“And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound” (Revelation 8:6).

John describes seeing “angels” often in Revelation. Each time he does, they are active with a special mission. How God directs their amazing roles will be an exciting question to pose to Him someday. We presume billions of angels are assigned to just this world. In this verse our attention is called to only seven with a stunning mission.

Something most fascinating is found in the record of these angels. Notice the first part of verse 2 along with 6 to see if you can discover what it is.

“And I saw the seven angels … And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound” (Revelation 8:2, 6).

John could have said, “I saw seven angels,” but he didn’t. He said, “the” seven angels (tous hepta angelous). That makes them a special group. What group? We really aren’t told. But they are singled out to:

Receive the trumpets

      Prepare to blow them

Sound them one by one

The record tells us that they prepared (hetoimsan) to sound. One can imagine a relaxed stance, simply holding the trumpets. Then, suddenly, they lift their instruments to their lips. Now they are ready.

It’s in the Numbers

God is not only animated by the number seven, He frequently divides it into three parts:  4–2–1.

The first four prepare for the next two. The final one relates in a special way to God, a finale or a sacred time. It prepares for the eighth – a new beginning.

Let’s see how that all works:

What Trumpets Portray

One of the early instructions given to ancient Israel was how trumpets were to be used. By this we are given a little window into God’s use of trumpets!  For example:

• In special times of happiness (Numbers 10:10)
  In solemn Feast days (Commemoration and praise)
  At the beginning of each month when burnt offerings were made (Leviticus 23:24)
  At the time of peace offering                                        

• Announcing anticipated judgments (warning – Isaiah 26:9)

• Announcing the basis of judgment (Ezekiel 33:4-5; justification)

• At the time of war (Numbers 10:9; battle)

• Inviting God to save Israel from their enemies!

• Final warning that the end is coming (last warning – Zephaniah 1:14-16, Joel 2:1)
  Important? Comes right from God’s throne.

• At judgment (will not prosper – II Chronicles 13:12)

Can you see the awesome power and even wonder found in the Trumpet alarms? As Israel worked their way through the barren wilderness, they had the unending visual presence of God. But He invited them to add auditory spiritual passion to certain events of their religious lives – even adding sound effects to their monthly calendar!

Did you note, however, the warning times the Trumpets came? They were declarations that judgment was imminent. They also, and this is incredible, sounded the alarm of battle. That sounds strange, doesn’t it? Why would one do that and take away any surprise from the enemy that they were attacking? It sure doesn’t sound like a battle plan! But it was.

God said that when Israel blew the trumpets, that was when He went into action. And what did He promise? Amazing! “Ye shall be saved from your enemies” (Numbers 10:9). Do you think the trumpets there represented faith and great confidence by God’s people that He would intervene? It seems that way. Could the Trumpets here in Revelation be the same? The Seven Trumpets are being blown by angels. They are a dramatic warning to all that mercy is about to flee forever, just like the Feast of Trumpets (Leviticus 23:24-26, Numbers 29:1) of old were. They are also a promise that God’s people will soon be saved. They visibly assure every committed lover of God that wickedness will soon be totally destroyed. Victory over the enemy is about to occur. “Ye shall be saved!”

Warnings in Mercy

In various ways God presents a message to provoke a chord of loyalty in our hearts. Through symbols, stories and prose He brings warnings that judgment will come to everyone. In mercy He cries, “How shall I give thee up?” (Hosea 11:8).

God often brings these warnings through conviction, a preacher or trials. But at the end (and He is so caring) through piercing Trumpets. It is as though His final appeal must be heard by all in the loudest and most unmistakable way.

God has always given warnings before He executes judgment. He warned before the flood. Jonah brought a dire message to the inhabitants of Nineveh. The events surrounding the fall of Jerusalem were explicitly outlined by Jesus. The Seven Trumpets are the great antitype of the Feast of Trumpets. But – this it is the last warning to ever be given to earth’s inhabitants.

The event that will determine man’s final destiny is the final judgment. The Trumpets urgently plead with everyone: Judgment is just about here – get ready, prepare! “Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming, it is near” (Joel 2:1). “The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly. That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, A day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers” (Zephaniah 1:14-16).

We saw how the coals brought sealing to God’s people and judgment on the wicked. The first four Trumpets bring that judgment on the wicked – the same message, the same warning. To those who survive, they are the most dramatic and urgent appeals that will ever come to man. It is during this period that the Loud Cry also comes – the final invitation by God’s messengers.

“The time of God’s destructive judgments is the time of mercy for those who have no opportunity to learn what is truth. Tenderly will the Lord look upon them. His heart of mercy is touched; His hand is still stretched out to save, while the door is closed to those who would not enter. Large numbers will be admitted who in these last days hear the truth for the first time (RH July 5, 1906).”[1]

God designed that all end-time events would polarize the whole world. Either unswerving dedication is made or irrevocable rebellion. How solemn is this thought! What decision one makes, then, will not come impulsively at the last moment! It will be the result of the decisions we make now day by day. God longs to have us decide to be His. But that is more than mental assent. It goes beyond desire. It means action and firmness of purpose – right now.

Jesus said: “And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh” (Matthew 24:31-32).

“Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand” (Daniel 12:10).

The Trumpet Messages – Literal or Symbolic?

This is an important question. If they are symbolic, it means that we must analyze of what they are symbolic. God always gives to us special clues to remove all opinion and guesswork. The Old Testament story of the Egyptian plagues tells us that they are literal. How do we really know? God said so.

In Exodus 7:17 He had Moses tell Pharaoh that when he saw the plagues, it signified the God of Israel was at work. “In this thou shalt know that I am the Lord.” Literal harm came to the Egyptian people.

In unmistakable language the “finger of God” will touch this earth through the Trumpets. As distinctive warnings in the ancient world came step by step, so it will be when the Trumpets sequentially blow. In Egypt the outcome finally led to the death of the wicked. So it will be at the end. Destruction and want spread – then, finally, in the Vial Plagues (Revelation 15–16) and at Christ’s coming (Revelation 6:16, II Thessalonians 2:8), death comes to the rebellious.

When the result of each Trumpet becomes apparent, we will know that God has begun to work. It will be unmistakable evidence that “He is the Lord” working for us.

Purpose of the Trumpets

For Jericho the trumpets announced the coming of decimating judgments. At the end there was no redeeming message or opportunity. Their probation had passed. The plagues on Egypt were filled with mercy until the end. Again and again time was given to respond to the warnings. Probation was still open. Isn’t that just how God is? For erring, wayward man He waits, He prods and He invites “Come to Me.” “My way is carefully designed to bring you the highest good.”

“And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth” (Exodus 34:6).

“Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you” (II Peter 3:14-15).

Well, the Trumpets are horribly destructive and even lethal. But for those undecided and left behind, mercifully, another chance to repent is given. God’s great tools that bring the world into two classes are the Loud Cry, the Latter Rain and the Trumpets. God’s followers will be empowered. Those still indecisive will be given the same Spirit – if they accept. What a time! God pulls out all stops. Everything is at stake now! It is His way of bringing the great controversy to a close.

The angel just raised the first Trumpet to his lips. It’s going to sound. Let’s see what happens!