Chapter 8
Verses 1- 6 Read the Bible verses.
The Seventh seal is opened. This 7th seal will introduce 7 more judgments.
There is silence (quiet) in heaven for about ½ hour.
The angels are given 7 trumpets.
Another angel comes and puts incense on the altar. The incense represents the prayers of God’s people. These prayers are offered upon the golden altar.
We see in heaven a heavenly tabernacle (church) just like the tabernacle God told Moses at Mt. Sinai. (Exodus 25)
There is a laver or sea, and there is a golden altar for incense. Later in Revelation will be the mention of the Ark of the Covenant.
The angel threw fire from the altar onto the earth and there was thunder and lightning and earthquakes.
Verses 7-9 Read the Bible verses.
The first trumpet is sounded.
There was fire, hail and blood thrown to the earth.
There is no explanation of how blood gets mixed with the fire.
1/3 of the earth is burned up
1/3 of the trees are burned up
All of the grass is burned
The Second Trumpet is sounded.
There was something like a mountain that burned with fire and it was thrown into the sea. The sea became blood.
Some people think this could be a flaming asteroid or meteor.
The sea becomes blood. This happened in Egypt (Exodus 7:17-21).
Some people think that because this “mountain” goes into the seas that all the ocean life dies and the waters become bloody.
Some people think the mountain causes a toxic red tide (growth of certain algae type of animals) that covers the surface of the oceans.
Then 1/3 of the sea animals die.
1/3 of the ships were destroyed.
Verses 10-11 Read the Bible verses.
The Third Trumpet is sounded.
A great star fell to the earth.
It fell on 1/3 of the rivers and springs. (fresh water)
The star’s name is Wormwood.
1/3 of the waters became so bitter people could not drink it. People died trying to drink the water.
Verses 12-13 Read the Bible verses.
The Fourth Trumpet sounded.
1/3 of the sun became dark
1/3 of the moon became dark
1/3 of the stars died and became dark
For 1/3 of the day, the sun did not shine. For 1/3 of the night, the moon did not shine. And 1/3 of the stars did not shine.
John heard an angel flying across the heavens saying, “Trouble is coming that is much worse in the next trumpets.”