The Seventh Trumpet
Open Your Bible
Revelation 10:1-11, Revelation 11:1-19, Psalm 2:1-12, Daniel 2:36-44
BY Rebecca Faires
The Arctic Tern gets more sunlight than any other animal on earth. These birds migrate from pole to pole every year, covering about 25,000 miles. Summering at the north pole, they enjoy weeks of 24-hour sunlight, and at the other end of their migration, they bask in the same full-sun days at the south pole. They literally chase summer all over the globe. If it weren’t so hard, we might all be tempted to do it—imagine a beautiful summer that never ends.
The point of the whole book of Revelation is the glory of Christ. His glory is so big and so wonderful that I have to imagine endless, gorgeous, sunshine-filled days to get in the right frame of mind. We can’t even grasp what it would be like to live in the glow of His glory, but I know that it will be good. So good.
We get a glimpse of His glory in the mighty angel standing astride sea and land in today’s reading (Revelation 10:5). Based on the being’s majestic description, many commentators believe this “angel” to be Christ Himself. Regardless of one’s interpretation of this particular passage, however, the whole of Scripture points to this beautiful truth: Christ is worthy. The end result of the judgment and war brings us back to where we began: the Word made flesh mercifully for us.
Because Christ is worthy, we know that the nations and kingdoms of this world are only temporary. God’s kingdom is the only one that will last. The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign forever and ever (Revelation 11:15). Christ receives all the kingdoms as His inheritance, which He delivers to the Father (1 Corinthians 15:24–28). And for those who love and trust in Him, the eternal kingdom becomes our inheritance in Christ (1 Peter 1:3–5).
Finally, God finishes His work. “Then he said to me, ‘It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end’” (Revelation 21:6). There is no stopping or undoing what God has done. Our redemption is sure and complete in Christ. And He will bring to completion the work of sanctification and glorification when He comes again. And so we pray: “Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10).
In Revelation we see Christ, fully worthy and glorified. He is the beginning and the end of all our stories. And we will bask in the warmth and light of His glory for all eternity. It is more than I can imagine. Come quickly, Lord Jesus!
42 thoughts on "The Seventh Trumpet"
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Good questions, Ali. I once heard it said that “All paths DO lead to God, but the question is whether you will encounter him as Father or Judge.” For those in Christ, “there is no condemnation” and we are inseparable from him (Romans 8). But like the flood of Genesis, there is one door to safety and we must enter by God’s prescribed means of grace – Jesus. Outside of him, there is no means of killing, atoning for, or separating ourselves from sin, which a good and just God must eventually destroy. We are either one with Christ, or one with our sin.
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Lehua, I am in the same situation and want you to know you are not alone. When fear strikes you, remember that is from Satan and not from God. God loves your husband more than you and also wants him to accept His Son, even more than you. I learned long ago it is not up to me to save my husband, that is up to God and I am to be obedient when he calls me to share in response to questions he has. Trust that God is working on his heart even when you can’t see it. I have found support and encouragement through an online ministry, Spiritually Unequal Marriage…https://www.spirituallyunequalmarriage.com. Cling to the hope we have in Christ!
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I have to admit, it gives me anxiety to read the book of Revelations… Not necessarily for myself (although sometimes I do wonder if I am truly saved) but more for others, especially those I care about, who are not saved. My husband in particular… He has come to church with me and respects my beliefs but he will tell me occasionally that he still doesn’t believe. I want him to be saved so bad, it breaks my heart when I find out he doesn’t believe… I don’t want him to suffer through what Revelations talks about. It gives me lots of anxiety and I don’t know what else to do… I know it’s his choice but I can’t help but feel that way.
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Lehua, I am sorry to hear how you’re hurting as you long for your husband’s salvation. Once we experience the peace and freedom of Jesus, it can be so frustrating when others do not want to receive it, too. I have a hard time getting through Revelations as well; even as a believer, it can seem scary at times. I want to encourage you in continuing to pray for your husband, stay faithful in your relationship with Christ, and continue to share the truth of the gospel with this man you love. Although we are called to be ambassadors, we can only plant the seed — God must soften one’s heart and open one’s eyes to recognize His truth. Remember His sovereignty and timing is always perfect. I am praying for you, Lehua, and your husband right now!
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L, I want to encourage you in the fact that you question your belief makes me think you are a believer. Your desire to be saved is the work of the Holy Spirit. Trust in that. Also your works do not bring you in right standing-the work of JESUS brings you to right standing. That’s why it is called GOOD NEWS! As for your husband, we as a community of believers can pray for his believing. I personally believe that is the work of the Holy Spirit to bring others to Jesus, so pray, but also rest in the freedom that the heart of Jesus is that all would know and love him. It is not your job to change your husbands heart, but you can show him your own peace you have in Jesus which is what motivates and changes us when we see that in others. Hope this helps.
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Lehua, keep believing that God can work a miracle. For years, my husband was a believer and I was not. I am so thankful that God kept pursuing me when I was not pursuing him. I was the lost sheep that he went after. I share your same feelings about my family who are not saved, but if God can save me, I remember that he can save anyone.
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Thank you Angie for sharing. I so love the beauty in the way God meets us where we are and how He gently loves us in the difficult things. What a gift to witness His tender love of your sweet Mama. What a gift we have in our Jesus, who gave it all that we might be reconciled to our God. I wonder sometimes why it is so difficult for some to believe and trust God, but then I realize I am daily told by the world that I, my comfort, my peace, my control is what matters most. C, our God loves you immeasurably. He gave everything that you might be saved, not because He thought you could be the perfect Christian, if so, what would have happened to Peter, the disciples, much less all of us. But, because he loves you His creation and wants you to have His freedom. He did this for every one of us, the hopeless, the addict, the greedy, the lustful, the thief, the murderer, for we are all sinners and He saved us. If you have a chance, watch Michael Todd’s series Grace like a flood on youtube. The only thing we do to be saved is to believe and trust. He who was, is and is to come already did everything that was required. It is in the believing and trusting that is so hard for us in our humanness. To believe that we are not required to do anything but accept the love and sacrifice of our Lord Jesus is the most amazing gift, but sometimes we have to daily remember that we are not the means to our salvation. Grace and love to your days ladies. Our God reigns! So thankful. Please pray for my heart to focus on praise, for He is so worthy.
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Angie, thank you for sharing your experiences from this weekend. I’m still sobbing with the beauty that is Our Lord comforting us when we’re in pain, any kind of pain. Y’all are in my prayers.
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Angie, tears in my eyes as I read your beautiful observation of your mother- in-law glimpsing heaven. What a gift to you and your family. I did not have that comfort when my father was dying. Due to his religious background he did not believe he would ever be worthy of heaven. He was angry and bitter and fearful. It was very difficult to witness. My words of truth fell on deaf ears because what could I know above and beyond what his priests had taught and said his entire lifetime? The night before his death when he was so adamant about what he believed is a hard memory. He lived and died believing a lie. It did not have to be that way. Truth, God’s Truth, is paramount. Only there is peace.
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Dear C
Your last line is ALL you need!!! -
I’ve always heard & thought revelation to be Gods judgement on the world. However that has been challenged as I have read. Is it really God’s Judgement? Because didn’t Jesus take all the punishment and judgement of sin on at the cross? Also as reading it is standing out more and more as a pursuit of His people, our Good Good God wants his people to turn to him and love him, he is giving those still lost opportunities to see his glory, his power, his pursuit and turn. Where am I getting this wrong or not fully understanding?
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I used to see Revelation as a scary book that spoke of so much judgement. After reading it many times over the years, I see it as God’s last-ditch effort to convince as many people as possible to choose him. It’s a mighty demonstration of his love and mercy! He could have easily just wiped the earth clean of sin and sinners, but he doesn’t now and he wont then. Hallelujah!
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