We should ever remember that we are reading of visions which John saw. It is for us to gather the meaning from the Word of God. The opening of the last seal causes a hush in the heavens, in anticipation of momentous happenings about to take place on earth. The silence is followed by the appearance of seven angels standing before God to whom were given seven trumpets. The sounding of these brings judgments of increasing severity on man. Before these begin, however, another scene unfolds itself. The imagery is drawn from the tabernacle in the wilderness. In the vision the golden altar of incense appears, the altar of intercession. An angel stands beside it—the Lord Himself! He is the intercessor before the throne. To Him was given much incense to be added to the prayers of saints. Who are these saints for whom Christ thus intercedes in power and sympathy? They are undoubtedly the godly remnant from Judah and Benjamin—cast out of the temple by their idolatrous brethren after the flesh, persecuted and slain, their souls under the altar as we have seen in Chapter 6:9-11. The prayers of these suffering ones come up before God, along with the incense added by the “Angel” (Christ), who fills the censer with fire (judgment) from the altar and casts it into the earth. God intervenes on behalf of the holy sufferers. Voices, thunderings, lightning and an earthquake are but the warning preludes of the wrath of God about to be poured out on His enemies, and the persecutors of His servants.
At this point it might be remarked that there are three distinct sets of judgments on the earth, each increasing in severity: the seals, the trumpets, and the bowls. The trumpets, the next set of judgment, then, are to announce to men’s ears that God is dealing with the earth if they will but hear. The seven angels, with the seven trumpets, go into immediate action. This chapter is confined to a brief comment on the first four trumpets.
The First Trumpet (Verse 7) — One of the grievous plagues on Egypt was that of hail and fire (Exodus 9:18-35). In our chapter these are mingled with blood (death) and cast upon the earth. There is an omission from verse 7 in some translations of the Bible. It is “and the third part of the earth was burnt up”: This judgment falls on “the third part,” (see Note 5) that is Europe and contiguous territory. An enlargement of the sphere of judgment within the bounds of the Roman Empire is indicated here. A third part of earth, trees, and green grass was burnt up. If you have ever seen a vast tract of forest devastated by fire and leaving nothing but blackened tree stumps and bare ground, you have a picture of what this judgment may mean to those on whom it falls. The ruin yields nothing to support the life of man.
The Second Trumpet (Verse 8) — A sinister power arises whose policies result in destroying trade and commerce—so prominent features of man’s present life, and behind which he hides to keep God out of all his thoughts.
The Third Trumpet (Verse 10) — Another power appears whose doings vitiate the very springs of man’s existence. Life is bitter indeed under this despot, from whose influence men cannot extricate themselves, and many perish. As an example of such an one, consider the Duke of Alva who enslaved the Dutch Netherlands in the days of Philip 2 of Spain, the tyrant of the “Holy” Inquisition.
The Fourth Trumpet (Verse 12) — Earth, trees, grass, sea, rivers and fountains and waters had all previously been affected by these judgments on earth. Now in a figure, the heavenly bodies fail in their normal functions—sun, moon, stars—day and night—ordinances subsisting by the power of God since creation. We may learn from the examples given that all rule by man supreme or derived, utterly collapses (see Note 6). Let us thank God we will not be earth dwellers in that awful day. No government! No powers ordained by God! No democracy! “Government of the people, by the people, for the people!” Vain dream!
There is a chilling break in the last verse of the chapter. A flying EAGLE (not angel), symbol of rapid judgment, loudly proclaims a threefold woe to those who inhabit the earth by reason of the three angels whose trumpets are yet to sound. Truly “the day of the Lord” is “a day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness” (Joel 2:2).
The last three trumpets, which we will come to later, are therefore called “woe” trumpets. Again the judgments increase in severity.