A. There Was About Half and Hour of Silence

REVELATION

Chapter 8

“The Seventh Seal”

I.  The Seventh Seal is Opened (8:1-6)

A.  There was about half and hour of silence.

1.  Possibly, this was to bring attention to what is about to take place.

2.  It indicated the importance of what was about to happen.

B.  Seven angels are given seven trumpets (8:2)

1.  Once again the trumpets would indicate the announcement or commencement of something.

2.  This again is the use of the complete number 7.

C.  Another Angel before the Altar (8:3)

1.  This one had a golden censer, an instrument used for the burning of incense.

2.  He was given much incense and was to offer it with the prayers of the saints.

a.  It has already been pointed out that incense or aromas symbolized the prayers of the saints.

b.  See Rev. 5:8

3.  The incense and prayers go up before God (8:4)

4.  Then the censor is thrown down to the earth causing all types of calamities (8:5).

a.  This symbolizes that the prayers of the saints had been heard by God, that they had produced results from God and He was going to take action.

b.  Likely, these were the prayers of the souls that had been under the altar along with the prayers of those still be persecuted on the earth.

c.  The trumpets are going to indicate what God is going to do.

d.  Those who have been sealed (chapter 7) need not worry.

e.  Psalm 141:2, Luke 1:10

D.  The seven angels prepare to blow their trumpets (8:6)

II.  First Four Trumpets

A.  First Trumpet: hail mixed with fire and blood falls on the earth and burns up one-third of the trees and the green grass.

B.  Second Trumpet: a burning mountain falls into the sea and turns one-third of the sea to blood, kills one third of the sea creatures, and destroyed one-third of the ships.

C.  Third Trumpet: A great star falls out of the heaven and destroys one-third of the inland waters by making them bitter.

D.  Fourth Trumpet: One-third of the celestial bodies were darkened.

III.  General Observations

A.  These calamities are reminiscent of the plagues of Egypt.

1.  They destroyed parts but not the whole.

2.  They appear to be warnings rather than total judgment.

B.  These calamities affect the world, which shows that the existing world of the Romans is going to be shaken.

C.  It is as if God is giving a chance for repentance before final judgment. (Jonah 3:4) See also Rev. 9:20.

D.  Other passages:

1.  Hail (Exodus 9:24)

2.  Mountain (Matt 21:21. Jer. 51:25, Ex. 7:14f; Zech. 4:7; Amos 4:13)

3.  Wormwood (Jer. 9:15, 23:15)

4.  Star Dan. (8:10, 12:3, Is. 14:12, Matt 24:29)

5.  Heavenly Bodies (Is. 13:4,5; Joel 2:10; Ex. 11:1ff)

IV.  The Flying Eagle (8:13)

A.  John saw an eagle flying in heaven.

1.  The King James Version mistakenly translates this “angel.”

2.  The Greek word is “aetos” literally “eagle.”

3.  The Greek word for angel is “anngelos.”

B.  This eagle pronounces or introduces three woes.

1.  These three woes will be in connection with the three remaining trumpets.

2.  In chapter 9:1, the fifth trumpet sounds and is concluded in verse 12 by saying one woe is past.

3.  The indication here is that the last three trumpets contain even worse calamities and tragedies than the first four.

4.  The word “woe” itself indicates that a very grievous experience is about to come from which there is no escape.