Daily Devotional For June 28, 2025
A third of the human race was killed by these three plagues: by the fire, the smoke and the sulphurous fumes that came out of their mouths. For the authority of the horses was in their mouths and in their tails. For their tails were like snakes, having heads, and with them they did harm. Rev 9:18-19.
This description indicates that the plagues of the sixth trumpet are related in some way to those of the fifth trumpet. The power to harm in the fifth trumpet resided in the tail, in this trumpet the power to harm is in both the mouth and the tail. So there is an escalation of terror in this text. The good news is that the plagues of the trumpets are focused on the wicked (Rev 9:4, 20-21), God is well able to protect His own.
In 1944 Nazi-held Belgrade was under assault from the Red Army and Yugoslav partisans. Martin’s wife Melanie became sick in the aftermath of giving birth. As the Battle of Belgrade wound down, he took many risks to bring needed supplies for his wife. But he was suddenly impressed to leave his wife and go to church headquarters.
Heeding the call of God he hurried through the desolate, bloody streets. Reaching the street where the church headquarters were located he saw four people walking toward him. As he drew closer he realized that his friend and pastor, Joseph Vitner, was being escorted by three soldiers in green uniforms.
“Brother Vitner, where are you going?” he asked.
“Comrades are taking me,” Vitner replied.
Martin realized that Vitner was of German descent and that the soldiers were Yugoslavs. He realized that the pastor was facing death as a “collaborator” with the Nazis. He felt impressed to plead with one of the soldiers to let him go in Vitner’s place. “He’s a better man than you and me put together,” he said. After many minutes of pleading the soldier said as they left, “If he is a good man, not one hair will fall off his head, if he’s not, he’s going to face the firing squad.”
Martin felt at peace about the matter and assured church members that their pastor would be back in a few minutes. And he was! He reported that he was taken directly to the firing squad. But the young soldier interceded with his commander, “Sir, half the city of Belgrade is vouching for this man!” The commander responded, “We need more people like you. Go home and take care of your family.”
We’ll never know how one man’s word became “half the city,” but Martin’s impression to go at that moment and then say exactly what he said seem exquisitely arranged by God. Like Pastor Vitner, we need not fear the fiery plague, our lives are in God’s hands.1
Lord, give me confidence today that my life is completely in Your hands.
1 Story based on Martin Selak, “Grace in Hell,” Adventist Review, May 13, 2004, 12-14.