October 6, 2022

Then the fourth angel sounded [his trumpet]: And a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them were darkened. A third of the day did not shine, and likewise the night. Revelation 8:12

Darkness is a vivid symbol of judgement against apostasy (see references*). Those who shut out the light of the Gospel are instrumental in bringing judgement upon themselves. The fourth trumpet plague has its corresponding interpretive aids in the fourth letter of Jesus which is to the church at Thyatira (2:18-29) and the fourth seal (6:8) at the riding out of the pale horse and its rider, Death, with Hades (Greek for grave, the abode of the dead) following along.

“This is the judgement, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light.” John 3:19

The devastatingly ill effects of the compromise (see third trumpet) that was ushered into papal Rome mushroomed into a series of stages that have led to the world’s current condition: human reason is more highly valued and considered more authoritative than the authority of the Bible. There is a declaration of most Christians in Western cultures of adherence to the Bible, yet many of the practices betray their deceived state of mind, giving a hollow ring to that declaration.

Fallible humans cannot recognize the meaning of “mediocre” apart from Spirit-led comprehension of the excellence of God’s word, followed by wholehearted obedience.

In Ezekiel’s day a similar condition prevailed. But hear these reassuring words given to him by the LORD:

“Yet behold, there shall be left in it a remnant who will be brought out, both sons and daughters; surely they will come out to you, and you will see their ways and their doings. Then you will be comforted concerning the disaster that I have brought upon Jerusalem, all that I have brought upon it.” Ezekiel 14:22

*see Isaiah 13:9-11; Ezekiel 32:7-8; Joel 3:15; Micah 3:6