When we were last together in this series we were defining the symbolism in Rev. 8:7...The first angel sounded: and hail and fire followed, mingled with blood, and they were thrown to the earth...and a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up. A third, or the number 3, symbolizes Divine - Father, Son, & Holy Spirit.
This verse describes Divine judgment has come to the earth, whereby throughout the Christian era mankind will experience calamities, tragedies, pain, devastation, destruction, and premature death, because of their persistent idolatry and immorality. What does hail and green grass symbolize in this verse?
Green grass symbolizes fertility - growth of finances, material possessions, property and worldly knowledge of the idolaters on the earth. But academic advancement, pursuit of philosophy, (which produces empty deceit) and the accruement of material wealth will be subject to failure, ruin or loss, during the time of the trumpet warnings.
Hail symbolizes the voice of God wielding swift and sharp judgment directed at the idolaters on the earth...the Lord thundered from heaven, and the Most High uttered His voice, hailstones and coals of fire...Ps. 18:13. God's judgments are not new, but the trumpet judgments are designed for a specific time period called the Christian era.
Blood symbolizes death. Fire symbolizes the glory of God - His presence, His anointing. God is declaring by His voice, that His glory - fire - is coming to the earth to judge idolatry and immorality. Sin cannot stand in the presence - glory - of the Lord. If sinners refuse to repent and surrender their allegiance to God, death will be the result. But...it will be their choice.
Then 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 living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed...Rev. 8:8-9.
Great mountain burning with fire, symbolizes the proliferation of false doctrines of demons that are violently intruding into the lives of human beings on the earth - contaminating their spiritual understanding of their Creator. When the great mountain burning with fire is thrown into the sea it symbolizes force - the severe impact that these countless doctrines of demons will have on the hearts and minds of all mankind - spiritually poisoning them against Jesus Christ.
The Prophet Jeremiah addressed the symbolism for a burning mountain. Behold, I am against you O destroying mountain, who destroys all the earth, says the Lord. And I will stretch out My hand against you, roll you down from the rocks, and make you a burnt mountain...Jer. 51:25. Jeremiah is prophesying God's judgment that overwhelmed the inhabitants of Babylon long ago, when it was the occult worship center of the world...460 B.C.
He metaphorically refers to Babylon as a destroying mountain - an immense destructive force that would become a burnt mountain. Burnt mountain symbolizes God's judgment on their idol worship - demon doctrines - which infiltrated the masses separating them from the love of God. Jeremiah's destroying mountain/burnt mountain is the great mountain burning with fire in the second trumpet blast - God's judgment on paganism - all false religious doctrines of demons - with devastating consequences to all mankind.
Sea symbolizes nations of people. Sea became blood tells us these demon doctrines will cause immense loss of life with great sorrow, to multiplied millions of people during the Christian era.
Ships symbolizes commerce. Ships destroyed symbolizes how serving false god's through allegiance to paganism will have a negative impact - depravity, corruption & deception - on commerce and trade throughout the Christian era.
Then the third angel sounded: and a great star fell from Heaven. The name of the star is Wormwood. Who is the star that fell from Heaven named Wormwood? Stay tuned...
God's sheep question the doctrines of men...sheeple follow without question~~~
We are studying the symbolism of the seven trumpets in Revelation chapter 8. Last blog we ended with verse 6...the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound. After the fall of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. the people of Israel were scattered across the planet, initiating the times of the Gentiles era. After this occurs, the warnings of impending devastation and death within the sound of the trumpet blasts will gradually increase upon the inhabitants of the earth - judging their sins.
The grief that is coming upon the earth will be perpetrated by Satan and his minions in the guise of prophets of God, who actually are false prophets, propagating doctrines of demons. Satan will infiltrate the governments of every nation, creating immoral pagan laws to oppress and subjugate their citizens.
The first angel sounded: And hail and fire followed, mingled with blood, and they were thrown to the earth...and a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up...Rev. 8:7. Once the first trumpet gives its blast, we see hail and fire mingled with blood and thrown to the earth. What does this symbolism reveal?
This symbolism is reminiscent of the days of Moses armed with signs and wonders, when God sent him to Pharaoh of Egypt - who tortured and enslaved His kids...Ex. 7:17 & 9:23. Although, in the days of Moses, these signs were literally natures wonders, directed by God, creating physical disturbances against this pagan society.
While the trumpet blasts depict that physical disturbances will come upon the inhabitants of the earth, their revelations use natural elements metaphorically to depict God's judgment on spiritual depravity - immorality and paganism. The judgment of the trumpet blasts will gradually unfold during the Christian era, until the bowl judgments, revealed at the end of the ages, brings finality to sin and the works of the devil. The earth with its evil works will burn up...II Pet. 3:10.
What does the symbolism of #3 reveal...a third of the trees were burned up? The #3 symbolizes Divine - Father, Son & Holy Spirit. So the message is - divine judgment has come to the earth. As we define these symbols, we will find the inhabitants of the earth will be subjected to calamities, tragedies, pain, devastation, and premature death on the planet, because of their persistent idolatry - defying God's commandments.
Trees in scripture often symbolize people - prominent people in positions of leadership. The prophet Daniel interpreted the pagan King Nebuchadnezzar as a tree in his dream...the tree that you saw...it is you...Dan. 4:20-22. The Prophet Ezekiel referred to Assyria, a country of people as...a cedar in Lebanon, with fine branches that shaded the forest...Ez. 31:3.
Our study text metaphorically describes how people of prominence, while not excluding others, will experience the judgment of God on their paganism - burned up with fire. The fire of God's wrath was thrown to the earth, because of the relentless brutality and bloody martyrdom of His saints - the true witnesses of His salvation, and the sacrifice of the innocent ones - their blood cries out from the ground as did innocent Abel's blood.
During the long Christian era, many prominent people will be deposed from important influential positions, while others will be brought to utter ruin by the public exposure of their corruption, as they encounter the consuming fire of God's judgment. Yet, many ruthless barbaric leaders will continue to prosper, appearing untouched by this judgment - this is permitted by God.
What does hail and green grass symbolize...hail thrown to the earth...and all green grass was burned up? Stay tuned...
God's sheep question the doctrines of men..sheeple follow without question~~~
As we continue our study defining the symbolism of the seven trumpets in Revelation chapter 8, we must first define the symbolism for incense and smoke in verses 3 & 4...then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar...he was given incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne...and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel's hand.
What does incense symbolize? In the days of the Israelites, incense was used as a purifying agent after a blood sacrifice for sin was offered to the Lord. Incense is sweet smelling, providing a favorable aroma to destroy the stench of death. This natural act explains the symbolism in our text, where we see the angel mingling incense with the prayers of the saints before they ascend to God.
The prayers of the saints are beseeching God to avenge the blood they have shed on the earth - martyr's death - for the cause of Christ. Symbolically, we see the angel purifying the prayers of the saints- sacrifice of death - providing a sweet smelling fragrance as they ascend to God. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints...Ps. 116:15.
The smoke - vapors - of the sweet smelling incense is a conveyance, with the assistance of the angel, enabling the prayers to encircle the throne of God. God hears the prayers of the repentant, those who seek His love and justice. Remember, after the Shulamite woman rose up to seek her beloved Solomon, she said when she saw him...who is this coming out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke perfumed with myrrh and frankincense?...SS 3:6. The smoke (vapors) filled with perfumed incense (purification) brought her to her beloved. God is the beloved in whom we seek.
Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth...and there were noises, thundering, lightnings, and an earthquake...Rev. 8:5. A censer is used to burn sweet smelling incense, so why would the angel now fill it with fire and throw it down upon the earth?
God hears the prayers of His saints seeking His love and justice, provoking His wrath upon the earth to avenge the shedding of innocent blood. Fire in Heaven symbolizes His glory - glory symbolizes His presence. No sin can stand in the presence of God without burning up. When the fire - glory - is thrown to the earth, it symbolizes that His presence is revealed in His wrath upon the idolaters of the earth - those who murdered His saints who had witnessed the way of salvation to them. God's wrath is revealed through the Trumpet Warnings.
The verse also says...and there were noises, thundering, lightnings, and an earthquake - what does this symbolize? This means there was a great uproar - rejoicing - in Heaven. Lightning symbolizes the splashing of colorful rays of light throughout the spiritual realm. Noises and thunder symbolize the tumultuous sounds exhibited by the exuberant rejoicing from the angels, and the redeemed human beings, causing a massive quaking and shaking. Earthquake symbolizes societal upheaval on the earth. Why was all of this exuberant rejoicing taking place?
The firstfruits of salvation who had finally arrived in Heaven, along with the angelic army of God who had participated in this event, are ecstatic that judgment was finally coming to the immoral idolaters of the earth - Egypt & Sodom - revealing that the time of the end of the ages was in sight. The angels had waited so long to see Jesus accomplish His work on the earth - the redemption of mankind - and the end of evil when Satan is thrown in the Lake of Fire.
The seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound...verse 6. What happens next? Stay tuned...
God's sheep question the doctrines of men...sheeple follow without question~~~
