Revelation Part 48
The seventh trumpet sets in motion the final events of God's plan. Yet it is important to recognize that much still needs to happen after this point.
Revelation 11:14 tells us,
“The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe is coming quickly.”
This takes us back to the announcement in Revelation 8:13, where an angel flies through the midst of heaven saying,
“Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!”
The three woes correspond to the final three trumpets. The first woe was the fifth trumpet, when the locusts came out of the bottomless pit. These locusts are symbolic of the beast’s military power and bring tremendous torment, but they are not permitted to kill. The second woe is the sixth trumpet, when the enormous army of 200 million brings about the death of one third of mankind.
Even after all the destruction the earth and its inhabitants have experienced, there is still no widespread repentance. Earlier, in Revelation 6:15-17, people recognize that the great day of God's wrath has arrived. They cry out for the mountains and rocks to fall on them and hide them “from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb,” asking, “For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?” Yet recognizing God's judgment is different from repenting. Revelation 9:20 makes this clear when it says that “the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent.” Despite the tremendous suffering and destruction, humanity continues in rebellion against God.
Then we come to Revelation 11:15:
“Then the seventh angel sounded!”
This is the last in the sequence of the seven trumpet judgments. It marks a significant milestone in the book of Revelation because we have now reached the seventh trumpet, roughly halfway through the book and halfway through the tribulation.
The seventh trumpet also marks the end of an intermission and the resumption of the action. Throughout Revelation, there is an intermission between the sixth and seventh seals, between the sixth and seventh trumpets, and between the sixth and seventh bowls. These interludes temporarily suspend the progression of events so that John can be shown additional information before the next judgment begins. Now the suspension is over. It is time to pay attention to what comes next.
The sounding of the seventh trumpet is accompanied by loud voices in heaven saying,
“The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever.”
The atmosphere changes dramatically. Instead of the terror and destruction associated with the previous judgments, there are loud and joyful shouts in heaven. This connects with the Feast of Trumpets, which is associated with the sounding of trumpets and the announcement of God's coming intervention.
The seventh trumpet sets in motion the final events of God's plan. However, it is important to know that much still needs to happen after this point. Revelation 11:15 does not describe every event that immediately follows in chronological detail. It provides a synopsis of what is coming. The final seven bowls, or vials, of God's wrath are not described until Revelation 15 and 16.
This structure is important for understanding Revelation. Chapters 4 through 11 primarily describe God's activities during the tribulation. John is shown the seals, trumpets, judgments, witnesses, and other events that reveal God's intervention in human affairs. Then chapters 12 through 14 shift the perspective. Rather than primarily showing what God is doing, these chapters describe what the adversary has been doing through the Antichrist and the beast. The same general period is examined from another perspective before Revelation returns to the final judgments and the culmination of God's Kingdom.
The seventh trumpet therefore serves as a major transition point. The previous judgments have demonstrated the consequences of mankind's rebellion and Satan's influence, but now the announcement from heaven points toward the ultimate outcome. The kingdoms of this world are moving toward the time when they will belong to God and His Christ. The judgments are not the end goal. They are leading toward the establishment of God's government and the reign of Jesus Christ.
The voices in heaven proclaim that Christ “shall reign forever and ever.” This is the central hope behind everything being revealed. The world may appear to be controlled by human governments, political powers, economic systems, religious deception, and Satan's influence, but Revelation reveals that these powers are temporary. God's Kingdom is permanent. The seventh trumpet announces the certainty of that transition and directs our attention toward the final events that will bring it about.
UYA Team | uya@ucg.org
United Young Adults (UYA) primarily serves the 18–32-year age group for the United Church of God. There are three main areas of contribution to the lives of young adults: Promoting Spiritual Growth, Developing Meaningful Relationships and Making the Most of Your Talents. The Know Your Sword series is a daily expository message introducing God’s Word from a trusted perspective.
