The stage has been set for
the sounding of the seven trumpets. Seven angels steady themselves, each with a
trumpet, are ready to sound them. Every time each of the first four trumpets
sounds, a plague, a catastrophic event took place on earth. The plagues are reminiscence
of what the Egyptians had experienced. Only this time around, the effect is on
a world-wide scale and not confined to only one country. This is God’s warning
not only for one country but for all mankind.
The blowing of the first
trumpet sends hail and fire mixed with blood that devastates a third of earth
and its vegetation. The sound of the second trumpet sends something like a
mountain burning with fire that comes hurling into the sea, making a third of it
to become like blood, killing a third of the creatures in the sea and destroying
a third of the ships. At the sound of the third trumpet, a star, burning like a
torch, fell from heaven on a third of the rivers and springs of water, making
the water poisonous. Many people died from drinking the water. We are told that
the name of the star is Wormwood. In the Old Testament Wormwood
is a bitter wood used in connection with the consequences of idolatry. It signifies
calamity, sorrow, and bitterness as a result.
When
the fourth trumpet sounds, a third of the sun, moon and stars are struck, bringing
darkness for one third of the time. This is describing a decrease in the intensity
of available light resulting from the sun, moon and stars being darkened by a third.
Verse 12 also tells us of the total absence of light for a third part of both
day and night. This is a reminder of what took place in the ninth plague in
Egypt, where thick darkness spread over the land for a period of three days.
Just
pause and consider the wonderful creation of God, and how He had made this
world so beautiful, that the four living creatures and the elders should praise
and worship Him. There is no denial that God had made this earth, He made it
good and He said so in Genesis. How then can God allow a third of all His good
creation be destroyed? How can He consent that a third of His creature on earth,
the trees, the sea and its creatures, the river and even the sun, moon and stars
be destroyed through these plagues?
This
can partly be explained when we consider the seriousness of sin. God cannot
just allow evil to proliferate and gross over the seriousness of evil. His very
nature demands that wickedness and evil must be dealt with drastically. Bear in
mind that Revelation is more symbolic and should not be mistaken for reality. John’s
first readers probably understood that he was not talking about a third of earth,
sea and all that were being destroyed. They knew that he was talking about God’s
radical action to rid evil. John was talking about the necessity to remove the
deadly effect of evil in order to preserve the rest. Dealing with the façade cannot
deliver the millions trapped, enslaved and derogated by the system that only seems
good and impressive. A slight adjustment is not adequate, a major and serious revamp
is the only way to deal with it.
This
sounding of trumpets is a like re-run of the effect of the plagues the Egyptians
had experienced. The plagues sent upon the Egyptians affecting their land,
water, live stocks, and people were warning of the power of the God of Israel. It
would also be a reminder of how God provided a means through the Passover lamb and
delivered His people. The plagues now recorded in Revelation would resonate with
the people John was writing to. Having this in their mind, they would feel assured
of the same result. The Lamb of John’s vison is indeed their true Passover Lamb.
As Egypt was smitten as a warning so also would the world be smote by the
plagues as a warning. Just as the children of Israel were delivered in the Egyptian’s
situation, so also God will deliver His people.
If
what we see in the first four trumpets is already bad, just wait till the
sounding of the next three trumpets. Hence they were preceded by an eagle’s warning
of the woes to follow. God is in the process of reestablishing the rule of
heaven on earth. As members of His redeemed company, we must actively collaborate
with Him to see His Kingdom come, and His will be done on earth as it is in
heaven.
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