The Mystery of the Seven Trumpets (Pt. 1c)

THE FIRST TRUMPET:

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. (Rev 8:7)

As we’ll see throughout the first four trumpets, the phrase “the third part” is repeatedly used to designate that portion of the church that, by the seventh age, has fallen under the influence of satan. It is never used as a reference to the true Kingdom within the church.

And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, (satan) having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth... (Rev 12:4)

As we saw in the account of the opening of the sixth seal, apostate believers are once again depicted as “stars falling from heaven” to the earth. It’s these very ones, called “the third part”, that all of the seven trumpets will be sounded to warn.

The first angel sounded…

The “first angel” refers to Kingdom believers within the last days EVANGELICAL CHURCH. They are commanded to trumpet the Lord’s warning which is found in His letter to the church at Ephesus...

Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto you quickly, and will remove your candlestick out of His place, except you repent. (Rev 2:5)

The evangelical church has forgotten her first love (the gospel of the Kingdom). The first trumpet will sound to call her to repentance.

…and there followed hail…

Hail speaks of stoning, an ancient Hebrew punishment carried out for one purpose only – cutting off sinners from the Kingdom. God is signifying with this “hail” that the day is coming when He will utterly cut off the “third part” (satan’s portion) of the evangelical church. Cutting off does not mean the losing of salvation. Rather, it speaks of being separated, for a season of judgment, from the protection and blessings of the Kingdom.

…and fire…

Fire speaks of purification. It is sent to “burn up” any works of this church not wrought in God.

…mingled with blood…

The “blood” spoken of here is the blood of Heaven. By depicting the hail and fire “mingled” with blood, God is signifying that the authority to cut off (hail) and purify (fire) satan’s portion on earth (third part), is found in the shed blood of Christ.

…and the third part of trees was burnt up…

The “third part of trees” refers to churches planted by satan, not the Lord. How does satan plant churches? With a seed gospel that denies the Lordship and Kingdom of Christ. A “repeat after me” gospel that is prevalent in much of the modern evangelical church.

…and all green grass was burnt up. (Rev 8:7)

The “green grass” speaks of believers that operate in the flesh, not in the Spirit.

For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls away: (1Pe 1:24)

Therefore, taken as a whole, the first trumpet warns the evangelical church of the last days that if she will not repent of abandoning her first love (the true gospel of the Kingdom) she will be cut off from all Kingdom blessings, and her works, her churches, and her people will be consumed in the fires of the coming tribulation.

And that’s just the first trumpet.


To be continued…