“And the first [trumpet] sounded, and there came to be hail and fire, mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of the earth was burnt up, and the third part of the trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up” (Revelation 8:7, RVIC).

Seven angels with seven trumpets prepare to sound.

The first to trumpet was the Apostle Paul for the Ephesus period of the Church. [1] Historically, this is the time when Israel lost its land, the time that Rome was challenged by emerging Christianity, and the time when Christianity grew dramatically — all because of a loud message called “The Gospel.” It is not difficult to see how Paul’s message to Ephesus became a “trumpet,” not only heard around the world, but affecting the whole world.

The trumpet of Revelation 8:7 challenges us to define new symbols first introduced in it. Fractions become important in the Trumpet messages. They do not represent equal divisions; they represent the total number of parts to be considered — in this case, three. This pattern of thirds, not necessarily equal parts, can be applied to each of the remaining trumpets.

We do have a clue from the cross as to which three parts of society (earth) are being referenced in this verse. Pilate had a sign placed on the cross saying that Jesus was “King of the Jews.” But he had the sign written in three languages — Hebrew, Greek, and Latin (John 19:20). These are likely the three parts of “earth” mentioned in this verse. Latin represents the Roman Empire. Greek represents the new Christianity whose sacred writings were to be in Greek, and a large part of Christians in this period were to be Greek‑speaking Gentiles. Hebrew represents Israel, whose sacred writings were in Hebrew. “Many of the Jews read this inscription, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek” (John 19:20, NRSV).

SYMBOLISMS

• Earth usually need only be defined as society. In this verse we must deal with “a third of the earth.” Consequently, we must divide earth’s society into three recognizable parts. Pilate’s sign on the cross did this for us. The “third” here is the Hebrew third, which is the primary focus of this trumpet.
• Trees represent (among other things) stalwarts of society. But again, only the trees in the Jewish third of society are affected.
• Grass represents people (Isaiah 40:6,7, I Peter 1:24). In this verse “All the green grass was burned up.” Green symbolizes life. The implication is that this verse is speaking of justified people, people “alive” (green) under the law. Even though “all” grass is mentioned, the spirit‑begotten saints are not “burned up.” Thus, we are correct in saying that this “green‑grass” reference is exclusive to “all” the typically justified ones under the Law. The Law no longer functioned for them. They were “burned up.”
• Hail represents hard truths — truths which damage or irritate opposers, rather than bless or edify them.[2]
• Fire represents destruction as a consequence of righteous judgments.
• Blood (in this context) represents the loss of life or vitality. Since “fire” and “blood” are “mixed,” we are being told that the righteous judgments of the period removed, shed, and poured out the functional life from something. That “something” is the Law and its adherents. Those Jews who were not converted to Christ.

With all of this information, the effects of the First Trumpet (in the context of the Ephesus period) are historically accurate and relatively straight‑forward.

A wordy interpretive paraphrase of this Trumpet (8:7) would read: “Paul spread the Gospel message far and wide. Its effects were heard and caused great changes in Israel, in Christianity, and across the Roman Empire. (And those changes endure and still cause effects, even to our day).

“Particularly on Israel were the results profound. Paul’s truths were well reasoned, Scriptural, and powerful in their presentation. To the unreceptive Jews, they were like hailstones. These truths were not received; they merely irritated and caused dissent and disruption. All of Christianity was the proverbial thorn in the Jewish side.

“Furthermore, the new religion was growing, while the Lord was pronouncing righteous judgment and abandonment of Israel, leaving their house desolate. This, culminating in the Roman destruction of Jerusalem and the diaspora, drained the very life‑blood out of the nation and its religious services and beliefs.

Jerusalem plundered by Rome was part of the First Trumpet judgment.

“Thus were these trumpetings hurled down on the Jewish third of society — leaving it burned (in part even literally). Their esteemed leaders had no answers and, thus “went up in smoke” with the nation. And the people, all of them who thought the Law justified them, also lost that justified relationship with God. By AD 36, John’s baptism ceased to have validity. Israel and its Law were ‘dead.’

“The First Trumpet destroyed Israel’s polity, social structure, homeland, and religious practices.”

— Extracted from the New Albany-Louisville Ecclesia Revelation Notes

 

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[1] Editor’s note: Some brethren make a strong case for the Apostle Peter as the first messenger to Ephesus. Our Lord gave Peter the “keys” in Matthew 16:19. They ask, “Was not the Ephesus period almost half over before the Apostle Paul got started?”

[2] Editor’s note: Further study might consider which hard truth, or what many hard truths? For example, that Christ Jesus was the promised Messiah who tasted of death for every man? That the high calling was now open? That the Law had been broken and was now ending? That Judea would now go into Diaspora?

 

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