spiritual battle, Angels with the Seven Trumpets (Rev.8)

The seven angels prepare to sound the trumpets.

At the first trumpet, a third of the earth is burned up and destroyed by physical disturbances...

(Revelation 8:6-7)  And the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound them.

7 The first sounded, and there came hail and fire, mixed with blood, and they were thrown to the earth; and a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.

At the second trumpet, something like a meteor is thrown into the sea, turning a third of it into blood, destroying a third of the sea life and a third of the ships...

(Revelation 8:8-9)  The second angel sounded, and something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea; and a third of the sea became blood, 9 and a third of the creatures which were in the sea and had life, died; and a third of the ships were destroyed.

At the third trumpet, a great star falls to earth, turning a third of the earth's fresh waters into bitter Wormwood, causing man people to die...

(Revelation 8:10-11)  The third angel sounded, and a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of waters. 11 The name of the star is called Wormwood; and a third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the waters, because they were made bitter.

At the fourth trumpet, a third of the sun, and moon and stars are struck, so that there is less natural light than normally...

(Revelation 8:12)  The fourth angel sounded, and a third of the sun and a third of the moon and a third of the stars were struck, so that a third of them would be darkened and the day would not shine for a third of it, and the night in the same way.

From this we see:
- the seven angels prepare to sound the trumpets (8:6)
- an angel sounds the first trumpet, and a third of the earth is burned up and destroyed by physical disturbances (8:7)
- an angel sounds the second trumpet, and something like a meteor is thrown into the sea, turning a third of it into blood, destroying a third of the sea life and a third of the ships (8:8-9)
- an angel sounds the third trumpet, and a great star falls to earth, turning a third of the earth's fresh waters into bitter Wormwood, causing man people to die (8:10-11)
- an angel sounds the fourth trumpet, and a third of the sun, and moon and stars are struck, so that there is less natural light than normally (8:12)

Personal experience:  I love a good storm - but only when no one gets hurt, or nothing gets damaged.  But even now, that is rarely the case.  Just in the heavily developed area where we live, if there is an ice storm, there hundreds of people practically guaranteed to lose power every time.

The storms and natural disasters which will take place in the Tribulation will be so much worse!

Today's takeaway:  I cannot help but feel very thankful that as believers, we will be spared from that wrath to come!  And that God spares us from His wrath, altogether!

And I am so very thankful for how God protects us, provides for us, and guides us through the storms of life that we experience here and now...

(1 Thessalonians 5:1-11)  Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you. 2 For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. 3 While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape. 4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; 5 for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; 6 so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober. 7 For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night. 8 But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation. 9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.

(Psalm 34:1-22)  I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul will make its boast in the Lord; the humble will hear it and rejoice.
3 O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together.

4 I sought the Lord, and He answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.
5 They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces will never be ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and rescues them.

8 O taste and see that the Lord is good; how blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!
9 O fear the Lord, you His saints; for to those who fear Him there is no want.
10 The young lions do lack and suffer hunger; but they who seek the Lord shall not be in want of any good thing.
11 Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
12 Who is the man who desires life and loves length of days that he may see good?
13 Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.
14 Depart from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

15 The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and His ears are open to their cry.
16 The face of the Lord is against evildoers, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
17 The righteous cry, and the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.
20 He keeps all his bones, not one of them is broken.
21 Evil shall slay the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
22 The Lord redeems the soul of His servants, and none of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned.