t's here... the seventh trumpet. "The whole world has now become the Kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign forever." Other than happily humming the "Hallelujah Chorus" from Handel's Messiah, how does this make you feel? Relief?

Cue the dramatic pause... It's the interlude between the sounding of the sixth and seventh trumpets. This short but intense chapter shifts focus back to earth... it's a last chance. "There will be no more delay," God says, referring to His long foretold plan for judgement upon the earth.

The fifth and sixth trumpets sound and introduce severe demonic plagues upon the earth. The intensity of God's final judgement increases sharply from damage to the physical environment to direct, agonizing torment and mass casualties inflicted upon rebellious humanity.

Where is God in the cosmic chaos? Prayers seem to go unheard, and worse, unanswered. Justice rains down on the earth (hence the chaos) because he absolutely hears the prayers of His people and acts on their behalf. 

Revelation 7 is a 'time out' before the seventh seal and answers the question of 'who can stand' following the judgement of the whole world. 

Someone recently commented that Revelation 6 is a "pretty dreary chapter". And while it does depict the unfolding chaos of the end times—war, famine, death—it also affirms Christ's sovereignty over history and promises justice for martyrs. 

We are beginning the next phase of our series in Revelation. Chapters 5 through 11 serve as a dramatic, loud, and universal celebration of Jesus' victory and authority.