BibleTools
Revelation 8:1
Compare all

Seventh Seal: Prelude to the Seven Trumpets

1 Whena He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.  
2 aAnd I saw the seven angels who stand before God, band to them were given seven trumpets.  
3 Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with athe prayers of all the saints upon bthe golden altar which was before the throne.  
4 And athe smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand.  
5 Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And athere were noises, thunderings, blightnings, cand an earthquake.  
6 So the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.

First Trumpet: Vegetation Struck

7 The first angel sounded: aAnd hail and fire followed, mingled with blood, and they were thrown bto the earth. And a third cof the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.  

Second Trumpet: The Seas Struck

8 Then the second angel sounded: aAnd something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea, band a third of the sea cbecame blood.  
9 aAnd a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.  

Third Trumpet: The Waters Struck

10 Then the third angel sounded: aAnd a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, band it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water.  
11 aThe name of the star is Wormwood. bA third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the water, because it was made bitter.  

Fourth Trumpet: The Heavens Struck

12 aThen 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 day1 did not shine, and likewise the night.  
13 And I looked, aand I heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, b“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!” 
Commentaries:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
<< Revelation 7:17   Revelation 8:2 >>


Revelation 8:1

SEVENTH SEAL. PREPARATION FOR THE SEVEN TRUMPETS. THE FIRST FOUR AND THE CONSEQUENT PLAGUES. (Revelation 8:1-13)

was—Greek, "came to pass"; "began to be."

silence in heaven about . . . half an hour—The last seal having been broken open, the book of God's eternal plan of redemption is opened for the Lamb to read to the blessed ones in heaven. The half hour's silence contrasts with the previous jubilant songs of the great multitude, taken up by the angels (Revelation 7:9-11). It is the solemn introduction to the employments and enjoyments of the eternal Sabbath-rest of the people of God, commencing with the Lamb's reading the book heretofore sealed up, and which we cannot know till then. In Revelation 10:4, similarly at the eve of the sounding of the seventh trumpet, when the seven thunders uttered their voices, John is forbidden to write them. The seventh trumpet (Revelation 11:15-19) winds up God's vast plan of providence and grace in redemption, just as the seventh seal brings it to the same consummation. So also the seventh vial, Revelation 16:17. Not that the seven seals, the seven trumpets, and the seven vials, though parallel, are repetitions. They each trace the course of divine action up to the grand consummation in which they all meet, under a different aspect. Thunders, lightnings, an earthquake, and voices close the seven thunders and the seven seals alike (compare Revelation 8:5, with Revelation 11:19). Compare at the seventh vial, the voices, thunders, lightnings, and earthquake, Revelation 16:18. The half-hour silence is the brief pause GIVEN TO JOHN between the preceding vision and the following one, implying, on the one hand, the solemn introduction to the eternal sabbatism which is to follow the seventh seal; and, on the other, the silence which continued during the incense-accompanied prayers which usher in the first of the seven trumpets (Revelation 8:3-5). In the Jewish temple, musical instruments and singing resounded during the whole time of the offering of the sacrifices, which formed the first part of the service. But at the offering of incense, solemn silence was kept ("My soul waiteth upon God," Psalms 62:1; "is silent," Margin; Psalms 65:1, Margin), the people praying secretly all the time. The half-hour stillness implies, too, the earnest adoring expectation with which the blessed spirits and the angels await the succeeding unfolding of God's judgments. A short space is implied; for even an hour is so used (Revelation 17:12; Revelation 18:10, Revelation 18:19).




Other Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown entries containing Revelation 8:1:

John 18:2
Revelation 8:1
Revelation 10:3

 

<< Revelation 7:17   Revelation 8:2 >>

DISCLAIMER: Church of the Great God (CGG) provides these resources to aid the individual in studying the Bible. However, it is up to the individual to "prove all things, and hold fast to that which is good" (I Thessalonians 5:21). The content of these resources does not necessarily reflect the views of CGG. They are provided for information purposes only.

Join 137,028+ readers

A Verse and a Thought,
Every Morning

Consistent Bible study is hard to start.

The Berean gives you the starting point: one scripture and a focused commentary in your inbox each morning — read it in minutes, or go as deep as you like.

Free, daily, and spam-free. We never share your address. Unsubscribe anytime.

Close
E-mail This Page