Rev 8:7-12 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Rev 8:7-12: 8:7-12 Each of the first four trumpets affects one-third of its target (see Ezek 5:1-4 , 12 ; Zech 13:8 ). The point is not to convey an exact measurement; instead, it indicates that God’s judgment on the earth is beginning but has not reached its zenith. Together, the first four trumpets form a unified message of judgment on the whole physical world (as with Rev 6:1-8 ). 8:7 Hail and fire mixed with blood signal the destruction of plant life, as did the seventh plague on Egypt (see Exod 9:13-35 ; Joel 2:31 ; Acts 2:19 ). • all the green grass was burned: Nothing escapes God’s judgment. • This vision need not be harmonized with Rev 9:4 because each scene is self-contained and communicates its own message.

Summary for Rev 8:7-12: 8:7-12 ^a Each of the first four trumpets affects one-third of its target (see Ezek 5:1-4 ^b, 12 ^c; Zech 13:8 ^d). The point is not to convey an exact measurement; instead, it indicates that God’s judgment on the earth is beginning but has not reached its zenith. Together, the first four trumpets form a unified message of judgment on the whole physical world (as with Rev 6:1-8 ^e). 8:7 ^f Hail and fire mixed with blood signal the destruction of plant life, as did the seventh plague on Egypt (see Exod 9:13-35 ^g; Joel 2:31 ^h; Acts 2:19 ⁱ).

• all the green grass was burned: Nothing escapes God’s judgment.

• This vision need not be harmonized with Rev 9:4 ^j because each scene is self-contained and communicates its own message.
Summary for Rev 8:8-9: 8:8-9 ^k water ... became blood: This judgment is similar to the first plague on Egypt (see Exod 7:14-25 ^l; Ps 78:44 ^m).

• The mountain of fire suggests something similar to the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79 that brought bloody destruction to ships and sea life (see Pliny the Younger, Letters 6.16.1-22).
Summary for Rev 8:10-11: 8:10-11 ⁿ The star named Bitterness (literally wormwood, a shrubby plant yielding a bitter extract) is symbolic rather than physical. Bitter water is connected with judgment from early in Israel’s national experience (Exod 15:22-26 ^o; Num 5:18 ^p; Jer 9:13-16 ^q; 23:15 ^r). The message is that wide-scale judgment has begun.
8:12 ^s the fourth angel: On the fourth day of creation, God made the sun ... the moon, and ... the stars (Gen 1:14-19 ^t).

• the day was dark: This judgment replicates the ninth plague in Egypt (Exod 10:21-23 ^u).