Revelation 8  Jesus opens the seventh seal from the scroll that He took from His Father's hand and all of heaven becomes silent.  Not one angel, creature, or saint.. makes a noise for "half an hour".  Time is taken to contemplate what has happened and to anticipate what will happen next.. 

John watched as 7 angels were given 7 trumpets as they stood before God.  He watched another angel come and put incense on the golden altar before the throne.  He saw the prayers of the saints and the incense added to them.. go up as smoke before God.  Then he saw the angel take the censer, fill it with fire and throw it on the earth, "and there were peals of thunder and sounds and flashes of lightning and an earthquake." 

Only then dd the angels with the trumpets prepare to sound them. 

The first trumpet sounded and the earth was hit with "hail and fire, mixed with blood".  One third of the earth "was burned up and a third of the trees were burned up, and the green grass was burned up."  

We have been watching the coverage of the California fires.. which are devastating... but not anywhere near a third of the earth. It is hard to imagine fire as great as this.. all over the world. But, it is coming and that is only the beginning.. 

The second trumpet is sounded and "something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea".  The sea and every sea creature and every ship will be affected by this second judgment.  The sea becomes "blood".  Ships are destroyed. Sea creatures die. 

Then the third trumpet is sounded.  This one releases a "great star" which falls on "rivers and on the springs of waters." A third of all natural sources of water become poisoned. 

The fourth trumpet sounds and "a third of the sun and a third of the moon and a third of the stars" are "smitten".  Day and night are changed.  An eagle announces that the next 3 trumpets will bring three "woes".   John must have wondered how it could get any worse!

The Revelation of these future events was given to John so that the servants of God will know "the things which must shortly take place." ( Rev. 1:1)  We are given this Word for a purpose.. There is a time coming when the things of this world that we take for granted and that we think are imperishable.. will no longer be..  The land, the water, the sun and the moon.. daytime and night time.. all of these are in the Hands of the Creator and He will destroy what He has made.. when He brings these judgements.  Paul wrote to the Romans that "we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together.. " to be set free from "its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God." ( Romans 8:21-22)  

This is what our God will do! And He wants us to be ready.. and He wants us to tell others so that they can be ready too!

Father in heaven, this Word is hard for us to hear and hard for us to imagine. But, we know that You are in control and that You will accomplish all of Your plans for Your Holy purposes.  Hold us close.. cover us with Your tabernacle.. keep us from the evil that threatens our faith and hope and joy.  Bless us with Your grace and truth that we might live victorious, faithful lives in our Lord Jesus Christ to His glory and honor. It is in His name that we stand and that we offer our prayers before Your throne. Amen.