The language in today’s passage is full of rich imagery: a flaming mountain is thrown into the sea, a third of the stars are blackened, and crowned locusts ride horses with scorpion tails into battle. It’s both chillingly specific and massively cryptic—and why are there seven seals, anyway? Before we get carried away, we have to remember that Scripture must first be interpreted through the lens of Scripture. So where else in Scripture do we see the number seven? It’s a parallel to the seven days of creation, the seventh day of the week as the Sabbath, Jacob’s seven years of service to Laban, the seven trumpets of Jericho, etc. In God’s Word, seven is a number of completion.
In all the swirling imagery, the central purpose of all Scripture is to teach the good news of the gospel: Christ has come to save. And the whole book of Revelation is just the same. These judgments show us the completion of God’s good work. And the end purpose of God’s work of salvation is that He should abide with us, and we with Him. He is our God, and we are His people.
Because we are His, we can rejoice at His coming, and at the restoration of righteousness. Judgment must come. Justice is necessary because He is justice. He will make all things right. He will not allow wickedness to go on forever.
God’s judgment is total, and our only escape is Jesus. For those of us in Christ, our judgment was paid by Christ at the cross. The weight of our judgment has already fallen on Him. Therefore, we should rejoice at God’s coming judgment, because it will restore righteousness.
We are His, and so we need not fear any present tribulation. The consequences of evil in this world are scary, and the threat to believers is real. But the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous (1 Peter 3:12). He is always with us, and He cares for us. His ears are open to our prayers, and He is not indifferent to our cries. Even in judgment, God is merciful to those who love Him.
We need not fear, because we are His. Instead, we can be people of hope, joy, and peace. This is cause for great rejoicing. His justice is ongoing, and this passage is not the final judgment but a picture of God’s ongoing work in the world. He is constantly doling out mercy to us, deferring judgment, calling us back to Him. His work is not done in our families or in our communities. Therefore, have hope for your children, for your parents, and for your neighbors who are not yet believers. God is constantly at work.
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29 thoughts on "The Trumpets"
Even in these 2 chapters as divine judgment is being executed, there is still time to repent but the rebelliousness of man’s sinful heart: “the rest of the people who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands to stop worshiping demons & idols….” But for the divine intervention of God to awaken us from being dead in our sins (Eph.2:1ff) we all would be continuing to refuse him. Wrath and mercy met at the cross & Christ rescued us!
Thank you Lord! Amen! ❤️
Revelations is hard to read and understand but this study helps me understand so much more.
I’m often saddened when I hear what is going on in the world but I know that God has control of the one who is in control at this time!
I’m 24 years old and not once have I studied Revelation because I have always been so afraid of it. In the last two weeks I have felt this STRONG urge and craving to study and learn as much as I can. I know there is nothing to be scared of because I am a child of God. I know it’s God working with my heart and showing me the goodness and grace. He is showing me it’s urgent to pray for my family and friends that time is near and there is not time to wait. Praise to the Lord of Lords❤️
I’m in the same boat girly! But He will bless those who study revelations! It may take time to appear but he’s already doing that work!
I think that the great tribulation undergone by believers as demonstrated here is a powerful testimony to the fact that our earthly comfort and prosperity is not God’s goal for the believer. I used to think that knowing and loving God would save my soul and benefit me circumstantially—I thought that was the point. I’m still afraid of suffering but I know now that glorifying God is the point—trusting and praising him is the point—sharing the gospel is the point. And yet he gives a fortitude of spirit and a deep springing joy that I am learning to believe will see me through any earthly suffering that comes my way. And the cherry on top of it all is eternal life and pleasure in the presence of our mighty King
Wow, I never thought of this quite like that. Thank you for sharing your perspective! He cares more about our character than our comfort.
God is constantly at work.
The last verse of chapter 9 made me so confused and sad. How can you see all that death and destruction and still not believe. :(
I was shaken a little because I don’t want to be apart of that story. But the Holy Spirit reminded me this is what will happen if we don’t believe or repent. Thank god believers are under his mercy!!!!! For that we can rejoice in hope and peace and joy!!!
This is soo good!
I must say I have also been shaken but your perspective- sharing it has made me realize that yes we are saved by Mercy.
I love love love love love this song. I sing it over and over daily. And sometimes out loud!
Such a beautiful picture of Gods grace after reading about all the destruction that will be unleashed. We have such a settled HOPE IN CHRIST!
This reading may seem frightening at first.
The seven seals were scary, now we have 7 trumpets full of God’s wrath.
And yet, Revelation 7 said that the servants of God would be sealed, protected before any of the trumpets blew.
Such mercy and grace from the Father.
Another thing that stood out to me was that the first 4 trumpets effected creation. What God had created, which He deemed good, He allowed to be destroyed in 1/3s. Why?
Trumpets 1-4 bring catastrophes and difficulties…but 5 and 6 are called Woes.
I wondered what made them worse?
I noticed that humans are directly effected by the two Woes:
Stung by locust-like creatures, suffering for 5 months, plus lion-headed horses with snake tails that attack.
God continues to offer example of His power, while allowing time for repentance.
And yet, in Revelation 9 the Word says that the rest of the people who survived did not repent.
Whatever time we have is short.
The 1 Peter verses speak to my heart.
Finally, all of you be like-minded and sympathetic, love one another, and be compassionate and humble,
NOT paying back evil for evil or insult for insult but, on the contrary, giving a blessing, since you were called for this, so that you may inherit a blessing.
We have the promise of God on our lives.
We are blessed.
The time is short.
My days need to be different.
My hands must give comfort instead of returning the slap.
My words must guide to Life and Peace, not tear down with death.
My heart must be soft to the opportunities to share the gospel of salvation,
while there is still time.
Purify me Lord, may I be your witness,
while there is still time.
I love how you put it, Angie! Amen!
Every wrong will be made right. That truth sums it up for me. If only the unbelievers and half believers in my family could see it! Praying for God to open so many eyes and hearts to his love for all creation.
The seven seals and the seven trumpets will happen just as every one of the seven things that Rebecca mentioned happened in reality.
Janice, I totally agree it is scary to read Revelation. Years ago I studied Revelation with my church ladies group, I was scared, I might have missed a lot because I was scared of going more and more into the book. But in the last year I’ve been diving deeper and deeper into God’s word, Revelation doesn’t scare me anymore God is bigger than the rapture and tribulation. I color and symbolize when I study,if you looked at my bible from starting Revelation yesterday, and today that I did it looks like a child grabbed it and colored and drew all over it, but they help see the images of how real this is, and how someone else saw it through their eyes. I’m so excited to finish this with everyone. I started Day 4 yesterday and Day 5 today, I’m looking to go back and start at the beginning. I hope you have a great weekend.
Janice, I felt the same way about Revelation, I studied it many years ago at church with our woman’s bible study it didn’t mean much to me then, cause I was afraid. Through the year I’ve been diving deep, and Revelation isn’t so scary after all. I color and symbolized everything in Revelation so far, I only started yesterday, but if you look at my bible it looks like a kid took crayons and wrote and drew all over, but it helps me to imagine how it really does look now. I’m excited to be doing this with everyone and going back to catch up with days 1-3.
Reading these verses I was filled with both thankfulness for Christ’s sacrifice, but also with a need to beg God for mercy on behalf of those I love who don’t know Him. But that beautiful reminder from Rebecca today, that God is constantly at work, allows me to dwell in hope and peace and joy. He sees my family who have turned away, and He will give them chances. He is always at work.
I felt a bit like Jacob Marley before I began reading, I prayed for the Holy Spirit to open my ears mind and heart. Instead of fear, I found His promise that
We’re given a clear picture of the judgement to come–and let’s be honest–the judgement we all deserve because we are all sinners. The difference is knowing that our debt has been paid in full on the cross by our risen Savior. The blood He shed has covered my sins as far as the east is from the west, and so I can and do have hope in my future regardless of the tribulations yet to come while on this earth. I also know that I have been given clear direction for the way I should strive to live every day of my life until Christ returns: “be like-minded and sympathetic, love one another, and be compassionate and humble…”
Lord, I pray that you will fill me with Your Spirit today. I pray that my thoughts, words, and actions will bring those around me closer to You each day until You return. Amen
Well said, Nanak. Thank you Jesus for calling me, dying for me, rising from the dead for me and coming again for me. I love you, Lord.
He will set all things right. What a great and loving God! He will not allow wickedness to go on forever. But He will wait while more turn to Him through Christ. Hope, faith, and love, but the greatest of these is love!
Creation goes crazy in these passages of Revelation. All is upheaval and chaos and destruction of unimaginable proportions. The might of God is on full display. His judgment is undeniable. Does it not shock us that people are still unrepentant? Who would not fall down and beg forgiveness? Yet this is how depraved mankind has become, that in the face of all this devastation they refuse to acknowledge the sovereignty of God. Woe to them indeed. And how incredibly sad. This is the future of the lost, the prideful, the self-centered. This is tragic. And it is sure to come. May our prayers for them increase as that day draws near, while there is still hope, while there is still opportunity.
I just started crying when reading Revelation 9:21. How could people be so far gone that they don’t repent even then? It just makes me ache.
Exactly my thoughts.
Yes, totally shocking that people don’t repent. I don’t understand!
I used to be confused and afraid when I read Revelation, but then a friend explained to me about how these stories were originally told. There were no books at the time and the people couldn’t read anyway, so the story teller used great imagery. Now I think it is the most wonderful book. God uses the imaginations he created in us to encourage us.