1st Trumpet Sounding

(Rev 8:7 KJV) 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.

Today we begin our series on the messages of the seven angels sounding their trumpets. You are being warned and the warning is the voice of God. You need to regard it as God’s voice! You cannot hide from God. He will uncover you and His judgements will reveal you. Some of the righteous, a third part, shall be burnt up because they go silent. Are you praising God by the way that you live? Your flesh is as grass. You can’t trust it, You can’t depend on it, you need to crucify it. This is the warning of the 1st trumpet angel.

(Rev 8:1-2 KJV) And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. {2} And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets.

As we studied the opening of the seals, we found that they were a revelation or understanding of the battle you as a Christian are in. As Paul explained in Ephesians 6, you are engaged in a warfare. You are fighting for truth, for righteousness to reign and the opening of the seals shows you the wiles of the devil so that you have opportunity to protect yourself against him and so that you will know how to defeat him. The seventh seal described the tactic of silencing the church – get you to let up, keep quiet and fail to thank and praise God. Now the seven trumpets give you solemn warnings.

(Joel 2:1 KJV) Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand;

(Ezek 33:3 KJV) If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people;

(Isa 58:1 KJV) Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.

The angel, the minister, is sounding an alarm______ to the church. He is warning the people, he is lifting up his voice like a trumpet_____ to show the people their transgressions and their sins. You are being warned because of the mercy of God so that you will have opportunity to repent of your sin and to obey the voice of God. You that are Christians are being warned of the danger of backsliding. You need to be reminded that you need to keep your love hot for the Lord. This message is very appropriate for us in today’s world. Many Christians are letting up on their commitment to the Lord. There are so many activities to be involved in and there is so much to do that the things of God begin to get pushed out. You begin to skip personal devotion time, God’s Word does not seem to be as necessary, going out to church service does not seem to be as important, attending revivals, fellowship meetings and camp meetings are not as important any more. The load of things to do and activities to be engaged in just keep squeezing the service of God out.

Since you are cooling off in your own personal commitment to the Lord, you do not feel like telling others about Him. After all, why would you invite someone out to the revival meeting when you don’t even know if you will be there? Less time to talk to God means less thinking about God which leads to silence in your life concerning the goodness and mercy of the Lord. The programs of the church begin to change and you talk of they and them instead of we and us. Little by little the drifting away and the cooling of your love takes place. You hardly notice it and of course you think that you are as close to the Lord as ever. After all He understands and His love for you has not changed.

Therefore, the warnings of the trumpet ministers. The alarm is being sounded, the trumpet is sounding, and God is warning you. Are you going to pay any attention to the warning of God? In my years of preaching the Gospel, it has been my observation that it is almost impossible to get through to those that drift into a lukewarm condition. They just don’t realize their true condition before the Lord. I pray today that you are not in that condition. I pray that you are awake, paying attention to God’s Word and letting the Holy Spirit examine your heart.

(James 1:22-25 KJV) But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. {23} For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: {24} For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. {25} But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

James gives solemn warning to not be a hearer_ only of the Word for if you are not a doer of the Word, then you deceive yourself. There is no doubt in my mind today that many have indeed deceived themselves. Many there are that hear only and obey only those parts of the Word that is attractive to them. Prayer, Bible Study, Personal devotions, Worship services and church programs are a now and then involvement in many professing Christian’s lives. Commitment and love with all the heart are being interpreted in such a light manner. God is sending a warning by sounding an alarm. This is serious business; your soul is at stake. Most of the day to day things that take up your time will not amount to much when you step through death’s door into eternity to face the Lord.

When the first angel sounded there followed hail and fire mingled with blood. We talk of hell fire and brimstone preaching where the people are brought into the presence of God in a judgement setting. In such a scenario the judgement of God is revealed by His mercy so that you have opportunity to repent of your sin and straighten out your life before it is too late. But the lukewarm person does not want Hell Fire preaching, he wants to hear smooth things, have his ears tickled and his back patted. The trumpet angels are preaching the judgements of God.

The trumpet sounding is followed by hail and fire mingled with blood. Let us go to Exodus where God sent the plagues on Egypt because they were holding the Children of Israel in slavery.

(Exo 9:22-26 KJV) And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch forth thine hand toward heaven, that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt, upon man, and upon beast, and upon every herb of the field, throughout the land of Egypt. {23} And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven: and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and the fire ran along upon the ground; and the LORD rained hail upon the land of Egypt. {24} So there was hail, and fire mingled with the hail, very grievous, such as there was none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation. {25} And the hail smote throughout all the land of Egypt all that was in the field, both man and beast; and the hail smote every herb of the field, and brake every tree of the field. {26} Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, was there no hail.

From this passage we see that one of the plagues sent to punish Egypt was the hail__ and fire_ mingled with blood. You notice that the plague was only on the Egyptians. The Children of Israel were protected by the Lord. So it is with you today. The judgement of God falls on the sinner but God protects the saints. The plagues are sent to uncover sin. God has something to say and you would do well to pay attention to Him!

(Exo 19:1-6 KJV) In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai. {2} For they were departed from Rephidim, and were come to the desert of Sinai, and had pitched in the wilderness; and there Israel camped before the mount. {3} And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel; {4} Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself. {5} Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: {6} And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

(Exo 19:16-19 KJV) And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled. {17} And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount. {18} And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly. {19} And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice.

The lightning’s and thundering and hail and fire and the quaking of the mountain all were part of God’s way of getting the people’s attention. He had something to say and He wanted the people to know it was important. Now, since that was long ago and since God has chosen to speak to us in a different manner today, it is easier for people to ignore it. Nevertheless I warn you that God has something to say and He, through anointed preaching and Holy Ghost conviction is shaking you today to try and get your attention. He sent the Revelation message using very descriptive language to get your attention. He has a warning for you and He wants you to pay attention. He will uncover every hidden thing and He will reveal His judgements.

(Ezek 38:14-23 KJV) Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say unto Gog, Thus saith the Lord GOD; In that day when my people of Israel dwelleth safely, shalt thou not know it? {15} And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army: {16} And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes. {17} Thus saith the Lord GOD; Art thou he of whom I have spoken in old time by my servants the prophets of Israel, which prophesied in those days many years that I would bring thee against them? {18} And it shall come to pass at the same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, that my fury shall come up in my face. {19} For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel; {20} So that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, and all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground. {21} And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, saith the Lord GOD: every man's sword shall be against his brother. {22} And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. {23} Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the LORD.

Notice that Ezekiel says that in the latter days God would bring a great shaking_ in the land of Israel. Everyone and everything will shake at the presence of God. The mountains will come down, the steep places shall fall and every wall shall fall. There will be an overflowing rain, great hailstones, fire and brimstone. Now apply this prophecy to the sounding of the trumpets. The preaching of God’s Word brings judgement and a shaking of everyone and everything. There is no escaping the presence of God. He will find you. You cannot hide from God. He knows all about you and He will judge you according to His Word.

(Isa 28:5-22 KJV) In that day shall the LORD of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of his people, {6} And for a spirit of judgment to him that sitteth in judgment, and for strength to them that turn the battle to the gate. {7} But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment. {8} For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness, so that there is no place clean. {9} Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. {10} For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: {11} For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. {12} To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear. {13} But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken. {14} Wherefore hear the word of the LORD, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem. {15} Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves: {16} Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. {17} Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place. {18} And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it. {19} From the time that it goeth forth it shall take you: for morning by morning shall it pass over, by day and by night: and it shall be a vexation only to understand the report. {20} For the bed is shorter than that a man can stretch himself on it: and the covering narrower than that he can wrap himself in it. {21} For the LORD shall rise up as in mount Perazim, he shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon, that he may do his work, his strange work; and bring to pass his act, his strange act. {22} Now therefore be ye not mockers, lest your bands be made strong: for I have heard from the Lord GOD of hosts a consumption, even determined upon the whole earth.

Isaiah describes the condition of many that have woven such a web of lies and convinced themselves that they and the people can continue to live in sin and somehow God will accept them. He says they err in vision__, they stumble in judgment___ and God will uncover them by His Word which will be precept upon precept and line upon line. The Word of God will come forth as judgement; the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies. The sinner’s bed will be revealed and there will be no way to cover up. So it is that the trumpet angel reminds us that his warning is the judgement of God sent to uncover the lies of false preachers and sinners. John tells us that the hail and the fire were cast upon the earth, a third part of trees were burned up and all green grass was burned up. Isaiah tells us:

(Isa 61:3 KJV) To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

And the Psalms tell us:

(Psa 1:1-3 KJV) Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. {2} But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. {3} And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

So we understand that the hail and fire falling upon the earth and burning up trees is telling us that the judgement of God will burn up a portion of those that are claiming to be Christians_. It will uncover their sin and they will have no hiding place. It is the mercy of God to send this warning to you while you have opportunity to repent and straighten out your life. You surely don’t want to step into eternity with sin in your heart.

(Isa 40:6-8 KJV) The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: {7} The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. {8} The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.

(1 Pet 1:24-25 KJV) For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: {25} But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

And we see that grass is referring to the _flesh___. God expects you as a Christian to live after the Spirit and not after the flesh.

(Rom 8:5-15 KJV) For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. {6} For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. (7) Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. {8} So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. {9} But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. {10} And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. {11} But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. {12} Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. {13} For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. {14} For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. {15} For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

And so you have the warning from the first trumpet angel. God is bringing judgement on all sin, fleshly living, lukewarm conditions and false religion. There is no hiding from the judgement of God; He will send the fire of His Holy Spirit burning up all flesh and those that are lacking the true righteousness of God. The Word of God will fall upon the sinner and false religion as great hail stones. Does God have your attention? Are you paying attention to what He has to say? You live in a very deceptive time and you need to be careful to keep your love hot for your Lord.