Scenes 1-4: These first four visions are visions of natural disasters. It is helpful to remember that in the OT, natural disasters are seen to be the result of human disobedience and rebellion against God. (i.e.: the Flood, fire and brimstone on Sodom and Gomorrah, the 10 plagues against Pharaoh and the Egyptians, etc.)

This view makes sense when you realize that those who rebel against God and try to find the meaning of life in anyone or anything apart from God end up trying to make this earth their permanent home and trying to find the complete meaning of their existence in the things of this life. This lifestyle always brings destruction (psychological, spiritual and physical) because those who put their complete trust in the things and people of this world will find there is nothing they can depend on. (As Paul puts it in Rom. 1:18-32), this is the inevitable result when people worship the creation or a creature rather than the Creator.) Without God, these visions are saying, the creation offers people no security at all.