28 WEEKLY READERS
Alabama - Craig, Mary
Arizona-
Arkansas- Beverly
California - Joan
Florida -
Georgia - Martha
Germany -
Idaho-
Illinois-
India -
Indiana -
Kentucky - Janie, Nita, Jackie, Barb, Bonnie, Billie, Genny
Missouri - Marvine
Nevada - Charlene, Doris, Connie
New Mexico-
North Carolina -
Ohio - Ruby
Oregon-
Pennsylvania - Nancy
South Africa-
South Carolina -
Tennessee - Gail
Texas - Shelley, Betty, Danny, Tim
Ukraine -
Utah - Linda, Sandy, Drue, Pat, Paul
Virginia -
Wisconsin -
Revelation 8
*Chapters 4-7 and the opening of the first six seals appears to depict for us the battle between right and wrong through time to the beginning of eternity. The opening of the seventh seal presents a new episode showing the fierce judgment of God upon the world for having rejected the truth and having despised and persecuted the faithful. The sounding of the seven trumpets symbolically depicts this judgment.
1. What occurred in heaven when the seventh seal was opened?
There was silence in heaven for about half an hour
2. What was given to the seven angels which were before the throne of God?
Seven trumpets
3. Another angel came and stood at the altar.
a. What did he have? A golden censer
b. What was given to him? Much incense
c. And with what was this offered? The prayers of all the saints
4. With what did the angel then fill the censer? Fire of the altar
5. What did he do with it? Cast it into the earth.
6. What was its effect which symbolized the awesome presence of God in His judgment (also cf. Ex. 19:16-25)?
There were voices, thunderings, lightnings and an earthquake
Now the judgments of God against the earth begin with the sounding of the trumpets:
7. What followed the sounding of the first trumpet? Hail and fire mingled with blood.
8. Upon what was this cast? The earth
9. What was its effect? The third part of trees and all green grass was burnt up.
10. What followed the sounding of the second trumpet? A mountain-like mass was cast into the sea.
11. What was its effect? A third part of the sea became blood, a third part of the living creatures in the sea died and a third part of the ships were destroyed
12. What followed the sounding of the third trumpet? A great star from heaven fell upon the third part of the rivers and fountains of waters.
13. What was the name of this calamity and what was its effect? A third part of the waters became wormwood and many men died because of the bitter water.
14. What followed the sounding of the fourth trumpet? The third part of the sun, moon and stars was smitten.
15. What was the effect of this calamity? There were no heavenly lights for a third part of the day and a third part of the night.
16. What did an angel then announce? Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabitants of the earth by reason of the other trumpet voices that were going to sound.
The message of these judgments against the wicked is simple. there is no security for the wicked.
* Winters, Howard. (1989) Commentary on Revelation: Practical and Explanatory. Carolina Christian: Greenville, S.C.