Revelation 8 (NIV)

Summary:

The Seventh Seal and the Golden Censer
Verses 1-5

The Lamb opened the 7th seal and there was silence in heaven for half an hour.  Then, the angels that stand before God were given 7 trumpets.  Another angel, with a golden censer, came and stood at the altar.  This angel was given much incense to offer to God, with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne.  The smoke of the incense and the prayers went up before God from the angel's hand.  The angel, then, filled the censer with fire from the altar and hurled it onto the earth.  There resulted peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.

The Trumpets
Verses 6-13

The 7 angels prepared to sound their trumpets.  The first was sounded.  Hail and fire, mixed with blood, was hurled down upon the earth.  1/3 of the earth, 1/3 of the trees, and all the green grass were burned up.

The second was sounded and something like a huge mountain, ablaze, was thrown into the sea.  1/3 of the sea turned to blood, 1/3 of the sea creatures died, and 1/3 of the ships were destroyed.

The third was sounded and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky onto 1/3 of the rivers and springs of water.  This star is named Wormwood, which means Bitterness.  1/3 of the waters turned bitter and many people died because of it.

The fourth was sounded and 1/3 of the sun, 1/3 of the moon, and 1/3 of the stars were struck and turned dark.  1/3 of the day and 1/3 of the night were without light.

John heard an eagle calling out, while flying in midair, " 'Woe!  Woe!  Woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded by the other three angels!' " (Verse 13b)

Lori's Thoughts:

After the 7th seal is opened, it seems like there will be a calm before an ever-worsening storm hits.  The previous chapter speaks of the great multitude in heaven, with robes cleansed by the blood of the Lamb.  Does this mean that we won't have to endure the woes of the 7 trumpets?  Or will we be sealed, then gathered up to heaven after the woes are over?  Maybe, since we're sealed, we won't be harmed by the woes.

[ Let me take this time to remind my readers that these are my human interpretations of the Word.  Nothing can substitute a personal relationship with God, and you establish one by accepting His free gift of salvation, then studying the Bible and praying daily.  So, don't take my word as law. ]

When the 5th seal was opened, John saw the souls of those slain for Christ under the altar.  When the 7th seal was opened, an angel with the prayers of the saints offered them to God on the golden altar.  I think this is the same altar.  I think they're connected, but I'm not sure how.

Maybe the fire this angel hurled onto the earth created an opening from heaven to earth, for the woes to be thrown down upon the earth.

The 4th trumpet woe seems similar to the 6th seal.  When the 6th seal is opened, the sun turns black, the moon red, and the stars fall.  The 4th trumpet causes 1/3 of them to go dark.  They're similar, but I'm not sure why. 

Oh, limited human that I am.  But, where we lack, God supplies.  We walk by faith, not by sight.  Jesus saves, not our human efforts, lest we should boast.

Okay, let's look at it this way:

Trumpet      Elements                              Targets
     1            Hail, Fire, Blood                  1/3 Earth, 1/3 Trees, All Green Grass
     2            ~Huge Mtn Ablaze              1/3 Sea -> Blood, 1/3 Sea Creatures, 1/3 Ships
     3            Great Star Blazing                1/3 Rivers & Springs -> People using their water
     4            Darkness                             1/3 Sun, 1/3 Moon, 1/3 Stars -> 1/3 Day, 1/3 Night

. . .

Have you ever noticed how God never does the same thing twice?  He created everything in 7 days.  No one day was like another.  He destroyed the earth by water, but promised never to do so again.  The seven seals and trumpets may have some similarities, but they're not identical.  Why do we try to ritualize our faith?  Jesus deals with each of us as individuals.  We should love individuals as well, not just the people that are the same as us, doing the same things as us.  God doesn't want us to depend upon rituals.  We are to depend upon Him.

Yes, I know, I go off on tangents, but it's all relevant.  :)