8 1The Lamb opened the seventh seala. Then there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. 2And I saw the seven angels who stand before God. They were given seven trumpets.3Another angel came and stood at the altarb. This angel had a golden holder for incensec. The angel was given much incensec to offer with the prayers of all God's holy peopled. The angel put this offering on the golden altarb before the throne. 4The smoke from the incense went up from the angel's hand to God. The smoke went up with the prayers of God's people. 5Then the angel filled the incense holder with fire from the altar and threw it down on the earth. Then there were flashes of lightning, thunder and other noises, and an earthquake. 7The first angel blew his trumpet. Then hail and fire mixed with blood was poured down on the earth. And a third of the earth and all the green grass and a third of the trees were burned up. 8The second angel blew his trumpet. Then something that looked like a big mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea. And a third of the sea became blood. 9And a third of the created beings in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed. 10The third angel blew his trumpet. Then a large star, burning like a torch, fell from the sky. It fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. 11The name of the star was Bitternesse. And a third of all the water became bitter. Many people died from drinking this bitter water. 12The fourth angel blew his trumpet. Then a third of the sun and a third of the moon and a third of the stars were struck. So a third of them became dark. A third of the day and night was without light. 13While I watched, I heard an eagle that was flying high in the air. The eagle said in a loud voice, "Terrible! Terrible! How terrible for those who live on the earth! The terrible trouble will begin after the sounds of the trumpets that the other three angels will blow." aseal A small stone or ring with a picture carved in it that was pressed into wet clay or hot wax to hold down the loose end of a scroll. It left a special mark, also called a seal, that was like a signature to keep anyone from opening the scroll except the right person. baltar A raised area, pile of stones, or table where sacrifices were offered as gifts to God. An important altar was the one in front of the Temple in Jerusalem. See also “golden altar.” cincense Special dried tree sap that was burned to make a sweet-smelling smoke and offered as a gift to God. dholy people Literally, “saints” or “holy ones,” a term used in the New Testament to describe followers of Jesus Christ as God’s special people. They are holy because they have been made pure through Christ and belong only to God. See “holy.” e8:11 Bitterness Literally, “Wormwood,” a very bitter plant; here, it is a symbol of bitter sorrow. |