BELIEFS AND TEACHINGS

Trumpets and Their Symbolism—Revelation 9

The theological symbolism of trumpets in the Bible is rooted in the function of trumpets in Old Testament times during which trumpet signals ordered the life of ancient Israel. The two most common types of trumpets were those made of hammered metal (chatsotserah) and blown by priests on various occasions, often of a religious nature (Num. 10:2-10) and the shophars (made from ram’s horns) used as signaling devices, particularly in military situations (Judg. 3:27; 1 Sam. 13:3; Ezek. 33:3-6). Numbers 10 portrays trumpets as sacred instruments. Priests blew them at appointed feasts and for God to remember His people during their time of need(Num. 10:8-10). In time of war, as priests sounded the trumpets and people prayed, God would step in to help them by defending them from their enemies (2 Chron. 13:12-15).

In the Old Testament the trumpet appears in connection with some significant events in Israel’s history. For instance, the voice of God speaking the law on Mount Sinai sounded like a trumpet blast (Exod. 19:16; 20:18; Heb. 12:19). At the trumpet blast, the wall of Jericho fell (Josh. 6:4-16). Scripture also associates the trumpet sound with the eschatological Day of the Lord (Isa. 27:13; Joel 2:1; Zeph. 1:16; Zech. 9:14). In the New Testament the trumpet sound (Gr. salpinx) signals the second coming of Christ in power and glory (Matt. 24:31; 1 Cor. 15:52; 1 Thess. 4:16).

The book of Revelation especially uses trumpets symbolically. The voice of Jesus seemed like a trumpet sound (Rev. 1:10; 4:1). A well-known symbolic use of trumpets is that of theseven trumpets in Revelation 8-11 which represent a series of God’s interventions through history in response to the prayers of His people (cf. Rev. 6:9-11).

Stefanovic, Revelation of Jesus Christ.

Stefanovic, “The Angel at the Altar (Revelation 8:3-5),” 79-94.