The Seventh Trumpet Sound
Christ receives dominion over the Kingdom of the World - Revelation 11:15-19
Behold, I tell you a mystery. We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. (I Corinthians 15:51-52)*
This is the final trumpet. The moment that God’s people have been anticipating for generations. The trumpet call of God that awakens the dead and gathers His people from the four winds and from every nation on the earth. Before sounding the last trumpet call, here is a summary of the first six trumpets.
Overview of the Angels with Trumpets
Trumpets are a recurring theme in the bible. Moses commanded the people to celebrate an annual feast of trumpets which would foreshadow the in-gathering of God’s people in the last days. During those days, the book of Joel describes two trumpet sounds calling the people to “wake up” and cry out to the Lord for deliverance because a powerful enemy has come up against the land. Jesus taught his disciples that after the sign of the Son of Man appears in the sky, he would send his angels (i.e. “messengers”) with a great trumpet to gather the chosen ones from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.1 This is the context of the seven angels with trumpets in Revelation.
The six trumpets in chapters 8-9 of Revelation reveal details of the war between the beast and the holy ones of the Most High. The first five trumpets describe various aspects of an attack on the people by the beast of Babylon. The first represents an attack on agriculture that results in food shortages. The second is an attack on commerce and destruction of the economy resulting in poverty. The third is an attack on religion, morality and justice resulting in an epidemic of anxiety, depression and bitterness. The fourth is an attack on truth and an information war that results in confusion, censorship, and deception that covers one-third of the world in darkness.2 The fifth is a demonically inspired bio-weapon that is inflicted on the people by greedy merchants from the industrial sector with the help of government leaders and officials who are supposed to be the watchmen protecting the people.3
The sixth trumpet describes four angels who are released to kill one-third of mankind with a plague of fire, smoke and sulfur that comes from the mouths of horses that are part of a very large army.4 This represents a testing of God’s people by fire in a war of information, deception, and division that will refine and purify the chosen ones. These are the ones who overcome by the blood of the lamb, by the word of their testimony and because they do not love their lives in this world. This trumpet also includes the two witnesses who are given power to prophesy and to torment the beast with their fiery message and terrible plagues.5
The purpose for these trumpets is the same as in the prophesy of Joel. It is a warning that will awaken the people to their plight and cause them to cry out to God for help and deliverance. This is a war that they cannot win, especially because they don’t even know they are under attack. Satan has put the world under a spell of deception and God’s people are in a deep spiritual slumber. Just like the prophet Joel explains, the people must respond with heart-felt repentance and turn back to their God.
Sanctify a fast. Call a solemn assembly. Gather the elders, and all the inhabitants of the land, to the house of the LORD, your God, and cry to the LORD. (Joel 1:14)*6
The Everlasting Kingdom Begins
The seventh angel sounded, and great voices in heaven followed, saying, "The kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ. He will reign forever and ever!" (Revelation 11:15)*
The sounding of the seventh trumpet signals a transfer of power and dominion from the beast to the Son of Man and his faithful servants. From the vision in Daniel chapter 7, this is the point where the Son of Man is given dominion over all the kingdoms on Earth. It marks the end of the kingdom of Babylon and the destruction of the image Nebuchadnezzar saw in his dream from Daniel chapter 2. The gold, silver, bronze, iron and clay are all smashed to dust and blown away in the wind. This is the end of the world as we have known it and the beginning of the everlasting kingdom on Earth.
[13] I saw in the night visions, and behold, there came with the clouds of the sky one like a son of man, and he came even to the Ancient of Days, and they brought him near before him. [14] There was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed. (Daniel 7:13-14)*
After this announcement is made, the twenty-four elders fall on their faces and praise the Lord. The time has come for God to reign over His creation with power. The time has also come to reward his faithful servants, to judge the dead, and to destroy those who destroy the earth. This marks the end of the dreadful beast who devours the earth, tramples it under his feet and breaks it to pieces.
[16] The twenty-four elders, who sit on their thrones before God's throne, fell on their faces and worshiped God, [17] saying: "We give you thanks, LORD God, the Almighty, the one who is and who was; because you have taken your great power, and reigned. [18] The nations were angry, and your wrath came, as did the time for the dead to be judged, and to give your bondservants the prophets, their reward, as well as to the saints, and those who fear your name, to the small and the great; and to destroy those who destroy the earth." (Revelation 11:16-18)*
The beginning of verse 18 points back to Psalm 2 where the nations leaders plot against the Lord’s Anointed and the kingdoms of the earth are given to him as an inheritance. The entire psalm seems to be a warning to the worlds leaders not to commit this treason against the LORD and his Anointed.
[1] Why do the nations rage, and the peoples plot a vain thing? [2] The kings of the earth take a stand, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his Anointed, saying, [3] "Let's break their bonds apart, and cast their cords from us." [4] He who sits in the heavens will laugh. The Lord will have them in derision. [5] Then he will speak to them in his anger, and terrify them in his wrath: [6] "Yet I have set my king on my holy hill of Zion." [7] I will tell of the decree. The LORD said to me, "You are my son. Today I have become your father. [8] Ask of me, and I will give the nations for your inheritance, the uttermost parts of the earth for your possession. [9] You shall rule them with a rod of iron. You shall dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel." [10] Now therefore be wise, you kings. Be instructed, you judges of the earth. [11] Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. [12] Kiss the son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath will soon be kindled. Blessed are all those who take refuge in him. (Psalms 2:1-12)*
Rewards for the Faithful Servants of the Lord
It is time to reward the saints, the prophets and the servants of God. What is the reward for God’s faithful servants? The answer can be found in the letter to the church of Thyatyra, from Revelation chapter 2, and it aligns very specifically with verse 9 in Psalm 2. Notice the reference to a rod of iron and clay pots. Those who overcome will reign with Christ as kings and priests in the eternal kingdom. They will be given authority over all the nations.
[26] He who overcomes, and he who keeps my works to the end, to him I will give authority over the nations. [27] He will rule them with a rod of iron, shattering them like clay pots; as I also have received of my Father: (Revelation 2:26-27)*
Jesus has received this authority from his Father so that he may give it to others who demonstrate loving, faithful, service and to those who overcome during their time of testing. This concept is introduced in Daniel chapter 7, but it is repeated and reinforced in Revelation chapter 5 when the twenty-four elders sing a song of praise to the Lamb. The kingdoms of the earth will be given to the holy ones of the Most High, who will be made kings and priests and will reign on the earth.
The kingdom and the dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the holy ones of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.' (Daniel 7:27)*
[8] Now when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. [9] They sang a new song, saying, "You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals: for you were killed, and redeemed us for God with your blood, out of every tribe, language, people, and nation, [10] and made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they will reign on earth." (Revelation 5:8-10)*
This is also the time to judge the dead. I believe this is in reference to the first resurrection, mentioned in Revelation chapter 20. The Apostle Paul makes mention of this resurrection in his first letter to the Corinthians (I Corinthians 15:51-52) and he says that it will happen at the sound of the last trumpet. Notice that thrones are set up and judgment is given to the saints which points directly back to the vision in Daniel 7:22.
[4] I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus, and for the word of God, and such as did not worship the beast nor his image, and did not receive the mark on their forehead and on their hand. They lived, and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. [5] The rest of the dead did not live until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. [6] Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over these, the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with him one thousand years. (Revelation 20:4-6)*
[21] I saw, and the same horn made war with the holy ones, and prevailed against them, [22] until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given to the holy ones of the Most High, and the time came that the holy ones possessed the kingdom. (Daniel 7:21-22)*
God’s Temple in Heaven is Opened
God's temple that is in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen in his temple. Lightnings, sounds, thunders, an earthquake, and great hail followed. (Revelation 11:19)*
The last thing John sees in this vision of the seventh trumpet is the ark of the covenant standing in the temple of heaven and the most holy place in the temple has been opened. The writer of the book of Hebrews explains that the way into the holy place was restricted under the Law of Moses and the old covenant, but that the way has been opened by the blood of Christ and that Christ is the mediator of a new covenant.7
[8] The Holy Spirit is indicating this, that the way into the Holy Place was not yet revealed while the first tabernacle was still standing; [9] which is a symbol of the present age, where gifts and sacrifices are offered that are incapable, concerning the conscience, of making the worshipper perfect; [10] being only (with meats and drinks and various washings) fleshly ordinances, imposed until a time of reformation. Hebrews 9:8-10)*
[14] how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, cleanse our conscience from dead works to serve the living God? [15] For this reason he is the mediator of a New Covenant, since a death has occurred for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first covenant, that those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. (Hebrews 9:14-15)*
The prophet Jeremiah spoke of this new covenant during the time of Daniel’s exile in Babylon. Under the new covenant, the Lord promised to the house of Israel that He would put the law in their inward parts and write it on their hearts. This points to the indwelling Holy Spirit and the fulfillment of the promise made by the prophet Joel that God would pour out His spirit on all flesh.8 The old covenant was written on tablets of stone and kept in a wooden box (covered with gold) which stood in the inner sanctuary of the tabernacle. The new covenant dwells within God’s people, it is written on their hearts because they are the temple of the Holy Spirit.
[31] Behold, the days come," says the LORD, "that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: [32] not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they broke, although I was a husband to them," says the LORD. [33] "But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days," says the LORD: "I will put my law in their inward parts, and in their heart will I write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people: [34] and they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD'; for they shall all know me, from their least to their greatest," says the LORD: "for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin will I remember no more." (Jeremiah 31:31-34)*
Jesus spoke of this new covenant during the last supper that he had with the disciples before being crucified. This was the grain and drink offering, the bread and wine that represent his body and blood which were offered for the forgiveness of sins in order to open the way to the Most Holy Place.
[26] As they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks for it, and broke it. He gave to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is my body." [27] He took a cup, gave thanks, and gave to them, saying, "All of you drink it, [28] for this is my blood of the New Covenant, which is poured out for many for the remission of sins. (Matthew 26:26-28)*
Summary
With the sounding of the seventh and final trumpet, the mystery of God is completed, just as the mighty angel declared in Revelation chapter 10. It is time for the resurrection of the dead, the rewarding of God’s faithful servants, and the destruction of the beast who destroys the earth. God’s people, who are scattered to the four winds, will be gathered from every tribe, nation, people and language in order to become kings and priests who will reign with Christ on the earth. The kingdoms of the earth have become the kingdom of God and His Anointed. This is the end of the world as we know it, but is also the beginning of a kingdom of righteousness, peace and justice that will never end.
Before these things are completely fulfilled, there are still seven more plagues that culminate in the great and terrible Day of the Lord. Everything is building up to this key, defining moment in The Apocalypse. It is likely that these events are not happening sequentially, but many of them occur simultaneously. These visions are simply recorded in a logical order to form a coherent narrative. Opening the seven seals on the scroll has revealed the evil deeds that are the legal basis for judgment against the beast and the corrupt Babylonian regime. The angels blowing the seven trumpets are calling God’s holy ones to wake up and come out of Babylon before it is too late. Now, the judgment of God is about to be poured out on the Beast and those who dwell on the earth by seven angels with bowls filled with of the wrath of God. This will be the third woe for those who worship the beast and its image.
The Trumpet Plagues 1-4 - By Adam Fridstrom
Sounding The Fifth Trumpet - By Adam Fridstrom
Sounding The Sixth Trumpet - By Adam Fridstrom
The Two Witnesses - By Adam Fridstrom
Biblical Reverences
*All Scripture quotations are from the New Heart English Bible unless specifically designated otherwise. The New Heart English Bible [NHEB] is in the public domain. https://nheb.net/
Symbolism of the Temple - By Adam Fridstrom