Introduction

My friends, let us continue our study of Revelation, Chapter 8. The theme of this chapter is clear and uncompromising: "The Fire from the Altar Cast to the Earth."

The Lamb Opens the Seventh Seal, the Seven Trumpets Begin to Sound

In the previous chapter, we saw God preparing His victorious people. Why? Because when the seventh seal is opened and the seven trumpets sound, life on this earth will become utterly unbearable. Even if you are among the victorious, if your hope remains anchored in this world, you will suffer immensely. The sounding of these seven trumpets will devastate half of the earth. God’s timeline is accelerating.

Historically, human progress seemed sluggish and leisurely. But now, the pace has quickened visibly. I used to suggest that the sounding of the seven trumpets corresponded to the onset of World War III. But looking closely at the first four trumpets, they do not align with a human war. Instead, they represent fire from the altar cast to the earth—natural disasters of catastrophic proportions. World War III, at its worst, is merely a man-made disaster.

Before these disasters strike, my urgent hope is for every brother and sister to become victorious. Make no mistake: these plagues have "eyes"—they target with precision. Scripture records that when the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. To God, a thousand years is like a day. Therefore, this "half hour" on earth represents a significant window of mercy. God is waiting for His people to turn back to Him, to prepare for victory, and to dismantle their worldly logic systems.

God has given us ample time. He waited for this half-hour to see how many would emerge victorious. Sealing His people is not a matter of resource scarcity for God. The Bible mentions 144,000, but if there were 144,001, would that be an issue? Of course not. God is not short on seals. He waited, and then the seven angels standing before Him were given seven trumpets.

At the end of this chapter, three more angels are to sound their trumpets, bringing three woes upon the inhabitants of the earth. We must ask ourselves a hard, logical question: Are you a citizen of the earth, or a citizen of heaven? If your thinking is dominated by fleshly logic, you are finished. You are a citizen of the earth. But if you operate under the logical framework of Jesus Christ, you belong to heaven.

Many today still refuse to change their mindset. When disaster strikes, there may be no second chances. I have calculated this through several logical models, and the conclusion is clear: our generation is very close to the sounding of the seven trumpets. When the seventh and final trumpet sounds, the saints will be caught up in the air.

God created the heavens and the earth, working for six days and resting on the seventh. This pattern projects onto human history. God has allocated six thousand years for human history, and the seventh millennium will be the reign of Jesus Christ on earth—the Millennium.

We are rapidly approaching the end of this six-thousand-year period. Let us look at the cold, hard numbers. From Adam and Eve to Abraham, roughly two thousand years. From Abraham to Jesus Christ, roughly two thousand years (with about one thousand years from Abraham to David). From Jesus Christ to our present day, just over two thousand years. The sum total is nearly six thousand years.

Some may argue over the differences between the Jewish calendar and other calendars. That is irrelevant. The broad reality remains: the seventh millennium is the Millennium, and we are highly likely to witness the sounding of these seven trumpets. Put your hand on your chest and ask yourself: Are you victorious? If your mind is still cluttered with fleshly, worldly desires and the judgment of good and evil, how do you expect to escape God's wrath when the trumpets sound?

The fire from the altar will be cast to the earth. Do not underestimate it. What seems like a small ember in heaven will strike the earth like a falling mountain, and the pace is accelerating. Brothers and sisters, understand this: God is sealing His victorious people in this generation. If you are victorious, you will escape the coming tribulation—a catastrophe unprecedented in human history, far beyond anything we can conceive.

Our greatest danger is short-sightedness—focusing entirely on petty daily concerns. That is a recipe for ruin. When disaster strikes, you do not even need to wait for the seven trumpets. Go to any hospital. The cosmic trumpets have not sounded, but for the patient hooked up to tubes, living without dignity or happiness, his personal "seven trumpets" have already sounded.

These are warnings from God to dismantle our worldly logic. When the seventh trumpet sounds, it unleashes the seven bowls. If the seven seals represent broad epochs of time, the seventh trumpet is compressed within the seventh seal, and the seven bowls are compressed within the seventh trumpet. The tempo will accelerate exponentially.

The Prayers of All the Saints Offered on the Altar

Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all God’s people, on the golden altar in front of the throne. The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God’s people, went up before God from the angel’s hand. (Revelation 8:3-4)

What do the saints pray for? They pray for the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. I have attended Christian gatherings where people prayed for economic prosperity. Frankly, I find no biblical basis for such prayers.

According to Scripture, when was Israel's economy at its peak? Under the corrupt rule of Ahab and Jezebel. But would you want the economy of Ahab's Israel? Was that economy aligned with God's Kingdom and righteousness? Others pray for political elections in America. Are these elections the Kingdom of God? I find this baffling. I do not pray for such things. My singular focus is the coming of God's Kingdom.

I often tell you: "When I die, I will not concern myself with what remains." Some mistakenly thought I had terminal cancer. That is not the case. The truth is, I have no affection for this worldly life. Frankly, if I were not serving God, I would find this existence utterly tedious.

People ask: "Pastor, is your life not good?" In truth, I live better than most. But what is the value of earthly things? I see no ultimate meaning in them. Without serving God, it is a meaningless pursuit.

My prayer is simple: that my brothers and sisters will overcome and escape their own folly. I pray that I, too, will continue to transform and shed my own foolishness. I refuse to pray for earthly peace; such peace is of little consequence.

Do not fall into the trap described in Scripture, where people cry, "Peace, peace!" only for sudden destruction to fall upon them. What is the point of that? Observing this complacency is deeply frustrating.

The prayers of the saints rise to the altar. Who are these saints? They are those persecuted by this world. The demonic realm knows you belong to God, and God knows you belong to Him. This is a clash of two systems, two kingdoms. Which side do you stand on? Are you of the earth or of heaven? Heavenly citizens seek heavenly things; earthly citizens seek earthly things.

I do not want our brothers and sisters to be short-sighted. We must take the long view. If we truly live on earth as it is in heaven, we have no fear of the seven trumpets—even seven hundred trumpets would not shake us. It is far better that our worldly dreams are completely shattered.

Before the trumpets sound, our prayers must reach God. Do not pray for earthly peace. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. And by Jerusalem, I do not mean the modern geopolitical state of Israel. In the Old Testament, Mount Zion, the Temple, and the city of Jerusalem symbolize the Church of God. Therefore, pray for the peace of the Church.

Many today pray for the physical land of Israel and Jerusalem. God is not interested in physical real estate. In Revelation, even the physical church in Jerusalem ceased to exist. God's focus is not on a geographical location; His focus is His Church.

The Old Testament prophets longed to see the days of Jesus but did not. Later, the disciples witnessed His works and built the Church, against which the gates of Hades cannot prevail. When the seven trumpets sound, the prayers of the saints reach God, and He casts the fire of the heavenly altar onto the earth.

Today, nations launch missiles at one another. Humanly speaking, we see war. But God is not concerned with the geopolitical body count. This is simply a phase in human history leading up to the opening of the seventh seal. Once that seal is opened, survival will become exceptionally difficult.

The Fire from the Altar Cast to the Earth

What is this fire from the altar? It is the answer to the saints' prayers for the Kingdom of God to come. We pray daily for His Kingdom to come, but we must realize that its arrival brings judgment upon the world. This disaster is targeted at the worldly, not the victorious. Believing in Christ is not merely about passive salvation; it requires active victory.

We must understand that Jesus demands disciples. He said, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God." If your mind is consumed by worldly affairs, you will invite disaster and incur God's wrath.

What then should we seek? We must seek His Kingdom. "Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Yet, look at what occupies the minds of believers. They pray for university entrance exams. What is an exam in the grand scheme of eternity? They act as if passing an exam guarantees a successful life. This is a delusion.

Recently, a prominent, successful immigrant in Singapore went for a hike, suffered a sudden heart attack, and died. What are we striving for? If your mind is filled only with worldly pursuits, I must warn you: these seven trumpets of disaster may very well be sounded against you.

Why does God pour out these disasters? Because He does not want mankind to place their hope in this world. If your mind remains filled with fleshly desires, worldly ambitions, and the judgment of good and evil, do not say you were not warned. Otherwise, your reading of Revelation is entirely in vain.

The First Trumpet: Hail and Fire Mixed with Blood Cast to the Earth

Whether this hail consists of iron or ice, I do not know. But I can tell you this: it is fire from the altar. Whether the hail is the size of footballs or table tennis balls, it will be lethal.

Why is it mixed with blood? Because beneath the altar are the souls of those martyred for Jesus Christ. They cried out, "How long, Sovereign Lord, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?" God now mixes this blood with fire and hail and casts it to the earth. Let me read this to you:

Then the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to sound them. The first angel sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled down on the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up. (Revelation 8:6-7)

Is this our God? Yes. While modern-day Ahabs are busy seizing vineyards, those very vineyards will be incinerated. You might have just evicted tenants to acquire a prime piece of real estate, or purchased an oil palm plantation. Then, without warning, hail and fire rain down. A third of the trees and a third of the land are consumed. The very resources humanity relies on for survival will turn to ash in an instant.

Even without the fire from the altar, simple observation yields a clear conclusion: the physical environment and resources we depend on are temporary. The structures remain, but the people perish. The gates of the Forbidden City still stand, but the builders are long gone.

When the first trumpet sounds, a third of the earth and a third of the trees are set ablaze. The scale of this destruction is immense. No one is safe. Do you still place your hope in this world? To be victorious, you must make a clean break from worldly attachments. If a third of the earth is burned, can we not dismantle at least a third of our own worldly logic?

Some people ask: "Teacher, if I follow what you say, what about my retirement? I still have to survive, don't I?" We must recognize that human logic is worlds apart from God's thoughts. Our God is so powerful; do you honestly believe He cannot sustain you? Brothers and sisters, we must realize that our God is awesome and mighty. Have faith in Him, and you will see: "Indeed, my God can provide for me."

If you operate under the worldly logical system, you will worry: "What do I do now that I have no income? I must find a way!" In truth, human survival is a very simple matter. The problem is we do not realize it because we have been deeply contaminated by this world. We fail to understand that man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of God.

Now, a third of the earth and a third of the trees are destroyed. Did that include the land or the trees you bought? Even if it did, so be it. It had no real meaning anyway. Whether that third of the trees belonged to you or not, man lives by every word from the mouth of God. If you can establish this logical framework, what is there left to worry about? If there is absolutely no way out, you fast and pray for eighty days and then draw your last breath—that, too, is perfectly fine.

The Second Trumpet: A Great Mountain Burning with Fire Cast into the Sea

The second angel sounded: And something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood. And a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed. (Revelation 8:8-9)

Recently, a single small strait threw the global economy into chaos. In truth, human beings are highly vulnerable, and so is the economy. But these are all based on human logic. You want to control the straits? When the second trumpet sounds, a great burning mountain will crash down—let us hope it is not as massive as the Himalayas. Then, a third of the sea turns to blood. Does this include the Indian Ocean, the Pacific, and the Arctic Ocean? A third of the living creatures in the sea will die.

Why did God spare the remaining two-thirds? Under the seven seals, it was a quarter. Why did it become a third, and later it will become a half, until finally, one hundred percent is wiped out? God still hopes that when people see this, they will repent and wake up: "Ah, this is not the way to live! Do I not depend on God for my survival?"

Today, Japan, the Philippines, China, and Taiwan are still drawing spheres of influence in the ocean. It is an exercise in futility. One day, a burning mountain will fall from the sky, the seawater will turn to blood, and the fish caught will all be dead. That will be a real disaster!

This is how we humans are—always looking for trouble on this earth just to feel alive. Now that the burning mountain is coming down, we must realize that we should never place our hope in the land or the sea. None of it is secure. Our hope must be anchored in God.

Many believe they must survive at all costs. But if your ultimate hope is merely to cling to this physical life, you are finished. These seven trumpets are precisely sounded for you. Do you understand? Man should have no hope on this earth, because the only final hope you have on earth is an urn for your ashes.

What hope is there in this earthly life? Our sole hope is to return to God. If a person lacks the hope of eternal life and only hopes to survive, living merely for earthly things, then there is no need for the seven trumpets to sound—his own trumpet has already finished sounding.

Today, nations fight and scramble against one another, digging up history to claim that a piece of land belonged to them two hundred years ago, or to another three hundred years ago, or to yet another four hundred years ago. We used to think that those heroic figures expanded our territories, giving us the land we have today. But what is the reality?

For instance, in the Russian Far East, people deeply admire a certain general who conquered that territory for them. Yet, in the eyes of the Chinese, he is a villain. Thus, our hero is their villain, and vice versa. Is that not the case? Yet we feel so proud. This entire logical system is thoroughly worldly.

If you carry this kind of logic, then these seven trumpets are meant for you, and so are the seven bowls. Yet, some people simply refuse to demolish their worldly logical systems. In truth, God is showing us these things so that His people will repent, come out of this filthy, worldly place, and return to the Kingdom of God.

Are you still praying for world peace and economic recovery? Are you still praying that Russia and Ukraine, or Iran and Israel, will stop fighting? The reality is that many people are still filled with the things of this world, thinking that this earthly life is wonderful. If you do not change this mindset, it will be very difficult for you to overcome.

The Third Trumpet: A Great Burning Star Falls on the Waters

The first trumpet struck a third of the earth and a third of the trees. The second struck the sea. The third strikes the very water sources we depend on for survival. At that time, there will be no water to drink. Let me read it to you:

Then the third angel sounded: And a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the water, because it was made bitter. (Revelation 8:10-11)

Who caused these deaths? God did! Are there any victorious believers among them? Unlikely, because this is God's judgment, and the disasters God prepares are not meant for His people. Some may ask, "Then what will God's people drink?" God has His ways. If God cannot even resolve the issue of water, can He still be called God?

Therefore, when the third angel sounded, many people died. Think about it: when that time comes, how will you react? Your prayers will surely be desperate cries to heaven. Right now, your prayers are lukewarm and indifferent. But when that day arrives, your son going to university will no longer be a concern—because there will be no water. Even if he goes to university, there is no water to drink; it is all contaminated by nuclear radiation. Then, your prayers will become exceedingly urgent.

See this clearly: God is doing one thing—He is molding His people and destroying their dreams of this present life. The more desperately a person clings to survival, the worse his life becomes. The more hope a person places in this world, the more miserable he will be.

This is exactly what God intends to do. He wants to demolish your worldly hopes so that you have no expectations in this world, and your only reliance is on our God. As for the remaining two-thirds, some will wake up and think: "Ah, this is what was spoken of in Revelation chapter 8. I must repent quickly and overcome!"

The Fourth Trumpet: A Third of the Sun, Moon, and Stars Struck

Then the fourth angel sounded: 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)

How are the sun, moon, and stars struck? Certainly not by you; you cannot reach them. Do not foolishly think you can shoot down the sun with a slingshot. Sometimes we believe in ridiculous myths—shooting down the sun with an arrow. How absurd! It is God who strikes them.

Let me tell you, when you see the sun, moon, and stars struck, you must realize how immense God's power is. People easily trust the little money in their hands, but find it extremely difficult to trust God. Without money, they feel insecure, constantly scheming and scrambling for that pittance. Yet God can stretch out His hand and strike the heavenly bodies. At such a moment, what else can you rely on but Him?

Why does God strike the sun, moon, and stars? It is to show you the sheer magnitude of His power. Can such a God not sustain you? Do you not fear Him? I tell you, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Anyone who does not fear God is simply foolish.

If a third of the world is plunged into darkness, with no light by day or night, then you will have to live in darkness. It is just like when God struck Pharaoh with the ten plagues, one of which was darkness. Why did Pharaoh's house become dark? Because God willed it so. It is as simple as that.

Do humans still boast of conquering nature? God does not even need to slap you; a mere flick of His finger and you are finished. Therefore, to those who love to place their hope in this world—even if you are currently living a comfortable and happy life—do not anchor your hope here. I do not wish for you to live in constant anxiety, but at the very least, you must have a heart that fears God.

If our comfortable lives are leading us straight to destruction, why do we still place our hope in money, real estate, and tangible assets? Brothers and sisters, you must know that these things are unreliable. God strikes the sun, moon, and stars with His hand to teach us that from now on, we must no longer rely on ourselves, on money, on property, or on anything else, but live by the power of God. You do not need to be anxious or distressed; God will surely provide for you. Everything of this world is utterly unreliable.

Some of you may not believe what I say. That is fine. Let me give you an example. Some people have plenty of money but cannot even defecate. Just last year, I conducted a funeral for one such person. She divorced her husband and received millions in cash as a settlement. But later, she developed a condition where she could not pass stool. Her life was miserable. How much money can buy you the ability to defecate? In the end, she died. Money cannot buy life.

Therefore, we must rid our minds of these stubborn, foolish notions. Why are people so obsessed with money? Can we not place our hope for survival on God? I tell you, by relying on God, you will surely prosper. Unfortunately, many remain ignorant of this truth.

The Remaining Three Trumpets: Woe, Woe, Woe to the Inhabitants of the Earth!

And I looked, and I heard an eagle flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, "Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!" (Revelation 8:13)

Although the sun, moon, and stars are struck, the sea is smashed by a mountain, the earth is burned, and the water sources are ruined, there are still people living quite comfortably. These people have not suffered enough. The remaining three trumpets are meant for them to suffer. Therefore: Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth!

An eagle flies around the earth, crying out wherever it goes: "Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth!" I tell you, human reaction is highly amusing. When people hear the eagle, they say: "What is this nonsense? More trumpets? Ignore it! Let us eat, drink, be merry, and go wherever we please!" That is exactly how people react.

Just now, someone typed in the chat: "My brother suffered a stroke and was paralyzed, unable to defecate for nine days. After we prayed for him, he finally did." Yet, when people witness such things, I rarely hear anyone say: "Oh dear, what if this happens to me?"

It is like going for a hike; a companion suffers a sudden heart attack and dies right next to him, yet he thinks such a fate will never befall him. Is that not fascinating? People always assume it has nothing to do with them, that it will never happen to them. Where does this absurd confidence come from?

The eagle circles repeatedly, crying out: "Woe! Woe! Woe!" Yet people think: "Surely not? This world is so beautiful; surely God would not destroy it? I am doing fine. I have a clear conscience and have done nothing wrong."

This has nothing to do with whether you have committed evil. Even the most wicked do not realize they are wicked; the foolish do not know they are foolish; the stupid do not know they are stupid; and those on the brink of death do not know they are about to die. That is the hard reality.

Thus, suffering through the earlier environmental disasters was relatively minor, but now it is the turn of human beings to suffer directly. In the next chapter, people will long for death but will not find it—it will be pure agony! I often sigh: when will people completely demolish their worldly attachments? Your logical system and your view of life will determine your final outcome.

The eagle continues to cry: "Woe! Woe! Woe!" But God's people have already been sealed. They belong to God, and God will sustain them. Although the earth will be in a terrible state, those who overcome will not suffer such a fate, because the disasters God prepares are not for His people, but for the inhabitants of the earth. So, are you a citizen of heaven, or a citizen of the earth?

We will conclude our Bible study here today. May God bless you all!

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