Chapter 8
Revelation 8:1–13. Seventh Seal. Preparation for the Seven Trumpets. The First Four and the Consequent Plagues.
Before we begin these chapters on the judgments, we need to lay down some rules for interpretation. We are to take everything literally except where it tells us otherwise. The exceptions will come termed “as it were”, or “liken to,” or any other phrase that would show that it is not literal. Most often the context will dictate the meaning of a portion of scripture.
A perfect example of this we found in chapter 7 where it spoke of the 144,000 Jews. It was pointed out that some believe and teach that this is “symbolic” of the church. The context shows it to be definitely interpreted literally.
We also must remember that these things written must be taken literally even though there is much imagery involved. When we read of a beast rising out of the sea, it is imagery even though the incident is real and must be taken literally. That was the way it was seen. Imagery is not the same as symbolism or spiritualizing.
The Webster’s Dictionary defines imagery this way; “the use of mental pictures; the use of vivid descriptions or figures of speech in speaking or writing to produce mental images.” In other words, we may not know how to describe something never- before seen and need to use other images to try to describe it.
While on the other hand symbolism and or spiritualizing means “the practice of representing things by means of symbols or of attributing symbolic meanings or significance to objects, events, or relationships.” Parables and allegories are good examples of correct and Biblical symbolism and spiritualizing.
Where imagery is not knowing how to describe something, symbolism and or spiritualizing is knowing the object that is to be described but ascribing another meaning to it. Many people attempt to symbolize or spiritualize much of Revelation to mean something it was not meant to be. While on the other hand to commit the same things to imagery and its proper context shows its true evident meaning.
The opening of the seventh seal is the introduction to the opening of the seven trumpet judgments. However, the revelation of the first trumpet judgment is preceded by silence in heaven for the space of a half-hour.
Verse 1 “And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.”
“The question here is what is the purpose of this silence? Certainly, this silence was “the lull before the storm,” for God’s intensified judgments were about to be hurled to the earth.
There is a very notable reference in the Bible to perhaps explain this silence; Zephaniah 1:7
“Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord God: for the day of the Lord is at hand.”
Skip down to verses 13–18, note especially verse 16, “A day of the trumpet”. Zechariah 2:13
“Be silent, O all flesh, before the Lord: for He is raised up out of His holy habitation”.
Zephaniah1:14-18 “The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: The mighty man shall cry there bitterly. That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness. A day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers. And I will bring destress upon men, that they shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as the dung. Neither their silver not their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD’S wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land.
Revelation 8:2-4 “And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets. And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a gold censer; and there was given unto him much incense that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand.”
Here we are introduced to the seven trumpet judgments. These seven trumpets are an indication of the increase of the intensity of the judgments.
We have seen in chapter 5:8 the golden vials which were full of odors, which were the prayers of the saints. Here in this verse we see that an angel was given much incense that was to be offered with the prayers of the saints on the golden altar. These prayers ascended out of the angel’s hand to the throne of God. The saints were praying “how long?” and the Lord says “now is the time.”
This angel will take the censer containing the hot incense and the prayers of the saints, and wave it around, causing the smoke to drift toward the throne of God. The Almighty God will smell the incense, hear the prayers, and prepare an answer.
However, we read of a strange and unexpected action by this angel. In verse 5 he takes the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thundering, and lightings and an earthquake. Verse 5 “and the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thundering, and lightnings, and an earthquake.”
When the incense and all the prayers of the saints have been consumed in the censer, the angel will take the empty censer, go back to the altar, fill it with fire, and hurl it down on the earth. The prayers will go up to God, and the answers will come down to earth. God will avenge the death of the tribulation saints with fiery trials on earth.
This is reminiscent of what took place on Mount Sinai at the giving of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 19:16-19). It also reminds us of the plagues that God sent on Egypt in order for the Hebrew children to be released.
It shows the awesomeness of God and His righteous indignation of sin against Him.
The fire from the altar cast upon the earth speaks of the wrath of God about to be poured out on unbelievers.
The thundering and lightings always give warning that the storm is coming. Earthquakes always speak and remind us of God’s power and authority over the elements of nature. The picture or imagery, is one of ominous anticipation.
It would do us well if we see that the first four trumpet judgments are on the earth using supernatural means; that is angelic forces in heaven. The last three are listed as the three woes and is brought on by God using or turning demonic forces loose on mankind.
The First Trumpet Judgment Verses 6-7.
Verses 6 and 7 “And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound. 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”.
All of the seven angels lifted their trumpets to their lips but only the first angel sounded his.
This is not hard to understand if we believe that God did the same to the Egyptians with the exception of the fire and hail being mingled with blood. (compare Exodus 9:23-26). Why should we doubt that God will not perform the same on the whole world? Why should we doubt the power of God to do so?
Perhaps this mixing the fire and hail with blood was in response to the prayers of the saints that had been martyred. It was indicating that God was displeased for the blood of the martyrs that was spilled and now He was going to give them blood in return.
It is important for us to see that these seven trumpet judgments carry us through 15:5 where it begins the seven vials of judgment.
I want to give a thought from Psalm 36:1 where the Psalmist is saying that “the transgression of the wicked saith within my heart that there is no fear of God before his eyes.
This is a very common way of living today. Our children are being taught that everything about the creation can be explained by evolution. This is so that they will grow up believing there is no God, and therefore no accountability for sin. If there is no God there is no heaven or hell and therefore no reward of punishment. That is about to change. God demands that His creation fear Him. God speaking through Malachi 1:6 asks this question: “A son honoreth his father and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honor? And if I be a master where is my fear?
Now let’s go back to Revelation 8 verse 7 briefly, “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”.
Some Bible experts will not accept a literal fulfillment of this verse. However, prophecy experts have little difficulty believing this will happen. The seventh plague on Egypt in the days of Moses was a rain of grievous hail mixed with fire that smote the cattle, herbs, and trees. It was a plague directed against Egypt’s false goddess, Isis. God also rained hail, fire, and brimstone on Sodom and Gomorrah. There is no reason to believe He will not do it again.
This is not hard to understand if we believe that God did the same to the Egyptians with the exception of the fire and hail being mingled with blood. [See Exodus 9:23-26]. Why should we doubt that God will not perform the same on the whole world? Why should we doubt the power of God to do so? Perhaps this mixing the fire and hail with blood was in response to the prayers of the saints that had been martyred. It was indicating that God was displeased for the blood of the martyrs that was spilled and now He was going to give them blood in return.
“And the third part of the trees was burnt up, and all the green grass was burnt.” Many students jump ahead to chapter 9:4 where it is directed to protect the grass. Where did this grass come from if it was all burnt up? The answer is simple, it grew back. One of my resources said that the Greek word for trees here often refers to fruit trees. I was unable to confirm that. The Greek word is “dendron” and it just means tree.
Hal Lindsey makes this comment on this verse; “With this massive loss of vegetation will come soil erosion, floods, and mudslides. Air pollution will be immense; the smoke of the fire will fill the atmosphere, and the remaining vegetation will be unable to adequately absorb the hydrocarbons from automobiles and industry. Ecology will be thrown chaotically out of balance.” End of quote.
Verses 8-9 “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 a third part of the ships were destroyed.”
Here we see that the scriptures read “as it were.” This is showing that it wasn’t actually a great mountain burning with fire that was cast into the sea, but imagery, a word picture. I am sure that people in John’s day had seen comets and meteorites but usually ascribed to them some omen. So what John saw could have been a huge meteorite hitting the earth. To John it would have looked like a great mountain burning with fire.
This verse goes on to say that a third part of the sea became blood. It does not say “as it were blood.” So, we can take it literally. We may not be able to explain it according to how the world sees science and miracles, but the world will be dealing with God and not science. It could be understood that the “blood” reference shows the extent of the loss of marine life.
Due to this catastrophic event, one third of the marine life died, and a third of the ships perished; Probably because of the resulting tsunami and tidal waves that this enormous ball of fire and matter would cause. This would include military naval vessels as well as commercial ships and pleasure craft.
Here again there is no reason to ascribe symbolism or to spiritualize the effects of this imagery. To do so is to deny God’s ability and will to do what is obviously written and meant.
Verses 10-11 “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.”
God’s wrath next reaches inland and touches the rivers and fountains of water (wells and sources of the rivers), making the fresh water taste bitter like wormwood
The Bible Expositors Commentary says this about these two verses:God has His stars numbered and named (Job 9:9–10). It is likely that this fallen star is molten and that, as it nears the earth, it begins to disintegrate and fall into the various bodies of water. If a star actually struck the earth, our globe would be destroyed; so, this star must “come apart” as it enters the atmosphere. Of course, this event is a divinely controlled judgment; therefore, we must not try to limit it by the known laws of science.
He goes on to say “If the people who drink from these waters are in danger of dying, what must happen to the fish and other creatures that live in these waters? And what would happen to the vegetation near these rivers? If the ecologists are worried about the deadly consequences of water pollution today, what will they think when the third trumpet blows?
What is “wormwood”? In the Old Testament wormwood is linked to idolatry (compare Deuteronomy 29:17–18). It is also seen as mixed with poison and is, therefore, deadly (compare. Jeremiah. 9:15; 23:15; Amos 6:12). Wormwood, by itself was bitter but not lethal. In Amos 6:12 the same Hebrew word for wormwood is used for hemlock.
Though many have attempted to interpret the third trumpet symbolically, it seems best to consider it as a large meteor or star falling on the earth from heaven and turning the water, as indicated, into bitterness so that people who drank it died; it not only was bitter but it was poisonous. The third trumpet is another awesome judgment resulting in great loss of life.
Verse 12 “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.”
“We can again go back to the prophecy of Jesus concerning the last days or the tribulation period. In Luke 21:25-28 we find Jesus issuing this warning: “And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring: Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.”
We have seen much destruction and loss of life on earth, and now we see the heavens becoming involved. The judgments from the first three trumpets affected only a third part of the land and waters, but this fourth judgment affects the entire world. Why? Because it gets to the very source of the earth’s life and energy, the sun. With one third less sunlight on the earth, there will be one third less energy available to support the life systems of man and nature. Think of the vast changes in temperatures that will occur and how these will affect human health and food growth.
It is probable that this particular judgment is temporary, for the fourth bowl judgment will reverse it, and the sun’s power will be intensified (Revelation 16:8–9). Then, at the close of the Tribulation, the sun and moon will be darkened again to announce the Savior’s return (Matthew 24:29–30; see also Luke 21:25–28).
It is interesting to note that God brought the heavenly bodies into being on the fourth day of Creation; when the fourth trumpet sounds, He will darken them.
What will the consequences be? For one thing, terror will fill the earth. Mankind has always feared signs in the skies. This terror, however, will not bring men to repentance.
Again, the best interpretation is literal. Just as the first three trumpets dealt with a third of the earth, so the fourth trumpet will deal with a third of the heavens. There is no reason to explain this in symbolic or allegoric terms, nor is there anything to gain by doing so. To ascribe anything else to it than its literal meaning is often not only confusing but also misleading.
But as we shall see in the following verses it gets on worse. Warning was given that the next three trumpets would be more severe and devastating than those which preceded them.
Verse 13 “And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!”
Before fifth angel announces further judgments on the earth and mankind, we find an angel “flying through the middle of heaven announcing three woes” on man. These three woes form the last three trumpet judgments.
At this point, a remarkable messenger will appear in the sky, proclaiming woe to the earth’s inhabitants. Most manuscripts have “eagle” here instead of “angel,” but either one would certainly get people’s attention! Could this be the eagle like living creature that John saw worshiping before the throne? (Revelation 4:7–8) Will God send it on this special mission? We cannot say for sure, but it is a possibility.