Decoding Revelation's Seven Trumpets: Prophecy from Rome to Judgment

It is a pleasure to provide a comprehensive explanation of the prophetic line of the Seven Trumpets of Revelation, which reveal God's judgments upon an apostate people and provide the key to understanding the history and destiny of the great nations of todayEVRR273+1.

... prophecy in the book of Revelation: the Seven Churches and the Seven Seals. Therefore, to find the basis of the Seven Trumpets, we must glance at these things which are their cause— GNT 8.4 (1901)

...st of our consideration of the events of the seven trumpets of Revelation 8-9 and 11:15-19, which reach from the breaking up of the Roman empire to the end of the world. The last three trumpets (the symbol itself suggesting war) are distinguished by the special announ...— BEST June 1, 1896, page 163.1

...o the hands of the Turks by the Christian emperor of the East, so we might justly conclude that its termination would be marked by the voluntary surrender of that power by the Turkish Sultan back again into the hands of the Christians. In 1838 Turkey became involved in war with Egypt. The ...— SYNPT 217.1 (1884)

...und August 11, 1840, and that then, says the Scripture, “the second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly.” Revelation 11:14. The third woe and the seventh trumpet are identical. And when the seventh...— SITI September 23, 1886, page 583.1

...at the closing work of our great High Priest in the heavenly Sanctuary, is a sufficient answer. The commencement of this trumpet seems to be marked by the opening of the temple of God in Heaven Revelation 11:19; which took place at the end of the 2300 days, in 1844. See under Sanctuary. So...— KPC 44.2 (1864)

...s, “With surprising unanimity, commentators have agreed in regarding this as referring to the empire of the Saracens, or to the rise and progress of the religion and the empire set up by Mohammed.” We cannot see how any one who will read the prophecy, and Gibbon’s history of Mohamme...— SITI September 9, 1886, page 551.5

Scripture is reliable The sixth trumpet introduces the Turks for the first and last time into the prophetic picture. The Turks took control of Asia Minor and destroyed Eastern Rome. That v...— EVRR311 (2024)

...or the planting of the new peoples which have grown into the great nations of to-day. Indeed, these four Trumpets relate to Alaric, Genseric, Attila, and Odoacer, as the leaders that they were, as Daniel 8:5-8, 21 relates to Alexander the Great, rather than to ...— GNT 19.2 (1901)

Basis and Scope of the Prophecy

The line of prophecy of the Seven Trumpets extends from the breaking up of the Roman Empire to the end of the worldBEST June 1, 1896, page 163.1+1. This sequence is a consequence of the development of apostasy and the creation of the Papacy within the Roman Empire, which led directly to that empire's ruinGNT 12.1+1. These events are foreshadowed by the first three steps in the two preceding lines of prophecy: the Seven Churches and the Seven SealsARSH August 7, 1900, page 504.2+1. The sounding of a trumpet is always used in prophetic scripture to denote the downfall of some empire or nation, or to indicate destructive warsMWV2 115.3+1. The purpose of the trumpet prophecies is fundamentally to permit judgments to come upon the church in an effort to purify it and bring those in apostasy back to the faithEVRR273.

The commencement of the trumpets is marked by an introductory scene in heaven, where an angel offers the prayers of the saints at the altar of incense in the first apartment of the heavenly templeEVRR254+1. The casting of fire from the censer to the earth represents the ensuing judgments of God, the visitations of justice that constitute the trumpetsEVRR263. The seven angels prepared themselves to sound, beginning with the fracturing of the old Roman empire into its ten divisionsDAR 454.3.

The First Four Trumpets: The Fall of Western Rome (The Third Part)

The first four trumpets cover the events relating to the collapse of the Western Roman Empire, which often focused on the empire's "third part"GNT 19.2+1. These four trumpets describe the terrible invasions and notable events that wrought the utter ruin of Western Rome, thereby opening the way for the planting of the new peoples who grew into the great nations of todayGNT 19.2.

1. The First Trumpet (AD 395): There followed hail and fire mingled with blood, cast upon the earthSSTR 10.3. This was fulfilled by the invasion of the Visigoths under Alaric, striking the third division of the Roman EmpireEVRR379+1. Alaric himself was convinced that he was divinely compelled to accomplish the siege of RomeEVRR266.

2. The Second Trumpet (AD 400): A great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea, destroying a third of the ships and menEVRR379+1. This refers to Genseric and the naval power of the Vandals, who attacked Western Rome and separated the African coast from the empireEVRR379+2.

3. The Third Trumpet (AD 450): A great star, burning as a lamp, fell upon the fountains and rivers of watersARSH April 7, 1863, page 147.1+1. This symbolizes the invasion by Attila and his Huns, who advanced into the plains of Lombardy and reduced cities to ashes, but rapidly disappeared after concluding peace with the RomansEVRR276+1.

4. The Fourth Trumpet (AD 476): The sun, moon, and stars were smitten, darkening their third partARSH April 7, 1863, page 147.1. This was fulfilled by Odoacer and the Heruli, who extinguished the ruling lights of Western Rome—the emperor, consuls, and senateEVRR379+1.

The Fifth Trumpet: The First Woe (Saracens)

The last three trumpets are specifically designated as the three woesBEST June 1, 1896, page 163.1+1. The angel announcing the three woes appears just before the sounding of the Fifth TrumpetSITI September 9, 1886, page 551.5.

• Fulfillment and Time: The Fifth Trumpet is recognized by commentators with surprising unanimity as referring to the rise and progress of the empire and religion set up by Mohammed, specifically the SaracensSITI September 9, 1886, page 551.5. The power of these locusts released from the abyss was "to hurt men five months"DAR1909 505.7. This prophetic period, using a day for a year, equals 150 yearsSITI September 9, 1886, page 551.5. This commission allowed them to torment, but not politically kill, the inhabitantsDAR 479.5. Dating from the commencement of Turkish depredations on July 27, 1299, the 150 years ended in 1449DAR 479.5+1.

The Sixth Trumpet: The Second Woe (Turks)

The Sixth Trumpet relates to the Turkish, or Ottoman, powerEVRR311+1.

• Fulfillment and Time: This trumpet reveals the four angels (Sultanies) loosed at the River Euphrates, prepared for an hour, a day, a month, and a year, to slay the third part of menSSTR 50.4+1. The Turks invaded Eastern Rome and destroyed itEVRR379. The prophetic period totals 391 years and 15 daysGSAM 129.1. Commencing in 1449 when the Christian emperor voluntarily surrendered power, the period terminated precisely on August 11, 1840SYNPT 217.1+1. On that date, the Ottoman power fell and lost its independence, demonstrated by the control of Mohammedan affairs passing into the hands of the Christian powers of Europe, marking the end of the second woeSYNPT 217.1+2.

The Seventh Trumpet: The Third Woe (Post 1840)

The Seventh Trumpet, which is identical with the Third Woe, came "quickly" after the close of the Sixth Trumpet in August 1840SITI September 23, 1886, page 583.1+1.

• Commencement and Nature: This trumpet began sounding in 1844, coinciding with the end of the 2300 daysARSH August 23, 1864, page 102.7+1. It is a time of woe that covers the close of this dispensation, marked by the anger of the nationsPTUK February 26, 1891, page 75.7+1. When the Seventh Angel began to sound, the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His testament was seen, which is located in the second apartment of the heavenly sanctuary Revelation 11:19SITI September 23, 1886, page 583.1.

• The Mystery of God: The time of the Seventh Trumpet is when the "mystery of God should be finished"GNT 85.1+1. This mystery, which is the gospel to the Gentiles, consists of the completion of the great plan of salvationKPC 44.2+1.

• Final Events: Under the Seventh Trumpet, the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of ChristSITI September 23, 1886, page 583.1. This trumpet introduces the time when the dead shall be judged, God's servants rewarded, and the destroyers of the earth destroyedKPC 44.2+1. This sequence of events identifies the Seventh Trumpet with the "last trump" of Paul, which signals the resurrection of the righteous dead and the changing of the living righteous 1 Corinthians 15:52HST December 18, 1844, page 148.6. Furthermore, it is under the Seventh Trumpet that the seven vials, the seven last plagues in which the wrath of God is complete, are poured out Revelation 15:1KPC 44.2+1.

Relationship to the Sealing

The events of the Seventh Trumpet are linked closely with the sealing work of Revelation 7 which is identical to the Third Angel's MessageARSH September 2, 1852, page 65.26. The four angels holding the four winds (of trouble) are commanded not to hurt the earth or the sea until the servants of God are sealed in their foreheadsGCB March 5, 1895, page 483.1. This sealing work, which is going forward now, ensures that those who are accounted worthy to escape the coming things will stand before the Son of man, and their probation closes with the commencement of this time of troubleJEO 90.2+1.