Bible Commentaries
Revelation 8

Verses 1-13

1 The hush is occasioned by the intense expectation which accompanies this, the last seal, just as the crowd who clamored for Paul's death hushed when he was about to speak (Acts 21:40). Hitherto there have been cries for vengeance and bursts of praise, but now the crisis has come and all hold their breath, as it were, to see the outcome. The delay shows that the inflictions are deliberate, not vindictive.

2 The trumpet was sounded in Israel in case of war (Numbers 10:9). This was done by Ehud (Judges 3:27) and Gideon (Judges 6:34; Judges 7:8; Judges 7:18) and Saul (1 Samuel 13:3). (Zephaniah 1:14-16) calls the day of Jehovah a "day of trumpet and shouting". (Joel 2:1) "Blow a trumpet . . . for the day of Jehovah comes". The trumpet judgments are the divine response to the prayers of the souls under the altar (Revelation 6:9).

2 The seven messengers may be identical with the seven who pour out the seven bowls (Revelation 15:1), and the seven spirits before the throne (Revelation 1:4), one of whom is Gabriel (Luke 1:19).

3 The golden altar is distinct from the brazen altar of the fifth seal, which was in front of the temple and tabernacle. This altar was in the holy place, before the curtain, behind which was the ark and mercy seat, which was Jehovah's throne (Exodus 30:6; Exodus 40:5; Exodus 40:26) .

5 Compare the action of the messenger with the tenth of Ezekiel (Revelation 10:5; Revelation 10:8), where fire is taken from between the Cherubim and strewn over Jerusalem in token of its doom.

7 Blood and fire are signs of the day of the Lord (Joel 2:30). One of the plagues of Egypt was sounds and hail, and fire (Exodus 9:23-25). This will be repeated on a grander scale. Compare Joel 1:19. We have no more reason to make the effects of the Trumpets figurative than the effect of Moses' rod in Egypt. A greater One than Moses is here.

8 This burning mountain may be a volcano, for this time is characterized by seismic disturbances of unparalleled violence (Exodus 7:20-21, Psalms 78:44; Psalms 105:29; Hosea 4:3; Isaiah 2:16).

9 If we believe that the river of Egypt was turned into blood and the fish in the river died (Exodus 7:20-21) when Moses smote the waters, what reason is there why we should not look for a similar judgment in Jehovah's day? (Psalms 78:44; Psalms 105:29). But under no circumstances may these judgments be found in this day of grace.

10 The "star" seems to be a gaseous comet which will be readily absorbed by water. Absinthin, a yellow, crystalline compound, is the bitter principle of wormwood, which is highly poisonous when taken in large doses.

12 Signs in the sun, moon, and constellations precede the coming of the Son of Mankind (Luke 21:25), though the usual reference is to the final cataclysm (Revelation 6:12).

Compare Amos 8:9; Jeremiah 4:13 The vulture is noted for its swiftness (Deuteronomy 28:49; Jeremiah 4:13; Habakkuk 1:8).

Unlike the eagle, it goes in company, seldom alone. Hence the significance of one vulture. It feeds on the carcasses of the dead, and is foraging for prey.