The Seventh Seal
1When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.
The second cycle of judgments is structured around...
- The second cycle of judgments is structured around seven trumpets. Like the first cycle (6:1–8:1), this one contains an interlude (10:1–11:14; cp. 7:1–17) and ends with a glimpse of God’s eternal Kingdom (11:15–19; see 7:9–8:1).
- The trumpet judgments are reminiscent of the ten plagues of Egypt (Exod 7:14–11:10) and have the same purpose—to show the powerlessness of earthly gods (or satanic powers) and to demonstrate beyond doubt the power and sovereignty of God.
This scene of preparation in heaven introduces the...
This scene of preparation in heaven introduces the seven trumpets of judgment and continues the theme of God’s receiving and answering prayer (5:8; 6:9–11).
2And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and they were given seven trumpets.
The prayers of God’s people ask for God’s...
The prayers of God’s people ask for God’s ultimate justice and judgment (6:10–11; see also 5:8; Ezra 9:5–6; Ps 141:2; Dan 9:21). The mixture of incense and prayers that reaches God’s presence shows that God hears their prayers (see Rev 6:9–11) and is prepared to act.
3Then another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, along with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne. 4And the smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, rose up before God from the hand of the angel.
5Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it to the earth; and there were peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.
The First Four Trumpets
6And the seven angels with the seven trumpets prepared to sound them.
Each of the first four trumpets affects one-third...
Each of the first four trumpets affects one-third of its target (see Ezek 5:1–4, 12; Zech 13:8). The point is not to convey an exact measurement; instead, it indicates that God’s judgment on the earth is beginning but has not reached its zenith. Together, the first four trumpets form a unified message of judgment on the whole physical world (as with Rev 6:1–8).
7Then the first angel sounded his trumpet, and hail and fire mixed with blood were hurled down upon the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, along with a third of the trees and all the green grass.
water... became blood: This judgment is similar to...
- water . . . became blood: This judgment is similar to the first plague on Egypt (see Exod 7:14–25; Ps 78:44).
- The mountain of fire suggests something similar to the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79 that brought bloody destruction to ships and sea life (see Pliny the Younger, Letters 6.16.1–22).
8Then the second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned to blood, 9a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.
The star named Bitterness (literally wormwood, a shrubby...
The star named Bitterness (literally wormwood, a shrubby plant yielding a bitter extract) is symbolic rather than physical. Bitter water is connected with judgment from early in Israel’s national experience (Exod 15:22–26; Num 5:18; Jer 9:13–16; 23:15). The message is that wide-scale judgment has begun.
10Then the third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star burning like a torch fell from heaven and landed on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. 11The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters turned bitter like wormwood oil,† and many people died from the bitter waters.
12Then the fourth angel sounded his trumpet, and a third of the sun and moon and stars were struck. A third of the stars were darkened, a third of the day was without light, and a third of the night as well.
13And as I observed, I heard an eagle flying overhead, calling in a loud voice, “Woe! Woe! Woe to those who dwell on the earth, because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded by the remaining three angels!”