Revelation 8

(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!

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Study Questions

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1. Who opened the seventh seal? Verse 1.

2. What is the significance of the seventh (and last) seal being opened? Verse 1.

3. Is there any significance in the half hour of silence? Verse 1.

4. What were the seven angels, the angels who stood before God’s throne, given? Verse 2.

5. What was the meaning of the angels being given trumpets? Verse 2.

6. Where was the golden altar situated? Verse 3.

7. Who officiated at the altar? Verse 3.

8. Were the prayers offered only by the martyrs? Verse 3.

9. What ascended before God? Verse 4.

10. What did the angel do with the censer and with the fire of the altar? Verse 5.

11. What is the significance of the voices, thunderings, lightnings, and earthquake? Verse 5.

12. What do you think will happen when the trumpets begin to sound? Verse 6.

13. What followed the sounding of the first trumpet? Verse 6.

14. Why the symbolism of limitation, that is, one-third of the earth, trees, and green grass? (What is symbolic about this fraction or number?) Verse 7.

15. What followed the sounding of the second trumpet? Verse 8.

16. What particular part of creation was affected? Verse 9.

17. How extensive was the destruction? Verse 9.

18. What part does the sea play in the life of man? Verse 9.

19. Life is impossible without water. How much of this life-sustaining fluid was defiled? Verse 10.

20. What does “wormwood” mean? Verse 11.

21. What did the wormwood do to the water? Verse 11.

22. Destruction was now reaching into what parts of creation? Verse 12.

23. How vital is the light and heat of the sun to human life? Verse 12.

24. The eagle is a bird of prey. What is the message of this bird of prey? Verse 13.

25. Do you see any comparison between the imagery of the trumpets and the Egyptian plagues recorded in Exodus chapters 8 and 9?