The Seventh Seal Rev 8:1 – 11:18
Rev 8:1-2 Opening the Seventh Seal.
1) Silence - “There was silence in Heaven….”
a) Perhaps this was to make what follows more impressive, sort of like a drum roll before a daring act at the circus.
b) More likely it was to allow time for the prayers of the saints to be heard. (See below in v 3-5.)
c) The going forth of the Lord is often preceded with silence.
Zeph 1:7; Zech 2:13.
d) Silence before the Lord. Ps 46:10.
“The Lord is in His holy temple, Let all the earth be silent before Him.”
Hab 2:20;
"There came silence." Dramatic effect by this profound stillness with no elder or angel speaking, no chorus of praise nor cry of adoration, no thunder from the throne, but a temporary cessation in the revelations.
Robertson’s NT Word Pictures - Online Bible.
The silence here is possibly more powerful than if something dramatic had happened such an earthquake or thunder etc. Keeping in mind that because this silence took place just before the sounding of trumpets it was possibly more effective than any of the other ways God makes announcements to mankind.
Heaven sees this coming judgement as it really is. The angels, the four living creatures, the 24 elders – everyone in heaven sees what is actually coming. Now the rejoicing and jubilation of heaven turns to silence as the heavenly hosts see the price that will have to be paid for the defeat of the Enemy. If heaven gasps in horror at the prospect of such judgement, then men ought to rush headlong into the arms of Jesus for protection – but the heart of man is ever sinful.
Practical Studies in Revelation - Theodore Epp - pg 95.
Theodore Epp takes on a further meaning of this silence. Instead of this silence being a period of preparation or time to collect the prayers of the saints, he brings forward the point that all of the hosts in heaven were shocked as they came to realise how costly and terrible God’s judgements upon wicked mankind would be. They fully understood what Jesus had to do to overcome his enemy and bring the saints safely through to their salvation. While this further meaning is worthy of consideration perhaps it might be pushing the scripture’s meaning too far.
2) Seven angels are given seven trumpets.
Seven angels were called before God. They were each given a trumpet and they stood ready to sound them.
Notice the time and place where the seven trumpets appeared. We have seen the first six seals in chapter six and now in the verse above, the seventh seal has been opened. So we must consider all of what follows to be a part of or inside the seventh seal.
“Seven angels” - messengers prepared to do the will of God.
“Seven trumpets” - instruments of alarm, and indications of approaching wars and desolations.
Family New Testament Notes – Online Bible.
3) Five uses of trumpets.
In Num 10:1-10 God gives instructions to the people of Israel concerning the uses of trumpets.
a) Summoning the congregation to assemble together v2.
b) Setting up and pulling down camps v2.
c) To go to war against an enemy who oppresses you v9.
d) To sound an alarm or warning v9.
e) Over burnt offerings and sacrifices as a reminder of God or a memorial before God v10.
4) The Last Announcement (The Last Trumpet).
Although trumpets have not had a role within the New Testament church, they are still important to God. On the last day, it will be a trumpet that will announce the final return of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
I Cor “….in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.”
I Thess 4:16 “For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.”
Rev 8:3-5 Offering at the Altar
1) The Altar.
This is not the altar of burnt offerings as seen in chapter six because there is no need for animal sacrifices. This is the altar of incense, the same altar we see in Lev and Num .
2) The offering of Incense.
The adding of incense to the prayers of the saints is intercession. This doesn’t take the place of prayers but rather wraps the prayers in a sweet smelling aroma to make them more acceptable to God.
This is known as intercession where someone intercedes on your behalf.
intercession [íntər sésh’n] (plural intercessions) noun
a. interceding: the action of pleading on somebody’s behalf.
b. trying to resolve conflict: the act of attempting to settle a dispute.
c. prayer or petition: prayer to God, a god, or a saint on behalf of somebody or something. Encarta World English Dictionary 2001
3) Examples of Intercession.
a) Intercession of Christ.
“He is able to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.”
Heb 7:25
b) Intercession of the Holy Spirit.
“..…but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words… He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”
Rom 8:26-27
c) Intercession of other Christians.
“….I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgiving be made on behalf of all men.”
1 Tim 2:1-2
As these scriptures show, Jesus and the Holy Spirit can and do intercede on our behalf. This is why we should always address God through Jesus Christ, finishing our prayers with some words like ‘in the name of Jesus.’
The third scripture from 1st Timothy is different in the fact that although other Christians can intercede on our behalf they still must address their prayers to God through Jesus Christ.
4) The answer to the Prayers.
“coals from the altar thrown to the earth”
“thunder, lightning and earthquakes.”
Ezek 10:2 This happened just before God’s judgement on Jerusalem.
The thunder and lightning and earthquakes here are the voice of God.
5) This section contrasts with Rev 6:9-11.
Rev 6:9-11 The saints are told to wait a little longer.
Rev 8:3-4 The saints prayers go up to God with incense.
Rev 8:5 The prayers are heard and answered.
6) Physical Incense or Spiritual Incense.
The incense of the Old Testament was made of beaten sweet spices, Ex 30:34-38, and placed on burning coals, Lev 16:13. This produced the sweet smelling smoke or cloud which covered the mercy seat Lev and was considered a sweet aroma by God.
The incense used here is spiritual incense by the fact that it was used by an angel in heaven. The idea here is the incense is like a wrapping up of the prayers of the saints to make them more pleasing or acceptable to God.
The First Four Trumpets. Rev 8:7-12
Now our focus returns to the seven angels who have been standing with their trumpets ready, waiting for the offering at the altar to be completed. The sounding of the seven trumpets will take up the rest of this chapter and all of Chapter Nine.
The seven trumpets can be sub-divided into two parts.
1) The judgements of the first four trumpets are entirely inflicted on natural objects: earth, trees, grass, sea, rivers, and lights in heaven.
2) The judgements of the fifth and sixth trumpets are inflicted entirely on mankind.
Rev 8:7 The First Trumpet – Land Disaster.
This first trumpet brings judgement upon the earth, particularly the trees and grass. This judgement is particularly effective because it would affect animals and men as well because both are dependent on trees and grass either directly or indirectly in their food chains.
1) “hail and fire mixed with blood.”
2) Not complete destruction.
a) “one-third of the earth was burnt up.”
b) “one-third of the trees were burnt up.”
c) “all the green grass was burnt up.”
3) Similar to the plague of Egypt in Ex 9:22-26 except the hail and fire was mixed with blood.
See Appendix B Summary of the Plagues of Egypt and Revelation.
4) In the book of Genesis, we are told that plant life was the first to be created after the heavens and the earth, Gen 1:11-12. Here, in the judgements of the trumpets, plant life is the first to be destroyed.
Try to imagine this scene. Some of us have seen or at least read about great forest and prairie fires. Some of those fires have covered thousands of acres, but they are no comparison to what shall take place during the tribulation when the first trumpet is sounded.
In turning away from God, man has turned to nature to the extent he almost worships it. In some parts of the world, man does worship it. So now in the judgements of the trumpets, the Lord Jesus Christ brings the judgement on nature so man will see that God is above all.
Practical Studies of Revelation – Theodore Epp. Vol II pg. 102.
Rev 8:8-9 The Second Trumpet – Maritime Disaster.
1) “like a mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea.”
Mountains are thought of as being stable.
Symbolized as stability – something solid, immovable.
Some writers state John could have had a volcanic eruption in mind when he wrote this but again our interpretation of Revelation means we do not need to take this as being an actual or literal event.
2) “a third of the sea became blood.”
Ex -21
3) Again not total destruction.
b) “a third of the sea life died.”
c) “a third of the ships were destroyed.”
d) Notice the extent of this destruction. One-third of the ships destroyed. During times of war many ships get sunk but one-third would amount to many thousands of ships.
2) On the same day of creation that vegetation was created, the land and waters were also separated Gen 1:9-10. The first and second are judgements upon that which God created on the third day.
Rev 8:10-11 The Third Trumpet – Freshwater Disaster.
1) “a great star fell from Heaven.”
a) “burning like a torch”
b) This star was called “Wormwood”
Wormwood – a class of plant known as artemisia which had a bitter taste. It is noxious but usually not fatally poisonous.
(See Encyclopaedia reference below.)
2) Fell on fresh water.
Where as the judgement under the second trumpet was on the sea, this judgement under the third trumpet was on the fresh water.
b) “a third of the rivers”
c) “on the springs of water.”
d) “a third of the waters became like wormwood.”
e) This is a reverse of the miracle performed by Moses on the waters of Marah. On their journey through the wildness, the children of Israel could not drink the waters of Marah because they were bitter. God showed Moses a tree to throw into the waters to make them sweet. Ex -25
3) Many men died from the waters.
This variety of wormwood seems to be more fatal than usual. Maybe the water was bitter to the point of undrinkable so people died of thirst rather than the water its self-being fatally poisonous.
Again we can be clear that this disaster is directed against man. The fact that one of the most important needs of man, fresh water is affected, shows this is not a natural disaster but Gods judgement upon sinful men.
When we consider that this is the third of a series of disasters we can begin to imagine the full extent of this judgement.
4) Old Testament ideas on “Wormwood.”
f) Wormwood was the fruit of idolatry.
Deut 29:17-18
g) God gave His people wormwood to eat and poisoned water to drink.
Jer 9:13-15; Jer 23:15
Wormwood, the common name for a perennial herb or shrubby plant of the daisy family. Native to Europe, it is now naturalized elsewhere, especially in North America, where it now grows wild by roadsides. It has an erect stem 30 to 90 cm (12 to 36 in) tall and small, yellowish nodding flower heads. The aromatic leaves and flowers contain the terpene thujone, an aromatic, bitter, poisonous substance used since ancient times to make absinthe, a liqueur. The name “wormwood” is sometimes applied to the entire genus to which the plant belongs.
Scientific classification: The wormwood belongs to the family Asteraceae (or Compositae). It is classified as Artemisia Absinthium.
MS Encarta Encyclopedia 2001
The Fourth Trumpet – Disaster in the Sky (Heavens).
1) Again not total destruction.
a) “a third of the sun was smitten.”
b) “a third if the moon was smitten.”
c) “a third of the stars were smitten.”
d) “might not shine a third of the day”
e) “might not shine a third of the night”
2) Parallel to the Egyptian plague of darkness. Ex -23.
3) This plague is targeted against light. Man is totally dependent upon the sun for light, heat and life. Without the sun the earth would be a cold, lifeless waste. This trumpet clearly tells us of God’s power. The great gifts he has given us of the Sun, Moon and the Stars can easily be taken away again.
4) Notice the close similarity between the trumpets found here and the plagues of Egypt. When we get to chapter 16 and we come to the seven bowls of wrath we find this similarity continues.
See Appendix B for a comparison of the plagues of Revelation and Egypt.
The Three Woes Pronounced.
As fearful as the first four trumpets are, they are only the beginning of God’s judgements of men. There is far worse to come.
1) Could be symbolic of the presence of God. This eagle was warning mankind of God’s coming judgements.
2) Could be symbolic of vultures descending on the carcase of humanity.
Matt 24:28 “For wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures (eagles) will gather.”
Matt 24:28 “For wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures (eagles) will gather.”
3) The Message:- “Woe Woe Woe.”
In other words – you haven’t seen anything yet. Things are going to get much worse before they get better.
4) This is why the last three trumpets are known as the ‘three woe trumpets.’
An eagle or vulture, not an angel as in the King James Version.
Different translations read an eagle or an angel. Let’s not get caught up in this debate but rather put our focus on the message. The message is:- while the first four trumpets were bad enough, the worst is yet to come.
Overview – The Story so Far.
We are still in the Throne Scene of Chapter 4. Christ, the Lamb, received the sealed book (scroll) from God his father and proceeded to break its seven seals. As each seal was opened we were presented with a vision. Upon finishing this section we discovered that the first six seals were in fact warnings of God’s coming judgement.
In chapter 7 we took time out from the Revelation story to answer the question of Rev 6:17 “Who shall be able to stand?” Two visions were shown to us. In the first, we were shown the saints receiving God’s seal of protection before God’s judgement of mankind. In the second vision, we again saw the saints but this time having come through God’s judgements and now in fellowship with Him in heaven.
In this chapter, we opened the seventh seal that is like a doorway leading into a deeper level of the book of Revelation. Under this seventh seal, we found the seven trumpets. As each of the first four trumpets was blown we were again presented with visions. These were:-
The First Trumpet – Land Disaster. Rev 8:7.
The Second Trumpet – Maritime Disaster. Rev 8:8-9.
The Third Trumpet – Freshwater Disaster. Rev 8:10-11.
The Fourth Trumpet – Disaster in the Sky.
Following the ominous warning of the eagle (angel), now in Chapter 9, the next two trumpets are blown and we will see two further visions. These two trumpets, also known as woes are much more terrible so they will be viewed in greater detail as they take up the entire chapter.
The seven trumpets are divided into two different sections.
In the judgements of the first four trumpets, we see that natural objects: earth, trees, grass, sea, rivers, and lights in heaven are affected. While not directly attacking men these four judgements still destroy the very things men depend upon for survival. These plagues destroy man’s basic needs such as food, water, light etc.
In Chapter Nine, we will see that the judgements of the fifth, sixth and seventh trumpets are inflicted entirely on man. Whereas in the first four trumpets men are hurt through things they depend upon, in the next trumpets, the locusts and horsemen directly attack men.
