Revelation 1:10 says, “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet.”
My dad was a Navy man in WWII. I presided at his funeral many years later. The Navy sent out a couple of sailors to present a flag to our family on behalf of the president and our nation. I was informed ahead of time that the men might also play Taps. They arrived late and I couldn’t communicate with them. When I announced that they would present the flag, they came forward. After three tries they got the flag folded right and presented it to me. They saluted and then marched out of the little cemetery to their car. I respectfully waited until they reached their car, thinking they might blow the taps from there. Instead, they got in the car and drove off. I was disappointed there was no Taps.
We may think God will never blow His trumpet. The fact is He already has, and will again. The voice John heard was, “as of a trumpet.” Maybe he meant the voice was loud. He turned to see the voice. He saw, “one like unto the Son of man” (V. 13). It caused him to fall, “at his feet as dead” (V. 17). Jesus said, “Fear not; I am the first and the last…” (V. 17).
In the next two chapters He judged seven of His churches. In Revelation 8:2, seven angels are given seven trumpets. In chapters 8-11 we witness the judgments that followed the sounding of each trumpet.
According to Revelation 9:20 and 21 there must be a chance to repent during this time. Yet men will not repent.
The first thing Jesus said to John in Revelation is, “I am Alpha and Omega. The beginning and the ending (Revelation 1:8). He says it again in verses 11 and 17. This makes me think of Isaiah 48:12, “…I am the first, I also am the last.” In Isaiah 41:1 God talks about judging together, “Keep silence before me, o islands: and let the people renew their strength: let them come near, then let them speak: let us come near together to judgment. The great voice as of a trumpet that John heard was Jesus. He immediately said, “Fear not” (V. 17).
As He goes on to judge the churches it is important to see that He stood in the midst of them (V. 13). He was in the midst of the candlesticks which are the seven churches (V. 20). He is not in favor of destroying any of the churches, but calls them to repentance and offers a promise if they do repent.
The seven stars in Jesus’ right hand (V.20) were the angels, messengers, pastors of the seven churches. Notice how He holds them in His right hand. Jesus is the head of His church (Ephesians 1:22). The church is His body. As we look at the judgment of the seven churches we must remember that Christ loved the church and died for it (Ephesians 5:22).
The rest of Revelation deals with the last days for planet earth. Jesus starts His revelation to John making sure the church, His bride, is ready to meet Him, as a glorious church without spot or wrinkle (Ephesians 5:27). He wants the same for His church today. Isaiah 1:18 calls us to reason together. Let us call sin, sin—change our ways and be ready for God’s Trumpet!
