Tribulations And Trumpets

People tend to dig themselves into their beliefs. We resist changing our minds even when the truth is right in front of us. This is why God doesn’t just show Himself to make people believe. He already tried that when He sent Jesus. Some accepted Him, but others refused, because human belief runs deeper than evidence.

God seeks to free all of humanity from the lies we tell ourselves, which keep us trapped in sin. The Great Tribulation is His primary method. Just as He shattered Egypt’s false gods with the Ten Plagues (Exodus 7-11), God uses suffering to expose falsehood and bring people back to Him. This cycle repeats throughout history. Every generation faces its own “tribulations”—times when God turns life upside down to wake us up and draw us back to Him. It’s an effective strategy; John’s vision in Heaven depicts multitudes of people who have returned to God after being confronted with the truth (Revelation 7:9-17).

Yet even as God shakes the world to get our attention, some will refuse to listen. They’ve hardened their hearts and committed themselves to living in darkness. That’s when the seventh seal opens. Heaven falls silent, and seven angels lift seven trumpets and sound the ancient call to battle. God is declaring war on Satan and on all the evil that remains. The seals wake people up; the trumpets begin the final campaign.

We’ll explore this spiritual battle in the coming weeks. For now, remember that your tribulations are not meaningless. God is using them to call us home before the final trumpet sounds. Don’t resist His voice. Listen, turn, and be ready for His ultimate victory.

Watch the full sermon here.