writes that he believes the tribulation will result in countless number of people turning to Christ.
I wouldn’t wish the tribulation on anyone, but maybe God will use it, like he did the Egyptians, so that his name will be proclaimed in all the earth.
Sometimes it takes hard times for people to turn to God. God can use hard times to grow us and shape us, and He can also use hard times to convict those who do not believe in Him. Sometimes being stripped of belongings can draw people closer to God. It is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. At this moment in time, it is the poor in countries in Africa and Asia that are turning to God. For those left on the earth during the tribulation, when they see God’s power, when they are stripped of earthly comforts, I hope they can find comfort in the one Person who will be with them forever – comfort that will last even as the world as we know it falls apart.
So remember who is on our side, and where we can turn when the life gets tough.