Revelation 8
by Philip Layton
The opening of the seventh seal and the sounding of the first four trumpets
Click here to read Revelation 8
Discussion Questions
- The time frame of ‘half an hour’ seems very specific (v 1). Was this prophecy symbolic or was it to be taken literally?
- Why do you think the number seven occurs rather frequently?
Share your thoughts below, or tweet about it with the #boundlessbible hashtag. Don't forget this week's Children's Challenge!
Going Deeper From 'Words of Life'
More judgement to come! All because of sin in the world. All because people refuse to take seriously God’s desire for holy living. The seven trumpets are all part of the seventh seal being opened. The final hour of judgement upon the earth.
The first four trumpets, like the first four seals, cause disturbances to the world of nature – bringing disaster upon the human race.
Trumpet 1. Hail and fire, mixed with blood. A calamity that reduces Earth’s population by a third.
Trumpet 2. A fiery mountain (or something ‘like’ a mountain) thrown into the sea, causing the water to turn into blood. A third of marine life, dead; a third of things to do with ships, destroyed.
Trumpet 3. A star, ‘Wormwood’, falls – bringing fierce heat and poisoning to a third of Earth’s rivers and streams.
Trumpet 4. Darkness. A third of all light, obscured.
More trumpets tomorrow...
Prayer
O God, forgive me for times when I haven’t served and worshipped you – and you alone!
Beverly Ivany
Trumpet photo: Christoph G (Creative Commons)