The third series of seven from the book of Revelation is nearly finished. It started with the seven letters to the churches—seven personal messages from the King of the Church, Christ, to His churches in the end times. He introduces Himself as the One who lives forever and then says seven times: “Write to...”. These were followed by the seven seals that the Lamb broke, with Christ executing God's plan for the end times. The gospel's spread is prominent during these times, but opposition and hostility follow. The third series involves the seven trumpets. God traverses the earth with warnings, aiming to lead people to repentance. We concluded in Revelation 9 with the sounding of the 5th and 6th trumpets. It is quite poignant how Revelation 9 ends, after describing the six trumpets, with six calls from God to repentance: "And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, … Neither repented they of …” (Revelation 9:21-21)
After the sixth trumpet, there is a pause. We would expect the seventh trumpet to sound now, and it can only be one of judgment. The seven seals, the seven trumpets, and the seven bowls all reveal a view of the entire end times, from start to finish. All three conclude with the day of the Second Coming, which is both a day of deliverance and redemption, as well as a day of judgment and punishment.
Yet, that does not happen; there is, as it were, a kind of pause in the narrative. We saw the same thing after the opening of the 6th seal. The 1st seal is so comforting and encouraging, but how terrible and heavy were the next five seals, with much opposition and rejection of God's Word. Before the 7th seal is broken and Judgment Day is announced, there is also a pause. In that pause, the church is encouraged and comforted. There are 144,000 sealed in every age. God knows His own, and none of them will be lost! The total multitude will be so great — a multitude that no one can count... This also happens after the blowing of the 6th trumpet. There is a pause, followed by a message, especially for the church. We find this in Revelation 10 and 11, and then from Revelation 11:15, the 7th trumpet will sound with the announcement of the day of the Second Coming.
No, there is no delay in God's plan; He is in a hurry. What happens here in Revelation 10 and 11 is simply another perspective on the end times, showing this period from the viewpoint of the church. After all, earlier we focused on the world that was being warned, but what about the church during that same time of warning? What a comfort is the book of Revelation for the church living in the end times. The Lord is in control.