In the previous section, we learned that Christ’s return for his people will be associated with the sounding of the last trumpet (see In the Twinkling of an Eye).  To categorize a trumpet sounding as the last one, there must have been other trumpets that come before it.  Of all the prophecies concerning the end times within the Bible, only in one place is there found a series of trumpets that are predicted to sound at the end of the age.  In the book of Revelation, within chapters 8-11, there are a number of descriptive prophecies given concerning the aftereffects resulting from the sounding of seven consecutive trumpets blown by seven angels initially seen standing before the God of Heaven.  When each trumpet sounds, it can be seen to herald a variety of horrific events during the final years leading up to the end of the age.  The trumpet sounds are meant to punctuate the Great Tribulation period with ever more disastrous effects.

Most of these trumpets and their effects have already been discussed in the section on World War III, because they reflect the worldwide consequences of a massive global war fought between the main military powers at the end.  In those sections, the first six trumpets were found to have prophetic reference to the terrible effects of nuclear warfare—complete with an accompanying fiery holocaust that will destroy much of the works of mankind.  These chapters in Revelation along with the associated seven trumpets, describe essentially in chronological order, precisely what will happen during the destructive final 3-1/2 years before Christ returns…[read full article]