Revelation 8:5 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Then the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and threw it on the earth, and there were peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.

NIV: Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it on the earth; and there came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake.

NASB: Then the angel took the censer and filled it with the fire of the altar, and hurled it to the earth; and there were peals of thunder and sounds, and flashes of lightning and an earthquake.

CSB: The angel took the incense burner, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it to the earth; there were peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.

NLT: Then the angel filled the incense burner with fire from the altar and threw it down upon the earth; and thunder crashed, lightning flashed, and there was a terrible earthquake.

KJV: And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.

NKJV: Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And there were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake.

This verse reports the last thing that happens in heaven before the trumpet judgments begin. In the prior verse, the smoke rising from burnt incense represented the prayers of God's people. The eighth angel fills the censer with fire from the altar and hurls it onto the earth. The altar represents sacrifice for sinners, and fire represents judgment.

Because Jesus, God's Lamb, was sacrificed on the cross for our sin, God withholds His judgment from us. Romans 8:1 explains, "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." However, in Revelation 8:5 judgment on sinners follows the altar of sacrifice. Those who remained unbelievers prior to the tribulation had rejected Christ's atonement and therefore must experience God's judgment. The tribulation judgments offer a stern warning to all today who harden their hearts against the Savior. Proverbs 29:1 cautions: "He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck, will suddenly be broken beyond healing." The Scripture urges: "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts" (Hebrews 3:15).

Loud thunder, rumblings, streaks of lightning, and an earthquake precede the seven trumpet judgments. These ominous occurrences must truly cause earth's inhabitants to tremble.

Revelation 8:1–5 describes what happens prior to the seven angels blowing their trumpets. There is rapt suspense throughout heaven between the opening of the seventh seal and the trumpet blasts. As in previous chapters, angels play a key role in performing God's will. So far in Revelation, angels have initiated praise to God and the Lamb, kept the symbolic winds of God's judgment from blowing, and sealed 144,000 saved Jews to keep them safe throughout the tribulation. Now, even as angels prepare to blow seven trumpets that initiate judgment, another angel burns a censer of incense with the prayers of the saints and then fills the censer with fire and hurls it down to the earth.

Revelation 8 tells us John saw seven angels receive seven trumpets. Another angel brought incense and the prayers of the saints at the golden altar, then filled the container with fire and cast it down to the earth. Next, four angels blew their trumpets in succession. The consequences were devastating: hail and fire mixed with blood; a third of the earth and trees were burned up; all green grass was consumed; a third of the sea became blood; a third of sea life died; a third of the ships were destroyed; the water supply became bitter, and many people died. Further, a third of the sun, moon, and stars experienced some kind of blackout, and darkness extended for a third of the day and night.

In chapter 7, an interlude occurs between the opening of the sixth seal and the seventh seal. In the interlude an angel seals 144,000 saved Jews as God's servants. Chapter 8 introduces the second series of judgments, the trumpet judgments. They begin when Jesus the Lamb opens the seventh seal. The trumpet judgments seem to follow the seal judgments without overlapping them. They are more severe than the seal judgments, resulting in catastrophic damage to plant life, salt waters, fresh waters, and light. Even so, this passage warns that the remaining judgments are even worse.

The word ''revelation'' means ''an unveiling or disclosure.'' This writing unveils future events such as the rapture, three series of judgments that will fall on the earth during the tribulation, the emergence of the Antichrist, the persecution of Israel and her amazing revival, as well as Jesus' second coming with His saints to the earth, the judgment of Satan and his followers, and finally, the eternal state. This content, combined with the original Greek term apokalypsis, is why we now refer to an end-of-the-world scenario as ''an apocalypse.''