Revelation 8:6-9 meaning

At this point, the seventh seal is opened, and in the seventh seal are seven trumpet judgments, of which the first pair are described here in Revelation 8:6-9. Preparation is made by the seven angels to sound the seven trumpets. 

And the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound them (v. 6).

We might imagine these angels lined up getting ready to play their fanfare. They will each sound one at a time. Just as with the seven seals, the sounding of each trumpet will signal a supernatural event that will occur after the sound. This is all authorized by God. So even though we might see the destruction and be dismayed, we know that God is in charge.

The judgment will be severe, but appropriate. God has patiently waited (2 Peter 3:9). Although believers throughout history have been eager for God to judge the earth and redeem it from its cursed state, God has waited until this moment. And now it is time. The final judgments will commence. The first trumpet blows:

The first sounded, and there came hail and fire, mixed with blood, and they were thrown to the earth; and a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up (v. 7).

After the first trumpet, hail and fire are thrown to the earth. This is somewhat like the ten plagues in Egypt. In Exodus 9:23, “the LORD sent thunder and hail, and fire ran down to the earth.” The picture in Exodus seems to be that many bolts of lighting struck the earth along with the severe hail. However, the Exodus plague was local, apparently only occurring in Egypt. This plague from the first trumpet burns up a third of the earth.

Perhaps the fire that attends the hail comes from lightning, but the hail and fire are said to be mixed with blood. John is describing what he is seeing using his own experience. But it is not clear what this is. However, what is clear is that the judgment falls from the heavens and a third of the earth was burned up.

The passage goes on to describe what is meant by a third of the earth burning up: a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up (v. 7). Since all the green grass was burned up, perhaps part of what is being described is a cosmic event that creates a massive wave of heat and drought that causes all green grass to die. With a third of the trees dead, and all green grass dead, the earth’s productivity is now in serious decline. But this was just the first trumpet.

Now the second blows:

The second angel sounded, and something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea; and a third of the sea became blood, and a third of the creatures which were in the sea and had life, died; and a third of the ships were destroyed (v. 8).

John describes something like a great mountain that falls into the sea. Perhaps this is a meteor since it is said to be burning with fire. Of course since this is supernatural, it could be something God created for the moment. The result of the second trumpet judgment is that a third of the sea became blood, and a third of the creatures which were in the sea and had life died.

This might be the ultimate fulfillment of Joel 2:30, which was quoted by Peter in Acts 2:19. It could be that this describes the sea turning red, which would indicate some sort of vegetative malfunction which would lead to great loss of life in the sea. Again, since this is a supernatural event, it could be many things.

It is also said that a third of the ships were destroyed. This would indicate that whatever event is happening also causes destruction to a third of all ships. This could indicate that the massive event primarily occurs in a third part of the ocean and the event itself is so disruptive that it causes mass loss of life and shipping vessels. The first two trumpets are done. Five more are to come.