Revelation 8

1 When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.

2 I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.

3 Another angel came and stood over the altar, having a golden censer. Much incense was given to him, that he should add it to the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar which was before the throne.

4 The smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel’s hand.

5 The angel took the censer, and he filled it with the fire of the altar, then threw it on the earth. Thunders, sounds, lightnings, and an earthquake followed.

6 The seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.

7 The first sounded, and there followed hail and fire, mixed with blood, and they were thrown to the earth. One third of the earth was burned up, and one third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.

8 The second angel sounded, and something like a great burning mountain was thrown into the sea. One third of the sea became blood,

9 and one third of the living creatures which were in the sea died. One third of the ships were destroyed.

10 The third angel sounded, and a great star fell from the sky, burning like a torch, and it fell on one third of the rivers, and on the springs of water.

11 The name of the star is “Wormwood.” One third of the waters became wormwood. Many people died from the waters, because they were made bitter.

12 The fourth angel sounded, and one third of the sun was struck, and one third of the moon, and one third of the stars, so that one third of them would be darkened; and the day wouldn’t shine for one third of it, and the night in the same way.

13 I saw, and I heard an eagle, flying in mid heaven, saying with a loud voice, “Woe! Woe! Woe to those who dwell on the earth, because of the other blasts of the trumpets of the three angels, who are yet to sound!”

Around Revelation 8

Context

Context for this book is being written. A note appears here only once it names its sources.

AI explanation

Revelation 8 · Written by an AI model · Not reviewed by a theological reader

This explanation was written by an AI model to help you get started. It names no sources and can contain mistakes. Scripture comes first, and context with sources is shown separately on this page.

What this chapter says

When the Lamb opens the seventh seal, nothing happens. There is “silence in heaven for about half an hour.” Then seven angels are given seven trumpets, and another angel stands at the golden altar with a censer. Much incense goes up before God with the prayers of the saints. The angel fills the censer with fire from the altar and throws it on the earth, and thunder, lightning and an earthquake follow.

Now the trumpets sound, one by one. Hail and fire mixed with blood burn a third of the earth. A burning mountain falls into the sea. A star called Wormwood turns a third of the waters bitter, and many die from them. A third of the sun, moon and stars goes dark. Then an eagle crosses the sky crying, “Woe! Woe! Woe” for the three trumpets still to come.

Background

After the seals comes a new series, the trumpets. The damage is counted in thirds, so it is serious but not yet final. Many readers hear echoes of the plagues of Egypt (see Exodus 7 to 10) and of the prophets’ warnings. The chapter also joins the prayers of God’s people to the first act of judgment: the incense rises with their prayers before the fire is thrown. Christians differ on whether the trumpets describe past, future or recurring events.

About this explanation

Written by Claude Sonnet 5.5, an AI model, on 20 October 2026. It draws on the WEB text and general knowledge and was not checked against sources by a person. Every quotation from Scripture is checked automatically against the WEB text.

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World English Bible. Public-domain source and edition notes