The Seven Trumpets

The opening of the seven trumpets marks the beginning of a new series of revelations covering the same span of history as the seven churches and seven seals. In order to understand these revelations, we will need to start by examining the symbolism employed in the opening vision, verses 2 to 5.

In Scripture, we see God’s people making use of trumpets regularly—during worship; during special gatherings, like festivals; and perhaps most memorably, during battle (Numbers 10:8–10; 2 Chronicles 13:14, 15; Amos 3:6). The trumpets heralded God’s deliverance of His people; hearing the trumpet sound was like a messenger bearing good tidings. These seven trumpets of Revelation are just that, declarations of judgment upon the enemies of God’s people.

And how significant that the seven angels with these trumpets are those “who stand before God.” Those given very special missions are the angels in God’s immediate presence, like Gabriel, “who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to” (Luke 1:19) explain end-time prophecies to Daniel and to announce the births of John the Baptist and, best of all, Jesus Christ, or like the guardian angels of little children, who “always see the face of [God the] Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 18:10). Of what infinite worth are God’s people to Him, that He so carefully watches over them, ready to protect, defend and to save.

There is one other time in the Bible in which we are shown seven trumpets: at the battle of the city of Jericho. For seven straight days, “seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the LORD advanced and blew the trumpets, and the ark of the covenant of the LORD followed them” around the city’s walls (Joshua 6:8). Inside the ark lay the Ten Commandments, borne like a standard of God. When the seventh trumpet sounded, the walls of the city of the enemy came crashing down, just as the seventh trumpet in Revelation heralds the destruction of end-time Babylon!

God is still sending out warning messages. Let’s learn from the past so that we can be prepared for the future.

My Strength and Shield, thank You for the assurance that You are ever at the ready, fighting for my salvation.

For Further Study: Leviticus 25:8–12; 2 Chronicles 29:26–29; Hebrews 11:30

Key Bible Texts

And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets. (Revelation 8:2 KJV)