Revelation 8:1

CHAPTER VIII.

The opening of the seventh seal, 1.

The seven angels with the seven trumpets, 2-6.

The first sounds, and there is a shower of hail, fire, and

blood, 7.

The second sounds, and the burning mountain is cast into the

sea, 8, 9.

The third sounds, and the great star Wormwood falls from

heaven, 10, 11.

The fourth sounds, and the sun, moon, and stars are smitten;

and a threefold wo is denounced against the inhabitants of

the earth, because of the three angels who are yet to sound,

12, 13.

NOTES ON CHAP VIII.

Verse Revelation 8:1. The seventh seal] This is ushered in and opened only by the Lamb.

Silence in heaven] This must be a mere metaphor, silence being put here for the deep and solemn expectation of the stupendous things about to take place, which the opening of this seal had produced. When any thing prodigious or surprising is expected, all is silence, and even the breath is scarcely heard to be drawn.

Half an hour.] As heaven may signify the place in which all these representations were made to St. John, the half hour may be considered as the time during which no representation was made to him, the time in which God was preparing the august exhibition which follows.

There is here, and in the following verses, a strong allusion to different parts of the temple worship; a presumption that the temple was still standing, and the regular service of God carried on. The silence here refers to this fact-while the priest went in to burn incense in the holy place, all the people continued in silent mental prayer without till the priest returned. See Luke 1:10. The angel mentioned here appears to execute the office of priest, as we shall by and by see.