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The Seven Trumpets
The Seven Trumpets
As we read Revelation 9, we are finishing up the section of the seven trumpets. Robert Harkrider wrote:
These natural calamities are reminiscent of the plagues upon Egypt: hail (Exod. 9:23-25); water to blood (Exod. 7:20-21); darkness (Exod. 10:21-23); and locusts (Exod. 10:4-15). The signs of the trumpets, however, should not be looked upon as a prediction of literal events. All who do this disagree in their applications to historical events. Since Revelation is written in signs and symbols, [ the trumpets evidently picture God’s warning judgments sent upon the wicked. What is being portrayed is that the God of grace always gives ample time for anyone to repent before meting punishment. [see again Rev. 2:20-21 below, Hugh].
When natural calamities occur in our own times, they should serve as reminders of our weakness and helplessness. We may think ourselves self-sufficient, but we are constantly reminded by storms and natural disasters that we are not in control of our world. When earthquakes, hurricanes, and tornados disrupt the physical world, affected human beings should be sufficiently reminded of their limitations and frailties, and turn to Almighty God who created and sustains the universe.” (The Book Of Revelation, Robert Harkrider, pg. 100).
This is not to say that all such calamities are directly caused by God, but that they all display our weak and temporal nature as we live out our lives before the Eternal and All-mighty God. Such troubles remind us that it is appointed for all men to die, and then the judgment (Heb. 9:27, 2 Cor. 5:10). We have sinned and God is giving us time to repent: ‘God now demands that all men everywhere repent’ (Acts 17:30). “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).
How are you reacting to the troubles and problems of life?
Hugh DeLong
“And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write:… 'But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads My bond-servants astray so that they commit acts of immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. 'I gave her time to repent, and she does not want to repent of her immorality” [Revelation 2:20-21].
