Trumpets of Judgment

We began a new series at Southside a few weeks ago, The Trumpets of God. Last Sunday we looked at the Trumpet of War. Initially, the trumpet’s primary purpose was to warn people of an approaching army, or to lead the army into battle against the enemy. This was what Joshua did at Jericho, Gideon did against the Midianites, And Saul against the Philistines. The trumpet became a part of leading an attack against the enemy much like the bugle often was used to call the army to “Charge!” in the 19th century. This imagery of the trumpet sounding the call to battle is used in one of the most famous trumpet passages in the Bible, Revelation 8 the Seven trumpets of Judgment. These trumpets announce the coming of seven judgments launched against evil people on the earth in much the same way an army would announce their attack against the enemy with a trumpet. However, we would be wise not to assume these trumpets are reserved for some time in the future. We are given no hints in God’s word about the duration of these trumpets, or whether they are successive or concurrent. This begs the question: Can we see evidence of these judgments already occurring in our world around us? I think we can. The most notable to me is the second trumpet which announces a third of the sea will become blood. Just a few months ago we had a hole punched in the bottom of the ocean spewing forth oil uncontrollably. As that oil reached the surface it was red and stretched for miles destroying the fishing industry for months. I think these trumpets will be devastating and obvious “acts of God.” But that’s not to say we can’t see echo’s of them already at work around us. John, the author of Revelation, said in 1 John 2 that many antichrist’s are already at work and from this we know it is the last hour. That was written in the first century. How much more should we be watchful for end time judgments 19 centuries later? Jesus told believers in Matthew 24 of many perils and tribulations that will befall the earth. Then in v.33 said “…when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door.” (NAS)