Revelation 1:10-11; As of a Trumpet

Revelation 1:10-11 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.

In the Bible, the word trumpet generally refers to ram’s horns used as sound makers. The trumpets commissioned by Moses, however, were probably straight metal instruments (Numbers 10:10). All were used for a variety of proclamatory and signaling purposes…In the New Testament a trumpet serves in particular as an eschatological image to declare the coming of Christ in judgment… Revelation 1:10-13 indicate that the One “like unto the Son of man” (Jesus) speaks with a voice that sounds like a trumpet. This of course picks up on the fact that the Lord’s voice on Mount Sinai sounded like a trumpet (Exodus 19-20).¹

It was at the scene of the giving of the Ten Commandments that the Lord spoke with a voice on Mount Sinai like a trumpet.

Exodus 19:17-20 And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount. And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly. And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice. And the LORD came down upon mount Sinai, on the top of the mount: and the LORD called Moses upto the top of the mount; and Moses went up.

Exodus 20:18 And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off.

It is interesting to understand that horns are emblems of power, dominion, glory, and fierceness, as they are the chief means of attack and defence with the animals endowed with them (Daniel 8:5,9, Psalm 75:5-10, 132:17, Luke 1:69). The expression “horn of salvation,” applied to Christ, means a salvation of strength, or a strong Saviour (Luke 1:69). To have the horn “exalted” denotes prosperity and triumph (Psalm 89:17, 24). [Easton Bible Dictionary]

In ancient Israel, recorded in Lev 23:23-25 the first day (new moon) of the seventh month is set apart as a solemn rest, “a memorial of blowing of trumpets” (the Hebrew leaves “of trumpets” to be understood), signalized further by “a holy convocation,” abstinence from work, and the presentation of “an offering made by fire.” The shofar was a trumpet, curved at the end like a horn qeren, and no doubt originally was a horn. The shofar was used in early times chiefly, perhaps exclusively, for warlike purposes. It gave the signal “to arms” (Jdg 6:34; 1 Sa 13:3; 2 Sa 20:1); warned of the approach of the enemy (Am 3:6; Ezk 33:6; Jer 4:5; 6:1); was heard throughout a battle (Am 2:2, etc.); and sounded the recall (2 Sa 2:28). It was blown at the proclamation of the Law (Ex 19:13, etc.); and at the opening of the Year of Jubilee (Lev 25:9); heralded the approach of the Ark (2 Sa 6:15); hailed a new king (2 Sa 15:10); and is prophetically associated with the Divine judgment and restoration of the chosen people from captivity (Isa 18:3, and often). [ISBE]

It is interesting to note that Jesus speaks of His coming dominion as King of kings and Lord of lords. He will establish His rule on earth in the consummation of the ages.

The book of Revelation also depicts a series of seven trumpets, six of which announce various disasters and judgments (the onset of spiritual battles) coming upon the earth. The seventh, climactic trumpet (Revelation 11:15) signals the complete investiture of Christ and the beginning of his total and eternal dominion of the world (the end of the battle and recall of troops). [Dictionary of Biblical Imagery]

Truly, we are embarking upon a momentous study concerning a near future event. May the Lord open our eyes to understand God’s plan and our present role as heralders of the gospel. Amen.

¹Dictionary of Biblical Imagery.