Revelation 8

Revelation Chapter 8

1 When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. 2 And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets.

3 Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. 4 And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel's hand.

Application: Prayer

5 Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And there were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake. 6 So the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.

Compare Trumpet, Bowl judgments and Plagues in Egypt before Exodus:

How many plagues God brought to Egypt before Pharaoh released Israel from slavery?

There are 10 plagues affected Egypt before Israel delivered from Pharaoh.

In addition to these God protected Israel from Pharaoh army at the Red Sea crossing - Exodus 14:1-31

How many of them similar to the trumpet and Bowl judgments?

Parallels in Judgments

*There is no direct parallel here to any of the plagues of Egypt. However, after the Exodus, Israel encountered bitter waters at Marah (which means "bitter") and Moses had to purify the water supply. But no supernatural purification will be available during the Tribulation (Exodus 15:23-27).

**There is no direct parallel here to any of the plagues of Egypt. However, once they started the Exodus, Pharaoh army followed them and try to attack them and God protected them and destroyed the army while they cross the Red sea (Exodus 14:1-31).

Compare these with

Trumpet Judgments:

(Warren Wiersbe) Desolation - The first four trumpet judgments are natural in that it affect the land, the saltwater, the fresh water, and the heavenly bodies. The fifth and sixth judgments involve the release of demonic forces that first torment, and then kill. The last of the trumpet judgments (Rev 11:15-19) creates a crisis among all the nations of the world.

What happened to those four angels standing on the four corners of the earth in Rev 7:1-3 and what are they going to harm?

7 The first angel sounded: And hail and fire followed, mingled with blood, and they were thrown to the earth. And a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.

8 Then the second angel sounded: And something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood. 9 And a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.

10 Then the third angel sounded: And a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. 11 The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the water, because it was made bitter.

12 Then the fourth angel sounded: And a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them were darkened. A third of the day did not shine, and likewise the night.

13 And I looked, and I heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, "Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!"

(David Guzik) Observations on the first four trumpets.