Revelation 8:8-9 "The second angel blew his trumpet, and something like a great mountain..."

“The second angel blew his trumpet, and something like a great mountain, burning with fire, was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea became blood, a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed” (Revelations 8:8-9).

Question:

What with the BP oil disaster in the Gulf, I was just wondering, in terms of the metaphysical realm, what the interpretation for these passages might be.

Comment:

It’s certainly easy to link these words to the images we’re seeing of the oil spill in the gulf—and no doubt there will be people who will be doing just that. Which is fine, of course, but it ignores the deeper metaphysical implications of the passage.

The previous three chapters of Revelation describe a great scroll, sealed with seven seals. It is emblematic of the spiritual purpose of life. The seals can only be opened by “the Lamb”—the Christ, the indwelling Presence of God in each of us. Only by recognizing and embracing our Oneness with that Presence can we open the seals and set about our spiritual purpose. 

There are many powerful images involved in the opening of the seven seals. The overall metaphysical statement is that embracing our spiritual purpose will inevitably release a number of frightening and apparently negative energies. All thoughts, beliefs, choices and attitudes not appropriate to that spiritual purpose will need to be dissolved—and the process can be really bumpy! It’s essential to remember that it’s all good; however powerful these negative energies may seem, they appear not to discourage us, but to be released.

Chapter 8 describes the opening of the final, seventh seal. It is the ultimate surrender of limited human beliefs to a greater, infinitely loving spiritual purpose. The effects described are closely related to the plagues of Egypt in Exodus—another depiction of the same process of surrender necessary to free ourselves from a sense of enslavement to our limited human lives.  

So the important theme here is that “It’s All Good!” It’s hard to say the same when faced with the oil spill in the gulf. But if we are collectively willing to see past the negativity, to learn valuable lessons about honoring life in all its many forms, to reprioritize our lives according to spiritual principles rather than human needs, then a great good could indeed come from this negative experience. It sometimes seems to me that the only prayer we really need is simply: Show me the good!

Blessings!

Rev. Ed