Today's Passage: Revelation 8

In this chapter of Revelation we see the final seal broken and seven angels begin to blow trumpets to bring forth calamity on Earth.  Only the first four of the seven trumpets are blown in this chapter with the remaining three blown in the next three chapters.  

It's important to note that the calamity that is brought to Earth by the trumpets is not intended by God to be a lasting punishment at all, but instead it is intended to awaken anyone that might be oblivious to the coming judgment from God.  The first four trumpets bring primarily destruction to the Earth itself with the "woes" from the eagle indicating that the three to follow will be even more focused upon the people.  

So why blow seven trumpets and bring calamity upon the Earth right before Christ comes back?  That is a great question, one that I'm not sure I can answer.  The only reason that I feel comfortable sharing is that God wants to completely shake up the world as we know it.  So that not a single person will be able to cling to false hope provided by this world.  At this point there will be no question that our God, the creator of the universe, is in complete and total control.  To be honest most of scripture is written to accomplish this same point, but as many revival preachers can attest nothing does it quite like fire and brimstone.

So what heart change or useful information can we take away from this passage?  That everyone and I truly mean everyone will know that our God is the truth, the life and the way.  The question is when will they know?  Share Christ with someone this week you may never know how it might change their life.