1 When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. 2 Then 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 with a golden censer, and he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne, 4 and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel.
5 Then the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and threw it on the earth, and there were peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake. 6 Now the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to blow them.
Comment: In orthodox churches they still use censers which are waved as the priest walks around spreading the smoke so that it fills the building – this represents the prayers of the faithful rising up to the very Presence of Almighty God.
This also represents the prayers of the saints but God answers immediately. God throws dramatic judgement down upon the earth!
7 The first angel blew his trumpet, and there followed hail and fire, mixed with blood, and these were thrown upon the earth. And a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.
8 The second angel blew his trumpet, and something like a great mountain, burning with fire, was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood. 9 A third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.
10 The third angel blew his trumpet, and a great star fell from heaven, blazing 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 people died from the water, because it had been made bitter.
12 The fourth angel blew his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, and a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of their light might be darkened, and a third of the day might be kept from shining, and likewise a third of the night. – Comment: Combining the four judgements described so far they all mention ‘a third’ indicating severe but not total very significant judgement! And it is widespread – the earth, the sea, water supply and the heavens! Every part of daily life is to be involved in the carrying out of God’s judgement!
13 Then I looked, and I heard an eagle crying with a loud voice as it flew directly overhead, “Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth, at the blasts of the other trumpets that the three angels are about to blow!” – There are three angels remaining to blow their three trumpets and this final verse tells us that each trumpet blast will bring added woe to people on the earth! Some translators instead of ‘eagle’ use ‘vulture’. Both big birds flying high look down for carrion which they can descend to and pick to pieces! The symbolism is of death and judgement!
Matt 7: 26-27 – And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
Prayer: Thank You, Jesus that although many have to live through very difficult times, Your promise to believers is that we live under under Your Almighty Protective wings.