“They were told not to hurt the grass of the earth, nor any green thing, nor any tree, but only the men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads” (Revelation 9:4).

How many have been devoured by this world and its troubles?  We’re not talking about nature, but about being spiritually ravaged by evil.  Be wary of the news.  Be wary of the deceivers.  Be wary because the world wants you in hell.  Look to the Lord and the salvation He gives.  He has given you hope and a promise.  Live in the grace you have been given and do not be destroyed by the evils around us.

Lord, You have marked me with Your cross and sealed my redemption by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Help me now and always to live the new life You give and reject the old Adam.  Help me to be one of Your own redeeming and not one of those who will be devoured by this world.  You have marked me, now keep me from yielding in every time of trouble so that I may be found in You.

Dear Lord and Savior Jesus, You know what is coming and what the times are.  You have given me ample warning for every time of struggle.  Guide me in the way of life which I need to live in order that I would hold fast to Your goodness above all else.  Lead me day by day to reject the wickedness of this world and to live according to Your never-failing promises.  May I always remain in You and You in me.  Amen.

“Then out of the smoke came locusts upon the earth, and power was given them, as the scorpions of the earth have power” (Revelation 9:3).

How many times in human history have people been carried away by pandemonium?  How many times have evil men ruled and the nations went their way?  The Twentieth Century is filled with such things.  The locusts come and devour everything, leaving nothing but smoke and waste in their wake.  Yes, there will be the final time, but be prudent in case you experience a time when evil men rule.

Lord, I have heard of the end times, but many of these are they.  You know and I do not.  Help me to be prudent and be prepared in good stewardship for what is possible in my time.  You taught us to watch the seasons and to know the times.  Those who have done so in ages past have done well for their families.  Teach me not to panic, nor go overboard, but to be a good steward and prepared in this, my time.

Lord Jesus, ultimately the time is going to come when I face death and at that time, whether I am facing the end of the world or my own demise will not make any difference to me.  Teach me so that I may prepared and rejoice in that day when I know I will be with You forever.  But, also help me to be a good steward and prudent about living this life You have given me here and now.  Amen. 

“He opened the bottomless pit, and smoke went up out of the pit, like the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by the smoke of the pit” (Revelation 9:2).

Jesus is light.  In the pit, there is no light.  The pit is a place where God is not.  How small it must be.  Yes, you can think of these things literally, but knowing that all of Scripture points to Jesus, what does this say to You about faith?  Has not Jesus come and have you not been told that the light shines in the darkness bidding you to take the power He gives to become a child of the Heavenly Father?

Lord, I do often make things more complex than they need to be.  Help me, I pray, to see more clearly the simplicity of Your Word.  You have come that we may have new life.  That means we are dead in sin.  We may be animated, but without You, we are spiritually dead.  Help me take on the life You created me to have so that I may walk humbly with You, my Lord and God.  Guide me away from the foolishness of this world to live life as You have designed it to be lived.

Lord, You are the judge who will separate the goats from the sheep.  In this age, where we are mixed together, it is sometimes hard to know which way to turn.  Guide me in the way of everlasting life so that I may live into the life You give me through grace.  Thank You for providing me with the power to become like You.  Thank You for lifting me out of the pit to stand in the clear light of Your presence.  Amen.

“Then the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star from heaven which had fallen to the earth; and the key of the bottomless pit was given to him” (Revelation 9:1).

There is a hell and those going there are not going to have a party.  When any goodness is removed, only the wickedness of this age will remain.  Alone, without God, and left only to yourself it will be madness.  Hell is madness.  The Lord offers salvation to us from the madness of this world, but there are those who will reject Him.  Moderns may scoff and laugh at the idea of hell, but do not join them.

Lord, I know You love us so much that You died for us.  I also know that heaven is perfect and those who will not repent and be reformed would destroy heavenly peace, so they must be put some other place.  So many in this age say You are not fair for judging; but are they not judging You?  Lord, I do not want to go down to the pit.  Rescue me and help me walk the path I need to walk.

Lord Jesus, Savior of all who turn to You, guard my heart and teach me wisdom.  There are so many that say so many things and I often do not know how to respond.  I have watched friends and family abandon You.  Keep me on the path of faith and help me to not grow weary or faint.  Guide me in Your goodness to know that in You alone is all hope and an eternal future.  Lead me to dwell in the shadow of Your wings forever.  Amen.

“Then I looked, and I heard an eagle flying in midheaven, saying with a loud voice, “Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound! (Revelation 8:13)”

Judgement does fall upon us.  Things do happen.  What is the purpose?  The true purpose of judgement in this life is for reform.  The Lord wants us to repent.  That was the first public act of Jesus’ ministry, a baptism of repentance.  Woe to those who will not repent.  The time is short and the final judgement will come.  Hell is probably much worse than any of us can imagine.  Woe to the unrepentant.

I know there are those, Lord, who will not repent and they will pay the price, but why do I also have to pay a price for what the wicked do?  But do I not also send ripples out that affect others when I sin?  But it is not the same Lord!  Or is it?  You have promised it will all work out.  Help me to learn how to trust You no matter how bad things get.  Lead me in the way of repentance.

Lord Jesus, I do need saving and when I hear words like these which cause me to blame others, I know I need salvation all the more.  You have and are saving me.  Guide me away from the pride that wants to know how all this works to the place where I humbly follow You.  Lead me in Your goodness, Lord, and help me to know that in You all goodness resides.  Teach me Your righteousness.  Amen.

“The fourth angel sounded, and a third of the sun and a third of the moon and a third of the stars were struck, so that a third of them would be darkened and the day would not shine for a third of it, and the night in the same way” (Revelation 8:12).

And darkness fell over the land.  How often have we had periods of darkness?  They have happened many times before.  In those times people thought it was the end.  There are seasons for everything and that includes times of darkness.  Will you look to the Lord in good times and bad times?  Will you trust Him no matter what?  This is the true question of Scripture.   The answer?  Trust the Lord always, for He is good and abounding in steadfast love.

Lord, I am so conditional.  This weak body needs constant nourishment.  This weak mind is easily distracted.  This weak faith needs Your spiritual food to keep it going.  Help me, Lord, to live the way You would have me live.  Guide me in Your goodness to look to You in season and out of season.  In all things, lead me to trust that You alone are God and that You alone are always good.

Gracious Savior, I need saving in times of darkness.  I need saving when times are really going well and I do not think I need You.  I need You to walk with me today and guide me in Your goodness and mercy to be conformed to You.  You know what I need.  Lead my spirit to look to You whether it is light or dark.  Guide me in the way You know I need to go and keep me upon the right path.  Amen. 

“The name of the star is called Wormwood; and a third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the waters, because they were made bitter” (Revelation 8:11).

In the Ukranian language, the word for ‘wormwood’ is Chernobyl.  Is this a prophetic reference to radiation?  But as you see, that gets us off track.  The waters were no longer any good.  That is the point.  Throughout history, because of poor and ill-informed stewardship, mankind has polluted the drinking water.  Spiritually, the devil has led too many astray from the living water with pollution.

Lord, You have called for purity.  We pollute.  You have given us life and the means and way to live.  We ignore You.  I am in the situation I am in, but You have given me grace to come out of this world’s way of doing things and live according to Your goodness.  Lead me to learn how to live as You would have me live.  Let me not pollute thoughts, words, or deeds, but learn to live in the grace You give me.

Lord Jesus, I need Your saving hand.  Without You, I would drink from the polluted waters of this age.  Without Your grace, the poison of wickedness would consume me.  Lead me in the salvation You have prepared so that I may follow You and walk in Your counsel.  In Your goodness, cleanse my thoughts, words, and deeds so that I may live life as You intend that it be lived.  Amen.

“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 waters” (Revelation 8:10).

We have polluted many waters.  In some places, we have also cleaned up pollution.  Is the Lord telling us of our own misdeeds and the judgements that come, or of some calamity that yet awaits us?  I suppose we shall see.  But what can we learn today?  We were charged with being stewards in the Garden of Eden.  How well do you treat God’s creation?  Are you respectful and caring?

Lord, I think of the extremists and say, “I am not one of them.”  You have called me to be a steward of all that is entrusted to me.  Help me to find temperance and be balanced in how I live the life You have given me.  Guide me in Your goodness to know that only in You can I do these things.  Let me not fall under the judgement of poor stewardship.  Lead me to learn how to be faithful.

Lord Jesus, You are the Savior and I need to be saved.  But I also need to learn what it means to become a  sanctified child of the Heavenly Father.  In Your grace, teach me the responsibility that is mine and help me to be a good steward.  Keep me from thinking I have grown enough.  As far as I am able, teach me to be a good steward of all that You have entrusted to me.  Lead me to live an obedient life by Your example.  Thank You for hearing my petition.  Amen.

“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 creatures which were in the sea and had life, died; and a third of the ships were destroyed” (Revelation 8:8-9).

What kind of calamity will come upon the earth?  Are we not already doing things that jeopardize our well-being?  Look at your lifestyle.  Are you living in a way that is good stewardship?  Why is this important?  It teaches you to respect God’s creation. This is His world and what you have is on loan from Him.  Do you treat things poorly, or do you act as if it were  really all your property?

Lord, I want to think I am a mixture of things good and bad, but sometimes I am one way rather than the way I ought to be.  You know.  Guide me, Lord, so that I live according to Your goodness by Your mercy.  Help me to treat Your things well and to not awaken only after calamity.  Guide me Lord in the way You know I need to go so that I have an attitude befitting Your kingdom.  No matter what happens, help me to look to You.

Lord, I suspect that at the end of my life I will undergo calamity.  My body will fail and I will face a time and place where the end is near.  What will my attitude be?  Will I look forward to joining with You, or will I be afraid.  Guide me, Lord, so that I trust You even amidst times of calamity. Lead me to know that only in You is there hope and a future.  Keep me looking to You always.  Amen.

“The first sounded, and there came hail and fire, mixed with blood, and they were thrown to the earth; and a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up” (Revelation 8:7).

One can go in many directions with these verses.  The question is, “What is it God desires from you?”  What will it take for you to follow Him earnestly?  Will it take calamity to wake you up?  Come into the Lord’s presence and walk humbly with our Maker.  Be guided by His goodness and mercy and know that the practice of faith is the most important thing in your life.

Lord, I look at what I think about as just one topic amongst many.  Do I agree with Christianity or not?  Turn my heart to realize that You have made a revelation and that it is not up to me to agree or disagree, but either to live toward being faithful or continuing in rebellion.  Guide me to take the road less traveled and walk with You my Savior and God.  Let not calamity be what wakes me to reality.

Lord, what will it take to kindle in my heart the fire of Your love?  Let me not see fire rain down, but let the truth of Your word open my heart to live according to Your goodness and mercy.  Lead me now and always in the way of truth.  Guide me according to Your grace so that even if fire and hail rain down, I will give You thanks and praise You for all things.  You are the Creator and center of all being.  Teach me to love You as You love me.  Amen.