October 21: PASSING FROM DEATH TO LIFE
And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, “Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels which are yet to sound!” Revelation 8:13 KJV
The messenger who announces the triple woe of the last three trumpet judgements has an eerie lone voice. Some translators understand this messenger as an eagle, portraying the alarming announcement as coming directly from a fierce bird of prey. God’s sovereignty over all was well-emphasized in Hebrew culture: all things that come, good and bad, are from God. They were taught of His love and desire to bless, His encouragement to be obedient, and also the connection between disobedience and calamity. His word covers all aspects of living, highlighting His fervent desire for the spiritual safety and joy of His people. He had blessed them abundantly, desiring to convey the message of salvation to the rest of the waiting world. Among the covenant curses for turning away from Him we find: The LORD will bring a nation against you from afar, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flies, a nation whose language you will not understand, a nation of fierce countenance, which does not respect the elderly nor show favor to the young (Deuteronomy 28:49-50 NKJV). “Set the trumpet to your mouth! He shall come like an eagle against the house of the LORD, Because they have transgressed My covenant And rebelled against My law” (Hosea 8:1). Spiritual death is a terrible state of affairs. The LORD pleads with all people to return to Him… to choose life for themselves! Salvation—passing from death into life—is yet available! See John 5:24.
The Lord Jesus spoke of His return to gather His faithful ones for eternity. This is the great hope of every Christian. In warning about the intensity of false messaging in the last days, He spoke of spiritual death for those who allow themselves to be deceived: “For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together” (Matthew 24:28; see also Luke 17:37; Ezekiel 39:17-20; Revelation 19:17-21). Resurrection from spiritual death is still available…
It is interesting that the sad fulfillment of Deuteronomy 28:49-50 and Hosea 8:1 (above) came by way of the Roman Empire’s fearful dominance, their chosen symbol being the eagle. It is not a coincidence that the U.S.A. also selected the eagle as the national symbol, unwittingly fulfilling prophecy. In the last days of this fallen world, the eagles will [indeed] be gathered together, joining hands to unite the world under a single banner. Already they are circling like buzzards.
In Revelation, John was led by the Holy Spirit to refer often to the inhabitants of the earth. This phrase is a specific reference to the lost. All who belong to God’s kingdom have citizenship in heaven (Philippians 3:20). Our focus is not on this earth; rather, we are to set our gaze upon Jesus (see Hebrews 12:2). We are strangers and pilgrims on the earth (Hebrews 11:13). By faith, we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal (2 Corinthians 4:18).
The upcoming study of the triple woe of the last three trumpet judgements should not frighten us, but rather motivate us to use every means available to preach the everlasting, unchanging gospel to those who dwell on the earth. Remember the prelude to the trumpet judgements: the fact of Christ’s mediation for His followers in the heavenly sanctuary (Revelation 8:2-4).