It was a significant day for my wife and me: the day we paid off our mortgage.
After years of making payments (and with a little help from my parents), we walked into the bank, wrote the final check, and walked out with a title in our hands. We held legal proof that the debt had been paid and that we owned our house with no strings attached.
Our home belonged to us, and we could prove it.
Of course, we have other proofs of ownership around our house. They take different forms, but they all validate “possession” in one way or another. We have the titles for my car and my wife’s van, showing that they are paid in full. We have birth certificates proving that our kids belong to us. I have a driver’s license that identifies Tennessee as my state of residence and a passport to verify that the United States is my homeland.
In so many areas of our lives, ownership is a big deal. It’s an itch we all long to scratch. It’s a goal for the future, a victory that provides incredible satisfaction.
There’s just something special about saying, “This belongs to me!”
Throughout the Old Testament, we catch glimpses of God claiming ownership and authority over everything He created. In Psalm 2, we see how He laughed at the nations that try to stand against Him. Despite their best efforts, no earthly power can stop Him from installing His Son (the Messiah) as the ultimate King over all things.
Later, the prophet Daniel acknowledged God’s ownership as he interpreted a dream for Nebuchadnezzar, the undisputed ruler of the world’s supreme superpower at the time. Daniel explained that God had allowed the king to see into the future, to get a sneak peek into how human history would unfold under the domination of multiple, but temporary, empires (Daniel 2:36–43).
But Daniel also revealed that the final kingdom—God’s kingdom—would have no end (v.44).
In Revelation 11, New Testament believers get their own chance to see the future. Like Nebuchadnezzar, God has shown His people that a day is coming when the seventh trumpet will sound and Jesus Christ will return. When He does, He will take His rightful place over every kingdom. In words that have become familiar thanks to George Frederic Handel’s stirring “Hallelujah!” chorus, we learn that the “kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ” (Revelation 11:15).
And, unlike other rulers, Jesus will reign forever. His ownership will be undisputed.
In Revelation 11, the response to the kingdom’s fulfillment is worship (v.16). That’s what happens when God’s people acknowledge Him as King. As believers, we don’t have to wait for Jesus’s return to live out the reality of God’s kingdom on earth. We don’t have to wait for the seventh trumpet to sound.
Jesus is coming back one day, but our lives can announce His rule and reign everywhere we go and in everything we do right now.
Written by Bob Bunn
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87 thoughts on "The Seventh Trumpet"
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Amen
Hello! I am trying to find the podcast w/Jen Wilkin. Is it in the She Reads Truth podcast or one by Jen Wilkin? Also do these podcasts begin today or last week w/Day 1?
Yes, Ginny, it is the She Reads Truth podcast. They are released every Monday. Jen Wilkin will be the second week of Revelation
Thank you Jane! I found both Week 1 and Week 2 Appreciate your help.
If you scroll to the bottom of the page where the devotional is posted, there are options to click on and the podcast is there. Additionally, it is on other platforms and available on Spotify. That is where I listen.:)
Thank you Wendy! I’m new here but am anxious to learn!
I am so impatient for Jesus return. I fantasize about walking behind him listening to his words. Teacher……… parent…….king,,,,,,The Messiah. I think about what His teachings would look like in the sad world of today. Where media could choose to spread thr message of loving one another but yet all we see is hate. I imagine Jesus walking up to a.bunch of highschool kids and giving a parable that opens their eyes and they freely choose him. Oh what a world
I wonder if there is colorful well done graphic novel version of The Book of Revelations. This would be awesome. I often refer to graphic novels as picture books for adults. Many popular works of literature have been made into graphic novels. There is one graphic novel version of the Bible called The Bible In Action or the Action Bible but after the gospels it doesn’t do very much. Up until Romans it is beautiful. Graphic novels are a ten notches above a comic book.
I just picked that up yesterday at Goodwill. The Action Bible: God’s redemptive story: Sergio Cariello. For my kids. And, my husband was very interested. What’s the chance you mentioned it today? Ha.
I rally like that Action Bible. So colorful and so bold.How cool you got it!
@RaechelMyers…we need your sketches!
This podcast with Jen is like a firehose. Wow such good stuff. Many notes and re-visits to this podcast.
What stood out to me today:
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1. “Rise and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and those who worship there” Revelation 11:1. How much was to be measured? The worshippers too must be measured, whether they make God’s glory their end and his word their rule, in all their acts of worship; and whether they come to God with suitable affections, and whether their conversation be as becomes the gospel. What was not to be measured: The court which is without the temple measure it not. Some say that Herod, in the additions made to the temple, built an outer court, and called it the court of the Gentiles. Some tell us that Adrian built the city and an outer court, and called it Aelia, and gave it to the Gentiles. Why was not the outer court measured? This was no part of the temple, according to the model either of Solomon or Zerubbabel, and therefore God would have no regard to it. He would not mark it out for preservation, but as it was designed for the Gentiles, to bring pagan ceremonies and customs and to annex them to the gospel churches, so Christ abandoned it to them, to be used as they pleased; and both that and the city were trodden under foot for a certain time—forty and two months, which some would have to be the whole time of the reign of antichrist. Those who worship in the outer court are either such as worship in a false manner or with hypocritical hearts; and these are rejected of God, and will be found among his enemies. He has a strict regard to this temple, and observes how every thing is managed in it. Those who worship in the outer court will be rejected, and only those who worship within the veil accepted. The holy city, the visible church, is very much trampled upon in the world. BUT, the desolations of the church are for a limited time, and for a short time, and she shall be delivered out of all her troubles.
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2. The two powerful witnesses at the end times: By their praying and preaching, and courage in suffering, they shall gall and wound the very hearts and consciences of many of their persecutors, who shall go away self-condemned, and be even terrors to themselves. To make their testimony more strong, they must seal it with their blood (chills, I think of Charlie Kirk again, we witness his courage and how he wounded the hearts and consciences of this wicked generation). The world would not allow them a quiet grave; their bodies were cast out in the open street, the high street of Babylon, or in the high road leading to the city. Their dead bodies were insulted by the inhabitants of the earth, and their death was a matter of joy to the antichristian world. They were glad to be rid of these witnesses, who by their doctrine and example had terrified, and tormented the consciences of their enemies; these spiritual weapons cut wicked men to the heart, and fill them with the greatest rage and malice against the faithful.
3. Their resurrection: after they had lain dead three days and a half (Rev. 11:11) God will revive his work, when it seems to be dead in the world. They ascended to heaven in a cloud and their enemies saw them. The Lord’s witnesses must wait for their advancement, both in the church and in heaven, till God calls them; they must not be weary of suffering and service, nor too hastily grasp at the reward; but stay till their Master calls them, and then they may gladly ascend to him.
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(excerpts from Matthew Henry’s commentary)
I gotta run. Be blessed dear sisters.
I haven’t gotten to today’s reading yet because I just got caught up on last week’s, but I wanted to share a positive medical update: I got a third opinion on my knee replacement, and the third surgeon doesn’t think I need a revision (second surgery). And he is by far the most experienced surgeon I have consulted. He thinks I need more rest, more time to heal, and to quit PT and let my knee work *less* to heal better. But he also gave me a prescription NSAID to help with the pain I still experience, which no one else has even considered offering me. I wasn’t going to have another surgery before my trip to Guatemala in February anyway, so I have nothing to lose and everything to gain by trying it his way. And if it doesn’t get better this way, I already have a far more compassionate and qualified surgeon to help me on my journey. I want to thank each of you who has prayed for me. I believe this option is the best for my mental health as well, which has been really challenged since the surgery—and may yet face challenges. I have a lifetime of trauma to work through, but getting relief from the pain is really important for that to happen.
Oh, Margaret, how encouraging! Praying with you that this method leads to healing, less pain, and less anxiety! ❤
Praying for a successful outcome and lots of peace for your heart.
What a thing it is to know that when that trumpet sounds I will return home but if that day doesnt come.in my lifetime, i know that a life serving Jesus is a life well lived.
Amen!! Hallelujah!
And I just sneezed on my Bible. Now those pages aren’t smooth anymore. (Insert wackadoodle emoji face!)
bless you ;)
I too have lots of bumps and imperfections in my favorite bible. It’s life! shows your Bible is used.
Just went down a rabbit hole… when reading Revelation 11:5-6, the notes in my John MacArthur study Bible refer to Elijah and Moses. What the witnesses did, as Elijah and Moses did, are not what got my attention. Deuteronomy 34:5-7 did. I don’t know how I missed it before. Deuteronomy says that GOD buried Moses, and that nobody knows where, other than the valley of Moab… so that the Israelites could use a monument at his burial to create another idol for worship.
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I learned something new today. Maybe you did too… or maybe not…
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Check out the 9th verse of Jude for more fascinating rabbit holes! Michael and the devil arguing about Moses’s body… Dr. Joel Muddamalle (who has been on SRT podcasts) does a podcast on this verse on Blurry Creatures.
Oh wow..I must investigate!
I read that, too,Adrienne! ❤
yes, I learned that along time ago. I think that might be what frees them to come back to be the two witnesses. God himself handled their mortal bodies and we dont know if they decayed or not. Oh, how God knows human nature – God HAD to remove Moses’ body or it would have caused idol worship. He removed that temptation. He is such a good God.
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Good Morning Shes
Look, some of y’all may listen to the podcast for the week on the weekend as part of a “look-back” & review on Grace Day.
But, WOW, I just finished listening to Raechel & Amanda’s conversation with Bible teacher, Jen Wilkin as my morning start & was blown away by the important admonition to “look-back” at the Old Testament references & allusions.
Whew! A long sentence! But the notes I wrote in my journal are longer still!
It’s an “interpretive journey” they stress & we can begin to feel less “daunted” & more enabled to “delight” in these verses of scripture by diving into context for the original hearers. My humble encouragement is to listen to the podcast sooner, not later, as the Week 2 lessons begin to unfold, and in Godly-fashion, unravel!
That’s why the call is, to keep opening our Bibles!
I haven’t listened yet. Maybe there’s a reference to Moses’ burial, (and my trip down the rabbit hole mighta been explained!)
I think Jen is an amazing teacher, tes, thank you for the heads-up
I love Jen Wilkin ❤️. I need to listen.
Thanks for the heads up, Gwineth! I learned so much in Jen’s Revelation study. U will make time to listen and make notes. ❤
The mention of Handel’s Messiah! He shall reign for ever and ever! The sweet and the bitter! I believe God gave us a glimpse of His judgement to cause us to sense an urgency to reach the lost! Our pastor used a closing clip of Schindler’s list to illustrate the urgency of going after one more. Schindler is given a ring to thank him for saving the 1,100 people but he was so grieved by what he could have done if he had just rescued one more! It was powerful and definitely got the message across!
We still need to go after “one more!”
Thank you for your prayers! Everything went smoothly in our kids department and everyone was helping me! I was blessed! And our kid’s leader is enjoying a nice holiday which she doesn’t take often enough!
God is good! Praying for all!
I agree..now that I have been in Jail ministry for almost 3 years…and see how many come to Jesus by us being the hands and feet…it literally drives you to “one more” 10 more! Like, we have become such lazy Christians, I am a Christ-follower and disciple going to the world, and it is exciting, amazing, and such a blessing!! I will not stop praying for anyone I can, and letting Jesus be on my lips non-stop til my dying day! In Jesus’ mighty name!!
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Tough reads in Revelations. But what I do know is it’s making me think we cannot be lukewarm in our faith. It is so important to stand firm. To being rooted in God’s word. To live it despite of the direction our country seems to be going in. Farther and farther away.
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JESUS is coming back one day….oh what a day that will be. Meanwhile keep praying for our loved ones. Happy Monday sweet She’s!
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Thank you, Bob Bunny for the visual of’owbership’! I love this conclusion:
“As believers, we don’t have to wait for Jesus’s return to live out the reality of God’s kingdom on earth. We don’t have to wait for the seventh trumpet to sound.
Jesus is coming back one day, but our lives can announce His rule and reign everywhere we go and in everything we do right now.” – Amen! Am I doing that, though?!
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Some interesting notes from John MacArthur and Warren Wiersbe:
MacArthur Study Bible>
Rev. 10:2–
“little book. The 7-sealed scroll that is the title deed to the earth (see note on 5:1) will be fully opened and all the final judgments made visible. right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land. Although Satan has temporarily usurped the sea and the earth, this symbolic act demonstrates that all creation belongs to the Lord and He rules it with sovereign authority.”
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Rev. 10:9–
Take and eat it. This act graphically illustrates taking in God’s Word. John’s physical reactions demonstrate what every believer’s proper response to God’s judgment should be (cf. Ezek. 3:1)—sweet anticipation of God’s glory and our victory, and at the same time, the bitterness of seeing God’s wrath poured out on those who reject His Son. your stomach bitter. As he truly digests what the seal, trumpet, and bowl judgments hold in store for the sinner, John becomes nauseated. sweet as honey in your mouth. But still God’s final victory and vindication are sweet realities to the believer.
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Rev. 11:4–
two olive trees and the two lampstands. Olive oil was commonly used in lamps; together the olive trees and lampstands symbolize the light of spiritual revival. The two witnesses’ preaching will spark a revival, just as Joshua’s and Zerubbabel’s did in Israel after the Babylonian captivity.
Where’s NKJV Study Bible:
Rev. 10–
We have seen the rainbow around God’s throne (4:3); here it sits like a crown on the head of this messenger. The rainbow was God’s sign to humanity that He would never again destroy the world with a flood. Even in wrath, God remembers His mercy (Hab. 3:2)
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Rev. 11–
This chapter opened with a temple on earth, but now we see the temple in heaven. The focus of attention is on the ark of God’s covenant, the symbol of God’s presence with His people. This vision of the ark would have greatly encouraged God’s suffering people, to whom John sent this book. The ark would have reminded them of His presence and the faithfulness of His promises. And on that ark was the mercy seat on which the blood was sprinkled each Day of Atonement (Lev. 16:15–17). Even in wrath, God remembers His mercy (Hab. 3:2).
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. The study notes also mentioned ownership in the measuring of the temple and in the actions revealed.
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In all of this heavy and difficult to understand reading there is one thing we can hold onto: Jesus is coming! Hallelujah!
• SONG SHARES – Jesus Is Coming Soon
• Bill & Gloria Gaither – Yahweh [Live] ft. The Hoppers
(this one has its own ‘hallelujah chorus!) ☺
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Love, hugs, and prayers! ❤
Oh my! BOB BUNN!!! I did not type BUNNY! Apologies!!!
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Great songs ❤️
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Thank you for sharing! Such great insights! The sweet and bitter is just how I feel when I read Revelations! It burns in my heart to pray for the lost!
Yes! That said it perfect the sweet and bitter commentary!!! That too is how I feel!! God’s word, the ministry, Jesus’ saving grace….HONEY!! The rejection, false prophets, and the evil is BITTER for sure!!
Thank you CeeGee! (heart)
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Thank you for sharing.❤️
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If you have a chance today, listen to one or more large choir versions of Handel’s “Messiah.” Emotionally stirring, as are the words found in today’s reading.
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This feels like weighty reading to me today. Powerful yes, but I have to admit this also feels scary and unsettling. In the darkest days and depths of being sick 4 years ago, I experienced physchotic episodes and hallucinations and one of the times it was very “end times”- full of evil, and so, so vivid. The powerful rule of God presence was very tainted in my hallucination and I came out of that particular episode absolutely terrified, paralyzed with fear; it brings me to tears just recalling it. I share this all to say, that we must be on guard to fight for the Supremacy of Christ in our lives; proclaiming the Truth, goodness and ruling power of the Lord’s reign over us at every moment. ❤️
Lord, you are the Almighty, the One and only True God. I pray Heavenly Father that the evidence you being Lord of my life would be authentic and noted, that I would be found faithful to living out and testifying that you reign over all and are King of Kings. Thank you Lord for all of these sisters. Fill us Lord with desire boldness, courage and strength to pattern our lives, our hearts and minds after you and your ways – to show that you indeed do rule and reign over all. Thank you Lord that even though this world we live in has fallen far from you, we can know and trust that as your Word says, both it and we, are all in your hands. This world is yours and we belong to you. “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ,and he will reign forever and ever. (Rev 11:15). Amen✝️
Wendy, I am so sorry for the tears this brought on, but thankful that you shared it here. It gave the foundation for the beautiful prayer! Amen! ❤❤❤
Beautiful prayer! Thank you. I agree these readings are hard to understand and a bit scary at the same time.
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His kingdom is coming.
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It will never be destroyed.
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And He shall reign for ever and ever.
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Amen!
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@Simone Shaw – Welcome to SRT and to this wonderful community of ladies!
@Cheryl Blow – praying that you will regain all your strength and energy and for continued improvement.
@Leanne Thompson – prayers for your community as they recover from this tragedy.
@Tina – glad to hear you have safely arrived home. Continued prayers for you and your family in the loss of your cousin.
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Happy Monday She’s!
Thank you!
Amen❤️
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Lord,
Today help us receive Your Word the way John did, fully, honestly, and with willingness to live it out, even when it feels sweet and bitter at the same time. Make us faithful witnesses in the small moments of our day, trusting that You are in control and that Your kingdom is coming.
Guide our steps and steady our hearts.
Amen.
Yes, Kimberly.
The bitter & sweet.
Faithful.
Trusting.
Guided.
Steadfast.
Amen & Amen!
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Amen, Kimberly!
Amen! ❤
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More prayers for the unbelievers, sisters, as we read God’s truth in these verses.
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Mystery! “And when the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write, but I heard a voice from heaven, saying, ‘Seal up what the seven thunders said, and do not write it down!'” Rev. 10:4
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From Got Answers: “The reason for the sealing is not given, but it could be that the judgment was simply too terrifying to be recorded. The content of the message is never revealed in Scripture, so we can’t speculate on it. The seven thunders are the only words in Revelation that are sealed.”
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Maybe the same words Daniel was to seal up? (Daniel 12:4, 9)
One day we will know.
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Praying y’all have a great Monday!
Always more to glean! ❤
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I had to look at the notes for that verse too. In addition to that, my study notes say that the message must be concealed until God’s time. It wasn’t time yet. Interesting.
Amen ❤️
My prayer today is that everything I do, say, think, my attitude, my actions will announce the rule and reign of Jesus Christ right now.
Me too. Praying in agreement with you. Amen and amen
Amen
Yes, Kathy.
And that I am His own!
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Amen❤️
Amen
And He shall reign forever and ever. King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Amen and Amen!