Tips for Reading Revelation 8–11 This Week – I can hear it right now: “Seriously, Pastor wants us to read this. There is no “Jesus Moment” or “Holy Meditation” here.” Ok, I admit it, stepping from Revelation 7 to 8 is leaving the Glory for the gore. This is where it gets tough - but let me encourage you to dig in. Don’t forget, Jesus said in Chapter 1 we would be blessed if we read it – so here’s my pastoral tips to help you read this week.
Each Chapter is part of a whole - As you read Revelation 8–11 this week, remember these chapters belong together. They form a single vision of the seven trumpets, and seeing them as a unified whole helps us hear their message more clearly.
Hear the Imagery - These chapters are filled with vivid, dramatic imagery and were meant to be heard. Reading them out loud allows for us to hear and sometimes hearing the imagery actually enables us to see more clearly, allowing the descriptions to take shape and the weight of the vision be felt.
Can Judgment be good? - The trumpets are warnings of coming judgment. While judgment can sound frightening, Revelation reminds us that it is also an answer to prayer. In Revelation 6:10, the martyrs cry out for justice, asking, “How long, O Lord?” The sounding of the trumpets is God’s response—His promise that evil will not have the final word.
Why trumpets? - When we hear these trumpet warnings, they should stir our hearts in three ways. First, repent—ensuring our own lives are marked by humility and obedience. Second, proclaim—sharing the call to repentance and faith with those around us. Third, trust—recognizing that God’s judgment is the necessary path to lasting peace, because evil must be dealt with for peace to flourish. Notice also the progression of the trumpets. The first four affect the natural world, while the final three reveal intense spiritual conflict. Even here, God remains sovereign, and the enemy’s defeat is certain.
Read with awe - Above all, read these chapters wide-eyed and hope-filled. God’s judgment brings justice, and His justice leads to victory and peace. Were it not for God’s grace in Christ, the sound of a trumpet would be terrifying. Instead, in light of God’s grace we can read with a sense of awe and also a sober-minded desire to ready others to respond to the trumpet warning. One last encouragement: as you read these terrifying trumpet accounts, treasure the fact that you can respond in worship-filled expectation: “Even so, come Lord Jesus.”