The Seven Trumpets

The seven trumpet judgments are supernatural acts not merely natural or historical acts portrayed in symbolic language. They destroy the Antichrist’s resources and people. The trumpet judgments display the Antichrist’s power as inferior to Jesus’ power. They are supernatural acts of God through nature (the first four) and demons (fifth and sixth ones).

First trumpet (food supply): burning 1/3 of the earth's vegetation (Rev. 8:7)
Second trumpet (food supply): destroying 1/3 of the sea (Rev. 8:8-9)
Third trumpet (water supply): poisoning 1/3 of the earth's fresh water (Rev. 8:10-11)
Fourth trumpet (light, energy): darkening 1/3 of the earth’s light (Rev. 8:12)
Fifth trumpet (torment): releasing demonic locusts that torment for 5 months (Rev. 9:1-12)
Sixth trumpet (death): releasing demonic horsemen that kill 1/3 of the earth (Rev. 9:13-21)
Seventh trumpet (defeat): beginning of Jesus’ Second Coming procession (Rev. 11:15-19).

The first 4 trumpets will release God’s judgment on nature to destroy the natural resources of the Antichrist’s empire (Rev. 8:7-12). Each trumpet destroys a different area, i.e., food (vegetation, meat, fish), sea trade, water supply and the environment: light and heat (sun, moon, stars). The last 2 trumpets release demons on the Antichrist’s kingdom to torment and kill his followers.

The trumpet judgments have a 3-fold purpose (Num. 10): judgment on the Antichrist’s empire, to warn the lost to receive salvation and to signal the certain victory that is soon to come for God’s people (like the trumpets did for Joshua).

The limitation of the trumpets to a partial (1/3) judgment gives opportunity for repentance (1/3 is used 14 times in Rev. 8:2–9:21 (Rev. 8:7[2x], 9[3x], 10, 11, 12[5x]; 9:15, 18).