Revelation: Trumpets

 Revelation: Justification by Faith

Trumpets

After the silence in heaven following the seventh seal, the trumpets come next.
A trumpet in the Bible is often used in the context of war, which fits best in the context of Revelation. As it is written:

Numbers 10:9
“And when you go to war in your land against the adversary who oppresses you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets, that you may be remembered before the Lord your God, and you shall be saved from your enemies.” (ESV)

In addition, the fall of the city of Jericho is an interesting explanation for the trumpets.
The Israelites had to walk around the city of Jericho for six days and blow trumpets. They did this in great silence, indicating the solemnity of the event.
On the seventh day, they were to shout after walking around the city seven times, and then the walls of Jericho would fall at the sound of the trumpet.

Joshua 6:1–16
1. Now Jericho was shut up inside and outside because of the people of Israel. None went out, and none came in.
2. And the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and mighty men of valor.
3. You shall march around the city, all the men of war going around the city once. Thus shall you do for six days.
4. Seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark. On the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets.
5. And when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, when you hear the sound of the trumpet, then all the people shall shout with a great shout, and the wall of the city will fall down flat, and the people shall go up, everyone straight before him.”
6. So Joshua the son of Nun called the priests and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the Lord.”
7. And he said to the people, “Go forward. March around the city and let the armed men pass on before the ark of the Lord.”
8. And just as Joshua had commanded the people, the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns before the Lord went forward, blowing the trumpets, with the ark of the covenant of the Lord following them.
9. The armed men were walking before the priests who were blowing the trumpets, and the rear guard was walking after the ark, while the trumpets blew continually.
10. But Joshua commanded the people, “You shall not shout or make your voice heard, neither shall any word go out of your mouth, until the day I tell you to shout. Then you shall shout.”
11. So he caused the ark of the Lord to circle the city, going about it once. And they came into the camp and spent the night in the camp.
12. Then Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the Lord.
13. And the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the Lord walked on, and they blew the trumpets continually. And the armed men were walking before them, and the rear guard was walking after the ark of the Lord, while the trumpets blew continually.
14. And the second day they marched around the city once, and returned into the camp. So they did for six days.
15. On the seventh day they rose early, at the dawn of day, and marched around the city in the same manner seven times. It was only on that day that they marched around the city seven times.
16. And at the seventh time, when the priests had blown the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, “Shout, for the Lord has given you the city!”

The silence of the seventh seal and the trumpets that follow are well summarized in these words:

Exodus 14:13–14
13. And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again.
14. The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” (ESV)

It is time for God Himself to begin judging. We need only to observe.
This is the final outcome of Hebrews 12, in connection with the voice of God that speaks to us under the new covenant:

Hebrews 12:25–29
25. See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven.
26. At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.”
27. This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain.
28. Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe,
29. for our God is a consuming fire. (ESV)

Besides war, the trumpet was also used to gather God's people:

Numbers 10:2
“Make two silver trumpets. Of hammered work you shall make them, and you shall use them for summoning the congregation and for breaking camp.” (ESV)

And therefore:

Hebrews 12:22–24
22. But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering,
23. and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,
24. and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. (ESV)