To understand the 7 Trumpets of Revelation and the rapture one must first understand that contrary to popular belief, the events of Revelation (Seals, Trumpets and Vials) do not occur sequentially. I explained this in great detail in a previous article entitled, “The Four Horsemen, ISIS & the Return of Jesus Christ” which can be found at
http://www.deanodle.org/FourHorsemenISIS.html
If you have not read “The Four Horsemen, ISIS & the Return of Jesus Christ” then I suggest you begin there so you will see what the Scripture actually says about these events. But to sum it up, the 7 Seals are the long story of the last days that start in the first century and ends at Armageddon and the second coming of Jesus Christ. The 7 Trumpets are the shorter story beginning in 1914 and ending at Armageddon and the second coming of Jesus Christ. And the 7 Vials are the very short story that start in the last 3 ½ years of the Tribulation and end at Armageddon and the second coming of Jesus Christ. This is very important to understand.
As I stated in my previous article, 5 of the 7 seals spoken of in Revelation 6-7 have been opened. You might be surprised to find out that 5 of the 7 trumpets have already occurred as well! I know that is not the traditional teaching of the western church, but it is the truth. The first 5 trumpet judgments happened between 1914 and 2008 and we are quickly approaching the 6th Trumpet War mentioned in Revelation 9.