The Seven Trumpets of Revelation

The 7 Trumpets, as described in the Book of Revelation chapters 8-11, follow the opening of the 7 Seals. These trumpet judgments increase in severity and frequency, much like birth pangs, as foretold in the Scriptures.

First Trumpet: Hail, Fire, and Blood (Revelation 8:7)

The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.

This judgment bears resemblance to the plagues of Egypt, yet on a grander scale. The mingling of blood with hail and fire suggests a supernatural catastrophe beyond mere natural disaster. The burning of trees and grass may portend famine and economic strife, as agriculture suffers. The limitation to a third part shows God's mercy even in judgment, for He destroys not utterly.

Second Trumpet: Mountain of Fire (Revelation 8:8-9)

And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood; And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed.

This great mountain may be literal or figurative, perchance representing a mighty kingdom cast down. The sea turning to blood recalls again the plagues of Egypt, yet the destruction of ships points to disruption of commerce and trade. This judgment strikes at man's pride in his mastery over the seas and the creatures therein.

Third Trumpet: Star Wormwood (Revelation 8:10-11)

And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters; And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.

The star called Wormwood, whether celestial body or angelic being, brings bitterness to the waters of the earth. This may speak to the poisoning of men's souls as well as their bodies, for as water sustains physical life, so does the water of God's Word sustain spiritual life. The judgment now strikes closer to man's essential needs, showing the increasing severity of God's wrath.

Fourth Trumpet: Celestial Darkness (Revelation 8:12)

And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.

This smiting of the celestial bodies remindeth us of the Lord's words that "the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven" (Matthew 24:29). It may signify the dimming of spiritual light in the world, as well as physical darkness. The disruption of day and night cycles would wreak havoc on the natural order, affecting seasons, tides, and all manner of life.

Fifth Trumpet: Locusts from the Bottomless Pit (Revelation 8:13-9:12) - The First Woe

And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound! And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit. And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads. And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man. And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them. And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men. And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions. And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle. And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months. And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon. One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter.

These locusts are not natural creatures, but demonic entities loosed upon the earth. Their torment of five months may allude to the natural lifespan of locusts, yet their inability to harm vegetation shows their supernatural nature. This judgment strikes directly at the souls of men, inflicting spiritual and psychological torment rather than mere physical pain. The desire for death that cannot be fulfilled adds a new depth of anguish to human suffering.

Sixth Trumpet: The Army from the East (Revelation 9:13-21) - The Second Woe

And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates. And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men. And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them. And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone. By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths. For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt. And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.

The loosing of the four angels bound in Euphrates suggests a divine appointment, for they were prepared for this very hour. The vast army of two hundred million may be literal or symbolic, representing an overwhelming force of judgment. The specific mention of fire, smoke, and brimstone from the mouths of the horses indicate that this is no mere human army, but one empowered by supernatural forces. Yet even in the face of such devastation, the hearts of men remain hardened, foreshadowing the final judgment to come.

Seventh Trumpet: The Kingdom Comes (Revelation 11:14-19) - The Third Woe

The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly. And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth. And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.

The seventh trumpet heralds not merely another judgment, but the culmination of God's plan for the ages. It declares the sovereignty of Christ over all the earth, fulfilling the prophecy that "the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea" (Habakkuk 2:14). The opening of God's temple in heaven and the appearance of the ark of His testament signify the full revelation of God's presence and covenant faithfulness. The lightnings, voices, thunderings, earthquake, and great hail demonstrate the awesome power accompanying this final proclamation.

Most significantly, we finally see that God's wrath is declared as come, and this by the 24 elders of God as opposed to the mere lost and cowering men in the caves of the earlier sixth seal. Also seen are the time of the judgement of the dead, the rewarding of the prophets, saints, and them that fear the name, and the destruction of the earth-destroyers.

Conclusion

Thus we see in these trumpet judgments a progression of increasing severity and scope, from the natural realm to the supernatural, from earth to heaven. They reveal the patient justice of God, who judges in measures, ever offering opportunity for repentance, yet ultimately establishing His kingdom in righteousness and truth.