Daily Bread 2010 - Revelation 8
Daily Bread 2010 – Revelation 8
The Trumpets
6 Then the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to sound them.
7 The first angel sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled down on the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.
8 The second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a huge mountain, all ablaze, was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned into blood, 9 a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.
10 The third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky 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 turned bitter, and many people died from the waters that had become bitter.
12 The fourth angel sounded his trumpet, 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 turned dark. A third of the day was without light, and also a third of the night.
13 As I watched, I heard an eagle that was flying in midair call out in a loud voice: “Woe! Woe! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded by the other three angels!”
The seven angels and seven trumpets are part of the opening of the Seventh Seal. You may remember the Ingmar Bergman film, starring Max Von Sydow, by the same name in 1957. Within this seventh seal there are seven trumpets and seven angels, who sound trumpets that initiate several spectacular events happening on the earth as part of what is commonly called, “the tribulation”. Within the Seventh seal, there are also seven bowls, which begin the second coming of Christ and the end of the world.
As we try to interpret these events from a modern perspective there are generally three interpretations of the relationship between the events of the tribulation and the church. There is the “pre-tribulation”, “mid-tribulation”, and “post-tribulation” theories (Often called, “pre-trib”, “mid-trib” and “post-trib”). In the “Pre-Trib” theory, it assumed the Christians are raptured before the events of the tribulation, the seven seals and seven bowls as described in Revelation and the Old Testament book of Daniel.
In the “Mid-Trib” theory believers are raptured mid tribulation, or before the worst of it happens. Many believe this is a literal seven year tribulation, so that this would be at 3 and ½ years. Of course, there are literalists who believe that all the numbers are literal (I.e. 144,000 Israelites saved, 12 Tribes, 7 years, 1,000 year reign of Christ etc…) and there are those who think those numbers are more figurative and have deeper meaning. (I.e. 7 years represents complete or total suffering)
Finally, there is the “post-trib” theory, which purports that believers are raptured by Christ only after the events of the tribulation. Christians who stand firm until the end will be saved (Matthew 24:13). There are scriptures to support each of these versions
In the end, I think there is a danger in putting too much stock into the exact right interpretation of all of these theories (and trust me I have simplified the ones I have put forth!). The bottom line for me is that that one day Jesus will return, and we don’t know when this is. With His return, there will be a tribulation that will begin the process of His return. The key to being ready for any of the theories is that we are “in Christ” when it all happens. Since Jesus is the author of all life and the Alpha and Omega, our relationship with him will determine our final destination.
For some, Revelation can be a scary book, and for everyone it should be sobering from the standpoint that there will be an end of history as we know yet. Yet, we also know that there will be a new heaven and new earth and that we will be with Christ in a way like never before for those who have believed in the only Son of God. God’s desire is that no one would perish, but all would be “In Him” on that final day. So rather than worry about exactly how this is all going to happen, it would be more profitable for us to worry about sharing the Good News with all so that all may be “in Him” on that day!
Jesus we don’t know when you will return or how much of the tribulation of the end times we will go through, but we know that as you have bought us with the price of your precious blood, and that you will not lose any of the precious lambs you have purchased. You will keep us strong and thank you for the promise that you will never leave us or forsake us. In Your name we pray, Amen.
The Trumpets
6 Then the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to sound them.
7 The first angel sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled down on the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.
8 The second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a huge mountain, all ablaze, was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned into blood, 9 a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.
10 The third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky 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 turned bitter, and many people died from the waters that had become bitter.
12 The fourth angel sounded his trumpet, 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 turned dark. A third of the day was without light, and also a third of the night.
13 As I watched, I heard an eagle that was flying in midair call out in a loud voice: “Woe! Woe! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded by the other three angels!”
The seven angels and seven trumpets are part of the opening of the Seventh Seal. You may remember the Ingmar Bergman film, starring Max Von Sydow, by the same name in 1957. Within this seventh seal there are seven trumpets and seven angels, who sound trumpets that initiate several spectacular events happening on the earth as part of what is commonly called, “the tribulation”. Within the Seventh seal, there are also seven bowls, which begin the second coming of Christ and the end of the world.
As we try to interpret these events from a modern perspective there are generally three interpretations of the relationship between the events of the tribulation and the church. There is the “pre-tribulation”, “mid-tribulation”, and “post-tribulation” theories (Often called, “pre-trib”, “mid-trib” and “post-trib”). In the “Pre-Trib” theory, it assumed the Christians are raptured before the events of the tribulation, the seven seals and seven bowls as described in Revelation and the Old Testament book of Daniel.
In the “Mid-Trib” theory believers are raptured mid tribulation, or before the worst of it happens. Many believe this is a literal seven year tribulation, so that this would be at 3 and ½ years. Of course, there are literalists who believe that all the numbers are literal (I.e. 144,000 Israelites saved, 12 Tribes, 7 years, 1,000 year reign of Christ etc…) and there are those who think those numbers are more figurative and have deeper meaning. (I.e. 7 years represents complete or total suffering)
Finally, there is the “post-trib” theory, which purports that believers are raptured by Christ only after the events of the tribulation. Christians who stand firm until the end will be saved (Matthew 24:13). There are scriptures to support each of these versions
In the end, I think there is a danger in putting too much stock into the exact right interpretation of all of these theories (and trust me I have simplified the ones I have put forth!). The bottom line for me is that that one day Jesus will return, and we don’t know when this is. With His return, there will be a tribulation that will begin the process of His return. The key to being ready for any of the theories is that we are “in Christ” when it all happens. Since Jesus is the author of all life and the Alpha and Omega, our relationship with him will determine our final destination.
For some, Revelation can be a scary book, and for everyone it should be sobering from the standpoint that there will be an end of history as we know yet. Yet, we also know that there will be a new heaven and new earth and that we will be with Christ in a way like never before for those who have believed in the only Son of God. God’s desire is that no one would perish, but all would be “In Him” on that final day. So rather than worry about exactly how this is all going to happen, it would be more profitable for us to worry about sharing the Good News with all so that all may be “in Him” on that day!
Jesus we don’t know when you will return or how much of the tribulation of the end times we will go through, but we know that as you have bought us with the price of your precious blood, and that you will not lose any of the precious lambs you have purchased. You will keep us strong and thank you for the promise that you will never leave us or forsake us. In Your name we pray, Amen.
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