Revelation8
New King James Version
1When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.
2And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets.
3Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with 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, ascended before God from the angel’s hand.
5Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And there were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake.
6So the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.
7The first angel sounded: And hail and fire followed, mingled with blood, and they were thrown to the earth. And a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.
8Then 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 living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.
10Then 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 water.
11The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the water, because it was made bitter.
12Then the fourth angel sounded: And a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them were darkened. A third of the day did not shine, and likewise the night.
13And I looked, and I heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, “Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about 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