Trumpet 1 / Vial 1

Revelation 8:7 The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.

Revelation 16:2 And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.

This first judgement is probably the one which makes the trumpets and vials look like totally separate events, one judgement is directed at the earth and the other to the people. But in this difference itself we find a oneness.

The first act of hail and fire mingled with blood is a very graphic mixture. The blood may not literally be blood but a description of death itself. The fire and hail are typical judgements. Punishment of death by fire was inflicted on such as were guilty of certain forms of unchastity and incest (Le 20:14 21:9) The burning of captives in war was not unknown among the Jews (2Sa 12:31 Jer 29:22) In war, fire was used in the destruction of cities, such as Jericho. Figuratively, fire is a symbol of Jehovah's presence and the instrument of his power (Ex 14:19 Nu 11:1,3 Jud 13:20 1Ki 18:38 2Ki 1:10,12 2:11 Isa 6:4 Eze 1:4 Re 1:14) etc. God's word is also likened unto fire (Jer 23:29) It is referred to as an emblem of severe trials or misfortunes (Zec 12:6 Lu 12:49 1Co 3:13,15 1Pe 1:7) and of eternal punishment (Mt 5:22 Mr 9:44 Re 14:10 Re 21:8).

The Jews were expressly ordered to destroy the idols of the heathen nations, and especially any city of their own relapsed into idolatry ( Ex 32:20; 2Ki 10:26; De 7:5, 12:3, 13:16). In some cases, the cities, and in the case of Hazor, the chariots also, were, by God's order, consumed with fire ( Jos 6:24, 8:28, 11:6, 9, 13). One of the expedients of war in sieges was to set fire to the gate of the besieged place ( Jud 9:49, 52).

A result of the trees being burnt up would have a dramatic effect on the atmosphere of the earth as would the destruction of all the grass. We are already feeling the results of the depletion of the rain forest within the world climate, how much would this be compounded by the destruction of a third of the earth's trees and all grass. Following this attack on the earth which has a direct effect on man we see the vial or calamity hit straight at the people who have sided with the Anti-Christ and Satan. A grievous sore affects all who have the mark of the beast. The mark as described in other studies is in the back of the hand or forehead depending on your preference.

It has been put forward that this mark would be in the form of a chip, implanted which allows you to buy or sell. It would be the equivalent of a credit card but taken to a very extreme level. To power it, and yes it has been invented, scientists have developed a battery the size of a red blood cell. I believe it is called an active lithium cell and is recharged by the minute changes in body temperature, hence the select number of places it can be implanted, where these temperature changes take place (back of hand and forehead being the best). If this battery were to leak or explode in some way the result would be a terrible sore as the battery would poison the skin around it. Not being able to remove the implant due to its size, the person would be powerless against such an incident.

Strange to think that something we are looking into now, using state of the art technology, was documented and fore ordained in the Bible so many centuries ago. But lets not get carried away with the insistence of a technological accident playing a part in the judgement of man, for it says 'and them which worshiped his image' as well. So if there are those who think that by not taking the mark but aligning with Satan will save them they are sadly mistaken.