Environmental chaos

May 29, 2020 (Friday)

 

"Then the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to sound them. 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."  [Revelation 9:6 – 7 NIV]

 

The first trumpet reflects the seventh plague in Exodus 9:19 – 26. The servants of Pharaoh who “feared the Lord” hurried their slaves and livestock to safety. Remember at this point in Revelation, there are those who are sealed that are immune from these events. Presumably they are witnesses but they also serve to distinguish between God’s people and those “who belong to the world.” On the other hand this could be describing a nuclear war.

 

The result is that one third of the earth is burned. This strikes at the basis of life itself. Life threatening climate change happens. Plants convert carbon dioxide to usable oxygen. It takes about 300 - 500 plants (about 10,000 leaves) to sustain life one human life.

 

The other idea to point out is the spiritual aspect.  Humans tend to “worship” the earth through religion or giving it a place of honor above God. “They traded God’s truth for a lie, and they worshipped and served the creation instead of the creator, who is blessed forever. Amen” [Romans 1:25 CEB]. There is a tendency in environmentalism to replace stewardship with worship.

 

It is important to understand the language in this chapter brands the first four trumpets as supernatural events.  They are CAUSED events: “hurled down upon the earth,” “thrown into the sea,” “fell from the sky,” and “sun was struck.”  They also specifically occur at the trumpet blasts, at the will and timing of God.

 

"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, a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed."  [Revelation 8:8 NIV]

 

At this point a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships are destroyed. The sea covers about 70% of the world’s surface. Scientists estimate 50% to 80% of the earth’s oxygen comes from phytoplankton, 96% of the world’s water is in the oceans, and about 19% of the protein humans consume comes from the sea.

 

^“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—  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.”  [Revelation 8:10 – 11 NIV]

 

Scientists have predicted the eventuality of a meteor hitting the earth. Revelation names this star “Wormwood” which makes the waters “bitter” (poisonous) so “many people” died. Wesley identified this event as the Arian heresy (subrogated Jesus [as a created being] and the Holy Spirit to the Father). In other words, Arian’s deny that Jesus (God) died for our sins. (Note: “die” does not mean “cease to exist.” Even when we physically die we continue to exist.)

 

^"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.”  [Revelation 8:12 NIV]

 

The fourth trumpet affects the sun, moon, and stars. The result may be that one-third of the day and night are gone. This would possibly be four hours of day light and four hours of the night are totally dark. The energy from the sun is necessary for life.  As the sun dies the planet dies. Again we see this jeopardizing the environment, especially plant life, as we know it. This also reflects the ninth of the Egyptian plagues.

 

^“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’!”  [Revelation 8:13 NIV]

 

What could be worse than what we have already seen?  Whatever it is has yet to come!  An eagle announces a three-fold woe (or “terror”) for the last three trumpets. We see the hint of what is worse when Satan is released from the Abyss in chapter 9.