Search The Scriptures (Lesson: 982) - Divine Devastation Of The Unjust

 

STS Volume 76 - Lesson 982

TOPIC: DIVINE DEVASTATION OF THE UNJUST

Memory Verse: "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).

Text: Revelation 8:1-13

Revelation chapter eight is a continuation of God's judgment during the great tribulation when His wrath shall be 

unleashed upon the ungodly who reject Christ and His message of redemption. The seventh seal is about to be 

broken and shall usher in strange commotions. Six of the seals have been broken and the scroll unrolled and 

opened. The first seal is opened and there is false peace established by the Antichrist. When the Lamb opens the 

second seal, there is war on earth. The opening of the third seal reveals famine and the opening of the fourth 

unleashes disease, pestilence and death. At the opening of the fifth seal, we see martyrs under the altar in heaven 

praying that God will avenge their blood on those on earth, but they are told to wait until the number of martyrs 

will be complete. At the opening of the sixth seal, the fury, indignation and wrath of God will burst on those on 

the earth.

This chapter introduces the opening of the seventh seal which unveils seven angels and seven trumpets of 

judgment and devastations that follow, which affect essential accessories of life, earth, trees, grass, the sea, rivers, 

fountains, the sun, moon and stars. There will be a series of overwhelming calamities, more devastating than those 

of the first six seals. In view of these terrors, the inhabitants of heaven will stand still in awe and silence, 

anticipating the dreaded events that are about to occur. God is a righteous Judge. His justice demands that He 

shows mercy to the penitent and punishes recalcitrant rebels.

Question 1: Why is the Lord justified to visit the earth with these calamitous events?

SOLEMN PREPARATION AND SAINTS' PRAYER BEFORE SEVERE JUDGMENT

(Revelation 8:1-6; Zechariah 2:13; Amos 3:6-11; Numbers 10:1,2,9; Revelation 5:8; 6:9,10; Luke 18:7,8; Psalm 

144:5,6; Revelation 11:19; 16:17,18; 6:12-17; Psalm 9:7)

"And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.”

The opening of the seventh seal (which is the last – Revelation 5) is preceded with consternation because of its 

preemptive calamitous nature. All of heaven waits in reverent anticipation because of the fearful nature of the 

events which would then be disclosed. Thus, the seven trumpets are symbolic of warnings to the ungodly world 

of approaching calamity.

After that silence, "…seven angels which stood before God… were given seven trumpets” (Revelation 8:2). 

These angels, like Gabriel (Luke 1:19), have the high honour and service of permanently standing in the 

immediate presence of God. Each one was given a trumpet. Trumpets were instruments of alarm used in the Old 

Testament to summon an assembly, muster the host for battle, inspire troops in conflict or warn the people 

(Ezekiel 33:3; Hosea 5:8,9; Amos 3:6,7). "…O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war. 

Destruction upon destruction is cried; for the whole land is spoiled: suddenly are my tents spoiled, and my 

curtains in a moment. How long shall I see the standard, and hear the sound of the trumpet?” (Jeremiah 

4:19-21).

The martyred saints in heaven have been praying that God should vindicate His people and judge the earth. They 

had been killed for their faith and had had the painful knowledge of the terrible wickedness on earth. "And they 

cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood 

on them that dwell on the earth?” (Revelation 6:10). All the saints in heaven now unite in calling on God to 

judge sin and sinners, take back the earth from the usurper and establish His kingdom over the earth. As the 

prayers of the saints ascend, great and fearful calamities descend on earth. The way is now prepared for fearful 

commotions and death-producing changes to occur on earth.

Question 2: Explain the use of trumpets in the Bible.

SINNERS' PUNISHMENT AND POLLUTION OF THE SEA BY THE SOVEREIGN JUDGE

(Revelation 8:7-9; Psalms 11:5,6; 18:12-15; Zephaniah 1:14-18; Isaiah 1:20; 30:30-33; Ezekiel 13:10-13; 

Revelation 16:3; Jeremiah 9:15; Lamentations 3:15,19)

"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). It is a 

bleak picture as these plagues of hail and fire bring terrible ecological devastation on the earth. In each of the first 

four trumpets, only a third part of the earth was affected: one-third of trees and all green grasses were destroyed 

by hail and fire mingled with blood; one-third of sea and rivers were polluted and made bitter resulting in the 

death of many; and a third part of the sun, moon and stars were darkened for a third part of both day and night. 

Yet, this will no doubt affect human economy and living adversely.

"And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: 

and the third part of the sea became blood; And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and 

had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed” (Revelation 8:8,9). As the second trumpet 

sounds, something like a huge mountain, all ablaze, is thrown into the sea. The result is that a third of the sea turns into blood and causes a third of the living creatures in the sea to die; also a third of the ships are destroyed. 

Like the judgment of the first trumpet, this also affects the economy and wellbeing of man as seafood supply, 

commerce and ocean transportation lines are affected and those whose source of living is from the sea suffer 

divine judgment. The extent of these far-reaching judgments and their implications will be staggering and beyond 

description.

Question 3: Enumerate the effects of the judgment on vegetation and water to human life and economy.

These first four trumpets are very instructive: they indicate global coverage of east, west, north and south. "A 

fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the Garden of Eden before 

them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them” (Joel 2:3). Sinners should 

heed God's warning to flee from the wrath to come and believers should awake to the urgency of warning 

unbelieving folks of the impending disaster.

Question 4: What should sinners and backsliders do in order to escape the impending judgment of God upon 

the sinful world?

SERIES OF PLAGUES UPON SINNERS AND THE UNJUST (Revelation 8:10-13; 16:4-7; Exodus 

7:20,21; Jeremiah 9:13-15; Isaiah 13:10,11; Ezekiel 32:7-10; Joel 2:10,11,31; Exodus 10:21-23; Ezekiel 2:9,10; 

Luke 21:25,26,34-36; Isaiah 13:10; Amos 8:9; Romans 2:4-11; 5:9)

The third trumpet is another awesome judgment resulting in great loss of lives. "And the third angel sounded, 

and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the 

rivers, and upon the fountains of waters; And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part 

of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter”

(Revelation 8:10,11). A star or meteor hurling through space approaches the earth and plunges into the rivers. 

This judgment of the third trumpet will affect fresh water supplies and many people will die after drinking the 

water made bitter by the star called Wormwood. Wormwood is a bitter desert plant which represents sorrow and 

bitter judgment awaiting the unjust who reject Christ and the gospel of salvation (Lamentations 3:15). The 

presence of this star will produce bitter and fatal distresses upon the wicked.

Question 5: What should be the believers' duty in the light of the devastation upon the unjust?

"And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, 

and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third 

part of it, and the night likewise” (Revelation 8:12). At the sound of the fourth trumpet, the light of the sky was 

reduced by one third. Without a third of the sun, a third of the day was lacking normal light, and the third of the 

night was without light from the moon and stars. This is to remind everyone that God controls all elements of 

nature including those that seem to be permanent like the sun, moon and stars; and that He can snuff them out of 

existence at His will at any moment. All these judgments will be preparatory to the greater manifestation of divine 

wrath and increasing devastating woes which are still to come. The only sure hope and way of escape for anyone 

is to be saved and holy now so as to be part of the sanctified saints of God who will be raptured or taken away 

from the earth before these calamities befall the world.

"And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, 

woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which 

are yet to sound!” (Revelation 8:13). The angel's threefold cry of "woe” is to warn that the next trumpet 

judgments will be more intense, horrible and devastating than the past four. The "flying” of the angel here 

portrays an eagle and symbolises the swiftness and destruction of the coming trumpet judgments.

God has always given sufficient warnings to man to amend his ways and reconcile with His maker before the 

worse happens; because it is not His will that any should perish. "Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, 

I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn 

ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?” (Ezekiel 33:11). However, if the warnings fall 

on deaf ears, then doom is inevitable. "But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for 

the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it. He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly 

be destroyed, and that without remedy” (Isaiah 1:20; Proverbs 29:1).