Revelation 8: The Trumpets

Overview

1. Trumpets blown in the Old Testament

• In Numbers 10:9, when an enemy persecuted the people of God, they cried out for God to intervene, judge the enemy, and save them.

• The sounding of and preparation for war (Jeremiah 4:5–6, Jeremiah 19–21) causes trumpets to blow.

• Joel 2:1 uses trumpets as a warning.

• Joshua 5:13–6:27 is an example that can help us understand what the trumpets and the seven last plagues mean. The trumpets emphasize Christ's intercession for us, a crucial step in the Holy Spirit's preparation of our hearts to turn from sin and find Christ at the end of the world.

In the seals, we have the history of the church during what is called the Christian era.

The trumpets reveal the political developments and the numerous wars that will take place over time.

2. The Trumpets are also a call to repentance

• The sixth trumpet tells us why God is punishing the world. Despite all the suffering and death, the men who survived the plagues continued to hold onto their beliefs, such as worshiping demons and idols made of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which are incapable of seeing, hearing, or walking. They did not feel guilty about killing, witchcraft, adultery, or theft (Revelation 9:20–21).

• The purpose of the trumpet judgments is to bring about a sense of repentance for the sins that are prevalent in the land. Those who suffer beneath the trumpets do not actually repent, which is a tragic reality. On the other hand, it is God's intention for them to turn away from their sins and toward Him (2 Peter 3:9; Ezekiel 33:11).

• God's character may be questioned if the plagues were released before the trumpets. However, allowing wickedness to run its course makes it abundantly clear that the Lord must intervene to carry out judgment on individuals who continue to engage in sinful behavior. In the midst of the plagues, an angel proclaims, "You are righteous, O Lord, the One who is and who was and who is to be, because You have judged these things." This is because they have shed the blood of prophets and saints, and You have provided them with blood to drink. Because it is their rightful place.' I also overheard another person speaking from the altar, and they said, "Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments" (Revelation 16:5-7).

Revelation Chapter 8 Verse 1 to 5

1 And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.

2 And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets.

3 And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.

4 And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.

5 And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.

🔹The altar

On the golden altar of incense, we see the angel holding a censer of incense and offering it with the prayers of the saints. There was an earthly sanctuary, and this vision shows that there is also a sanctuary in heaven.

The first apartment housed the altar of incense in the earthly sanctuary.

🔹Incense

This angel received a large quantity of incense to offer on the altar of incense, accompanied by the prayers of the saints. Incense was only to be offered on the golden altar by the high priest, who was the only one authorized to do so (Exodus 30:7-8, 34–38). There is only one high priest in heaven, which is Jesus Christ. (Hebrews 4:14)

Notice that the angel was to offer the incense with the prayers of the saints before God (verse 4). This is known as the intercessory work of the high priest, for it was the altar of incense that dealt with the mediatory work of the high priest. He was to intercede on behalf of the people. Christ is our mediator, (1 Timothy 2:5), and the incense is His own righteousness that He mingles with our prayers before presenting them to the Father.

The Trumpets run parallel to the Churches and Seals, covering more or less the same historical time span. The starting point is Pentecost, when Christ's inauguration in the Heavenly Sanctuary was complete.

Revelation Chapter 8 Verse 6

And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.

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