Revelation Chapter 8

1 And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.
  

This chapter reveals what is to take place just prior to the breaking of the seventh seal. In chapter eight we will read of four of the seven trumpets and their corresponding woes. In this verse we notice that there will be a half hour silence in Heaven. This silence may be caused by at least two things. [1] This could be the time when the Rapture takes place. [2] We could call it the calm before the storm - Heaven is silent as it contemplates what is going to happen next. All the inhabitants of Heaven know that God's wrath is about to be poured out upon the earth. Wrath will be poured out as soon as the Church is lifted from the earth. This wrath will come in seven stages. An angel with a trumpet announces each stage.

2 And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets. Seven trumpets are poised at the lips of seven angels.
3 And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.

We see here another angel, which has a bowl containing incense. We know that this incense represents the prayers of God's people throughout the ages. These prayers were probably prayers of deliverance from the hands of persecutors and tormentors.

4 And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand. These prayers ascend up to God. It is now time for God to act.
5 And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.

Fire is mixed with the incense. As the mixture is cast upon the earth there is heard the sound of voices, thunder, lightening and earthquake. This is payback time for those who have ill-treated the people of God. This is the signal for the wrath of God to begin.

6 And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound. The seven angels fill their lungs as they prepare to sound their trumpets. One by one they will announce a part of the unfolding wrath of God.
7 The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.  

Trumpet 1
As the angel blew his trumpet blood, fire and hail fell upon the earth. This comes as a terrible storm that destroys a third part of the trees and burns up all of the green grass. Weather forecasters always mention how many trees are destroyed in major storms. The burning of the grass does not mean that it will not grow back again, even Egypt recovered after the plagues.

8 And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood;

Trumpet 2
A great mountain of fiery rock will be cast into the sea [ Mediterranean?]. This may be a meteor, though there are some who believe it to be some king of huge missile. It is probably best to see it as a gigantic rock that comes from space - therefore a meteor or comet. Whatever it is, it will cause a third part of the world's oceans to become contaminated. This contamination will make the water look like blood.

9 And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed.   The impact and the pollution will kill off a third of the fish. It also appears like it will quickly rust whatever shipping located in that part of the world, adding to the economic disaster we have already noted in a previous chapter.
10 And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters;

Trumpet 3
A star falls from space as the third trumpet is sounded. It will be on fire as it enters the earth's atmosphere and hits the earth itself. This may be another meteor, but it is just as possible be a manmade satellite [space station]. Whatever its nature, it will contaminate a third part of the drinking water.

11 And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter. This star is given the name "Wormwood" because of the bitter taste of the water it contaminates. This means that there may not be any visible sign that the drinking water is polluted, until it is tasted.
12 And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.

Trumpet 4
Maybe due to the meteor / satellite a third part of the earth's natural light is affected (that is, of the sun, moon and stars). This haze will affect only a third part of the day, meaning that during daylight hours about one third will be almost dark. It will be like extended night.
13 And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound! During this thick darkness an angel will be seen flying around the earth. He will be announcing that greater woes than these are going to be experienced by mankind. In the terrible darkness this brilliant angel will stand out - he will be the only light the earth will see for several hours. How terrified will earth's inhabitants be?

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