Revelation 8

Chapter 8 THE LORD OF THE EARTH THE MISERY AT THE OF THE FIRST SIX CH.8-9

1. Preparation. 8:1-6
2. Punishment. 8:7-12

A. Vegetation burned by the 1st trumpet. 8:7 B. Pollution of the sea by the 2nd trumpet. 8:8-9 C. Pollution of the waters by the 3rd trumpet. 8:10-11 D. Diminishing of the light of heaven by the 4th trumpet. 8:12-13

3. Proclamation. 8:13

Revelation 8:1-6

The Pause. 8:1 The Prayer. 8:2-4 The Preview. 8:5 The Preparation 8:6

1. Preparation for the judgment of the trumpets. 8:1-6 V.1 a) Silence in heaven -

I. The only mention of silence in Revelation.

II. Its a time of silence before the storm; it’ s like the eye of a typhoon, 6 seal judgments has already been released, now the seventh seal is broken containing 7 trumpets judgments and 7 bowls judgments. Hab. 2:20 Zeph.1:7-8; Zech. 2:13 III. Perhaps the silence in heaven is connected to the answering of prayers. v.3-5

V.2 b) Seven trumpets -

I. The angels have a special place of ministry: They stand before God, perhaps they are high ranked angels.

II. 7 trumpets are given them, which releases judgments upon the world.

III. At the fall of Jericho Israel marched in silence for 6 days, at the seventh day 7 trumpets sounded and then the walls of Jericho fell. Joshua Ch.6 IV. The 7 trumpets are announcers of God’ s judgments.

V.3 c) Saints prayers -

I. In the Old Testament the priests had golden bowls with incense in it, the incense was burned on the altar of incense. Ex.30:1-10; 34-38; Lev.16:12-13; 1.Kings 7:50; 1.Chr.28:17; 2.Chr.4:22; Jer.52:19; Zech.14:20 II. Incense represents the prayers of the saints. Psalms 141:1-2; Luke 1:5-11 A. Perhaps the prayers for His Kingdom to come. Matt.6:10 B. Perhaps the prayers for His judgment. Luke 18:7-8; Rev.6:10 III. It’ s the prayers of all the saints, no prayer is lost or forgotten.

IV. This altar is the only altar in the heavenly temple, the sacrificial bronze altar for sin is not in the temple for Christ has fulfilled its purpose. Ex.27:1-8; Heb.10:1-10 V.4 d) Smoke ascends - Prayer Ascends.

Why are these prayers first coming before God now?

I. They had been received by God but stored until the time of fulfilment.

II. God always answers prayers, the way He answers are:

A. Go - Move by faith.

B. Slow - In the right time.

C. Grow - When you are ready.

D. No - Its not My will for you (No is also an answer).

V.5 e) Severe answer of prayer - Prayer Answered. Ezek.10:2-7 I. It seems that God answers the prayers by shacking the earth. Ezek.10:2 II. Perhaps they are prayers for:

A. His salvation, which God answers by awakening people before judgment falls.

B. His kingdom to come, which God answers by shakings. C. His judgment, which God answers by shaking the world and releasing the trumpet judgments. Ex.3:7-10 V.6 f) Seven angels prepares -

Preparation to sound is needed because of the severity of the judgments and the blast they will make.

Revelation 8:7

2. Devastation - Vegetation burned by the 1st trumpet. 8:7 I. 7 trumpets compared with the 7 bowls.

7 trumpets 8:7-9:21; 11:15-19 7 bowls Ch.16-18

1. The earth: Trees and grass burns. - The earth: Boils on men.

2. The sea: As blood. - The sea: As blood.

3. The rivers: Bitter waters. - The rivers: Waters to blood.

4. The heaven: Sun, moon and stars. - The heaven: Sun burns men.

5. Plague of Demon locusts. - Plague of darkness.

6. Euphrates: Plague of Horsemen. - Euphrates: Armageddon, unclean spirits.

7. Proclamation: World subdued - Proclamation: It is done.

Earthquake and great hail. Earthquake and great hail.

II. The 7th seal contains a series of judgments - 7 trumpets and bowls.

III. The first 5 trumpet judgments are judgments from heaven, fearing the above. Luke 21:25-26

V.7 a) Burning vegetation - Joel 2:30 I. 33 % of all trees burn up; the world is filled with smoke and it becomes hard to breath, fruits are now a rare food; the demons that are released in chapter 9 are commanded not to hurt the trees, green or the grass (The grass that had grown up again). 9:4; Ezek.5:2; Zech.13:8-9 II. All grass is burned up, the cattle and herds of man are impacted.

III. Farming and agriculture industry is judged.

IV. The 7th plague on Egypt is similar to the 1st trumpet judgment. Ex.9:22-26

Revelation 8:8-9

3. Destruction - Pollution of the sea by the 2nd trumpet. 8:8-9 V.8-9 b) Bloody sea -

I. Great (Gr. megas) is similar to the English word mega.

II. The mountain is perhaps referring to a mega piece of a heavenly body -

A comet, asteroid or such likes, its on fire because it enters earth’ s atmosphere.

III. 33% of the sea is polluted; the heavenly body causes the sea to be blood like.

IV. The only chemical difference between seawater and blood is that blood contains an iron molecule that is absent in the seawater. Perhaps this mountain will provide the iron molecule that will cause the sea water to become blood.

V. 33% of all creatures in sea are killed and 33% of the ships.

There are more than 25.000 merchant ships registered today, more than 8300 ships would be destroyed.

VI. The fishing industry and cargo industry is judged. Zeph.1:3 VII. Fruit and vegetables is rare, now seafood is a rare.

VIII. At the 2nd bowl judgment all the sea is turned to blood and all creatures in the sea dies. 16:3

IX. The 1st plague on Egypt is similar to the 2nd trumpet judgment. Ex.7:14-25; Psalms 78:43-44

Revelation 8:10-11

4. Defilement - Pollution of the waters by the 3rd trumpet. 8:10-11 V.10-11 c) Bitter water - Jer.9:15 I. Star (Gr. aster) means something that is strewn over the sky.

II. Great (Gr. megas) is similar to the English word mega.

III. The star is perhaps referring to a mega piece of a heavenly body - A comet, asteroid or such likes, its on fire because it enters earth’ s atmosphere. IV. The heavenly body have its impact at a centre for rivers and springs.

The ocean currents could carry this contaminated water to the rivers and springs.

V. Perhaps man will name the heavenly body Wormwood, which means bitterness.

A. The contamination is bitter water. Ex.15:23-25; Deu.29:18 B. Wormwood was a bitter poisonous herb (Artemesia absinthium found in the Near East). Jer. 9:15; 23:15; Lam.3:15, 19; Amos 5:7 VI. 33% of the rivers and springs (fresh waters) are polluted and very poisonous.

There are more than 100 major rivers in the earth.

VII. Many are killed because of coming into contact with the water.

VIII. Tourist and water industry judged.

IX. At the 3rd bowl judgment all the rivers and springs turns to blood. 16:4-7

X. The 1st plague on Egypt is similar to the 3rd trumpet judgment. Ex.7:14-25

Revelation 8:12-13

5. Diminishing - the light of heaven by the 4th trumpet. 8:12-13 V.12 d) Bodies of heaven darkened - Is.13:10; Joel 2:2; Amos 5:18 I. 33% of the heavenly bodies that gives light is darkened, the 24 hour day looses 33% light.

II. All green grows slower and the weather climate is much colder.

III. Farming and agriculture industry is judged again.

IV. At the 4th bowl judgment, a part of the sun is no longer darkened but increased in light and power. 16:8-9

V. The 9th plague on Egypt is similar to the 4th trumpet judgment. Ex.10:21-23 V.13 e) Blasting woes -

I. Perhaps because of the severity of the 3 last trumpets they are called woes.

II. Some versions says an eagle others an angel proclaims these woes.

III. A double woe is mentioned in Ezek.16:23, but here it’ s a triple woe.