The seven trumpets of Revelation unveil a series of God’s judgments upon the earth during the tribulation, demonstrating the severity of His wrath against sin and rebellion. These judgments are both terrifying and purposeful, highlighting God’s sovereign justice and calling for repentance even in the midst of devastation.
Throughout Scripture, trumpets often serve as harbingers of significant events, whether to declare war, announce God’s intervention, or call people to attention. The connection between the seven trumpets and other biblical uses of trumpets, such as the fall of Jericho, is significant. Let us explore this profound passage in Revelation, noting its cadence of six judgments followed by an interlude before the seventh—a rhythm we see repeated in God’s dealings with humanity.
Trumpets as Instruments of War and Divine Announcement
In biblical times, trumpets were not merely musical instruments but tools of divine communication. Numbers 10:9 commands, “When you go to war in your land against the enemy who oppresses you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets, and you will be remembered before the Lord your God, and you will be saved from your enemies.” Trumpets were also associated with the fall of Jericho, where they signaled divine intervention and judgment: “And it shall come to pass, when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, that all the people shall shout with a great shout; then the wall of the city will fall down flat” (Joshua 6:5).
The trumpets of Revelation carry this same connotation of divine intervention and judgment. These are not random events but the deliberate acts of a holy God executing justice on an unrepentant world.
The Seven Trumpets: An Overview
The seven trumpets are sounded by seven angels and unfold in Revelation 8-11. They follow the breaking of the seventh seal, revealing an escalation in the severity of God’s judgments. Each trumpet brings a specific catastrophe, progressively intensifying the suffering on earth.
First Trumpet: Vegetation Struck
“The first angel sounded: And hail and fire followed, mingled with blood, and they were thrown to the earth. And a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up” (Revelation 8:7).
This judgment recalls the plague of hail in Egypt (Exodus 9:23-25), demonstrating God’s control over nature. It devastates the earth’s vegetation, a vital source of life.
Second Trumpet: The Seas Struck
“Then the second angel sounded: And something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood” (Revelation 8:8).
This catastrophe, reminiscent of the first plague in Egypt (Exodus 7:20-21), destroys marine life and disrupts commerce, as a third of the ships are destroyed.
Third Trumpet: The Waters Struck
“Then the third angel sounded: And a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water” (Revelation 8:10).
The star, called Wormwood, poisons the freshwater supply, bringing death to many. This symbolizes the bitterness of judgment and the consequences of sin.
Fourth Trumpet: The Heavens Struck
“Then the fourth angel sounded: And a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them were darkened” (Revelation 8:12).
This judgment echoes the ninth plague of darkness in Egypt (Exodus 10:21-23). It demonstrates God’s power over the cosmos and intensifies fear and despair.
The First Woe: The Fifth Trumpet
After the first four trumpets, Revelation shifts to describe the final three trumpets as “woes” (Revelation 8:13), indicating even greater severity. The fifth trumpet unleashes demonic torment:
“And he opened the bottomless pit, and smoke arose out of the pit… Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth” (Revelation 9:2-3).
These locusts are not natural insects but demonic beings, tormenting humanity with pain like the sting of a scorpion.
The Second Woe: The Sixth Trumpet
The sixth trumpet releases four bound angels and a vast army, bringing widespread death:
“So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released to kill a third of mankind” (Revelation 9:15).
Despite the devastation, humanity does not repent: “But the rest of mankind… did not repent of their deeds” (Revelation 9:20-21).
The Interlude: A Pattern of Six, a Pause, and the Seventh
A significant pattern emerges throughout Scripture: a series of six followed by a pause or interlude, and then a climactic seventh. In the case of the trumpets, after the sixth judgment, there is a break in the narrative (Revelation 10:1–11:14). This pause allows for reflection and prepares the reader for the final trumpet.
This pattern is also seen in other judgments:
Creation: God creates the world in six days and rests on the seventh (Genesis 1:31-2:3).
Jericho: The Israelites march around Jericho for six days, and on the seventh day, they shout and blow trumpets, bringing the walls down (Joshua 6:15-16).
The Seals of Revelation: The seventh seal introduces the trumpets after a pause (Revelation 8:1).
This cadence underscores the intentionality and order of God’s judgments.
The Seventh Trumpet: The Kingdom Proclaimed
Finally, the seventh trumpet sounds, marking the end of this series of judgments:
“Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were 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!’” (Revelation 11:15).
The seventh trumpet announces the culmination of God’s plan, transitioning to the final series of judgments, the bowls of wrath. It declares God’s ultimate victory and the establishment of His eternal kingdom.
The Severity of Judgment and the Call to Repentance
The trumpets of Revelation reveal the severity of God’s judgment against sin. Yet even in the midst of these terrifying events, they serve as a call to repentance. Like the fall of Jericho, the trumpets signal the inevitability of God’s victory and the futility of resisting His will.
However, Revelation 9:20-21 tragically records that many will harden their hearts, refusing to turn from their sin. These judgments, severe as they are, serve as a reminder of God’s justice and mercy. He is patient, “not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).
My Final Thoughts
The seven trumpets of Revelation display the unrelenting justice of God and His control over history. Each blast signals not only judgment but also the unfolding of His redemptive plan. Like the trumpets at Jericho, they declare that the kingdoms of this world will fall, and God’s kingdom will prevail.
As we reflect on the severity of these judgments, we are reminded of the urgency of repentance and the need to proclaim the gospel. These judgments are not arbitrary—they are righteous and just, highlighting the holiness of God and His ultimate triumph over evil.
