(tm)The first trumpet
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The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up. (Revelation 8:7)
The hail and fire portray the voice of God in judgment (Psalms 18:13).
"Blood" speaks of vengeance. Cain killed Abel and the blood of Abel cried to God from the ground (Genesis 4:10). All of us are "bloodguilty." We have not been our brother’s keeper as God intends we should. Some have had an abundance of Gospel preaching while others have never heard the name of Jesus. Some have more food than they can eat while in other parts of the world children die of starvation. Some, as the rich man, are full, warm, clothed handsomely while others of mankind, as Lazarus the beggar, are hungry, naked, and homeless.
The rich man was cast into the flames of Hell because he ignored the needs of his neighbor, Lazarus.
We cannot approach God until we have been cleansed of the bloodguiltiness of despising our brother and ignoring his needs. Every human being is responsible for the condition of mankind. The failure of the Christians in Germany, and in the rest of the world as well, to come to the aid of the Jews during the rule of Hitler is a vivid illustration of the willingness of people to concern themselves only with their own welfare. The plight of the people of Uganda and Cambodia, as well as the Christians of Sudan and China, are other examples of neglect by those who could have helped.
Many human beings are in desperate circumstances today, including numerous people who need medical attention. How many Christians of the wealthy nations, as was true of the rich man, are occupied primarily with their own pleasures and kingdoms?
The lust for pleasure is revealed in the abortions taking place. God records every abortion as an act of murder unless God accepts the surgery as being necessary for some vital reason. Every murder of a human being must be accounted for in the day of reckoning. None is forgotten.
For, behold, the Lord cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain. (Isaiah 26:21)
"The earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain".
Until we reach the place in Christ where we are doing everything in our power to serve God and man according to our own calling and gifts, we are guilty of the blood of the victims of man’s murderous selfishness. We must seek the Lord until we have the assurance we are serving Him with all the strength, wisdom, ability, and material and spiritual blessings He has given us. Only then are our hands clean from bloodguiltiness.
A "third" speaks of a pruning, a chastening, a tribulation, a partial judgment. The tribulation is for our good and makes us perfect. It is the chastening of a Father. When we come to the bowls of wrath, in Chapter Sixteen, we discover that they speak not of partial but of total destruction.
A third of the earth being burned up refers to the judgment that comes on all those who make the earth and their activities on the earth the focus of their way of life. The Lord Jesus advised us to turn away from the things of the earth and to give ourselves to the Kingdom that is in Heaven and soon will come to the earth.
Those who continue to live in the flesh will not be able to endure the destruction and terror at hand. If we do not learn to live both in the heavenlies and on the earth at the same time we will not be able to stand when men’s hearts are failing them for fear.
So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:33)
But lay up for yourselves treasures in the heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: (Matthew 6:20)
Our life is to be hidden with Christ in God. When we refuse to lay up treasures in Heaven, God burns up with the fires of judgment that on which we have placed our heart.
Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. (Colossians 3:2)
Get ready for a third of your earth to be burned up. Set your love on God, on the things of the Kingdom of God. Then you can suffer the loss of your life on the earth and not be overly concerned. The tribulation will loose you from the heavy bondages of earth’s cares.
Judgment is falling on the believers of today as well as on the remainder of mankind. Much of what we have considered to be essential to our life will be removed. Our human attractiveness may be destroyed. Jesus demands our complete attention. It is not Satan who is dealing with us, in most instances, it is the Lord. He is touching our fruitfulness and our attractiveness so we will cease pampering our flesh and attempting to please man, and turn our hearts toward God.
When the Lord begins to deal with us He often prunes back much of the fruit we have born. A "third part of the trees," that is, of our fruitfulness is burned up, along with "all green grass." All that is pleasing to the natural man is blighted.
The burning up of a third of the trees speaks of the partial destruction of our fruitfulness, of that which we have accomplished in life. The Lord Jesus will prune every branch in Himself that bears fruit. The pruning back of our accomplishments will strengthen us in the Lord provided we receive such pruning in an attitude of faith and do not strive to retain that which God is removing.
It always is wise to pray and seek the Lord and then, after we are assured we have done all we know to do, to rest in the Lord and trust in Him. Jesus knows what we need to retain and what should be pruned back.
It may be true that a literal third of the trees of the earth will be burned up. We certainly are not denying a literal interpretation. But sometimes what is taking place in the physical realm is a reflection of a counterpart in the spirit realm.
All the green grass is burned up, referring to that which is pleasant to the eyes. The nations of the earth will be struck by the hand of God. God will cause to wither what is pleasant and delightful in our lives so we begin to turn to the Lord and find solace in Him.
As long as we are taking pleasure in our present life we will not turn to the Lord. When our way on the earth becomes unattractive and painful we will seek Him. That is the purpose of the great tribulation—to turn our eyes and hopes away from the earth and toward the Lord.
The Day of the Lord will come: ". . . upon all pleasant pictures" (Isaiah 2:16).
All the works and delights of the flesh will be made desolate—all that is of Paradise, that is attractive and desirable on the earth. After that, the saints will be used of the Lord to restore the earth.
And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations. (Isaiah 61:4)
There can be no question that the trumpets are beginning to sound in our day. Numerous Christians are experiencing the chastening of the Lord. If this is happening to you, do not despair. Look only and always to Jesus. He will bring you forth as refined gold if you place your trust in Him.
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