14.) The 3 1/2 Timeline of the 7 Trumpets

When God gave me the understanding of the events of the 7 trumpets shortly after the fall of the NY towers in 2001, I had no idea that a timeline would emerge as the years went by. Briefly, these events are: 1. The fall of the NY towers in September, 2001; 2. Catastrophic naturals disasters in December, 2004, through the spring of 2005; 3. The fall of the economy in September, 2008; 4. Escalating of the papal power from spring of 2012 – September, 2015. 5. Moslem atrocities, and invasion of refugees into western countries; sealing and protection of God’s remnant; 6. Winds of strife let go, probation closes, plagues fall, wars rage around the world; 7. Second coming of Jesus.

In the months and early years following, I tried to share these insights about what was coming upon the world and the meaning of the trumpets for our generation, but very few saw any light in it. I wrote some articles on the subject, but was told that it was futurism and that the accepted understanding of the 7 trumpets was the historicist view by Uriah Smith, which is found in his book, The Prophecies of Daniel and the Revelation. I continued to write and share on a limited basis with a few friends, but refrained from preaching my views publically.

In December, 2014, The Lord impressed me that the time had come for me to share openly the insights that He had given me, for enough time had elapsed for the whole world to see that something very impressive was happening. Most of the trumpet events had already taken place and were no longer future. The 5th trumpet was just ahead of us – the last one before the close of probation. I began to sense the urgency for the church to awaken while there was still time to prepare. The last countdown of the three woes of Revelation 9 was about to begin.

In the sixteen years since the falling of the towers in New York City, a 3 ½ year pattern between the events became visible to the whole world. Books and articles have been written about this phenomenon, attempting to explain the possible reasons. I do not believe this to be just a coincidence. So many things in the Bible revolve around these special numbers, such as the 3 ½ year period for Jesus’ ministry, the 3 ½ years of preaching the gospel to the Jewish nation which ended their probation, and the prophecy of the 1260-year period allotted to reveal the work of the antichrist. I believe these time periods are designed by God to say something important to the world.

Jesus said to the disciples:

“A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the whale, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” Matt. 12:39, 40.

“This is a wicked generation. It asks for a miraculous sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah. For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so also will the Son of Man be to this generation.” Lu. 11:29, 30.

For generations our people have been waiting for the Sunday law to pinpoint where we are in the countdown of events that will lead to Jesus’ coming. It is believed and taught by many that the Sunday law is the time of the latter rain and sealing, and is the sign that we can be assured that Jesus will come in our generation. While it is true that the enacting of the Sunday law will precede the close of probation, I personally believe that for many, this will be too late to wake up and try to get ready for the end. That is why I believe God is mercifully sending the countdown of the 7 trumpets to announce the nearness of the close of probation, the outpouring of the 7 last plagues, and the coming of Jesus which follows.

Just as the 3 days of Jonah was the only sign Jesus gave to His generation, so I believe that the 3 ½ year intervals of these present “trumpets” is a visible sign that God has a message for our generation in these occurrences. Trumpets in the Bible were often used to announce something very important to God’s people. What could these present trumpets be announcing? Turning for help from the writings of Ellen White, I find that there is only one quotation referring specifically to the 7 trumpets of Revelation:

“The 7 angels stood before God to receive their commission. To them was given 7 trumpets. The Lord was going forth to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity, and the earth was to disclose her blood and no more cover her slain.” 15 MR 219; Maranatha 284.

This quotation is taken directly from Isaiah 26:20, 21:

“Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. For, behold, the Lord cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.” KJV.

Ellen White used this quotation many times throughout her writings, and as far as I have been able to find, they all refer to the time of trouble at the end of earth’s history during the pouring out of the 7 last plagues. The S.D.A. Bible Commentaries also takes this position:

“Indignation. That is, of God against His enemies. God’s final ‘indignation’ takes the form of what is known as the seven last plagues (Rev. 14:10; 15:1; cf. Isa. 34:2; Nahum 1:6). At the time of the slaying of the first-born in Egypt, God’s people were to remain within their homes (Ex. 12:22, 23). During the seven last plagues God invites His people to make Him their hiding place, that He may be to them a ‘refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble’ (Ps. 46:1). Thus protected, His people need not fear though ‘the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea’ (Ps. 46:2; cf. Ps. 25:5; 91:1-10). God’s anger lasts but ‘for a moment’ (Isa. 54:8; cf. Ps. 30:5). The work of judgment is, for the Lord, a ‘strange work’ (Isa. 28:21). But the hour of divine indignation against the wicked is also the hour of deliverance and triumph for the people of God.” S.D.A. Bible Commentary, Vol. 4, pp. 204, 205.

Here are three samples of quotations from Ellen White which use this text:

“Today the signs of the times declare that we are standing on the threshold of great and solemn events. Everything in our world is in agitation. Before our eyes is fulfilling the Saviour’s prophecy of the events to precede His coming (Matt. 24:6, 7 quoted). . . .

“Angels are now restraining the winds of strife, that they may not blow until the world shall be warned of its coming doom; but a storm is gathering, read to burst upon the earth; and when God shall bid His angels loose the winds, there will be such a scene of strife as no pen can picture. . . .

“’I am pained at my very heart; . . .I cannot hold my peace, because thou has heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war. Destruction upon destruction is cried; for the whole land is spoiled.’ Jer. 4:19, 20. . . .

“’Come, My people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee; hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.’ Isa. 26:20.’” Ed. 179-181. (Emphases supplied.)

“The world is soon to be left by the angel of mercy, and the seven last plagues are to be poured out. Sin, shame, sorrow, and darkness are on every side; but God still holds out to the souls of men the precious privilege of exchanging darkness for light, error for truth, sin for righteousness. But God’s patience and mercy will not always wait. . . .The bolts of God’s wrath are soon to fall, and when He shall begin to punish the transgressors, there will be no period of respite until the end. The storm of God’s wrath is gathering, and those only will stand who are sanctified through the truth in the love of God. They shall be hid with Christ in God till the desolation shall be overpast. He shall come forth to punish the inhabitants of the world for their iniquity, and ‘the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.’” TM 182, 183. (Emphases supplied.)

“The eye of God, looking down the ages, was fixed upon the crisis which His people are to meet, when earthly powers shall be arrayed against them. Like the captive exile, they will be in fear of death by starvation or by violence. But the Holy One who divided the Red Sea before Israel, will manifest His mighty power and turn their captivity. . . .If the righteous were now left to fall a prey to their enemies, it would be a triumph for the prince of darkness. Says the psalmist, ‘In the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion: in the secret of His tabernacle shall He hide me.’ Christ has spoken: ‘Come, My people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be over past. For, behold, the Lord cometh out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity.’ Glorious will be the deliverance of those who have patiently waited for His coming, and whose names are written in the book of life.” GC 634. (Emphases supplied.)

There is no question that when she quotes this text she is talking about the end of time after the close of probation, and that these are the words of Jesus speaking directly to His chosen ones—the 144,000—to encourage them to trust in His protection during the things that will transpire during the great time of trouble when the plagues are poured out upon the wicked.

But why did she combine the 7 trumpets of Revelation with this text about what is to transpire during the 7 last plagues? I believe that by this God is identifying the mission of the 7 angels with the 7 trumpets to be a series of warnings to the world and especially to God’s people to prepare to be ready for the close of probation and ultimately the second coming of Jesus, for the seventh and last trumpet will be sounded when Jesus comes:

“And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.” Rev. 11:15. KJV.

So if the 7th trumpet is the coming of Christ into His kingdom at His coming, what is the 6th trumpet?

“And the 6th angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates. And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month and a year, for to slay the third part of men. . . .

“And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: . . . Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.” Rev. 9:13-15, 20, 21. KJV. (Emphasis supplied.)

The time period mentioned in the sixth trumpet is the one that Josiah Litch used to calculate the date when the Ottoman Empire would come to an end—August 11, 1840. This accurate prophetic interpretation gave the Advent movement great credibility, and helped speed the message of Jesus’ expected return on October 22, 1844. (GC 334, 335.) Had He come at that time, the historicist interpretation of the 7 trumpets would have been all that was needed to prepare the people for His return. But since He did not come at the time expected, more understanding is needed, since the 7th trumpet continues to be the second coming of Jesus! Just as there is more to be fulfilled than was understood in the 1844 message, so there is more to be fulfilled in the 6th trumpet than what happened in 1840.

“But the people were not yet ready to meet their Lord. There was still a work of preparation to be accomplished for them. Light was to be given, directing their minds to the temple of God in heaven; and as they should by faith follow their High Priest in his ministration there, new duties would be revealed. Another message of warning and instruction was to be given to the church. . . .

“Those who are living upon the earth when the intercession of Christ shall cease in the sanctuary above, are to stand in the sight of a holy God without a mediator. Their robes must be spotless, their characters must be purified from sin by the blood of sprinkling. Through the grace of God and their own diligent effort, they must be conquerors in the battle with evil. While the investigative judgment is going forward in heaven, while the sins of penitent believers are being removed from the sanctuary, there is to be a special work of purification, of putting away of sin, among God’s people upon earth. . . .

“When this work shall have been accomplished, the followers of Christ will be ready for His appearing.” GC 424, 425. (Emphases supplied.)

All prophetic year-day time lines ended at the close of the great 2300-day prophecy of Daniel 8:14. But the people who waited for Jesus to come in 1844 were not yet cleansed, sealed, and ready for His coming at that time. There was so much yet to learn! Another message of warning and instruction would need to be given to God’s people before the end could come. The four angels in Revelation 7 had to continue to hold the winds of strife to allow for the cleansing and sealing of the 144,000:

“And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.” Rev. 7:2-4. KJV.

“Four angels. These angels represent divine agencies in the world holding back the forces of evil until the work of God on human hearts is complete and the people of God are sealed in their foreheads. Four corners. This signifies that the whole earth is threatened.

Four winds. Frequently in Scripture the ‘four winds’ represent the four direction of the compass. Here the four winds are plainly destructive forces. . . .

“Viewed in the light of the great controversy between Christ and Satan, these destructive forces represent the efforts of Satan to spread ruin and destruction everywhere. . . .These angels belt ‘the world. . . .They are keeping the armies of Satan at bay till the sealing of God’s people shall be accomplished’. . . .(EGW supplementary Material on ch. 5:11). When the work of sealing is completed, then God will say to the angels, ‘No longer combat Satan in his efforts to destroy. Let him work out his malignity upon the children of disobedience; for the cup of their iniquity is full’ (EGW RH Sept. 17, 1901; cf. 6 T 408).

“When the four angels finally let go and cease holding in check the malicious designs of Satan and ‘the fierce winds of human passion, all the elements of strife will be let loose. The whole world will be involved in ruin more terrible than that which came upon Jerusalem of old’ (GC 614).” 7 BC 781.

“Four mighty angels hold back the powers of this earth till the servants of God are sealed in their foreheads. The nations of the world are eager for conflict; but they are held in check by the angels. When this restraining power is removed, there will come a time of trouble and anguish. . . .All who have not the spirit of truth will be united under the leadership of Satanic agencies. But they are to be kept under control until the time shall come for the great battle of Armageddon. Angels are belting the world refusing Satan his claims to supremacy, . . .keeping the armies of Satan at bay till the sealing of God’s people shall be accomplished. . . .The Lord is a refuge for all who put their trust in Him. He bids them hide in Him for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. He is soon to come out of His place to punish the world for its iniquity.” 7 BC 967. (Emphases supplied.)

“Just before we entered it [the time of trouble] we all received the seal of the living God. Then I saw the four angels cease to hold the four winds. And I saw famine, pestilence, and sword, nation rose against nation, and the whole world was in confusion.” 7 BC 968. (Emphasis supplied.)

“I saw that the four angels would hold the four winds until Jesus’ work was done in the sanctuary, and then will come the seven last plagues.” EW 36. (Emphasis supplied.)

These are just a few of similar quotations, all pointing to the order of last day events. It is quite clear that the winds will be held until the people of God are sealed, and then the winds will be let go, probation will close, and the plagues will fall upon the impenitent. This lineup is exactly what the 7 trumpets reveal. Notice this in the order of the last three trumpets:

Trumpet #5 – Locusts are released from the abyss and are allowed to hurt anyone who does not have the seal of God in their foreheads. Rev. 9:1-4. This indicates that by the fifth trumpet, God’s people have been or are in the process of being sealed.

Trumpet #6 – The four angels are released, and a huge battle ensues involving everyone upon the earth. Those who do not die of plagues and war are impenitent, showing that probation has closed, and the influence of the Holy Spirit is no longer working upon human hearts, except for God’s people, of course, who are hidden in the protection of His angels. Rev. 9:13-21.

Trumpet #7 – Jesus takes His kingdom and begins to reign. Rev. 11:15.

The question must now be asked, Where are we in this trumpet lineup? It is hardly disputable that we are in the 5th trumpet, for virtually all scholars since the Crusades of the dark ages see this trumpet to be referring to the Moslem invasions. This is now possibly the greatest challenge the world is facing since the 5th trumpet began in September, 2015. Therefore, I cannot evade the reality that if this trumpet follows the 3 ½ year pattern of all the others since the towers fell on 9/11/2001, we are now in the sealing time, and probationary time is about to close. This is why I cannot refrain from giving others the understanding of the trumpets that God has given me. God is counting on His people to be fully awake at this time, and to give the last warning message to the world.

“The Lord gives a special truth for the people in an emergency. Who dare refuse to publish it? He commands His servants to present the last invitation of mercy to the world. They cannot remain silent, except at the peril of their souls. Christ’s ambassadors have nothing to do with consequences. They must perform their duty, and leave the results with God.” GC 609, 610.

“The end of all things is at hand. ‘Prepare to meet thy God’ is the message everywhere we are to proclaim. The trumpet is to give a certain sound. Clearly and distinctly the warning is to ring out: Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen. . . .Come out of her my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. The words of this scripture are to be fulfilled. Soon the test is to come to all the inhabitants of the earth. At that time, prompt decisions will be made.” 9 T 149.

“The perils of the last days are upon us, and in our work we are to warn the people of the danger they are in. Let not the solemn scenes which prophecy has revealed be left untouched. If our people were half awake, if they realized the nearness of the events portrayed in the Revelation, a reformation would be wrought in our churches, and many more would believe the message.” Ev 195.

“There are many who do not understand the prophecies relating to these days, and they must be enlightened. It is the duty of both watchmen and laymen to give the trumpet a certain sound. Be in earnest, ‘cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.’” Ev 194, 195.

Our people are looking for many more years to build hospitals and schools, to see their children grow up and marry and have children, and to go on with life as usual. People must be awakened in time to prepare their hearts and their families for the end of probationary time! It is time now to understand, experience and preach the additional message of warning and instruction that Ellen White predicted would have to be given before God’s people are ready for His appearing. I believe the short repeat of the trumpets contains that message of warning and instruction. If I did not know about the trumpets; if I had not watched them unfold for sixteen years just as the Lord revealed to me in 2001, I might be more hesitant to step out in faith now and proclaim the message for our time that He has given me. But I cannot withhold the light, regardless of the cost. He is coming! We have so little time left to prepare! But it is enough if we follow carefully the light that is shining upon us, and do our duty to share it with others!