Anyone who has been praying will attest to a time where they have wondered if their prayers really mattered. When will true justice and goodness be restored? It seems the more we pray, the worse things become. Sometimes we feel our prayers bouncing off the walls and ceiling, and often, we wonder if they'd even gotten airborne in the first place!
Revelation Chapter 8 gave the persecuted churches (and us!) some perspective.
Observation
This is the chapter that opens up the cycle of the trumpets. Please remember that the 7 trumpets is the same story as the 7 seals, told from a different perspective. Seven in all, the trumpets talk about the judgement befalling the earth. After the 7th Seal was opened, there was silence in heaven for about half and hour (symbolism for "a short time"). Then another angel appeared with a golden censer and stood at the altar. There was incense and prayers on the golden altar before the Throne of God. The incense, prayers and fire from God were thrown down on earth, resulting in thunders, lightning, etc.
Food for thought
The prayers of saints play a very important role in the judgement of God. What is the real masterpower behind our world, what are the deeper secrets of our destinies? The prayers of the saints and the fire of God. More powerful than any dark forces and mighty powers in the world, is the power of prayer set ablaze by the fire of God and cast upon the earth. (Torrance)
Chapters 8-11
Further Observation
Trumpet 1 - 1/3 of earth burnt up
Trumpet 2 - 1/3 of sea became blood
Trumpet 3 - 1/3 of of water became bitter wormwood
Trumpet 4 - 1/3 of light darkened
Trumpet 5 - Locusts torture men without God's seal
Trumpet 6 - 1/3 mankind killed by plagues; people don't repent
Interlude - witnessing church is persecuted and vindicated
Trumpet 7 - Mystery fulfilled, Kingdom come
We see that Trumpets 1-4 mirror the plagues of Egypt (Ex 7), which grew in intensity after each time Pharoah refused to relent to God. When Trumpet 5 sounded, the judgement grew more serious. From natural calamities, it has grown to spiritual oppression. Locusts (noted as demons here by some scholars) were released to torture those "who do not have the seal of God in their foreheads" (v 4). They were only allowed to torture humans for a symbolic "5 months" though, which is the length of the locusts' lifespan. During Trumpet 6, a third of mankind (not the majority, but a significant number) was killed. Despite this, the others still would not repent and turn to God.
The interlude talks about The Two Witnesses (the church by some scholars) who were witnessing and facing great persecution at this point. Many miracles were displayed and the Two Witnesses even got silenced and killed, before they were resurrected and went up to heaven in full view of their enemies. The people were terrified and gave glory to God
At the 7th Trumpet, we are back in heaven. The mystery of God is fulfilled (10:7) and God's Kingdom has come.
Food for thought!
Well, there is just too much in this cycle! Basically it is a landscape of judgements, beginning from the the "mildest" to the most severe, culminating in the arrival of the Kingdom. This is told from the perspective of the inhabitants of the earth. If you notice carefully, Chapter 11:9 has actually finished the entire story of Revelation, although not its details (which will be explored in subsequent chapters).
I want to bring your attention to a particular reference "but in the days when the seventh angel blows his trumpet, the mystery of God will be fulfilled, as He announced to his servants and prophets." (10:7). Compare this "mystery" with Ephesians Chapter 3 - the Gentiles sharing the promise of Christ through the gospel.
Question:
Is the mystery fulfilled? Or is it awaiting a future fulfillment?
One comment that popped up was "I am sure God will protect those whom He has sealed (9:4) from the oppression of the locusts". Well, if the New Testament is anything to go by, God will surely protect His own in and not necessarily from the days of evil. If He has purposed that we live in such times, so must we. And so we must be found faithful to the end, no matter what kind of evil may / have already arrived. Was this not how the apostles and saints of old endured and overcame? Was this not how our Lord and Master triumphed? Let us then, not be afraid of pain, suffering and the hardship that comes when we remain faithful and obedient to Christ.
Recommended Reading: The Heavenly Man, story of Brother Yun, co-written by Paul Hattaway
..........
No comments:
Post a Comment