New Testament
Revelation 8
Overview
When the Lamb opens the seventh seal there is silence in heaven for about half an hour, a hushed pause that lets the weight of coming judgment settle. Seven angels are given seven trumpets, and another angel offers incense mixed with the prayers of the saints on the golden altar, after which he fills the censer with altar-fire and hurls it to the earth, unleashing thunder, lightning, and an earthquake. The first four trumpets then sound in rapid succession, striking creation in echoes of the Exodus plagues: a third of the earth and trees burn, a third of the sea becomes blood and its creatures die, a third of the fresh waters turn bitter through the star called Wormwood, and a third of the sun, moon, and stars are darkened. The judgments are partial—'a third'—signaling restraint and a call to repentance rather than final destruction. The chapter closes with an eagle crying 'Woe, woe, woe' to the inhabitants of the earth, warning that the three remaining trumpets will be far worse.
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!”