Revelation 8:2-11
And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.
…The first angel sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled down on the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.
The second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a huge mountain, all ablaze, was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned into blood, a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.
Revelation 11:15-19
The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said:
‘The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever.’
…Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant. And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a severe hailstorm.
We return to events in Revelation. Seven angels have been given trumpets. A trumpet is a general name – these could be straight, curved or coiled, metal or animal horn. I imagine the instruments being used for the first time for this particular task. Their fanfares herald phases in God’s plan that leads up to eternity. What happens after each trumpet blast is not always pleasant. There is warfare, pestilence, an overturning of the accepted order. Stuff needs dealing with, things are changing fast and the angels are there to mark each event. These events must take place as the finality of eternity in a new heaven and a new earth approaches.
The final victory of heaven is revealed when the seventh angel sounds his trumpet. Something new is about to begin.
The seven angels are not described. I’d find it difficult to imagine anyone but a high-ranking angel being assigned these tasks. I fancy that these angels would be unmissable, plain for everyone in heaven and on earth to see. It was not, however, the angels who caused the events to take place –they were under the controlling hand of God.
Were the angels aware of what they were heralding?
What do you think the other angels in heaven were doing as this happened?
Father God, I pray your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven, both today and in the fulfilment of time. Amen.
Paul