StudiesENESFRID Word
Study No. 14

The Seven Trumpets

The Seven Trumpets
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Introduction: The trumpets, being seven in number (completeness) like the seven seals, they cover the entire history of the world beginning with those who first lived upon the earth (GC 483). They bring destruction upon the wicked who reject the truth after each sealing period. Though described separately, in reality each trumpet follows its corresponding seal as they pass in review before the great Judicial Tribunal.

Prayer Thought: TM 116 “We are standing on the threshold of great and solemn events. Many of the prophecies are about to be fulfilled in quick succession. Every element of power is about to be set to work. Past history will be repeated; old controversies will arouse to new life, and peril will beset God's people on every side. Intensity is taking hold of the human family. It is permeating everything upon the earth. {TM 116.2}

“Study Revelation in connection with Daniel, for history will be repeated We, with

all our religious advantages, ought to know far more today than we do know.” {TM 116.3}

  1. The nature and purpose of the seven trumpets

Comparing the seven trumpets with the seven last plagues one by one, reveals that their nature and purpose are one. That is, they bring destruction upon the wicked after their probation has closed. Also, their target for each number is identical.

  1. The first trumpet Rev. 8: 7

This trumpet must be sought as far back in history as the first destruction of a wicked multitude - the Flood.

Third part irrespective of number represents the wicked. Rev 12:4

“All the heavenly host were summoned to appear before the Father, to have each case determined. Satan unblushingly made known his dissatisfaction that Christ should be preferred before Him. He stood up proudly and urged that he should be equal with God and should be taken into conference with the Father and understand His purposes. God informed Satan, that to His Son alone He would reveal His secret purposes, and He required all the family in heaven, even Satan, to yield Him implicit, unquestioned obedience; but that he (Satan) had proved himself unworthy of a place in heaven. Then Satan exultingly pointed to his sympathizers, comprising nearly one half of all the angels, and exclaimed, "These are with me! Will you expel these also, and make such a void in heaven?" He then declared that he was prepared to resist the authority of Christ and to defend his place in heaven by force of might, strength against strength”. {SR 18.1}

  1. The second trumpet Rev. 8: 8, 9

The Israelite Movement, the first post-flood church with a message, the Ceremonial System, preceded this post-flood destruction.

The Israelite movement reached only a part of the world (the "third part" of the "sea"), those heathen with whom the movement came into close contact, especially in the promised land.

  1. The third trumpet Rev. 8: 10, 11

This brings the period of the Bible. Those who do not accept the Old Testament in this period are destroyed.

  1. The fourth trumpet Rev. 8: 12

The church of God is subjugated by Babylon. The church of God in three parts. Joseph's dream of the sun, moon, and stars bowing to him, as interpreted by his father Jacob, signified that the church at that time was comprised of his father (the sun - the repository of the unwritten Word of God), his mother (the moon - the holy temple) and his brothers (the stars - the congregation of the saints) - Gen. 37:9, 10. This relationship is used to identify the location of the church and its condition.

Since the religious system of ancient Israel was the only spiritual light in all the ancient world, then the extinguishing of that light (the "day") meant that the heathen (the "night") also did not receive light.

  1. The woes Rev. 8: 13

The woes signify a change between the first four and the last three trumpets. Following the crucifixion of Christ and the ushering in of the New Testament era, the woes point to

(1) Satan persecuting the faithful and (2) Satan persecuting the heathen in his effort to get them in the church.

  1. The fifth trumpet Rev. 9: 1-12

This period is signified by the appearance of Christ, His crucifixion and resurrection, and the going forth of the early Christians to preach the gospel.

  1. The sixth trumpet Rev. 9:13- 11:14

This period brings to view the liberation of the church from her long bondage to the tyranny of church-state rule; God’s Spirit filled last day messengers; their message and followers; and the time of harvest.

The time of the sixth trumpet is located by the command from the ‘golden altar’ to “loose the four angels,” showing that it sounded sometime before the veil to the Most Holy apartment of the heavenly Sanctuary was lifted (1844). Also, the future tense ‘shall’ is used to describe the prophesying of the ‘two witnesses’ for 1260 days (Rev. 11:3), showing that at the time the trumpet began sounding, this period was yet future.

The angels prepare themselves on four successive occasions for the eventual execution of death upon the wicked. By the threefold message (fire, smoke and brimstone) are the wicked killed.

  1. Events of Rev. 10 and 11 to take place before the seventh trumpet sounds

    • The mighty angel - the message of William Miller. (GC 331; 7ABC 971).

    • Measure the temple - the temple being measured is a symbol of investigating and judging the worshipers fidelity to truth. (Ephesians 2:20-22).

    • The temple - dead saints from Adam to 1844.

    • The altar - dead saints from 1844 on, to come up in special resurrection of Dan. 12:2. (EW:285; Dan. 12:2)

    • Those who worship therein - the living saints; 144,000. (EW 15)

    • The court...measure it not - the great multitude, no man can number. (Rev. 7:9) Rev. 11:13 - Symbolical

    • The remnant - the righteous

    • The seven thousand – all the unrighteous

    • The tenth part - the church which is purified. Since God's part is 1/10, representing the tithe, then 1/10 of the city would represent God's church (SDA) among all the churches.

    • The city - The Christian world

    • The earthquake - the shaking in the SDA church (EW:270).

10 The seventh trumpet Rev. 11: 15 -

The sounding of this trumpet brings the Judgment to an end and announces that the "kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord." The mystery of God is now finished (Rev. 10:7). He which is holy and just must remain so, and likewise, he which is filthy (Rev. 22:11). It is also a time for saints to receive their reward. The opening of the temple now indicates the end of the judgment; the close of probation.

Then no man will be able to enter the sanctuary "till the seven last plagues are fulfilled."

That the 7th trumpet will not sound until after the gospel closes also proves that the trumpets bring destruction upon the wicked that reject the truth.

Conclusion: This study revealed that in every age, after each sealing period the rejecters of God's truth and mercy bring destruction upon themselves. It also revealed how we may be sealed in our time and thus escape the terrors of the great and dreadful day of the Lord, the judgment of the living.

Tap a Bible reference to read the verses (King James Version); Spirit of Prophecy references open on EGW Writings (egwwritings.org).