Seven Trumpets of Revelation

My imagination used to run wild when I read the descriptions of the seven trumpets in Revelation. I envisioned meteors hitting the earth, the earth ceasing to rotate, and catastrophes wiping out a third of mankind. And then, a second whammy -- God pours out seven more bowls of judgment. I was also taught that Christians would be raptured before the Great Tribulation, when all these cataclysmic judgments would occur. So, my imagination could run rampant. I was safe.

Eventually I came to understand that the trumpets were warnings, not judgments. Like a shot over the bow of a ship, they are a warning sign of impending doom and destruction. Then another fact became clear, the bowl judgments are describing the exact same events as the seven trumpets, just from God’s perspective, rather than from man’s own doing.

I have read multiple prophecy gurus who say that anyone who suggests that the trumpets and bowls occur prior to the Tribulation is hogwash, not to be trusted. Well, I guess I am now one of those few, willing to re-examine prophecy. I would go even further, though, and say that there is no seven-year Tribulation in which to relegate the trumpets and bowls. They are not constrained by a concocted seven-year period. They have been occurring since World War 1, spanning a time frame similar to the 120 years when God warned the world before unleashing the Great Flood.

The trumpet warnings are found in Revelation 8-9, and the bowls are found in Revelation 16. The events are depicted in apocalyptic visions, obviously not in modern vernacular. It would be very helpful to read the Biblical descriptions, both trumpet and bowl, to verify the following explanations.

Trumpet #1 is WW1. It was the first war in the history of mankind to use aircraft, large artillery, chemical warfare, and to drop bombs from the sky. Large tracts of land were burned to eliminate camouflage. The death toll was 18 million.

Trumpet #2 is WW2. Large numbers of warships were destroyed in this war, including Pearl Harbor. The atomic bombs dropped on Japan resembled “something like a great mountain burning with fire.” The death toll: 70 million. 

Trumpet #3 describes Chernobyl, using that nuclear disaster, in 1986, as a flagship of the entire nuclear age. The star that fell from the sky was nuclear fallout, poisoning the land and water throughout much of eastern Europe. The name, Wormwood, is actually translated in the Ukrainian Bible as “Chernobyl”. The nuclear age began innocently in the early 20^th century, but became a “sword of Damocles” hanging over the heads of mankind ever since WW2.

Trumpet #4 describes climate change, primarily a result of the industrial revolution of the last 250 years. The sun and moon are blocked out by smog in the description. International conferences on Climate Change began in the 1970s and 80s. Yes, I know -- liberals want to fix the problem, while conservatives want to deny it altogether. But God says that climate change is real, and it is a sign of the end of the age.

Trumpet #5 is a lengthy description of the Gulf war back in 1990-91. So many details of that war were foretold – the smoke from the 600 oil wells set on fire, Saddam Hussein’s name means “destroyer”, the five-month period, and the highway of death augmented by the famous photograph of an Iraqi soldier sitting in his truck “wishing he could die”.

Trumpet #6 has not yet occurred. We are in the wait and watch mode for this one. It foretells the buildup to the battle of Armageddon, which is mentioned several times in Revelation, with corresponding prophecies in Ezekiel 38-39 and II Thessalonians 2.

Trumpet #7, along with bowl #7 and also seal #6, all describe the final world-wide judgment of God upon evil and unbelieving mankind, including signs in the sun and the moon, lightning, rumblings, large hail, and severe earthquakes, The last trumpet is also the pinpoint time when Jesus Christ returns and Christians are caught up in the rapture, rescued from the outpouring of God’s great wrath.

This interpretation of the seven trumpets may be new to you. But as I often say, prophecy needs to be re-examined. I also insist, history is the best interpreter of prophecy, not speculators or prognosticators. The trumpets are sounding. The warnings will soon be over and judgment will begin. God is sovereign.

The Fall of America

World headlines will soon read: “The Fall of America Was Swift and Final.” The sub headline will explain: “America dominated the world stage for more than 80 years, but now the former USA, what little is left of it, is overtaken by death, mourning and famine.”

America is a major theme of end times prophecy in the Bible. We need to quit toying with the naïve question “Is America mentioned in Biblical prophecy?”  It’s inexcusable to ignore the obvious. America is the feet of clay in the vision of Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 2). America is the little horn in Daniel’s vision of the five beasts (Daniel 7). America is the seventh head of the beast of Revelation 13 (cf. Rev 17:9-10). And America is the prostitute (aka, the Great Babylon) that is hated by the eighth beast. (Rev 17 and 18).

That eighth beast, a ten nation Arab alliance, will bring the prostitute, America, to ruin -- eat her flesh, and burn her with fire (Rev 17:16; 18:8). God also prophesied America’s destruction way back in Daniel’s day, saying that the little horn nation would be destroyed – utterly, completely, never to raise its head again (Dan 7:11-12). Those clear prophetic statements from God are what I base the above headlines on. Forget the prognosticating experts who analyze and speculate upon world events to interpret prophecy. Just understand and believe what God said, and world events will fall into line.

Identifying America in Biblical prophecy, especially in conjunction with its destruction, is a fact that falls on deaf ears for the many who want to believe that our country is the most blessed country on earth. “God loves us! Not only are we blessed, but we bless all the other countries on the earth. It is unfathomable to suggest that America will be destroyed.” They scoff at the idea and consider it un-American to even suggest it. Or even worse, like crying “Fire! Fire!” in a crowded shopping mall during the joyful Christmas shopping season. Hardly anyone is willing to seriously consider the imminent and horrific repercussions of America’s place in Bible prophecy. Like Jesus and the prophets of old all said, “they have eyes but they do not see, ears but they do not hear.”

But it gets worse. If we re-examine all of prophecy, we come to understand that the judgment of God upon America is going to occur before Christians are caught up in the rapture. Whatever judgment that America deserves, the Church in America deserves it as well. Judgment begins with the household of God. There is no pre-tribulation rapture to rescue us from all judgment and tribulation as the last days ramp up. Indeed, there is no seven-year Tribulation period at all, no timeframe in which we can conveniently relegate all of God’s judgment and tribulation in this world.

The seventh beast must be destroyed in order for the eighth beast to rise to power. In fact, it is the demise of America’s restraining influence upon the Arab-Israeli conflict that will allow for the man of lawlessness to launch the invasion of Israel that results in the Battle of Armageddon.

The rise and fall of nations are in God’s hands. The might of America’s military and the fleeting willpower of its leader cannot deter the will of God. Like Babylon, Greece, and Rome, America will surely fall. The main difference is that America will also be destroyed (Dan 7:11-12). You can leave the blinders on, or you can believe it. But you might want to prepare for impending turmoil.

Yes, the rapture will occur, eventually, but it will be a rescue and redemption from a world full of turmoil and persecution. It will happen at the seventh trumpet, when Christ returns, just before God’s great wrath is poured out upon the world. The “blessed hope” takes on a much deeper meaning when we understand that faithful Christians who are left at the second coming will be crying out, desperately, “Lord, Lord, come quickly. Please, please do not delay any longer.” 

How About "No Tribulation"

 

While teaching on the Jewish feasts one Sunday morning I mentioned that the return of Christ and the rapture will probably occur on Rosh Hashanah, the Feast of Trumpets. This evoked an avalanche of interest about the timing of the rapture. Essentially, they wanted to know, “are you pre-trib or are you post-trib?” My response was simple, “How about no Tribulation?” I went on to explain briefly some Biblical facts that support such a statement. But I could see on their faces that there was shock and distrust, because they could not conceive of such a concept. It was unfathomable. There was not a slot on the bookshelf of their mind where a new concept such as “no tribulation” could find a foothold. A few days later I was informed that I was fired as the Bible Teacher at that Church.

Prophecy needs to be re-examined. Christians in America have been led to believe in a seven-year Great Tribulation. But that entire concept is just not in the Bible. It is a hoax, a total fabrication. I hate to be so blunt, but most Christians are completely deceived about what to expect at the end of the age. I was in a church one Sunday when the Pastor said that believers can count on being raptured before tribulation and judgment are unleashed during the Seven-year Tribulation. The church erupted into clapping and cheers, as if the home team had just scored the winning touchdown. I am afraid they are going to be gravely dismayed when they begin to encounter death, mourning, and famine (Rev 18:8), while their feet have not left planet Earth.

The theory of a seven-year Great Tribulation was hatched by John Darby in the 1840’s. It came to America and was codified in the Niagara Bible Conferences. It then got imbedded in the Scofield Reference Bible. (And we all know how the notes in a study Bible are perceived – they are as true and inspired as the actual word of God.) Then in the early 20th century several Bible Schools and Seminaries spread the Tribulation theory like a tidal wave, most notably Moody and Dallas Seminary. The story-book facade was added later in the 20th century by the Left Behind series of books and movies.

The Tribulation hoax is actually the cornerstone of teaching on end times prophecy in America. It correlates with a rapture to get us all out of here before unspeakable evil and unbearable judgment is unleashed upon all the sinners left behind. But nowhere in the prophecies of Daniel or Revelation do you find the seven-year Tribulation. Unfortunately, most Christians assume it is true and cannot even conceive otherwise.

The great tribulation hoax is based on a sketchy interpretation of Daniel’s “Seventy Weeks” prophecy (Dan 9:24-27). The seventieth week of this incredible Messianic prophecy gets blatantly detached from the first 69 weeks and moved 2000 years later to become the Great Tribulation. Look at the prophecy. It is the Messiah that brought an end to sacrifice in the middle of the seventieth week, not Antichrist. It is the Messiah who instituted a covenant with many, not Antichrist. But this great Messianic prophecy has been surreptitiously and audaciously transformed into the great prophecy of a seven-year tribulation, with Antichrist being the central figure, not Messiah, the anointed One.

Until the Great Tribulation theory is tossed overboard, the ship will veer hopelessly off course. It is an insurmountable roadblock to understanding Revelation rightly, leading to twisted and distorted interpretations at every turn.

How about it – pre-trib, post-trib, or no trib? Unless you get this right, you will not be ready for what actually lies ahead. Very soon, I might add.

120 Years

While Jesus was teaching his disciples about His second coming, He made a strategic comparison to God’s judgment at the flood, saying, “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.” (Mt 24:37). This statement may have more implications than just the fact that people were carrying on, life as usual, right up to the very last day.

Jesus made it very clear that the people of Noah’s day were warned, but they ignored the warning. They couldn’t believe that anything would change the course of the world to which they were accustomed. And it’s exactly the same, today.

Over a long period of time the wickedness of mankind grew ever greater. Their hearts were evil all the time (Gen 6:5). So, God said that His spirit would not put up with man forever, therefore his days are limited to 120 years (Gen 6:3). That was a prophetic pronouncement ­­-- judgment was on the horizon. The sign of that prophecy was the giant ark being built, which probably happened over the course of the entire 120 years. When the animals began walking up the gangplank it was clear that judgment would begin any day now.

As in the days of Noah, God has a time frame for fulfilling his warnings of impending judgment upon this generation. The signs to mankind are made clear in the prophecies of Revelation. And it just may be that the same 120-year timeframe is part of the meaning of the phrase, “as in the days of Noah.”  One reason for such a long warning period is that God is patient, not wanting any to perish, but everyone to come to repentance (II Pet 3:9).

God revealed to John the apostle that there would be seven trumpets, the first six warning mankind that judgment was imminent. The seventh trumpet is the actual outpouring of His judgment and wrath upon the whole earth. And similar to the flood the world will transition into a new era in His redemptive plan, namely, the Millennial Kingdom. These seven trumpets are not judgments of God to be meted out during the Great Tribulation, as many have taught for nearly 200 years. In fact, the time span of the trumpet warnings is actually similar to the days of Noah. The trumpet warnings have been occurring for over 100 years. The first trumpet was World War 1, the second trumpet was Word War 2, the third trumpet was Chernobyl, the fourth trumpet was climate change, and the fifth trumpet was the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait by Saddam Hussein. The sixth trumpet is yet to sound, which will be the build up to Armageddon, masterminded by the lawless one who will lead a large Arab army against Israel.

If the timeframe of 120 years is a legitimate component of Jesus’ statement, “as in the days of Noah”, then we have a possible timeframe of God’s warnings leading up to the second world judgment. World War 1 began in 1914, and the next four trumpet warnings occurred throughout the twentieth century. If the coming of Christ in judgment occurs 120 years after the beginning of the trumpet warnings, that would place it about 2034. Christians will be rescued from that great outpouring of God’s wrath, being gathered up to meet the Lord in the air when He returns, at the last trumpet. But we, the Church, will be here through the trumpet warnings and the extreme tribulation of the last few years leading up to Christ’s return. Part of that extreme tribulation will be ever increasing wickedness, the destruction of America, and the rise of the eighth beast and the oppressive buildup to Armageddon. We need to understand the prophecies of Revelation accurately so that we can be ready to stand firm in faith when tribulation comes before the second coming of Christ.

The Heavens Will Pass Away

Peter is not usually considered a writer of prophecy, not like Paul and the apostle John. But he definitely wrote about future events in II Peter 3:10-13. This prophetic passage has long perplexed me. Maybe you, too.

The key concept is in verse 10: “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare” (NIV).

While it might seem that this prophecy is predicting the end of the world, it is actually predicting events at the end of the age we live in, transitioning into the Millennial age. This fact is evidenced by Peter’s opening statement, “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief.”

The outpouring of the wrath and the judgment of God will accompany the second coming of Christ. God’s judgment is portrayed in many other prophetic passages. Revelation mentions “the winepress of God’s wrath” (Rev 14:19; 19:15). The seventh trumpet and bowl both describe the judgment of God as hailstones, lightning, and earthquakes (Rev 16:17-21). The army of the man of lawlessness will be annihilated (2 Thes 2:8; Rev 17:12-14), at Armageddon. The nations will be judged (Joel 3, et al).

Peter adds a somewhat unique perspective of this time of judgment: “the heavens will disappear… the elements will be destroyed… the earth and everything done on it will be laid bare.” Those descriptions seem pretty universal and quite final – an absolute, ultimate inferno. It seems to be in line with what most of us have heard taught our entire life, starting with children’s Sunday School. God destroyed the world once by flood, the next time will be by fire. Is that what Peter is describing? Maybe, But I don’t think so. 

What Peter is actually prophesying is a crucible, not an inferno. Rather than utter destruction, Peter is predicting that the old world, with all of mankind’s inventions, will be judged by fire, melted and poured into a new mold for the Millennial Kingdom.  “We are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells” (verse 13). That kingdom follows the return of Jesus, when He will rule on earth for 1000 years. The government will be upon His head. His kingdom will be marked by two key ingredients – righteousness and peace. And to set the stage for that kind of a kingdom the works of mankind must be exposed and “laid bare” before the righteous judgment of God. 

Peter had to use terms he was familiar with to describe concepts of our modern technological world. (The same is true in the prophecies recorded by John in Revelation.) When Peter wrote of the heavens and celestial bodies (elements), I don’t think he had in mind the sun, moon, and the stars of this galaxy and the whole universe. If those were to disappear by fire, I would imagine that planet Earth, too, would be pulverized. No, Peter was predicting something in the last days that was in the sky, in the heavens. Celestial objects of some kind. The last line of verse ten seems to confirm that the heavenly objects may be related to mankind’s inventions, “the earth and all its works will be laid bare.” 

This prophecy is speaking of man-made celestial objects. Satellites, for the most part. Thousands of them. Possibly also planes, rockets, missiles, and space exploration. Satellites enable the cyber, digital world we live in – the internet, cloud storage, artificial intelligence, spying, scamming, spoofing, hacking, social media, cyber-security, identity theft, fake news, fraud, malware, pornography, et al. Do you think that King Jesus, for one minute, would allow any of that technology to carry over from this evil age into His kingdom age? It won’t happen. Technology -- the world adores it, God abhors it. Peter’s prophecy aligns with Revelation 13 – the false prophet (which is a prophetic description of the electronic age) will be thrown into the lake of fire along with the beast, before the Millenium (Rev 19:20).

This may come as a shock and a disappointment to many Christians. But all those celestial bodies, and all the technology that goes with it, will be dissolved, burned up, melt away. Perhaps by a mega-sunburst creating a magnetic field that fries all the electronics in the heavens and on earth. Somehow, by the almighty hand of God. 

We need to envision a righteous kingdom that is devoid of electronics. The new earth, the world of the millennial kingdom, will be cast in a totally different mold than what we live in today. It will not just be a continuation or carryover of the Industrial era and the age of Electronics. I imagine it will be much more agrarian, and much more relational. Evil will not have rampant access to the minds and hearts of mankind living in that age. Perhaps the Amish have a head start on the rest of us here in America. But if there will not be computers, planes, and automobiles, I at least would like to have a tractor. 

Prophecy Proves God's Providence

Most people think that the purpose of prophecy is to foretell the future, to give advance warning, direction, or guidance – primarily, if not exclusively. I suppose I used to be in that camp. It escaped my attention how often the meaning of a prophecy was not even known until years later, or centuries later? In fact, some prophecies were not even recognized as prophetic until after the fulfillment came to pass.

So, a second purpose for prophecy, an unsung purpose, must be acknowledged. Prophecy proves God’s providence. God wants mankind to know, unequivocally, that what has come to pass is by His design, by His plan, not by chance or happenstance. By seeing His providence in the rearview mirror, so to speak, He makes it clear that He is sovereign. That His dominion will rule from beginning to end. That He is deserving of glory, honor and praise.

God said of Himself, through the prophet Isaiah, “Remember history. From the beginning I tell you what the end will be, letting you know what is going to happen. I will do exactly what I set out to do. If I said it, I will most certainly do it. Once I have planned it, it’s as good as done.” (Isa 46:8-11, paraphrased). 

Consider some examples. Joseph’s prophetic dream of eleven sheaths of grain all bowing down to his sheath (Gen 37:7) was fulfilled years later, in Egypt, when his brothers bowed down to him, and he promised to provide for them (Gen 50:20). The prophecy that the Messiah would be born of a virgin (Isa 7:14) was probably not even recognized as a messianic prophecy until after the virgin birth of Jesus (Mt 1:23). But it is a key prophetic proof of God’s providential plan of redemption. Then there was the oft-repeated prediction that Jesus told His disciples, that He would be killed and then rise again on the third day. They never understood the second half of that prophecy, not until after the resurrection. The miraculous fulfillment then became the cornerstone of their life’s mission. 

Prophecy finally finds meaning when history fulfills it and interprets it. Until that time the interpretation of the prophecy may remain latently unrecognizable, or it may be zealously misconstrued. In fact, many times God never meant for the prophecy to be understood until the time of its fulfillment. And speculation only misleads and deceives. That is so true of end-times prophecy. History is the best interpreter of prophecy. The unsung purpose of the prophecy, then, is to prove God’s sovereign hand in current, unfolding events which He long ago prophesied. 

I want to apply this principle to interpreting two prophecies about the last days, interpreting them not by speculation but rather, by historical fulfillment. The first prophecy is the little horn in Daniel 7:8, 11-12. Speculators suggest that the little horn points to the Antichrist, but that is so misleading. The first four beasts in the vision were empires. History confirms that, and identifies them. The fifth beast, the little horn, is also an empire, most certainly. The empire which God foretold would arise out of the ten horns of the Roman empire and defeat three of those horns to establish its own unique authority. That is an amazing prophecy of America, which could not be understood until its fulfillment. America arose as a “revived Roman Empire” across the sea, a melting pot of European immigrants. When time came for it to form into its own empire it defeated three of those “horns” – England, France, and Spain. That interpretation, in light of history, is almost undeniable, and it proves God’s providence in raising up America as the last great empire of the end of the age. But there is more to the story, more to the prophecy, yet to be fulfilled. That little horn empire, America, will be destroyed, utterly destroyed – not just brought to an end like the other four empires in the dream, but completely destroyed. And that will happen while Christians are still inhabitants of the empire, not after an early rapture. The providential plan of God included not only America’s rise to riches and power, but it also includes its final fate. 

A second prophecy to consider is the seven trumpets in Revelation 8-9. Prophecy speculators suggest that the seven trumpets are judgments of God that will occur during a seven-year tribulation. Once again, that is so misleading. The trumpets are prophesied as signs to warn mankind that the time of God’s judgment is drawing very near. Much like God warned the world in Noah’s day, for 120 years, that judgment was coming, He prophesied what the warning signs would be at the end of this age. Since the time that John wrote the Revelation mankind has been clueless to interpret or identify what those trumpet warnings might be. Not until they began to be fulfilled. Without going into detail, the descriptions of each trumpet and bowl (which occur concurrently, not consecutively) describe a specific event. Five of these have already occurred, beginning with World War 1, followed by World War 2, the nuclear age, climate change, and the Iraqi war of 1990. History confirms this interpretation, for those who have eyes to see. God’s providential plan for the last days has already begun to unfurl. We are now waiting for trumpet/bowl #6 to occur, which is easily identifiable as the battle of Armageddon. When history interprets prophecy, it always proves God’s providence. The ramifications of this interpretation are manifold, but consider just two. The trumpets are not going to occur during a seven-year Tribulation, they are already occurring. That pretty much blows up the hoax of a Tribulation period. Secondly, the rapture of the faithful, then, will take place when Jesus returns to defend Israel in the Battle of Armageddon, just prior to the 7^th trumpet and bowl. (“at the last trumpet”). 

History interprets prophecy, not speculators.  And fulfilled prophecy proves God’s provide