Chapter 8 begins with the opening of the seventh seal, an action that will only multiply the judgments on earth. Instead of an end, the seventh seal contains the seven trumpet and seven bowl judgments.
But first, silence!
This silence lasted for an entire half-hour and most likely signified the anxious anticipation for the dramatic events that were about to unfold.
Then, we again see angels fulfill their role of messengers. This time, seven of them, are given seven trumpets to proclaim and commence the seven trumpet judgements.
We also see another angel, most likely of a higher rank, who offers up incense along with the prayers of the saints. It is reminiscent of the scene during the fifth seal, however, here the prayers appear to be of all saints, not just the martyrs.
It also appears that perhaps these prayers help bring on the next action of the angel who takes his now empty censer, fills it with fire from the altar and casts it to earth.
This action brings about lightnings, thunderings, voices and an earthquake, and prompts the seven angels to prepare to sound their trumpets.
7-13
The first angel then sounds his horn and hail and fire, mingled with blood were thrown to the earth.
Here, MacArthur conjectures this may refer to volcanic eruptions as caused by the great earthquake mentioned in chapter 5.
That is certainly a possibility, but in this instance I am more inclined to go with other Bible scholars I have read who compare it with the plague of fire and brimstone which fell on the Egyptians in the time of Moses.
The description of it being mingled with blood is harder to assess.
MacArthur notes that dust and gases may contaminate water and give it the appearance of blood.
Whatever the case, this form of hailfire burns up 1/3 of the earth’s trees and all of the green grass.
Then the second trumpet sounds and something like a great burning mountain falls into the sea. This is thought to most likely be perhaps, some type of meteor which falls from the sky and destroys one-third of the sea around where it lands.
A third of the sea creatures around it also die. and a third of the world’s ships are destroyed – perhaps by tidal waves or tsunamis caused by the meteor.
It is important to remember that all any of us can do in regards to these verses is pray for understanding and make our best educated guesses as to exactly what is transpiring.
I believe, even John, who saw it with his own eyes, had a hard time describing these events in words. They will just be so unlike anything we’ve ever seen.
As the third angel sounds, a great star falls from heaven, burning as a torch.
This is thought by many to be something like a comet leaving its fiery trail as it slowly burns out, all the while scattering its debris upon earth.
The comet is named Wormwood, and it ends up damaging 1/3 of the earth’s water supply.
When the fourth trumpet sounds one third of the sun, moon and stars are darkened.
From MacArthur’s notes: “God will supernaturally reduce the intensity of the celestial bodies by one-third. The loss of solar heat will cause a radical drop in temperature, producing severe changes in meteorological, botanical and biological cycles (Luke 21:25; compare Exodus 10:21-23). But this is temporary (compare 16:8-9).”
While these judgments alone seem catastrophic, they are nothing compared to what lies ahead as demonstrated by the next angel’s warning.
In verse 13 a new angel flies in and announces the dreaded triple “Woe!”
This repeated warning, found throughout scripture, is never a good sign. Here it makes all aware that while the first four trumpets were devastating, what lies ahead for those remaining on earth is unimaginably worse.
It is hard to believe that during all this time, there are still those who won’t believe these torments have anything to do with a supernatural God.
Final Thoughts
It is hard sometimes for us to image the devastation and terror that will take place during these last days. What is even more unbelievable is that many will not associate these events with God’s judgment until near the very end of this tribulation.
Interestingly enough, however, my family was flipping through tv stations last weekend when we saw a movie which pictured similar events.
I can’t remember the name of it, but it was one of those “end of the world” movies. Great earthquakes were ripping apart the earth’s surface causing landslides on land and tidal waves in the sea.
The cause for this particular apocalypse was supposed to be that a huge solar flare is overheating the earth’s core.
It just clicked with me at that point how simple it could be for people of our day and age to believe that all the coming trumpet judgments have been brought on because of climate change rather than God.
How clever is that “father of lies” to already be laying the groundwork for another grand deception.
Do not be deceived! God is not mocked. What we sow in this life, we will reap.
If you have not sown redemption in this life, you will for sure reap judgment.