The Disturbing Message Behind Revelation's 7 Trumpets

The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mixed with blood, and they were thrown upon the earth. A third of the trees and all the green grass were burned up. Then the second angel sounded, and something like a great mountain, burning with fire, was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea became blood, a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed (Rev. 8:7-9).

The First Two Trumpets

Something enormous destroys one-third of all ships, kills one-third of all ocean life and turns one-third of the water into blood (just like the plague of the Exodus narrative). The “great mountain” in this trumpet judgment is often assumed to be a flaming asteroid.

The Third and Fourth Trumpet

The third angel sounded, and a great star from heaven, burning like a torch, fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of waters. The name of this star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the waters, because they were made bitter. The fourth angel sounded, and a third of the sun was struck, and a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them were darkened. A third of the day had no light, and likewise a third of the night (Rev. 8:10-12).

This trumpet judgment is similar to the last, but instead of altering the salt water, it affects the non-oceanic (drinkable, potable) fresh water.

The Fifth Trumpet, or First Woe

The fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fallen from heaven to the earth. The star was given the key to the bottomless pit. He opened the bottomless pit, and smoke ascended from the pit, like the smoke of a great furnace. The sun and the air were darkened by the smoke from the pit. And out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth. Power was given them as the scorpions of the earth have power. They were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only those men who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads. They were given authority, not to kill them, but to torment them for five months. Their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it stings a man (Rev. 9:1-5).

Here we encounter a clear personification. Yet another “star” falls from the sky, but this time it is clearly a he and not an it. He is given the keys to the bottomless pit (or abyss), and once it is unlocked, the smoke that rises up darkens the sun and air.

Powerful locusts (scholars believe these to be demons/fallen angels, as they answer to Abaddon/Apollyon, the “destroyer”) emerge from the smoke, instructed only to “torment” (to “strike”), but not to kill, the people who do not have “the seal of God on their foreheads.” The locusts will be completely harmless to all plants and vegetation, but to the people, they have been sent to torment for “five months.”

These entities will bring such misery that “in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it.” (Somehow even suicide will not be an option.) Of all the trumpet judgments, this one is so disturbing that it brings a deeper understanding of Christ’s personal warning of tribulation (Matt. 24:21).

The Sixth Trumpet

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 who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great Euphrates River.” And the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released to kill a third of mankind (Rev. 9:13-15).

Four (fallen) angels are released to wreak havoc with an army of 200 million heavily armored warriors on horses with “the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone…[and whose] tails were like unto serpents” (Rev. 19:17, 19), killing one-third of the world’s remaining population. (Mathematically, between the fourth seal (Rev. 6:7-8) and this sixth trumpet judgment alone, half of the people on the Earth have been wiped out.) Though great death and much fear result because of these bizarre warriors’ attack, people still give themselves over to idolatry and moral depravity.

The Seventh Trumpet

The seventh angel sounded, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying: “The kingdoms of the world have become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever.” And the twenty-four elders, who sat before God on their thrones, fell on their faces and worshipped God (Rev. 11:15-16).

It becomes obvious through the descriptions of the trumpets (particularly numbers five and six) that a battle between good and evil is heating up.

When the trumpets begin to sound, a dark day has indeed arrived for planet Earth and all those who inhabit it. Death, disease, warfare, pain, torment and dread will run rampant across all those who dwell therein on that terrifying day. The only hope for mankind in that moment will be found in whether they are one of God’s own.

For these people a beautiful and joyous reunion with their Maker awaits them. For those who reject Him, the nightmare will be just beginning. {eoa}

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