Quick Answer
The seventh trumpet in Revelation 11 announces the third woe and introduces seven final bowl judgments. Heaven celebrates in advance because Jesus was the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world, meaning Satan’s defeat was already certain from the beginning.
Key Takeaways
- The seventh trumpet announces the third woe and, like the seventh seal before it, introduces seven more judgments (the seven bowls).
- Loud voices in heaven declare that the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of the Lord and His Christ, announcing a change in rulership.
- The 24 elders, representing perfect government, fall on their faces and worship, thanking God for taking His power and beginning to reign.
- Heaven celebrates Satan’s final defeat before it actually happens because Jesus was the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world, so the outcome was already settled.
- The ark of the covenant, the place of the mercy seat, appears in this vision, showing that even in final judgment God’s mercy remains central.
- We are blessed to have foreknowledge of what is coming so we can prepare our own hearts and share the good news of Jesus with others.
What happens when the seventh trumpet sounds in Revelation 11?
You remember for the last two weeks we’ve been inside of an interruption between the sixth and seventh trumpet. This morning we’re going to enter into that seventh trumpet, starting with verse 14 in chapter 11, which is also the third woe.
It says the second woe is passed, and behold, the third woe is soon to come. Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet. This is like the seventh seal, where the seventh seal announced there were going to be seven more judgments, which is so sobering. This seventh trumpet is announcing there’s about to be seven more judgments — remember, in the beginning we had the seven seals and seven trumpets, and these are the seven bowl judgments.
The second woe is passed. Behold, the third woe is soon to come.
Revelation 11:14
What do the loud voices in heaven proclaim at the seventh trumpet?
There were loud voices in heaven — presumably the entire host and assembly of those already in heaven — raising up their voices saying the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever. They are announcing that the rulership of this world has changed. The enemy thought he was the ruler, but the real ruler is stepping up.
The 24 elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God. We’ve heard of them before — Barnhouse’s view is that the 24 elders represent the 12 apostles and the 12 tribes of Israel, though another line of thought says they represent the church as a whole. What we do know is that the number 24 represents perfect government, and when Jesus steps in as ruler and Lord, perfect government comes into play inside this world.
The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.
Revelation 11:15
What do the 24 elders say in their worship?
They said, ‘We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, who was and who is, for you have taken your great power and you have begun to reign. The nations raged, but your wrath came, and the time for the dead to be judged, and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints, and those who fear your name, both small and great, and for destroying the destroyers of the earth.’
They are celebrating the fact that it’s almost over — that the millennial reign of Christ is about to take place, that the judgments are about to be finished, but God is going to have His final judgment and final say over the sinful hearts of men, and there will be a reward for His children. He’s going to reward the prophets and the saints and the martyrs, and He’s going to reward you and me for how we have lived on this earth, how we have honored His name, proclaimed His name, and used the gifts and talents He gave us for the purposes of Christ. That’s one of the reasons that you and I can’t fix our eyes on this world — there’s another world coming, and we’re not of this world. We are spiritual beings living in a natural world, not the other way around.
We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, who was and who is, for you have taken your great power and you have begun to reign. The nations raged, but your wrath came, and the time for the dead to be judged, and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints, and those who fear your name, both small and great, and for destroying the destroyers of the earth.
Revelation 11:17-18
What is revealed when God’s temple in heaven opens?
Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of His covenant was seen within His temple. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail. This is the moment where they are pronouncing that the final judgment of Satan is coming — Satan will finally be destroyed, and when they hear this, they worship.
Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail.
Revelation 11:19
Why does heaven celebrate Satan’s defeat before it actually happens?
Are they celebrating what is happening at this very moment of the seventh trumpet judgment? No. They’re celebrating what they know is going to happen — that after these seven bowl judgments, Satan will finally be thrown into the pit and his rule and reign is over.
How do they know this in this moment when they’re yet to see it? Because scripture tells us Jesus was the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world. So from the very beginning, what is going to happen has been made known, and Revelation lets us know that Satan will be defeated. So they’re already celebrating this in advance of the final occurrence of it.
Ron Rhodes, in his book on Revelation, says as John witnesses glory in heaven, he witnesses destruction on earth — so he’s witnessing this celebration in heaven, but he’s about to witness the final seven bowl judgments. This vision given to John in these verses of chapter 11, Barnhouse says in his book on Revelation, is almost as if they cover the whole day of the Lord — as if the saints are seeing all of it encompassed together.
As John witnesses glory in heaven, he witnesses destruction on earth.
Ron Rhodes
What did Barnhouse write about God’s final judgment?
Barnhouse writes: having given the world 6,000 years in which to choose and settle upon its proper allegiance, and finding after all only an intenser and more malignant apostasy, He causes the final trump to sound. He, being God, breaks in with His almightiness and enforces His rightful dominion. A kingdom comes which breaks in pieces and consumes all other kingdoms and stands forever. Laws are given to be changed no more, and the true anointed reigns on earth in an empire of sinless, deathless life and peace to the ages of the ages.
Having given the world 6,000 years in which to choose and settle upon its proper allegiance, and finding after all only an intenser and more malignant apostasy, he causes the final trump to sound.
Barnhouse
Why does the ark of the covenant and the mercy seat matter here?
It’s interesting to me that in this final culmination of the seven bowl judgments, what appears is the ark of the covenant — the place where the mercy seat ruled and reigned. Do you remember when we first started this study, we read the words, ‘Blessed is the man who reads this book.’ I was thinking the other day, while studying this again, that one reason we’re blessed to read this book is so that you and I can have foreknowledge, an awareness beforehand, that this moment in our history is coming.
We’re blessed to be able to tell people that Jesus is coming, but that He’s also here now to be a part of their life and lead them in the abundant life He created for them. We’re blessed to know this is coming so we can prepare our hearts and minds, and those we love, in advance. And in light of all of this, we still see the beautiful mercy seat of Christ. I am grateful for the mercy He gives us in this moment — He delays His coming because He doesn’t want anyone to perish.
You and I are His conduits in this life to share the good news that is Jesus. My prayer is that we would not miss any opportunity, on this Monday, to be the mouthpiece for the beauty that is a life lived in relationship with the mercy seat Himself, Jesus Christ.
Blessed is the man who reads this book.
Revelation (paraphrased)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the seventh trumpet in Revelation 11?
The seventh trumpet begins in Revelation 11:14 and is also called the third woe. Like the seventh seal, it announces that seven more judgments — the seven bowl judgments — are about to unfold.
Who are the 24 elders in Revelation?
One view, from Barnhouse, is that the 24 elders represent the 12 apostles and the 12 tribes of Israel; another view is that they represent the church as a whole. The number 24 represents perfect government, showing that when Jesus steps in as ruler, perfect government comes into this world.
Why does heaven celebrate Satan’s defeat before it actually happens?
Heaven celebrates in advance because scripture tells us Jesus was the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world, meaning what would happen was made known from the very beginning. So the saints and elders worship over Satan’s coming destruction even though the seven bowl judgments haven’t occurred yet.
What is significant about the ark of the covenant appearing in Revelation 11?
The ark of the covenant was the place where the mercy seat ruled and reigned. Its appearance at this point in the vision shows that even amid the final judgments, God’s mercy seat — Jesus Christ — remains central.
What will God reward at this point in Revelation?
God will judge the dead and reward His servants — the prophets, the saints, and those who fear His name, both small and great — for how they lived, honored His name, and used their gifts for Christ’s purposes.
Why does this passage matter for believers today?
Because we are blessed to have foreknowledge that this moment in history is coming, we can prepare our own hearts and minds, prepare those we love, and use every opportunity to share the good news of Jesus while He delays His coming out of mercy.
Watch the full teaching to explore the seventh trumpet, the third woe, and what heaven’s celebration means for us today.
About Epic Life Creative
Speaker: Denise Jones
https://www.epiclifecreative.com/
Read the full transcript
Opening: The Seventh Trumpet
Good Monday morning. You remember for the last two weeks we’ve kind of been inside of an interruption between the sixth and seventh trumpet. Well, this morning we’re going to enter into that seventh trumpet. Uh it starts with verse 14 in chapter 11. And this is also the third woe. Okay, so it says the second woe is passed. Behold, the third woe is soon to come. Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet.
So this is like the seventh seal where the seventh seal announced that there were going to now be seven more judgments, which is so sobering. This seventh trumpet is announcing there’s about to be seven more judgments. So remember in the beginning we had the seven seal, seven trumpet. These are the seven bold judgments and there were loud voices in heaven. This is presumably the entire host assembly that of those that are already in heaven are raising up their loud voices and this is what they’re saying saying the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ and he shall reign forever and ever. They are announcing that the rulership of this world has changed. The enemy thought he was the ruler, but the real ruler is stepping up.
The 24 Elders and Perfect Government
And it says, “And the 24 elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worships God.” Now, we’ve heard of them before. And remember before I told you Barnhaus’s view. Barnhouse wrote the book of Revelation. His view is that the 24 elders are representative of the 12 apostles and the 12 tribe of Israel. There’s another line of thought that they represent the church as a whole. But what we do have is the number 24 which represents perfect government. And we know that when Jesus steps on as ruler and lord that perfect government is coming into play inside of this world.
And they are saying we give thanks to you Lord God Almighty who was and who is and who was for you have taken your great power and you have begun to reign. The nations raged, but your wrath came. And the time for the dead to be judged, and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints, and those who fear your name, both small and great, and for destroying the destroyers of the earth. Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings, pills of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hell.
Celebration of Coming Judgment
So they are um celebrating the fact that it’s almost over, that this world, that the millennial reign of Christ is about to take place, that the judgments are about to be finished, but God is going to have his final judgment and his final say over the sinful hearts of men, and that there will be a reward for his children. He’s going to reward the prophets and the saints and the martyrs. And he’s going to reward you and he’s going to reward me for how we have lived on this earth, how we have honored his name, how we have proclaimed his name, how we’ve used the gifts and talents that he gave us to use for the purposes of Christ.
That’s one of the reasons that you and I can’t fix our eyes on this world. Because there’s another world coming and we’re not of this world. We are spiritual beings living in a natural world. It is not the other way around. And so this is the moment where they are pronouncing that the final judgment of Satan is coming. Satan will finally be destroyed. And when they hear this, they worship.
Celebrating What Is to Come
Now, are they celebrating what is happening at this very moment of the seventh trumpet judgment? No. They’re celebrating what they know is going to happen. That that Satan after these seven seal judgments or seven bold judgments will finally be thrown into the pit and his rule and his reign is over. How do they know this in this moment when they’re yet to see it? Because scripture tells us Jesus was the lamb slain before the foundation of the world. So from the very beginning, what is going to happen has been made known and Revelation lets us know that that Satan will be defeated. So they’re already celebrating this in advance of the final occurrence of it.
The Day of the Lord
So Ron Rhodess in his book uh I think it’s 40 days in the book of Revelation, he says this, as John witnesses glory in heaven, he witnesses destruction on earth. So he’s witnessing this celebration in heaven, but he’s about to witness the final seven bowl judgments. And this vision that John’s given in these in these verses of chapter 11, Barn House in his book of Revelation says it’s almost as if they cover the whole day of the Lord. It’s almost as if the saints are seeing all of it encompassed together. And then he writes this. And having given the world 6,000 years in which to choose and settle upon its proper allegiance, and finding after all only an intenser and more malignant apostasy, he causes the final trump to sound. He being God. Breaks in with his almightiness and enforces his rightful dominion. A kingdom comes from which breaks in pieces and consumes all other kingdoms and stands forever. Laws are given to be changed no more. And the true anointed reigns on earth in an empire of sinless, deathless life and peace to the ages of the ages.
The Ark of the Covenant and Mercy
It’s interesting to me that in this final culmination of the final seven bowls of judgments, what appears is the ark of the covenant. And the ark of the covenant was the place where the mercy seat ruled and reigned. Do you remember when we first started this, we read the words, “Blessed is the man who reads this book.” I was thinking the other day when I was studying this again that one of the reasons we’re blessed to read this book is so that you and I can have a fornowledge an awareness beforehand that this moment in our history is coming and that we’re blessed to be able to tell people that Jesus is coming but that he’s also here now to be a part of their life and lead them in the abundant life he created for them. We’re blessed to know that this is coming so that we can prepare our hearts and our minds and those we love in advance.
And in light of all of this that we read, we still see the beautiful mercy seat of Christ. I am grateful for the mercy that he gives us in this moment. He delays his coming because he doesn’t want anyone to perish. Well, you and I are his conduits in this life to share the good news that is Jesus. And my prayer is that we would not miss any opportunity in this Monday to be the mouthpiece for the beauty that is a life lived in relationship with the mercy seat himself, Jesus Christ.