7.b. The first angel blew his trumpet

Revelation 8:6   Now the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to blow them. The first angel blew his trumpet, and there followed hail and fire, mixed with blood, and these were thrown upon the earth. And a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.

Ezekiel 13:10-15     Precisely because they have misled my people, saying, ‘Peace,’ when there is no peace, and because, when the people build a wall, these prophets smear it with whitewash,  say to those who smear it with whitewash that it shall fall! There will be a deluge of rain, and you, O great hailstones, will fall, and a stormy wind break out.  And when the wall falls, will it not be said to you, ‘Where is the coating with which you smeared it?3  Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: I will make a stormy wind break out in my wrath, and there shall be a deluge of rain in my anger, and great hailstones in wrath to make a full end.  And I will break down the wall that you have smeared with whitewash, and bring it down to the ground, so that its foundation will be laid bare. When it falls, you shall perish in the midst of it, and you shall know that I am the LORD.  Thus will I spend my wrath upon the wall and upon those who have smeared it with whitewash, and I will say to you, The wall is no more, nor those who smeared it,

Ezekiel 38:22   With pestilence and bloodshed I will enter into judgment with him, and I will rain upon him and his hordes and the many peoples who are with him torrential rains and hailstones, fire and sulfur.

The seventh seal unleashes 7 trumpets of judgment on the earth.  This first one a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees, and all green grass.  During the previous seals being broke open the judgments on earth were explained by visions of the four horsemen.  The horseman gives vision to how events will play out after the tribulation.  One will come and seem to be able to offer peace and stability.  Remember this occurs after the rapture of the church (believers).  Obviously there will be great confusion, unrest, anxiousness, and fear across the globe.  This first rider had the power to conquer but does not use it to conquer.  The second horse reveals power to take away any peace and people killed one another.  The third reveals what it will be like when basic daily needs are lacking and the cost of daily survival is very high.  The fourth revealed a fourth of earth die from famine and disease and wild animals. The fifth revealed those who believed during this time of tribulation and died because of this belief.  The sixth revealed an act of God’s wrath that all will know it is of His doing.  We then read of a holding back of God’s wrath, whether it is after or during the events of the visions of the four horsemen does not truly matter, and sealing of 144,000 who will be servants of God on earth who will proclaim the Word of God and those who died because of this belief. Then we come to this part where the trumpets blasts begin and a third of the earth is burned up.  Things on earth will get and are getting to the point of very little survival.  Any hope of living off the land is taken away.

God’s warnings and visions of what is to come are given so that people will absolutely know it is at the hand of God that these events are happening because they have rejected His grace, mercy, and love through Jesus Christ.  This rejection of Christ, God’s only Son, salvation, redemption, and eternal life results in those now receiving God’s full anger, wrath, and judgment.  Believing this will not happen does not make it so.  Believing it will not happen during your lifetime does not make it so.  But know this, it will come as fast as in the twinkling of an eye.  Now is the time of redemption.  Now is the time to trust in, cling to, rely on, and believe in Jesus Christ, seeking forgiveness and truing away from sin.

11. Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God

Jeremiah 23:17     They say continually to those who despise the word of the LORD, ‘It shall be well with you’; and to everyone who stubbornly follows his own heart, they say, ‘No disaster shall come upon you.’”

Jeremiah 6:14    They have healed the wound of my people lightly, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace.

Ezekiel 13:10    Precisely because they have misled my people, saying, ‘Peace,’ when there is no peace, and because, when the people build a wall, these prophets smear it with whitewash,

Luke 10:16    “The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me.”

1 Thessalonians 4:8    Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.

Isaiah 57:21     There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.”

Ezekiel 13:22     Because you have disheartened the righteous falsely, although I have not grieved him, and you have encouraged the wicked, that he should not turn from his evil way to save his life,

Zechariah 10:2   Therefore the people wander like sheep; they are afflicted for lack of a shepherd.

Deuteronomy 29:19    one who, when he hears the words of this sworn covenant, blesses himself in his heart, saying, ‘I shall be safe, though I walk in the stubbornness of my heart.’

Zephaniah 1:12   and I will punish the men who are complacent, those who say in their hearts, ‘The LORD will not do good, nor will he do ill.’

Jeremiah 18:18   and let us not pay attention to any of his words.”

Peace, Peace, there is no peace. People wander like sheep for they lack a shepherd. God’s word whitewashed. Walking in stubbornness following their own heart.  Complacent and pay no attention to any of His words.

These scriptures speak to those who play and pretend to be followers of God.  They are false followers.  They deny God.  They spend little to no time in His word.  They whitewash their heart with words of peace but the great shepherd has no place in their life.  They blindly follow the wind of ideas that flow from society and find comfort in that folly.  God is not real in their life.  There is no relationship with Him.  There is no want to serve Him.  There is no desire to seek Him unless something bad has transpired.  There is no need of God and His leading.  They walk this life with the guidance of their own heart.  They never ask God to lead them or show them their sin.  There is no fruit of the spirit in their life.  God is void most days.  Their ears are deaf to Him.  Their eyes are blind to Him.  His word is foreign to them.  His warnings go unheard. They see no need for the bread and water of life found in His word.  There is little to no place of God in their life.

What kind of life it this?  How is God honored by being complacent?  How is God glorified when He is neglected?

God is worthy of all praise, honor, and glory.  In Him, we find true peace.  In Him, we find abundant life.  In Him we see eternity.  In Him we find redemption.  In Him we find hope.  In Him we find rest.  In Him we find refuge.  In Him we find strength.  In Him, we are encouraged for each new day.  In Him, our worries are put to rest.  In Him, we are filled with a spirit of love.

Intentional commitment to humbly serve, honor, follow and obey God is a choice.  Do not choose the way of the world that whitewashes a dedicated life to God.