Revelation Chapter 8
We've gone through six seals and now we come to the seventh seal. Out of the seventh seal we find the seven trumpets of judgments, and out of the trumpet judgments we find the seven vials of God's wrath. All this is contained in the seventh seal. (Chuck Smith)
The seventh seal judgment comprises all the judgments of the seven trumpets. Similarly the seventh trumpet comprises all the seven vial (or bowl) judgments (Revelation 11:15; 15:7). Thus, except for parenthetical sections (e.g., Revelation 7, 10–15), the events described in the book of Revelation should be understood as sequential. (Henry Morris)
(Rev 8:1-5) Seven angels were given seven trumpets, and another angel came and stood over the altar
When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. Another 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. The smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel's hand. The angel took the censer, and he filled it with the fire of the altar, and threw it on the earth. There followed thunders, sounds, lightnings, and an earthquake.
Silence in Heaven
What is the significance of the silence? We really don't know. It's interesting that explanations and commentaries have been written about this silence in heaven for the space of a half an hour. Man can't seem to be quiet about silence in heaven. But where the Bible is silent, it's best that we keep silent, too. Silence - that awe before this trumpet judgment of God comes forth. (Chuck Smith)
Seven Angels
These are impressive angels indeed. We are told they are the angels "who stand before God." That calls to mind the story in Luke 1:19 of an angel sent to Joseph to tell him that Mary will be the mother of a child. The angel identifies himself as "Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God," (Luke 1:19 NIV). These seven angels are probably archangels, and they are given an extremely important task in the sounding of these trumpets. (Ray Stedman)
(Rev 8:6-7) The first angel sounded
The seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound. The 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.
How will this happen? Many wonder if it will happen through phenomenon we know today, like nuclear war, fallout, pollution, meteors, and so forth. These ideas are interesting and possible, but they should never obscure the essential truth: God brings judgment. He isn’t a passive bystander. This is not “nature” taking its course.
God may use whatever method He desires to bring judgment, but people on earth know these events are from God, and do not think them to be merely natural disasters (Revelation 16:9, and 16:11, Revelation 19:19). (David Guzik)
God said that the earth would suffer because of people’s evil deeds. In this judgement, we start to see how much the ground must suffer. A truly awful storm rains down upon it. There is ice, and fire, and even blood in the storm. It may remind us of the plague (terrible event) of blood in Exodus 7:14-24. Or perhaps it reminds us of the plague of hail (ice that falls like rain) in Exodus 9:13-35. Those plagues only affected one country; this event destroys much of the world. However, the result is the same: people refuse to turn to God (Revelation 9:20-21; Exodus 9:34-35). Instead, they become even more bitter, angry and evil. (Keith Simons)
(Rev 8:8-9) The second angel sounded
The second angel sounded, and something like a great burning mountain was thrown into the sea. One third of the sea became blood, and one third of the living creatures which were in the sea died. One third of the ships were destroyed.
Blood
Turning water into blood reminds us of the first Egyptian plague (Ex. 7:19–21). (Wiersbe)
Great Burning Mountain
Note that John did not say that an actual burning mountain was cast out of heaven, but that the fiery object was like a great mountain. (Wiersbe)
One Third
A triple judgment resulted: a third part of the saltwater turned to blood, a third part of the marine life died, and a third of the ships were destroyed. This will be an ecological and an economic disaster of unprecedented proportions. Considering that the oceans occupy about three fourths of the earth’s surface, you can imagine the extent of this judgment. The pollution of the water and the death of so many creatures would greatly affect the balance of life in the oceans, and this would undoubtedly lead to further insoluble problems. As of January 1, 1981 there were 24,867 ocean-going merchant ships registered. Imagine the shock waves that would hit the shipping industry if 8,289 valuable ships were suddenly destroyed! And what about their cargoes! (Wiersbe)
The tremendous impact of the mountainous rock will generate great tsunami waves which will capsize and destroy many ships near the shores. (Henry Morris)
Sea
Some interpreters take “the sea” to mean the Mediterranean Sea. However, this would make a relatively small impact on the world, since the Mediterranean covers only 969,100 square miles and averages just 5,000 feet deep. It is likely that all the major bodies of saltwater are included in this judgment. (Wiersbe)
(Rev 8:10-11) The third angel sounded
The 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 the waters. The name of the star is called "Wormwood." One third of the waters became wormwood. Many people died from the waters, because they were made bitter.
A Great Star
This second heavenly missile, unlike the rocky mass of the first, is primarily burning poisonous gases. Instead of striking the sea at one point, it breaks up in the atmosphere, scattering lethal chemicals into a third of the rivers, springs, and wells of the earth. (Henry Morris)
This great star which falls into the rivers and the fountains of earth, is very likely a comet which breaks up when it enters the atmosphere and scatters itself throughout the earth, falling into the rivers and springs and poisoning them with what is probably a form of radiation. We have had, perhaps, a kind of a foregleam of this and a note of warning from God, in the terrible atomic accident that happened in Russia some years ago. It occurred at a city named Chernobyl -- and Chernobyl is the Russian word for Wormwood!
I read in the paper yesterday that a new comet has been spotted in the skies. It has been given the name "Austin," and will become in April the brightest object in the night sky. These comets flash into our solar system unexpectedly at times. No one knows where they come from or when they will arrive, and a new one has now been spotted. I am not saying it is the great star predicted here, but it indicates the suddenness by which such comets can appear. (Ray Stedman)
(Rev 8:12) The fourth angel sounded
The 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.
The first four angels have sounded, but then another angel came flying through the midst of the heavens, declaring with a loud voice, "Woe, woe, woe." These signs in the heaven are the fulfillment of the Scripture (Matthew 24:29). The fourth angel darkens the sun and the moon so that they only shine for a third part. It is probably an atmospheric condition created as a result of these first three trumpets. (Chuck Smith)
(Rev 8:13) An eagle flying in mid heaven
I saw, and heard an eagle (angel), flying in mid heaven, saying with a loud voice, "Woe! Woe! Woe for those who dwell on the earth, because of the other voices of the trumpets of the three angels, who are yet to sound!"
The angel’s woes are well founded, because one-third of the earth’s population will die in the next three trumpets.
The ancient Greek words for angel and eagle are very close in spelling. Some ancient versions say that it is an eagle flying through the midst of heaven, making this cry. (David Guzik)