Revelation 8
Disciples’ Literal New Testament
The Lamb Opens The Seventh Seal
8 And when[a] He opened the seventh seal, a silence took place in heaven for about a half hour.
Vision 2: The Seven Trumpets
2 And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. 3 And another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a golden censer. And much incense was given to him so-that he will give it with[b] the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar before the throne. 4 And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up from the hand of the angel before God. 5 And the angel has taken the censer, and he filled it from the fire of the altar and threw it to the earth. And there came thunders and voices and lightnings[c] and an earthquake. 6 And the seven angels having the seven trumpets prepared themselves in order that they might trumpet.
Angels Blow The First Four Trumpets
7 And the first trumpeted, and there came hail and fire having been mixed with blood, and it was thrown to the land[d]. And a third of the land was burned-up, and a third of the trees was burned-up, and all the green grass was burned-up.
8 And the second angel trumpeted, and something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea. 9 And a third of the sea became blood. And a third of the creatures in the sea, the ones having life, died. And a third of the ships were destroyed.
10 And the third angel trumpeted, 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 waters. 11 And the name of the star is called Wormwood[e]. And a third of the waters became wormwood. And many of the people died from the waters, because they were made-bitter.
12 And the fourth angel trumpeted, and a third of the sun was struck[f], and a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so-that a third of them might be darkened, and the day might not shine for a third of it, and the night likewise.
Three Woes Remain For The Ones Dwelling On The Earth
13 And I saw, and I heard one eagle[g] flying in mid-heaven[h], saying with a loud voice. “Woe, woe, woe for the ones dwelling upon the earth, because-of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels being about to trumpet!”
Footnotes
- Revelation 8:1 Or, whenever.
- Revelation 8:3 That is, along with. Or, for; that is, representing.
- Revelation 8:5 See 4:5 on these three items.
- Revelation 8:7 That is, in contrast with sea in v 8. Or, earth.
- Revelation 8:11 That is, bitter.
- Revelation 8:12 Or, hit (with a blow).
- Revelation 8:13 Or, vulture.
- Revelation 8:13 That is, where birds fly.
Revelation 8
Expanded Bible
The Seventh Seal
8 When the Lamb opened the seventh seal [C the final and climactic seal; 5:1], there was silence in heaven for about half an hour [C a dramatic pause induced by awe]. 2 And I saw the seven angels who stand before God and to whom were given seven trumpets [C trumpets often announce God’s appearance, accompanied by judgment and victory; Josh. 6].
3 Another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a golden ·pan for incense [censer; incense burner]. He was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all ·God’s holy people [T the saints; Ps. 141:2]. The angel put this offering on the golden altar before the throne. 4 The smoke from the incense went up from the angel’s hand ·to [in the presence of] God with the prayers of ·God’s people [T the saints]. 5 Then the angel filled the ·incense pan [censer; incense burner] with fire from the altar and threw it on the earth, and there ·were thunder and loud noises [was rumbling thunder], flashes of lightning, and an earthquake [4:5].
6 Then the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to blow them [8:2].
7 The first angel blew his trumpet, and hail and fire mixed with blood were ·poured [thrown; hurled] down on the earth [C similar to the seventh plague against Egypt; Ex. 9:13–35; Joel 2:30–31]. And a third of the earth [L was burned up], and a third of the trees [L was burned up], and all the green grass were burned up.
The Seven Angels and Trumpets
8 Then the second angel blew his trumpet, and something that looked like a ·big [great] mountain, burning with fire, was thrown into the sea [C perhaps referring to a volcano or a flaming meteorite; Jer. 51:25]. And a third of the sea became blood [C echoes the first plague against Egypt; Ex. 7:14–21], 9 a third of the living ·things [creatures] in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.
10 Then the third angel blew his trumpet, and a ·large [great] star, burning like a torch, fell from ·the sky [or heaven; C perhaps a meteorite]. It fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. 11 [L And] The name of the star is Wormwood [C a plant with a greenish, bitter oil; a symbol of bitter sorrow; Prov. 5:4; Jer. 9:15; 23:15]. And a third of all the water became ·bitter [L wormwood; C again an allusion to the first Egyptian plague], and many people died from ·drinking the water [L the water] that ·was [became; was made] bitter.
12 Then the fourth angel blew his trumpet, and a third of the sun, and a third of the moon, and a third of the stars were struck. So a third of them became dark, and a third of the day was ·without light [kept from shining], and also the night [C echoing the ninth Egyptian plague; Ex. 10:21–23].
13 While I watched, I heard an ·eagle [or vulture] that was flying ·high in the air [L in mid-heaven] cry out in a loud voice, “·Trouble! Trouble! Trouble [ L Woe! Woe! Woe; C reminiscent of OT funeral laments, signifying their doom; Nah. 3:1] for those who live on the earth because of the remaining ·sounds [blasts] of the trumpets that the other three angels are about to blow!”
Disciples' Literal New Testament: Serving Modern Disciples by More Fully Reflecting the Writing Style of the Ancient Disciples, Copyright © 2011 Michael J. Magill. All Rights Reserved. Published by Reyma Publishing
The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.