The trumpet and bowl judgments in the book of Revelation are some of the most action-packed sections of the book. They speak of world-wide cataclysmic events, begging the questions “why?” “who will these events affect?” “are these events literal or figurative?” and “when will these events occur?” This article will answer all of these questions.
The trumpet and bowl judgments are the antitype to the ten plagues of the book of Exodus. They are God’s wrath against the followers of the Beast only (all non-disciples of Jesus). They will occur just prior to Jesus’ future return and will occur exactly as described in the book of Revelation.
The key to accurately understanding the trumpet and bowl judgments of Revelation is their connection to the Exodus plagues. Once the connection to the Exodus plagues is understood all the other questions are fairly easy to answer. Before I delve into a comparison between the Exodus plagues and the trumpet and bowl judgments, here is a table showing all the judgments from the seals, trumpets, and bowls:
| Seal Judgments | Trumpet Judgments | Bowl Judgments |
|---|---|---|
| #1: White Horse: victorious conqueror (6:1–2). | #1: Hail, fire mixed with blood so that a third of the earth and tress are burned up, and all the green grass is burned up (8:7). | #1: Harmful and painful sores upon the Beast worshippers (16:2). |
| #2: Red Horse: takes peace from the earth so that its inhabitants will slay one another (6:3–4). | #2: A mountain of burning fire is thrown into the sea. A third of the sea becomes blood. A third of the living creatures in the sea die. A third of the ships are destroyed (8:8–9). | #2: The sea turns to blood and every living thing in the sea died (16:3). |
| #3: Black Horse: scales for rationing food (6:5–6). | #3: A huge burning star called “wormwood” fell from heaven upon a third of the rivers and springs of water, which became wormwood. Many people died from the waters because they were poisoned (8:10–11). | #3: The rivers and springs of water become blood (16:4–7) |
| #4: Pale Green Horse: brings death through the sword, famine, pestilence, and wild animals (6:7–8). | #4: A third of the sun, moon, and stars were struck so that a third of them were darkened. There was no light for a third of the day and a third of the night (8:12). | #4: The sun burns the peoples with fire (16:8–9). |
| #5: The slain witnesses cry out for vengeance to God (6:9–11). | #5: A star (angel) falls and opens the pit of the abyss with the result that the sun & air are darkened and locust-like demons come out of the pit to the earth. The locusts torture for five months those who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads (9:1–11). | #5: The Beast’s kingdom is cast into darkness, which causes immense pain (16:10–11). |
| #6: Great earthquake, sun darkened, moon becomes red, stars fall, sky vanished, mountains & islands removed from their places (6:12–17). | #6: Four angels that were bound at the Euphrates are released for the purpose of killing a third of mankind. They bring an army on horseback 200,000,000 strong. The third of mankind is killed by the fire, smoke, and sulphur that comes out of the horses’ mouths (9:13–19). | #6: The Euphrates is dried up to prepare the way for the kings of the east. Three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouths of the unholy trinity and gather the kings of the entire world for the battle on the great day of God (16:12–16). |
| #7: Thunder, rumblings, lightening, and earthquake. Seven trumpets (8:1–5). | #7: Lightening, rumblings, thunder, earthquake, and large hail (11:15–19). Seven bowls (15:1–8). | #7: Lightning, rumblings, thunder, a great earthquake unequal to any before it, massive hail. Babylon falls and the cities of the nations fall. Every island flees and mountains cannot be found. |
I. The Trumpet and Bowl Judgments of Revelation and the Exodus Plagues
A. Allusions to the Exodus Plagues
The first allusion to the plagues of Exodus is the term “plague” (πληγή) used to describe both the trumpet and bowl judgments. Note the following Scripture passages:
“By these three plagues [the fire, smoke, and sulfur of the sixth trumpet] a third of mankind was killed, by the fire and smoke and sulfur coming out of their mouths . . . . The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands nor give up worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood . . . .”
REVELATION 9:18; 15:1, 5–8; 16:8–9, 21; 21:9, emphasis added
“Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and amazing, seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished.”
“After this I looked, and the sanctuary of the tent of witness in heaven was opened, and out of the sanctuary came the seven angels with the seven plagues, clothed in pure, bright linen, with golden sashes around their chests. And one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever,and the sanctuary was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the sanctuary until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished.”
“The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was allowed to scorch people with fire. They were scorched by the fierce heat, and they cursed the name of God who had power over these plagues. They did not repent and give him glory.”
“And great hailstones, about one hundred pounds each, fell from heaven on people; and they cursed God for the plague of the hail [the seventh bowl judgment], because the plague was so severe.”
“Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, ‘Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.’”
The presence of the term “plague” should automatically make the reader think of the ten plagues that God sent upon the Egyptians (Exod 7:14–12:32). Thus, the presence of the term “plague” is a clear allusion to the Exodus plagues.
The second allusion to the plagues of Exodus are the similarities between the Exodus plagues and the trumpet and bowl judgments. Note the following similarities:
Although not every Exodus plague corresponds to a trumpet/bowl judgment and not every trumpet/bowl judgment corresponds to an Exodus plague, there are enough similarities to conclude that the trumpet and bowl plagues as a whole allude to the Exodus plagues as a whole. Thus, there is a thematic allusion present.
The final allusion to the plagues of Exodus is “the song of Moses” mentioned in Revelation 15:3–4. Prior to the pouring out of the seven bowl plagues, the reader gets a glimpse of those who have conquered the Beast standing by a sea and singing the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb:
“And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire—and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands. And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, ‘Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations! Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.’”
REVELATION 15:3–4, emphasis added
There is only one place in the Old Testament that speaks of a song of Moses and that place is immediately after God frees his people from Egyptian slavery through the ten plagues and the parting of the Red Sea in Exodus 15:1–18:
“Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to Yahweh . . . .”
EXODUS 15:1
God’s people (a) singing a song of Moses, (b) while standing by a sea, (c) in relation to conquering through God’s plagues is another clear allusion to the Exodus plagues and the exodus in general. The sea may be different and the song may be different, but the allusion is there nonetheless.
In conclusion, there are three allusions to the Exodus plagues in the trumpet and bowl judgments of Revelation: (1) the presence of the term “plague” to speak of the trumpet and bowl judgments, (2) the similarities between the trumpet & bowl judgments and the Exodus plagues, and (3) the song of Moses.
B. Meaning and Significance of the Allusions to the Exodus Plagues
Finding allusions in the Bible is fairly simple. The difficult task is determining the meaning and significance of such allusions. It is my claim that the Exodus plagues are the type that prophetically predict the trumpet and bowl plagues, which are the antitype.
I am aware that many of my readers may not be familiar with typology, so allow me to briefly explain what it is. Typology is a person, event, or institution (called the type) that prophetically predicts a greater person, event, or institution (called the antitype). For typology to be present, three characteristics must be present, with a fourth adding strength to the possibility that typology is present. The four characteristics are:
- Analogical Correspondence. There must be a significant analogical correspondence between the type and antitype.
- Historicity. Both the type and antitype must be based in history.
- Escalation. The antitype must be an escalation of the type in some way.
- A Pointing-Forwardness. Either the Old Testament or the New Testament should provide evidence that the typewas pointing forward to something (the antitype).
So, are the four characteristics of typology present between the event of the Exodus plagues and the event of the trumpet and bowl plagues? Yes!
- Analogical Correspondence. Yes. Both the Exodus plagues and the Revelation plagues (i.e., trumpet and bowl judgments) are similar judgments by God upon the wicked who are oppressing and persecuting God’s people.
- Historicity. Yes. The book of Exodus presents the ten plagues as something that happened in history just as represented in the book. For example, God really turned the water into blood, he really sent boils upon the Egyptians and their animals, and he really killed the firstborn of the Egyptians. Likewise, the book of Revelation presents the trumpet and bowl plagues as judgments that will happen in history.
- Escalation. Yes. The Revelation plagues escalate in terms of scale and scope. For example, whereas only the Euphrates and the water in Egypt turned to blood, in Revelation all the water on the planet turns into blood (scale). Further, whereas the Exodus plagues only affected the Egyptians, the Revelation plagues affect up to a third of all mankind (scope).
- A Pointing-Forwardness. Yes. The element of pointing forwardness is not found in the book of Exodus, but it is found in the book of Revelation. Because of the many allusions to the exodus from Egypt within the book of Revelation, the book of Revelation understands the Exodus plagues as pointing forward to the trumpet and bowl plagues.
In conclusion, the ten plagues that freed God’s people from Egyptian oppression are also prophetic of how God will free his people from oppression by the Beast, who is Satan’s messiah (see my article on the Beast HERE). However, the Beast’s people are not localized like Pharoah’s people were. The Beast’s people are all those on the Earth who do not worship Jesus, the Lamb. As such, both the scale and scope of the Revelation plagues are much greater than the Exodus plagues.
II. What are the Trumpet and Bowl Judgments and Who do They Affect?
Now that we understand the trumpet and bowl judgments/plagues in light of the Exodus plagues, we can readily and accurately answer the other pressing questions about them, such as ‘what are they?’ and ‘who do they affect?’
The Revelation plagues (trumpet and bowl judgments) are God’s wrath and judgment poured out against the Beast’s followers. Even the plagues that affect the natural order of creation are designed to inflict pain upon the Beast’s followers. Who are the followers of the Beast? Literally everyone and anyone who does not worship Jesus, the Lamb (Rev 13:5–10; see my article on the Beast HERE).
The first sign that the Revelation plagues are God’s wrath and judgment against the Beast’s followers is the connection of the trumpet plagues to the saints’ prayers for vengeance:
“When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer, and he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne, and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel.”
REVELATION 8:1–4, emphasis added
The “prayers of all the saints” refers to the prayer of Revelation 6:10–11:
“They [the murdered saints] cried out with a loud voice, ‘O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?’ Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.”
REVELATION 6:10–11
The saints’ prayer for vengeance is finally answered with the trumpet and bowl plagues, which is poured out against the Beast’s followers who killed these Christians. It should also be noted that the seal, trumpet, and bowl judgments are all related to each other with each set of judgments stemming from the previous set (see my section on the seventh seal HERE for a more detailed explanation).
The second sign that the Revelation plagues are God’s wrath and judgment against the Beast’s followers is the explicit statements throughout Revelation. Note the following:
“They [the locusts from the fifth trumpet] were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any green plant or any tree, but only those people who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads [i.e., the followers of the Beast]. They were allowed to torment them for five months, but not to kill them, and their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it stings someone. And in those days people will seek death and will not find it. They will long to die, but death will flee from them.”
REVELATION 9:4–6; 16:2, 4–6, 8–9, 10–11, emphasis added
“So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and harmful and painful sores came upon the people who bore the mark of the beast and worshiped its image.”
“The third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of water, and they became blood. And I heard the angel in charge of the waters say, ‘Just are you, O Holy One, who is and who was, for you brought these judgments. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink. It is what they deserve!’”
“The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was allowed to scorch people with fire. They were scorched by the fierce heat, and they cursed the name of God who had power over these plagues. They did not repent and give him glory.”
“The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their tongues in anguish and cursed the God of heaven for their pain and sores. They did not repent of their deeds.”
The third sign that the Revelation plagues are God’s wrath and judgment against the Beast’s followers is the typological connection between the Revelation plagues and the Exodus plagues. The Exodus plagues are God’s wrath against the Egyptians who have unjustly enslaved God’s people. To free his people, God pours out his wrath against the Egyptians in ten plagues that result in the freedom of God’s people. What is also noticeable in the Exodus account is that God’s people are not touched or affected by the ten plagues. Note what is said about the plague of darkness:
“So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and there was pitch darkness in all the land of Egypt three days. They did not see one another, nor did anyone rise from his place for three days, but all the people of Israel had light where they lived.”
EXODUS 10:22–23, emphasis added
The above is just one example of the Exodus plagues not affecting God’s people. In light of the typological connection between the Exodus plagues and Revelation plagues, we can conclude that the trumpet and bowl judgments are God’s wrath poured out against God’s enemies and not against God’s people.
Finally, the fourth sign that the Revelation plagues are God’s wrath and judgment against the Beast’s followers is the theology of the book of Revelation. The book of Revelation presents those who believe in Jesus as no longer able to be accused of sin because Jesus took the punishment for their sin by dying on the cross (Rev 12:7–11; see my article on this topic HERE) and as protected by God himself from God’s wrath with the mark of God (Rev 7:1–3; see my article on this topic HERE). As such, God cannot and will not pour out his wrath against his own protected people. God’s people certainly experience hardships and persecution, but it is at the hand of the Beast and his people, not at the hand of God (Rev 12:17–13:18).
In summary, the trumpet and bowl plagues are how God will pour out his wrath upon all the followers of the Beast (all non-believers). God’s people will be miraculously protected from God’s wrath just as they were from the ten plagues against the Egyptians in the book of Exodus.
III. Are the Trumpet and Bowl Judgments Literal of Figurative?
The trumpet and bowl plagues of Revelation must be understood literally because the Exodus plagues happened exactly as described in Exodus 7:14–12:32.[1] That is, because (a) the Exodus plagues happened exactly as described in the book of Exodus and because (b) the Exodus plagues prophetically predict the Revelation plagues, (c) the trumpet and bowl plagues must also happen exactly as described in the book of Revelation. This means the waters will be turned to literal blood, demons will be released to wreak havoc on the worshippers of the Beast, a third of mankind will die, etc.
IV. When Will the Trumpet and Bowl Judgments Occur?
Because the trumpet and bowl judgments are to be understood literally, we can know for certain that they have not occurred yet and that humanity is not in the midst of them now, unlike the first four seal judgments (see my article on the seven seals HERE). As such, the trumpet and bowl judgments will be poured out on the Earth and its inhabitants in the future.
The book of Revelation presents the trumpet and bowl judgments as happening just prior to Jesus’ return. First, because the Exodus plagues all happened within a fairly short period of time, resulting in the freedom of God’s people, we can be certain that the trumpet and bowl judgments will all happen within a fairly short period of time, resulting in the freedom of God’s people from the Beast and his people. Further, the sixth bowl judgment speaks of the armies of the Earth preparing for a literal battle against Jesus when he returns (Rev 16:12–16). Once the armies of the world have assembled, Jesus returns (19:11–21).
V. Summary and Personal Reflections
The trumpet and bowl judgments of the book of Revelation are the antitype to the ten plagues of the book of Exodus, which are the type. As such, the Exodus plagues prophetically predict the Revelation plagues, which will be greater than the Exodus plagues in scale and scope. The trumpet and bowl judgments are how God’s wrath will be poured out upon the followers of the Beast (all non-believers). God’s people (Jesus’ disciples) will not be affected by the trumpet and bowls judgments because Jesus took the punishment for their sin. The trumpet and bowl judgments will occur just prior to Jesus’ future return and will occur exactly as described in the book of Revelation.
Because the Revelation plagues will be world-wide cataclysmic miraculous judgments of God that will be evident to all people, we Christians can be certain that God has not begun these judgments yet. Revelation also tells us that when these judgments begin, Jesus will return shortly afterward. Although no one knows the exact day or time that Jesus will return, the book of Revelation allows us to accurately read the times and know the season in which Jesus will return. For example, I know that Jesus will not return today because none of the trumpet and bowl judgments have happened.
The book of Revelation reads as if the fate of the wicked is finalized when the trumpet and bowl judgments begin. In other words, the non-believers will not repent and believe in Jesus once the first trumpet is blown (note the following verses: Rev 6:12–17; 9:20–21; 16:9; and 16:10–11). If this is true, then we Christians should be active now in evangelizing the followers of the Beast so that they do not receive the full wrath of the Lamb.
[1] Conversely, if you understand the Exodus plagues to be figurative, then you will interpret the Revelation plagues as figurative.
