Chapter Twenty-One/Jehovah's Plagues on Christendom - A Third of the Earth Burned Up

 Reporting on the angels, John writes: "And the first one blew his trumpet. And there occurred a hail and  fire mingled with blood, and it was hurled to the earth; and a third of the earth was burned up, and the green vegetation was burned up." (Revelation 8:7) This is similar to the seventh plague on Egypt, but what does it mean for our 20th century? - EXODUS 9:24. 

In the Bible, the word "earth" often refers to mankind. (Genesis 11:1; Psalm96:1) Since the second plague is on the sea, which also has to do with mankind, "the earth" must refer to the seemingly stable human society that Satan has built up and that is due to be destroyed. (2 Peter 3:7; Revelation 21:1) The plague scenario reveals that Christendom's third of the earth is scorched by the searing heat of Jehovah's disapproval. Her prominent ones-standing like trees in the midst of her-are burned up by the proclaiming of Jehovah's adverse judgment. All her hundreds of millions of church members, if they continue to support Christendom's religion, become like scorched blades of grass, spiritually wilted in God's eyes. - Compare PSALM 37:1, 2. 

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