1Why do the nations rage,
and the peoples plot a vain thing?
2The kings of the earth take a stand,
and the rulers take counsel together,
against Yahweh, and against his Anointed, saying,
3“Let’s break their bonds apart,
and cast their cords from us.”
4He who sits in the heavens will laugh.
The Lord will have them in derision.
5Then he will speak to them in his anger,
and terrify them in his wrath:
6“Yet I have set my King on my holy hill of Zion.”
7I will tell of the decree:
Yahweh said to me, “You are my son.
Today I have become your father.
8Ask of me, and I will give the nations for your inheritance,
the uttermost parts of the earth for your possession.
9You shall break them with a rod of iron.
You shall dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”
10Now therefore be wise, you kings.
Be instructed, you judges of the earth.
11Serve Yahweh with fear,
and rejoice with trembling.
12Give sincere homage to the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish on the way,
for his wrath will soon be kindled.
Blessed are all those who take refuge in him.
The seventh trumpet (third woe) announces the coming of the kingdom of God to the earth while the Ark of the Covenant appears in the temple in heaven. The announcement of the voices in heaven when the trumpet sounded is that the Kingdom of the Lord and His Christ had come to the earth. Then the Ark of the Covenant appears in the temple in heaven amid lightnings, thunders, an earthquake, and a great hailstorm.
This is not the “last trumpet” of 1 Corinthians 15:51-52. That trumpet calls the church into glory at the time of the Rapture. This trumpet announces the final judgments on the Earth.
The worship and praise of the twenty-four elders anticipate God’s victory and completion of history. Their address to God acknowledges His sovereignty, He is lord, and His eternality, using the title God took in the first chapter of Revelation. Their saying “the nations were angry” may be an allusion to Psalms 2. “Your wrath came” looks back on the outpouring of God’s wrath in the previous judgments. “The time for the dead to be judged” looks forward to the Great White Throne judgment. They then turn to God’s servants and His intention to reward them for their faithfulness. “Prophets,” “saints,” “those who fear your name,” along with “small and great,” indicate that God will reward every believer. The trumpet inaugurates all of this.
The scene then moves back to heaven. The ark of the covenant’s appearance indicates that it still exists today and will be relocated to heaven. For it to appear at this point indicates that it was not there previously. This is the earthly ark, the copy of the one God sits upon, and John saw on the dais. The lightning, sounds, thunder, earthquake, and hailstorm indicate the release of God’s power as He prepares to act once more.