Revelation Chapter 11
The Seventh Trumpet
As it is explained in the New Albany Notes on Revelation
VERSE 18 “The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, And the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, and those who fear Your name, small and great, and should destroy those who destroy the earth.”
This verse now explains some of the NATURE of that reign —things which the Old Testament had predicted. Dan 12:1 equates the trouble (the angry nations) with Jesus’ standing up —beginning to exercise the regency granted him by and with his Father. The verse mentions three basic events: (1) trouble, (2) God’s wrath, and (3) dealing with the dead. The enraged nations may well refer to 1914 A.D. (WWI) although a case can be made for earlier anger among them.
The wrath of God is likely the seven last plagues BECAUSE in them the wrath of God is finished. (Rev 15:1). The dealing with the dead is mentioned IN THE ORDER in which God begins to deal with the eternal position of each class.
That is, THY BOND-SERVANTS THE PROPHETS (the Ancient Worthies) were the FIRST to have their eternal position determined (Heb. 11:35). THE SAINTS were next to have this determination made (during the Gospel Age). Finally, THOSE WHO FEAR THY NAME, THE SMALL AND THE GREAT (i. e., the world of mankind) are the last to have their eternity decided —during the Millennium. During this same Millennium, of course, some will not gain life at all as He will DESTROY THOSE WHO DESTROY THE EARTH (the new social order then prevailing) by their unwillingness to conform to the laws of the mediator.
VERSE 19 “Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail.”
This verse is a SUMMARY of the more detailed events in Chapters 15 and 16. The wrath of verse 18 is the plagues of 15:1. The temple of verse 19 is the scene of Rev 15:5-8. The lightning, sounds (voices), thunder, earthquake, the great hail of verse 19 are the culmination of the plagues in the seventh plague of Rev 16:17-21.
The NAS reads “the temple of God which is in heaven was opened.” The KJV reads “the temple of God was opened in heaven.” A comparison of manuscripts and translation evidence seems to favor the KJV as does the likely interpretation.
The temple represents God’s plan (or, in various applications, parts of that plan.) When the seventh Trumpet sounded (1874 A.D.), God’s plan WAS OPENED to those dwelling in the heavenlies —those who were watching and praying. One of the most important, as well as one of the most neglected, doctrines was at the center of this opening of understanding: THE COVENANTS.
THAT is what is here pictured as being revealed in the temple (in or through God’s open plan): The Ark of the Covenant. Christ, of course, is the antitypical ark; but the picture is broader; the COVENANT part of the title is stressed. Christ IS Christ BECAUSE he is the mediator of the New Covenant in fulfillment of the promise to Abraham. Brother Russell’s understanding and clarification of the covenants was at the very core of our being able to understand the plan of God at this time in history.
LIGHTNING flashed because increased truths (both secular and spiritual) did and will add to the confusion in society and the ecclesiastical world. Psa. 97:4.
SOUNDS (Voices) represent the many messages or explanations that are offered because of the vast and important changes in society and religion.
THUNDER represents the resulting controversies arising from increased glimpses of light (on all subjects).
EARTHQUAKE is symbolic of the upheaval of the social order already experienced and soon to increase.
HAILSTORM symbolizes the hard truths (Isa. 28:17) which, while already begun in a small sense, will become of such unbearable weight as to wash away all remnants of the old order.
In our next post we will see how these verses are explained in the Keys of Revelation.
