The Locusts of Revelation 9 - Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8
Causes and Effects of the First Four Trumpets
Again, these four trumpets immediately precede the fifth trumpet, and all involve cosmic events that have an some kind of effect on the earth:
|
Trumpet (CAUSE) |
Result (EFFECT) |
|
Hail and fire, mixed with blood, come pouring down on the earth |
One third of the earth is burned up, one third of the trees and one third of the grass. |
|
Something that looked like a huge mountain on fire hit the seas. |
One third of the sea turned to blood, one third of all living sea creatures died, and one third of the ships were destroyed. |
|
A large asteroid, burning like a lamp dropped onto the rivers and springs of water. |
One third of the waters turned bitter, and many people died from drinking the bitter water. |
|
(UNKNOWN) |
One third of the sun, the moon, and the stars lost their shine, such that light during the day and night were one third shorter than before. |
Here, I want to focus on the unknown cause when the fourth trumpet is blown. Nothing really causes the effects of this trumpet, yet there are devastating effects of one third of the sun, moon and stars not shining. Now, how in the world could this happen? Will one third of these heavenly bodies simply fall off themselves? Not likely. Will something move in front of them and block their shine? Again, not likely. What about the luminaries simply burning down, losing one third of the shining power? This is possible, but that seems too easy.
Consider this thought: Given that the first three trumpets all involved some kind of COSMIC CAUSE, and the EFFECT of the fourth trumpet is also COSMIC, I argue that some sort of untold COSMIC EVENT is the CAUSE of the fourth trumpet judgment. Jesus made an interesting statement when talking about events during the tribulation, in which this fourth trumpet is:
Mat 24:22
And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.Mar 13:20
And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.Hmmm. The days will be shortened during the tribulation. What does this mean? Some argue it means that the years during the tribulation period, on GOD'S CALENDAR, will be shorter than the years currently counted on the calendar. The calendar used during the time God is dealing with Israel is ALWAYS 30 days to a month. Consider the following:
The problem with this idea is that Jesus didn't say the NUMBER of days during the tribulation would be shortened. No, he said the DAYS THEMSELVES would be shortened.
