“And the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound them.” (Revelation 8:6-7, NASB)

God is in complete control, even in His wrath. When we think of wrath, we imagine someone out of control in his anger. God does not get carried away by anger, but punishes us in accordance with justice and righteousness. In today’s reading, we read about the beginning of the seven trumpet judgments. It says,

“And the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound them. And the first sounded, and there came hail and fire, mixed with blood, and they were thrown to the earth; and a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.”

The judgments of God that will be executed during the Great Tribulation Period can be summarized by a series of sevens—the seven seals, the seven trumpets, and the seven bowls judgments. Some believe that the series of seven judgments will happen simultaneously. Others believe they will happen in chronological order. Still others believe they are mere symbols and do not represent literal judgments. What do you think?

The book of Revelation overwhelmingly indicates that these events will occur in chronological order. Well, at least the judgments in sevens are in order. Whether the actual events and descriptions of the judgments themselves are chronological or not, we cannot be certain, but we know that these seven seals, trumpets, and bowls are in sequence. The seven trumpets will be blown with the breaking of the seventh seal (Rev.8:1-2), and the seven bowls will be poured out on earth with the sounding of the last trumpet (Rev.11:15, 15:5-6). The phrase “and after these things” that connects these events indicates that it is so (Rev.4:1, 7:1, 7:8, 15:5, 18:1). There are other literary indications that they are in sequence. For example, after the breaking of the seventh seal, there was “silence about half an hour.” Then John saw seven angels who “prepared themselves to sound them.” The phrase “half an hour” shows that there was an actual time sequence between the seals and the trumpet judgments, and the word “prepared” also suggests time involved.

There are many things that are confusing about these judgments, but one thing is for sure: God is in control! In other words, although these judgments appear chaotic, bizarre, and terrifying, every one of these things is controlled and carried out in an orderly fashion. God is in complete control, even in His wrath! The Bible says, “God is not a God of confusion, but of peace” and order (1 Cor.14:33, 40). Furthermore, the number seven in the Bible symbolizes perfection, completion, or precision, indicating that God’s judgments are controlled and that He will not judge mankind any more than they deserve. In fact, it may be the other way around, in that the judgments are less than what we deserve. The Bible says, “He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities” (Ps.103:10).

With the breaking of the final seal by the Lamb of God, there appeared seven angels with seven trumpets ready to blow them. The seven trumpets bring about various horrific consequences on earth, but they have some striking similarities. For instance, each of these judgements brings different consequences to the earth, but they all originate in heaven or in space. Another similarity is that although they all have different consequences, they are all limited to the destruction of a third of all things: a third of the earth, a third of the trees, a third of sea, a third of rivers and springs, a third of sun, a third of moon, a third of stars, a third of light, and a third of mankind killed. This is another reason to believe that God is in complete control, even when He is angry. God commands His angels to carry out His judgment, but He also ensures they are under His control. What does this say about what God is like? What does this say about what is happening to us when we are disciplined by Him? God will strike to discipline us, but will never strike out of character with His love!

• Do you believe that these judgments are literal or symbolic?
• Do you think these “seven” seals, trumpets, and bowls judgments are sequential?
• Does your understanding of God deepen, knowing that He is in control even in His wrath?