Revelation 8

1 When the Lamb [Jesus, the one who is like a lamb] opened [to make accessible, to reveal] the seventh seal [a signet or mark that protects or identifies], there was silence [a state of quietness or stillness] in heaven [the sky and God’s home, the spiritual realm] for about [approximately, as it were] half an hour [a brief period of time]. word study 2 And I saw [beheld, perceived] the seven [completeness, perfection] angels [messengers of God, heavenly beings] who stand [are stationed, remain] before [in the presence of] God [the one true deity], and they were given [bestowed, granted] seven trumpets [instruments of proclamation, warning]. word study 3 Then another [different, distinct] angel, who had a golden [made of gold, valuable] censer, came and stood at the altar [a table or platform for offering sacrifices to God]. He was given much [a large quantity, abundant] incense to offer, along with the prayers [requests, petitions] of all the saints [holy, set apart ones], on the golden [precious, valuable] altar before [in the presence of, facing] the throne [a seat of power, authority]. word study 4 And the smoke [rising upward, an ascending mist] of the incense [fragrant powder], together with the prayers [petitions, heartfelt requests] of the saints [holy ones, set apart], rose up [ascended, went up] before [in the presence of] God [the Almighty, Creator] from the hand [power, instrument] of the angel [messenger, heavenly being]. word study 5 Then the angel [a heavenly messenger] took the censer [a vessel for burning incense], filled it with fire [flames, divine judgment] from the altar [a table for offering sacrifices], and hurled it to the earth [the land, the material world]; and there were peals of thunder [loud rumblings], and rumblings [voices, sounds], and flashes of lightning [bright, shining lights], and an earthquake [a shaking of the ground]. word study 6 And the seven [complete or perfect number] angels [messengers of God, heavenly beings] with the [seven, complete or perfect number] seven trumpets [musical instruments used in war and worship] prepared [made ready, got everything in order] to sound [to blow, to make a loud noise] them [themselves, taking action]. word study 7 Then the first angel sounded his trumpet, and hail [a form of precipitation] and fire [flames or divine judgment] mixed with blood were hurled down upon the earth [the soil or globe]. A third of the earth was burned up, along with a third of the trees [a plant with a trunk and branches] and all the green [verdant] grass [herbage or pasture]. word study 8 Then the second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like [as it were, resembling] a great [large, immense] mountain burning with fire [being consumed by flames, kindling] was thrown [cast, hurled] into the sea [the ocean, a large body of water]. A third [one of three parts, a portion] of the sea turned to blood [became like blood, was transformed into blood], word study 9 a third [one of three parts] of the living creatures [created things, having life] in the sea [large body of water] died [stopped living, perished], and a third [one of three parts] of the ships [boats, vessels] were destroyed [ruined, corrupted, to decay]. word study 10 Then the third angel [a heavenly messenger of God] sounded his trumpet, and a great [large or intense] star [a celestial body] burning like a torch [a shining light] fell from heaven [the sky and God’s dwelling place] and landed on a third of the rivers [streams of water] and on the springs [sources] of water. word study 11 The name [a person’s character or authority] of the star [a celestial body] is Wormwood [a bitter plant]. A third [one part out of three] of the waters [literal or figurative] turned bitter [embittered, made unpleasant] like wormwood oil [a potent, unpleasant substance], and many [a large number, numerous] people [human beings, created in God’s image] died [passed away, ceased to exist] from the bitter [embittered, unpleasant] waters [the source of life, now corrupted]. word study 12 Then the fourth angel [messenger of God, a heavenly being] sounded his trumpet, and a third [one part out of three] of the sun [the celestial body] and moon [the lunar body] and stars [celestial bodies] were struck [smitten or afflicted]. A third [one part out of three] of the stars [celestial bodies] were darkened [made less visible], a third [one part out of three] of the day [a 24-hour period] was without light [did not shine], and a third [one part out of three] of the night [the time of darkness] as well [similarly]. word study 13 And as I observed, I heard an eagle [a large bird] flying overhead, calling in a loud [great, clear] voice, “Woe [deep sorrow, calamity]! Woe! Woe to those who dwell [reside, inhabit] on the earth [the land, the material world], because of the trumpet blasts [sounds of judgment] about to be sounded by the remaining [left, yet to come] three angels [heavenly messengers]!” word study