1 When he opened the seventh seal, there was a silence in heaven for about half an hour.

2 And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.

3 Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all God’s people, on the golden altar in front of the throne.

4 The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God’s people, went up before God from the angel’s hand.

5 Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar and hurled it on the earth; and there came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake.

The Trumpets

6 Then the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to sound them.

7 The first angel sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled down on the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.

8 The second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a huge mountain, all ablaze, was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned into blood,

9 a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.

10 The third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water –

11 the name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters turned bitter, and many people died from the waters that had become bitter.

12 The fourth angel sounded his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them turned dark. A third of the day was without light, and also a third of the night.

13 As I watched, I heard an eagle that was flying in mid-air call out in a loud voice “Woe! Woe! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded by the other angels!”

John’s Reflection Concerning His Time and/or All Lifetimes

8:1 Seventh seal opened – silence in heaven – this leads to the next overlay where confusion and disaster occur, overlaying John’s previous unveiling of the treacherous tyrants.

Just a comment – how frightening it would be if God, through the Holy Spirit, was silent! I would be fearfully lost! Keep trusting and obeying Jesus.

John draws a picture of dark and light. Suffering and despair interchanging with joy and gladness.

8:2 Seven angels given seven trumpets – God’s judgements begin.

Remember this is no longer a Garden of Eden of paradise as in Genesis 1-3.

The author remembers a simple pamphlet by Reverend Phillip Jensen^[1] reproduced here about mankind’s rebellion and the Fall, and why God allows evil to happen – overleaf:

God is the loving ruler of the world. He made the world. He made us rulers of the world under him. You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honour and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their beings. Revelation 4:11:

We all reject the ruler – God – by trying to run life our own way without him. But we fail to rule ourselves or society or the world.

There is no-one righteous, not even one; there is no- one who understands, no-one who seeks God. All have turned away.

Romans 3:10-12 God won’t let us rebel forever.

God’s punishment for rebellion is death and judgement. Man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgement. Hebrews 9:27

Yet by dying in our place he took our punishment and brought forgiveness. Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. 1 Peter 3:18

God raised Jesus to life again as the ruler of the world. Jesus has conquered death, now gives new life, and will return to judge.

In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 1 Peter 1:3

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him. John 3:36

Continuing comments on Revelation 8:

8:7 “A third of the earth was burned up…a third of the trees…all the grass.

8:8 “a mountain … ablaze … into the sea…third of sea turned to blood.

8:9 “third of creatures in the sea…third of the ships…” Through all this God allows a proportion. Two thirds are still alive. Will people repent?

Times of Total Confusion and Disorder II

This section continues the overlay in each lifetime of treacherous tyrants – savage kings. Same evil in every age – but getting worse as history repeats Laodicean time.

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[1] Phillip Jensen – Anglican Information Office, St Andrews, Sydney, 1989