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Revelation 8:1-13 King James Version (KJV)

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 offer 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 into 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!


Revelation 8:1-13 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

1 And G2532 when G3753 he had opened G455 the seventh G1442 seal, G4973 there was G1096 silence G4602 in G1722 heaven G3772 about the space of G5613 half an hour. G2256

2 And G2532 I saw G1492 the seven G2033 angels G32 which G3739 stood G2476 before G1799 God; G2316 and G2532 to them G846 were given G1325 seven G2033 trumpets. G4536

3 And G2532 another G243 angel G32 came G2064 and G2532 stood G2476 at G1909 the altar, G2379 having G2192 a golden G5552 censer; G3031 and G2532 there was given G1325 unto him G846 much G4183 incense, G2368 that G2443 he should offer G1325 it with the prayers G4335 of all G3956 saints G40 upon G1909 the golden G5552 altar G2379 which G3588 was before G1799 the throne. G2362

4 And G2532 the smoke G2586 of the incense, G2368 which came with the prayers G4335 of the saints, G40 ascended up G305 before G1799 God G2316 out of G1537 the angel's G32 hand. G5495

5 And G2532 the angel G32 took G2983 the censer, G3031 and G2532 filled G1072 it G846 with G1537 fire G4442 of the altar, G2379 and G2532 cast G906 it into G1519 the earth: G1093 and G2532 there were G1096 voices, G5456 and G2532 thunderings, G1027 and G2532 lightnings, G796 and G2532 an earthquake. G4578

6 And G2532 the seven G2033 angels G32 which G3588 had G2192 the seven G2033 trumpets G4536 prepared G2090 themselves G1438 to G2443 sound. G4537

7 G2532 The first G4413 angel G32 sounded, G4537 and G2532 there followed G1096 hail G5464 and G2532 fire G4442 mingled G3396 with blood, G129 and G2532 they were cast G906 upon G1519 the earth: G1093 and G2532 the third part G5154 of trees G1186 was burnt up, G2618 and G2532 all G3956 green G5515 grass G5528 was burnt up. G2618

8 And G2532 the second G1208 angel G32 sounded, G4537 and G2532 as it were G5613 a great G3173 mountain G3735 burning G2545 with fire G4442 was cast G906 into G1519 the sea: G2281 and G2532 the third part G5154 of the sea G2281 became G1096 blood; G129

9 And G2532 the third part G5154 of the creatures G2938 which G3588 were in G1722 the sea, G2281 and had G2192 life, G5590 died; G599 and G2532 the third part G5154 of the ships G4143 were destroyed. G1311

10 And G2532 the third G5154 angel G32 sounded, G4537 and G2532 there fell G4098 a great G3173 star G792 from G1537 heaven, G3772 burning G2545 as it were G5613 a lamp, G2985 and G2532 it fell G4098 upon G1909 the third part G5154 of the rivers, G4215 and G2532 upon G1909 the fountains G4077 of waters; G5204

11 And G2532 the name G3686 of the star G792 is called G3004 Wormwood: G894 and G2532 the third part G5154 of the waters G5204 became G1096 G1519 wormwood; G894 and G2532 many G4183 men G444 died G599 of G1537 the waters, G5204 because G3754 they were made bitter. G4087

12 And G2532 the fourth G5067 angel G32 sounded, G4537 and G2532 the third part G5154 of the sun G2246 was smitten, G4141 and G2532 the third part G5154 of the moon, G4582 and G2532 the third part G5154 of the stars; G792 so as G2443 the third part G5154 of them G846 was darkened, G4654 and G2532 the day G2250 shone G5316 not G3361 for a third part G5154 of it, G846 and G2532 the night G3571 likewise. G3668

13 And G2532 I beheld, G1492 and G2532 heard G191 an G1520 angel G32 flying G4072 through G1722 the midst of heaven, G3321 saying G3004 with a loud G3173 voice, G5456 Woe, G3759 woe, G3759 woe, G3759 to the inhabiters G2730 of G1909 the earth G1093 by reason of G1537 the other G3062 voices G5456 of the trumpet G4536 of the three G5140 angels, G32 which G3588 are yet G3195 to sound! G4537


Revelation 8:1-13 American Standard (ASV)

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

2 And I saw the seven angels that stand before God; and there were given unto them seven trumpets.

3 And another angel came and stood over the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should add it unto 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, went up before God out of the angel's hand.

5 And the angel taketh the censer; and he filled it with the fire of the altar, and cast it upon the earth: and there followed thunders, and voices, and lightnings, and an earthquake.

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

7 And the first sounded, and there followed hail and fire, mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of the earth was burnt up, and the third part of the 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 there died the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, `even' they that had life; and the third part of the ships was destroyed.

10 And the third angel sounded, and there fell from heaven a great star, burning as a torch, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of the 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; that the third part of them should be darkened, and the day should not shine for the third part of it, and the night in like manner.

13 And I saw, and I heard an eagle, flying in mid heaven, saying with a great voice, Woe, woe, woe, for them that dwell on the earth, by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, who are yet to sound.


Revelation 8:1-13 Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 And when he openeth the seventh seal, there came silence in the heaven about half-an-hour,

2 and I saw the seven messengers who before God have stood, and there were given to them seven trumpets,

3 and another messenger did come, and he stood at the altar, having a golden censer, and there was given to him much perfume, that he may give `it' to the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar that `is' before the throne,

4 and go up did the smoke of the perfumes to the prayers of the saints out of the hand of the messenger, before God;

5 and the messenger took the censer, and did fill it out of the fire of the altar, and did cast `it' to the earth, and there came voices, and thunders, and lightnings, and an earthquake.

6 And the seven messengers who are having the seven trumpets did prepare themselves that they may sound;

7 and the first messenger did sound, and there came hail and fire, mingled with blood, and it was cast to the land, and the third of the trees was burnt up, and all the green grass was burnt up.

8 And the second messenger did sound, and as it were a great mountain with fire burning was cast into the sea, and the third of the sea became blood,

9 and die did the third of the creatures that `are' in the sea, those having life, and the third of the ships were destroyed.

10 And the third messenger did sound, and there fell out of the heaven a great star, burning as a lamp, and it did fall upon the third of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters,

11 and the name of the star is called Wormwood, and the third of the waters doth become wormwood, and many of the men did die of the waters, because they were made bitter.

12 And the fourth messenger did sound, and smitten was the third of the sun, and the third of the moon, and the third of the stars, that darkened may be the third of them, and that the day may not shine -- the third of it, and the night in like manner.

13 And I saw, and I heard one messenger, flying in the mid-heaven, saying with a great voice, `Wo, wo, wo, to those dwelling upon the land from the rest of the voices of the trumpet of the three messengers who are about to sound.'


Revelation 8:1-13 Darby English Bible (DARBY)

1 And when it opened the seventh seal, there was silence in the heaven about half an hour.

2 And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.

3 And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and much incense was given to him, that he might give [efficacy] to the prayers of all saints at the golden altar which [was] before the throne.

4 And the smoke of the incense went up with the prayers of the saints, out of the hand of the angel before God.

5 And the angel took the censer, and filled it from the fire of the altar, and cast [it] on the earth: and there were voices, and thunders and lightnings, and an earthquake.

6 And the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves that they might sound with [their] trumpets.

7 And the first sounded [his] trumpet: and there was hail and fire, mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth; and the third part of the earth was burnt up, and the third part of the trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.

8 And the second angel sounded [his] trumpet: and as 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 which had life died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed.

10 And the third angel sounded [his] trumpet: and there fell out of the heaven a great star, burning as a torch, 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 of the men died of the waters because they were made bitter.

12 And the fourth angel sounded [his] trumpet: and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so that the third part of them should be darkened, and that the day should not appear [for] the third part of it, and the night the same.

13 And I saw, and I heard an eagle flying in mid-heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to them that dwell upon the earth, for the remaining voices of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound.


Revelation 8:1-13 World English Bible (WEB)

1 When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.

2 I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.

3 Another angel came and stood over the altar, having a golden censer. Much incense was given to him, that he should add it to the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar which was before the throne.

4 The smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel's hand.

5 The angel took the censer, and he filled it with the fire of the altar, and threw it on the earth. There followed thunders, sounds, lightnings, and an earthquake.

6 The seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.

7 The first sounded, and there followed hail and fire, mixed with blood, and they were thrown to the earth. One third of the earth was burnt up,{TR omits "One third of the earth was burnt up"} and one third of the trees were burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.

8 The second angel sounded, and something like a great burning mountain was thrown into the sea. One third of the sea became blood,

9 and one third of the living creatures which were in the sea died. One third of the ships were destroyed.

10 The third angel sounded, and a great star fell from the sky, burning like a torch, and it fell on one third of the rivers, and on the springs of the waters.

11 The name of the star is called "Wormwood." One third of the waters became wormwood. Many people died from the waters, because they were made bitter.

12 The fourth angel sounded, and one third of the sun was struck, and one third of the moon, and one third of the stars; so that one third of them would be darkened, and the day wouldn't shine for one third of it, and the night in the same way.

13 I saw, and I heard an eagle,{TR reads "angel" instead of "eagle"} flying in mid heaven, saying with a loud voice, "Woe! Woe! Woe for those who dwell on the earth, because of the other voices of the trumpets of the three angels, who are yet to sound!"


Revelation 8:1-13 Bible in Basic English (BBE)

1 And when the seventh stamp was undone there was quiet in heaven for about half an hour.

2 And I saw the seven angels who had their place before God; and seven horns were given to them.

3 And another angel came and took his place at the altar, having a gold vessel for burning perfume; and there was given to him much perfume, so that he might put it with the prayers of all the saints on the gold altar which was before the high seat.

4 And the smoke of the perfume, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel's hand.

5 And the angel took the vessel; and he made it full of the fire of the altar, and sent it down on the earth: and there came thunders and voices and flames and a shaking of the earth.

6 And the seven angels who had the seven horns made ready for sounding them.

7 And at the sounding of the first, a rain of ice and fire, mixed with blood, was sent on the earth: and a third part of the earth, and of the trees, and all green grass was burned up.

8 And at the sounding of the second angel, it was as if a great mountain burning with fire was sent into the sea: and a third part of the sea became blood,

9 And destruction came on a third part of the living things which were in the sea, and on a third part of the ships.

10 And at the sounding of the third angel, there went down from heaven a great star, burning like a flame, and it came on a third part of the rivers, and on the fountains of water.

11 And the name of the star is Wormwood: and a third part of the waters became bitter; and a number of men came to their end because of the waters, for they were made bitter.

12 And at the sounding of the fourth angel, a third part of the sun, and of the moon, and of the stars was made dark, so that there was no light for a third part of the day and of the night.

13 And there came to my ears the cry of an eagle in flight in the middle of heaven, saying with a great voice, Trouble, trouble, trouble, to all on the earth, because of the other voices of the horns of the three angels, whose sounding is still to come.

Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Revelation 8

Commentary on Revelation 8 Matthew Henry Commentary


Chapter 8

We have already seen what occurred upon opening six of the seals; we now come to the opening of the seventh, which introduced the sounding of the seven trumpets; and a direful scene now opens. Most expositors agree that the seven seals represent the interval between the apostle's time and the reign of Constantine, but that the seven trumpets are designed to represent the rise of antichrist, some time after the empire became Christian. In this chapter we have,

  • I. The preface, or prelude, to the sounding of the trumpets (v. 1-6).
  • II. The sounding of four of the trumpets (v. 7-13).

Rev 8:1-6

In these verses we have the prelude to the sounding of the trumpets in several parts.

  • I. The opening of the last seal. This was to introduce a new set of prophetical iconisms and events; there is a continued chain of providence, one part linked to another (where one ends another begins), and, though they may differ in nature and in time, they all make up one wise, well-connected, uniform design in the hand of God.
  • II. A profound silence in heaven for the space of half an hour, which may be understood either,
    • 1. Of the silence of peace, that for this time no complaints were sent up to the ear of the Lord God of sabaoth; all was quiet and well in the church, and therefore all silent in heaven, for whenever the church on earth cries, through oppression, that cry comes up to heaven and resounds there; or,
    • 2. A silence of expectation; great things were upon the wheel of providence, and the church of God, both in heaven and earth, stood silent, as became them, to see what God was doing, according to that of Zec. 2:13, Be silent, O all flesh, before the Lord, for he has risen up out of his holy habitation. And elsewhere, Be still, and know that I am God.
  • III. The trumpets were delivered to the angels who were to sound them. Still the angels are employed as the wise and willing instruments of divine Providence, and they are furnished with all their materials and instructions from God our Saviour. As the angels of the churches are to sound the trumpet of the gospel, the angels of heaven are to sound the trumpet of Providence, and every one has his part given him.
  • IV. To prepare for this, another angel must first offer incense, v. 3. It is very probable that this other angel is the Lord Jesus, the high priest of the church, who is here described in his sacerdotal office, having a golden censer and much incense, a fulness of merit in his own glorious person, and this incense he was to offer up, with the prayers of all the saints, upon the golden altar of his divine nature. Observe,
    • 1. All the saints are a praying people; none of the children of God are born dumb, a Spirit of grace is always a Spirit of adoption and supplication, teaching us to cry, Abba, Father. Ps. 32:6, For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee.
    • 2. Times of danger should be praying times, and so should times of great expectation; both our fears and our hopes should put us upon prayer, and, where the interest of the church of God is deeply concerned, the hearts of the people of God in prayer should be greatly enlarged.
    • 3. The prayers of the saints themselves stand in need of the incense and intercession of Christ to make them acceptable and effectual, and there is provision made by Christ for that purpose; he has his incense, his censer, and his altar; he is all himself to his people.
    • 4. The prayers of the saints come up before God in a cloud of incense; no prayer, thus recommended, was ever denied audience or acceptance.
    • 5. These prayers that were thus accepted in heaven produced great changes upon earth in return to them; the same angel that in his censer offered up the prayers of the saints in the same censer took of the fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth, and this presently caused strange commotions, voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake; these were the answers God gave to the prayers of the saints, and tokens of his anger against the world and that he would do great things to avenge himself and his people of their enemies; and now, all things being thus prepared, the angels discharge their duty.

Rev 8:7-13

Observe,

  • I. The first angel sounded the first trumpet, and the events which followed were very dismal: There followed hail and fire mingled with blood, etc., v. 7. There was a terrible storm; but whether it is to be understood of a storm of heresies, a mixture of monstrous errors falling on the church (for in that age Arianism prevailed), or a storm or tempest of war falling on the civil state, expositors are not agreed. Mr. Mede takes it to be meant of the Gothic inundation that broke in upon the empire in the year 395, the same year that Theodosius died, when the northern nations, under Alaricus, king of the Goths, broke in upon the western parts of the empire. However, here we observe,
    • 1. It was a very terrible storm-fire, and hail, and blood: a strange mixture!
    • 2. The limitation of it: it fell on the third part of the trees, and on the third part of the grass, and blasted and burnt it up; that is, say some, upon the third part of the clergy and the third part of the laity; or, as others who take it to fall upon the civil state, upon the third part of the great men, and upon the third part of the common people, either upon the Roman empire itself, which was a third part of the then known world, or upon a third part of that empire. The most severe calamities have their bounds and limits set them by the great God.
  • II. The second angel sounded, and the alarm was followed, as in the first, with terrible events: A great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea; and the third part of the sea became blood, v. 8. By this mountain some understand the leader or leaders of the heretics; others, as Mr. Mede, the city of Rome, which was five times sacked by the Goths and Vandals, within the compass of 137 years; first by Alaricus, in the year 410, with great slaughter and cruelty. In these calamities, a third part of the people (called here the sea or collection of waters) were destroyed: here was still a limitation to the third part, for in the midst of judgment God remembers mercy. This storm fell heavy upon the maritime and merchandizing cities and countries of the Roman empire.
  • III. The third angel sounded, and the alarm had the like effects as before: There fell a great star from heaven, etc., v. 10. Some take this to be a political star, some eminent governor, and they apply it to Augustulus, who was forced to resign the empire to Odoacer, in the year 480. Others take it to be an ecclesiastical star, some eminent person in the church, compared to a burning lamp, and they fix it upon Pelagius, who proved about this time a falling star, and greatly corrupted the churches of Christ. Observe,
    • 1. Where this star fell: Upon a third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters.
    • 2. What effect it had upon them; it turned those springs and streams into wormwood, made them very bitter, that men were poisoned by them; either the laws, which are springs of civil liberty, and property, and safety, were poisoned by arbitrary power, or the doctrines of the gospel, the springs of spiritual life, refreshment, and vigour to the souls of men, were so corrupted and embittered by a mixture of dangerous errors that the souls of men found their ruin where they sought for their refreshment.
  • IV. The fourth angel sounded, and the alarm was followed with further calamities. Observe,
    • 1. The nature of this calamity; it was darkness; it fell therefore upon the great luminaries of the heaven, that give light to the world-the sun, and the moon, and the stars, either the guides and governors of the church, or of the state, who are placed in higher orbs than the people, and are to dispense light and benign influences to them.
    • 2. The limitation: it was confined to a third part of these luminaries; there was some light both of the sun by day, and of the moon and stars by night, but it was only a third part of what they had before. Without determining what is matter of controversy in these points among learned men, we rather choose to make these plain and practical remarks:-
      • (1.) Where the gospel comes to a people, and is but coldly received, and has not its proper effects upon their hearts and lives, it is usually followed with dreadful judgments.
      • (2.) God gives warning to men of his judgments before he sends them; he sounds an alarm by the written word, by ministers, by men's own consciences, and by the signs of the times; so that, if a people be surprised, it is their own fault.
      • (3.) The anger of God against a people makes dreadful work among them; it embitters all their comforts, and makes even life itself bitter and burdensome.
      • (4.) God does not in this world stir up all his wrath, but sets bounds to the most terrible judgments.
      • (5.) Corruptions of doctrine and worship in the church are themselves great judgments, and the usual causes and tokens of other judgments coming on a people.
  • V. Before the other three trumpets are sounded here is solemn warning given to the world how terrible the calamities would be that should follow them, and how miserable those times and places would be on which they fell, v. 13.
    • 1. The messenger was an angel flying in the midst of heaven, as in haste, and coming on an awful errand.
    • 2. The message was a denunciation of further and greater woe and misery than the world had hitherto endured. Here are three woes, to show how much the calamities coming should exceed those that had been already, or to hint how every one of the three succeeding trumpets should introduce its particular and distinct calamity. If less judgments do not take effect, but the church and the world grow worse under them, they must expect greater. God will be known by the judgments that he executes; and he expects, when he comes to punish the world, the inhabitants thereof should tremble before him.