Before examining the trumpet section in Revelation, I will examine some of the biblical tapestry behind the images of the trumpets. The trumpet section alludes to the imagery of other trumpets in scripture, and the plagues of Exodus when God was bringing the children of Israel out of Egypt. The first five trumpets strongly allude to particular plagues in Exodus. The table below shows the similarity between the trumpet judgments and the Exodus plagues.| Trumpet | Exodus Plague |
1. (8:7) Hail, fire, blood | Hail, fire |
2. (8:8-9) Sea turned to blood | Nile turned to blood
|
3. (8:10-11) Rivers made bitter | |
4. (8:12) 1/3 light darkened | Darkness |
5. (9:1-11) Demon locusts | Locusts |
The correspondence of the trumpets with the plagues is not exact, as are all the other allusions in Revelation to the Old Testament. However, the allusions are strong enough that they provide a backdrop that can give us insight in the trumpet judgments of Revelation.
The purpose of the Exodus plagues was to glorify God’s majesty and power through Pharaoh’s hardened heart. This was accomplished by God’s judgments, which hardened Pharaoh’s resolve to refuse to let Israel go. Over and over the plagues showed how Pharaoh and the Egyptian gods were impotent against the power and majesty of Yahweh. This included the sun god, Ra, whom Yahweh showed was ineffectual when Moses stretch out his hand and God brought darkness on the land for three days. Further, the plagues were primarily judgments against the hardened heart of Pharaoh and the Egyptians. Only in the secondary case were the plagues meant to be a warning to bring about repentance to the nonbeliever. There were a few Egyptians who repented and joined Israel, but the vast majority did not repent.
The Exodus plagues are a type for the trumpets. There are differences between the plagues and the trumpets. The plagues were localized to Egypt, but with a few exceptions, applied everywhere to Egypt. The trumpets, in contrast, are worldwide, not restricted to a particular province. However, the first five trumpet judgment, while world wide, are restricted to a third of the earth, sea, or whatever its effects are applied to, while the plagues applied to the whole of Egypt (except where the Israelites lived).
Trumpets are found elsewhere in the Bible. In the New Testament (Matthew 24:30-31; 1 Corinthians 15:52; 1 Thessalonians 4:16) trumpets indicate the end-time coming of Christ. In Exodus, trumpets indicate refers to judgment. In Revelation, judgments reflect the Kingly power of Christ that came from his resurrection, ascension and coronation in heaven. Trumpets also announce alarms for battle (Judges 7:16-22; Jeremiah 4:5-21; 42:14; 51:27; Ezekiel 7:14; Hosea 8:1; Joel 2:1; Zephaniah 1:16).
The prime example of seven trumpets in the Old Testament is the fall of Jericho (Joshua 6). With Jericho, seven priests carried seven trumpets, while other priests carried the Ark of the Covenant. For six days the priests blew the trumpets to Harold the impending doom of Jericho and the victor of Israel. In Revelation there are seven angels dressed in priestly robes (see the description of the angels in Revelation 15:5-6). Priests represent God’s authority, along with the ark (which is seen in Revelation 8:3-5, and identified in Revelation 11:19).
The Old Testament background, particularly where Revelation draws must of the allusions to Exodus and Joshua, we see two major points for the trumpets. The first is that the purpose of the trumpets in Revelation is judgment on the unbelievers (“the earth dwellers”). Trumpets primarily are not for warning and calling to repentance, although that does happen, but not on a large scale. Secondly, the first six trumpets in Revelation chapters 8 through 9 are punishments that are preliminary to the final judgment. This has the same thrust as the trumpets at Jericho.
The placement of the trumpets in Revelation after the chapter 7 military census of the 144,000 provides the imagery of God’s army going to war, but it’s not the typical way people think that wars are won. The war is won through the suffering and even the martyrdom of the saints. The saints pray that God will judge the enemies of Christ and God fights for them. The trumpet section of Revelation recapitulates the seals of chapters 6 and 7. The seals focused on the trials the believers must pass through. The trumpets, in contrast, emphasize the answer to prayer for judgment on the unbelievers inside and outside the church.
The purpose of the Exodus plagues was to glorify God’s majesty and power through Pharaoh’s hardened heart. This was accomplished by God’s judgments, which hardened Pharaoh’s resolve to refuse to let Israel go. Over and over the plagues showed how Pharaoh and the Egyptian gods were impotent against the power and majesty of Yahweh. This included the sun god, Ra, whom Yahweh showed was ineffectual when Moses stretch out his hand and God brought darkness on the land for three days. Further, the plagues were primarily judgments against the hardened heart of Pharaoh and the Egyptians. Only in the secondary case were the plagues meant to be a warning to bring about repentance to the nonbeliever. There were a few Egyptians who repented and joined Israel, but the vast majority did not repent.
The Exodus plagues are a type for the trumpets. There are differences between the plagues and the trumpets. The plagues were localized to Egypt, but with a few exceptions, applied everywhere to Egypt. The trumpets, in contrast, are worldwide, not restricted to a particular province. However, the first five trumpet judgment, while world wide, are restricted to a third of the earth, sea, or whatever its effects are applied to, while the plagues applied to the whole of Egypt (except where the Israelites lived).
Trumpets are found elsewhere in the Bible. In the New Testament (Matthew 24:30-31; 1 Corinthians 15:52; 1 Thessalonians 4:16) trumpets indicate the end-time coming of Christ. In Exodus, trumpets indicate refers to judgment. In Revelation, judgments reflect the Kingly power of Christ that came from his resurrection, ascension and coronation in heaven. Trumpets also announce alarms for battle (Judges 7:16-22; Jeremiah 4:5-21; 42:14; 51:27; Ezekiel 7:14; Hosea 8:1; Joel 2:1; Zephaniah 1:16).
The prime example of seven trumpets in the Old Testament is the fall of Jericho (Joshua 6). With Jericho, seven priests carried seven trumpets, while other priests carried the Ark of the Covenant. For six days the priests blew the trumpets to Harold the impending doom of Jericho and the victor of Israel. In Revelation there are seven angels dressed in priestly robes (see the description of the angels in Revelation 15:5-6). Priests represent God’s authority, along with the ark (which is seen in Revelation 8:3-5, and identified in Revelation 11:19).
The Old Testament background, particularly where Revelation draws must of the allusions to Exodus and Joshua, we see two major points for the trumpets. The first is that the purpose of the trumpets in Revelation is judgment on the unbelievers (“the earth dwellers”). Trumpets primarily are not for warning and calling to repentance, although that does happen, but not on a large scale. Secondly, the first six trumpets in Revelation chapters 8 through 9 are punishments that are preliminary to the final judgment. This has the same thrust as the trumpets at Jericho.
The placement of the trumpets in Revelation after the chapter 7 military census of the 144,000 provides the imagery of God’s army going to war, but it’s not the typical way people think that wars are won. The war is won through the suffering and even the martyrdom of the saints. The saints pray that God will judge the enemies of Christ and God fights for them. The trumpet section of Revelation recapitulates the seals of chapters 6 and 7. The seals focused on the trials the believers must pass through. The trumpets, in contrast, emphasize the answer to prayer for judgment on the unbelievers inside and outside the church.
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