Revelation 8:1-13

1. in this chapter, the opening of the seals is resumed (the seventh seal is opened)
1. the seventh seal includes all that happens during the seven trumpets, and the seven vials, and extends to the time when the Millennium begins
2. in our Scripture, the seventh seal includes the seven trumpets, and the seventh trumpet includes the seven vials
1. the opening of the seventh of a series will introduce the next series
2. shows that the series are interrelated, tied together, and belong to the same time period
3. the opening of the seventh seal brings us to the full intensity of the Great Tribulation
1. the judgment of the seven seals are the results of man’s sinful activity, and by natural causes
2. the seven trumpets reveal that God is directly and supernaturally involved
2. silence in heaven – 8:1-6
1. silence for half an hour – 1
1. someone once said that there would be no women in heaven, his justification was "silence in heaven"
2. what it does mean is that something very unusual happened, because there is not usually silence in heaven – Revelation 4:8
3. something gigantic, ghastly, unheard of and heretofore unseen happens
4. all the terrible judgments of the trumpets are hidden beneath the seventh seal, and the seven vials of the wrath of God are also there
5. it is not surprising that Heaven stood completely silent, speechless, and spellbound for half an hour
6. so terrible are those judgments that all Heaven stood speechless and silent
7. we pity those who will be here when the seventh seal is removed
2. the seven angels and their seven trumpets –2
1. the trumpets are given to seven special angels, not six or eight
1. they represent the full power of God in judicial judgment
2. they were to pour out God's wrath upon His enemies
2. angels are the wise and willing instruments of divine intervention
1. they are furnished with all the material and instructions they need from God our Savior
2. everyone has his part given to him by God
3. before the sounding of the trumpets, John saw another angel with a golden censer in his hand – 3
1. the timing of this event shows that the prayers of the saints and the trumpets of the angels go together
2. incense generally signifies prayer, but here it signifies the desires of the angels: that the holy counsel of God might be fulfilled
3. there was "much incense" for as the prayers of all the saints are here joined together: so are the desires of all the angels
4. "with the prayers of all the saints"
1. at the same time, but not for the saints
2. the angels are fellow servants with the saints, not mediators for them
3. prayers are the desires of the saints
5. all the saints and all the angels desired that the holy counsel of God should be fulfilled
4. both the incense and the prayers were accepted before God – 4
5. When the angel took the censer, filled it with fire and cast the fire into the earth, the stage was set for complete catastrophe – 5
1. the incense and prayers went up to God, the fire was cast down upon the earth
2. there is no incense mixed with the fire; the incense was mixed with the prayers of all saints
3. their desire was for the judgment of God to go forth
6. the seventh seal, seventh trumpet, and the seventh vial all end alike [voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake] – Revelation 8:5, 11:19, 16:18
1. these were the answers God gave to the prayers of the saints
2. tokens of his anger against the world and that he would do great things to avenge himself and his people of their enemies
7. the waiting angels now prepare to sound – 6
1. they had been patiently waiting for their call to action, and now the time had come
2. when the trumpets sound they will trigger the most tremendous physical upheavals ever experienced by earth
3. the trumpet judgments – 8:7-13
1. the first trumpet sounds – 7
1. it is a judgment of hail and fire mingled with blood
2. it destroys a third of the trees and all of the green grass
3. this is a literal judgment
1. we should not try to find symbolism were none is intended (if the plain sense makes sense, then it makes sense to believe it)
2. once before in history a similar calamity took place in one particular nation (Egypt – Ex. 9:23-24)
3. this judgment is not on one nation, but the whole world
4. the flood was the first global judgment, and this is the second
5. God has showed us in the past what He can and will do, and He has recorded it in His Word
6. God is capable of doing anything
7. some people would say that they do not believe in that type of God, but it does not matter what anyone thinks; God has told us what He is going to do
2. the second trumpet sounds – 8-9
1. scarcely will the hail and the fire stop, when an even great shock will be felt on earth
2. the Holy Spirit is careful to point out that this is not a literal mountain -- but "as it were"
3. "As it were," not a great mountain, but a blazing mass as large as a mountain
4. the result of this blazing mass hitting the sea
1. one third part of the sea will become blood (yes, real blood; not as it were)
2. one third of the sea life will die
3. one third part of the ships will be destroyed (economic loss will be great)
3. the third trumpet sounds – 10-11
1. a great star falls to earth
2. note the words "burning as it were a lamp"
1. John uses a lamp to illustrate the tremendous burning light that fell from the sky
2. when something isn’t to be taken literally, the Bible tells us so
3. a third of the rivers and fountains of water will be poisoned by this burning rock
4. the poisoned waters will cause many to die
4. the fourth trumpet sounds – 12-13
1. while the earth is still reeling from the past three judgments, another blast from heaven is sounded
1. the scientist and politicians will be desperately trying to find a natural explanation for the things happening on earth, as well as emergency remedies
2. this time the physical phenomenon is so great that it defies all scientific understanding
2. when the fourth trumpet sounds, a third part of the sun, moon, and stars are smitten
1. a third part of the DAY is blacked out -- and the NIGHT likewise
2. day-light will be shortened by a third
3. the moon and stars will not shine for a third of the night
3. The triple cry of "Woe, woe, woe" announces the most horrible judgments ever announced judgments that are far beyond the imagination of man
1. the "woes" are to be especially upon those who refuse to hear the solemn warnings from Heaven
2. in spite of all the announcements of judgment, they cling to this earth as their home; as if they would abide here forever
3. these terrible woes from God will be directed against these perverse, unbelieving "inhabiters of the earth"