Verses 1-2 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.
Remember that what is called “a book” today is not what was a book in the Apostle John’s day. Scrolls were written upon on both sides and then rolled up and sealed so that they would not unroll. The seals of the “book” are being opened by Jesus in this vision given to John, and this last seal, if it was real and not metaphor, would have completely released the scroll so that it could be opened in its entirety. As metaphor, this is the last of the seals, completely releasing the judgements to come forth before the second coming of the LORD Jesus Christ to Earth and the end of time as mankind knows it.
Seven is the number of perfection, and in the vision there was silence in Heaven after the seventh seal was opened. Prior to this there was the singing of praises to the LORD and angels speaking and all kinds of activity. The half an hour indicates a brief time. Jesus said in John 11:9, “Are there not twelve hours in the day?” So in Jesus’ day, time was reckoned by 12 hours of night and 12 hours of day. So an half an hour is a fraction of time or a short time in which Heaven is silent. The question has to be asked as to what this metaphor actually means. Jesus stated in Luke 15:7, “I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.” So if there is no joy and rejoicing in Heaven it is because no one is repenting any more. The Earth has become so corrupt and mankind has become so narcissistic and rebellious against God that the whole of mankind is failing to repent and to ask forgiveness of God for their sins. All who are called and chosen have been gathered spiritually into the Kingdom of God. No one is listening to the preaching of the Gospel. So the last individual has been saved that will be saved. Think this is farfetched? Go to the end of chapter 9 of this book. “And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.” So there will be a time when no one is convicted of their sins, no one is converted, and so the LORD Jesus Christ will return to the Earth to end all.
Application: The conditions in the world are such that this prophecy is slowly coming to pass. Most towns in the Western world have numerous churches of all kinds dotting the landscape, yet sin is rampant. Very few people are coming to the knowledge of Jesus and converting at the hearing of the Gospel message. The love of this world is too great for people to turn to Jesus. There are a few people here and there submitting their souls to the LORD Jesus, but it is only a remnant. Those Christian believers waiting for a great revival at the end of time will be disappointed as Scripture clearly teaches that the end of time will be like the days of Noah and Lot where only a few people were saved from destruction. Is this a sad thing? Yes as far as the fact that millions of people are lost and will remain lost, their destination being Hell and the Lake of Fire. But no as far as the fact that as this prophecy continues to come to fruition, the coming of the LORD Jesus Christ is at hand.
The seven trumpets indicate that attention needs to be paid as trumpets were/are used to summon an assembly, to direct soldiers on the battlefield, to announce a death, or to announce the arrival of someone of significance such as a world leader. The last trumpet announces the arrival Jesus Christ to Earth to bring judgement and the end of time as it is known by mankind, ushering in eternity, Heaven for God’s children and Hell for His enemies.
Verses 3-5 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.
Going back to the Old Testament and the setting up of the Tabernacle in the wilderness by Moses, the high priest (Aaron) was to burn incense on an altar perpetually. (Exodus chapter 30) This incense was made from a special formula given to Moses by God and no “strange incense” was to ever be used in the Tabernacle and later in the Temple in Jerusalem. This incense represented the prayers of the people of God. Here in the last book of the Bible, the incense is again tied to the prayers of the people of God, the saints. The inference here is that the prayers of God’s people are accumulated in Heaven and that there will be a time when the fire or power of God will issue forth upon the Earth in answer to these prayers. As a result, there is upheaval upon the Earth, a world wide shake up of all the systems of man: political, social, religious, economical, and environmental. It this not happening today?
Application: In the Old Testament days the incense was to be ignited by fire from the altar of sacrifice. The fire could not come from any other source or it would be “strange” and God would be displeased. So there had to be a fire of sacrifice in order for the incense to be lighted and burned. In the spiritual sense, there has to be sacrifice on the part of God’s people before their prayers can be ignited. If one is praying and feeling that the prayers are not being heard, perhaps it is because there is no sacrifice on the part of the one praying. What does that sacrifice look like? It is obeying the Gospel and dying to self daily so that one does not give in to the temptations of the Devil, the world, or the flesh. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” Romans 12:1 It is being grateful to God for His mercies and provision, and it is praising and worshiping Him. “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.” Hebrews 13:15
Verses 6-7 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.
The Apostle John does not describe what the angels did to prepare themselves, but perhaps they were considering the consequences to mankind of what the sounding of these trumpets would bring.
Hail and fire mingled with blood already literally happened on the Earth as recorded in Exodus 9:23-24. “And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven: and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and the fire ran along upon the ground: and the LORD rained hail upon the land of Egypt. So there was hail, and fire mingles with the hail, very grievous, such as there was none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation.” The pagan nation of Egypt was sent 10 plagues that destroyed their nation and from which they never fully recovered. But the Hebrew people of God were protected from the plagues.
So what does this part of the vision mean? This judgement appears to be affecting the plant life here on Earth. This has been going on for some time already. Various governmental chemical spraying programs (chem trails) have showered the plant life and soil with heavy metals and chemicals that have changed the pH of the soil which makes it difficult to sustain healthy trees and plants. The heavy use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers all in the name of profit have taken their toll also. Monsanto’s genetically modified seeds have resulted in food crops that are unable to be used by the human body so that people feel hungry more often which results in eating more calories and an increase in obesity and ill health. Most foods grown and sold in grocery stores today have very little nutritional value, and as a result, people are negatively affected and generally unhealthy in nations that allow these practices. Water polluted with industrial wastes and human wastes is used on crops and this adds to the problem. Polluted air negatively affects the trees and plants as they exchange gasses in their photosynthesis process. Cell phone towers and pollution are killing the bee populations so that plant pollination is negatively affected. Just as the hail and fire destroyed the plant life in Egypt, the plant life on Earth is being negatively affected every day.
Verses 8-9 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.
Again, going back to the book of Exodus, this type of judgement already literally happened when Moses, through the power of God, turned the water in Egypt and in the Nile River to blood which resulted in the death of the critters dependent upon the water and in the people having nothing to drink or to bathe in. Psalm 105 commemorates the history of the Hebrew people and all that God had done for them as a remembrance of God’s “marvelous works”. Verse 29 states, “He turned their water into blood and slew their fish.”
Psalm 46 makes reference to the mountains and the sea.
“To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth. 1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. 4 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. 5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early. 6 The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted. 7 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah. 8 Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth. 9 He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire. 10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. 11 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
Ezekiel 38:20 states, “So that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, and all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground.”
Mountains represent obstacles and/or places where earthly power resides. Castles in Europe were usually built on high hills or mountains which fortified them and made them more difficult to defeat in battle. They commanded a view of the valleys and surrounding countryside so that enemies could be seen approaching the castle. Mountains represent power that often cannot be defeated.
So what does this part of the Apostle John’s vision mean? This appears to be showing that God will defeat the mountains or the sinful powers of this world by sending judgement that will affect the waterways and the seas. This has been happening for some time now. Polluted seas and waterways from such things as leaking oil tankers, Fukushima’s radiation spills, plastics, industrial wastes, nuclear submarines, the dumping of raw sewage from seaside cities, and many other causes are destroying the fisheries and marine life. Over-fishing, drag netting, whaling and unregulated crabbing are all taking their toll. As the sea and waterways lose their animal life, the economic impact is felt in higher prices to the consumer. Many fish species are risky to consume because they are totally polluted with chemicals and/or because they are raised in fish farms under high stress conditions and loaded with antibiotics that do not go away when prepared and consumed. As marine products and agricultural products become less plentiful because of these judgements, there will be less products to ship to other countries and so the shipping industry will be negatively affected. Human governments rely on taxes and the labors of their people to generate money for them to stay in power, have a military, start and fight wars, etc., so interruptions in the economy negatively affect the governments.
Verses 10-11 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.
The Greek word translated as “star” is “aster” and it means a star. Stars in Scripture can be metaphor of both angels and for God’s people. This star is heavenly and not of the Earth and it is called a name that means bitter or bitterness and is like unto Hemlock. Perhaps this star was Lucifer that fell from Heaven. If so, how did/does he make the waters bitter? What do the waters represent? Jesus said He would give living water to the woman at the well. This living water would refresh the soul and is metaphor for the spiritual presence and Word of God. What has happened in the last 100 years or so to the Bible? A slow progression of false translations have appeared that have confused those who read it and that have changed the Word of God so that it no longer means what it did when translated into English by King James of England in 1611. Other Bibles in other dialects may be just fine as far as remaining true to the Hebrew and Greek texts, but the only Bible in the English language that is not corrupted is the King James Bible, the one used in this web site. All other translations are copyrighted and therefore the words of men and not of God. These false bibles have helped create a falling away of the Church as they have no power and only create confusion. Try having a Bible study in your living room with ten people all using different bible versions. it is impossible to understand what God is saying in His word if it has been changed by publishers to mean something else. Following this line of thinking, these devil inspired bible versions appear to be a lamp to the believer, but they lead men to die spiritually. Just as bitter water or Hemlock can kill the physical body, false bibles can kill men spiritually so that they do not see Heaven.
Wormwood appears seven other times in Scripture and it refers to judgement due to people turning away from God and from righteousness. Two example are as follows. Jeremiah 9:15 states, “Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Behold, I will feed them, even this people, with wormwood, and give them water of gall to drink.” Then God said in Jeremiah 23:15, “Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts concerning the prophets; Behold, I will feed them with wormwood, and make them drink the water of gall: for from the prophets of Jerusalem is profaneness gone forth into all the land.” The Apostle Paul warned the Church against false teachers and prophets. He described them as wolves in sheep’s clothing. The pulpits today are full of false preachers and teachers. What they teach and preach is a social gospel that does not contain the true Word of God. They are leading their congregations down a wide path to destruction. So judgement will come forth to those Church leaders that are false and to those people who refused to recognize the falseness of various bible translations and end up in the world system run by Satan instead of in the Kingdom of God
Another way to look at these verses is that just as the seas are being destroyed by mankind, so are the rivers and streams. Aerial spraying ends up in these waterways, either by directly falling from the sky or Heaven or by runoff from the soil when it rains. Weed killers like Roundup do not stay on the weeds, but can easily end up in the ground water that feeds people’s wells and travels underground to the streams and then rivers. The bottled water industry is doing well because people are trying to avoid the fluoride and chlorine additives put in city water, not to mention the drugs and birth control chemicals that remain in water reclaimed from sewage. Not a pretty picture. What is not revealed to the public is how many diseases and physical problems are a direct result of tainted drinking water.
Verse 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.
One must go back to the Old Testament again to find the significance of the sun, moon and stars. In Genesis 37:9 a dream of Joseph is recorded, and this dream was metaphor for his father, mother and brothers who became the nation Israel. “And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me.” Needless to say, his family were not impressed and his father, Jacob, responded in verses10, “Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?”
The physical sun, moon and stars were created by God to give light to the Earth and to mark times and seasons. So they are also metaphor for light and for times and seasons. In the verses above they are reported to be darkened, but not completely darkened, and to affect time or a part of a day. In other Scriptures these created lights are associated with coming upheaval and judgement upon the Earth. Isaiah 13:10 states, “For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.” Notice that Scripture teaches a flat, stationary Earth and not the heliocentric model the whole world has been taught. Here, the sun is “going forth” or moving across the Earth. In the heliocentric model, the Earth rotates around the sun. You the reader, as you come across verses in Scripture that contradict the teaching of the world will have to decide who is right: God or man.
So what is this verse saying? This fourth judgement seems to be announcing that there will be further trouble or upheaval upon the Earth. The next verse confirms this where the angel is pronouncing “woe” because of the other trumpet judgements yet to sound. It may be announcing a lessening of the power of the nation Israel over world affairs. It may also be announcing trouble with social systems such as the traditional family. The fact that the light is diminished may mean that the Word of God is less accepted and embraced by mankind, a fact that is apparent today, and it may mean that the LORD is removing His preserving presence from various Earthly systems to allow judgement to proceed. It may mean that sin is abounding and blocking out the light of the Gospel. You decide. This writer does not claim to be the final authority on this book of prophecy. Do the research and see what you find.
Verse 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)