When the Trumpet Sounds: God's Mercy in the Midst of Judgment

Main Text: Revelation 9:20–21

Revelation 9:20–21 MEV

The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands. They did not cease to worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which cannot see, nor hear, nor walk. Nor did they repent of their murders or their magical arts or their sexual immorality or their thefts.

Supporting Texts:

2 Peter 3:9 (ESV): "The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance."

Revelation 8:7–13; 9:1–12

Theme Summary:

Even amid devastating judgment, God restrains His wrath and extends opportunities for repentance. The trumpet judgments of Revelation reveal not only God's justice but His patient mercy—a mercy that calls us to respond before it's too late.

INTRODUCTION

Let me ask you a question this morning: Have you ever had a wake-up call? Maybe it was a health scare—the doctor said, "Your cholesterol is through the roof," or "If you don't change your lifestyle, you're headed for a heart attack." Maybe a financial crisis made you realize you'd been living beyond your means. Or perhaps it was a relationship that fell apart because you'd been taking someone for granted.

Wake-up calls are God's mercy in disguise. They're warning signs of what's to come. They're the flashing red lights before the crash. And friend, that's precisely what we see in Revelation chapters 8 and 9—the trumpet judgments are God's global wake-up call to a world that has turned its back on Him.

According to recent studies, natural disasters have increased dramatically over the past fifty years. Wildfires, hurricanes, earthquakes, pandemics—we've seen them all intensify. And while I'm not saying these events are the trumpet judgments, they follow the same pattern: God uses a crisis to get our attention.

Here's the big idea for today: God's judgments are designed not to destroy us, but to wake us up before it's too late.

The question is: Are we listening?

Let's open our Bibles to Revelation 8 and 9, and discover how God's mercy shines even in the darkest moments of judgment.

POINT 1: God's Judgments Are Restrained by His Mercy

Scripture: Revelation 8:7–12

Revelation 8:7–12 MEV

The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mixed with blood, and they were thrown upon the earth. A third of the trees and all the green grass were burned up. Then the second angel sounded, and something like a great mountain, burning with fire, was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea became blood, a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed. The third angel sounded, and a great star from heaven, burning like a torch, fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of waters. The name of this star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the waters, because they were made bitter. The fourth angel sounded, and a third of the sun was struck, and a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them were darkened. A third of the day had no light, and likewise a third of the night.

Fire Bible Notes:

The Fire Bible explains that these trumpet judgments parallel the plagues of Egypt (Exodus 7–12), where God demonstrated His supremacy over the false gods of Egypt. Similarly, the trumpet judgments expose the powerlessness of modern idols—materialism, technology, human government—to save humanity. The "one-third" pattern throughout these judgments reveals divine restraint. God could destroy everything, but He limits the scope to provide opportunity for repentance. This echoes the mercy shown in Noah's day, when God waited 120 years before sending the flood (Genesis 6:3).

Strong's Word Study: "Third" (τρίτος, tritos, Strong's G5154)

The word "third" appears twelve times in Revelation 8 alone. In biblical numerology, three represents divine completeness and witness (three persons of the Trinity, three days in the tomb, three-fold witness). But "one-third" suggests incomplete judgment—not the final word. It's a measured response, a partial demonstration of what total judgment would look like.

Application: God doesn't give us everything we deserve. Romans 6:23 says, "The wages of sin is death," but God holds back the full payment. His mercy restrains His justice. If God had given us the complete judgment we deserved for our rebellion, none of us would be standing here today. The fact that only "a third" is affected is proof that God is giving humanity another chance.

Thompson Chain Reference: "Mercy of God" (Theme 2456)

Cross-references include:

Exodus 34:6–7: God's self-revelation as "compassionate and gracious, slow to anger"

Lamentations 3:22–23: "His mercies are new every morning"

James 2:13: "Mercy triumphs over judgment"

These passages remind us that mercy is not God's occasional response—it's His character. Even when He must judge, He does so with reluctance.

Illustration:

Imagine a father disciplining his rebellious teenager. The son has wrecked the car, failed out of school, and broken every rule in the house. The father has every right to throw him out. But instead, he grounds him, takes away privileges, and says, "I'm giving you one more chance to get this right." That's not weakness—that's love. That's precisely what God is doing with these trumpet judgments. He's saying, "I'm getting your attention, but I'm not giving up on you yet."

Application:

Have you experienced God's restraint in your life? Maybe you walked away from God, and instead of destroying you, He allowed circumstances to humble you and bring you back. Thank Him today for His mercy. And if you're currently going through a difficult season, ask yourself: "Is God trying to get my attention? Is this a wake-up call?"

POINT 2: God's Purpose in Judgment Is Repentance, Not Destruction

Scripture: 2 Peter 3:9

2 Peter 3:9 MEV

The Lord is not slow concerning His promise, as some count slowness. But He is patient with us, because He does not want any to perish, but all to come to repentance.

Fire Bible Notes:

The Fire Bible highlights that God's "patience" (makrothumia) is often misunderstood as indifference or inaction. In reality, God's delay in final judgment is an extension of grace. He is holding back the day of wrath so that more people can come to salvation. This verse directly addresses scoffers who say, "Where is the promise of His coming?" (2 Peter 3:4). The answer? God is waiting because He loves humanity and desires their salvation. This aligns with Ezekiel 33:11: "I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live."

Strong's Word Study: "Repentance" (μετάνοια, metanoia, Strong's G3341)

The Greek word metanoia means "a change of mind" or "a turning around." It's not just feeling sorry for sin—it's a complete transformation of thinking that leads to a transformation of behavior. The root meta means "after" or "change," and nous means "mind." True repentance involves:

Recognition of sin

Godly sorrow (2 Corinthians 7:10 “Godly sorrow produces repentance that leads to salvation and brings no regret, but the sorrow of the world produces death.” )

Turning away from sin

Turning toward God

Application: Repentance is not a one-time event; it's a lifestyle. The tragedy of Revelation 9:20–21 is that despite supernatural judgments, humanity refused to repent. They saw the power of God and still chose their idols. Are there areas in your life where God has been speaking, convicting, calling you to change—and you've been resisting? Today is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2). Don't let your heart become hardened.

Thompson Chain Reference: "Repentance" (Theme 3155)

Key cross-references:

Acts 3:19: "Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out"

Luke 13:3: "Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish"

Acts 17:30: "God commands all people everywhere to repent"

These verses emphasize the urgency and universality of repentance. It's not optional—it's essential for salvation.

Illustration:

In 1906, a massive earthquake struck San Francisco, killing over 3,000 people and destroying much of the city. In the immediate aftermath, churches were packed. People who hadn't prayed in years were crying out to God. Revival meetings were held in the streets. But within six months, as the city rebuilt, church attendance returned to pre-earthquake levels. The wake-up call was ignored.

History repeats itself. After 9/11, churches filled. After COVID-19, people briefly turned to God. But how quickly we return to business as usual. The trumpet judgments in Revelation are designed to prevent that spiritual amnesia—to make the warning so loud and so clear that repentance becomes unavoidable.

Application:

Don't wait for a crisis to turn to God. Jesus said in Luke 13:5, "Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish." Repentance is not just for sinners outside the church—it's for believers who have grown cold, complacent, and compromising. The church at Laodicea thought they were fine, but Jesus said they were "lukewarm" and in danger of being spit out (Revelation 3:16). Examine your heart today. Is there sin you've been tolerating? Relationships you've neglected? Spiritual disciplines you've abandoned? Repent now, while there's still time.

POINT 3: Our Response Determines Our Destiny

Scripture: Revelation 9:20–21

Revelation 9:20–21 MEV

The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands. They did not cease to worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which cannot see, nor hear, nor walk. Nor did they repent of their murders or their magical arts or their sexual immorality or their thefts.

Fire Bible Notes:

The Fire Bible notes that this passage reveals the depth of human depravity and spiritual blindness. Despite witnessing unprecedented supernatural judgments—demonic locusts, a 200-million-strong demon army, one-third of humanity killed—the survivors still refuse to repent. This demonstrates that:

Pharaoh saw ten plagues and still hardened his heart. Seeing miracles doesn't automatically produce faith.

When we worship created things instead of the Creator, our spiritual vision becomes distorted (Romans 1:21–25). Idolatry blinds people to truth.

God eventually gives people over to their sinful desires (Romans 1:24, 26, 28). Repeated rejection of truth leads to judicial hardening.

The list of sins—demon worship, idolatry, murder, sorcery, sexual immorality, theft—represents the full spectrum of human rebellion against God's law.

Strong's Word Study: "Repent" (μετανοέω, metanoeō, Strong's G3340)

This is the verb form of metanoia (noun). It means "to change one's mind for the better, to amend with abhorrence of one's past sins." The tragedy of Revelation 9:20–21 is captured in the phrase "did not repent" (οὐ μετενόησαν). The verb is in the aorist tense, indicating a definitive, completed action—they made a final decision not to repent.

Application: There is a point of no return. Hebrews 3:15 warns, "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts." Every time we say "no" to God's conviction, our hearts become a little harder, our consciences a little more seared (1 Timothy 4:2). Eventually, we reach a place where we cannot repent, not because God won't forgive, but because we've lost the ability to recognize our need.

Thompson Chain Reference: "Hardness of Heart" (Theme 1769)

Key cross-references:

Exodus 8:15: Pharaoh hardened his heart repeatedly

Hebrews 3:7–8: "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts"

Proverbs 29:1: "He who is often rebuked, and hardens his neck, will suddenly be destroyed"

These passages warn that persistent rejection of God's warnings leads to spiritual death.

Illustration:

A doctor once told the story of a patient who came in with early signs of heart disease. The doctor prescribed lifestyle changes: diet, exercise, and medication. The patient ignored the advice. A year later, he had a mild heart attack. The doctor gave stronger warnings. Still, the patient refused to change. Five years later, he suffered a massive heart attack and died. The tragedy? It was entirely preventable. He had multiple warnings, multiple opportunities to change course. But he chose to ignore them all.

That's the tragedy of Revelation 9. Humanity receives trumpet after trumpet—warning after warning—and still refuses to repent. Don't let that be your story.

Application:

Here's the call to action: Respond to God today. If you've never given your life to Christ, today is your day of salvation. If you're a believer who has drifted, today is your day of restoration. If you've been resisting the Holy Spirit's conviction in a specific area, today is your day of obedience.

The trumpets are sounding—not the literal ones of Revelation yet, but the wake-up calls in your own life. The health scare. The broken relationship. The financial crisis. The restless heart. The conviction you feel right now as the Word of God penetrates your soul. Please don't ignore it. Don't harden your heart. Respond while you still can.

CONCLUSION

Let me bring it all together. We've seen three powerful truths this morning:

He doesn't give us what we deserve; He allows us to repent. His mercy restrains God's judgments.

He doesn't delight in judgment—He delays it so that more can be saved. God's purpose in judgment is repentance, not destruction.

We can harden our hearts like those in Revelation 9, or we can respond with repentance and faith. Our response determines our destiny.

Do you remember the question I started with? Have you ever had a wake-up call? Here's the follow-up question: How did you respond? Did you hit the snooze button and go back to sleep? Or did you wake up and change course?

The trumpet judgments are God's ultimate wake-up call to humanity. But He's been sounding alarms in your life long before the final trumpet. And here's the beautiful truth: It's not too late for you.

2 Peter 3:9 promises that God is "not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance." That includes you. No matter what you've done, no matter how far you've wandered, no matter how many warnings you've ignored—God is still extending His hand of mercy today.

ALTAR CALL

I want to invite you to respond right now. If you're here this morning and you've never given your life to Jesus Christ, today is your day. The Bible says in Romans 10:9, "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Don't wait for another wake-up call. Don't assume you'll have tomorrow. Respond today.

Maybe you're a believer, but you've been living in compromise. You've been tolerating sin, ignoring conviction, playing games with God. The Holy Spirit is calling you to repentance this morning. 1 John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Or perhaps you're here and you need a fresh baptism of the Holy Spirit. You need God's power to overcome sin, to live victoriously, to be a bold witness. Acts 1:8 promises, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you." Ask Him today.

If that's you—salvation, rededication, or Holy Spirit empowerment—I want you to come forward. Don't be ashamed. Don't let pride keep you from responding. The altar is open. Come as we pray.

CLOSING PRAYER

"Father, we thank You that Your mercy triumphs over judgment. Thank You for not giving us what we deserve, but instead giving us opportunity after opportunity to repent and return to You. Lord, we hear the trumpets sounding in our world—through natural disasters, global crises, and personal struggles. We recognize them as Your wake-up calls, Your invitations to come home.

For those responding to salvation today, welcome them into Your family. Forgive their sins, wash them clean, and write their names in the Lamb's Book of Life.

For those repenting of compromise, restore them fully. Give them a new heart and a fresh start.

For those seeking the baptism of the Holy Spirit, fill them now with Your power, Your gifts, Your boldness.

And for all of us, keep our hearts tender, our ears open, and our lives ready for Your return. In Jesus' mighty name, Amen."

SERMON SUMMARY

This message explores the trumpet judgments of Revelation 8–9, revealing how God's judgment is always tempered by mercy. Despite devastating plagues affecting one-third of creation, God restrains His wrath to provide opportunity for repentance. Using 2 Peter 3:9 as a theological anchor, we see that God's purpose in judgment is not destruction but transformation. The tragic response of humanity in Revelation 9:20–21—refusing to repent despite supernatural warnings—serves as a cautionary tale for today's church. Modern crises function as divine wake-up calls, inviting us to examine our hearts and respond before it's too late. The sermon concludes with a powerful altar call for salvation, rededication, and Holy Spirit empowerment, emphasizing the urgency of responding to God's voice today.

THREE KEY TAKEAWAYS

The "one-third" pattern in the trumpet judgments reveals that God limits His wrath to provide opportunities for repentance. God's mercy restrains His judgment.

Every judgment, every crisis, every difficulty is designed to turn our hearts back to Him before it's too late. Repentance is God's desire, not destruction.

We can either harden our hearts like those in Revelation 9, or we can respond with repentance, faith, and obedience. Our response determines our destiny.