All heaven is represented to me as watching the unfolding of events. A crisis is to be revealed in the great and prolonged controversy in the government of God on earth. Something great and decisive is to take place, and that right early. . . . There will be voices and thunderings and earthquakes and universal desolation. Every movement in the universe of heaven is to prepare the world for the great crisis. {Ellen White, Ms 27, 1892, par. 5.]
Greetings friends and subscribers;
Lately, I’ve been discussing the future application of the seals and trumpets. This article examines the tokens that signal their approach.
But first, to recap, my recent articles looked at how the trumpets are related to the 1260 days of Daniel 12 and the parallel passage of Revelation 11 and how these are foreshadowed by the biblical feasts. One point I made that was probably new to most, is the idea that the 1260 day/3.5 year testimony of the two witnesses, being exactly half of a Sabbatical of seven years, suggests that their ministry, like Christ’s 3.5 year ministry, will synchronize with the Sabbatical cycle, just as His did.
This agrees with the sequence of the fall feasts. The Feast of Trumpets, a type of the seven trumpets, falls on the first day of the seventh month, announcing the Day of Atonement ten days later and, in a Sabbatical year, also announcing the Sabbatical. Five days after the Day of Atonement the Feast of Ingathering begins, a type of the final gospel harvest. Exodus 23:16, 34:22.
Revelation 11 is, in my view, the final chapter of Adventism, that final gospel harvest. While Revelation 10 covers the start of the Advent movement under the preaching of William Miller and his associates, Revelation 11 depicts its final, more glorious phase, symbolized by the two witnesses who take up the torch and “prophesy again” under the power of the latter rain. In the parallel passage of Zechariah 4 the two witnesses are depicted as the “two anointed ones” - anointed by the Holy Spirit.
And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves? And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord. Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth. (Zec 4:12-14)
The description of the two witnesses of Revelation 11 is located between the sixth and seventh trumpets. However, their ministry spans all seven in the same way that the sealing of Revelation 7 spans all seven of the seals and the battle of Armageddon spans all seven of the plagues. We should, therefore, look for the start of the ministry of the two witnesses at the start of the seven trumpets.
Last week, on Jim Gurtner’s YouTube channel (which I recommend), I found the above introductory quote by Ellen White in which she warns that a “crisis is to be revealed” and that “something great and decisive is to take place, and that right early.” Now notice especially what she says in this context: “There will be voices and thunderings and earthquakes and universal desolation.” This is almost a direct, word for word quote of Revelation 8:5 which sets the stage for the sounding of the trumpets.
And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake. And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound. Rev 8:5, 6.
There are three other texts in Revelation where a similar phrase appears but this is the only one that specifically mentions the same three elements she lists. All of the others are either missing one of these or they have additional elements such as hail. That she is pointing specifically to the trumpets is further affirmed in her next sentence: “Every movement in the universe of heaven is to prepare the world for the great crisis.” What is “the great crisis?” In the end-time prophecies and in the warnings of Christ there is only one – the abomination of desolation that ruthlessly imposes the mark of the beast. How then is the world prepared for it? By the warnings of the seven trumpets.
As I suggested earlier, the best fit for the start of the trumpets is the fall Feast of Trumpets which heralds judgment day, the Day of Atonement. Adventist pioneer and long-time evangelist John Loughborough, in his book, Last Day Tokens, relates the following exchange that one of his fellow evangelists had with a practicing Jew:
In September, 1869, during a series of meetings held at Healdsburg, Cal., a well-educated Jew who resided in that place became much interested in the meetings. Being a man who was very diligent in his mercantile business, it was a matter of great surprise that he should leave his store to attend a meeting in mid-week, and in the daytime. At the close of the meeting, one of the ministers questioned him regarding the matter. He replied, with seriousness: "Why, elder, a Jew who broke every Sabbath in the year would not dare to work to-day. This is the day of atonement, the tenth day of the Jewish seventh month." The minister then asked, "What is the most solemn name your people have for this day?" With a most devout and reverential look, and in a tremulous tone of voice, he replied, "To-day is the day of judgment." J.N. Loughborough, Last Day Tokens, page 39.
The Jews regard Yom Kippur in the same way today - as judgment day when their lot is fixed by God for good or ill for the following year. They are closer to the truth than they realize: Yom Kippur is indeed judgment day, first for the dead starting in 1844 and next for the living starting on the self-same day in the near future. Loughborough continues:
In further proof that the Jewish people regard the tenth day of the seventh month as a day of judgment, the following is quoted from one of their journals published in San Francisco. It is called the Jewish Exponent, and is an organ of the orthodox Jews west of the Rocky Mountains. In the issue for September, 1892, was the announcement that before the next number would be published, the seventh month and the day of atonement would come. Their name for the seventh month is Tisri, and that of the sixth month is Elul; so the paper stated, "The month of Elul is here, and the monitory sounds of the shofar [the trumpet that was to be blown from the first to the tenth day of the seventh month] are to be heard every morning in the orthodox synagogues, advising preparation for the day of memorial, and the final judgment of yom kippur." Hence, as they were in the close of Elul, the sixth month, and Tisri, the seventh month, was about to open, they would every morning, for ten days, hear the trumpet announcing the final day of judgment of that typical system. Last Day Tokens, page 40.
Could the seven trumpets start this fall or some following year on the Feast of Trumpets? Based on sacred history and scripture there are three or four circumstances that can help us determine beforehand whether or not they will sound in any particular year:
In the early Advent movement, represented by the loud cry of the mighty angel of Revelation 10, there was widespread anticipation of the return of Christ among devout believers. If Revelation 11 is the second phase of the angel’s roar, it will, like the first, take hold spontaneously around the world. Believers in all quarters of the globe, without consulting each other, will reach the same conclusion regarding the near return of Christ and some of these will heed the command to “prophesy again”. This vibrant, spontaneous consensus, like the Millerite movement, will confirm that the message is from heaven, and not merely from men.
Conversely, if there is no angelic call, no general anticipation of the end and the return of Christ, that would indicate that the trumpets are not about to sound. While it is true that Ellen White speaks of an overwhelming surprise, and Christ warns that all ten virgins will be sleeping before the midnight cry, “Behold the bridegroom cometh!” the trumpets will not catch true believers totally unprepared. They will anticipate them, have oil in their lamps, and when the trumpets sound, the wise virgins will awake, trim their lamps and go out to light the bridegroom’s way.
According to Revelation 8:5, the trumpets are preceded by “voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.” If these are not manifested in the hours or perhaps days and weeks before the Feast of Trumpets, that is an indicator that they will not sound on the Feast in that particular year.
Since the trumpets sound the warning of judgment day, the Day of Atonement, they should also be preceded by signs and wonders that are associated throughout the scriptures with the day of the Lord.
Loughborough, in the same book, gives an extensive catalog of heavenly signs that appeared in the months and years leading up to October 22, 1844 of which few Adventists are aware. Here are some of his accounts of these fascinating phenomena:
AURORA IN SALEM, 1719
In Dr. J. B. Felt's history of Salem, Mass., is an account of the first appearance of the aurora in America: "The aurora borealis was seen for the first time in America, Dec. 17, 1719. It filled our country with great alarm. It was dreaded, as being the precursor of the judgment fires which were to consume the world. It had a similar effect on the people of England in 1716." Last Day Tokens, pages 20, 21.
It seems strange to us today, when auroras are quite common in the northern latitudes and are beautiful, non-threatening events, that early Americans were terrified on seeing one. Loughborough attributes their reaction to two causes: 1) The phenomena was so rare in America and Europe at this time that few, if any, had ever seen or heard of one and 2) that these earlier auroras were much more intimidating and over-aweing than our beautiful but tame modern ones. Those more terrible manifestations qualify them as being signs of the end. Seventy years later, in 1789, many citizens of Virginia were seized with the same terror as those of Salem in witnessing a similar event:
AURORA IN 1789
In a work called "Percy Aneedotes," we have an account of the aurora as witnessed in Virginia in 1789: "On that day I stopped in Portsmouth to spend the evening at a house where there was a large party of both sexes. All at once our ears were assailed by loud murmurs outside. We rushed to the door, and were much astonished to find the whole population of the place in the street, the greater part of them on their knees, and uttering the loudest lamentations. Attracted by the brilliancy of the heavens, I raised my eyes upward, and observed a very vivid aurora borealis, casting its coruseations over more than one half of the hemisphere. On turning round I saw the whole company on their knees, and evidently in trepidation. The scene was certainly awful. . . . Toward midnight the aurora disappeared, as did the fears of the good people of Portsmouth.
On crossing the ferry to Norfolk, I saw that the same species of alarm had also existed there to a considerable extent, and was happily extinguished." Last Day Tokens, page 22.
Next, Loughborough documents another over-aweing aurora that appeared early in the Advent movement:
AURORA OF JAN. 25, 1837
In a work entitled "Modern Phenomena of the Heavens" are two accounts of the wonderful fiery aurora of Jan. 25, 1837. The first reads: "Another instance of this phenomenon was extensively witnessed in this country [America] early in the evening of Jan. 25, 1837, when, as described by many, the very heavens, for a short time, seemed to be on fire, and when the snow upon the ground much resembled blood and fire, which was so alarming in appearance as to cause the solemn inquiry with some who were out at the time, if the day of judgment had come, and also to cause the animals to tremble with fear. In one place, near a mountain, the people informed me that on the snow there was the appearance of 'waves of fire rolling down the great mountain.'"
The second statement from the above work is respecting the aurora of Jan. 25, 1837, as it appeared in the state of Massachusetts: "A clergyman of Massachusetts gave me the following account of the same phenomenon, as he and others witnessed it in one of the towns of Cape Cod, in that state. He was sitting with another minister in the pulpit, who had just commenced a discourse on the subject of the final judgment to a crowded audience of a protracted meeting, when suddenly, through the windows, the whole house was filled with a most vivid and fiery light, so alarming in its appearance that several of the audience shrieked aloud. All was disorder and commotion. Many rushed for the doors, and all prospect for further worship, for the time, seemed to be lost, till one from without, perceiving the consternation within, forced his way through the astonished crowd, up to the desk, with an account of the aurora phenomenon, just witnessed by those out-of-doors. Then this clergyman, as he said, called attention, and informed the audience that they had 'more cause for admiration than alarm, and that the appearance they had just witnessed was but a beautiful Last Day Tokens, pages 23 to 26.
Loughborough asserts that the auroras fulfilled the first part of Joel’s prophecy of “wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke,” Joel 2:30, and that these were followed by signs in the sun and moon, Joel 2:31. In his book, he goes on to list these, many of them appearing in the months and years before 1844. Below are a few examples taken from the many he documents:
SIGN IN THE SUN IN AMERICA
The following description of a sight which appeared in connection with the sun in New Haven, Conn., Sept. 9, 1844, was published in the Hartford Courant of Sept. 12, 1844:- The rings around the sun on Monday, Sept. 9, 1844, for two hours before and after midday, appear to have been generally observed by our citizens with much interest, and have awakened an intelligent curiosity to learn more respecting appearances of the same kind and their character. "The present halo was remarkable for its duration, and afforded favorable opportunities for observation. About midday it consisted of two complete rings, one about forty-five degrees in breadth, encircling the sun at its center, and the other about seventy-two degrees broad, having its center in the zenith, while its circumference passed through the sun. The smaller circle was accompanied by an ellipse of the major axis and of small eccentricity. Directly opposite the sun, and thirty-six degrees north of the zenith, the larger circle was intersected by two other circles of nearly same diameter, forming at the point of intersection a bright spot, such as would naturally result from the combined light of three luminous rings. The ring that encircled the sun exhibited the colors of the rainbow, frequently with much vividness and beauty. The other rings were white, and fainter as they were more distant from the sun. Small portions of circles, however, with prismatic (rainbow) hues, appeared at different times, both in the east and west. . . . Such conformity of structure must depend on some law which regulates the formation of halos; but the nature of the law is not fully developed. . . . Not much difficulty has been experienced in accounting for the production of the ring that encircles the sun, since the cause is somewhat similar to that which produces the rainbow; but to explain the origin of the ring which has its circumference in the sun's center, has been found more difficult." Last Day Tokens, pages 75 and 76.
GOD'S POWER PRODUCES THE WONDERS
To him that acknowledges that all things are "upheld" by the word of God's power, and that by Him "all things consist," there is no difficulty in accounting for these remarkable appearances in the heavens. Such a one recognizes the fact that "fire, and or hail; snow, and vapors; stormy wind," are "fulfilling His word." Of the rainbow God said: "I do set My bow in the cloud. . . . It shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud: . . . and I will look upon it." God's power produces the beautiful bow, with its varied colors; and while we look upon it, our minds are solemnized with the thought that God too is looking at it. As the storm and vapors fulfil His word, it is of little consequence whether the center of His rainbow-colored circles are in the sun or outside, or whether the convex of the rainbow half-circles, or the concave, is toward the sun. God has said in His word that as the end draws near, there shall be "signs in the sun." His power produces these signs in a way that defeats all the speculations of men as to how they are produced. When men talk of "natural law," let it be remembered that "nature is but the name for an effect, whose cause is God." Last Day Tokens, pages 79 – 81.
WONDERFUL SUN RINGS
At the date of the phenomenon just described, at the same hours and minutes, a most wonderful sight around the sun was observed in the state of New York. The New York papers gave a description of it which follows- "An unusual and beautiful solar phenomenon was visible in this city for about two hours this morning. The sun appeared to be surrounded by several rings of different shapes and centers. Two rings, with the sun nearly in their centers, appeared and intersected each other at two opposite points. The inner circumferences of the rings within the points of intersection were dark, but beyond the points of intersection they were luminous. Several other circles and arcs of circles appeared, with the sun either in their circumference or near one side. Under the sun was the appearance of an inverted rainbow. The phenomenon was exceedingly curious and interesting, and needs the description of a scientific observer to give a proper and adequate delineation of it. We trust that some one competent to do so will submit to the public such a description. The appearance is very unusual in this latitude. . . . One of the same character was seen at Jackson, Tenn., Jan. 1, 1824. The Millerites, we understand, regard the phenomenon as a sign of the end of all things." And why not? The Lord has said that when the great day of the Lord is drawing near, He will show "wonders in the heavens," and "signs in the sun." Faith in God leads His people to say: "These are things the Lord said should come, and here they are, fulfilling His word. Surely, the great day of the Lord is nearing." Last Day Tokens, pages 81, 82.
Next Loughborough documents signs in the moon. Here are a few of these:
SIGNS IN THE MOON
The following is an account of a phenomenon which appeared at Newark, N. J., on the evening of Feb. 15, 1843, and was reported in the Midnight Cry, of New York City. The scene was witnessed by hundreds of spectators with thrilling admiration. The article reads:- "It was first observed between eight and nine o'clock in the evening, the moon being about at the zenith. It was surrounded by three concentric circles, beautifully marked with all the varied colors of the rainbow, of the most brilliant hue, the center space within the circumference of the lunar circle being of beautiful silvery whiteness. "The opposers of the speedy coming of Christ seem to have been somewhat agitated by the phenomenon, and anticipated an application for us. A clergyman at Newark, on seeing it, said, 'I suppose the Millerites will see something of Miller in it,' - probably he 'supposed' we were not philosophers enough to SEE GOD IN IT! An elderly lady, who despises 'Millerism,' on seeing it, made the following beautifully prophetic observation: 'The Lord has promised that He will not drown the world with water any more, and He has set the rainbow in the clouds for a sign. But now He has closed the bow, and is going to burn the world with fire.'" Last Day Tokens, page 118.
CROSS IN MOON, TWO EXTRA MOONS
The following is an extract from a letter signed "Veritas," [Latin for Truth] dated Auburn, N. Y., Feb. 27, 1843:-"I have seen no published notice of a singular phenomenon which was seen by the citizens of this place, and also, I understand, in the neighboring towns, on the evening of the 16th of February. Coming out of church about half past nine o'clock, with some friends, . . . the moon being then near its full, and in its ascension about one half above the eastern horizon, in a clear sky, there were seen in the same distance from the horizon and parallel with the moon, two bright representations of the moon, a little obscured, having the colors of the rainbow. These mock moons, as they were called, continued visible until about ten o'clock, the northern one fading away first. I understand that they had been visible some time previous to their being noticed by us. But the most extraordinary part of the whole was, that before they faded away, there was distinctly seen a light or luminous line running perpendicular through the true moon, commencing a little above and running down to near the horizon; then another, a similar streak, crossing the other horizontally through the center of the moon, giving the appearance of a cross. A brother was asked the next day how he accounted for it. He said it was the reflection of the false moons upon the true moon. When asked why these reflections were not horizontal or both perpendicular, he could not give the reason. "The above you may depend upon as correct, as it was seen by many witnesses."
On the 14th of July, 1898, as I was exhibiting a diagram of this scene, in a hall in 125th Street, New York City, an old gentleman in the audience said: "I was living at Auburn at the time of that phenomenon, and saw it. It was exactly as here represented." On December 10, of the same year, while I was exhibiting the same at the St. Helena Sanitarium, in California, the late Judge Beebe, of Santa Barbara, Cal., who was there as a patient, saw the picture, and said: "I was living at Auburn, N. Y., at the time of that phenomenon. I was thirteen years old. I witnessed the same. It was exactly as here pictured out." Last Day Tokens, pages 120, 121.
A BAND OF LIGHT
Near the last of December, 1843, there was seen in the sky, in the central part of the state of New York, a clearly-defined band of white light extending from the western to the eastern horizon. It was of about the same width as the disc of the full moon when half an hour high. It was in the "dark of the moon," with a cloudless, starlit night. Such an arch, extending over the zenith, and spanning the whole dome, was indeed a most beautiful and soul-inspiring sight. It was a mysterious visitor that none could explain - one of the Lord's wonders hung out in the heavens. It was the privilege of the writer to behold this grand sight at Victor, N. Y., about ten o'clock at night, on coming out of the meeting-house where Elder James Barry (an Adventist) had just delivered a very solemn discourse on the subject of the final judgment. The sermon was characterized by great solemnity, and made a deep impression on the audience. On beholding this "token" in the sky, more than one gave utterance to their convictions by saying, "The Adventists' doctrine is true." The band of light continued in the heavens all that night. The next night being just as clear, it was again visible all night. Some few illiterate persons said, "This light must be the tail of a comet." A few nights after, a large comet did appear for several nights in the southwestern heavens. Its tail was of a fiery red color, and apparently about three feet in length. The band of light was as white as a summer's fleecy cloud, and extended from the eastern to the western horizon. Last Day Tokens, pages 122, 123.
ELLEN WHITE ON LAST DAY TOKENS
Like Loughborough, Ellen White also had many things to say about last day tokens. In closing, here are two of her timely statements:
The time is near when the large cities will be visited by the judgments of God. In a little while these cities will be terribly shaken. No matter how large or how strong their buildings, no matter how many safeguards against fire may have been provided, let God touch these buildings, and in a few minutes or a few hours they are in ruins. {7T 83.2}
The ungodly cities of our world are to be swept away by the besom of destruction. In the calamities that are now befalling immense buildings and large portions of cities God is showing us what will come upon the whole earth. He has told us: “Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: so likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it [the coming of the Son of man] is near, even at the doors.” Matthew 24:32, 33. {7T 83.3}
These things are the result of drops from the vials of God’s wrath being sprinkled on the earth, and are but faint representations of what will be in the near future. Earthquakes in various places have been felt, but these disturbances have been very limited. This year we may expect to have more. During the year that has just closed, whole cities have become nearly extinct. Thousands of people have been buried in the bowels of the earth. Premonitory convulsions have been felt in many places, giving warning of what may come as a surprise when the earth shakes and opens. {Ms24-1891.}
Terrible shocks will come upon the earth, and the lordly palaces erected at great expense will certainly become heaps of ruins. The earth’s crust will be rent by the outbursts of the elements concealed in the bowels of the earth. These elements, once broken loose, will sweep away the treasures of those who for years have been adding to their wealth by securing large possessions at starvation prices from those in their employ. And the religious world, too, is to be terribly shaken, for the end of all things is at hand. {Ms24-1891.}
When Ellen White wrote Manuscript #24 in 1891, she was aware of the many devastating earthquakes which had occurred in her lifetime and in the centuries before. Earthquakes such as the Great Lisbon quake and the New Madrid were well documented and must have been familiar to her. And yet she states: “Earthquakes in various places have been felt, but these disturbances have been very limited”. She goes on: “Terrible shocks will come upon the earth, and the lordly palaces erected at great expense will certainly become heaps of ruins. The earth’s crust will be rent by the outbursts of the elements concealed in the bowels of the earth. . . And the religious world, too, is to be terribly shaken, for the end of all things is at hand.” {Ms24-1891.}
I suggest that in saying this she is anticipating the “voices and thunderings and earthquakes” {Ms 27, 1892, par. 5} that betoken the seven trumpets. As discussed above, the trumpets warn humanity against the abomination of desolation and mark of the beast. For example, the fifth trumpet warns of a fallen star that unlocks the bottomless pit, releasing a dense cloud of locusts that darken the sky. This is the same star that opens the same pit from which the beast emerges in Revelation 17:8. The trumpets warn of this and, in the process, shake the religious world to the core. A mass exodus of nominal believers is the result, the great majority of which wonder after the beast. But for believers who are anchored in Christ, the same trumpets herald His imminent return and the establishment of His kingdom.
Above I suggested that the trumpets will not sound until there is widespread awareness of their approach. According to CBN News, 43% of Americans believe we are living in the last days of Bible prophecy. Personally, I would have never guessed that the percentage is this high. Based on mainstream media reporting, one would think the percentage is a fraction of that, held only by a small fringe group. But that’s not the case. Even while Adventists generally are in denial of the future fulfillment of the trumpets and seals, the majority of our American brothers and sisters are looking for their imminent fulfillment. This is a positive indicator that, before long, they will sound.
It has to be soon, friends. For the sake of the victims of the falsehoods that are darkening our intellectual skies, for the atrocities committed against our children and youth and for the honor of His holy name, God must and will act. Our prayers should be ascending now to Him at the golden altar, “Arise, O LORD, into thy rest; thou, and the ark of thy strength. Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness; and let thy saints shout for joy. It is time for thee to work for men have made void thy law: For the sake of your name and honor, Lord, spare your people, especially your precious lambs, and give not your heritage to reproach. For your great name’s sake do not allow darkness to rule over us, but deliver us from evil. Truly, yours is the kingdom, the power and glory for ever, Amen.” Psalm 132:8, 9; 119:126, Joel 2:17, Matthew 6:13.
The fervent, effectual prayers of the saints are all heard in heaven. We can be confident that God will act swiftly, personally answering them. Before long He will scatter broadcast on the earth the fire of His Spirit and, one after another, the trumpets will sound. May God help us today to be among His witnesses who “prophesy again,” and light up the pathway of the bridegroom.
Just thinking about the trumpets and how they sounded them for 10 days in the lead up to date of atonement. In revelation there are seven trumpets sounding. I’m wondering if the trumpets blew seven times each day. You’d think the actual feast would match up with the prophecy in revelation. Blessings!