All of heaven goes silent as the seventh and last seal is opened. What is in the book? What is God’s judgement on the earth? It begins with the offering of the prayers of the saints. God is listening. Then comes the first trumpet and hail and fire consuming a third of the trees and all grass. Then the second trumpet and the sea turns to blood and a third of the living creatures and a third of the ships are gone. Time is passing, we can’t be sure how much from these passages, but before the seventh trumpet, John must prophesy.
Silence in Heaven
Revelation 8:1–5
Here in Revelation 8:1 “when he opened the seventh seal” all of heaven anticipated knowing the contents of the book. And we have not yet come to Revelation 12:7-9, the “war in heaven”.
This anticipation began when the book was presented in Revelation 5:2–3 (LEB) And I saw a powerful angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to break its seals?” 3 And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it.
In Revelation 8:2 “seven trumpets were given” but they are held in preparation until in Revelation 8:3, “the prayers of the saints” were offered.
Some believe that everything God does is according to his will, and I need to be very careful with my words here, God does know His own mind and doesn’t need us to inform him of anything. He does though, say, in Isaiah 1:18 (LEB) “Come now, and let us argue,” says Yahweh. “Even though your sins are like scarlet, they will be white like snow; even though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. Or, in the King James, it says, “let us reason together”. God hears our prayers. It also says in Hebrews 4:16, because Jesus is our high priest, “Therefore let us approach with confidence to the throne of grace, in order that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
So what is it that is in the vials (see Revelation 5:8), what are the prayers of the saints? How about these as examples, certainly there is praise and thanksgiving, certainly there have been many requests for intervention as Gods people have been threatened, and killed and there are many boundaries that have been set in prayer and agreement before God. And, finally, God does not forget the “distressed cry of the afflicted”.
Hebrews 13:15 (LEB) Therefore through him let us offer up a sacrifice of praise continually to God, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name.
Acts 4:29–30 (LEB) And now, Lord, concern yourself with their threats and grant your slaves to speak your message with all boldness, 30 as you extend your hand to heal and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
Matthew 18:18–20 (LEB) “Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you release on earth will be released in heaven. 19 Again, truly I say to you that if two of you agree on earth about any matter that they ask, it will be done for them from my Father who is in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there in the midst of them.”
Psalm 9:10–12 (LEB) And those who know your name will trust in you, for you do not forsake those who seek you, O Yahweh. 11 Sing praises to Yahweh who sits enthroned in Zion. Tell his deeds among the peoples, 12 for he who avenges bloodshed remembers them. He does not forget the distressed cry of the afflicted.
The Seven Trumpets
Revelation 8:6–9
As these trumpets are blown, it seems there is no sound in the earth, but there is the release of devastation.
First, in Revelation 8:6 there is “hail and fire mixed with blood” and in Revelation 8:7 “a third of the trees were burned up and all of the grass”. This green vegetation cleanses the air of carbon dioxide and refreshes it with oxygen. Living trees hold this carbon dioxide “greenhouse gas” and release it when they die and decompose. This would not only affect breathable air quality, but climate and weather.
Second, there is, in Revelation 8:8-9 “a great mountain burning with fire thrown into the sea” and “the sea became blood” and “a third of the creatures … died” and “a third of the ships were destroyed”. Anything coming out of the sea might be contaminated. The sea is not just a major food source “16% of total global animal protein. (also) Coastal areas within 100 km of the ocean account for an estimated 61 percent of the world’s total Gross National Product (GNP) and are of particular importance for developing countries.” according to The World Bank. And if a third of the ships are destroyed, commerce is significantly reduced, our global economy straining if not collapsed.
A Great Star Burning
Revelation 8:10–13
Third, fresh water is affected, in Revelation 8:10-11 “a third of the waters became wormwood” and we cannot live long without clean fresh water “and many people died”. This is as described in
Jeremiah 23:15 (LEB) Therefore thus says Yahweh of hosts concerning the prophets: “Look, I am going to let them eat wormwood and I will give them water of poison to drink, for from the prophets of Jerusalem went out ungodliness to all the land.”
Fourth, in Revelation 8:12, “a third of them (sun, moon, and stars) were darkened”. Which would cause temperatures to drop and a slowing of growth of vegetation.
This is written as if it already happened, God does know the end from the beginning.
The First Woe
Revelation 9:1–12
Fifth, in Revelation 9:3 “locusts came to the earth … like scorpions”. Then in Revelation 9:4 “they should not damage … any green plant” so the cycle of seed time and harvest is not destroyed.
Genesis 8:22 (LEB) As long as the earth endures, seed and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will not cease.
But, these locusts, in Revelation 9:5 “should not kill them, but that they would be tormented five months, and their torment is like the torment of a scorpion when it stings a person”. And in Revelation 9:6 “people will seek death and will never find it”. It seems that all of the conditions are right for people to die, trouble with water, trouble with commerce and food supply, the sting of the locust, yet they live on. And for how long? Since the sting of the locust is five months, it is certainly longer than that, years? In Revelation 9:12 it says “two woes are still coming”.
But it is not in these times that people are saved, as it says in
1 Timothy 2:1–4 (LEB) Therefore, I urge first of all that petitions, prayers, requests, and thanksgiving be made on behalf of all people, 2 on behalf of kings and all those who are in authority, in order that we may live a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. 3 This is good and acceptable before God our Savior, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
Psalm 128:1–2 (LEB) Blessed is everyone who fears Yahweh, who walks in his ways. 2 You will indeed eat of the labor of your hands; you will be happy and it will be well with you.
Romans 2:4 (LEB) Or do you despise the wealth of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?
Release the Four Angels
Revelation 9:13–21
Sixth, in Revelation 9:13 “release the four angels” and the result is in Revelation 9:16 “the troops of the cavalry was two hundred million” and in Revelation 9:18 “a third of humanity was killed”. Then in Revelation 9:20 “and the rest of humanity that were not killed … did not repent” and in Revelation 9:21 “and they did not repent … ” as it was in Daniel 5:23.
There Will Be No More Delay
Revelation 10:1–6
We often see angels that look like men, this angel in Revelation 10:1-6 seems to be great in size and strength. There is something sealed, that was spoken in Revelation 10:4, not everything has been revealed yet. Though most of this is written as if it already happened, this will be held to the end.
It is easy for us to read through these chapters in a few hours or a few day, but this has unfolded over a long period of time. Now, in Revelation 10:6, this angel declares “no more delay”.
It Is Necessary for You to Prophesy
Revelation 10:7–11
Even though, “no more delay” has been declared, the seventh trumpet doesn’t come until Revelation 11:15.
John is told, in Revelation 10:8-11 to “take and eat it (the scroll) up … it is necessary for you to prophesy again” as it was in Ezek 2:9–3:4. There is a further testimony coming before the second woe is finished.
Study Verses
- Revelation 8:1–5
- Revelation 8:6–9
- Revelation 10:7–11
Today’s Reading
- Revelation 8:1-13
- Revelation 9:1-21
- Revelation 10:1-11
