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| Statue of the Angel Moroni atop the Nauvoo Temple |
Seven is a sacred number representing perfection or completeness. These angels will have a lot to say and do to finish their work of preparation. Following is a recap of some of their messages as recorded in the Book of Revelation, chapter 8 through 18 and in the Doctrine and Covenants chapter 88 verses 87 through 116.
In the Book of Revelation, beginning in chapter 8, John writes of "seven angels which had the seven trumpets [who] prepared themselves to sound" (Revelation 8:6). This chapter reveals that these angels will bring destruction to the earth:
• "The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up" (v. 7).
• "And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood; and the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed" (v. 8–9; compare 16:3).
• "And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters; and the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter" (v. 10–11; compare 16:4–7).
• "And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise" (v. 12; compare 16:8–9).
The first 12 verses of chapter 9 speaks of the fifth angel who has the key to the bottomless pit and who will send forth and hurt "those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads" (v. 4; compare 16:10–11). Verses 13 through 31 talk of the sixth angel. If my math is right, this angel foretells the appearance of 200,000,000 mounted horsemen—when or where was there ever an army to compare—who go forth to destroy many of those who will not repent. (See also chapter 16:12–16).
In chapter 10 of Revelation, the seventh angel (v. 7) comes down from heaven (v. 1) and "in his hand [he has] a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth, and cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices" (v. 2–3). John was forbidden to write what the seven thunders uttered but upon ingesting the little book in the angel's hand was promised that he would yet prophesy "before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings (v. 11). (See also chapter 16:17–21).
Then again, in the 14th chapter of Revelation, we read of "another angel fly[ing] in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters" (Revelation 14:6–7).
Then another angel speaks saying, "Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication" (v. 8). Then the third angel speaks: "If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb . . ." (v. 9–11). And several others followed, one saying: "Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe" (v. 15–20).
In Revelation 15, John tells us that the seven angels will pour out the last plagues on the earth.
Chapter 16 recounts the plagues and their effect on those who "repented not of their deeds" (v. 11).And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles. And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever. And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled. (Revelation 15:6–8.)
Doctrine and Covenants 88:92–106: also speaks of seven angels, angels crying with a loud voice: "Prepare ye, prepare ye, O inhabitants of the earth; for the judgment of our God is come. Behold, and lo, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him" (v. 92).
• Though not named, the first angel will sound with these words: "That great church, the mother of abominations, that made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, that persecuteth the saints of God, that shed their blood—she who sitteth upon many waters, and upon the islands of the sea—behold, she is the tares of the earth; she is bound in bundles; her bands are made strong, no man can loose them; therefore, she is ready to be burned" (v. 94; compare Revelation 17).
• The second angel: "Then cometh the redemption of those who are Christ’s at his coming; who have received their part in that prison which is prepared for them, that they might receive the gospel, and be judged according to men in the flesh" (v. 99).
• The third angel: "Then come the spirits of men who are to be judged, and are found under condemnation; and these are the rest of the dead; and they live not again until the thousand years are ended, neither again, until the end of the earth" (v. 100–101).
• The fourth angel: "There are found among those who are to remain until that great and last day, even the end, who shall remain filthy still" (v. 102).
• The fifth angel: "Committeth the everlasting gospel—flying through the midst of heaven, unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people; and this shall be the sound of his trump, saying to all people, both in heaven and in earth, and that are under the earth—for every ear shall hear it, and every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall confess, while they hear the sound of the trump, saying: Fear God, and give glory to him who sitteth upon the throne, forever and ever; for the hour of his judgment is come" (v. 103–104; compare Revelation 14:6–7).
• The sixth angel: "She is fallen who made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication; she is fallen, is fallen!" (v. 105).
• Finally, the seventh angel: "It is finished; it is finished! The Lamb of God hath overcome and trodden the wine-press alone, even the wine-press of the fierceness of the wrath of Almighty God" (v. 106; compare Revelation 16:17).
Then the first through the seventh angels shall sound again, revealing "the secret acts of men, and the mighty works of God" during the first through the seventh thousand-year periods (see D&C 88:108–110).
What are we to learn from these accounts? That God will send seven angels at or near Christ's coming and these angels will both pronounce and execute secret acts, woes, judgments, and destructions that will come upon the earth at the time of Christ's Second Coming and also, it seems, at the end of the temporal world, which will occur after the Millennium.
To the faithful, the trump of angels will be welcome, glorious, and joyous; for those who are not faithful, no so much.
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