Revelation 8:1-13 - G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

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Bible Comments

The seventh and last seal on the scroll is broken. On earth uproar and strife follow as at Babel, but in heaven silence for half an hour. Then follows the sounding of trumpets initiating activities leading to the ultimate manifestation of the King.

At the sounding of the first trumpet a great storm breaks over the earth. At the sounding of the second, terrific disturbance occurs in the sea. At the sound of the third comes a terrible poisoning of the waters, bringing death. At the sounding of the trumpet of the fourth angel the third part of the light of the sun, moon, and stars is eclipsed. Through all these movements God is seen speaking to men of His throne and His power, which they have ignored. They all describe the operations of punitive judgment. Between the sounding of the fourth and fifth trumpets an eagle is seen proclaiming the coming of a threefold woe, but the fact of the proclamation is evidence of the long-suffering of God. That surely is the explanation of the eagle's proclamation in the midst of the sounding of trumpets.

Related Commentaries of Revelation 8:1

Revelation 8:1-13

1 And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.

2 And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets.

3 And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offera it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.

4 And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.

5 And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it intob the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.

6 And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.

7 The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.

8 And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood;

9 And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed.

10 And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters;

11 And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.

12 And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.

13 And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!