Day 161

“THE SIXTH ANGEL SOUNDED HIS TRUMPET AND I HEARD A VOICE FROM THE FOUR HORNS OF THE GOLDEN ALTAR WHICH IS BEFORE GOD, SAYING TO THE SIXTH TRUMPET, “RELEASE THE FOUR ANGELS WHO ARE BOUND BY THE GREAT RIVER EUPHRATES.” REV.9:13,14.

Remember the scheme of Revelations Layout. The 7 trumpets stand opposite the 7 last plagues in the chiastic structure. Here the plagues are limited in Rev 16 they are “final.” As the church became distant from the word of God the woes increased. The lies, superstitions, and doctrines of devils became normal. Pictured as demonic plagues 1/3rd of humanity perish. Historians note, about that number perished during the Medieval period and after as a result of the Black Death.

As horrible as the sixth trumpet is, the passage begins with a voice from the four horns of the altar. The horns of the altar were renowned in Scripture as a place of mercy.

Read 1 Kings 1:5-53. David was old and Adonijah attempted to be crowned king of Israel with the support of Joab and Abiathar the High Priest. Nathan the prophet conspired with Bathsheba to get David involved (they alone seem to have known David’s preference for Solomon, his son with Bathsheba). David decides to transfer the throne to Solomon immediately. There was a blast of trumpets and a mighty crowd chanting, “Long live King Solomon.” 

Joab picked up on the sound and said, “What’s with all this noise coming out of the city?” Abiathar’s son arrived with the news of David’s action. In an instant, Adonijah’s guests fled for their lives. Left alone, Adonijah could think of only one thing to do. He went directly to the sanctuary and grabbed hold of the horns of the altar, invoking God’s protection on his life. Solomon respected the action and let him live. 

As horrible as the sixth trumpet is, mention of the horns of the altar puts a touch of mercy into the plague. The door to salvation has not yet closed. As the earth slides into the final stages of self-destruction, it is still possible to hear the voice of Jesus and repent. When life causes us to hit bottom the way Adonijah did, the only sensible thing to do is hang our helpless souls on the mercy of God.