Revelation Chapter 8 Revelation 8:1 “And when He broke the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. 2And I saw the seven angels who stand before God; and seven trumpets were given to them. 3And another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a golden censer; and much incense was given to him, that he might add it to the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. 4And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel's hand. 5And the angel took the censer; and he filled it with the fire of the altar and threw it to the earth; and there followed peals of thunder and sounds and flashes of lightning and an earthquake. 6And the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound them. 7And the first sounded, and there came hail and fire, mixed with blood, and they were thrown to the earth; and a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up. 8And the second angel sounded, and something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea; and a third of the sea became blood; 9and a third of the creatures, which were in the sea and had life, died; and a third of the ships were destroyed. 10And the third angel sounded, and a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of waters; 11and the name of the star is called Wormwood; and a third of the waters became wormwood; and many men died from the waters, because they were made bitter. 12And the fourth angel sounded, and a third of the sun and a third of the moon and a third of the stars were smitten, so that a third of them might be darkened and the day might not shine for a third of it, and the night in the same way. 13And I looked, and I heard an eagle flying in midheaven, saying with a loud voice, "Woe, woe, woe, to those who dwell on the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!"
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Introduction What events do the seven trumpet judgments represent and when do these events occur? 1. The Historicist approach sees these judgments as a series of invasions against the Roman Empire (Vandals, Huns, Saracens, and Turks). 2. The Preterist approach views the first four trumpets as corresponding to disasters inflicted by the Romans on the Jews in the Jewish War (A.D. 6670). 3. The Futurist approach claims that the trumpets, either figuratively or literally represent calamities that will be endured by the unrepentant inhabitants of the earth during the seven years of supposed tribulation that follows the supposed rapture of all Christians. These may be supernatural judgments direct from the hand of God or merely the effects of man’s improper stewardship of the earth and his abuse of technology, that is, nuclear war. 4. Others view these judgments as not referring to any historical event, but being judgments that come upon the world when the world persecutes God’s people. 8:1 “When the Lamb broke the seventh seal”: “The seventh seal contains the seven trumpets. The seventh trumpet contains the seven bowls. So that, essentially, the seventh seal contains the rest of the book”. 8:1 “There was silence in heaven for about half an hour”: “This silence is a sort of ‘drum-roll’ to gain attention and to signal that something of real significance is about to follow. The delay before the jury announces its verdict is a decent illustration of just such a silence” (McGuiggan p. 131). In the Old Testament when God had issued His intended judgment against Judah and Jerusalem, it was said, “The Lord is in His holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before Him” (Habakkuk 2:20). The Lord is in His holy temple (Revelation chapters 4-5), when the judgment in this chapter is given. Awaiting the opening of the seventh seal awes the inhabitants of heaven. Thus far we have heard the thunder that has proceeded from the throne (4:5), the songs of the living creatures (4:8), the elders (4:11), angels (5:12), all created things (5:13), the cry of those under the altar (6:10), and the shout of the multitude before the throne (7:10). In contrast to the constant singing and shouts of praise seen in chapters 4-5, “there is now a solemn and awe-inspiring silence bringing in an air of expectation. The tension is the kind that grips one while he waits for some singular event” (Hailey p. 214).
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8:2 “And I saw the seven angels who stand before God”: “The definite article, ‘the seven angels’ by which they are introduced, indicates that these stand in some special relation to God” (Hailey p. 215). In the book there are seven Spirits, seven churches, seven horns, seven eyes, and seven seals. “What majesty there is implied in where they stand! What honor is suggested. And what holiness must there be required for such a place?” (McGuiggan p. 131). 8:2 “And seven trumpets were given to them”: 8:3 “Another angel came and stood at the altar”: “The altar in this scene is not the same as the one in 6:9 under which the souls of the martyrs rested, of which the altar of burnt offering was the prototype. This altar upon which the incense was offered and foreshadowed by the golden altar before the veil of the tabernacle and nearest to the mercy seat (Exodus 30:6; Hebrews 9:3-6)” (Hailey p. 215). 8:3 “And much incense was given to him, so that he might add it to the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar which was before the throne” The “much incense” may refer to Jesus’ intercession for His people (Hebrews 7:25), who taught the disciples to ask in His name (John 16:23-26). “It also symbolizes the fact that the prayers of all the saints, old and new, had been received by God as sweet smelling incense. The prayers of the suffering saints who had cried for vengeance where about to be answered (Revelation 6:9ff)” (Ogden p. 219). “The censer was a firepan in which hot coals from the altar were placed, and grains of incense were burned on the coals to produce a sweet smell before the Lord” (Harkrider p. 98). Remember, incense often symbolizes the prayers of the saints (Psalm 141:2; Revelation 5:8). In the tabernacle, the golden altar of incense stood right before the curtain which separated between the holy place and the holy of holies. Thus is was right before the ark and the mercy seat which symbolized the throne of God (Exodus 25:17-22). 8:4 “And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel’s hand” What an assurance to God’s people! The prayers of His people are regarded as a sweet smell. The prayers of His people, including those mentioned in 6:9 do not bother God rather God will act on behalf of such prayers. “Some readers of Revelation concentrate upon the fire, earthquakes, and other frightful events. Those who know the Lord read the same book and find comfort, peace, and blissful hope” (Harkrider p. 99). 8:5 “Then the angel took the censer and filled it with fire of the altar, and threw it to the earth”
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“The same censer that offered the incense to God is filled with fire taken from the altar. The fervent petitions by His struggling and afflicted people have been heard by God and justice will be carried forth” (Harkrider p. 99). “This symbolic action reveals the heavenly response to the prayers ascending from the saints upon earth” (Hailey p. 216). God will avenge His elect (Luke 18:1-8). 8:5 “And there followed peals of thunder and sounds and flashes of lightning and an earthquake” “Earthshaking events follow as the trumpets sound” (Hailey p. 217). Thunders, voices, and lightnings were introduced earlier as proceeding out of the throne (4:5). These seem to express divine power, majesty and glory and coming judgment. “Moreover, to indicate that this is indeed God’s view of the matter and not merely the angel’s, we read: ‘and there occurred peals of thunder, loud blasts, flashes of lightning and quaking’. Because of this, the seven angels prepare themselves to blow the trumpets” (Hendriksen p. 118). 8:6 “And the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound them” In the Old Testament trumpets were used for special occasions: a call to assembly, a pilgrimage, a festival, and war (Numbers 10:1-10). “In later years trumpets were used to sound an alarm to warn of approaching danger (Amos 3:6; Hosea 5:8), impending judgment (Joel 2:1), or to call the people to a holy convocation (Joel 2:15). The seven trumpets in the vision before us symbolize partial judgments upon the wicked, serving as warnings of greater judgments to come” (Hailey p. 218). The First Trumpet 8:7 “The first sounded, and there came hail and fire, mixed with blood, and they were thrown to the earth” Hal Lindsey a Premillennialist argues that this refers to catastrophes that are the result of nuclear weapons, yet he also argues that he takes everything in the book literally. What is being described sounds a lot like the plagues that struck Egypt (Exodus 9:23-25 “hail”); water to blood (7:20-21). 8:7 “Mixed with blood”: May have a reference to God rendering blood for blood (Genesis 9:6; Numbers 35:33; Psalm 79:10). “All this seems to point to judgment upon the heathen as their blood is brought upon their heads” (Hailey p. 219). 8:7 “And a third of the earth was burned up”: A “third part” suggests a large portion, but not total destruction. “Life is still possible” (Hailey p. 219). “The first trumpets affect nature: earth, sea, fresh water, and heavenly bodies. Each destroys a third pat of the earth it affects. Later a complete and final judgment
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will come, but with the trumpets, judgment is only partial, signifying that they are warning calls to repentance. Mercy is still greater than judgment since a longsuffering God extends every opportunity for men to return to God” (Harkrider p. 100). 8:7 “Trees….green grass”: Some here contend that this is a reference to the destruction of Jerusalem, where the Romans destroyed much of the actual vegetation around Jerusalem. This may be a judgment upon the food sources in the world. “When natural calamities occur in our own times, they should serve as reminders of our weakness and helplessness. We may think ourselves self-sufficient, but we are constantly reminded by storms and natural disasters that we are not in control of our world. When earthquakes, hurricanes, and tornados disrupt the physical world, affected human beings should be sufficiently reminded of their limitations and frailties and turn to Almighty God who created and sustains and universe” (Harkrider p. 100). The Second Trumpet 8:8 “The second angel sounded, and something like”: Notice the term “like”, John realized that what he was seeing was a vision and that these images represented deeper truths. 8:8 “A great mountain burning with fire”: “What appeared like a huge mountain ablaze with fire, perhaps like a volcanic eruption” (Harkrider p. 101). In the Old Testament, Babylon was spoken of as a destroying mountain (Jeremiah 51:25) and other world powers were also spoken of as mountains (Isaiah 2:2-4). Therefore, many view this judgment as either bringing down a world empire, like Jerusalem or Rome or God’s judgment upon the world’s shipping or commerce of the time. Premillennialists often interpret this section as referring either to a giant meteorite, asteroid, satellite, or a colossal H-bomb. 8:9 “A third of the ships were destroyed”: This is why some feel that this is a judgment upon the commerce of the time. Notice that this judgment is more farreaching than what came upon Egypt in the Old Testament when the Nile was turned into blood (Exodus 7:14-21). The Third Trumpet 8:10 “A great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of waters”
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Lindsey thinks that this star is another thermonuclear weapon. Some see this star representing someone in power, compare with Isaiah 14:12. 8:11 “The name of the star is called Wormwood”: The term “wormwood” means “bitter”. It is a bitter plant that if often mentioned in the Old Testament, and usually it is connected with Divine judgment (Deuteronomy 29:18; Jeremiah 9:15; 23:15). Many times this term is used in connection with idolatry. “God warned the people of Israel that their turning to idols would bear the fruit of wormwood” (Hailey p. 221). “When men prefer the bitter waters of idolatry to the fountain of living water, they will receive these bitter waters with the fatal consequences which follow” (p. 221). The Fourth Trumpet 8:12 “A third of the sun and a third of the moon and a third of the stars were struck, so that a third of them would be darkened, and the day would not shine for a third of it, and the night in the same way” Remember that Egypt was plunged into darkness during the plagues. The imagery of the heavenly bodies being darkened was familiar to first century Christians who understood it was a reference to God’s judgment upon a nation or city (Isaiah 13:10; Ezekiel 32:7;Joel 2:10; 3:15; Amos 5:8,20; Micah 3:6). “Before total darkness engulfs any society, God sounds a trumpet warning to that society. He sends minor judgments which mark the beginning of the society’s destruction unless repentance turns the course of its destiny” (Hailey p. 223). In addition, when a people turn away from God, God takes away their wisdom (Isaiah 29:14; Obadiah 8; Jeremiah 49:7). Some commentators believe that this darkening of the sun, moon and stars refers to the many leaders of the Jewish and Roman nations who were assassinated. Of course Lindsey argues that this darkening is the result of air pollution causes by nuclear explosions. 8:13 “Then I looked, and I heard an eagle flying in midheaven”: The KJV here as the word “angel” instead of “eagle”, but according to most authorities the term “eagle” is correct. Some think that this eagle is more likely a vulture for the same word is found in Matthew 24:28 and Luke 17:37. However, seeing that this eagle flies alone and not in a flock as vultures do, it seems that this is a warning to the world of the wicked, God’s judgment is ready to swoop down upon its prey. In the Old Testament the image of an eagle was used for the swiftness with which judgment would come (Hosea 8:1l Habakkuk 1:8). See also Deuteronomy
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28:49; Jeremiah 4:13; Lam. 4:19; Matthew 24:28. This eagle is sounding a warning of more wrath to come. “The eagle is chosen to add ‘fresh terror’ to the picture. See the lonely, but fierce predator, which swoops on its victims; see it solitary in the sky and hear the awe-inspiring, spine-chilling word it has to say: Woe, woe, woe!” (McGuiggan p. 136). 8:13 “Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth”: Like the original plagues, each judgment is becoming more intense. “The solemn triple woe announced by the screeching of the eagle shows that the three trumpets yet to sound are to bring worse plagues than those already delivered” (Harkrider pp. 102-103).
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