The Sixth Trumpet and the Seven Thunders

Revelation 9:13-21

13 And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God,

14 Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.

15 And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men.

16 And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them.

17 And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone.

18 By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths.

19 For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like to serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt.

20 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:

21 Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.

Revelation 9:13-21 describes the sounding of the sixth trumpet, a period of prophetic history marked by the rise and fall of the Ottoman Empire's political supremacy Revelation 9:13-21. This prophecy is uniquely significant because it provides a specific timeframe for the fulfillment of these events, calculated to the very daySSP 176.2.

The Loosing of the Four Angels

When the sixth angel sounds, a voice from the golden altar commands the loosing of the four angels bound in the river Euphrates Revelation 9:13-14. These four angels represent the four principal nations of which the Ottoman Empire was composedAPEC 116.2. They were prepared for a specific prophetic period: an hour, a day, a month, and a year Revelation 9:15.

The Prophetic Time Calculation

Using the biblical principle that a day in symbolic prophecy represents a literal year, the period is calculated as followsEze 4:6+1:

• One prophetic hour equals 15 literal daysSSP 176.2.

• One prophetic day equals 1 literal yearSSP 176.2.

• One prophetic month equals 30 literal yearsSSP 176.2.

• One prophetic year equals 360 literal yearsSSP 176.2.

The total duration of this period is 391 years and 15 daysSSP 176.2. This timeframe began on July 27, 1449, when the foundation of the empire's supremacy was laid, and terminated precisely on August 11, 1840SSP 176.2+1.

The Fall of Ottoman Supremacy

On August 11, 1840, the Turkish Sultan voluntarily surrendered his independence into the hands of the allied Christian powers of Europe, exactly fulfilling the prediction made by Josiah Litch two years priorLELJB 266.4+1. This event marked the end of the second woe and the closing of the sixth trumpet's sounding Revelation 11:14LELJB 266.4. Because of this remarkably accurate fulfillment, many people, including over one thousand former infidels, were led to believe in the divine inspiration of the BibleBDOC 56.95+1.

The Character of the Power

The prophecy describes a massive army of horsemen with breastplates of fire, jacinth, and brimstone Revelation 9:16-17. The power is led by a king known as "the destroyer," reflecting the devastating nature of the Ottoman government throughout its historySSTR 48.3+1.

• Military Strength: The horses are described as having heads like lions, with fire, smoke, and brimstone issuing from their mouths, symbolizing the use of gunpowder and firearms in their conquests Revelation 9:17-18+1.

• Political Impact: Their mission was to "slay the third part of men," which refers to the political destruction of the Eastern Roman Empire Revelation 9:15APEC 116.2.

The Result and Final Warning

Despite these devastating plagues and the clear fulfillment of prophecy, the remaining nations did not repent of their idolatry, murders, sorceries, or thefts Revelation 9:20-21. The passing of this second woe serves as a solemn reminder that the third woe comes quickly, signaling the end of human probation and the establishment of the everlasting kingdom of God Revelation 11:15LELJB 266.4+1.

Revelation 9:19

19 For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like to serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt.

The tails mentioned in Revelation 9:19 represent the propagation of false doctrines and the unique military standards of the Ottoman Turkish power Revelation 9:19. This symbolic description identifies both the spiritual poison of their religion and a literal historical badge of their authoritySBBS 510.1+1.

The Symbol of False Doctrine

In biblical prophecy, the tail and the sting are recognized as the seat of venom, which serves as an emblem of false religion and detestable doctrinesSBBS 510.1.

• Spiritual Poison: Just as a scorpion or serpent diffuses poison through its tail, the "diabolical false prophecy" of Mohammed was spread by the Arabian and Turkish forces wherever they established their dominionSBBS 510.1+1.

• A "Wonderful" Prodigy: The description of a "locust-scorpion" implies a power that not only depopulates countries like locusts but also leaves behind a train of foulest errors that torment the mindSBBS 510.1.

• The Seat of Hurt: The scripture specifies that their power is in their mouth and in their tails, for their tails are like serpents with heads that do hurt Revelation 9:19. This indicates that their conquest was not merely military but involved a religious imposture that contended for the empire of the worldSBBS 510.1.

The Historical Horse-Tail Banners

The mention of tails also finds a striking literal fulfillment in the unique military and political customs of the TurksSBBS 515.3.

• The Origin of the Ensign: During an early battle, a Turkman commander lost his principal standard; in its place, he cut off a horse's tail, lifted it on a pole, and used it as a rallying ensign to win the victorySBBS 515.3.

• A Badge of Rank: Following this event, the horse's tail became a permanent and official standard among the Turks aloneSBBS 515.3. It was used to mark the dignity and power of officials, from the grand vizier to the governors of provincesSBBS 515.3+1.

• One, Two, or Three Tails: The rank of a Turkish pasha is distinctively marked by the number of horse tails—one, two, or three—borne before him as a standardSBBS 515.3.

Military Implementation

The prophecy describes the tails as having "heads" with which they do hurt Revelation 9:19.

• Use of Firearms: When horsemen engaged in action, the discharge of muskets from horseback appeared as fire and smoke issuing from the horses' mouths, while the "heads" in the tails or breech of the guns—the bullets—were the instruments that caused physical harmMWV2 122.1.

• Serpent-like Character: The tribe of Dan is also described as a serpent that "biteth the horse heels," illustrating a character that strikes the unsuspecting or innocent with a "backhanded blow" Genesis 49:17CIS 375.3. This reinforces the idea of a power that causes its victims to "fall backward" through subtle and poisonous influenceCIS 375.3+1.

Revelation 9:20-21

20 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:

21 Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.

Revelation 9:20-21 serves as a tragic commentary on human nature, revealing that despite witnessing overwhelming divine judgments, the majority of humanity stubbornly refused to change their ways or abandon their sinful practicesSSP 179.2+1. These verses specifically describe the spiritual and moral condition of the governments and individuals who remained after the devastating plagues of the sixth trumpet Revelation 9:20-21MWV2 123.1+1.

The Persistence of Idolatry

The "rest of the men" who survived these judgments continued to worship false deities and physical objects made by human handsSSP 179.2+1. This identifies the target of these plagues as those who participated in apostate religious systemsMWV2 123.1.

• Worship of Devils: The text declares that they continued to worship devils and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and woodGNT 72.1+1.

• Powerless Idols: These objects are described as being incapable of seeing, hearing, or walking, yet they remained the focus of devotion Revelation 9:20DAR1909 517.1+1.

• Antichristian Character: This description aligns perfectly with the characteristics of the Papal power or "the woman sitting on the scarlet-colored beast," known as Babylon the Great, which has historically led nations into spiritual fornication and idolatry Revelation 17:3-5MWV2 123.1.

A Refusal to Repent

The hallmark of this period is a profound and stubborn impenitence that remains even when the end of time draws nearSSP 179.2+1.

• Hardness of Heart: Like Pharaoh, who hardened his heart after repeated displays of God's power, these individuals became more set in their rebellion with each rejected ray of lightDA 588.1+1.

• Confirmed in Iniquity: As time progresses toward the final destruction of the earth, iniquity continues to wax greater, and men choose to continue in their theft and immorality 2 Timothy 3:13SSP 179.2.

• Specific Sins: The scripture lists four specific areas where there was a total lack of repentance Revelation 9:21DAR 487.2:

• Murders: The shedding of innocent bloodMWV2 123.1.

• Sorceries: The practice of deceptive and supernatural artsMWV2 123.1.

• Fornication: Moral and spiritual impuritySSP 179.2+1.

• Thefts: The dishonest acquisition of propertySSP 179.2+1.

The Purpose of the Judgments

These plagues were sent by God as a direct response to the character and actions of those who had rejected His law and mercyMWV2 123.1+1.

• Divine Scourge: The sixth trumpet and the second woe were judgments intended to punish the "Antichristian beast" and those who did not have the seal of God in their foreheadsMWV2 123.1+2.

• Witness of History: History records that those in the Eastern Greek Empire, who were significantly affected by the Turkish conquests, were notoriously guilty of these prevailing sins and yet did not turn away from themSLG 7.3+1.

• Exposing False Pretensions: These judgments revealed the weakness of the religious leaders of the time; for example, the Pope's inability to resist the inroads of the Turks proved his claims of being God's vicegerent were falseMWV2 123.1.

The Solemn Warning for Today

The impenitence described in these verses serves as a final warning that there are limits to God's forbearanceGCB January 1, 1900, par. 2+1.

• The Close of Probation: Satan's objective is to hold people in a state of darkness and impenitence until the mediation of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary endsGC 518.1.

• The Sealing Work: While the world continues in rebellion, there is a "little company" who by faith see Jesus and reflect His character; these faithful ones are being sealed today as we near the close of timeEze 9:4+1.

• The Coming Woe: Because the world at large refuses to repent, the second woe passes and leads quickly to the third woe, which brings the final judgment and the establishment of God's eternal kingdom Revelation 11:14-15EQ 6.5+1.

Would you like a summary of the next significant segment of this prophetic history, such as the opening of the tenth chapter?

Revelation 10

1 And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was on his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire:

2 And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot on the sea, and his left foot on the earth,

3 And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roars: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.

4 And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.

5 And the angel which I saw stand on the sea and on the earth lifted up his hand to heaven,

6 And swore by him that lives for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:

7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he has declared to his servants the prophets.

8 And the voice which I heard from heaven spoke to me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which stands on the sea and on the earth.

9 And I went to the angel, and said to him, Give me the little book. And he said to me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make your belly bitter, but it shall be in your mouth sweet as honey.

10 And I took the little book out of the angel’s hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.

11 And he said to me, You must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.

The description of the mighty angel in Revelation 10 is a majestic representation of Jesus Christ, the Angel of the Covenant, descending from heaven with a message of vital importance for the last daysLDT 146.2+1. This symbolic appearance is not drawn from fancy but is a literal description of an angel clothed with the glory of GodGCB April 15, 1901, page 244.5.

The Appearance of the Mighty Angel

Every element of the angel's attire and countenance signifies his divine authority and his role as the Mediator of the covenantSSP 181.1+1.

• Clothed with a Cloud: The angel descends "clothed with a cloud," which is significant because Christ is to return in the clouds with power and great gloryMWV2 124.1+1. In sacred history, God frequently revealed His presence through clouds, such as when Moses entered the cloud on Mount Sinai Exodus 24:18SSP 181.1.

• A Rainbow upon His Head: The rainbow is a reminder of the everlasting covenant made between God and every living creature Genesis 9:16. Because a rainbow encircles the throne of God, its presence on the angel's head identifies him as the great Mediator and shows the loving-kindness of the Father Ezekiel 1:28SSP 181.1+1.

• Face as the Sun: His countenance shines like the noonday sun, exactly as Jesus appeared during His transfiguration Matthew 17:24SP 458.2+1. This brightness is the "sunlight" of his glory that lights up the pages of the open book he holdsSSP 184.2.

• Feet as Pillars of Fire: This description matches the vision of Christ in Revelation 1:15 where his feet are like fine brass burning in a furnaceMWV2 124.1. These pillars of fire represent the message burning its way into the hearts of menSSP 184.2.

The Position and Authority of the Angel

The angel’s stance and actions demonstrate his supreme authority over the entire worldSSP 184.2.

• Standing on Sea and Earth: By placing his right foot on the sea and his left on the land, the angel claims the whole earth as his own and indicates that his message embraces the entire globeSSP 184.2+1. Only Christ, who created the heavens, the earth, and the sea, could stand in such a manner and swear by the eternal CreatorLDT 146.2+1.

• The Voice of a Lion: When the angel cries out, his voice is like the roar of a lionEVRR317. This "Lion of the tribe of Judah" has the power to unseal the prophecies of Daniel that were hidden for agesMWV2 124.1+1.

• The Little Book Open: In his hand is a "little book open," which refers to the book of Daniel that had been "shut up" and "sealed" until the time of the endSSP 181.1+1. The fact that it is now open shows that the time has come for these prophecies to be understood by the world Daniel 12:4SYNPT 41.1.

The Solemn Oath: "Time No Longer"

Lifting his hand to heaven, the angel swears by Him who lives forever that "there should be time no longer"EVRR317+1. This does not mean the end of all literal time, as a thousand years are measured after this, but rather the end of prophetic timeLUJ 200.1+1. Specifically, it points to the termination of the 2,300-day prophecy of Daniel 8:14 marking the close of the long prophetic periods in 1844 and the beginning of the investigative judgmentSSP 184.2+1.

This mighty angel assists the work of the third angel, lightening the earth with his glory and calling people to prepare for the final events of earth's history before the sounding of the seventh trumpet, when the mystery of God shall be finished8MR 346.4+2.

Revelation 10

1 And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was on his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire:

2 And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot on the sea, and his left foot on the earth,

3 And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roars: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.

4 And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.

5 And the angel which I saw stand on the sea and on the earth lifted up his hand to heaven,

6 And swore by him that lives for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:

7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he has declared to his servants the prophets.

8 And the voice which I heard from heaven spoke to me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which stands on the sea and on the earth.

9 And I went to the angel, and said to him, Give me the little book. And he said to me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make your belly bitter, but it shall be in your mouth sweet as honey.

10 And I took the little book out of the angel’s hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.

11 And he said to me, You must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.

The seven thunders represent seven distinct voices or messages that delineated future events to transpire under the first and second angels' messagesEVRR322+1. While these thunders uttered their voices with tremendous power, the apostle John was commanded to seal up what they spoke and not write them downSSP 184.1+2.

The Nature of the Voices

The thunders were not merely loud noises or peals of weather-related thunder, but were intelligible messages delivered with divine authorityEVRR322.

• The Voice of God: In Scripture, the voice of God is often described as sounding like thunder to human ears Job 37:5+1EVRR322. For example, when God spoke to Jesus from heaven, the people standing by thought it had thundered because they did not have "ears to hear" the specific words being uttered John 12:28-30EVRR322+1.

• Delineation of Events: These thunders expressed special light given to John regarding the specific work and events that would occur during the proclamation of the first and second angels' messagesEVRR322+2.

The Command to Seal the Message

Although John understood the messages, he was forbidden from making them known to the church at that timeEVRR322+1.

• A Test of Faith: God deliberately withheld this truth because it was not best for the people to know these future events; their faith necessarily had to be testedEVRR322+1.

• Disappointment and Trial: There is a well-founded conjecture that the seven thunders related to the specific experience of the Adventists during the 1844 movement, including their bitter disappointment and trialsDAR1909 523.1+1.

• Preventing Defeat: If an inspired record of the exact nature of the Advent movement had been given in advance, it would have defeated the purpose of the movement, which was a fulfillment of God's providence to test His peopleARSH October 21, 1862, page 164.7+1.

Future Disclosure

The messages of the seven thunders relate to events that are disclosed in their proper order as the great controversy reaches its height1MR 99.1+1.

• Sequential Revelation: These events were to be revealed in connection with the unsealing of the "little book" and the proper placement of Daniel's prophecies within the first, second, and third angels' messages1MR 99.1+1.

• The End of Delay: The sealing of these thunders remains in effect until the specified time for their fulfillment occurs in the closing scenes of earth's history, when the mystery of God is finished and there is "time no longer" Revelation 10:6-7SLG 36.4+1.