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Revelation 8

World English Bible

WEB

1When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. 2I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. 3Another 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. 4The smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel’s hand. 5The angel took the censer, and he filled it with the fire of the altar, then threw it on the earth. Thunders, sounds, lightnings, and an earthquake followed. 6The seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound. 7The first sounded, and there followed hail and fire, mixed with blood, and they were thrown to the earth. One third of the earth was burned up, and one third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up. 8The second angel sounded, and something like a great burning mountain was thrown into the sea. One third of the sea became blood, 9and one third of the living creatures which were in the sea died. One third of the ships were destroyed. 10The 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 water. 11The name of the star is “Wormwood.” One third of the waters became wormwood. Many people died from the waters, because they were made bitter. 12The 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. 13I saw, and I heard an eagle, flying in mid heaven, saying with a loud voice, “Woe! Woe! Woe to those who dwell on the earth, because of the other blasts of the trumpets of the three angels, who are yet to sound!”

World English Bible, 2020 stable text edition. Public domain; “World English Bible” is a trademark of eBible.org. eBible.org

Overview

Revelation Chapter 8 marks a significant moment in the apocalyptic vision given to John, as it introduces the opening of the seventh seal. This chapter begins with a profound silence in heaven for about half an hour, indicating the gravity of what is about to unfold. The silence serves as a prelude to the impending judgments and highlights the seriousness of God's impending actions. Following this silence, an angel stands before the altar with a golden censer, symbolizing the prayers of the saints. The angel offers incense with the prayers, which ascends before God, demonstrating the importance of prayer in the divine plan and the connection between heaven and earth (#prayer, #angel, #incense).

As the chapter progresses, the angel fills the censer with fire from the altar and hurls it to the earth, resulting in thunder, voices, lightning, and an earthquake. This act signifies the powerful response of God to the prayers of His people and sets the stage for the subsequent judgments. The chapter then introduces the seven trumpets, with the first four trumpets sounding in succession, each bringing forth devastating plagues upon the earth. The first trumpet brings hail and fire mixed with blood, burning a third of the earth; the second trumpet turns a third of the sea into blood; the third trumpet causes a great star, named Wormwood, to fall, poisoning a third of the waters; and the fourth trumpet darkens a third of the sun, moon, and stars. These judgments serve as a warning and call to repentance, emphasizing God's sovereignty and the seriousness of sin (#judgment, #trumpets, #Wormwood).

The chapter concludes with an eagle flying through the sky, proclaiming woe to the inhabitants of the earth because of the remaining trumpet blasts. This declaration underscores the urgency of the message and the need for humanity to heed the warnings of God. Revelation 8 serves as a reminder of God's holiness and the consequences of turning away from Him, while also affirming the power of prayer and the hope of redemption for those who remain faithful.

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Referenced by

  1. Exodus 30:34v3Exodus 30:34 describes the incense used in worship, which is mirrored in Revelation 8:3-4 where incense represents the prayers of the saints, connecting earthly worship with heavenly intercession.
  2. Joshua 6:4v2Joshua 6:4 mentions seven priests with seven trumpets, which parallels Revelation 8:2 where seven angels are given seven trumpets, symbolizing divine intervention and judgment.
  3. Psalms 141:2v3Psalm 141:2 speaks of prayer being set before God as incense, which is echoed in Revelation 8:3-4 where the prayers of the saints are described as incense before God.
  4. Revelation 15:1v2Revelation 15:1 introduces the seven angels with the seven last plagues, which parallels Revelation 8:2 where seven angels are given seven trumpets, both depicting divine judgments.

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