A well-known liberal writer, who has done much harm to the body of Christ, has written something that resembles a local false concept here in the El Paso area that has recently popped up.  F. Lagard Smith is a mover of heresy.  He has written a book (one of many books he has written which are all full of error) titled “Radical Restoration”.  The main thrust is to try and change the identity of the Lord’s church.  In this book he has pushed the House Church Movement into the eyes of his reader.  At one point he writes: “There is nothing to rule out the possibility that the role of elders in the early church might well have encompassed more than one level of involvement—even simultaneously.  Perhaps there were elders shepherding the disciples in each house, depending upon their size and makeup.  And perhaps elder oversight may have been exercised throughout a group of house churches which collectively comprised a larger, recognizable congregation” (p. 178).

A local congregation does not assemble into multiple smaller groups.  Such would be division and would be the formation of multiple congregations.  The local church is to assemble together in one place (I Corinthians 11:20; 14:23).  All of the members are to assemble together (Hebrews 10:25).  To fail in such is to forsake the assembling of the saints.

A local congregation that has an eldership cannot have that eldership overseeing multiple groups.  Every congregation is to have her own elders who feed, protect, and oversee the flock that is among them (Acts 14:23, Acts 20:28, and I Peter 5:1-3).  A divided congregation cannot function under these principles of truth.  A local body is to work together (Ephesians 4:16).  Dividing the local congregation is like cutting your own physical body parts and trying to live and function in said state (I Corinthians 12:18-27).

The idea of small groups and divided local congregation is an attempt to further the cause of error.  While such has no authority from the Lord, it also gives Satan an easier group of targets.  Together, the local body acts in a united way and each of the stronger members are there to protect those that may be less mature (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10).  False teachers love it when the sheep are in smaller groups and the watchmen have their faces turned the other direction.  The idea of the small groups and the house churches presents an all you can eat buffet for the devil and his angels.

Smaller groups allows for many doctrines to creep in.  Instead of one practice there is room for many.  If it were possible for one congregation to exist in several divided parts, that one congregation would soon find a division separate from just location.  Those with agendas would have plenty of opportunity to convert just a few at a time.  Let’s be watchful against this idea and the opportunities to cause souls to be lost that it presents (cf. Acts 20:31).  – B.A.Y.

Introduction Thoughts:

Chapter six concluded with the opening of the sixth seal and the question: “who shall be able to stand?”  Chapter seven answered that question by pointing out that the faithful shall be able to stand through God’s protection.  The stand would be of those who made it through the great tribulation the Roman government put Christians through.  The hope was in Christ with eternity being the reward (Matthew 5:10-12).  Now we begin chapter eight with the opening of the seventh seal which will introduce unto us the seven trumpets.  The seven seals were the revealing of the message, the trumpets are the warning, and the seven bowls of wrath will be God pouring out His judgment upon the earth.

8:1 “And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.”

• The opening of the final seal caused a period of silence (God has not yet acted, thus signifying silence).
• God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, and the Angels occupy Heaven (Acts 7:55, I Peter 3:22, Revelation 14:13, Matthew 24:36, and Luke 15:7; 10).

• The seven angels (stars) are messengers unto the seven churches (1:20).  They are given seven trumpets.
• We will see that the first four trumpets affect the planet and the final three will affect mankind directly.
• The sins of man have a direct effect on others and the earth (Genesis 6:6-7; 12-13, Romans 5:12, and II Peter 3:10).

• The golden censer was a bowl used to offer fire sacrifice unto God with sweet smelling incense (Leviticus 16:12-13).  This method of worship to God was also at times misused (Leviticus 10:1-2).
• The prayers of saints are accompanied with this golden censer with much incense (Revelation 5:8).

• That which is offered is cast to the earth with the voices, thunder, lightning, and earthquake symbolizing God’s response.  God’s response is to that of the prayers and worship of the saints desiring for God to act on their behalf (Revelation 6:10; cf. Matthew 6:13).  God is clear in that vengeance will be His and the blood of saints will not be forgotten.
• We are talking now of the blowing of trumpets, this action and the overall setting show God’s warning is going to be sounded (Joel 2:1).

• Now the angels prepare to sound forth which will bring God’s warnings to the earth.  As you read further you will certainly be reminded of Moses and the warnings God gave through him the Pharaoh (Exodus 7:14-12:30).

• The first angel sounds forth and hail and fire mingled with blood are cast upon the earth (Exodus 9:18-24).  Trees and the grass are burned up.  This is a sign showing that God will send forth warnings by destroying vegetation.

• We now see that God can affect the sea by what seems to be a volcanic eruption through the sounding off of the second angel.  With sea life dying there is a lack of food from the sea and 1/3 of the ships are destroyed.  How can the Roman government travel, trade, and have food from the sea with such a plaque?
• God also plagued the waters of Egypt, though through a different way (Exodus 7:14-19).

• Now the third angel sounds and a star falls from Heaven (something coming out of the sky – meteors, etc. are a possibility).
• Wormwood is a bitter wood that will pollute the waters.   Thus, the overall meaning of this warning is that the waters will be polluted from above.

• Throughout God’s word, the darkening of the sun and other forms of light were certain signs of God’s wrath (Exodus 10:21-23, Joel 2:10, and Matthew 24:29).

• Now a messenger from Heaven makes a very powerful point about what is yet to be revealed.  The works of God against the natural resources of Rome are significant, but the remaining three trumpets are yet to sound.  The inhabitants of the earth will be directly affected through these messages.  Thus, “Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth.”

1. All Scripture quotations are from the King James Version unless otherwise noted.
2. Joseph H. Thayer, Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, (Reprint by Hendrickson, 2002, original copyright 1896).