Interpreting the seven trumpets of Revelation

J. Dwight Pentecost

1st trumpet

The first trumpet (8:7) represents a judgment that falls upon the earth, in which a third of the inhabitants are slain.

2nd trumpet

The second trumpet (8:8-9) represents a judgment that falls upon the sea and, again, a third part of the inhabitants are slain. It is suggested that the earth here may represent the land of Palestine, as it often does in this book, and the sea represents the nations. Thus the two depict judgments from God of unimaginable extent upon all the inhabitants of the earth.

3rd trumpet

The third trumpet (8:10-11) presents a judgment that falls upon the rivers and fountains of waters. Such are used in Scripture as the source of life, even spiritual life, and this may depict judgment upon those from whom living water is taken away because they believed the lie (2 Thess. 2:11).

4th trumpet

The fourth trumpet (8:12-13) is a judgment coming on the sun, moon, and stars. These represent governmental powers and may present the judgment of God upon world rulers.

5th trumpet

The fifth trumpet judgment, which is the first woe (9:1-12), pictures an individual energized by hell who can let torment of unprecedented dimension loose on the earth. It is generally accepted that these are not literal locusts in that they do not feed on that which is natural to the locust.

6th trumpet

The sixth trumpet judgment, which is the second woe (9:13-19), is seen to be the great army turned loose to march with destructive force across the face of the earth. Concerning these two woe judgments Kelly writes: "First of all a tormenting Woe falls on the land, but not on those sealed out of the twelve tribes of Israel. Next the Euphratean horsemen are let loose on the western powers, overwhelming all Christendiom, and in particular that west as the special object of the judgment of God. The former is emphatically torment from Satan on the reprobate Jews; as the latter is a most scathing infliction of man's aggressive energy, though not this only, from the east on the corrupt and idolatrous western world. The killing of the third of men represents, not the merely physical end, but the destruction even of all confession of relationship with the only true God."

This suggests that the two woes will be great marching armies, one against Israel and one against Gentiles, which will destroy a third of the earth's population. Since Satan's weapon against Israel is the northern confederacy, it may be depicted by the fifth trumpet and Gentile warfare depicted by the sixth.

7th trumpet

The seventh trumpet and the third woe judgment (11:15) brings about the return of Christ to the earth and the subsequent destruction of all hostile powers at the conclusion of the Armageddon program.