The Second Trumpet Judgment is “as it were a great mountain burning with fire [that] was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood” (Revelation 8:8 KJV). The most likely explanation is a Yucatán type meteor impact on the ocean, or possibly a Krakatoa type eruption of a volcanic mountain ejecting immense debris into the sea. The immediate result is a third of the sea becoming blood, which indicates an impact area the size of a mountain killing and poisoning the “third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed” (8:9). The scale of death of sea life and destruction of shipping is consistent with impact in an area of major shipping lanes and not in a region of the ocean deserts. Rogue waves or tsunamis are hard to model and predict, except for the Perfect Mind of God. It truly is a “fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31). Limiting the devastation to a third gives opportunity for reflection and repentance. “When He slew them, then they sought Him: and they returned and enquired early after God” (Psalm 78:34). Devastation has worked before for some. LORD, we know You as a Good God, but we know You can be righteously aroused to be an Angry God. In wrath, remember mercy. Grant some repentance in that Day of Trouble. We claim as intercessors, such a benefit in Your Courts of Heaven. Grant us now peace before the storm. Return quickly, in Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Promises
We Shall Do Valiantly
“Through God we shall do valiantly: for He it is that shall tread down our enemies” (Psalm 60:12; 108:13 KJV). Did David speak this way from victory, because arguably he had just seen defeat? “Wilt not Thou, O God, which hadst cast us off? and Thou, O God, which didst not go out with our armies? Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man” (60:10-11). David was affirming confidence that “we shall do valiantly” (60:12) the next time. Should this not be our place before God? Regardless of our past failures, we need to confess our faults, then valiantly go forward. LORD, in the name of Jesus, we claim this ground on which we stand, as Your ground. We claim ourselves as Your Church. And, we claim by Your grace and power that the gates of hell will not prevail against us. Amen and amen.
Are You Fighting A No Win War?
We cannot be fighting a no win war, if ultimately the devil will be “cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:10 KJV), and even “death and hell” (20:14) will meet the same fate. Yes, we are at war, since the enemy of my Friend is my enemy. Satan is the enemy of God, so we are at war, because Yahweh is our Friend. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1Peter 5:8). Daily victory for our LORD’s side is confidence or faith in God’s character. “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith” (1John 5:4). We need the mindset of Spiritual Warfare against our adversary the devil. “Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world” (1Peter 5:9). LORD, grant us victory day by day until all Your prophecies are fulfilled and You return. Come quickly, Lord Jesus. Amen.
Silence in Heaven (Revelation 8:1)
Heaven must normally be alive with sound and worship, but when the Lamb “opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour” (Revelation 8:1 KJV). Everyone’s rapt attention will be centered upon the sounding of the ensuing Seven Trumpet Judgments, which will be punctuated by the Seven Vial or Bowl Judgments at the end of the Tribulation Week. The judgments of the Seventieth Week of Daniel (Daniel 9:27) are a progression of Seven Seal Judgments opening, where the Seventh Seal Judgment opens to reveal Seven Trumpet Judgments, where the Seventh Trumpet Judgment sounds to open the Seven Vial or Bowl Judgments. You are blessed, if you can discern this pattern of God unfolding His judgments upon the earth, which is better than a poor dog running around in fear and confusion, when the fireworks go off on the Fourth of July. If all of the attention of Heaven is upon this, then their holy anticipation is worthy of our prayer, “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10 KJV). Amen and amen.
Harming the Innocents
Since humanity’s original transgression in the Garden, a cascading effect of consequences has unavoidably been unleashed upon the children of our founding parents. Jesus said, “It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!” (Luke 17:1 KJV). Children are those innocents, which Christ warned, “But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in Me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea” (Matthew 18:6). Children won’t believe in Jesus unless taught by their parents. Children of the righteous are especially targets of opportunity and persons of interest to the enemy, for they are the future of either the kingdom of God or the wicked one. Guarding and training our children with God’s promises helps to prepare them for their future. “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6). LORD, be merciful to Your children by giving to them wise parents and overcoming circumstances to populate Your kingdom. Return quickly, Lord Jesus. Amen.
144,000 Israelites Are Sealed (Revelation 7:3)
Revelation 7 depicts an unearthly calming of the “four winds of the earth” (Revelation 7:1 KJV) in order to seal 144,000 “servants of our God in their foreheads” (7:3). These Jewish Tribulation Believers later appear in Heaven towards the latter part of the Tribulation Week (14:1), apparently unscathed and are living testament to the grace of God even in times of “great tribulation” (7:14). These represent a continuation of Jehovah’s harvest of Israel, in keeping with Paul’s desire and prayer. “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved” (Romans 10:1). The LORD’s reclamation of Israel will climax with the spiritual rebirth of the nation at the Second Coming of Christ. “Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children” (Isaiah 66:8). LORD, we love Israel, not because of their rejection of You, but because You have chose them with an everlasting love. Redeem the 144,000. Save Israel. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Alone, Yet Not Alone
We are not without God. There is no circumstance, where God’s children can be without the presence of God. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4 KJV). When we are walking with the LORD, we can be assured, “The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: Thou maintainest my lot” (Psalm 16:5). We may not know how to organize our way out of our circumstances, but God is able to “make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (1Corinthians 10:13).
The following, Alone, Yet Not Alone, was a hymn sung by Joni Eareckson Tada, from the movie of the same name (2013) about the 18th century captivity of Barbara and Regina Leninger, who were taken by the Lenape (Delaware) Indians from the wilderness of western Pennsylvania. The hymn was sung to them as children and was used to verify Regina’s identity, when restored to her mother.
I’m alone, yet not alone
God’s the light that will guide me home
With His love and tenderness
Leading through the wilderness
And wherever I may roam
I’m alone, yet not alone
I will not be bent in fear
He’s the refuge I know is near
In His strength I find my own
By His faithful mercies shown
That so mighty is His shield
All His love is now revealed
When my steps are lost
And desperate for a guide
I can feel his touch
A soothing presence by my side
Alone, yet not alone
Not forsaken when on my own
I can lean upon His arm
And be lifted up from harm
If I stumble, or if I’m thrown
I’m alone, yet not alone
When my steps are lost
And desperate for a guide
I can feel his touch
A soothing presence by my side
By my side!
He has bound me with His love
Watchful angels look from above
Every evil can be braved
For I know I will be saved
Never frightened on my own
I’m alone, yet not alone
Father, You alone are our certainty. Keep our hearts with the confidence of Your presence. Rebuke the devourer who seeks to separate us from You. Be our Strong Tower for all those, who put their confidence in You. And, return quickly and deliver us. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Heart Opened By God
God opens hearts. “And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul” (Acts 16:14 KJV). We may not know the intricacies of your particular situation, but God opening a human heart — including our own — is able to transform any situation. We need to give God the opportunity to do what He is capable of doing. When our hearts are in a good place, He can teach us. “Then opened He their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures” (Luke 24:45). We may prefer a more dramatic miracle, but a heart opened to the LORD can accomplish all that is needed. We were made to walk with God and obey Him. Father, may Your Spirit fill us and reveal to us Jesus that the Father may be glorified in the Son. Do all of this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
It’s Not Whether You Win or Lose, But How You Play the Game
“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Mark 8:36 KJV). Grantland Rice (1880-1954), a well known, American sportswriter is famous for the quote, “It’s not whether you win or lose, but how you play the game.” Sports is about winning. Life also is about winning. “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1Corinthians 15:57). If we already have achieved the victory through Christ, then it is only how we conduct ourselves in our daily lives that matters. Faith realizes the preeminence of Christ’s gracious, finished work on the Cross for our salvation, and the Holy Spirit applies the reality of that belief to how we conduct our daily lives. “That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death” (Philippians 3:10). Perhaps all of this sounds familiar, yet unless it compels us to follow hard after Christ, then we have probably misunderstood or underestimated the role of the Holy Spirit: (1) to make us willing to obey God’s commandments, i.e., “And I will put My spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments, and do them” (Ezekiel 36:27), and (2) to reveal Jesus to us to make us more like Him, i.e., “He shall glorify Me: for He shall receive of Mine, and shall shew [shō] it unto you. All things that the Father hath are Mine: therefore said I, that He shall take of Mine, and shall shew it unto you” (John 16:14-15). Father, we desire to know You better. Take of Your Spirit and show us Jesus. Teach us the delicate balance of “My Father worketh hitherto, and I work” (John 5:17). Show us how even our faith is a gift from You (Ephesians 2:8). Help us to exercise patience, so we will live out the reality of the Game of Life, which You already have won for us. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Black Horse of the Cost of Living (Revelation 6:6)
The third seal judgment of the Book of Revelation reveals the third horseman of the Apocalypse, which is famine or the insanity of the cost of living. Unlike the Father caring for us like He does the “birds of the air” (Matthew 6:26 KJV), food insecurity under the Antichrist will require more than an ordinary job can provide. “And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat [what a laboring man would eat in only one meal] for a penny [a day’s wage], and three measures of barley [a lesser grain that a laboring man would eat in three meals] for a penny [a day’s wage]; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine” (Revelation 6:6). No doubt there will be peace enough for building again the Third Jewish Temple, but food insecurity will prevail to fulfill this prophecy. LORD, we appreciate what You have already given us to do Your will. May Your tribulations teach righteousness in the earth. In Jesus’ name, amen.
We Need A Miracle 
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