Revelation Series; wk. 9 - When The Trumpets Sound 10.26.25

Title: When The Trumpets Sound
Main Scriptures: Revelation 8-9
Link to full Sermon: (click here)

When the Trumpet Sounds

If you could describe the book of Revelation in one word, what would it be? For Pastor Jon, that word is urgency. Every passage, every image, every trumpet blast carries a message to the church: get up and do something.

We are not called to be world critics who sit on the sidelines and point out what is wrong. We are called to be world changers, people who step into the work of God and move forward in faith. Revelation reminds us that time is running short and eternity is drawing near. There is no room for passivity in the kingdom of God.

The Sound That Demands a Response

In Revelation 8 and 9, seven trumpets sound in heaven. Each one carries both warning and mercy, God’s call to wake up before it is too late. In ancient Israel, trumpets signaled battle, worship, or danger. They were never background noise. When the trumpet sounded, everyone stopped and listened.

The first four trumpets strike creation itself: earth, sea, rivers, and sky. Each judgment removes something humanity depends on, such as food, water, light, and stability. It is as if God is saying, You have trusted in creation instead of the Creator. Let me show you how fragile your foundations truly are.

Yet even here, God’s wrath is measured. Only a third is destroyed. Why? Because His purpose is not to wound but to warn. His judgments are controlled, meaningful, and redemptive. He is giving the world one more chance to turn back before the end comes.

Mercy in the Midst of Judgment

When the fifth trumpet sounds, the scene shifts from the natural to the spiritual. Darkness rises. Demonic torment is unleashed. The destroyer reigns for a time, yet even in this chaos, God sets limits. They can torment, but they cannot kill. Their time is short.

Even when humanity rejects Him, God’s mercy restrains the full weight of judgment. He holds back wrath so that more people might repent. He is still saying, Turn back. Come home. There is still time.

But Revelation 9 gives a sobering truth. Even as the world unravels, most still refuse to repent. They cling to their idols, their sin, and their pride. The same sun that melts wax hardens clay. The longer we resist God, the less we recognize His voice.

Urgency for the Church

This is our moment. We are living in a season of grace. The trumpet has not yet sounded its final call, which means there is still time to reach those who do not know Jesus.

We are not the change agents. Jesus is. Our calling is simply to introduce people to the One who transforms lives. Like the woman at the well, we can say, He told me everything I ever did, and watch others run to meet Him.

Sharing the gospel is not complicated. Tell your story. Tell how God found you, saved you, and changed you. The Holy Spirit will do the rest.

Four Reminders for the Church

1. God’s Judgment is Real
   The trumpets are not symbolic stories. They are real warnings of what will come. Just as the flood came in Noah’s day, judgment will come again. God’s patience is purposeful to lead us to repentance.
2. The World’s Stability is Temporary
   Every foundation outside of Christ will fail. Creation itself is fragile, economies can collapse, and life can change overnight. Our hope must be in Christ alone.
3. Prayer Matters
   The trumpet judgments begin only after the prayers of the saints rise before God’s throne. Your prayers move heaven. In the silence, God is listening.
4. God’s Mercy Still Calls
   Even in wrath, God’s heart remains redemptive. The trumpet blasts are thunder-wrapped mercy, warnings meant to awaken the world before the final trumpet sounds.

When the Trumpet Sounds

One day, another trumpet will sound louder than any before it. For the believer, that sound will mean glory. For the unbeliever, it will mean judgment.

First Corinthians 15:52 says, “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet, the dead will be raised imperishable and we will be changed.”

That moment will come faster than a heartbeat. There will be no time to decide later. The question is simple: Will you be ready?

Pastor Jon shared that his greatest urgency is not for statistics or buildings. It is for people. For his own daughter. For families in our city. For the ninety-three percent who still do not know Jesus. Every day we have breath, God is sounding the alarm through His word, His Spirit, and His church. He is not trying to scare us into salvation. He is drawing us toward Himself in love.

Live Ready

God’s desire is that we would be His mouthpiece before the final trumpet calls. Every act of generosity, every conversation, every invitation card is another chance for someone to encounter Jesus.

Do not pray for opportunities, pray to see them. They are already around you. Be ready. Live with urgency. Share the hope of Jesus while there is still time.

Because one day the trumpet will sound, and for those who belong to Him, that moment will be glory beyond compare.