Revelation 8:5

Were] RV 'followed.'

6-13. The first four trumpets announce convulsions of nature, affecting earth, sea, rivers and the heavenly bodies. The language is in part borrowed from the narrative of the plagues of Egypt, but the whole fourfold vision looks like the picture of a volcanic eruption. Destruction comes upon one-third only, i.e. the mercy is greater than the judgment. The details are not to be pressed. The general idea is that the convulsions of nature are the shadow cast before by the approach of the terrible day of Christ (Revelation 8:6).

After the fourth trumpet, an eagle (not 'angel,' as AV), whose swoop upon the prey is another symbol of judgment (cp. Hosea 8:1; Matthew 24:28), announces three woes upon the ungodly (Revelation 8:13). Each of the last three trumpets heralds one of these woes.