In Revelation 8, we see four trumpets that are sounding out God’s vengeance upon Rome, and that will defeat her and bring her down. Remember, this is not speaking about future events thousands of years later.
These are things which ‘must soon take place’, Revelation 1:1 / Revelation 22:6, ‘the time is near’, Revelation 1:3 / Revelation 22:10. This is speaking about God’s judgment against the Roman Empire.
The symbolism of this chapter is indeed very difficult for us to understand. The first six seals have been opened in succession, Revelation 6. With the opening of the seventh seal, there is suddenly dead silence in heaven for the space of about one-half hour before its ominous mystery is revealed.
It seems to be a silence of suspense; the hosts of heaven are silent, waiting to see what will come next, Habakkuk 2:20 / 1 John 2:18. It seems to express a fearful expectation or the calm before the storm is unleashed. These thirty minutes could seem like an eternity, Revelation 10:3 / 1 John 2:18. Seven angels with seven trumpets now appear.
The number seven symbolises the meaning of totality or completeness associated with God’s authority on the earth, so the seven angels with the seven trumpets are a picture of unity, perfection, fullness, and completeness of what God was going to do. We recall the seven angels of the seven churches, Revelation 1:4 / Revelation 2-3, who appear before God, Exodus 25:17-22.
Constable, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Trumpets play a major role in God’s dealings with His people, Exodus 19:16 / Exodus 20:18 / Isaiah 27:13 / Jeremiah 4:5 / Joel 2:1 / Zephaniah 1:16 / Matthew 24:31 / 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 / 1 Thessalonians 4:16. They were part of Israel’s ceremonial processions, Joshua 6:4 / Joshua 6:13-16 / 1 Kings 1:34 / 1 Kings 1:39 / 1 Chronicles 15:24, and they assembled the Israelites for war, journeys, and special feasts, Numbers 10:9-10. They also warned of the coming day of the Lord, Joel 2:1, and they announced the new year in Israel, Numbers 29:1.’
These seven angels are given trumpets from God; these trumpets were used to summon or announce something important, Numbers 10. It appears that God is ready to speak.
Here we see a throne-room scene again, and another angel stood at the altar with a golden censor, Revelation 8:3. The altar is the ‘golden altar’ of incense, Revelation 8:3 / Leviticus 16:12 / Numbers 16:46, which stood in the tabernacle sitting above the cherubim on the ark, Exodus 25:17-22.
Amid trumpets that are unleashing God’s wrath, the saints’ prayers go up before the throne of God as sweet-smelling incense, Revelation 8:3. Notice that smoke from the incense and the prayers of the saints go up together to God at the same time; they are acceptable to God, Revelation 8:4-5. The incense is associated with the prayers of the saints, Psalm 141:2 / Luke 1:10.
Barclay, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Here we have the idea that prayer is a sacrifice to God; the prayers of the saints are offered on the altar, and, like all other sacrifices, they are surrounded with the perfume of the incense as they rise to God. A man may have no other sacrifice to offer to God, but at all times he can offer his prayers, and there are always angelic hands waiting to bring them to God.’
One powerful lesson we can learn from this is that during times of trouble and tribulation, God is no further away than the avenue of prayer. God is willing and able to help, but we must have the faith to pray and ask Him for that help.
We learn here the importance of prayer in the Christian’s life at all times, but especially during times of trouble, James 5:16 / 1 Thessalonians 5:17. We must never stop praying, and we must realise the value and importance of prayer, Luke 18:1. Christians’ prayers rise up to God as a sweet-smelling savour and during times of trouble, we must approach God, Hebrews 4:16.
Another altar is mentioned, Revelation 8:5, but it’s not clear if this is the same altar mentioned earlier. Some commentators suggest that this may be the brazen altar for burnt offerings from which the coals were taken for the incense offering, Ezekiel 9:1-2. The contents of the censer were hurled down to earth, Revelation 8:5 / Ezekiel 10:3-7.
In answer to those earlier prayers, we find coming judgment. The thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake, Revelation 8:5, all speak of coming judgment, Revelation 6:9-11. God uses earthquakes to signify His judgment against sin. God used an earthquake to destroy Korah and his followers, who started a rebellion, Numbers 16:31-33.
David often speaks about how earthquakes are a demonstration of God’s anger against His people or a nation, 2 Samuel 22:8 / Psalm 18:6-7. Isaiah speaks about how God will punish His people because of their sin using an earthquake, Isaiah 5:25 / Isaiah 29:6. Jeremiah also speaks about how God will bring judgment upon the nations because of their sin using an earthquake, Jeremiah 10:10.
Nahum, Nahum 1:5, Habakkuk, Habakkuk 3:6, and Zechariah, Zechariah 14:5, all speak about how God will bring judgment upon the nations because of their sin, using an earthquake. Jesus Himself speaks of an earthquake which would happen when God was going to bring judgment upon Jerusalem and the temple in A.D. 70, Matthew 24:7.
John, in his vision, speaks about how God will bring judgment against Rome and unbelievers, Revelation 6:12-14 / Revelation 8:5 / Revelation 11:19 / Revelation 11:13 / Revelation 16:18.
The seven angels are now prepared to blow the seven trumpets. In other words, the angels were preparing to warn of the retribution and judgment of God on the enemies of righteousness, Amos 3:6 / Hosea 5:8. God’s message is clear: if you hurt My people, you will suffer the consequences.
Constable, in his commentary, says the following.
‘The whole scene quite clearly symbolises God sending judgment on the earth in response to His people’s accumulated prayers, Exodus 3:7-10 / Exodus 19:16-19 / Revelation 4:5 / Revelation 11:19 / Revelation 16:18. The trumpet judgments to follow are what He will send.’
Here we have the first of seven angels sounding his trumpet, Revelation 8:2. This trumpet is for the purpose of getting their attention. Hail, fire, and blood are symbolic of devastation and woe which seem to affect the earth. Exodus 7-11 / Ezekiel 38:22.
It also seems that a certain area of the earth is the place of the persecuting powers. This signifies vengeance; God’s warning is clear. If you harm My people, you will answer to Me. Jesus once said that the prayers of saints can move mountains, Matthew 17:20.
Here we have the second of seven angels sounding his trumpet, Revelation 8:2. A great mountain burning may signify a great power or nation, Jeremiah 51:25 / Zechariah 4:7 / Amos 4:13. This is the power of Rome. A third of the sea turned to blood, Exodus 7:20-21.
Later, the Roman emperor is symbolised as ‘the beast of the sea’ and is presented as coming up ‘out of the sea’; thus, this trumpet signifies mighty Rome. In time, the mighty military power of the Roman Empire would be destroyed. Daniel lists Rome as the last of the great empires, Daniel 2:35 / Daniel 2:40-44 / Daniel 7:7.
Here we have the third of seven angels sounding his trumpet, Revelation 8:2. The falling star, as in Matthew 24:29 / Revelation 6:13, represents divine punishment. Isaiah’s description of the fall of Babylonian rulers has the same imagery, Isaiah 13:10-11.
The falling star into the rivers and fountains of water signified the drying up of their powers. The waters became like wormwood and caused many to die. Wormwood is a bitter plant; thus, destruction would be bitter, Deuteronomy 29:18 / Jeremiah 9:15 / Jeremiah 23:15.
Here we have the fourth of seven angels sounding his trumpet, Revelation 8:2. Each of the four trumpets damages some part of the natural world. The object is to get sinners to repent.
Here, a third part of the sun, moon and stars are smitten, thus leaving darkness, Isaiah 34:4-5 / Joel 2:10. Darkness, doom, and distress would come over the Roman empire.
Kercheville, in his commentary, says the following.
‘We learned in Revelation 6:12-14 that the sun no longer shines, the moon becoming like blood, and the stars falling from the sky are symbols of final judgment on a nation. In Revelation 8:12, we again see only a third of these celestial bodies struck. Therefore, this is not yet the final judgment but only a partial judgment, the great tribulation, affecting part of the earth.’
The angel heard the eagle crying, ‘woe, woe, woe’ to the inhabitants of the earth, signalling that even worse things are yet to come, Deuteronomy 28:49-50. These first four trumpets have signalled great calamity, but the three remaining trumpets will signal even worse things.