"Now the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to blow them. The first angel blew his trumpet, and there followed hail and fire, mixed with blood, and these were thrown upon the earth. And a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up."
(Revelation 8:6-7)
The first angel trumpets with the result that there is a storm of hail and fire. Both the hail and fire are seen as having been mixed with blood. This emphasizes their destructive character, and we read that the third part of the earth, the third part of the trees and all the green grass-which includes the herbs-was burnt up. In all probability this first trumpet indicates that throughout the period extending from the first to the second coming, our Lord, who now reigns in heaven, will afflict the persecutors of the church with various disasters that will take place on earth, that is, on the land. That these calamities, of whatever nature they may be, are controlled in heaven, and in a certain organic sense are sent by our governing Lord is clearly indicated by the clause "these were thrown upon the earth."
(William Hendriksen)
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