Third Time Is Not a Charm

Rev. Leonard Reiss

Revelation • Sermon • Submitted 2 years ago

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Christ's Church needs to move from complacency to commitment.

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There are many religious groups, which we label as cults, who would deny the reality of God's judgment. There are even some among the evangelical world, who would live their lives in contradiction of God’s Word, as if they don’t believe in God's judgment. Yes, we understand that God is a God of love; but He is also a God of justice, holiness, and righteousness.

Church, as I read Revelation, I become even more convinced that time is too short and eternity is too long to waste time on trivial things on this earth. We need to be diligent in fighting the enemy, not each other. We need to be intense in our living for Christ, while telling others about Jesus, so that they do not have to go through the upcoming horrible tribulation period. To put it into a nutshell:

Christ's Church needs to move from complacency to commitment.

You might find it interesting to observe that even though these trumpet judgments are more intense than the earlier seal judgments, they are nothing in comparison to the upcoming bowl judgments. These trumpet judgments deal only with a portion of humanity and the earth. Whereas, the bowl judgments will impact all of humanity and the entire earth.

Also, we see the next seven judgments as beginning with the sounding of a trumpet. This trumpet is what was commonly referred to as a shofar trumpet. Usually, it consisted of a ram’s horn and was used in the Jewish culture as a signaling instrument to get everyone’s attention. The trumpet announced many important events for peace and celebration and festivals. However, when the trumpet was sounded at a time other than when expected, it was an alarm for war or danger.

You may also find it interesting that these judgments are not inflicted upon people by other people. These all come from God; completely out of man's control.

Judgment Against The Ground

Revelation 8:6–7 (NASB95)

And the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound them. The first sounded, and there came hail and fire, mixed with blood, and they were thrown to the earth; and a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.

The first trumpet judgment is against the vegetation of the earth. If you remember, during the time of Moses, hail and fire was the means of the fourth plague upon Egypt. John, however, sees blood mixed with this judgment. God will destroy a third of all vegetation. The Holy Spirit was very careful that John used the repetition of words showing the certainty of the event occurring. For example, the vegetation was "burned up." It was not merely singed. It was not the result of a drought. In fact, the hail itself didn't just beat down the vegetation. The Bible says that a third of the entire earth was "burned up." "A third of the trees were burned up." Livestock all over the world are going to begin the process of starvation. How do we know? Simple deduction; "… All the green grass was burned up."

Several of us know what it is like to endure an intense hailstorm. Personally, I have experienced observing a grain field which had been partially harvested, being hit the same evening by a hail storm. The next day, while looking across the field, one could not tell where the harvesting began and where the wheat was still standing awaiting harvest. We have also seen the devastation of fire, at least on television and in the newspapers. Some of us have come up on an accident scene and we’ve seen such bloody bodies, it would nearly make you sick.

Still, none of us can fathom what the experience would be to have hail come down with fire, plus mixed with blood. Hail and fire have often been associated with God’s judgment, throughout the Bible. Steven Spielberg, try as he might, could not portray the devastation and horror that this will create. The results are even worse. Imagine 1/3 of the earth burned up. Imagine 1/3 of the trees burned. Imagine all the vegetables obliterated. Imagine a third of all fruit orchards destroyed. The initial devastation would be absolutely mind-boggling. However, we must then add to that the economic chaos that would result from food prices skyrocketing.

Consider this. Do you want your neighbors, family members, co-workers, to have to experience this? In our saved state, would we even find it acceptable to wish hardship upon those who are antagonistic to the gospel of Jesus Christ? Christ’s church needs to move from complacency to commitment. We need to grasp the reality that without us doing our part, by telling others that Jesus Christ can provide eternal life; they will not only experience these horrible judgments, but even worse, they will spend eternity apart from Christ, in torment far greater than even these judgments.

Judgment Against the Waters

Revelation 8:8–11 (NASB95)

The second angel sounded, and something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea; and a third of the sea became blood, and a third of the creatures which were in the sea and had life, died; and a third of the ships were destroyed. The third angel sounded, and a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of waters. The name of the star is called Wormwood; and a third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the waters, because they were made bitter.

The second trumpet judgment is against the sea and the water going transportation system. Consider the first plague in Egypt, during the time of Moses. At that time the Nile River was turned blood red, destroying all the fish. That plague was Sesame Street compared to what God is going to do with the second trumpet judgment. There will be a large, blazing mass, comparable to a mountain, thrown into the sea. Again, the Bible gives us the formula of "thirds, in this judgment. A third of the sea turned into blood, a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and God destroyed 1/3 of the ships. The incredible turbulence which will occur upon the impact of this large, blazing mass, will cause the ships to be destroyed.

The third trumpet judgment is against the waters of the sanitation systems on our planet. Wormwood is an extremely bitter and intoxicating plant. This star, named Wormwood, will cause incredible impurity in the water system that far exceeds any form of water pollution we have seen on this planet, so far. Usually, when a star falls to earth, it burns completely up or causes a small crater. This seems to be a huge, fiery star, and attacks, not the sea, but the fresh water supply.

Interestingly, this is the first reference to a trumpet judgment actually taking human life. It is at this point, it seems, that some of humanity will not get any more chances to hear the gospel message. Death will actually occur, as many of them had been begging earlier to receive.

These judgments will make all the horror movies and science fiction shows and books seem like Disney World, of old. Humanity, with all of its combined intellect and technology, will be no match for God's judgment. The world will experience a total helplessness which they have never known. Humanism has taught that we are gods and capable of nearly anything. However, the God of the universe is going to definitively correct this by proving there is no other God than Jehovah God.

The reality is that people will still not take seriously the claims of the Bible, until it is too late. Why will they not believe? I am convinced one reason is because those who claim to be Christians, even today, don't take the Bible’s claims seriously. Oh, I understand many take seriously the claims about all of humanity being sinners and the need for salvation. Many even take seriously the claims on areas of their lives, yet only what they see fit to accept. Yet, when it comes to living every area of their lives for Christ, they become comfortable with what they’re doing, ignorant, or complacent. It is no wonder the onlooking world won't believe that judgment is coming for all who refuse to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Church, we need to move from complacency to commitment.

Judgments Against the Heavens

Revelation 8:12–13 (NASB95)

The fourth angel sounded, and a third of the sun and a third of the moon and a third of the stars were struck, so that a third of them would be darkened and the day would not shine for a third of it, and the night in the same way. Then I looked, and I heard an eagle flying in midheaven, saying with a loud voice, “Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!”

The fourth trumpet judgment deals with the heavenly bodies. Darkness, which can be quite scary when not planned, will actually become more the norm. This judgment carries similarities to the ninth plague in Egypt of darkness. Ordinary light, which would come from the sun, moon, and stars, will be reduced by 1/3. Some might not think this is anything to worry about. Yet, the Old Testament carries a great deal of information showing that when the heavens are darkened, God appears in judgment. We also recall that when Christ was crucified, a frightening darkness covered the land. That was when God's judgment for the sins of the world was taking place.

Also, at this time, the flying eagle gives John notice that there are three more judgments to come. The last three are going to be incredibly heart wrenching and painful. They will kill a third of the world’s population. Those who will be killed are those who have rejected Christ.

My friends, with all of our satellites and space programs, we still are unable to control the sun, moon, and stars. I recall when I was a student in school and there was a total eclipse. The teachers told us that chickens would begin to roost while one portion of the world went into darkness. They did not permit us to look at the eclipse, except through a specially made device, because we could become blinded. Interestingly, there was almost a sense of panic among some people due to this incredible phenomenon. However, that was not God's judgment. It was simply an interesting part of how the world operates.

Consider the Roman soldier, when experiencing the darkness enveloping the earth, as Christ hung on the cross. He stated: "Surely, this was the Son of God." Even as God was judging the sins of humanity, the darkness spoke to this soldier.

My friends, people are groping around in their own spiritual darkness. They do not fully comprehend how blind they truly are; because we, as believers in Christ, are not always living as light in the world. Too many Christians are spending so much time trying to fit in to the world. Sadly, we no longer make the unsaved cringe under their guilt before God. I am not suggesting that we go around condemning people. What I believe we need to be doing, is simply obeying the Word of God. Consider these Scripture verses: "live your lives so that they will see your good deeds and glorify your father who is in heaven." "Have nothing to do with the deeds of darkness.”

Christ's Church needs to move from complacency to commitment.

Conclusion

None of us knows how much longer it will be before Christ comes to take the church home to be with Him. He may delay longer in order to give humanity more opportunity to repent and follow the Savior. I seriously doubt if the delay will continue much longer. But I do not know how long, nor does anyone else. Obviously the signs of the times show even more evidence that His return is very soon. I do not say this because of the European alliance. I do not say this because of the United Nations and others trying to create a one world government. I do not say this because of the paganism of our society running rampant.

I say this, because the church has become so complacent, it seems as if many Christians really don't care if the church truly makes a difference in this world. I say this because the church seems to have more of a commitment to individuals and to traditions rather than to Christ.

We don’t want to be amongst the apathetic. We want to be the church which Christ has called us to be. We want to be a people who make it obvious to others that we belong to Christ. We want to be a people that are intent on proclaiming Jesus in our words and actions, so that others will want to join us and be a part of God’s family.