Revelation Chapter 11

The Seventh Trumpet

As explained by Brother Frank Shallieu in The Keys of Revelation

VERSE 18 continued “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.”

Next it is stated “and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great.” Note the order of those to be rewarded: (1) “the prophets” (the Ancient Worthies), (2) “the saints,” and (3) those who fear God’s name (the world of mankind).

The question arises, are these three categories listed

(a) in the time sequence in which they will be granted their rewards,

(b) in the order of their initial appearance on the human plane of existence, that is, in the time sequence of their trial and subsequent development, or

(c) in order of importance?

The key to understanding the sequence of the rewards lies in the significance of the term “the saints” as used in this particular verse. Although “saints” are usually associated with the Little Flock, the word “saint,” like the word “angel,” can have a variety of meanings depending on context. Now to apply the acid test:

Do categories (a), (b), and/or (c) restrict the definition of “saints” in verse 18 to signify the Little Flock?

Rev 20:6 indicates the Little Flock are to be partakers of the FIRST RESURRECTION, which means they are first in the sense of importance as well as first in the sense of time of reward. Since the term “prophets” precedes that of “saints,” the listing cannot be according to (a) or (c). Category (b), therefore, is the answer to the original question, for the enumeration fits the sequence in which these classes appear on the earthly stage from the standpoint of their historic trial and testing period.

First, there were developed the Old Testament worthies (the prophets and their lesser counterparts); then come the New Testament worthies (the saints and those of less honor—the Great Company); next will be the Millennial Age worthies (the “small and great” of mankind who ultimately prove faithful). Finally, following the development of these three classes, yet one more event will occur as listed in Verse 18: the en masse destruction of the incorrigible at the end of the Millennium.

The destruction of the incorrigible is foretold in the clause “[that thou] shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.” This expression does not mean that all those unworthy of life everlasting will be destroyed from among the people before the end of the sounding of the seventh trumpet (?). To the contrary, it means that this judgment will merely start its progressive fulfillment by that date and then continue throughout the Millennial Age. In other words, God’s purpose is revealed here. His intention is to eradicate all evil, and He will eventually remove those who are proven to be unfit. For the world of mankind, the Scriptures teach a universal hope of salvation based on works, and not a universal salvation regardless of deeds.

Although the majority of the wicked will be destroyed at the end of the Millennium, some will be destroyed in different stages of development throughout the thousand- year period. Those who adamantly refuse to hear the voice of “that prophet” will be cut off almost immediately (Acts 3:23). Those who placidly obey, but do not make sufficient progress after a one-hundred-year trial, will be accursed (Isa. 65:20). Others who outwardly obey and outwardly seem to make considerable progress, yet inwardly are not in thorough accord with the reign of righteousness, will be cut off at the end of the Millennium.

Therefore, all the wicked of the world of mankind will be tried and destroyed during the sounding of the Jubilee trumpet (the restitution of all things) . . . all enemies will decease within the thousand-year period (1 Cor. 15:25). Earth’s antitypical Jubilee year, which began in October 1874, is one event; but the sounding of the antitypical Jubilee trumpet is another (and separate) event—yet future. Where the seventh trumpet (1878–???) ends, the Jubilee trumpet begins to sound and follows through to the end of the Millennial reign.

Although this is the day of the sounding of the seventh trumpet—the trumpet is already sounding—THE WORLD (and the worldly church) DOES NOT KNOW IT. The people do not heed or desire to understand the message. Not until the antitypical Day of Atonement will the Jubilee trumpet be blown loud enough for all to unmistakably hear it. “For God speaks once, yea twice, yet man perceives it not” (Job 33:14). Only the third time, when God will arise and speak awesomely to the earth, will the world wake up. The world did not attentively listen to the two previous announcements (woes), but they will hearken to the third. “Arise, O God, judge the earth” (Psa. 82:8); “the Lord is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him” (Hab. 2:20).

We move on to Verse 19 in our next post.