Revelation 11: 15-19, The Seventh Trumpet

The sixth trumpet has sounded, and there has been an interlude, with two witnesses for God, who are eventually killed, then brought up to heaven.  The second "woe" has then ended and so the third begins, with the sounding of the seventh trumpet.

Revelation 11: 15-18, The last trumpet

The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said:

“The kingdom of the world has become
    the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah,
    and he will reign for ever and ever.”

16 And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, 
17 saying:

“We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty,
    the One who is and who was,
because you have taken your great power
    and have begun to reign.
18 The nations were angry,
    and your wrath has come.
The time has come for judging the dead,
    and for rewarding your servants the prophets
and your people who revere your name,
    both great and small—
and for destroying those who destroy the earth.”


Finally, the seventh trumpet sounds. It apparently announces the final kingdom of the world, the heavenly kingdom.

What is said to occur with the sounding of this last trumpet?

The main result seems to be praise, praise that God has finally begun to reign, finally bring justice and judgment.  (This is so strange to modern ears!)

Revelation 11: 19, The last trumpet

Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant. And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a severe hailstorm. 

What does it mean for God's temple to "open"?

Once again, the image of God involves dramatic light, noise, sensory overload.  Here it is described as severe thunderstorm, with dramatic hail, mixed with an earthquake.

The chaos here will continue in the next chapter as a woman dressed in sunlight appears, and is pursued by a red dragon.