What trumpet are we in according to the Bible?

To address the question, it’s essential to first understand what the seven trumpets represent in the Book of Revelation. The trumpets are introduced in Revelation chapters 8 through 11, following the opening of the seventh seal. Each trumpet signals a unique judgment or event that unfolds upon the earth. These events are both literal and symbolic, representing divine intervention and the unfolding of God’s plan.

Here is a brief overview of each trumpet:

1. First Trumpet: Hail and fire mixed with blood are thrown to the earth, burning a third of the earth, trees, and all green grass.
2. Second Trumpet: Something like a great mountain, burning with fire, is thrown into the sea, turning a third of the sea into blood and killing a third of sea creatures.
3. Third Trumpet: A great star, called Wormwood, falls from heaven, poisoning a third of the rivers and springs, making them bitter.
4. Fourth Trumpet: A third of the sun, moon, and stars are struck, darkening a third of the day and night.
5. Fifth Trumpet (First Woe): Locusts emerge from the Abyss, tormenting those without the seal of God for five months.
6. Sixth Trumpet (Second Woe): Four angels are released to kill a third of mankind, and an army of 200 million is unleashed.
7. Seventh Trumpet (Third Woe): The kingdom of the world becomes the kingdom of Christ, signaling the final judgment and the establishment of God’s reign.

Each trumpet escalates the intensity of the judgments, culminating in the final, transformative events.

The Historical Approaches to the Trumpets

Throughout history, Christian interpreters have taken various approaches to understanding the trumpets. These can be broadly categorized into four schools of thought:

• Preterist: The events described have already occurred, primarily in the first century AD during the early church period.
• Historicist: The trumpets symbolize events throughout church history, from the Roman Empire to modern times.
• Futurist: The trumpets are prophecies about future, literal events that will occur shortly before Christ’s return.
• Idealist: The trumpets are symbolic of the ongoing struggle between good and evil, without being tied to specific historical events.

Each approach influences how one might answer the question, “What trumpet are we on?” For example, a Historicist might identify the trumpets with major historical events, such as the fall of Rome or the Protestant Reformation, while a Futurist would look for signs that align with prophecy in the current age.

The Futurist Perspective: Are We Awaiting the First Trumpet?

Among evangelical Christians and those who hold a Futurist interpretation, the prevailing view is that the trumpets have not yet sounded. According to this perspective, the trumpet judgments are part of the Great Tribulation, a time of unprecedented hardship that will occur immediately before Christ’s Second Coming.

This interpretation suggests that humanity is currently living in a pre-tribulation period. The first trumpet, according to this view, will be sounded only after specific prophetic events unfold, such as the rapture of the church and the rise of the Antichrist. Therefore, from a Futurist standpoint, the answer to “What trumpet are we on?” is: none yet. We are awaiting the opening of the first trumpet judgment.

The Historicist View: Trumpets Through the Ages

The Historicist approach, which was popular among Protestant reformers, sees the trumpets as symbolizing key events across church history. For example, some interpreters have linked the first four trumpets to the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the subsequent invasions by barbarian tribes, and major plagues.

In this view, the fifth and sixth trumpets (the first and second woes) are often associated with the rise and expansion of Islam and the Ottoman Empire, which had significant effects on Christian lands. The seventh trumpet, according to Historicists, is yet to come and will usher in the final victory of Christ and the establishment of God’s kingdom on earth.

So, within the Historicist framework, we may be seen as living between the sixth and seventh trumpets, awaiting the final trumpet blast.

The Preterist and Idealist Views: Symbolic Trumpet Blasts

Preterists believe that the trumpet judgments were fulfilled in the first century, particularly around the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70. For Preterists, the question of which trumpet we are on is largely historical — all have already sounded.

Idealists, meanwhile, see the trumpets as symbols of recurring cycles of judgment and deliverance throughout human history. For them, the trumpets are always “sounding” in a spiritual sense, calling humanity to repentance and signaling God’s ongoing involvement in the world.

The Trumpets and Current Events

Many people, particularly those who follow a Futurist reading, look at recent world events — wars, natural disasters, pandemics, and societal upheaval — and wonder if these are signs that the trumpets are about to sound.

However, biblical prophecy cautions against setting dates or drawing direct lines between current events and prophetic fulfillment. Jesus himself said in Matthew 24:36, “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”

Still, the intensity and frequency of global crises do lead some to believe that the world is on the verge of the trumpet judgments. Others see these events as reminders to remain spiritually vigilant and to place faith in God’s plan, whatever the prophetic timeline.

The Importance of the Trumpets for Christians Today

Regardless of one’s interpretive framework, the seven trumpets are a call to spiritual readiness. They remind believers that history is moving toward a divinely ordained climax and that human actions and choices have eternal significance.

For Christians, the trumpets are not just warnings of judgment but also announcements of hope. The final trumpet signals the victory of Christ and the restoration of all things. The Apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:52, “in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.”

This perspective encourages believers to live with purpose, hope, and anticipation, regardless of where they believe we are on the trumpet timeline.

Conclusion: Which Trumpet Are We On?

So, what trumpet are we in according to the Bible? The answer depends largely on one’s interpretation of Revelation and understanding of history and prophecy. For Futurists, the trumpets are yet to sound; for Historicists, we may be approaching the seventh trumpet; for Preterists, the trumpets have already sounded; and for Idealists, the trumpets are ongoing spiritual realities.