Revelation8
American Standard Version · Public Domain
1And when he opened the seventh seal, there followed a silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.
2And I saw the seven angels that stand before God; and there were given unto them seven trumpets.
3And another angel came and stood over the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should add it unto 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 taketh the censer; and he filled it with the fire of the altar, and cast it upon the earth: and there followed thunders, and voices, and lightnings, and an earthquake.
6And the seven angels that had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.
7And the first sounded, and there followed hail and fire, mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of the earth was burnt up, and the third part of the trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.
8And 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;
9and there died the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, even they that had life; and the third part of the ships was destroyed.
10And the third angel sounded, and there fell from heaven a great star, burning as a torch, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of the waters;
11and 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.
12And 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; that the third part of them should be darkened, and the day should not shine for the third part of it, and the night in like manner.
13And I saw, and I heard an eagle, flying in mid heaven, saying with a great voice, Woe, woe, woe, for them that dwell on the earth, by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, who are yet to sound.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Revelation 8.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The seventh seal is opened and seven angels appear with seven trumpets, ready to proclaim the purposes of God. (1, 2). Another angel casts fire on the earth, which produces terrible storms of vengeance. (3–5). The seven angels prepare to sound their trumpets. (6). Four sound them. (7–12). Another angel denounces greater woes to come. (13).
vv1-6
The seventh seal is opened. There was profound silence in heaven for a space; all was quiet in the church, for whenever the church on earth cries through oppression, that cry reaches up to heaven; or it is a silence of expectation. Trumpets were given to the angels, who were to sound them. The Lord Jesus is the High Priest of the church, having a golden censer, and much incense, fulness of merit in his own glorious person. Would that men studied to know the fulness that is in Christ, and endeavoured to be acquainted with his excellency. Would that they were truly persuaded that Christ has such an office as that of Intercessor, which he now performs with deep sympathy. No prayers, thus recommended, was ever denied hearing and acceptance. These prayers, thus accepted in heaven, produced great changes upon earth. The Christian worship and religion, pure and heavenly in its origin and nature, when sent down to earth and conflicting with the passions and worldly projects of sinful men, produced remarkable tumults, here set forth in prophetical language, as our Lord himself declared, Lu 12:49.
vv7-13
The first angel sounded the first trumpet, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood. A storm of heresies, a mixture of dreadful errors falling on the church, or a tempest of destruction. The second angel sounded, and a great mountain, burning with fire, was cast into the sea; and the third part of the sea became blood. By this mountain some understand leaders of the persecutions; others, Rome sacked by the Goths and Vandals, with great slaughter and cruelty. The third angel sounded, and there fell a star from heaven. Some take this to be an eminent governor; others take it to be some person in power who corrupted the churches of Christ. The doctrines of the gospel, the springs of spiritual life, comfort, and vigour, to the souls of men, are corrupted and made bitter by the mixture of dangerous errors, so that the souls of men find ruin where they sought refreshment. The fourth angel sounded, and darkness fell upon the great lights of heaven, that give light to the world, the sun, and the moon, and the stars. The guides and governors are placed higher than the people, and are to dispense light, and kind influences to them. Where the gospel comes to a people, and has not proper effects on their hearts and lives, it is followed with dreadful judgments. God gives alarm by the written word, by ministers, by men's own consciences, and by the signs of the times; so that if people are surprised, it is their own fault. The anger of God makes all comforts bitter, and even life itself burdensome. But God, in this world, sets bounds to the most terrible judgments. Corruption of doctrine and worship in the church are great judgments, and also are the usual causes and tokens of other judgments coming on a people. Before the other three trumpets were sounded, there was solemn warning how terrible the calamities would be that should follow. If lesser judgments do not take effect the church and the world must expect greater; and when God comes to punish the world, the inhabitants shall tremble before him. Let sinners take warning to flee from the wrath to come; let believers learn to value and to be thankful for their privileges; and let them patiently continue in well doing.
Key Words
ὅτε (hóte): at which (thing) too, i.e. when
ἀνοίγω (anoígō): to open up (literally or figuratively, in various applications)
ἕβδομος (hébdomos): seventh
σφραγίς (sphragís): a signet (as fencing in or protecting from misappropriation); by implication, the stamp impressed (as a mark of privacy, or genuineness), literally or figuratively
γίνομαι (gínomai): to cause to be ("gen"-erate), i.e. (reflexively) to become (come into being), used with great latitude (literal, figurative, intensive, etc.)
σιγή (sigḗ): silence
ἐν (en): "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.
οὐρανός (ouranós): the sky; by extension, heaven (as the abode of God); by implication, happiness, power, eternity; specially, the Gospel (Christianity)
ὡς (hōs): which how, i.e. in that manner (very variously used, as follows)
ἡμιώριον (hēmiṓrion): a half-hour
Cross References
Revelation 8Old Testament pattern for the golden altar of incense and the daily priestly service.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The Egyptian plague of hail and fire, which serves as the prototype for the first trumpet.
Supported by JFB
The plague of turning water to blood, directly mirrored in the second trumpet judgment.
Supported by JFB
Identifies Gabriel as one of the angels who stand in the immediate presence of God.
Supported by JFB
The historical temple order: the multitude praying in silence outside during the offering of incense.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Explicitly compares the prayers of the saints to burning incense rising before God.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Jeremiah's prophecy of Babylon as a 'destroying mountain' that will be burned.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The Egyptian plague of thick darkness, mirroring the darkening of the heavenly bodies.
Supported by JFB
The command for the earth to keep silence before the Lord in His holy temple.
Supported by JFB
Silent expectation in heaven as the Lord rouses Himself from His holy dwelling.
Supported by JFB
The divine appointment of silver trumpets to summon assemblies and sound war alarms.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Christ declaring that He came to send fire on the earth, causing division and upheaval.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Parallel sequence of thunder, lightning, voices, and an earthquake accompanying God's presence.
Supported by JFB
The Old Testament metaphorical root producing wormwood and gall as a sign of apostasy.
Supported by JFB
God feeding disobedient people with wormwood and giving them bitter water to drink.
Supported by JFB
The fall of a morning star from heaven, representing a fallen ruler or corrupted authority.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Contrast with Marah, where bitter waters were made sweet; here, sweet waters are made bitter.
Supported by JFB
The prophetic darkening of the sun and moon prior to the great day of the Lord.
Supported by JFB
Confirms the sequential execution of the three remaining trumpet 'woes'.
Supported by JFB
Direct textual link marking the progression of the three pronounced woes.
Supported by JFB