Title: There's Still Hope
Revelation (43) There is still hope (Revelation 8:6-13)
< Vision of Trumpet Judgment >
From the 8th chapter of Revelation, the vision that appeared when the last seventh seal was opened is drawn. At that time, the seven angels blow their trumpets, and the “seven trumpets judgment” begins. When the first angel blows his trumpet, hail and fire mixed with blood pours down on the earth, and a third of the earth is burned up, and a third of all living creatures on the earth are burned up (verse 7). Occasionally, if you look at the war records on TV, you will see countless bombs pouring down like rain, but the countless hail of fire and hail that was far more numerous than that was a vision in John's eyes.
When the third angel blows his trumpet, a great star, burning like a torch, falls from the sky and pollutes a third of the rivers and springs of water (verses 10-11). This illusion depicts a meteor falling down and polluting the groundwater deep underground.
When the fourth angel blew his trumpet, a third of the sun, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars were struck (verse 12). This is not to say that a third of the sun, moon, and stars were actually destroyed, but that the great bang seemed to destroy a third of the sun, moon and stars in John's eyes.
If you look at these trumpet judgments, most of them are judgments related to fire. In the first complete judgment of the earth, water will be used in Noah's flood, but fire will be used in the second complete judgment of the earth. And if you look at these seven trumpet judgments, you can see that wars and disasters are taking place in the entire region, not just a part of the earth. The war and catastrophe will leave the earth almost in ruins, and more than 2 billion people will die by today's standards.
It is often misunderstood that the world will be peaceful if people get a lot of education and develop scientific civilization. But a more educated person can be more selfish and more catastrophic. In fact, it is said that more people died from war during the 20th century than the total number of people killed by war from the beginning to the 19th century. In the 21st century, when scientific civilization develops further, there is a high possibility that the largest number of people in history will die in war.
<There is still hope>
Why do we need to pray earnestly for future generations? Because in the last days extreme tribulation will unfold before them. But there is no need to despair too much. Because even in the midst of trouble, there is a way to salvation. What does “many died” in verse 11 mean? Still, those who live will live. In other words, according to the vision of the trumpet judgment, two-thirds of people still survive even if they suffer terrible disasters. That is the basis for hope.
On whom will the wrath of the last days befall? It comes to “those who dwell on the earth” (verse 13). This ‘those who live on earth’ means ‘those who are far from God’. It means that if you draw near to God, there is a way to salvation. Whatever difficulties you face, never give up hope in God. If we do not give up hope, the way of life and the way of blessing will surely be opened. What is the root of the saint's hope? The fact is that a merciful God is still alive.
Why do people need God? It's not just necessary to get a blessing. The moment you lose your fear of God, life is a bog of desire, and you need God. Therefore, pray like this from time to time so that your dreams coincide with God's dreams. "God! What do I do now? How can we do God’s will well?”
Even if you don't know what your future will look like, if you have a clear goal of the glory of God and love for your neighbor, your life will not be engulfed in darkness. Also, hope does not die unless we lose hope to bring a smile to someone's hardened face and to open someone's tightly closed heart with love and devotion. There is no wall in this world without a door. I just haven't found the door yet. God is a good God who makes roads in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.