GiveDownload the App
Book & Chapter
Version

Summary

Revelation 8:1–5 – The seventh seal and the altar

What happens: When the seventh seal opens, silence fills heaven for about half an hour. An angel offers incense with the prayers of the saints, then throws fire from the altar to earth, causing thunder, lightning, and an earthquake.

What it means: Heaven pauses before God’s judgments, showing His holiness and solemnity. God weaves the prayers of His people into His acts in the world. Judgment answers prayer for justice.

Revelation 8:6–13 – The first four trumpets

What happens: Four angels blow trumpets that strike a third of earth, sea, rivers, and heavenly lights. Hail and fire burn trees and grass, a blazing mountain hits the sea, a star called Wormwood poisons waters, and a third of day and night darkens. An eagle cries “woe” over the last trumpets.

What it means: Creation itself groans under human sin and God’s just judgments. These partial judgments are warnings meant to lead to repentance. God is sovereign over nature and history.

Application

  • Pray with expectation; God hears and acts.
  • Treat warnings as mercy that calls you back to God.
  • Steward creation with reverence, knowing it is under God’s rule.

Bible

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

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

3And 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.

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

5And 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.

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

7The 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.

8And 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;

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

10And 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;

11And 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.

12And 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.

13And 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 7Revelation 9 →

Take Versely with you

Queue devotion plans, track progress, and unlock audio guides inside the Versely app.

Download the AppSupport Versely