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John Sees the Opening of the Seventh Seal
December 6, 2014

Last week our study continued with a vision that John had by showing those who were sealed by God during the time of the great tribulation. This week we will see the beginning of the fate of those who are not sealed by God through the opening of the seventh seal.

Revelation 8:1-6
And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets. 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 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 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 the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.

The opening of the seventh seal marks a time of great trouble, and is marked by a long moment of silence. Most moments of silence are for a minute of less; this moment of silence is for half an hour. Brought to an end by the angel with the golden censer holding incense to be offered with the prayers of the saints, this censer became filled with the fire of the alter and was cast to the earth. A censer is typically an ornately decorated orb, so visible on earth would be a fireball descending from the heavens to earth. Those who see this might think it is a flaming meteor. This flaming sign marks the beginning of the seven trumpets of Revelation.

Revelation 8:7-11
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 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 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 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 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.

John saw the first angel sound the trumpet and hail signaled the start of this trumpet. Hail storms can be destructive and this hail storm had elements of fire mingled with blood. John does not clearly explain the connection of the fail and the fire mingled with blood. Maybe the hail storm is so intense that it destroys the infrastructure like a wartime bombing raid would resulting in fires and the death of many. We do know from John's description that as a result one-third of vegetation and trees are destroyed. Next comes a flaming burning mountain that was cast into the sea. While John gives us the result of this event, he doesn't give us much more to go by in understanding the flaming burning mountain. It could be a large meteor, maybe an asteroid, or it could even have a spiritual meaning, such as the casting of Satan to earth. We know the result as this kills one-third of sea life and destroys one-third of ships. In addition to the waters of the ocean, fresh water sources are harmed when a great star of heaven called Wormwood falls from heaven. The wormwood causes one-third of fresh water sources to become undrinkable.

Revelation 8:12-13
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 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!

Following the first three events is a darkening of the sun, moon, and stars. This darkening could be a supernatural occurrence; it could also be the result of the impact of the massive hail storm, the flaming mountain tossed thrown into the sea and the falling star called Wormwood. Though we cannot know with certainty, it seems like John is describing a massive atmospheric storm followed by a cataclysmic meteor strike in the ocean and near fresh water sources. With all of these troubles, the troubles for those living on earth are just beginning.

All verses are from the King James Version.
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