Title: Jesus is coming. . .soon! Are you ready?
1Jesus is coming. . .soon! Are you ready?
2Last Day of Earths History
For the righteous it is a day of deliverance
For the wicked it is a day of destruction
3Seven Trumpets
Uncovering the meaning of the seven trumpets
requires that we first review the history of the
Christian church as told in the prophecies of the
seven churches and the seven seals
4Review of the Seals
- White horseearly church correlates with Ephesus
church (A.D. 34 100) - Red horsechurch under persecution Smyrna (A.D.
100 313) - Black horsechurch of the apostasy Pergamos
(A.D. 313 538) - Pale horsechurch of the Dark Ages Thyatira
(A.D. 538 1300s)
5Traditions of Men Condemned
This people honoureth Me with their lips, but
their heart is far from Me. Howbeit in vain do
they worship Me, teaching for doctrines the
commandments of men. Mark 76, 7.
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy
and vain deceit, after the tradition of men,
after the rudiments of the world, and not after
Christ. Colossians 28.
6Review of the Seals
- Fifth sealchurch of the Reformation correlates
with Sardis (1350 1798) - Sixth sealchurch of the time of the end
Philadelphia (1798 1844) - Seventh sealcleansing of the sanctuary Laodicea
(1844 second coming)
7Johns Vision of the Trumpets
The vision of the trumpets REPEATS the time frame
of the history of the seven churches and the
seven seals, but here the prophecy tells of
political history surrounding the
Church of wars, and pending judgments against
the Church.
8Trumpets in the Old Testament
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak
unto the children of Israel, saying, In the
seventh month, in the first day of the month,
shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of
trumpets, an holy convocation. Lev. 2323,
24
Blowing the shofar or rams horn
9Trumpets in the Old Testament
And thou shalt number seven sabbaths of years
unto thee, seven times seven years and the space
of the seven sabbaths of years shall be unto thee
forty and nine years. Then shalt thou cause the
trumpet of the jubilee to sound on the tenth day
of the seventh month, in the day of atonement
shall ye make the trumpet sound throughout all
your land. Leviticus 258, 9.
10Trumpets in the Old Testament
And if ye go to war in your land against the
enemy that oppresseth you, then ye shall blow an
alarm with the trumpets and ye shall be
remembered before the LORD your God, and ye shall
be saved from your enemies. Num. 108, 9.
11Trumpets in the Old Testament
And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of
war, and go round about the city once. Thus shalt
thou do six days. And seven priests shall bear
before the ark seven trumpets of rams' horns and
the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven
times, and the priests shall blow with the
trumpets. And it shall come to pass, that when
they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and
when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the
people shall shout with a great shout and the
wall of the city shall fall down flat
Joshua 63-5
12Trumpets in the Old Testament
And Zadok the priest took an horn of oil out of
the tabernacle, and anointed Solomon. And they
blew the trumpet and all the people said, God
save king Solomon . . . And when Joab heard the
sound of the trumpet, he said, Wherefore is this
noise of the city being in an uproar? . . . And
Jonathan answered and said to Adonijah, Verily
our lord king David hath made Solomon king.
1 Kings 39, 41, 43.
13Trumpets in the Old Testament
And it shall come to pass in that day, that the
great trumpet shall be blown, and they shall come
which were ready to perish in the land of
Assyria, and the outcasts in the land of Egypt,
and shall worship the LORD in the holy mount at
Jerusalem. Isaiah 2713.
14Trumpets in the Old Testament
And it shall come to pass in that day, that the
GREAT trumpet shall be blown, and they shall come
which were ready to perish in the land of
Assyria, and the outcasts in the land of Egypt,
and shall worship the LORD in the holy mount at
Jerusalem. Isaiah 2713.
15Trumpets in the Old Testament
Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm
in My holy mountain let all the inhabitants of
the land tremble for the day of the LORD cometh,
for it is nigh at hand . . . Blow the trumpet in
Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly
gather the people, sanctify the congregation . .
. Joel 21, 15, 16.
16Trumpets in the Old Testament
Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm
in My holy mountain let all the inhabitants of
the land tremble for the day of the LORD cometh,
for it is nigh at hand . . . Blow the trumpet in
Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly
gather the people, sanctify the congregation . .
. Joel 21, 15, 16.
17Trumpets in the Old Testament
Announce the coming of the Day of Atonement
Declare the Day of Jubilee and freedom
Call to remember the Commandments of God
Declare war
Declare the day of final judgment of the world
Proclaim the new kings coronation
18Trumpets in the Old Testament
Primary use of trumpets in the Old Testament was
to warn of coming judgment against apostasy on
the typical Day of Atonement
Judgment is coming!
19Trumpets in the Old Testament
Primary use of trumpets in the Old Testament was
to warn of coming judgment against apostasy on
the typical Day of Atonement
Judgment is coming!
20Review of Revelation Prophecy
Trumpets in the Bible Symbolize war
Announce judgment against enemies Call Gods
people to prepare spiritually for His final day
of reckoning
21Review of Revelation Prophecy
Pergamos Church (A.D. 313-538) Compromise with
paganism Great falling away 2 Thess. 21-12
Gnostic philosophy exalted Traditions
replace the Bible
22Review of Revelation Prophecy
Thyatira Church (538-1789) Papacy
established Doctrines were developed contrary
to Bible truth Persecution of Gods people by
the church
23Parallels to Seven Last Plagues
Hail Fire Blood Sea and rivers
effected Sea becomes blood Sea creatures
die Three parts Darkness
24Explanation of Symbols
First four trumpets concern the over throw of
the western half of the old Roman Empire
Third part relates to the division of Roman
Empire after Constantine the Great died
25Overview of the Trumpets
First trumpet Alaric and the Goths (395 to
410 A.D.) Second trumpet Genseric and the
Vandals (440 455 A.D.) Third trumpet
Attila and the Huns (434 452 A.D.) Fourth
trumpet Odoacer and fall of the Western Roman
empire (476 A.D.)
26Overview of the Trumpets
Darkness in the religious and political
worlds (A.D. 538 - 1798) Fifth trumpet
rise of Islam (first woe A.D. 622 to 732)
Sixth trumpet spread and collapse of Islam
(second woe, 1299 to 1840)
27Overview of the Trumpets
French Revolution and the close of prophetic
time (1798 1844) Reemergence of Islam
(third woe 1988 ??) Seventh trumpet
second apartment ministry of Christ and final
cleansing of the sanctuary coronation of the
KING of kings
28Events Leading to Trumpets
A.D. 325 First Church Council at Nicaea to
discuss how to handle the opinions of Arius
regarding the divine nature of Christ
A.D. 327 Constantines sister begged him to
recall Arius from banishment, and he did after
this Constantine sided with the Arians
A.D. 359 Every bishop in the empire were called
to meet and make a final decision on the question
of the divine nature of Christ
29Events Leading to Trumpets
A.D. 325 First Church Council at Nicaea to
discuss how to handle the opinions of Arius
regarding the divine nature of Christ
A.D. 327 Constantines sister begged him to
recall Arius from banishment, and he did after
this Constantine sided with the Arians
A.D. 359 Every bishop in the empire were called
to meet and make a final decision on the question
of the divine nature of Christ
30Events Leading to Trumpets
A.D. 325 First Church Council at Nicaea to
discuss how to handle the opinions of Arius
regarding the divine nature of Christ
A.D. 327 Constantines sister begged him to
recall Arius from banishment, and he did after
this Constantine sided with the Arians
A.D. 359 Every bishop in the empire were called
to meet and make a final decision on the question
of the divine nature of Christ
31Events Leading to Trumpets
A.D. 380 Edict issued by Theodosius, co-emperor
with the two child emperors, sons of Valentinian
It is our pleasure that the nations which are
governed by our clemency and moderation, should
steadfastly adhere to the religion which was
taught by St. Peter to the Romans . . . We
authorize the followers of this doctrine to
assume the title of Catholic Christians and as
we judge that all others are extravagant madmen,
we brand them with the infamous name of
heretics.
32Events Leading to Trumpets
The historian Henry H. Milman stated Thus the
religion of the whole Roman world was enacted by
two feeble boys and a rude Spanish soldier.
History of Christianity, Book III, chapter 9,
par. 1
33Events Leading to Trumpets
Ulfilas (A.D. 311 383) was a Christian
missionary who worked among the Goth nations and
tribes on the northern frontiers of the old Roman
Empire
Ulfilas was strongly opposed to the allegorizing
of the Bible that the Roman ecclesiastics were
want to do to pacify the political leadership of
Rome
34Events Leading to Trumpets
Ulfilas was a Greek seventh-day Sabbath-keeper,
and taught the fourth commandment to the Goth
nations. It is a fact that formerly those who
dwelt in the east were accustomed as a church to
sanctify the Sabbath . . . It is, therefore,
possible for the Goths to have thought, as pupils
of the discipline of the Greeks, that they should
sanctify the Sabbath. Sidonius Apollinaris,
historian (A.D. 454 526)
35Events Leading to Trumpets
Henry H. Milman stated There is no trace of
Arianism in the surviving remains of the Gothic
translation of the New Testament. (History of
Christianity, vol. III, p. 59). The Goths
professed to adhere to the words of Scripture
delivered to them by Ulfilas and called
themselves Catholic, not Arian.
36Events Leading to Trumpets
As a result of the work of Ulfilas the Goths
refused to believe as the church of Rome did, and
as a consequence, they were branded heretics and
Arians
37Events Leading to Trumpets
The barbarians were easily provoked they knew
not how to forgive an injury, much less an
insult their resentments were bloody and
implacable. The casual disputes that so
frequently happened in their tumultuous parties
of hunting or drinking were sufficient to inflame
the minds of whole nations. . . To chastise the
insolent, or to plunder the defenseless, were
alike causes to war. (Edward Gibbons, Decline
and Fall of the Roman Empire, chapter 9, par. 24).
38First Trumpet
And the seven angels which had the seven
trumpets prepared themselves to sound. The first
angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire
mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the
earth and the third part of the trees was burnt
up, and all green grass was burnt up. Rev.
86, 7.
39First Trumpet
The pastures of Gaul, in which the flocks and
herds grazed, were suddenly changed into a
desert, distinguished from the solitude of nature
only by smoking ruins. Edward Gibbons, Decline
and Fall of the Roman Empire Like hail, the
barbarians battered at the northern frontiers of
the Roman Empire, first in one place then another.
40First Trumpet
A.D. 410 Alaric the Visigoth (western branch of
the Goth tribes) conquered the city of Rome he
died shortly after at the age of 40, prompting
the superstition
that since he had invaded Gods city he was
killed by God
41Second Trumpet
And the second angel sounded, and as it were a
great mountain burning with fire was cast into
the sea and the third part of the sea became
blood and the third part of the creatures which
were in the sea, and had life, died and the
third part of the ships were destroyed.
Rev. 88, 9.
42Second Trumpet
Vandals, under cover of darkness, towed some
ships loaded with combustibles into
the harbor among the Roman fleet, setting fire to
them. There were 1300 ships burned in one night.
43Third Trumpet
And the third angel sounded, and there fell a
great star from heaven, burning as it were a
lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the
rivers, and upon the fountains of waters and the
name of the star was Wormwood and the third part
of the waters became wormwood and many men died
of the waters, because they were made bitter.
Rev. 88, 9.
44Third Trumpet
Like a blazing meteor star, Attilas devastations
helped in the overthrow of the empire. He called
himself the Scourge of God.
45Third Trumpet
Attila the Hun began his harassment of the
eastern sector of the Roman Empire before
Genseric reached Rome. Both were invading parts
of Rome during the same periods in history, one
from the south, the other from the north.
Genseric's final march on Rome occurred in A.D.
455 Attila died in A.D. 453. The prophecies must
be evaluated more by how the symbols apply than
by adhering strictly to dates.
46Third Trumpet
Genseric great mountain burning with fire
cast into the sea reflects the burning of the
Roman fleet in one night when 1300 ships were
lost third part of the ships destroyed
reflects the fact that this third part of the
Roman empire lost its fleet
47Third Trumpet
Genseric Captured all the major islands of the
western sector of Rome third part of the sea
became blood we define sea or waters by the
Bible as meaning peoples, multitudes, nations,
tongues (Rev. 1715)
48Third Trumpet
Attila Blazed swiftly down from the frozen
mountains to the north of Italy like a meteor
The major rivers of northern Italy have their
headwaters in these same mountains symbol of
rivers fits here This judgment had bitter
consequences for this third part of the Roman
empire
49Fourth Trumpet
And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part
of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the
moon, and the third part of the stars so as the
third part of them was darkened, and the day
shone not for a third part of it, and the night
likewise. Rev. 812.
50Fourth Trumpet
A.D. 476 the last western emperor dethroned by
the Heruli under Odoacer
51Prophecy of Daniel 2
And as the toes of the feet were part of iron
and part of clay, so shall the kingdom be partly
strong, and partly broken. Daniel 242.
52Prophecy is Accurate
Prophecy of Daniels ten horns was that three
would be replaced by a little horn which came
up among the ten. History proves this prophecy
true. Papal Rome rose to power while destroying
three tribes which opposed its purpose. Those
three tribes plucked up were the Vandals, the
Heruli, and the Ostrogoths.
53Review of Revelation Prophecy
54Summary of Trumpets
Up to the time of the Babylonian exile,
monotheism had waged a losing battle against
idolatry, and ignorance of the Bible was
commonplace. Abraham Bloch The Biblical and
Historical Background of the Jewish Holy Days, p.
15.
Mystery Babylon assumes control of truth
55Summary of Trumpets
The Christians were pronounced atheists, because
they were destitute of temples, altars, victims,
priests, and all the pomp in which the vulgar
pagans suppose the essence of religion to
consist. It is certain that to religious
worship, both public and private, many rites were
added, without necessity, and to the offense of
sober and good men. Moshiem Ecclesiastical
History, Century II, part ii, chapter 4,
par. 3 and 1.
56Summary of Trumpets
Announce the coming of the Day of Atonement
Declare the Day of Jubilee and freedom
Call to remember the Commandments of God
Declare war
Declare the day of final judgment of the world
Proclaim the new kings coronation
57(No Transcript)
58Partial Bibliography for trumpets study
Edward Gibbons, Decline and Fall of the Roman
Empire (1946) James Bryce, The Holy Roman Empire
(1886) A.T. Jones, The Great Empires of Prophecy
(1898) E.J. Waggoner, Fathers of the Catholic
Church (1888) S.N. Haskell, The Story of the Seer
of Patmos (1905) Philip Schaff, History of the
Christian Church (1910) H.G. Wells, The Outline
of History (1931) George Burnside, Revelations
Wonders Unfolded (nd.) Roy Allan Anderson,
Unfolding the Revelation (1953) B.G. Wilkinson,
Truth Triumphant (1944) Samuele Bacchiocchi,
Gods Festivals, vol. 2 (1996) (editors) Source
Book for Bible Students (1922) Roy C. Naden, The
Lamb Among the Beasts (1996) G.K. Beale and D.A.
Carson (eds.), Commentary on the New Testament
Use of the Old Testament (2007)