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Revelation Chapter Eight

Revelation 8

This at once distinguishes them from the heavenly worshipers; there is no temple there; the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple. He that sits on the throne tabernacles over these, as once over the tabernacle They are not only as Israel in the courts or the nations in the world: they have a priest's place in the world's temple. The millennial multitudes are worshipers; these priests. As Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, ever in the temple itself, they have always access to the throne. But they had blessings under the Lamb also, to whom they alike ascribe their salvation-the good Shepherd cast out, and who had passed through tribulation Himself, also so great, would feed them; they would not hunger any more or thirst any more, as they had often done; nor should persecution or tribulation reach them. The Lamb, as known in this transitional time, but exalted in the throne, would feed them and lead them to living fountains of water. It is not, as to us, the promise of a well of water, springing up into everlasting life, and flowing out as a river; but they would be fed, refreshed, and perfectly cared for by the Lamb's grace whom they had followed; and God Himself would wipe all tears from their eyes. They would have the consolations of God, worth all the sorrows they had passed through. But their blessings are consolations, not proper heavenly joy. They are thus a class apart, distinct from the elders or heavenly saints, and distinct from millennial saints who will never see tribulation, having a known position fixed in grace before God. It is a new revelation as to those passing through the great tribulation. The 144,000 of chapter 14 are a similar class from among the Jews, coming out of their special tribulation.

Again, divine interest in the saints, brought out into action by the effectual intercession of the great High Priest, brings down judgments on the world. For those under the altar there was no intercession; they were perfected, having been rejected and slain like Christ. There are saints upon the earth who yet need this intercession, so that their cry in their infirmity should be heard and answered. The smoke of the incense came up with the prayers of the saints. The great mediator took of the fire off the altar, put it into the censer, and cast it on the earth. The intercession turned into judgments in the answer, and the signs of God's power were manifested, and subversion of order on earth followed-voices, thunderings, lightnings (as when the throne was set), and an earthquake.

Then follow specific judgments, on the signal being given from above. They fell on the Roman earth, the third part of the earth. (See chap. 10:4.) First, judgment from heaven, hail and fire; and violence or destruction of men; on earth blood: the effect was the destruction of the great ones in the Roman earth, and of all general prosperity. Next, a great power, as the judgment of God, was cast into the mass of peoples--still, I apprehend, in the Roman earth; for destruction of men, and all that belonged to their subsistence and commerce followed in those limits. Next, one that should have been a special source of light and order in government fell from his place, and corrupted the moral sources of popular motives and feelings- what governs and sways the people so as to characterise them. They became bitter, and men died of it. The last of these four plagues falls on the governing powers, and puts them out in their order, as from God: all in the limits of the Roman earth. This closed the general judgments, subverting and producing disaster and confusion in the Roman earth, where the power of evil, as against the saints, was.

Woe (specially on those who had their settled place on earth, in contrast with the heavenly calling, and who were unawakened and unmoved by the judgments on the earth, but clung to it in spite of all as their home,) is then announced. Threefold woe! The term "dwellers on," or "inhabiters of," the earth, has not yet been used, save in the promise to Philadelphia and the claims of the souls under the altar: for both of these were in contrast with such. After all these dealings of God, they are a distinct and manifested class, and spoken of, in what passes on the earth, as such. Against this perversely unbelieving class the earthly judgments of God are now directed: the first, against the Jews; the second, against the inhabitants of the Roman earth; the last, universal.

── John Darby《Synopsis of Revelation》

Revelation 8

Chapter Contents

The seventh seal is opened and seven angels appear with seven trumpets, ready to proclaim the purposes of God. (1,2) Another angel casts fire on the earth, which produces terrible storms of vengeance. (3-5) The seven angels prepare to sound their trumpets. (6) Four sound them. (7-12) Another angel denounces greater woes to come. (13)

Commentary on Revelation 8:1-6

(Read Revelation 8:1-6)

The seventh seal is opened. There was profound silence in heaven for a space; all was quiet in the church, for whenever the church on earth cries through oppression, that cry reaches up to heaven; or it is a silence of expectation. Trumpets were given to the angels, who were to sound them. The Lord Jesus is the High Priest of the church, having a golden censer, and much incense, fulness of merit in his own glorious person. Would that men studied to know the fulness that is in Christ, and endeavoured to be acquainted with his excellency. Would that they were truly persuaded that Christ has such an office as that of Intercessor, which he now performs with deep sympathy. No prayers, thus recommended, was ever denied hearing and acceptance. These prayers, thus accepted in heaven, produced great changes upon earth. The Christian worship and religion, pure and heavenly in its origin and nature, when sent down to earth and conflicting with the passions and worldly projects of sinful men, produced remarkable tumults, here set forth in prophetical language, as our Lord himself declared, Luke 12:49.

Commentary on Revelation 8:7-13

(Read Revelation 8:7-13)

The first angel sounded the first trumpet, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood. A storm of heresies, a mixture of dreadful errors falling on the church, or a tempest of destruction. The second angel sounded, and a great mountain, burning with fire, was cast into the sea; and the third part of the sea became blood. By this mountain some understand leaders of the persecutions; others, Rome sacked by the Goths and Vandals, with great slaughter and cruelty. The third angel sounded, and there fell a star from heaven. Some take this to be an eminent governor; others take it to be some person in power who corrupted the churches of Christ. The doctrines of the gospel, the springs of spiritual life, comfort, and vigour, to the souls of men, are corrupted and made bitter by the mixture of dangerous errors, so that the souls of men find ruin where they sought refreshment. The fourth angel sounded, and darkness fell upon the great lights of heaven, that give light to the world, the sun, and the moon, and the stars. The guides and governors are placed higher than the people, and are to dispense light, and kind influences to them. Where the gospel comes to a people, and has not proper effects on their hearts and lives, it is followed with dreadful judgments. God gives alarm by the written word, by ministers, by men's own consciences, and by the signs of the times; so that if people are surprised, it is their own fault. The anger of God makes all comforts bitter, and even life itself burdensome. But God, in this world, sets bounds to the most terrible judgments. Corruption of doctrine and worship in the church are great judgments, and also are the usual causes and tokens of other judgments coming on a people. Before the other three trumpets were sounded, there was solemn warning how terrible the calamities would be that should follow. If lesser judgments do not take effect the church and the world must expect greater; and when God comes to punish the world, the inhabitants shall tremble before him. Let sinners take warning to flee from the wrath to come; let believers learn to value and to be thankful for their privileges; and let them patiently continue in well doing.

── Matthew Henry《Concise Commentary on Revelation》

Revelation 8

Verse 1

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

And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven — Such a silence is mentioned but in this one place. It was uncommon, and highly observable: for praise is sounding in heaven day and night. In particular, immediately before this silence, all the angels, and before them the innumerable multitude, had been crying with a loud voice; and now all is still at once: there is an universal pause. Hereby the seventh seal is very remarkably distinguished from the six preceding. This silence before God shows that those who were round about him were expecting, with the deepest reverence, the great things which the Divine Majesty would farther open and order. Immediately after, the seven trumpets are heard, and a sound more august than ever. Silence is only a preparation: the grand point is, the sounding the trumpets to the praise of God.

About half an hour — To St. John, in the vision, it might seem a common half hour.

Verse 2

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

And I saw — The seven trumpets belong to the seventh seal, as do the seven phials to the seventh trumpet. This should be carefully remembered, that we may not confound together the times which follow each other. And yet it may be observed, in general, concerning the times of the incidents mentioned in this book, it is not a certain rule, that every part of the text is fully accomplished before the completion of the following part begins. All things mentioned in the epistles are not full accomplished before the seals are opened; neither are all things mentioned under the seals fulfilled before the trumpets begin; nor yet is the seventh trumpet wholly past before the phials are poured out. Only the beginning of each part goes before the beginning of the following. Thus the epistles begin before the seals, the seals before the trumpets, the trumpets before the phials. One epistle begins before another, one seal before another, one trumpet especially before another, one phial before another. Yet, sometimes, what begins later than another thing ends sooner; and what begins earlier than another thing ends later: so the seventh trumpet begins earlier than the phials, and yet extends beyond them all.

The seven angels which stood before God — A character of the highest eminence.

And seven trumpets were given them. — When men desire to make known openly a thing of public concern, they give a token that may be seen or heard far and wide; and, among such, none are more ancient than trumpets, Leviticus 25:9; Numbers 10:2; Amos 3:6. The Israelites, in particular, used them, both in the worship of God and in war; therewith openly praising the power of God before, after, and in, the battle, Joshua 6:4; 2 Chronicles 13:14, etc. And the angels here made known by these trumpets the wonderful works of God, whereby all opposing powers are successively shaken, till the kingdom of the world becomes the kingdom of God and his Anointed. These trumpets reach nearly from the time of St. John to the end of the world; and they are distinguished by manifest tokens. The place of the four first is specified; namely, east, west, south, and north successively: in the three last, immediately after the time of each, the place likewise is pointed out. The seventh angel did not begin to sound, till after the going forth of the second woe: but the trumpets were given to him and the other six together; (as were afterward the phials to the seven angels;) and it is accordingly said of all the seven together, that "they prepared themselves to sound." These, therefore, were not men, as some have thought, but angels, properly so called.

Verse 3

[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.

And — In the second verse, Revelation 7:2 the "trumpets were given" to the seven angels; and in the sixth, Revelation 7:6 they "prepared to sound." But between these, the incense of this angel and the prayers of the saints are mentioned; the interposing of which shows, that the prayers of the saints and the trumpets of the angels go together: and these prayers, with the effects of them, may well be supposed to extend through all the seven.

Another angel — Another created angel. Such are all that are here spoken of. In this part of the Revelation, Christ is never termed an angel; but, "the Lamb." Came and stood at the altar - Of burnt-offerings. And there was given him a golden censer-A censer was a cup on a plate or saucer. This was the token and the business of the office. And much incense was given-Incense generally signifies prayer: here it signifies the longing desires of the angels, that the holy counsel of God might be fulfilled. And there was much incense; for as the prayers of all the saints in heaven and earth are here joined together: so are the desires of all the angels which are brought by this angel.

That he might place it — It is not said, offer it; for he was discharging the office of an angel, not a priest.

With the prayers of all the saints — At the same time; but not for the saints. The angels are fellowservants with the saints, not mediators for them.

Verse 4

[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.

And the smoke of the incense came up before God, with the prayers of the saints — A token that both were accepted.

Verse 5

[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.

And there were thunderings, and lightnings, and voices, and an earthquake — These, especially when attended with fire, are emblems of God's dreadful judgments, which are immediately to follow.

Verse 6

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

And the seven angels prepared themselves to sound — That each, when it should come to his turn, might sound without delay. But while they do sound, they still stand before God.

Verse 7

[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.

And the first sounded — And every angel continued to sound, till all which his trumpet brought was fulfilled and till the next began. There are intervals between the three woes, but not between the four first trumpets.

And there was hail and fire mingled with blood, and there were cast upon the earth — The earth seems to mean Asia; Palestine, in particular. Quickly after the Revelation was given, the Jewish calamities under Adrian began: yea, before the reign of Trajan was ended. And here the trumpets begin. Even under Trajan, in the year 114, the Jews made an insurrection with a most dreadful fury; and in the parts about Cyrene, in Egypt, and in Cyprus, destroyed four hundred and sixty thousand persons. But they were repressed by the victorious power of Trajan, and afterward slaughtered themselves in vast multitudes. The alarm spread itself also into Mesopotamia, where Lucius Quintius slew a great number of them. They rose in Judea again in the second year of Adrian; but were presently quelled. Yet in 133 they broke out more violently than ever, under their false messiah Barcochab; and the war continued till the year 135, when almost all Judea was desolated. In the Egyptian plague also hail and fire were together. But here hail is to be taken figuratively, as also blood, for a vehement, sudden, powerful, hurtful invasion; and fire betokens the revenge of an enraged enemy, with the desolation therefrom.

And they were cast upon the earth — That is, the fire and hail and blood. But they existed before they were cast upon the earth. The storm fell, the blood flowed, and the flames raged round Cyrene, and in Egypt, and Cyprus, before they reached Mesopotamia and Judea.

And the third part of the earth was burnt up — Fifty well-fortified cities, and nine hundred and eighty-five well-inhabited towns of the Jews, were wholly destroyed in this war. Vast tracts of land were likewise left desolate and without inhabitant.

And the third part of the trees was burned up, and all the green grass was burned up — Some understand by the trees, men of eminence among the Jews; by the grass, the common people. The Romans spared many of the former: the latter were almost all destroyed. Thus vengeance began at the Jewish enemies of Christ's kingdom; though even then the Romans did not quite escape. But afterwards it came upon them more and more violently: the second trumpet affects the Roman heathens in particular; the third, the dead, unholy Christians; the fourth, the empire itself.

Verse 8

[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;

And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea — By the sea, particularly as it is here opposed to the earth, we may understand the west, or Europe; and chiefly the middle parts of it, the vast Roman empire. A mountain here seems to signify a great force and multitude of people. Jeremiah 51:25; so this may point at the irruption of the barbarous nations into the Roman empire. The warlike Goths broke in upon it about the year 250: and from that time the irruption of one nation after another never ceased till the very form of the Roman empire, and all but the name, was lost. The fire may mean the fire of war, and the rage of those savage nations.

And the third part of the sea became blood — This need not imply, that just a third part of the Romans was slain; but it is certain an inconceivable deal of blood was shed in all these invasions.

Verse 9

[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.

And the third part of the creatures that were in the sea — That is, of all sorts of men, of every station and degree.

Died — By those merciless invaders.

And the third part of the ships were destroyed — It is a frequent thing to resemble a state or republic to a ship, wherein many people are embarked together, and share in the same dangers. And how many states were utterly destroyed by those inhuman conquerors! Much likewise of this was literally fulfilled. How often was the sea tinged with blood! How many of those who dwelt mostly upon it were killed! And what number of ships destroyed!

Verse 10

[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;

And the third angel sounded, and there fell from heaven a great star, and it fell on the third part of the rivers — It seems Afric is meant by the rivers; (with which this burning part of the world abounds in an especial manner;) Egypt in particular, which the Nile overflows every year far and wide. ln the whole African history, between the irruption of the barbarous nations into the Roman empire, and the ruin of the western empire, after the death of Valentinian the Third, there is nothing more momentous than the Arian calamity, which sprung up in the year 315. It is not possible to tell how many persons, particularly at Alexandria, in all Egypt, and in the neighbouring countries, were destroyed by the rage of the Arians. Yet Afric fared better than other parts of the empire, with regard to the barbarous nations, till the governor of it, whose wife was a zealous Arian, and aunt to Genseric, king of the Vandals, was, under that pretence, unjustly accused before the empress Placidia. He was then prevailed upon to invite the Vandals into Afric; who under Genseric, in the year 428, founded there a kingdom of their own, which continued till the year 533. Under these Vandal kings the true believers endured all manner of afflictions and persecutions. And thus Arianism was the inlet to all heresies and calamities, and at length to Mahometanism itself. This great star was not an angel, (angels are not the agents in the two preceding or the following trumpet,) but a teacher of the church, one of the stars in the right hand of Christ. Such was Arius. He fell from on high, as it were from heaven, into the most pernicious doctrines, and made in his fall a gazing on all sides, being great, and now burning as a torch. He fell on the third part of the rivers - His doctrine spread far and wide, particularly in Egypt.

And on the fountains of water — wherewith Afric abounds.

Verse 11

[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.

And the name of the star is called Wormwood — The unparalleled bitterness both of Arius himself and of his followers show the exact propriety of his title.

And the third part of the waters became wormwood — A very considerable part of Afric was infected with the same bitter doctrine and Spirit. And many men (though not a third part of them) died - By the cruelty of the Arians.

Verse 12

[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.

And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten — Or struck. After the emperor Theodosius died, and the empire was divided into the eastern and the western, the barbarous nations poured in as a flood. The Goths and Hunns in the years 403 and 405 fell upon Italy itself with an impetuous force; and the former, in the year 410, took Rome by storm, and plundered it without mercy. In the year 452 Attila treated the upper part of Italy in the same manner. In 455 Valentinian the Third was killed, and Genseric invited from Afric. He plundered Rome for fourteen days together. Recimer plundered it again in 472. During all these commotions, one province was lost after another, till, in the year 476, Odoacer seized upon Rome, deposed the emperor, and put an end to the empire itself. An eclipse of the sun or moon is termed by the Hebrews, a stroke. Now, as such a darkness does not come all at once, but by degrees, so likewise did the darkness which fell on the Roman, particularly the western empire; for the stroke began long before Odoacer, namely, when the barbarians first conquered the capital city.

And the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so that the third part of them was darkened — As under the first, second, and third trumpets by "the earth," "sea, " and "rivers," are to be understood the men that inhabit them; so here by the sun, moon, and stars, may be understood the men that live under them, who are so overwhelmed with calamities in those days of darkness, that they can no longer enjoy the light of heaven: unless it may be thought to imply their being killed; so that the sun, moon, and stars shine to them no longer. The very same expression we find in Ezekiel 32:8. "I will darken all the lights of heaven over them." As then the fourth seal transcends the three preceding seals, so does the fourth trumpet the three preceding trumpets. For in this not the third part of the earth, or sea, or rivers only, but of all who are under the sun, are affected. And the day shone not for a third part thereof - That is, shone with only a third part of its usual brightness.

And the night likewise — The moon and stars having lost a third part of their lustre, either with regard to those who, being dead, saw them no longer, or those who saw them with no satisfaction. The three last trumpets have the time of their continuance fixed, and between each of them there is a remarkable pause: whereas between the four former there is no pause, nor is the time of their continuance mentioned; but all together these four seem to take up a little less than four hundred years.

Verse 13

[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!

And I saw, and heard an angel flying — Between the trumpets of the fourth and fifth angel.

In the midst of heaven — The three woes, as we shall see, stretch themselves over the earth from Persia eastward, beyond Italy, westward; all which space had been filled with the gospel by the apostles. In the midst of this lies Patmos, where St. John saw this angel, saying, Woe, woe, woe - Toward the end of the fifth century, there were many presages of approaching calamities.

To the inhabitants of the earth — All without exception. Heavy trials were coming on them all. Even while the angel was proclaiming this, the preludes of these three woes were already in motion. These fell more especially on the Jews. As to the prelude of the first woe in Persia, Isdegard II., in 454, was resolved to abolish the sabbath, till he was, by Rabbi Mar, diverted from his purpose. Likewise in the year 474, Phiruz afflicted the Jews much, and compelled many of them to apostatize. A prelude of the second woe was the rise of the Saracens, who, in 510, fell into Arabia and Palestine. To prepare for the third woe, Innocent I., and his successors, not only endeavoured to enlarge their episcopal jurisdiction beyond all bounds, but also their worldly power, by taking every opportunity of encroaching upon the empire, which as yet stood in the way of their unlimited monarchy.

── John Wesley《Explanatory Notes on Revelation》

Chapter 8. Sound the First Four Trumpets

A Flying Eagle
Declare Three Woes

I. Silence in Heaven for Half an Hour

1. Open the Seventh Seal
2. Offer Incense at the Censer
3. Prayers of Saints

II. The First and Second Trumpets

1. The Angel Sounds the Trumpets
2. Disaster upon the Earth
3. Disaster in the Sea

III. The Third and Fourth Trumpets

1. The Angel Sounds the Trumpets
2. Disasters of the Land and the Waters
3. Disaster in Heaven

── Chih-Hsin Chang《An Outline of The New Testament》

 
Chapter Eight General Review
 
OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER
 
1) To review the opening of the seventh seal, the angel with the golden
 censer, and the sounding of the first four trumpets
 
2) To offer an explanation concerning the significance of these visions
 
SUMMARY
 
Following the "interlude" of the previous chapter, in which reassuring
and comforting scenes concerning the saints were seen, the seventh seal
is now opened. For about a half hour, there is silence in heaven (1).
 
In contrast to all that happened before, the silence must have been
striking! Possibly it signifies the awe in heaven for what has already
been revealed, or for what is about to be revealed. When God acts,
those on earth should be in awe (cf. Hab 2:20; Zeph 1:7; Zech 2:13);
should we not expect a similar reaction from His creatures in heaven?
 
Seven angels are then seen standing before God to whom were given seven
trumpets. Before they sound the trumpets, another angel with a golden
censer comes and stands before the altar. To this angel was given much
incense to offer along with the prayers of the saints upon the golden
altar before the throne. The smoke of the incense and the prayers of 
the saints ascended before God from the angel's hand. Then the angel 
took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to
the earth. Noises, thunderings, lightnings and an earthquake followed,
and the seven angels with the seven trumpets prepared to sound (2-6).
 
This scene appears to suggest that the sounding of the seven trumpets
and the things to follow is God's response to the prayers of the
saints. It is reminiscent of what Jesus taught in His parable of the
persistent widow: "And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out
day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?" (Lk 18:7).
 
As the first four angels sound their trumpets in turn, the environment
in particular is impacted:
 
 The first trumpet - Hail and fire, mingled with blood, are thrown
 to earth; a third of the trees and all the green grass were burned
 up (7).
 
 The second trumpet - Something like a great burning mountain is
 thrown into the sea, turning a third of it into blood; a third of
 the sea creatures died, and a third of the ships were destroyed
 (8-9).
 
 The third trumpet - A great burning star named Wormwood falls on a
 third of the rivers and springs of water; a third of the waters
 became wormwood (a bitter wood) and many men died from the bitter
 water (10-11).
 
 The fourth trumpet - A third of the sun, moon, and stars are struck,
 so that a third of them were darkened; thus a third of the day and
 night did not shine (12).
 
The first four trumpets may signify natural calamities that God would
use in His judgment against those who oppressed His people. That only
a third is affected, along with the symbolism of the trumpets, suggests
that the purpose of these judgments would be to warn people, giving
them time to repent before God's full wrath is poured out (cf. the
"bowls of wrath", 16:1-21).
 
Before the final three trumpets sound, an angel (some manuscripts
suggest an eagle) flies through the midst of heaven with loud voice
proclaiming a three-fold woe on the inhabitants of the earth (13).
While the first four trumpets appear bad enough, the worst is yet to
come!
 
OUTLINE
 
I. THE SEVENTH SEAL - SILENCE IN HEAVEN (1)
 
 A. THE LAMB OPENS THE SEVEN SEAL (1a)
 
 B. SILENCE IN HEAVEN FOR ABOUT HALF AN HOUR (1b)
 
II. PREPARATION FOR THE SOUNDING OF THE SEVEN TRUMPETS (2-6)
 
  A. SEVEN ANGELS PREPARED (2)
 1. Seven angels who stand before God
 2. To them were given seven trumpets
 
 B. THE ANGEL WITH THE GOLDEN CENSER (3-6)
 1. Came and stood before the altar
 2. Was given much incense to offer...
  a. With the prayers of all the saints
 b. Upon the golden altar before the throne
 3. The smoke of the incense and the prayers of the saints...
 a. Ascended before God
 b. From the angel's hand
 4. The angel took the censer...
 a. Filled it with fire from the altar
 b. Threw it to the earth
 -- Accompanied by noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an 
 earthquake
 5. The seven angels with the seven trumpets then prepared 
 themselves to sound
 
III. THE FIRST FOUR TRUMPETS (7-12)
 
 A. THE FIRST TRUMPET: VEGETATION STRUCK (7)
 1. Hail and fire, mingled with blood, thrown to the earth
 2. A third of the trees burned up, and all green grass burned up
 
 B. THE SECOND TRUMPET: SEAS STRUCK (8-9)
 1. Something like a great burning mountain thrown into the sea
 2. A third of the sea became blood; a third of the creatures in
 the sea died; a third of the ships destroyed
 
 C. THE THIRD TRUMPET: RIVERS AND SPRINGS STRUCK (10-11)
 1. A great burning star fell on a third of the rivers and springs
 of water
 2. Named Wormwood, a third of the waters became wormwood; many
 men died from the bitter water
 
 D. THE FOURTH TRUMPET: HEAVENS STRUCK (12)
 1. A third of the sun, moon, and stars struck
 2. A third of them were darkened, so that third of the day and
 night did not shine
 
IV. THREE-FOLD WOE ANNOUNCED (13)
 
 A. AN ANGEL (EAGLE?) FLYING THROUGH HEAVEN (13a)
 
 B. PRONOUNCING A THREE-FOLD WOE (13b)
 1. "Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth"
 2. "Because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three
 angels who are about to sound!"
 
REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER
 
1) What are the main points of this chapter?
 - The seventh seal - silence in heaven (1)
 - Preparation for the sounding of the seven trumpets (2-6)
 - The first four trumpets (7-12)
 - Three-fold woe announced (13)
 
2) What happened when the Lamb opened the seventh seal? (1)
 - There was silence in heaven for about half an hour
 
3) What did John see next? (2)
 - Seven angels standing before God, to whom were given seven
 trumpets
 
4) What did another angel do? What was given him? Why? (3-4)
 - Come stand before the altar with a golden censer
 - Much incense
 - To offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden
 altar before the throne
 
5) What did the angel then do with the censer? What then happened?
 (5-6)
 - Filled it with fire from the altar and threw it to the earth
 - There were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake
 - The seven angels with the seven trumpets prepared to sound
 
6) Describe what happened when the first angel sounded (7)
 - Hail and fire, mingled with blood, were thrown to the earth
 - A third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass
 
7) Describe what happened when the second angel sounded (8-9)
 - Something like a great burning mountain was thrown into the sea
 - A third of the sea became blood, a third of the sea creatures 
 died, and a third of the ships were destroyed
 
8) Describe what happened when the third angel sounded (10-11)
 - A great burning star (named Wormwood) fell from heaven on a third
  of the rivers and springs of water
 - A third of the waters became wormwood, many men died from the 
 bitter water
 
9) Describe what happened when the fourth angel sounded (12)
 - A third of the sun, moon, and stars were struck
 - A third of them were darkened, and a third of the day and night
 did not shine
 
10) What did John next see and hear? (13)
 - An angel (eagle?) flying through the midst of heaven
 - Pronouncing a three-fold woe upon the inhabitants of the earth
 because of the three remaining trumpets about to sound

－－《Executable Outlines》

Sound the first four trumpets

A flying eagle

Declare three woes

I. Silence in heaven for half an hour

1. Open the seventh seal

2. Offer incense at the censer

3. Prayers of saints

II.The first and second trumpets

1. The angel sounds the trumpets

2. Disaster upon the earth

3. Disaster in the sea

III. The third and fourth trumpets

1. The angel sounds the trumpets

2. Disasters of the land and the waters

3. Disaster in heaven

── Chih-Hsin Chang《an Outline of The New Testament》