Revelation 8:6

Seven angels. See on v. 2.

Seven trumpets. See on v. 2. A number of views have been set forth as to the interpretation of the successive scenes that follow the blowing of the trumpets.

One view of the trumpets is based on the assumption that since the symbolization of v. 5 points to the end of Christ’s intercession, the events that follow might logically be taken to represent judgments of God poured out on the earth after the close of probation. According to this view these judgments parallel the seven last plagues (ch. 16). The proponents of this view point to certain aspects of each of the trumpets that find similar features in each of the plagues.

According to another view the seven trumpets should not be thought of chronologically, but as symbolic of the divine answer to the prayers of God’s suffering people of all ages. In other words, this interpretation sees the trumpets as God’s reassurance to His persecuted saints that in spite of the wars, plagues, famines, and death through which they may pass, He has not lost control of the world. He is still judge and will punish unrighteous men. See on v. 5.

The view favored by Seventh-day Adventists is that these trumpets retrace, to a large extent, the period of Christian history already covered by the seven churches (chs. 2; 3) and the seven seals (chs. 6; 8:1), and that they emphasize outstanding political and military events during this period. These events will be discussed below in the comments on the various trumpets.