Revelation 8:2

The seven angels, regarded in later Jewish belief as having a special position in God's presence (cp. Tob 12:15; Luke 1:19), are given seven trumpets, symbols of judgment: cp. Matthew 24:31; 1 Corinthians 15:52; 1 Thessalonians 4:16. It is best to understand the vision of the trumpets as being the contents of the seventh seal. This appears from the character of the events belonging to the first four trumpets, which spring from the third division of Christ's prophecy (Matthew 24:29; Luke 21:25.), and are parallel with the sixth seal: see on Revelation 6. Therefore the trumpets represent the judgments on the heathen world, especially on the Roman empire, to come after the Fall of Jerusalem. It will be noticed that the arrangement of the trumpets is parallel to that of the seals, and that there is an episode of two visions between the sixth and seventh trumpets as there was between the sixth and seventh seals

3-5. The incense of the prayer of heaven is joined to the Church's prayer that Christ will not tarry, cp. Revelation 6:10; Romans 8:26; (Revelation 8:3.), and, in answer, the fire of God's judgment is cast on the earth, cp. Ezekiel 10:2; (Revelation 8:5), after which the sounding of the trumpets begins.