Desolation: (8:7- 9:19)
- The First Trumpet: (8:7): Hail and fire mixed with blood were thrown to the earth which burned up a third of trees and all green grass. The specific cause of the hail and fire is not revealed, but from a scientific view point, an earthquake of high magnitude triggering worldwide volcanic eruption spewing out large quantity of lava appearing as blood causing ecological disturbances and burning almost 1/3rd of green vegetation. The result was 1/3rd of the earth is burned. This would further cause destruction of crops, death of animals on a massive scale, loss of wood for construction and destruction of watersheds.
- The second trumpet: (8:8-9): This judgment appears to be a giant asteroid or meteor crashing into the Earth’s oceans. The massive object plunging through the sky appeared like a huge mountain with fire. This has happened to Earth hundreds of times in it’s history. The latest was on June 9, 2006 when a meteor slammed into Northern Norway with an impact force equal to the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima, Japan. Astronomers are currently watching 736 potentially hazardous Near Earth objects (NEO). As of now none are projected to collide with Earth but these scientists caution us that NEO’s often appear suddenly and with very little warning. How many of us knew that one was about to strike Norway? The meteor strike referenced in this passage causes astounding devastation, turning 1/3 of the world’s oceans into poisonous red colour, killing 1/3 of marine life. The giant waves destroy over 43,000 ships(In 2005 there were 130,000 ships registered in 195 countries), capsizing huge vessels and completely swamping ports. The resulting disruption of commerce and transportation will cause economic chaos.
So the first two trumpets will bring devastating judgements on both the land and the sea.
- The third Trumpet: (8:10-11)
As the third angel sounded, another flaming object hurtled toward the earth. John described it as a great star that fell from heaven. The massive object that smashed into the ocean remained intact, but this object disintegrated as it reached Earth’s atmosphere. The fact that is described as burning like a torch supports that it is likely a meteor or comet. Its fiery debris fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water, polluting the fresh water around the globe. Because of its deadly effects, the star will be called Wormwood. Wormwood is mentioned 8-times in Old Testament, where it is associated with bitterness, poison and death (Deu.29:18; Prov.5:4; Jer.9:15).
With the third trumpet judgement, John says: many men will die drinking from bitter water. The rivers will run with deadly poison. The wells will become springs of death. The lakes and reservoirs will be filled with toxic waters. But the worst is yet to come.
- The fourth Trumpet: (8:12-13)
The divine judgement shifts from earth to heaven. The heavenly bodies are hit with a plague from God 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. The loss of heat from the sun will cause temperatures to plunge drastically all over the world which would severely disrupts the earth’s weather patterns and the seas’ tides, leading to violent unpredictable storms and tides destroying the crops and further loss of animal and human lives.
Isaiah, Joel and Amos also wrote of the sun going dark (Isa. 13:9-10; Joel 2:10; Amos 8:9). The Lord Jesus said there would be signs in sun and moon and stars (Lk.21:25; Mk. 13:24).
Again John looked , he heard “an eagle flying in mid-heaven, saying “Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels are about to sound!”This is no ordinary eagle. The Greek text uses the word normally translated angel, indicating some kind of supernatural messenger, sent to prepare the world for what’s ahead. Four of the trumpets have sounded, and the Earth is reeling from this onslaught. But now the judgments turn supernatural and are directed at man himself. It’s about to get personal. The triple pronouncement of “woe, woe, woe” introduces one threat for each of the remaining three trumpets about to sound. Woe is used throughout Scripture as an expression of judgement, destruction and condemnation. God’s wrath and judgement will come upon those who dwell on the earth. Although they will acknowledge that the disasters have come from God (6:15-17), they will not repent. They will be destroyed because they fail to listen to the warning God addresses to all sinners.