Revelation 8:1-5

The Seventh Seal and the Golden Censer

1 When the Lamb opened 1the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.
2 Then I saw the seven angels 2who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.
3 And another angel came and stood 3at the altar with a golden censer, and he was given much incense to offer with 4the prayers of all the saints on 5the golden altar before the throne,
4 and 6the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel.
5 Then the angel took the censer and 7filled it with fire from the altar and threw it on the earth, and 8there were peals of 9thunder, rumblings,[a] flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.

Revelation 8:1-5 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO REVELATION 8

This chapter contains the opening of the seventh seal, and the things that followed on it, and particularly the sounding of the first four trumpets. Upon the opening of the seventh seal there was silence in heaven for half an hour, Re 8:1; then follows a vision of seven angels, who stood before God, and had seven trumpets given to them, Re 8:2; then of another angel, described by his position, standing at the altar; by his having a golden censer, and by much incense being given him, the end of which was to offer up the prayers of all saints, which with it went up to God, and were acceptable to him; and by filling his censer with the fire of the altar, and casting it to the earth; the effects of which were voices, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake, Re 8:3-5, after which the seven angels prepare to sound their trumpets, Re 8:6; the first blows his, which brings hail and fire, mingled with blood, upon the earth, which burns up the third part of trees and all green grass, Re 8:7; the second blows, upon which a burning mountain is cast into the sea, and a third part of it becomes blood, a third part of the creatures in it die, and a third part of the ships upon it are destroyed, Re 8:8,9; the third angel blows; upon which a star, like a burning lamp, falls upon the third part of rivers and fountains, whose name is Wormwood, and embitters them, so that many men die of them, Re 8:10,11; the fourth angel blows, and the third part of the sun, moon, and stars, is smitten, and becomes dark, so that there is no light for a third part of the day and night, Re 8:12; and the chapter is concluded with the vision of another angel flying through the midst of heaven, proclaiming three times woe to the inhabitants of the earth, on account of what would be uttered by the three following angels, who were yet to blow their trumpets, Re 8:13.

Cross References 9

  • 1. Revelation 5:1; Revelation 6:1
  • 2. Luke 1:19
  • 3. Amos 9:1
  • 4. Revelation 5:8
  • 5. Revelation 9:13; Exodus 30:1, 3
  • 6. [Psalms 141:2]
  • 7. Leviticus 16:12
  • 8. [Psalms 18:7, 8]
  • 9. See Revelation 4:5

Footnotes 1

The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.