The First Four Trumpets
Hail, fire, blood, volcanic eruptions, landmasses crumbling into the sea, falling stars, eclipses - these ecological disasters are all described as the first four angels blow their trumpets. The result of these natural calamities is that 1/3 of the trees and grasslands are burned up, 1/3 of the sea becomes toxic and dangerous to ships, and 1/3 of the potable water becomes undrinkable. In addition to this, 1/3 of the luminaries in the heavens fail to shine their light. This fourth trumpet should clue us into the fact that none of these descriptions are literal, rather Jesus through John is reminding the 7 churches of Asia that it is God who created and controls the natural world. Just as Pharaoh had to learn the hard way that YHWH was in control, so Rome may too be faced with such a brutal lesson. And just like in the time of the Pharaoh of Exodus, if Rome persists in its hardness of heart, the plagues will only intensify!
The Fifth Trumpet
When the fifth angel blows his trumpet, we are treated to a vision that even AI might be hard pressed to better. Up from a bottomless pit (again - this should clue us into the fact that these visions are symbolic, not literal - there are no such things as bottomless pits) comes a hoard of locusts. But these aren't your grandaddy's grasshoppers! This plague of locusts will not target the plant growth like most locusts; no, they will attack human beings. In fact, they won't just attack humans, but they will torture them for 5 months with stings like that of a scorpion (5 months is the average lifespan of a locust I am told). The description of the locusts is almost beyond description. Horses, mixed with human faces, women's hair, lion's teeth, rhino-like scales, scorpion tales, and wings that create enough noise to drown out a jumbo jet. Their king is called "Destroyer", and it is evident that these cruel creatures are set on nothing but destruction. We are told that the first woe has passed. Phew. But there are still two woes to come!
The Sixth Trumpet
Just as 1/3 of the natural world was destroyed with the first 4 trumpets, so 1/3 of humanity will be killed as the 6th trumpet is blown. Who or what will be behind this mass slaughter? Instead of 4 horsemen that we were introduced to in the 7 seals, here we are confronted with 200 million cavalry troops! No army whether past or present has ever been this large. It's safe to say that again, we are dealing with hyperbole. And the horses that these cavalrymen are mounting are not your typical battle equines. These horses have the heads of lions, breathing fire, smoke, and sulfur. Their tails are serpents which bite and harm.
Just as in Egypt, in the Exodus, the threat of these plagues is meant to drive people to repentance. However, just as Pharoah hardened his heart, we discover that plagues alone will not move those spared these devastations to turn to Christ. No, they continue to revel in their idolatry and to engage in grotesque sin.
The Angel and the Scroll
As we have seen, the book of Revelation starts by gradually revealing God's plan to the 7 churches via John, and as the writing progresses, more and more is revealed, though the overall message remains the same. In chapter 10, we read about a mighty angel appearing to John and giving him a scroll that he is to eat (the prophet Ezekiel was also told to do the same). In other words, John is to take in the message and internalize it so that he might fully grasp the information and faithfully communicate it to the churches. The prophet is told that the scroll will be sweet to the taste, but bitter as he digests it. There is good news for God's people, but trials are still to come. It's bittersweet.
The Temple and the Two Witnesses
There has been considerable literature written on the temple imagery and the two witnesses in Revelation 11, so let me simply summarize the overall message as I understand it. For John, the temple is no longer a physical building, but rather the people of God. His description of measuring the temple affirms that God's people will be persecuted (see verse 2) but ultimately will be protected in the end.
The two witnesses (symbolized by olive trees and lampstands) represent the churches. These two figures echo Moses and the prophet Elijah and they witness on behalf of Christ before the pagan nations. Though these witnesses will by martyred, they will ultimately be vindicated through resurrection, just as Jesus was raised from the dead. The result of their witness unto death, is that unlike the plagues and the threat of judgment, most of the people are moved to repent by the faithfulness of these two martyrs. This is a message for the 7 churches of Asia. It is through faithful witness that those outside Christ will ultimately be won, not through the threat of plagues and judgment.
The Seventh Trumpet
When the 7th trumpet is blasted, John is privy to a vision of the end when "The kingdom of this world has become the kingdom of our Lord and his Messiah, and he will reign forever and ever." (Rev 11:15b). God is described in this passage as the Lord Almighty "who are and who were", not the God who was, is, and is to come. Why? At this point of the vision, the end has arrived and God has fully established his kingdom on earth, as it is in heaven.
We have thus far seen that the 7 churches of Asia are facing great persecution and like the pagan nations around them, some are tempted to either abandon their faith in Christ, or to compromise with idolatry. Though the Emperor Domitian claims to be the Lord of world, it is Jesus Christ who reigns in heaven and will eventually bring his reign to earth. Kingdoms like Rome rise and fall, but only the Kingdom of God is an eternal kingdom. We are halfway through the Apocalypse, and we can grasp the overall message. But just as the angel in chapter 10 explained to John, there is still further detail to explore. We'll do that in chapters 12-22. If you have noticed, two woes have now passed, but there's still one woe to come. It's gonna get rough before it gets better! - Shay
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