Revelation 8

8 When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.

Again, we see Revelation take on a very Liturgical format.

As well, we see that contained within the seventh seal, there is the seven-fold trumpet judgement, and the seventh trumpet brings about the seven bowl judgements.

2Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. 3And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer; and he was given much incense to mingle with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar before the throne; 4and the smoke of the incense rose with the prayers of the saints from the hand of the angel before God. 5Then 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, voices, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.

More liturgical action, as the angel mingles the prayers of the saints with heavenly incense, and presents them before God. Thus we have Scriptural support for the mediation of saints and angels through their prayers and actions. We also see that these prayers are effective, and used by God to bring about His justice!

6Now the seven angels who had the seven trumpets made ready to blow them. 7The first angel blew his trumpet, and there followed hail and fire, mixed with blood, which fell on the earth; and a third of the earth was burnt up, and a third of the trees were burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up. 8The second angel blew his trumpet, and something like a great mountain, burning with fire, was thrown into the sea; 9and a third of the sea became blood, a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed. 10The third angel blew his trumpet, and a great star fell from heaven, blazing like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the fountains of water. 11The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died of the water, because it was made bitter. 12The fourth angel blew his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, and a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of their light was darkened; a third of the day was kept from shining, and likewise a third of the night.

Again, in these natural disasters and intense devastation, we see the fall of Jerusalem being symbolically depicted. Through it, we also see the end of the world and the last judgement. While the imagery is frighteningly violent, still throughout we recognise both the justice and the mercy of God. Justice: knowing that those who are being punished deserve their fate for their rebellion. Mercy: because even now, God calls them to repentance (cf. Revelation 9:20-21)!

13Then I looked, and I heard an eagle crying with a loud voice, as it flew in midheaven, "Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth, at the blasts of the other trumpets which the three angels are about to blow!"

The eagle warns that things are only going to get worse, and implicitly gives a call for repentance. Interestingly, in Christian iconography, John's Gospel was always represented by an eagle.

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