Revelation 8 notes
April 11, 2026
The Seventh Seal (Revelation 8:1-5)
The seventh seal in Revelation 8 was separated from the first six seals in Revelation 6. We had a chapter in between describing the sealing of 144,000 Jews, and also there was a vision of the heavenly multitude praising God.
The seventh seal was opened and there was silence in heaven about half an hour. The fact John could estimate an amount of time in heaven is interesting to me. This means that even in eternity we will be able to count time in some way. There will still be a progression of history and events throughout eternity. That is hard to comprehend, but that is what this mention of time implies to me.
The seventh seal was like the prelude to the next stage which would be the seven trumpets. Seven angels received seven trumpets from God. There was another angel who took incense and the prayers of the saints and took it to the golden altar before God’s throne. The smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand. The angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and cast it into the earth. There were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.
The seventh seal included a period of silence, the distribution of seven trumpets to seven angels, and also more tribulation for the earth.
This was the beginning of the second set of sevens. The first seven was the seven seals. Now came these seven trumpets. After the trumpets the final seven will be seven bowls of God’s wrath.
Revelation teaches me was that God works in an orderly fashion. There is a pattern, repetition, and order even when God pours out wrath on the earth.
If you pay attention you can know these patterns of God. When you see these patterns or signs as they are also called then it will help you cultivate a fear of the Lord. God does not change. He works according to a set pattern which can be discerned if you pay attention. Watch and pray. Get ready for the return of the Lord.
The First Four Trumpets (Revelation 8:6-13)
There were seven seals Jesus opened. The seventh seal introduces seven trumpets. These trumpets are blown by seven angels, and each trumpet releases various judgments from God on earth.
The first trumpet released hail and fire mingled with blood and they were cast on the earth. A third of the trees was burned up, and all green grass on the planet was burned up.
The second angel sounded and a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea. A third of the sea became blood, a third of all sea creatures died, and a third of all ships on the sea were destroyed.
The third angel sounded and a great star from heaven burning like a lamp fell on a third of the rivers and fountains of waters. The name of the star was Wormwood. A third of the waters on earth become wormwood. Many men die because of these poisonous waters.
The fourth angel sounded and a third of the sun and moon and stars was darkened and there was light for only a third part of a day.
Another angel flew through the heavens crying 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!”
A quick summary of what happened in these four trumpets. Trees, grass, water, oceans, the sun, moon, and stars were all affected. This represents a lot of the natural world which we take for granted. Can you imagine all of the green grass on the entire planet gone in smoke? Can you imagine only having light for a third part of a day? How long is that? A few hours of light?
Can you imagine living on this planet when this happens? You do not want to be here. Call on the name of the Lord Jesus today and be saved.
Luke 21:36, “Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.”
There is only way you can ever be found worthy by God. Put your entire trust and faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Christ died for our sins, he was buried, and he rose again on the third day, according to the scriptures. (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). Whosoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved (Romans 10:9-13).