Revelation 8
Author: Steve Amato
Description: Bible study guide for the book of Revelation with commentary
Keywords: bible study,bible, revelations, end times, apocalypse, antichrist, anti-christ, beast, rapture, millenial kingdom, millenium, tribulation

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# Revelation 8 (web)

## The Seventh Seal and the First Four Trumpets

8:1 When he opened the seventh seal,
there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.
8:2 I saw the seven angels who stand before God,
and seven trumpets were given to them.
8:3 Another angel came and stood over the altar, having a golden censer.
Much incense was given to him, that he should add it to the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar which was before the throne.
8:4 The smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints,
went up before God out of the angel's hand.
8:5 The angel took the censer, and he filled it with the fire of the altar, and threw it on the earth.
There followed thunders, sounds, lightnings, and an earthquake.
8:6 The seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.

8:7 The first sounded,
and there followed hail and fire, mixed with blood, and they were thrown to the earth.
One third of the earth was burnt up,{TR omits "One third of the earth was burnt up"}
and one third of the trees were burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.

8:8 The second angel sounded,
and something like a great burning mountain was thrown into the sea.
One third of the sea became blood,
8:9 and one third of the living creatures which were in the sea died.
One third of the ships were destroyed.

8:10 The third angel sounded,
and a great star fell from the sky, burning like a torch,
and it fell on one third of the rivers, and on the springs of the waters.
8:11 The name of the star is called "Wormwood."
One third of the waters became wormwood.
Many people died from the waters, because they were made bitter.

8:12 The fourth angel sounded,
and one third of the sun was struck, and one third of the moon, and one third of the stars;
so that one third of them would be darkened,
and the day wouldn't shine for one third of it, and the night in the same way.
8:13 I saw, and I heard an eagle,{TR reads "angel" instead of "eagle"} flying in mid heaven,
saying with a loud voice, "Woe! Woe! Woe for those who dwell on the earth, because of the other voices of the trumpets of the three angels, who are yet to sound!"

# Comments

The seveth seal intoduces the seven trumpets. Notice the similarity with chapter 5 in which the 24 elders "And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints." Rev 5:8, when the seven seals were first introduced. Now these prayers, represented by the incense, are actually offered up introducing the seven trumpets. These prayers now having been set on fire are hurled down to the earth bringing wrath. Thus the believers are portrayed also having some part in the wrath which comes upon the earth through their prayers. No doubt this causes the unbelievers to be rather angry at them.

The first four trumpets here might be likened to some of the plagues sent upon Egypt because of their abuse of the Jews and refusal to let them go to worship God. We remember also that the land of Goshen was protected from such plagues. By analogy, it's likely that the believers in the tribulation with also be protected.

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