Sunday
Sunday
The Seven Trumpets
I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets.
Revelation 8:2
It is important to remember (according to the method of interpretation I have adopted) that the breaking of the seven seals and the blowing of the seven trumpets denote the same period (stretching between the two comings of Jesus), although from different perspectives.
It seems that the purpose of the trumpets was to warn the world of the righteous judgment of God and to call people to repentance. Certainly trumpets were used in the Old Testament for warning. Thus Ezekiel wrote that if a watchman “sees the sword coming … and blows the trumpet to warn the people” (Ezek. 33:3), then the people will be held responsible for their reaction. Further, the calamities that follow seem to be warnings in the same sense that the collapse of the tower of Siloam was, which Jesus interpreted as a call to repentance (Luke 13:4).
Following the sounding of the trumpets, John saw a mighty angel coming down from heaven holding a little scroll. From John’s description, this angel seems to have been none other than the Lord Jesus Christ himself bringing the gospel that John was to preach. So John was told to eat the little scroll, making its contents his own. It would taste sweet at first but later would turn his stomach sour. Recommissioned to take the gospel to the nations, John would find the sweetness of the gospel turn sour in the case of those who would reject it.
Suddenly two witnesses appear who seem to represent the witnessing and suffering church (Rev. 11:3). They are given power to prophesy; that is, to proclaim the gospel throughout the period between Christ’s comings. But they will be persecuted and killed. Then later the martyred and silenced church will be resurrected (its testimony revived), to the great consternation of their enemies.
The ministry of the little scroll and of the two witnesses needs to be understood in relation to the warning trumpets. For the negative message of warning to the world is supplemented by the positive preaching of the gospel.
For further reading: Revelation 9:20–10:11