1 When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. 2 And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets.
What did John saw first?
When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.
Who opens the seventh seal?
The Lamb - Jesus Christ who is worthy to open/break the seals.
Rev 5:5 - But one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals."
Rev 6:1 - Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, "Come and see."
What happens during the seal was opened?
silence in heaven for about half an hour
The Greek word used is sigē - Strong's No.: 4602 - means silence
Only other place the same Greek word sigē is used was in Acts 21:40
Acts 21:40 - So when he had given him permission, Paul stood on the stairs and motioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great silence, he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, saying,
This shows that in heaven it is complete silence or pin-drop silence.
(David Guzik) A half-hour silence is not long, but things seem long or short in their context. If a preacher were to stop his sermon and remain silent for ten minutes, it would seem like an eternity. Since heaven is a place of constant praise and worship to God (Revelation 4:8-11), silence for about half an hour is a long time.
Why there is such a long silence in heaven?
(Warren Wiersbe) The scroll had now been opened completely, and perhaps even turned over; and all of the heaven could see God's glorious plan unfolding. Perhaps the heavenly hosts were simply awestruck at what they saw.
(Warren Wiersbe) Certainly, this silence was "the lull before the storm," for God's intensified judgments were about to be hurled to the earth."
lull means a temporary calm, quiet, or stillness: a lull in a storm
Zephaniah 1:7 - Be silent in the presence of the Lord God; For the day of the Lord is at hand, For the Lord has prepared a sacrifice; He has invited His guests.
Ps 76:6-10 - 6 At Your rebuke, O God of Jacob, Both the chariot and horse were cast into a dead sleep. 7 You, Yourself, are to be feared; And who may stand in Your presence When once You are angry? 8 You caused judgment to be heard from heaven; The earth feared and was still, 9 When God arose to judgment, To deliver all the oppressed of the earth. Selah 10 Surely the wrath of man shall praise You; With the remainder of wrath You shall gird Yourself.
NLT: Ps 76:6-10 - 6 When you rebuked them, O God of Jacob, their horses and chariots stood still. 7 No wonder you are greatly feared! Who can stand before you when your anger explodes? 8 From heaven you sentenced your enemies; the earth trembled and stood silent before you. 9 You stand up to judge those who do evil, O God, and to rescue the oppressed of the earth. Interlude 10 Human opposition only enhances your glory, for you use it as a sword of judgment.
This silence is due to the wrath of the Lamb has already come and the intensity of wrath of God is going to increase from this point on and become worst later on.
Revelation 6:16 - and said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17 For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?"
Read Revelation 8, 9
Revelation 14:10 - he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.
Revelation 15:7 - Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever.
Revelation 16:1 - Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, "Go and pour out the bowls of the wrath of God on the earth."
Revelation 16:19 - Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath.
What happens or What did John saw after/during the silence?
And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets.
How many angels are there?
And I saw the seven angels
Where they are?
who stand before God,
What was given to the seven angels?
and to them were given seven trumpets.
Read Rev 8:6 notes for details about the trumpets.
3 Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. 4 And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel's hand.
What did John saw?
Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar.
What did this angel have?
having a golden censer
NLT: gold incense burner
Where this angel standing?
came and stood at the altar.
What was given to this angel? and Why?
He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.
Is this incense given to angel is prayer of saints?
No, the prayers of the saints are in golden bowls.
Rev 5:8 - Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
Where are the prayers of saints?
Twenty four elders having the prayers of saints in the golden bowls:
Rev 5:8 - Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
Where is the Golden altar?
the golden altar which was before the throne.
(Warren Wiersbe) In the tabernacle and temple, the golden altar stood before the veil and was used for burning incense (Exodus 30:1-10). This was the ministry Zacharias was performing when the angel told him that he and Elizabeth would have a son (Luke 1:5ff). Burning incense on this altar was a picture of prayer ascending to God (Ps. 141:2)
Revelations 6:9 - When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held.
Revelation 9:13 - 13 Then the sixth angel sounded: And I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, 14 saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, "Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates." 15 So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released to kill a third of mankind.
Revelation 14:18 - And another angel came out from the altar, who had power over fire, and he cried with a loud cry to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, "Thrust in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for her grapes are fully ripe."
Revelation 16:7 - And I heard another from the altar saying, "Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments."
(Warren Wiersbe) On the great Day of Atonement, the high priest would put incense on the coals in the censer and, with the blood of the sacrifice, enter the holy of holies (Lev. 16:11-14). But in this scene, the angel put the incense on the altar (presented the prayers before God) and then cast the coals from the altar to the earth! The parallel in Ezekiel 10 indicates that this symbolized God's judgment; and the effects described in Revelation 8:5 substantiate this view. A storm is about to begin! (Rev. 4:5, 11:19; 16:18)
Are they angel or elders interceding for the saints?
Read more details in Are they interceding for the saints? notes for Revelation 5.
What is the effect of the incense offering by the angel with the prayers of all saints?
And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel's hand.
NLT: 4 The smoke of the incense, mixed with the prayers of the saints, ascended up to God from the altar where the angel had poured them out.
(David Guzik) Prayer and incense are often associated in the Bible. The idea is that just as incense is precious, pleasant, and drifts to heaven, so do our prayers. So here, before anything happens at the opening of the seventh seal, the prayers of God’s people come before the Lord God.
(Clarke) “The ascending of the incense shows that the prayers and offering were accepted.”
(Torrance) Significantly, the prayers of God’s people set in motion the coming consummation of history. “More potent, more powerful than all the dark and mighty powers let loose in the world, more powerful than anything else, is the power of prayer set ablaze by the fire of God and cast upon the earth.”
(David Guzik) The connection between prayer and incense is shown in Psalm 141:2: Let my prayer be set before You as incense, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. Incense has a pleasing aroma, it ascends to heaven, and it needs fire before it is of any use.
(Warren Wiersbe) Burning incense on the altar was a picture of prayer ascending to God (Ps. 141:2)
Ps 141:2 - 1 A Psalm of David. Lord, I cry out to You; Make haste to me! Give ear to my voice when I cry out to You. 2 Let my prayer be set before You as incense, The lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. 3 Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips.
When these Prayers are uttered/prayed by saints?
These prayers may be belongs to Tribulation saints (new believers after Church age such as referred in Rev 7,14).
These prayers may be belongs to saints during Church age and Old Testament time saints. They are now in heaven. Those prayers are not answered by God but going to answer now.
Some of these following unanswered prayers may be answered now by God now through the wrath of God poured out from heaven.
(Warren Wiersbe) The Tribulation martyrs prayed for God to vindicate them (Rev. 6:9-11), a common plea of David in the Psalms (Pss. 7; 26;35;52;55; and 58 for example). These "imprecatory psalms" are not expressions of selfish personal vengeance, but rather cries for God to uphold His holy Law and vindicate His people.
Rom 12:19-21 - 19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. 20 Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head." 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good
Rev 6:10-11 - 9 When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. 10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" 11 Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.
Revelation 16:6,7 - 4 Then the third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood. 5 And I heard the angel of the waters saying: "You are righteous, O Lord, The One who is and who was and who is to be, Because You have judged these things. 6 For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, And You have given them blood to drink. For it is their just due." 7 And I heard another from the altar saying, "Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments."
Rev 18:6 - 4 And I heard another voice from heaven saying, "Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. 5 For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. 6 Render to her just as she rendered to you, and repay her double according to her works; in the cup which she has mixed, mix double for her.
Rev 18:20 - Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you holy apostles and prophets, for God has avenged you on her!"
Some of these following unanswered prayers may be answered now by God after the wrath of God is completed:
(David Guzik) 2 Peter 3:10-12 indicates that there is a sense in which we can hasten the Lord’s coming by our holy conduct and godly lives. But here we see that we can also hasten the Lord’s coming through prayer, even as Daniel asked for a speedy fulfillment of prophecy regarding captive Israel (Daniel 9), we can and should also pray Even so, come, Lord Jesus! (Revelation 22:20)
(Hocking) “It is also possible that these prayers represent the long-standing prayer of God’s people, ‘Your kingdom come.’”
(Warren Wiersbe) For centuries, God's people have been praying, "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done!!" and now those prayers are about to be answered.
Why our prayers are sweet smelling aroma to God?
May be because of the incense added by the angel to the saints prayers. But in Rev 5:8 the prayers of saints is called as incense so there is something special to this. One compelling reason our prayers are sweet smelling aroma to God is because Jesus is interceding for us.
1 John 2:1 - My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
Romans 8:34 - Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.
Hebrews 7:25 - 20 And inasmuch as He was not made priest without an oath 21 (for they have become priests without an oath, but He with an oath by Him who said to Him: "The Lord has sworn And will not relent, 'You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek' "), 22 by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant. 23 Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. 24 But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
God loves to hear from us continuously. God also expressed this in Old Testament time by commanding High Priests to continuously burn incense in the incense altar in Tabernacle/Temple:
Exodus 30:7,8 - 1 "You shall make an altar to burn incense on; you shall make it of acacia wood. 2 A cubit shall be its length and a cubit its width--it shall be square--and two cubits shall be its height. Its horns shall be of one piece with it. 3 And you shall overlay its top, its sides all around, and its horns with pure gold; and you shall make for it a molding of gold all around. 4 Two gold rings you shall make for it, under the molding on both its sides. You shall place them on its two sides, and they will be holders for the poles with which to bear it. 5 You shall make the poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold. 6 And you shall put it before the veil that is before the ark of the Testimony, before the mercy seat that is over the Testimony, where I will meet with you. 7 Aaron shall burn on it sweet incense every morning; when he tends (1. to attend to by work or services, care, etc.: to tend a fire. 2. to look after; watch over and care for; minister to or wait on with service: to tend the sick.) the lamps, he shall burn incense on it. 8 And when Aaron lights the lamps at twilight, he shall burn incense on it, a perpetual incense before the Lord throughout your generations. 9 You shall not offer strange incense on it, or a burnt offering, or a grain offering; nor shall you pour a drink offering on it. 10 And Aaron shall make atonement upon its horns once a year with the blood of the sin offering of atonement; once a year he shall make atonement upon it throughout your generations. It is most holy to the Lord."
Psalms 50:5,7,16 - 5 "Gather My saints together to Me, Those who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice." 6 Let the heavens declare His righteousness, For God Himself is Judge. Selah 7 "Hear, O My people, and I will speak, O Israel, and I will testify against you; I am God, your God! 8 I will not rebuke you for your sacrifices Or your burnt offerings, Which are continually before Me. 9 I will not take a bull from your house, Nor goats out of your folds. 10 For every beast of the forest is Mine, And the cattle on a thousand hills. 11 I know all the birds of the mountains, And the wild beasts of the field are Mine. 12 "If I were hungry, I would not tell you; For the world is Mine, and all its fullness. 13 Will I eat the flesh of bulls, Or drink the blood of goats? 14 Offer to God thanksgiving, And pay your vows to the Most High. 15 Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me."
Luke 18:1-8 - 1 Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, 2 saying: "There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. 3 Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, 'Get justice for me from my adversary.' 4 And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, 'Though I do not fear God nor regard man, 5 yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.' " 6 Then the Lord said, "Hear what the unjust judge said. 7 And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? 8 I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?"
Luke 18:1-8 - 1 One day Jesus told his disciples a story to illustrate their need for constant prayer and to show them that they must never give up. 2 "There was a judge in a certain city," he said, "who was a godless man with great contempt for everyone. 3 A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, appealing for justice against someone who had harmed her. 4 The judge ignored her for a while, but eventually she wore him out. 'I fear neither God nor man,' he said to himself, 5 'but this woman is driving me crazy. I'm going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!'" 6 Then the Lord said, "Learn a lesson from this evil judge. 7 Even he rendered a just decision in the end, so don't you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who plead with him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when I, the Son of Man, return, how many will I find who have faith?"
So, Do not hesitate to go to the throne of grace and ask God through prayer:
Matt 7:7-11 - 7 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!
John 14:14 - 12 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.
Matt 18:19 - 19 Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them."
While praying Is there any limitation or restriction in asking God such as what to ask?
Some time we ask amiss (selfish fleshly things or with wrong motives):
James 4:2-3 - 1 Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? 2 You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.
NLT: James 4:2-3 - 1 What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Isn't it the whole army of evil desires at war within you? 2 You want what you don't have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous for what others have, and you can't possess it, so you fight and quarrel to take it away from them. And yet the reason you don't have what you want is that you don't ask God for it. 3 And even when you do ask, you don't get it because your whole motive is wrong -- you want only what will give you pleasure..
What to ask God?
That is why Jesus explains the manner in which we ought to pray through the Lord's prayer:
Matt 6:6-13 - 6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. 7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. 9 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. 13 And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Ask anything according to His will:
1 John 5:14-15 - 14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.
Matt 26:39,42,44 - 36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, "Sit here while I go and pray over there." 37 And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. 38 Then He said to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me." 39 He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will." 40 Then He came to the disciples and found them asleep, and said to Peter, "What? Could you not watch with Me one hour?41 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." 42 Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done." 43 And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy. 44 So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. 45 Then He came to His disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners.
How to know the will of God?
God reveals His will through the word of God (The Bible).
God reveals His will through the His Holy Spirit.
1 Cor 2:10-12 - 10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God
John 16:14,15 - 13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.
How to ask/pray according to His will?
To ask everything according to the will of God we need the Spirit filled prayer with understanding (not praying in tongues). Because the Holy Spirit reveals the will of God.
Romans 8:26,27 - 26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
NLT: Romans 8:26,27 - 26 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our distress. For we don't even know what we should pray for, nor how we should pray. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. 27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God's own will. 28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. 29 For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn, with many brothers and sisters.
Meaning for groaning: to utter a deep, mournful sound expressive of pain or grief; to suffer greatly or lamentably: groaning under an intolerable burden.
Ps 38:10 - My heart pants, my strength fails me; As for the light of my eyes, it also has gone from me.
NLT: Ps 38:10 - My heart beats wildly, my strength fails, and I am going blind
1 Cor 14:15 - 13 Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. 15 What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding. 16 Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say "Amen" at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say?
Eph 6:18 - 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints-- 19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
How to be filled by Holy Spirit to pray in the Spirit?
Acts 4:8 - 5 And it came to pass, on the next day, that their rulers, elders, and scribes, 6 as well as Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. 7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, "By what power or by what name have you done this?" 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: 9 If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, 10 let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole.
Acts 4:31 - And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
Acts 9:17 - 17 And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." 18 Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.
Acts 13:9 - 5 And when they arrived in Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. They also had John as their assistant. 6 Now when they had gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus, 7 who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man called for Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so his name is translated) withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. 9 Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him 10 and said, "O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord? 11 And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time." And immediately a dark mist fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand. 12 Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.
Eph 5:18-21 - 18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another in the fear of God.
How praying in the Spirit helps to know the will of God?
While two are more pray in the Spirit then when one prays and the Spirit of God reveals God's will then the other person who is filled with the Holy Spirit will agree with Amen if the Holy Spirit leads him to say so. Because the same Holy Spirit which prays through one person also resides in the other person which makes/leads him to say Amen.
Public Prayer:
1 Cor 14:16 - 13 Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. 15 What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding. 16 Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say "Amen" at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say?
Matt 18:19 - 19 Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them."
Private Prayer:
Phil 4:7 - 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
5 Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And there were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake. 6 So the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.
What did angel do after offering incense with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar?
Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth.....
(David Guzik) As God’s people pray for the resolution of all things, their prayers are touched by the fire from the altar in heaven, and then “thrown” back down to earth. All things will not be resolved on this earth until judgment comes, and when the prayers of God’s people “come back” to earth, they bring the groundswell of judgment (noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake).
Lev 16:11-14 - 7 He shall take the two goats and present them before the Lord at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. 8 Then Aaron shall cast lots for the two goats: one lot for the Lord and the other lot for the scapegoat. 9 And Aaron shall bring the goat on which the Lord's lot fell, and offer it as a sin offering. 10 But the goat on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the Lord, to make atonement upon it, and to let it go as the scapegoat into the wilderness. 11 "And Aaron shall bring the bull of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make atonement for himself and for his house, and shall kill the bull as the sin offering which is for himself. 12 Then he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from the altar before the Lord, with his hands full of sweet incense beaten fine, and bring it inside the veil. 13 And he shall put the incense on the fire before the Lord, that the cloud of incense may cover the mercy seat that is on the Testimony, lest he die. 14 He shall take some of the blood of the bull and sprinkle it with his finger on the mercy seat on the east side; and before the mercy seat he shall sprinkle some of the blood with his finger seven times. 15 "Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering, which is for the people, bring its blood inside the veil, do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bull, and sprinkle it on the mercy seat and before the mercy seat. 16 So he shall make atonement for the Holy Place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions, for all their sins; and so he shall do for the tabernacle of meeting which remains among them in the midst of their uncleanness. 17 There shall be no man in the tabernacle of meeting when he goes in to make atonement in the Holy Place, until he comes out, that he may make atonement for himself, for his household, and for all the assembly of Israel.
What happened in earth when the angel throw fire filled censer to the earth?
And there were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake.
What happened in heaven when the angel throw fire filled censer to the earth?
So the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.
(David Guzik) We waited for the seven seals to be opened, and saw them loosed one by one. But when the seventh seal was finally loosed, the end did not immediately come. It set in motion seven trumpets that would sound upon the earth.
(Warren Wiersbe) According to Numbers 10, trumpets had three important uses:
They called the people together - Numbers 10:1-8
They announced war - Numbers 10:9
They announced special times - Numbers 10:10
Examples:
The trumpet sounded at Mount Sinai when the Law was given - Exodus 19:16-19
Trumpet was blown when the king was anointed and enthroned - 11 Kings 1:34, 39
Trumpet was used during the conquest of Jericho - Joshua 6:13-16
(Warren Wiersbe) Sounding seven trumpets certainly would announce a declaration of war as well as the fact that God's anointed King was enthroned in glory and about the judge His enemies (Ps 2:1-5). As trumpets declared defeat to Jericho, they will ultimately bring defeat to Babylon.
Jesus break/open the seals from heaven, these angels also going to blow the trumpet form the heaven.
Each angel is going to blow their trumpet and wrath of God will be poured out to the earth Rev 8:7,8,10,12,9:1,13,11:15. So this is called the Trumpet Judgment.
Joel 2:1 - 1 Blow the trumpet in Zion, And sound an alarm in My holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble; For the day of the LORD is coming, For it is at hand: 2 A day of darkness and gloominess, A day of clouds and thick darkness, Like the morning clouds spread over the mountains. A people come, great and strong, The like of whom has never been; Nor will there ever be any such after them, Even for many successive generations. 3 A fire devours before them, And behind them a flame burns; The land is like the Garden of Eden before them, And behind them a desolate wilderness; Surely nothing shall escape them.
Zephaniah 1:14-18 - 14 The great day of the Lord is near; It is near and hastens quickly. The noise of the day of the Lord is bitter; There the mighty men shall cry out. 15 That day is a day of wrath, A day of trouble and distress, A day of devastation and desolation, A day of darkness and gloominess, A day of clouds and thick darkness, 16 A day of trumpet and alarm Against the fortified cities And against the high towers. 17 "I will bring distress upon men, And they shall walk like blind men, Because they have sinned against the Lord; Their blood shall be poured out like dust, And their flesh like refuse." 18 Neither their silver nor their gold Shall be able to deliver them In the day of the Lord's wrath; But the whole land shall be devoured By the fire of His jealousy, For He will make speedy riddance Of all those who dwell in the land.
Trumpet judgments in Revelation 8:7-13; 9; 11:15-19;
Bowl judgments in Revelation 16 and
Egypt judgments before Exodus to Promise land in Exodus 7; 9; 10;
How many plagues God brought to Egypt before Pharaoh released Israel from slavery?
There are 10 plagues affected Egypt before Israel delivered from Pharaoh.
Water turn into blood - Exodus 7:14-25
Frogs come up on the land of Egypt - Exodus 8:1-15
Lice through out all the land of Egypt - Exodus 8:16-19
Swarms of Flies all the land of Egypt - Exodus 8:20-32
Very severe Pestilence Live Stocks Diseased - Exodus 9:1-7
Boils on the people and beasts of Egypt - Exodus 9:8-12
Heavy Hail rain down on the land Egypt - Exodus 9:13-35
Locust all the land of Egypt - Exodus 10:1-20
Thick Darkness in the land of Egypt - Exodus 10:21-29
Death of the First Born - Exodus 11;12:1-30
In addition to these God protected Israel from Pharaoh army at the Red Sea crossing - Exodus 14:1-31
How many of them similar to the trumpet and Bowl judgments?
*There is no direct parallel here to any of the plagues of Egypt. However, after the Exodus, Israel encountered bitter waters at Marah (which means "bitter") and Moses had to purify the water supply. But no supernatural purification will be available during the Tribulation (Exodus 15:23-27).
**There is no direct parallel here to any of the plagues of Egypt. However, once they started the Exodus, Pharaoh army followed them and try to attack them and God protected them and destroyed the army while they cross the Red sea (Exodus 14:1-31).
Compare these with
Joel 2:1-11 - 1 Blow the trumpet in Zion, And sound an alarm in My holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble; For the day of the LORD is coming, For it is at hand: 2 A day of darkness and gloominess, A day of clouds and thick darkness, Like the morning clouds spread over the mountains. A people come, great and strong, The like of whom has never been; Nor will there ever be any such after them, Even for many successive generations. 3 A fire devours before them, And behind them a flame burns; The land is like the Garden of Eden before them, And behind them a desolate wilderness; Surely nothing shall escape them. 4 Their appearance is like the appearance of horses; And like swift steeds, so they run. 5 With a noise like chariots Over mountaintops they leap, Like the noise of a flaming fire that devours the stubble, Like a strong people set in battle array. 6 Before them the people writhe in pain; All faces are drained of color. 7 They run like mighty men, They climb the wall like men of war; Every one marches in formation, And they do not break ranks. 8 They do not push one another; Every one marches in his own column. Though they lunge between the weapons, They are not cut down. 9 They run to and fro in the city, They run on the wall; They climb into the houses, They enter at the windows like a thief. 10 The earth quakes before them, The heavens tremble; The sun and moon grow dark, And the stars diminish their brightness. 11 The LORD gives voice before His army, For His camp is very great; For strong is the One who executes His word. For the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; Who can endure it?
(Warren Wiersbe) Desolation - The first four trumpet judgments are natural in that it affect the land, the saltwater, the fresh water, and the heavenly bodies. The fifth and sixth judgments involve the release of demonic forces that first torment, and then kill. The last of the trumpet judgments (Rev 11:15-19) creates a crisis among all the nations of the world.
What happened to those four angels standing on the four corners of the earth in Rev 7:1-3 and what are they going to harm?
These angels going to harm the earth, the sea, or the trees
Rev 7:1-3 - 1 After these things I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, on the sea, or on any tree. 2 Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, 3 saying, "Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads."
The 1st trumpet judgment is to harm the earth through trees and the 2nd trumpet judgment is to harm the sea.
So, these four angels started their action after the big pause requested by the angel with the seal of the living God.
7 The first angel sounded: And hail and fire followed, mingled with blood, and they were thrown to the earth. And a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.
What happened when the first angel sounded/blown/blasted the trumpet?
7a The first angel sounded: And hail and fire followed, mingled with blood, and they were thrown to the earth.
(Warren Wiersbe) The prophet Joel also promised "blood and fire" in the last days (Joel 2:30)
Joel 2:30 - 30 "And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: Blood and fire and pillars of smoke. 31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD.
(Warren Wiersbe) Since this is a supernatural judgment, it is not necessary to try to explain how hail, fire, and blood become mingled. "Fire" could refer to the lightnig of a severe electrical strom.
What is the outcome/Result?
7b And a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.
This judgment affect the trees and grass as said. Keep it simple. This book always explains if it means something. We can read that in Rev 1, 17,18.
Rev 9: 4 - They were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.
When this happens think of few things that affect the normal life:
The entire world would have a deserted look due to this.
Joel 2:3 - 1 Blow the trumpet in Zion, And sound an alarm in My holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble; For the day of the LORD is coming, For it is at hand: 2 A day of darkness and gloominess, A day of clouds and thick darkness, Like the morning clouds spread over the mountains. A people come, great and strong, The like of whom has never been; Nor will there ever be any such after them, Even for many successive generations. 3 A fire devours before them, And behind them a flame burns; The land is like the Garden of Eden before them, And behind them a desolate wilderness; Surely nothing shall escape them.
Forest rain stops due to lack of trees.
Birds living in tree are burnt up with this.
Humans living at that time get affected due to:
Edible trees such as Apple, Orange, Banana, Palm,... are burned up
Grazing domestic animals/live stocks such as cow, bull, goat, sheep, horse death because of lack of green grass.
(Warren Wiersbe) The Greek word for trees usually means "fruit trees"; and the destruction of pasture lands would devastate the meat and milk industries.
Same way the wild life and other living beings get affected.
(David Guzik) God may use whatever method He desires to bring judgment, but people on earth know these events are from God, and do not think them to be merely natural disasters (Revelation 16:9, and 16:11, Revelation 19:19).
Which judgment/plague similar to this?
This is similar to 1st bowl judgment - Rev 16:1-2
This judgment parallels the seventh plague in Egypt (Exodus 9:18-26) which is Heavy Hail rain down on the land Egypt.
8 Then the second angel sounded: And something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood. 9 And a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.
What happened when the second angel sounded/blown/blasted the trumpet?
Then the second angel sounded: And something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea,
(Warren Wiersbe) Here John did not say that an actual burning mountain was cast out of heaven, but that the fiery object was like a great mountain.
(David Guzik) John carefully says that this is not an actual mountain (note the use of like), but it is a blazing mass as large as a mountain.
What is the outcome/Result?
and a third of the sea became blood. And a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.
(Warren Wiersbe)
A triple judgment resulted: a third part of the saltwater turned to blood, a third part of the marine life died, and a third of the ships were destroyed. This will be an ecological and an economic disaster of unprecedented proportions.
Considering that the oceans occupy about three fourths of the earth's surface, you can imagine the extent of this judgment. The pollution of the water and the death of a so many creatures would greatly affect the balance of life in the oceans, and this would undoubtedly lead to further insoluble problems.
As of January 1, 1981 there were 24,867 ocean-going merchant ships registered. Imagine the shock waves that would hit the shipping industry if 8,289 valuable ships were suddenly destroyed! And what about their cargoes!
(David Guzik)
This disaster is a cataclysm, perhaps a meteor (a transient fiery streak in the sky produced by a meteoroid passing through the earth's atmosphere; a shooting star) that crashes into the sea and results in great oceanic upheaval with residual pollution.
Researchers today say that this sort of phenomenon has happened many times in the history of the earth, sometimes resulting in great ecological upheaval and disaster.
It is common to take this great mountain as a symbol for a nation that will be judged. It is true that mountains are sometimes used as figures of governments or nations (Jeremiah 51:25, 51:27, 51:30). But in this context, the symbol doesn’t make sense. What does it mean that the great mountain is burning with fire? What does it mean that it was thrown into the sea? What does the sea symbolize? Who are the living creatures in the sea? What are the ships on the sea? What is their destruction a symbol of? All these questions make us say that the best solution is to see this as some literal mass of land, probably a meteor or asteroid, falling into the sea and bringing ecological disaster.
These are not symbols. Read Rev 1st, 17th and 18th chapters there all symbols are explained clearly.
Which judgment/plague similar to this?
This is similar to 2nd bowl judgment - Rev 16:3
This judgment parallels the first plague in Egypt (Exodus 7:19-21) which is water turn into blood.
10 Then the third angel sounded: And a great star fell from heaven, burning 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 men died from the water, because it was made bitter.
What happened when the third angel sounded/blown/blasted the trumpet?
Then the third angel sounded: And a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. The name of the star is Wormwood.
Stars which are fallen in 6th seal judgment may be entering into the earth's atmosphere. That may fall on rivers and spring of waters.
Rev 6:12 I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. 13 And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. 14 Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place.
(David Guzik) We may easily associate this with a comet or meteor (shooting star , Also called: falling star) crashing into the earth and bring ecological disaster. But God may have something else in mind also.
What is the outcome/Result?
A third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the water, because it was made bitter.
Wormwood in Greek is apsinthion (Strong's 894) used only in these verse in NT. OT uses this word for sorrowful/bitterness/painful.
From dictionary: wormwood -- noun
any composite herb or low shrub of the genus Artemisia.
a bitter, aromatic plant, A. absinthium, of the Old World, used as a vermifuge and a tonic, and as an ingredient in absinthe.
something bitter, grievous, or extremely unpleasant.
absinthe also mean a green, aromatic liqueur that is 68 percent alcohol, is made with wormwood and other herbs, and has a bitter, licorice flavor: now banned in most Western countries.
(Warren Wiersbe) God's wrath next reaches inland and touches the rivers and fountains of water (wells and sources of the rivers), making the fresh water taste bitter like wormwood. The National Geographics society list about 100 principal rivers in the world , raging in length from the Amazon (4,000 miles long) to the Rio de la Plata (150 miles long). The U.S. Geological Survey reports thirty large rivers in the United States, beginning with the mighty Mississippi (3,710 miles long). One third of these rivers, and their sources, will become so bitterly polluted that drinking their water could produce death.
God has His stars numbered and named (Job 9:9-10). It is likely that this fallen star is molten and that, as it nears the earth, it begins to disintegrate and fall into the various bodies of water. If a star actually struck the earth, our globe would be destroyed; so this start must "come apart" as it enters the atmosphere. Of course, this event is a divinely controlled judgment; therefore, we must not try to limit it by the known laws of science.
The word translated "wormwood" gives us our English word absinthe, which is a popular liqueur in some countries of the world. The word means "undrinkable," and in the Old Testament was synonymous with sorrow and great calamity. Jeremiah, "the Weeping Prophet," often used it (Jer 9:15;23:15; Lam 3:15,19), and so did Amos (Amos 5:7, "those who turn justice into wormwood," - NASB). Moses warned that idolatry would bring sorrow to Israel, like a root producing wormwood (Deut. 29:18). Solomon warned that immorality might seem pleasant, but in the end, it produces bitterness like wormwood (Prov. 5:4).
If the people who drink from these waters are in danger of dying, what must happen to the fish and other creatures that live in those waters? And what would happen to the vegetation near these rivers? If the ecologists are worried about the deadly consequences of water pollution today, what will the think when the third trumpet blows?
Which judgment/plague similar to this?
This is similar to 3rd bowl judgment - Rev 16:4-7
There is no direct parallel here to any of the plagues of Egypt. However, after the Exodus, Israel encountered bitter water at Marah (which means "bitter") and Moses had to purify the water supply (Ex. 15:23-27). But no supernatural purification will be available during the Tribulation.
12 Then the fourth angel sounded: And a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them were darkened. A third of the day did not shine, and likewise the night.
What happened when the four angel sounded/blown/blasted the trumpet?
Then the fourth angel sounded: And a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars,
Based on the outcome/result the 1/3 of sun damaged all at one side of the sun (not all over places in sun).
What is the outcome/Result?
so that a third of them were darkened. A third of the day did not shine, and likewise the night..
(David Guzik) This does not describe a one-third lessening of light, but one-third of the day and night are plunged into absolute darkness. As Jesus said: the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light (Matthew 24:29).
The proportion of ecological disaster stays the same. strong>In each one of the trumpets, a third of an ecological system is destroyed in judgment.
(Warren Wiersbe) The judgments from the first three trumpets affected only a third part of the land and waters, but this fourth judgment affects the entire world. Why Because it gets to very source of the earth's life and energy, the sun. With one third less sunlight on the earth, there will be one third less energy available to support the life systems of man and nature.
"The Day of the Lord is darkness, and not light" (Amos 5:18). Think of the vast changes in temperatures that will occur and how these will affect human health and food growth.
It is possible that this particular judgment is temporary, for the fourth bowl judgment will reverse it, and the sun's power will be intensified (Rev. 16:8-9).
"Blow ye the trumpet in Zion," said the Prophet Joel, "for the Day of the Lord cometh.... a day of darkness and of gloominess" (Joel 2:1-2). Darkness, indeed! Not only will nature suffer loss, but human nature will take advantage of the long darkness and no doubt indulge in crime and wickedness.
"Everyone that doeth evil hateth the light" (John 3:20)
Which judgment/plague similar to this?
This is similar to 4th bowl judgment - Rev 16:8-9
This judgment parallels the ninth plague in Egypt (Ex. 10:21-23), which is Thick Darkness in the land of Egypt which lasted three days.
13 And I looked, and I heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, "Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!"
What did John saw?
And I looked, and I heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice,
(David Guzik) The angel’s woes are well founded, because one-third of the earth’s population will die in the next three trumpets.
(Warren Wiersbe) At this point, a remarkable messenger will appear in the sky, proclaiming woe to the earth's inhabitants.
Most manuscripts have "eagle" here instead of "angel," but either one would certainly get people's attention!
Could this be the eagle like living creature that John saw worshiping before the throne? (Rev. 4:7-8) Will God send it on this special mission? We cannot say for sure, but it is a possibility.
God made Donkey to speak to Balaam in Numbers:
Numbers 22: 28 - 27 And when the donkey saw the Angel of the Lord, she lay down under Balaam; so Balaam's anger was aroused, and he struck the donkey with his staff. 28 Then the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, "What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?" 29 And Balaam said to the donkey, "Because you have abused me. I wish there were a sword in my hand, for now I would kill you!" 30 So the donkey said to Balaam, "Am I not your donkey on which you have ridden, ever since I became yours, to this day? Was I ever disposed to do this to you?" And he said, "No." 31 Then the Lord opened Balaam's eyes, and he saw the Angel of the Lord standing in the way with His drawn sword in His hand; and he bowed his head and fell flat on his face. 32 And the Angel of the Lord said to him, "Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to stand against you, because your way is perverse before Me. 33 The donkey saw Me and turned aside from Me these three times. If she had not turned aside from Me, surely I would also have killed you by now, and let her live."
But....here in this passage eagle (GK: aetos) appears only in recent Greek NT Bible (NASB/NIV/NLT) at the same time old Greek manuscript Textus Receptus (KJV/NKJV) uses the ancient Greek words for angel (GK: aggelos).
KJV: Rev 8:13 - And I beheld , and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhibiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound !
NASB: Rev 8:13 - Then I looked, and I heard an eagle flying in midheaven, saying with a loud voice, "Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to
NIV: Rev 8:13 - As I watched, I heard an eagle that was flying in midair call out in a loud voice: "Woe! Woe! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded by the other three angels!"
Similar scene happens in another place in Revelation 14. Here angel announces/preaches Gospel message. In this passage all Greek manuscript uses angel.
Rev 14:6-8 - 6 Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth--to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people-- 7 saying with a loud voice, "Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water." 8 And another angel followed, saying, "Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication."
What did the angel say?
"Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!"
In which portion of Revelation these three woes are explained/covered?
First Woe: Rev. 9:1-12
Second Woe: Rev. 9:13-11:14
Third Woe: Rev. 11:15 - Rev 19;20:11-15
Read Rev 11:19 topic Is the 3rd woe completed here?
(Warren Wiersbe) The three "woes" in Revelation 8:13 refer to the judgments yet to come when the remaining three angels blow their trumpets. It is as though the messenger cried, "If you think this has been terrible, just wait! The worst is yet to come!"
The phrase "inhabitants of the earth" (or "them that dwell on the earth") is found twelve times in Revelation (3:10; 6:10; 8:13; 11:10 [twice]; 12:12; 13:8,12,14; 14:6; 17:2,8). It means much more than "people who live on the earth," for hat is where all living people reside. Instead, it refers to a kind of people: those who live for the earth. These are just the opposite of people who have their citizenship in haven (Phil 3:18-21). John described this worldly sort well in his first epistle (1 John 2:15-17), and later in this prophecy he again makes it clear that "earth-dwellers" are not born gain (Rev 13:8).
At the beginning of human history, heaven and earth were united because our fist parents honored God and obeyed His will. Satan tempted them to focus on the earth; they disobeyed God: and ever since, a great gulf has been fixed between heaven and earth. This chasm was bridged when the Son of God came to earth and died for the sins of the world.
These first four trumpets reveal the severity of God’s judgment. He attacks all the ordinary means of subsistence, such as food and water; and He attacks all the ordinary means of comfort, and knowledge, such as light and the regular rhythm of days.
Man has come to see these aspects of the created order as impersonal, perpetual forces. During the great tribulation, God proclaims His Lordship through their agonizing disruption.
We know the great humility that comes upon men in the midst of something like an earthquake, because they know that “nature” is not as reliable as they had thought. With these four trumpets, that effect will be multiplied greatly.
The first four trumpets also reveal the mercy of God’s judgment; these are partial judgments striking only one-third, and are meant to warn and lead a rebellious world to repentance before the final curtain. For now, God spares more than He smites.
There were seven seals, followed - thematically if not chronologically - by seven trumpets. In their arranged order, they are similar.
The first four seals and trumpets presented judgments directed against the earth. In the first four seals, these were the “four horsemen” bringing tyranny, war, famine, and death on the earth. In the first four trumpets, these were the ecological destruction of the vegetation, seas, fresh waters, and sky.
The last three seals focused upon heaven: the cry of the martyrs, cosmic disturbances, and the heavenly prelude to the seven trumpets. But the last three trumpets will speak of hell, in terms of the demonic.