Revelation 8

Upon the opening of the seventh seal, a period of silence in heaven precedes the giving of seven trumpets to seven angels. An angel offers the prayers of saints with incense, then casts fire from the altar to the earth, causing disturbances. The first four trumpets then sound, bringing forth a series of devastating judgments upon the earth, sea, freshwaters, and celestial bodies, each affecting a third part. An angel then warns of three more "woes" to come with the remaining trumpets.

Revelation 8 begins with the opening of the seventh seal, initiating a profound silence in heaven for about half an hour. Seven angels are then presented with trumpets, while another angel offers the prayers of all saints with much incense upon the golden altar before God. This angel subsequently fills the censer with fire from the altar and casts it to the earth, resulting in voices, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake, signaling the commencement of the trumpet judgments. The first four angels sound their trumpets, each unleashing a specific plague. The first brings hail and fire mingled with blood, burning a third of trees and all green grass. The second casts a burning mountain into the sea, turning a third of it to blood and destroying a third of sea life and ships. The third trumpet sees a star named Wormwood fall upon a third of the freshwaters, making them bitter and causing many deaths. The fourth trumpet darkens a third of the sun, moon, and stars, affecting the light of day and night. The chapter concludes with an angel proclaiming three "woes" that will accompany the sounding of the final three trumpets.

The eighth chapter of Revelation commences with the Lamb opening the seventh and final seal, which ushers in a period of solemn silence in heaven lasting approximately half an hour. Following this, John beholds seven angels standing before God, to whom are given seven trumpets. Another angel, bearing a golden censer, approaches the golden altar before the throne, offering much incense alongside the prayers of all saints, the smoke of which ascends before God. This angel then takes the censer, fills it with fire from the altar, and casts it down to the earth, immediately followed by voices, thunderings, lightnings, and a great earthquake, setting the stage for the subsequent judgments. The seven angels then prepare themselves to sound their trumpets. The first angel sounds, and hail and fire mingled with blood are cast upon the earth, resulting in the burning up of a third part of the trees and all green grass. The second angel sounds, and a great mountain, burning with fire, is cast into the sea, causing a third part of the sea to become blood, a third of the living creatures within it to die, and a third of the ships to be destroyed. The third angel sounds, and a great star, named Wormwood, falls from heaven, burning like a lamp, upon a third part of the rivers and fountains of waters. Consequently, a third of these waters become bitter like wormwood, and many men die from drinking them. The fourth angel sounds, and a third part of the sun, moon, and stars are smitten, leading to a darkening of a third of their light, thus diminishing the light of both day and night. Finally, John observes an angel flying through the midst of heaven, loudly proclaiming "Woe, woe, woe" to the inhabitants of the earth, signifying the severe judgments yet to come with the sounding of the remaining three trumpets.