REVELATION CHAPTER 8 THE SEVENTH SEAL
Here are some ideas about what is meant. (from my commentary on Revelation)
REVELATION
CHAPTER VIII
“1 At the opening of the seuenth seale, 2 seuen Angels has seuen Trumpets giuen them. 6 Foure of them sound their trumpets, and great plagues follow. 3 Another Angel putteth incense to the prayers of the Saints on the golden altar.”
The Translators
OVERVIEW
Four Angels blow four trumpets heralding plagues and tribulations upon the earth. The first is hail and fire; the second, a great mountain thrown into the sea, the third, a great star named wormwood falling from heaven and the fourth, a darkening of the sun, moon and stars. In the last verse, a warning is issued regarding the severity of the remaining three trumpets.
THE SEVENTH SEAL: TRUMPETS
V. 1
“1 And when hee had opened the seuenth seale, there was silence in heauen about the space of halfe an houre.”
Silence suggests something of even more profound importance is about to be revealed. According to John’s perception the silence lasts about half an hour, though we cannot be sure how time is measured in heaven, if at all. Yet, from John’s human perspective, it appears a certain amount of time passed when silence prevailed. Perhaps the heaven referred to is one or both of the material heavens (Genesis 1:1 & 6) and not the third heaven, or God’s dwelling place.
V. 2
“2 And I sawe the seuen Angels which stood before God, and to them were giuen seuen trumpets.”
God appointed seven Angels to blow trumpets. John saw them, and they stood before God, ready to do his bidding. The poignance of the first trumpet would have been enhanced by the half an hour of silence prior to its blowing.
V. 3
“3 And another Angel came & stood at the altar, hauing a golden censer, and there was giuen vnto him much incense, that hee should offer it with the prayers of all Saints vpon the golden altar which was before the throne.”
“Another Angel,” not one of the seven, stands at the altar where he burns incense in a golden censer. Perhaps, it purifies the imperfect prayers of the Saints, making them acceptable to God. Upon the golden altar before the throne, the incense and prayers of saints are offered unto God.
V. 4
“4 And the smoke of the incense which came with the prayers of the Saints, ascended vp before God, out of the Angels hand.”
The prayers of the Saints are too many to count; yet, they are accounted for and purified; none are insignificant; all go up to God.
Vs. 5 - 6
“5 And the Angel tooke the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voyces, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake: 6 And the seuen Angels which had the seuen trumpets, prepared themselues to sound.”
The fire of the altar represents God’s purifying fire. God begins purifying the earth by casting down fire. The voices, thunderings, lightnings and earthquake herald the coming trumpets. And, the Angels prepare to sound.
THE FIRST TRUMPET: HAIL AND FIRE
V. 7
“7 The first Angel sounded, and there followed haile, and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast vpon the earth, and the third part of trees was burnt vp, and all greene grasse was burnt vp.”
If this trumpet was sounded in John’s day, then, logically, the prophecy had to be, by necessity, slowly fulfilled; over time, one third of earth’s forests would eventually be destroyed and all green grass burnt up. Even now deforestation statistics indicate that earth has lost one third of its forests. And, environmental groups report that grasslands are disappearing faster than forests. From a literal perspective, it appears that this prophecy is well on the way to being consummated.
However, there may also be a spiritual fulfillment, and trees and grass may represent people. Psalm 1:3 likens godly people to trees planted by rivers of water, bringing forth fruit and leaves and prospering; while the ungodly are like chaff (perhaps akin to dry grass) blown away by the wind (Psalm 1:4). Thus, we may face population reduction of both godly and ungodly. This is already happening in some countries: Bulgaria -22.5%, Lithuania -22.1%, Latvia -21.6%, Ukraine -19.5%, Japan -16.3% & Cuba -10.3%, for example. Jesus asked rhetorically if the Son of man will find faith on the earth when he returns? (Luke 18:8) He said it would be like it was in the days of Noah. Indeed, there were few believers; only eight when the flood came. Thus, we might conclude that there will be few believers on earth when Christ returns.
We might also regard hail and fire as the wrath of Satan in the form of the Roman Empire, in John’s day, slaughtering Christians and non-Christians throughout the empire; then later when Papal Rome rose to power, its inquisitions primarily against Christians, but including all who would not submit to the Roman Pontiff. John wrote, “…Woe to the inhabiters of the earth, and of the sea: for the deuill is come downe vnto you, hauing great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” (Revelation 12:12)
THE SECOND TRUMPET: A GREAT MOUNTAIN
V. 8
“8 And the second Angel sounded, and as it were a great mountaine burning with fire was cast into the sea, and the third part of the sea became blood.”
This may be speaking literally of volcanism, which Scientific American reports is on the rise. Earth’s warming is cited as a contributing factor. As earth’s oceans warm, they increase in volume and weight, pressing on tectonic plates, causing shifting and increased volcanism. A volcano of mega proportions and unusual mineral make-up falling into the sea would be required to turn one third of the sea red. Though not impossible, it would be a rare occurrence, indeed. This could also refer to a great meteorite crashing into the ocean and producing a similar effect.
Metaphorically, “sea” is often used of nations, as per a beast rising up out of the sea or nations. (Revelation 13:1). Thus, the nations may experience tribulation (wars, famine & disease, for example) like unto a great fiery mountain falling upon them and causing death.
V. 9
“9 And the thirde part of the creatures which were in the Sea, and had life, died, and the third part of the ships were destroyed.”
Literally, one third of all creatures in the sea are destroyed by the fiery mountain (v.7). And, perhaps its impact on the sea produces turbulence that sinks one third of all ships. Metaphorically, “creatures which were in the Sea,” may refer to mankind; thus, one third of earth’s population is destroyed. Ships may refer to the churches; for, Jesus said, “…Follow mee: and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matthew 4:19) Thus, the analogy of fish being brought into the boat, or in the case of “fishers of men,” born again persons brought into the church, which is like unto a boat, or ship. When the devil is permitted to pour out his wrath, then perhaps God allows him to destroy one third of the true churches. This may have been partially fulfilled when the Holy Roman Empire and its inquisitions wiped out entire communities of true Christians, such as Cathars, Waldenses, Piedmontese and Huguenots, to name a few.
THE THIRD TRUMPET: WORMWOOD
Vs. 10 - 11
“10 And the third Angel sounded, and there fell a great starre from heauen, burning as it were a lampe, and it fell vpon the third part of the riuers, and vpon the fountaines of waters: 11 And the name of the starre is called Wormewood, and the third part of the waters became wormewood, and many men dyed of the waters, because they were made bitter.”
This may be a great burning meteorite that contaminates one third of earth’s drinkable waters, turning them to poison. Subsequently, those who drink the waters die. However, if taken metaphorically, the great star falling as it were a lamp is Lucifer; who, initially corrupts one third of the word of God; thereby leavening the scriptures and making them poisonous. Those who consume these spiritual ‘waters’ perish because the scriptures are corrupt; the power of salvation is no longer in them. The word of God has become bitter. This may refer to the 100s of corrupted Bibles on the market today.
THE FOURTH TRUMPET: COSMIC SIGNS
V. 12
“12 And the fourth Angel sounded, and the thirde part of the Sunne was smitten, & the third part of the Moone, and the third part of the starres, so as the third part of them was darkened: and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.”
The sun, moon and stars no longer give their full light; they are diminished by one third, for how long we know not. This may be a reference to Matthew 24:29, depicting a similar phenomenon sometime before Christ’s second coming. How this cosmic anomaly comes about, we know not; scripture is silent.
Metaphorically, it may refer to a diminishing of the heavenly appearance of Christ’s glory. The Psalmist wrote that the heavens declare the glory of God (Psalm 19:1). Thus, perhaps for a time before Christ’s return, God allows his glory revealed in the heavens to be diminished; that at his return his brilliance and glory will be blinding and unmistakable.
V. 13
“13 And I behold, and heard an Angel flying through the midst of heauen, saying with a loude voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth, by reason of the other voyces of the trumpet of the three Angels which are yet to sound.”
Coming are the fifth, sixth and seventh trumpets, which the Angel warns are three woes; meaning plagues or judgments more severe than the previous four. Inhabiters of the earth refers to all living upon the earth.