VISION OF SEVEN TRUMPETS

REVELATION 8:2 – 11:19

The Trumpets begin with the cross/resurrection event.  Historically, the trumpets were blown seven times at the completion of temple sacrifices.

1.               Four Trumpets of Partial Judgments:  8:2 – 12

           A.    1/3 Earth Burned 8:7

           B.    1/3 Sea turns to Blood 8:8-9

           C.    1/3 Rivers Polluted 8:10-11

           D.    1/3 Heavens Darkened 8:12

2.               Woes Announced  8:13

3.               Fifth Trumpet – 1^st. Woe  9:1-12

          A.    Smoke from Abyss  9:1-2

          B.    Locusts 9:3-5

          C.    Longing for Extinction  9:6

          D.    Description of Locusts 9:7-10

          E.     Ruler of Locusts 9:11

 4.               Sixth Trumpet – 2^nd Woe  9:13-21

Trumpet #6 – Chapters 9:13 – 11:14 corresponds with the examples of the sixth seal in that you have parts ‘a’ and ‘b’, with part ‘a’ showing judgment on Earth, and part ‘b’ showing simultaneous events in Heaven.

          A.    Releasing Agents of Divine Judgment  9:13-15

          B.    Invading Army  9:16-19

          C.    Response of the Stubborn  9:20-21

 5.               Second Interlude  10:1-11:14

          A.    Vision of Little Scroll 10:1-11

          B.    Vision of Two Witnesses 11:1-14

 6.               Seventh Trumpet – 3^rd Woe  11:15-19  Announcement of the Reign of God

Trumpet #7 – Chapter 11:15 and following corresponds to the seventh seal of silence in Heaven while ‘the end’ occurs on Earth.

Note the past tense language.

Verse 15: “the kingdom of the world HAS BECOME the kingdomof our Lord.”   Verse 17:  “you HAVE TAKEN POWER and begun to reign.”

Compare the language of trumpets with other references in the New Testament.  For example, Matthew 24:31; 1Cor.15:52; 1Thess. 4:16.

All language depicting the end of God’s sacrifice and the end of his judgment and the catching up of His Church.  So, again I suggest that the bowls of wrath do not follow chronologically the trumpets but in fact the trumpets began at the completion of His sacrifice – the Cross.

The trumpets conclude at the end of the age when Jesus again reigns.

The trumpets represent partial judgment against the followers of Satan.

QUESTIONS:

 1.               What is the significance of the judgments of 1/3rds?  8:7-13

2.               In the 5^th Trumpet; Why aren’t believers affected?  9:4

3.               Does God’s desire for and provision for Redemption via judgment guarantee repentance?  9:20

4.               Regarding the Little Scroll; 10:9; What is a possible explanation for the sweet / sour  analogy?

5.               Could the ‘measuring of the Temple’ be the Rapture?  Why or Why not?  11:1

6.               In the 7^th Trumpet; 11:15 ff; What does  the past tense of the language imply?