March 24, 2022
And I looked, and I heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, “Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!” Revelation 8:13
In this verse, the use of the word angel, meaning messenger, is more accurately translated vulture, as the original Greek word here is aetos which means large, predatory/scavenger bird. The ominous messenger is meant to get our attention. The Old Testament scriptures use the vulture as a symbol of impending judgements and potential catastrophe (for examples, see Deuteronomy 28:49, Ezekiel 32:4, 39:17, Hosea 8:1).
Emphasis is added by use of a loud voice. And triple-repetitions such as Woe, woe, woe…! are a literary Hebrew teaching method of adding emphatic power to what is being declared. The love of God is behind all of His words, and that includes His words of warning. Without exception, stern words of warning are put there for redemptive purposes. Verse 13 above employs three attention-getters meant to open spiritual ears. Although English translations sometimes lose some of the emphasis, let our hearts never doubt the urgency to take serious heed to every example, encouragement, instruction, and warning of our Lord and Savior.
Just as there is a pause between the four horsemen and the last three seals, verse 13 above sets apart the last three trumpets from the first four. It is an excellent prompt to pause and think deeply upon the first four trumpets, seals—and yes, the letters—in order to prepare for and accept the later messages. The damage done to the gospel message during the period of years represented by the churches of Pergamos and Thyatira can be overcome – but only as we are yoked with the Savior. The question must be asked: How did the flock of God come to be in such a Satan-controlled state? This begs another question: What shall we do to overcome the situation?
John the Revelator imparts to us glimpses of the majesty of the divine Christ, not only in Revelation but also in his gospel account. As we grow in the knowledge of our Savior, we are also given glimpses of Jesus in His humanity, especially in Luke. We must pursue both sides of the nature of our Lord, for He is fully human and fully divine, as we seek to overcome the fallenness of the world. Just as Jacob, a single man, was saved and given the new name of Israel, God is saving people individually. It is the individual’s free choice to accept the invitation of salvation . . . .
“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:29-30