The Trumpets - Part 1 Series

April 13, 2024

Revelation 8:2 begins a new vision that includes an introductory Sanctuary Scene.

The vision beginning in the Sanctuary, sets the theological context for what is to come.

John sees 7 angels with 7 Trumpets.

As in the other visions, the symbolism of the 7 Trumpets is rooted in the Old Testament.

Life for the Children of Israel was ordered by trumpet blasts – which were often accompanied by times of prayer.

There were 2 types of trumpets:

• Chatsotserah – was a straight trumpet made of hammered silver. It was blown by priests to signal that the camp was to move, to summon the people, to sound the alarm in times of war, to announce religious festivals and temple services (Numbers 10:1-10).

• Shofar – was made from a ram’s horn and was used to draw the people together, announce the new moon and the jubilee year, to signify the start of battle and in times of national repentance (Exodus 19:16; 20:18; Joshua 6:4-16; Joel 2:15-17).

The angels are ready, but before the trumpets are blown, another angel, carrying a golden censer of incense appears, standing on the altar of sacrifice (same location as seal 5 – Rev. 6:9-10). He was given incense to offer along with the prayers of the saints. He then went and stood before the golden altar that is before the throne. The smoke of the incense, along with the prayers of the saints go up before God.

After this, the angel filled the censer with fire from the golden altar and hurled it to earth. This act produced “peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake.”

This was the signal for the 7 angels to begin to blow their trumpets.

This scene would have reminded John’s readers of the daily service that had once occurred in the earthly Temple:

After the lamb had been placed on the Altar of Burnt Offering, the blood was poured out at the base of the altar (Lev. 4:27-30).

Next, the appointed priest would take a golden censer, fill it with coals (from the Altar of Burnt Offering) and incense, and offer them on the Golden Altar in the Holy Place (Ex. 30:1-8).

Later, according to the Jewish Mishna, the priest would come out of the Temple and throw the censer on the pavement between the Altar of Burnt Offering and the entrance to the Temple, producing a loud noise.

At that moment, 7 priests blew their trumpets, indicating the end of the daily service.

The throwing down of the censer also mirrors a judgment scene found in Ezekiel 10:2, where a man clothed in linen takes coals of fire from between the Cherubim and throws them down on rebellious Jerusalem (see 2 Kings 17:13-20; 2 Chronicles 24:18-19).

2 Chronicles 36:15-16 - The LORD, the God of their fathers, sent word to them through his messengers again and again, because he had pity on his people and on his dwelling place. But they mocked God's messengers, despised his words and scoffed at his prophets until the wrath of the LORD was aroused against his people and there was no remedy.

Ezekial’s vision shows that the hurling of fire on earth symbolizes judgment on rebellious humanity. The 7 trumpets are God’s judgments on the rebellious and oppressive powers who have harmed and persecuted His people.

One of the things that concerns people when they read Revelation is, “When are all these things going to happen?”

Turning, once again, to the earthly Temple service, we get a clue. The trumpets did not sound until after the sacrifice had been offered on the Altar of Burnt Offering and the incense had been taken into the Temple.

Since the sacrifice represented Jesus’ death, we can conclude that the Trumpets in heaven are not blown until after His death, resurrection and ascension.

The 7 Trumpets, then, cover the same span of history as the 7 Seals - from the Cross to the 2nd Coming.

Structurally, the Seals and the Trumpets are similar. The difference is in their focus. While the Seals are primarily concerned with the professed people of God (however unfaithful they may be), the Trumpets exclusively concern those who do not belong to God. Yet God’s concern for both groups is the same – repentance before it is too late.

The 7 Seals – concern the professed people of God The 7 Trumpets – concern the enemies of God

The Four Horsemen (6:1-8) The 1st Four Trumpets (8:7-12)

The 5th and 6th Seals (6:9-17) The 5th and 6th Trumpets (9)

Interlude (7) – Description of the 144,000 Interlude (10:1-11:14) – Experience of the 144,000

The 7th Seal (8:1) The 7th Trumpet (11:15-19)

The Trumpets

• 1st Trumpet (8:7)

The first angel sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled down upon the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.