Revelation 8

 What a great day yesterday! Errands done quickly! Lectionary was interesting and stimulating! Then home to do some outside work and then sit in a tree for a few hours in the sun! I like days like that! Today is looking grey so far, but who knows! Hoping to get some barn work done and then sit in a tree for a few more hours, but the wind is crazy strong up here now, so that will keep me on the ground!

Great discussion from yesterday! Thanks! I think we have come to the conclusion that the 144,000 were from the tribes of Israel and, like Donna mentioned, they were "the chosen people" (originally). the others in the white robes were the people that were not Jews that accepted Christ. It is all confusing and like I have said a few times, the more we analyze, the more confused we (I) get!

To recap the last few days: six seals of the scroll have been removed with all the consequences; we saw the 144,000 and the great multitude from every nation. This morning, the Lamb (Jesus) opens the seventh seal and there is complete quiet in heaven for half an hour. At the end of the last chapter there was praising and singing- now nothing. Complete silence. I'm not sure about heaven, but I know thirty minutes of silence here is frightening and uncomfortable! Is heaven and earth breathing? Are the angels and people praying in silence? Is this the "calm before the storm"?

The angels that surround God's throne were given trumpets. In ancient Israel, the trumpets were sounded at the beginning of war; it was a call to battle! Another angel burned incense; incense and prayer are intimately associated with each other. The concept is that just as incense is pleasing and rises up to the air, so do our prayers rise up to God. SO here, before anything happens, a great number of prayers (there was lots of incense in the censer) are lifted up to God. It is interesting that the fires of these prayers are thrown back to earth! It is as if the prayers that have been prayed are finally coming to fruition. This sets off the angels blowing their trumpets; we don't know if these happened sequentially or simultaneously- but does it matter?

The first trumpet produced a hail and firestorm on earth. The author says there was blood- was it mixed in or as a result? Does it matter? One-third of the trees and grass are burned up. The second trumpet results in something being thrown into the ocean and the ocean turning into blood with destruction of a third of the creatures and ships. What does the mountain represent? Was it really blood? What does the sea represent- was it the Mediterranean Sea? Does it matter? The third trumpet brings forth a huge comet from the sky (some theologians say the comet represented Atilla the Hun or Genseric destroying Rome, or even Arius corrupting the Christian doctrine). Again, does it matter? Wormwood is a bitter plant, so symbolic of the bitterness and sadness of the people? Rivers and waters destroyed- again in the same proportion- one-third. The last angel in this chapter blows their trumpet and complete darkness takes control of a larger portion of the day than it should! The darkness symbolic of the terror to come. An eagle (symbolic of vengeance, often associated with Rome "swooping down" to destroy Jerusalem in 70AD) soars through the skies warning of the next three angels. Things are not looking too good here! Interesting side note- the Greek word for angel and eagle are very similar- so this may have been the angel actually flying through the air.

In these first four events, God attacks our "comforts"- food, water, daily rhythms, light. We also see God's mercy- only one-third of something was destroyed. For now, God spares more than God smites!

Tough to read, but also interesting! Have "fun" with this today!

Shalom+
Pastor Paul