FBC Daily Devotions

Thinking back over Sunday’s message, what things did God impress on you? How can it make a difference in your life this week?

There is one more trumpet in our weekly passage. It is the fourth trumpet, and it continues the destruction begun with the first trumpet. It is, of course, severe though it does not strike the earth, but rather the heavenlies.[1] It is difficult to know what kind of event might create this type of affect: a third of the day of the day without light, a third of the night without light (from the moon). It almost seems like the earth would have to tilt on its axis to create such an effect. Perhaps the “huge mountain that was thrown into the sea” (v. 8) is a large meteor from space whose impact is so severe as to cause such an impact on the earth? It is so difficult to know!  But one thing is certain, the events of the day will affect everyone on the planet. Not a soul on earth will be able to hide from this catastrophe.

Consider that while no one on earth will escape the effects of the trumpet judgments, the same is true of God’s final judgment. Not a soul in all of past, present, and future will escape God’s judgment. Yes, there will be many who try to hide from it and bury their heads in the sand. May I make a suggestion: perhaps we ought to help people understand this truth. The tribulation during this time, as severe as it will be, will not compare to the judgment to follow. One may escape the indirect effects of the trumpet judgments, but no one will escape the final judgment. Yes, for the sake of sparing the unsaved from the terrible tribulation period, we ought to share the gospel. But more importantly we ought to spare them from a terrible judgment stored up for those who know not God.

Who in your life needs to hear the good news of Jesus Christ?

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[1] The passage says that a third of the sun, moon, and stars went dark. This could refer to a cataclysmic event on earth that affects one’s view of sky and space.

(We are once again privileged to have Mako Kato, our summer intern, share his thoughts on our passage today.)

Read Revelation 8:10-11.

Whereas the second trumpet affected the seas, the third trumpet affects the freshwater, the rivers and the springs.  The passage says that a great star fell from heaven and even names the star, Wormwood.  It is because of this star that a third of the waters became wormwood and many people died from the water. 

Let’s take a look at the term “wormwood.”  It is the name of a bitter plant mentioned several times in the Old Testament.  One example is in Proverbs 5:3-4 which says the adulteress is bitter as wormwood.  Another example comes from Jeremiah.

The LORD said, “Because they have forsaken My law which I set before them, and have not obeyed My voice nor walked according to it, but have walked after the stubbornness of their heart and after the Baals, as their fathers taught them,” therefore thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, “behold, I will feed them, this people, with wormwood and give them poisoned water to drink.  –Jeremiah 9:13-15 (NASB 

It is because the Israelites would not follow God that he gave them wormwood as a punishment. 

In Revelation, we see God’s judgment on the world for not following him and part of that judgment is in this bitter water.

Think of this.  This is water that brings death.  People will try to drink it and will die because of it.

In this hot weather, there’s nothing like a glass of cold water, but even something as pure as freshwater will be made unclean in the last days.  It will cause death.   But consider Christ: The Living Water.

He remains forever pure, giving the gift of eternal life.  Whoever drinks the water that He gives will never be thirsty again (John 4:12).  Praise Him for His gift of Living Water.

Where O death is thy sting?

Read Revelation 8:8-9.

Like the first four seals, the first four trumpets are set apart from the last three. The first four trumpets represent the partial (yet significant) destruction of God’s creation in which man resides. Mankind’s destruction comes in the later trumpets, but for now, the environs of man experiences God’s wrath.

The first trumpet saw the destruction of the earth, trees, and grass. In the second trumpet, we see the destruction of a third of the sea and a third of the life therein. The exact cause of its destruction can only be speculated, but it is clear that there will be a significant event that will lead to the catastrophic loss of much of the sea and its life. As I ponder this destruction, I am saddened that such beauty will be destroyed.

Have you ever snorkeled? If so, you know how beautiful God’s created fish are. The colors and diversity of sea life declare the glory of God. There is not a manmade thing that can compare to the brilliance, elegance, and creativity of God’s sea creation – nothing.  And yet it will not last. It will be destroyed for one simple reason: sin. Sin entered the world, and it destroyed all of creation. Let it be known that God will not destroy a beautiful world. It is already destroyed in a very real sense. Sin has tarnished a once perfect creation.

So here’s the thing: if what we see today in creation is beautiful in its tainted state, imagine how beautiful the new creation (i.e. the new heavens and earth) is going to be when sin is forever purged from our midst. I doubt our present eyes and mind could handle what is to come. A new body will be fitted for such glory.

But with all that in mind, I am still saddened by the loss of so much in this and the other trumpet judgments. And rightly so, the sadness is ultimately due to the filthyness of sin. So fithy is sin that God will remove it from His presence forever. It is sad, but necessary. That’s how bad sin is. And as bad as it will be to lose a third of the oceans and its life, it is nothing compared to the death of Christ. We may be saddened by the loss of earth, sky, and sea, but really, there is nothing sadder than Christ having to die because of sin.

So I will stop being sad over the necessary loss of the world’s riches, and remember that Christ died so that we might, among other things, attain the riches of the treasures of heaven. Things must get worse before they will get better. But it will be worth it.

(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.