Revelation 8:1-13 - The Opening of the Seventh Seal and Trumpet Judgments

Session #10

Session #10

Rev. 8:1-13

Rev. 8:1-13

Chapters 1 

Chapters 1 

- Introduction to Apokalypsis – The unveiling

- Introduction to Apokalypsis – The unveiling

Chapter 2 and 3 

Chapter 2 and 3 

– The messages to the Seven Churches

– The messages to the Seven Churches

Chapter 4 

Chapter 4 

– John enters heaven and sets the scene – “Throne”

– John enters heaven and sets the scene – “Throne”

Chapter 5 

Chapter 5 

– The “Seal” and the “Lamb that was slain”

– The “Seal” and the “Lamb that was slain”

Chapter 6 

Chapter 6 

– The opening of six seals and the four horsemen

– The opening of six seals and the four horsemen

•

White horse – making war

White horse – making war

•

Red horse – taking peace – make chaos

Red horse – taking peace – make chaos

•

Black horse – oppression and injustice

Black horse – oppression and injustice

•

Pale horse – death and hades

Pale horse – death and hades

•

Fifth seal – the cry of the martyrs – season of martrydom

Fifth seal – the cry of the martyrs – season of martrydom

•

Sixth seal – cosmic disruptions

Sixth seal – cosmic disruptions

Chapter 7 

Chapter 7 

– The sealing of the 144,000 Jewish evangelists and

– The sealing of the 144,000 Jewish evangelists and

the appearance of the saints of God – serving God and being

the appearance of the saints of God – serving God and being

shepherded by Jesus Christ.

shepherded by Jesus Christ.

Verse 1

Verse 1

When he had

When he had

opened the seventh seal

opened the seventh seal

there was silence 

there was silence 

(sige = to command silence)

(sige = to command silence)

in heaven

in heaven

for about 

for about 

half and hour

half and hour

(only usage!)

(only usage!)

The awesome moment that scroll is opened!

The awesome moment that scroll is opened!

  Silence (in heaven) not necessary on earth

  Silence (in heaven) not necessary on earth

  Zech. 2:13 – “Be silent, O all flesh, before the Lord…”

  Zech. 2:13 – “Be silent, O all flesh, before the Lord…”

  Sige means to “hiss” - that a time of silence is commanded at

  Sige means to “hiss” - that a time of silence is commanded at

this point.

this point.

  “half and hour” is only used this one time in all the scripture.

  “half and hour” is only used this one time in all the scripture.

  Such a loud place is overcome with silence as if breathless!

  Such a loud place is overcome with silence as if breathless!

Verse 2

Verse 2

And I saw 

And I saw 

(horao)

(horao)

the seven angels that stand before God

the seven angels that stand before God

•

According to Jewish tradition, there are seven angels that

According to Jewish tradition, there are seven angels that

stand before God’s presence ready to go at his command

stand before God’s presence ready to go at his command

.

.

•

Possibly the “seven-fold spirit of God”.

Possibly the “seven-fold spirit of God”.

•

Possible the seven lamps standing before the throne.

Possible the seven lamps standing before the throne.

and to them were given

and to them were given

 seven trumpets 

 seven trumpets 

(salpigx)

(salpigx)

  Trumpets were important to Jewish life:

  Trumpets were important to Jewish life:

1) call to alarm (army/attack)

1) call to alarm (army/attack)

2) call to assemble (worship/meet)

2) call to assemble (worship/meet)

3) call to awareness (important events)

3) call to awareness (important events)

Verse 3

Verse 3

Another 

Another 

(allos = another of the same kind) 

(allos = another of the same kind) 

angel

angel

who had a golden censer 

who had a golden censer 

(libanotos),

(libanotos),

•

used in the OT temple (Ex. 30:1-9)

used in the OT temple (Ex. 30:1-9)

•

Priest filled with live coals from the burnt offerings

Priest filled with live coals from the burnt offerings

•

threw in incense to make smoke an aroma (Lev. 16)

threw in incense to make smoke an aroma (Lev. 16)

•

common use was brass – Day of Atonement was gold

common use was brass – Day of Atonement was gold

came and stood at the altar.

came and stood at the altar.

He was given much incense 

He was given much incense 

(thymiama) 

(thymiama) 

to offer,

to offer,

with

with

 the prayers of all the saints,

 the prayers of all the saints,

on the golden altar before the throne

on the golden altar before the throne

•

incense = prayers = precious, pleasant, and pleasing

incense = prayers = precious, pleasant, and pleasing

•

prayer releases the trumpet judgements

prayer releases the trumpet judgements

•

The “golden altar” = the “altar of incense” in the temple.

The “golden altar” = the “altar of incense” in the temple.

Verse 4

Verse 4

The smoke 

The smoke 

(12 x in Rev.) 

(12 x in Rev.) 

of the incense,

of the incense,

together with 

together with 

the prayers 

the prayers 

(proseuche) 

(proseuche) 

of the saints,

of the saints,

Proseuche = earnest cries unto God

Proseuche = earnest cries unto God

  Mixed with incense – relationship to the covenant of God

  Mixed with incense – relationship to the covenant of God

  “Saints” = all God’s people – not super Christians

  “Saints” = all God’s people – not super Christians

  There is not scriptural teaching that we should pray

  There is not scriptural teaching that we should pray

     through “saints” of old.

     through “saints” of old.

  We pray to The Father – through the Son – for He

  We pray to The Father – through the Son – for He

     alone is worthy!

     alone is worthy!

  “Imprecatory psalms” 

  “Imprecatory psalms” 

(7,26,35,52,55,58…) = calls

(7,26,35,52,55,58…) = calls

     God to uphold His law and vindicate His people!

     God to uphold His law and vindicate His people!

went up before God

went up before God

from the angel’s hand.

from the angel’s hand.

Verse 5

Verse 5

Then the angel took the censer

Then the angel took the censer

filled it with fire from the altar 

filled it with fire from the altar 

[in heaven]

[in heaven]

and hurled it onto the earth;

and hurled it onto the earth;

The earthly temple is a picture of the heavenly one. 

The earthly temple is a picture of the heavenly one. 

(Heb. 8:5 –

(Heb. 8:5 –

“They serve at a sanctuary that is a 

“They serve at a sanctuary that is a 

copy

copy

 and 

 and 

shadow

shadow

 of what is in heaven.”)

 of what is in heaven.”)

The prayers of God’s people turn the tool of worship into a

The prayers of God’s people turn the tool of worship into a

vehicle of judgement upon the earth

vehicle of judgement upon the earth

And their came

And their came

1) pearls of thunder,

1) pearls of thunder,

2) rumblings,

2) rumblings,

3) flashes of lightening,

3) flashes of lightening,

4) and an earthquake.

4) and an earthquake.

Verse 6

Verse 6

Then the seven angels

Then the seven angels

that had the seven trumpets

that had the seven trumpets

prepared to sound them.

prepared to sound them.

  So, the seven seals opened – the scroll reveals more specific

  So, the seven seals opened – the scroll reveals more specific

judgements through the trumpets and the bowls.

judgements through the trumpets and the bowls.

  Two ways of viewing the trumpets compared to the seals:

  Two ways of viewing the trumpets compared to the seals:

1) Poetic – repeating with more clarification – more detail

1) Poetic – repeating with more clarification – more detail

2) Sequential – moving from one to the next

2) Sequential – moving from one to the next

  There is no way to be absolutely sure, but with John’s use of the

  There is no way to be absolutely sure, but with John’s use of the

term 

term 

“then” 

“then” 

so regularly, I am choosing to see these as more

so regularly, I am choosing to see these as more

sequential events rather than repeated.

sequential events rather than repeated.

Verse 7

Verse 7

The first angel 

The first angel 

[The Earth]

[The Earth]

sounded his trumpet,

sounded his trumpet,

1)  

1)  

and there came hail and fire

and there came hail and fire

mixed with blood

mixed with blood

hurled down 

hurled down 

upon the earth

upon the earth

.

.

Reminds us of Sodom and Gomorrah, Joel 2:30 – “blood and

Reminds us of Sodom and Gomorrah, Joel 2:30 – “blood and

fire” in the last days, and plagues of Egypt.

fire” in the last days, and plagues of Egypt.

  “Blood” = probably the color red – Or blood from the bronze

  “Blood” = probably the color red – Or blood from the bronze

altar – possibilities: Nuclear detonation, volcanoes, or meteors

altar – possibilities: Nuclear detonation, volcanoes, or meteors

2)  

2)  

a third of the earth was burned up,

a third of the earth was burned up,

3)  

3)  

a third of the trees were burned up,

a third of the trees were burned up,

4)  

4)  

and 

and 

all

all

 the green grass was burned up.

 the green grass was burned up.

Verse 8

Verse 8

The second angel

The second angel

[The Sea]

[The Sea]

sounded his trumpet,

sounded his trumpet,

1)  

1)  

and 

and 

something like 

something like 

a huge mountain,

a huge mountain,

all ablaze,

all ablaze,

was throne 

was throne 

into the sea

into the sea

.

.

Not an actual mountain – but a large blazing mass - Possibly a

Not an actual mountain – but a large blazing mass - Possibly a

meteor. Local or global?

meteor. Local or global?

Verse 9

Verse 9

2)  

2)  

a third of the sea was turned into blood,

a third of the sea was turned into blood,

Reminds us of the plagues of Egypt (Ex. 7)

Reminds us of the plagues of Egypt (Ex. 7)

3)  

3)  

a third of the sea creatures died,

a third of the sea creatures died,

4)  

4)  

and a third of the ships were destroyed.

and a third of the ships were destroyed.

Verse 10

Verse 10

The third angel

The third angel

[The Rivers/Fresh Water]

[The Rivers/Fresh Water]

sounded his trumpet,

sounded his trumpet,

1)  

1)  

and a great star,

and a great star,

blazing like a torch,

blazing like a torch,

fell from the sky

fell from the sky

on a third of the rivers 

on a third of the rivers 

(100 in the world)

(100 in the world)

and on the springs of water

and on the springs of water

Verse 11

Verse 11

the name of the star is Wormwood 

the name of the star is Wormwood 

(apsinthion)

(apsinthion)

  “apsinthion” = undrinkable – sign of sorrow and bitterness

  “apsinthion” = undrinkable – sign of sorrow and bitterness

2)  

2)  

a third of the waters turned bitter,

a third of the waters turned bitter,

3)  

3)  

many peoples died

many peoples died

from the waters

from the waters

that had become bitter.

that had become bitter.

People die due to this “bitterness” which means that it is more

People die due to this “bitterness” which means that it is more

than just taste.

than just taste.

Verse 12

Verse 12

The fourth angel

The fourth angel

[The Heavens]

[The Heavens]

sounded his trumpet,

sounded his trumpet,

1)  

1)  

and a third of the sun was struck,

and a third of the sun was struck,

2)  

2)  

a third of the moon,

a third of the moon,

3)  

3)  

a third of the stars,

a third of the stars,

so that a third of them turned dark.

so that a third of them turned dark.

4) 

4) 

a third of the day

a third of the day

was without light,

was without light,

  and a third of the night.

  and a third of the night.

This strikes the entire earth – the sun is the foundation of all life.

This strikes the entire earth – the sun is the foundation of all life.

Similar to the ninth plague on Egypt. (Ex. 10)

Similar to the ninth plague on Egypt. (Ex. 10)

Verse 13

Verse 13

As I watched 

As I watched 

(horao),

(horao),

I heard an eagle

I heard an eagle

that was flying in midair

that was flying in midair

call out in a loud voice:

call out in a loud voice:

“Woe! 

“Woe! 

(ouai = exclamation of grief)  

(ouai = exclamation of grief)  

Woe!

Woe!

Woe to the inhabitants 

Woe to the inhabitants 

(katoikeo = those who

(katoikeo = those who

love/reside)

love/reside)

 of the earth,

 of the earth,

because of the trumpet blasts

because of the trumpet blasts

about to be sounded

about to be sounded

by the other three angels!”

by the other three angels!”

You think things are bad now! Just wait – it is going to get

You think things are bad now! Just wait – it is going to get

personal!

personal!

Session #10

Session #10

Rev. 8:1-13

Rev. 8:1-13