We heard last week about what happened on earth with the blowing of the first four trumpets. A deeper study of the nature of these events shows that they affect God’s good creation. Examining the disasters that occur, we remember God’s act of creation over six days. We are especially reminded of the third, fourth, and fifth days of creation. With the blowing of the first and third trumpets, the work of creation on the third day is severely impacted. The effect of this is that vegetation is scorched, land is desecrated, water becomes toxic, and life itself is threatened. The blowing of the second trumpet profoundly affects the creation of the fifth day. Marine life is devastated, and commerce is crippled. The fourth trumpet impacts the creation of the fourth day, disrupting the cosmic order and fracturing time and rhythm. As a result, the orderly, fruitful, and living creation is unraveled. Land, sea, sky, and life are all affected. And remember that these are the very domains given to humanity in Genesis 1:28. It’s as if the trumpets are peeling back the layers of creation, revealing the consequences of rebellion and setting the stage for a new creation through judgment.
Finally, in verse 13, we see an angel flying high above the earth, crying out: “Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabitants of the earth because of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!” In other words, things will get worse. The inhabitants of the earth refer to the unbelievers, who are the ones receiving these warning judgments—they are meant for them. Meanwhile, the constant prayer from God's children is: “Lord, come, yes, come.” Let this be our prayer as we watch these judgments unfold before us. We have this comfort, that as long as the Lord has not yet arrived on the clouds of heaven, the free offer of the gospel still sounds.