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Each time the trumpet sounds, the judgment which follows is more severe than the previous one. Long ago Isaiah had prophesied that "when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness" (Isa. [[26:9|bible.23.26.9]]). No doubt, therefore, each succeeding judgment will uncover a few reluctant "learners," but those that remain unconverted are still more stubborn and thus each visitation must increase in severity.1
a voice from the four horns of the golden altarShockingly, from the altar associated with mercy came words of judgment. God is a merciful, gracious, compassionate God, yet His "Spirit shall not strive with man forever" (Gen. [[6:3|bible.1.6.3]]). When this trumpet judgment occurs, the time for mercy will have passed; the altar of mercy will become an altar of judgment.3
Notes
1 Henry Morris, The Revelation Record (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1983), Rev. 9:13.
2 Barnhouse takes the voice to be a personification of the altar itself. [Donald Grey Barnhouse, Revelation (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1971), 174].
3 John MacArthur, Revelation 1-11 : The MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1999), Rev. 9:13.
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