PREPARATION FOR THE SOUNDING OF THE SEVEN TRUMPETS (VERSES 2-6)

Seven Angels Prepared (verse 2)

“And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets.”

This dramatic scene includes seven angels with seven trumpets. The seven angels, sounding the seven trumpets, compose the contents of this seventh seal.

Notice the phrase, “…who stand before God….” That phrase, in the original language, actually represented that there was a particular position, which was being occupied. In other words, this wasn’t just random; this wasn’t just something that was arbitrary. Rather, these angels had a special place, a special position. Whether it was the position where they were physically standing, or whether it was the function that they had, what they were doing there—what they were about to do—was very special, very significant. It indicates that they had a service to perform.

If we look over in Luke, chapter 1, verse 19, the angel Gabriel appears to Zachariah. He identifies himself as one “who stands in the presence of God,” [“And the angel answered and said to him, ‘I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings.’”].

In the Jewish apocrypha, there are a couple of things which are mentioned about “holy angels.” Of course, this is uninspired writing, but I think it’s interesting to share this with you. In the Book of Tobit, chapter 12, verse 15, we read, “I am Raphael, one of the seven holy angels, which present prayers of the saints, and go in before the glory of the Holy One.” Well, that’s interesting, isn’t it? Again, this is uninspired writing, but it is respected writing, nonetheless, and it is suggested here that this angel, named Raphael, is one of the seven holy angels.

In another apocryphal book, First Enoch [the First Book of Enoch], there are the names of seven archangels. They are Gabriel, Raphael, Michael, Uriel, Raguel, Saraqael and Remiel, Enoch 20, verses 1 through 8 [“1, 2 And these are the names of the holy angels who watch. Uriel, one of the holy angels, who is 3) over the world and over Tartarus. Raphael, one of the holy angels, who is over the spirits of men. 4,5) Raguel, one of the holy angels who takes vengeance on the world of the luminaries. Michael, one 6) of the holy angels, to wit, he that is set over the best part of mankind and over chaos. Saraqael, 7) one of the holy angels, who is set over the spirits, who sin in the spirit. Gabriel, one of the holy 8) angels, who is over Paradise and the serpents and the Cherubim. Remiel, one of the holy angels, whom God set over those who rise.”]. Again, this is uninspired writing. We don’t accept this as part of the 39 books of the Old Testament, nor the 27 books of the New Testament.

Nevertheless, we do know that two of these names, Gabriel and Michael, appear in the New Testament. We already mentioned Gabriel, Luke 1:19. Michael is mentioned by Jude in Jude, verse 9 [“Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, ‘The Lord rebuke you!’”].

Whether these seven angels in Revelation 8:2 are, indeed, the “archangels,” as we have mentioned, cannot be clearly determined. Also, there are some who would suggest that this number “seven” is not a literal number. Of course, we can accept that. We know that we have seen already, and we will continue to see, that many of the numbers that are associated with the book of Revelation are, in fact, symbolic in nature. And some suggest that this number “seven” and the statement of “…seven angels who stand before God…” only represents that of completeness or perfection. I would argue and say, “Yes, but they will be sounding seven trumpets.”

Concerning the trumpet: The trumpet had significance as well. The trumpet was seen any number of times in the Old Testament. It was used, typically, in the Old Testament in two capacities—one was to sound a warning; the other was used in association with a time of judgment. For example, Joel, chapter 2, verse 1 and following [Joel 2:1-11: “Blow the trumpet in Zion, And sound an alarm in My holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble; For the day of the LORD is coming, For it is at hand: 2 A day of darkness and gloominess, A day of clouds and thick darkness, Like the morning clouds spread over the mountains. A people come, great and strong, The like of whom has never been; Nor will there ever be any such after them Even for many successive generations.

3 A fire devours before them, And behind them a flame burns; The land is like the Garden of Eden before them, And behind them a desolate wilderness; Surely nothing shall escape them. 4 Their appearance is like the appearance of horses; And like swift steeds, so they run. 5 With a noise like chariots Over mountaintops they leap, Like the noise of a flaming fire that devours the stubble, Like a strong people set in battle array.

6 Before them the people writhe in pain; All faces are drained of color. 7 They run like mighty men, They climb the wall like men of war; Every one marches in formation, And they do not break ranks. 8 They do not push one another; Every one marches in his own column. Though they lunge between the weapons, They are not cut down. 9 They run to and fro in the city, They run on the wall; They climb into the houses, They enter at the windows like a thief.

10 The earth quakes before them, The heavens tremble; The sun and moon grow dark, And the stars diminish their brightness. 11 The LORD gives voice before His army, For His camp is very great; For strong is the One who executes His Word. For the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; Who can endure it?”].