Revelation: The Hope - The Seven Trumpets
- Nancy Counts
- Jan 30
- 6 min read
Think about how trumpets are used in our culture. The first thing I recall is a trumpet fanfare. So many of the musical pieces I love begin with the organ stops fully open and the trumpets calling me to sing. I think of a trumpet fanfare followed by Here Comes the Bride. I think of actual trumpet music, and the concerts I have had the privilege of attending. What Wynton Marsalis and Chris Botti can create with a trumpet is extraordinary.
But I also think of the mournful notes of taps. Technically, a bugle is used but the trumpet also. Remembering viewing the changing of the guard at Arlington Cemetery at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier brings tears to my eyes. The physical procession was one thing, but the hearing of taps really placed the ceremony in the reverent mood appropriate for honoring our fallen.
Reverence is a good theme for discussion of the Seven Trumpets of Revelation. The reader understands nothing positive is about to happen. These trumpet blasts are not heralding the arrival of a blushing bride on her wedding day.
Understanding the significance of each trumpet really pushes the reader into heavy symbolism. If ⅓ of the sun is struck, and a ⅓ of the moon and stars are struck, and the day and night are without light, this makes no sense, Revelation 8:12. If ⅓ of the sun is gone, wouldn’t the day be ⅓ shade darker but not completely dark? I imagine a day like today as I am writing this - gloomy and overcast.
The point is all of the trumpets and all the destruction caused are symbols and imagery. How are we to gain meaning from these chapters when they say, “a great mountain ablaze with fire was hurled into the sea. So ⅓ of the sea became blood,” Revelation 8: 8-9 ?
Can you recall another story where the water became as blood? In Exodus 7, Moses stretches out his staff and all water in Egypt - rivers, canals, ponds, and reservoirs - became blood. Exodus 7:20 The imagery used in Revelation would have been extremely familiar to the believers of the day. They knew the plagues Moses called forth over Egypt. They knew the significance of a trumpet blast. They heard John’s words and prepared for God’s judgement.
If you are anything like me, you like to get caught up in the speculation regarding the imagery. So many books have been published claiming to have decoded the “truth.” One hypothesis claims that the demon locusts of the fifth trumpet are really John’s effort to describe helicopters. Since no self-propelled machines existed in his day, he did the best he could to detail a modern weapon of destruction. After the sixth trumpet blast, an army of hundreds of millions rolls over the earth. Some claim the imagery describes tanks and rapid fire rifles. Again, we can speculate all we want and read all the Left Behind novels, but in the end, we are still only guessing.
So why does John give these terrifying visions to us? Remember he wrote first to the people of his day and time. They would have drawn on their understanding of Exodus and approached the magnanimity of the visions with awe and reverence. They understood God’s capabilities. They had not placed Him in a convenient, handy book to be taken out only on Sundays or holidays. They understood Him as the living God who rescues His people and punishes the wicked.
In our modern culture, we are not comfortable with the idea of the wicked being punished. I’ve heard and may have even said to myself that it is not fair. Why would a loving God punish his creation? Why would He allow this level of destruction?
Let’s take a look at how the people respond to the utter devastation of ⅓ of all living things on the earth, under the earth, or in the sea. “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 and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood, which cannot see, hear or walk. And they did not repent of their murders, their sorceries, their sexual immorality, or their thefts.” Revelation 9:20-21.
What strikes me after reading the devastation of the trumpet blasts is that the people continued on with life as usual. Not even the destruction of ⅓ of the heavenly lights caused them to reflect on the Creator of those lights. They continue with their activities as before and never stop to ponder the Lord of the Universe. They never show any reverence for God.
How do you show reverence to God?
Psalm 119:36-39 says, “Turn my heart to your decrees. Turn my eyes from looking at what is worthless; give me your ways. Confirm what you said to your servant, for it produces reverence for you. Turn away the disgrace I dread; indeed your judgments are good.”
I really love this little section of Psalm 119. David asks God to turn his heart toward His decrees. The Hebrew word for decree here means that David is asking God to remind him of all the times God has proven to the Israelites His Word is true. The explanation of the word compares the meaning to a witness giving truthful testimony at a trial. What God promises, He accomplishes.
Next, David does not want to waste his time on what is worthless - things that are empty and add no value or meaning to life. I spent hours on the phone trying to get a company to acknowledge a bill was paid, and they did in fact cash my check. I let myself become so overworked with anger, I wasted hours of my life over a $25 late fee. Obviously, I was not focused on God’s ways but something utterly worthless that occupied head space I can never get back. The main reason I sat down to write today - focusing on what adds value to my life. Then David asks God to remind him again of all God's promises. David’s response - reverence.
Reverence is defined as a profound respect encompassing both fear and awe. Saying the word “fear” brings up so many negative connotations. But David understood that God does have all power and authority to judge as well as bless. Reverence means we understand God is good and loving but also a perfect and holy judge. So again I ask, how do you show reverence to God? Or do the seven trumpets dominate your daily thought life or even actions? (I'm including myself here.)
We drop words of fire and damage our neighbor (1st trumpet). We use our weapons of choice (words, actions, neglect, defiance, etc.) to draw blood from those we dislike or even like or love (2nd trumpet). We serve bitter water to many on a daily basis (3rd trumpet). We block out the light for those desperately trying to find a glimmer of sunshine (4th trumpet). We do tolerate war and injustice and turn a blind eye to suffering (5th and 6th trumpets). We cling to how things have always been and fail to hear the cry of “Woe, Woe, Woe” (4th trumpet). Revelation 8:6-21.
We don't have to understand the significance of all the imagery. Our only requirement is to examine our own heart. Do we hold bitterness in our hearts because life has not been easy or difficult circumstances have come into our lives? Do we feel like God is unloving and cruel to allow injustice to run rampant all around us? Or do we recognize God’s decrees and ways are good and that this earth has a sin problem?
We are all sinful creatures who perpetuate hurt and violence onto this earth. We dread being disgraced but then do the exact actions that will bring humiliation upon us. Do we understand that indeed His judgments are good and designed to protect us from dishonor? Or do we allow the bitter water to fill our cup every day?
Facing the Revelation is not easy. John calls the believers of his day as well as us today to recognize the mighty power of God. The only thing that can save us is the healing blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ. He willingly paid the price for our sinful hearts because He did not want us to suffer disgrace. Rather than allowing the cry of "Woe" to penetrate our hearts and produce despair, let the cry of "Woe" penetrate our hearts and cause us to revere our Creator. Bow before Him in awe and wonder.
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