The Word Made Fresh
1Then the lamb opened the seventh seal, and there was silence for half an hour in heaven. 2I saw the seven angels standing before God. A trumpet was given to each of them. 3Another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censor. He was given a huge amount of incense to offer with the prayers of the saints on the golden altar in front of the throne. 4Smoke from the incense rose before God from the angel’s hand along with the prayers of the saints. 5Then the angel filled the censor with fire from the altar and threw it on the earth. There were peals of thunder with rumblings and flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.
6Then the seven angels prepared to blow the seven trumpets.
7The first angel blew his trumpet, and fire and hail mixed with blood were thrown to the earth. A third of the earth was burned up. All the green grass was scorched.
8The second angel blew his trumpet, and what appeared to be a huge mountain aflame with fire was thrown into the sea. 9A third of the sea was turned into blood. A third of the living creatures died, and a third of the ships were sunk.
10Then the third angel blew his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky. It fell on a third of the rivers and springs. 11The star is called Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many people died from the water because it was made poisonous.
12The fourth angel blew his trumpet, and a third of the sun and moon and stars were damaged. A third of their light was darkened. A third of the day had no light nor did the night.
13Then as I watched, I heard an eagle as it flew across the sky calling out loudly, “Woe! Woe! Woe to earth’s inhabitants when the other trumpets of the three angels are sounded!”
Commentary
1-2: Now we return to the opening of the seals. The opening of the seventh seal results in the seven angels (see 1:4 and 3:1) being given trumpets. In other words, the seventh “plague” is the harbinger of seven more plagues!
3-5: Another angel appears to offer incense on the great altar of heaven upon which the prayers of all the saints are gathered as a gift to God. The angel then takes a censer, fills it with fire and throws it upon the earth, causing storms and earthquakes; but God’s judgment on the world is just beginning.
6-7: The seven trumpets are now blown, the first four calling forth destruction and the last three summoning the “woes” of verse 13. The first trumpet summons a hail of fire that consumes a third of the earth — particularly the trees and the grass – vegetation, in other words. The description sounds like a meteor strike or nuclear blast.
8-9: Another strike is made in the ocean, which destroys a third of sea life, including ships.
10-11: Yet another meteor-like strike is pictured, this time a falling star named Wormwood. Wormwood is a bitter herb (artemisia) that symbolized the bitterness of God’s judgment on the wicked. In John’s vision a third of the rivers and springs, the primary sources of drinking water, are made unpalatable.
12: The fourth trumpet signals the destruction of a third of the sun, moon, and stars. Notice here that creation, as described in Genesis 1, is being dismantled: vegetation (Genesis 1:9-13); the sea (Genesis 1:9-10); fish and other sea creatures (Genesis 1:20); sun, moon, and stars (Genesis 1:14-19).
13: There is no way of knowing whether John intends the eagle to be one of the four living creatures first mentioned at 4:7. Perhaps the eagle simply means that God is using nature to warn the world what is happening. Or perhaps the eagle represents Rome, the empire of John’s day and time, exalted (flying in mid-heaven) but soon to witness God’s destruction still to be unleashed.
Takeaway
Much of this chapter sounds like nuclear war – a falling star named Wormwood? Would God use us to destroy ourselves? We certainly hope not, but we can’t deny that our world today seems to be on the brink of terrible destruction. Pray for peace between nations and neighbors.