What Happens After the Seven Trumpets in Revelation Are Blown?
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The seven trumpets signal the next series of judgments after the seven seals. In the Book of Revelation, these septets serve as cues for the apocalyptic events in John’s vision.
The seventh seal begins the seven trumpets. After the seventh seal is opened, it is said that a half-hour interval before the sounding of the first trumpet.
These trumpets are sounded by seven angels as a warning for each next plague that takes place during the Tribulation.
We know that a trumpet is customarily blown when there is a big announcement to build anticipation. It’s an indication that something grand is coming. The seven trumpets in the book of Revelation are no different.
Let’s take a deep dive into how the bible describes the prophetic events that follow upon the sounding of the seven trumpets.
The First Trumpet
7 “The first angel blew his trumpet, and there followed hail and fire, mixed with blood, and these were thrown upon the earth. And a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.” (Revelation 8:7)
The first trumpet signals the obliteration of one-third of the earth and its flora through hail and fire mixed with blood.
The Second Trumpet
8 “The second angel blew his trumpet, and something like a great mountain, burning with fire, was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood.” (Revelation 8:8)
The scourge that followed after the second trumpet is blown goes to the seas. A huge fire was thrown into the sea and a third of it turned into blood. A third of the sea creatures died and a third of the ships were destroyed.
The Third Trumpet
10 “The third angel blew his trumpet, and a great star fell from heaven, blazing like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. 11 The name of the star is Wormwood.[a] A third of the waters became wormwood, and many people died from the water, because it had been made bitter.”(Revelation 8:10-11)
The third trumpet signaled a star called Wormwood falling from heaven. The star fell on the rivers and springs which resulted in their contamination. It caused death to many people.
The Fourth Trumpet
12 “The fourth angel blew his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, and a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of their light might be darkened, and a third of the day might be kept from shining, and likewise a third of the night.” (Revelation 8:12)
As the fourth trumpet was blown by the angel, one-third of the sun, moon, and stars darken—consequently, turning the days and nights darker.
Notice that on the first four trumpets, the trumpets signaled an attack on the basic needs of life.
After the fourth trumpet, a warning comes from a flying eagle announcing three great woes on mankind. (Revelation 8:13) These are the last three trumpets that follow.
The Fifth Trumpet
9 “And the fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star fallen from heaven to earth, and he was given the key to the shaft of the bottomless pit. 2 He opened the shaft of the bottomless pit, and from the shaft rose smoke like the smoke of a great furnace, and the sun and the air were darkened with the smoke from the shaft. 3 Then from the smoke came locusts on the earth, and they were given power like the power of scorpions of the earth.” (Revelation 9:1-3)
Demonic locusts appear upon the sounding of the fifth trumpet to torment those who have rejected God for five months. The locusts were permitted to torment the nonbelievers but not to harm any of the green plants or grass — only those who have rejected God. Those people will desperately seek death but they will not die. It will be pure torture for them.
The physical appearance of the locusts is quite unusual: compared to horses prepared for battle, with crowns of gold, human-like faces with woman’s hair and lion’s teeth, and scorpion tails and stings.
The Sixth Trumpet
13 “Then the sixth angel blew his trumpet, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar before God, 14 saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” 15 So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour, the day, the month, and the year, were released to kill a third of mankind.” (Revelation 9:12-15)
After the first woe which is the fifth trumpet, the sixth angel blew the sixth trumpet moving on to the second woe. Four angels are released to kill one-third of mankind. They are accompanied by an army of as many as 200 million — “twice ten thousand time ten thousand.” (Revelation 9:16)
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The Seventh Trumpet
15 Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” (Revelation 11:15)
The seventh trumpet brings about the third woe, the final trumpet, and woe. Voices coming from the heavens rejoicing and proclaiming the kingdom of God.
*Cover Photo/Thumbnail Photo from slmedia.org