Quick Answer
The seventh trumpet in Revelation 11 marks the third woe and announces that the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of the Lord and His Christ, introducing seven more judgments while heaven’s 24 elders worship in advance of Satan’s final defeat.
Key Takeaways
- The seventh trumpet, like the seventh seal before it, announces seven more coming judgments and is called the third woe.
- Heaven’s loud voices proclaim that the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of the Lord and of His Christ, who will reign forever.
- The 24 elders, representing perfect government, fall on their faces to worship because they know Satan’s final judgment is coming.
- God’s temple opens and the ark of the covenant appears, showing that even in judgment, the mercy seat of Christ remains central.
- Heaven celebrates in advance of Satan’s defeat because Jesus was the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world, so the outcome was already settled.
- We are blessed to read this book so we can prepare our hearts, prepare those we love, and be conduits to share the good news of Jesus before He returns.
What happens when the seventh trumpet sounds in Revelation 11?
For the last two weeks we’ve kind of been inside of an interruption between the sixth and seventh trumpet. This morning we’re going to enter into that seventh trumpet. It starts with verse 14 in chapter 11, and this is also the third woe.
It says the second woe is passed, behold the third woe is soon to come, then the seventh angel blew his trumpet. This is like the seventh seal, where the seventh seal announced that there were going to now be seven more judgments, which is so sobering. This seventh trumpet is announcing there’s about to be seven more judgments.
So remember, in the beginning we had the seven seals, seven trumpets. These are the seven bowl judgments, and there were loud voices in heaven. This is presumably the entire host assembly, those already in heaven, raising up their loud voices.
The second woe is passed. Behold, the third woe is soon to come.
Revelation 11:14
What do the loud voices in heaven proclaim at the seventh trumpet?
This is what they’re saying: the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever. They are announcing that the rulership of this world has changed. The enemy thought he was the ruler, but the real ruler is stepping up.
Who are the 24 elders and what does the number 24 mean?
It says the 24 elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshipped God. We’ve heard of them before, and remember, Barnhouse’s view – he wrote a book on Revelation – is that the 24 elders are representative of the 12 apostles and the 12 tribes of Israel. There’s another line of thought that they represent the church as a whole.
What we do have is the number 24, which represents perfect government. We know that when Jesus steps on as ruler and lord, perfect government is coming into play inside of this world.
What does the elders’ song of worship declare?
They are saying, we give thanks to you Lord God Almighty, who was and who is, for you have taken your great power and you have begun to reign. The nations raged, but your wrath came, and the time for the dead to be judged, and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints, and those who fear your name, both small and great, and for destroying the destroyers of the earth.
They are celebrating the fact that it’s almost over, that the millennial reign of Christ is about to take place, that the judgments are about to be finished, but God is going to have his final judgment and his final say over the sinful hearts of men, and that there will be a reward for his children. He’s going to reward the prophets and the saints and the martyrs, and he’s going to reward you and me for how we have lived on this earth, how we have honored his name, how we have proclaimed his name, how we’ve used the gifts and talents that he gave us for the purposes of Christ.
That’s one of the reasons that you and I can’t fix our eyes on this world, because there’s another world coming and we’re not of this world. We are spiritual beings living in a natural world. It is not the other way around.
We give thanks to you Lord God Almighty who was and who is and who was for you have taken your great power and you have begun to reign. The nations raged, but your wrath came. And the time for the dead to be judged, and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints, and those who fear your name, both small and great, and for destroying the destroyers of the earth.
Revelation 11:17-18
What is revealed in God’s temple when the seventh trumpet sounds?
Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail. This is the moment where they are pronouncing that the final judgment of Satan is coming – Satan will finally be destroyed. And when they hear this, they worship.
Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail.
Revelation 11:19
Why does heaven celebrate Satan’s judgment before it happens?
Are they celebrating what is happening at this very moment of the seventh trumpet judgment? No, they’re celebrating what they know is going to happen – that Satan, after these seven bowl judgments, will finally be thrown into the pit and his rule and his reign is over. How do they know this in this moment when they’re yet to see it? Because scripture tells us Jesus was the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world.
So from the very beginning, what is going to happen has been made known, and Revelation lets us know that Satan will be defeated. So they’re already celebrating this in advance of the final occurrence of it.
What do Ron Rhodes and Barnhouse say about this vision?
Ron Rhodes, in his book I think it’s 40 Days in the Book of Revelation, says as John witnesses glory in heaven, he witnesses destruction on earth. So he’s witnessing this celebration in heaven, but he’s about to witness the final seven bowl judgments. And this vision that John’s given in these verses of chapter 11, Barnhouse in his book of Revelation says it’s almost as if they cover the whole day of the Lord – it’s almost as if the saints are seeing all of it encompassed together.
Barnhouse writes this: having given the world 6,000 years in which to choose and settle upon its proper allegiance, and finding after all only an intenser and more malignant apostasy, he causes the final trump to sound. He being God breaks in with his almightiness and enforces his rightful dominion. A kingdom comes which breaks in pieces and consumes all other kingdoms and stands forever. Laws are given to be changed no more, and the true anointed reigns on earth in an empire of sinless, deathless life and peace to the ages of the ages.
Having given the world 6,000 years in which to choose and settle upon its proper allegiance, and finding after all only an intenser and more malignant apostasy, he causes the final trump to sound. He being God breaks in with his almightiness and enforces his rightful dominion. A kingdom comes which breaks in pieces and consumes all other kingdoms and stands forever. Laws are given to be changed no more, and the true anointed reigns on earth in an empire of sinless, deathless life and peace to the ages of the ages.
Barnhouse
Why does the ark of the covenant appear in this judgment scene?
It’s interesting to me that in this final culmination of the final seven bowls of judgments, what appears is the ark of the covenant, and the ark of the covenant was the place where the mercy seat ruled and reigned. Do you remember when we first started this, we read the words, blessed is the man who reads this book. I was thinking the other day when I was studying this again that one of the reasons we’re blessed to read this book is so that you and I can have a foreknowledge, an awareness beforehand that this moment in our history is coming.
We’re blessed to be able to tell people that Jesus is coming, but that he’s also here now to be a part of their life and lead them in the abundant life he created for them. We’re blessed to know that this is coming so that we can prepare our hearts and our minds and those we love in advance. And in light of all of this that we read, we still see the beautiful mercy seat of Christ.
How should this passage change the way we live today?
I am grateful for the mercy that he gives us in this moment. He delays his coming because he doesn’t want anyone to perish. Well, you and I are his conduits in this life to share the good news that is Jesus.
My prayer is that we would not miss any opportunity in this Monday to be the mouthpiece for the beauty that is a life lived in relationship with the mercy seat himself, Jesus Christ.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the third woe in Revelation?
The third woe is announced when the seventh angel blows his trumpet in Revelation 11:14-15, following the second woe that has already passed. It introduces seven more judgments, similar to how the seventh seal introduced the seven trumpet judgments.
Who are the 24 elders in Revelation?
One view, from Barnhouse who wrote a book on Revelation, is that the 24 elders represent the 12 apostles and the 12 tribes of Israel. Another line of thought holds that they represent the church as a whole, and the number 24 represents perfect government coming into play when Jesus reigns.
What do the loud voices in heaven say at the seventh trumpet?
They declare that the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of the Lord and of His Christ, and that He shall reign forever and ever, announcing that the rulership of this world has changed.
Why is heaven celebrating before Satan is actually judged?
They are celebrating in advance because scripture tells us Jesus was the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world, meaning the outcome of Satan’s defeat was already known and settled from the very beginning, even before it plays out in time.
Why does the ark of the covenant appear during the seventh trumpet?
The ark of the covenant was the place where the mercy seat ruled and reigned, and its appearance in this scene of judgment shows that even in the midst of God’s final judgments, His mercy through Christ remains central and present.
How should this passage affect how we live now?
Because we are blessed to have foreknowledge of what is coming, we should prepare our own hearts and minds, prepare those we love, and use every opportunity to be the mouthpiece for the good news of a life lived in relationship with Jesus, the mercy seat himself.
Watch the full teaching to walk through Revelation’s seventh trumpet and the third woe in greater depth.
Read the full transcript
The Seventh Trumpet and Third Woe
Good Monday morning. You remember for the last two weeks we’ve kind of been inside of an interruption between the sixth and seventh trumpet. Well, this morning we’re going to enter into that seventh trumpet. Uh it starts with verse 14 in chapter 11. And this is also the third woe.
Okay, so it says the second woe is passed. Behold, the third woe is soon to come. Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet. So this is like the seventh seal where the seventh seal announced that there were going to now be seven more judgments, which is so sobering. This seventh trumpet is announcing there’s about to be seven more judgments. So remember in the beginning we had the seven seal, seven trumpet. These are the seven bold judgments and there were loud voices in heaven.
The Heavenly Voices and Kingdom Shift 1 min mark
This is presumably the entire host assembly that of those that are already in heaven are raising up their loud voices and this is what they’re saying saying the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ and he shall reign forever and ever. They are announcing that the rulership of this world has changed. The enemy thought he was the ruler, but the real ruler is stepping up.
And it says, “And the 24 elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worships God.” Now, we’ve heard of them before. And remember before I told you Barnhaus’s view. Barnhouse wrote the book of Revelation. His view is that the 24 elders are representative of the 12 apostles and the 12 tribe of Israel. There’s another line of thought that they represent the church as a whole. But what we do have is the number 24 which represents perfect government. And we know that when Jesus steps on as ruler and lord that perfect government is coming into play inside of this world.
The Thanksgiving and Final Judgment 2 min mark
And they are saying we give thanks to you Lord God Almighty who was and who is and who was for you have taken your great power and you have begun to reign. The nations raged, but your wrath came. And the time for the dead to be judged, and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints, and those who fear your name, both small and great, and for destroying the destroyers of the earth.
Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings, pills of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hell. So they are um celebrating the fact that it’s almost over, that this world, that the millennial reign of Christ is about to take place, that the judgments are about to be finished, but God is going to have his final judgment and his final say over the sinful hearts of men, and that there will be a reward for his children.
He’s going to reward the prophets and the saints and the martyrs. And he’s going to reward you and he’s going to reward me for how we have lived on this earth, how we have honored his name, how we have proclaimed his name, how we’ve used the gifts and talents that he gave us to use for the purposes of Christ.
Focus Beyond This World 4 min mark
That’s one of the reasons that you and I can’t fix our eyes on this world. Because there’s another world coming and we’re not of this world. We are spiritual beings living in a natural world. It is not the other way around. And so this is the moment where they are pronouncing that the final judgment of Satan is coming. Satan will finally be destroyed. And when they hear this, they worship.
Celebrating Future Victory 4 min mark
Now, are they celebrating what is happening at this very moment of the seventh trumpet judgment? No. They’re celebrating what they know is going to happen. That that Satan after these seven seal judgments or seven bold judgments will finally be thrown into the pit and his rule and his reign is over. How do they know this in this moment when they’re yet to see it? Because scripture tells us Jesus was the lamb slain before the foundation of the world. So from the very beginning, what is going to happen has been made known and Revelation lets us know that that Satan will be defeated. So they’re already celebrating this in advance of the final occurrence of it.
Heaven’s Glory and Earth’s Destruction 5 min mark
So Ron Rhodess in his book uh I think it’s 40 days in the book of Revelation, he says this, as John witnesses glory in heaven, he witnesses destruction on earth. So he’s witnessing this celebration in heaven, but he’s about to witness the final seven bowl judgments. And this vision that John’s given in these in these verses of chapter 11, Barn House in his book of Revelation says it’s almost as if they cover the whole day of the Lord. It’s almost as if the saints are seeing all of it encompassed together.
And then he writes this. And having given the world 6,000 years in which to choose and settle upon its proper allegiance, and finding after all only an intenser and more malignant apostasy, he causes the final trump to sound. He being God. Breaks in with his almightiness and enforces his rightful dominion. A kingdom comes from which breaks in pieces and consumes all other kingdoms and stands forever. Laws are given to be changed no more. And the true anointed reigns on earth in an empire of sinless, deathless life and peace to the ages of the ages.
The Ark of the Covenant and Mercy 6 min mark
It’s interesting to me that in this final culmination of the final seven bowls of judgments, what appears is the ark of the covenant. And the ark of the covenant was the place where the mercy seat ruled and reigned. Do you remember when we first started this, we read the words, “Blessed is the man who reads this book.” I was thinking the other day when I was studying this again that one of the reasons we’re blessed to read this book is so that you and I can have a fornowledge an awareness beforehand that this moment in our history is coming and that we’re blessed to be able to tell people that Jesus is coming but that he’s also here now to be a part of their life and lead them in the abundant life he created for them.
We’re blessed to know that this is coming so that we can prepare our hearts and our minds and those we love in advance. And in light of all of this that we read, we still see the beautiful mercy seat of Christ. I am grateful for the mercy that he gives us in this moment. He delays his coming because he doesn’t want anyone to perish.
Being a Conduit for the Gospel 8 min mark
Well, you and I are his conduits in this life to share the good news that is Jesus. And my prayer is that we would not miss any opportunity in this Monday to be the mouthpiece for the beauty that is a life lived in relationship with the mercy seat himself, Jesus Christ.
