[1] When the Lamb cracked open the seventh and final seal, a great silence filled all heaven penetrating everything for about half an hour. [2] Then I saw seven heavenly messengers, the ones who stand before God, receive seven trumpets. [3] An eighth messenger came and stood before the altar carrying a golden censer. He received a large portion of incense to complement the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar that sits in front of the throne. [4] From the hand of the eighth messenger, the smoke of the incense mixed with the prayers of God's people and billowed up before God. [5] The messenger filled the censer with fiery coals from the altar and cast it upon the earth, causing a great commotion of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake. [6] The seven heavenly messengers raised the seven trumpets and prepared to sound them. [7] The first messenger sounded his trumpet, and a blast of hail and fire mixed with blood was cast down to the earth. As a result, one-third of the land was set ablaze, one-third of the trees were burned, and all the green grass was scorched. [8] The second messenger sounded his trumpet, and something like a great mountain, with bright flames of burning fire, was cast into the sea. As a result, one-third of the sea turned into blood, [9] one-third of the living sea creatures died, and one-third of the ships were obliterated. [10] The third messenger sounded his trumpet, and a great star called Wormwood dropped out of heaven, flaming like a torch as it fell on one-third of the rivers and the springs. As a result, one-third of the waters turned bitter like the herb wormwood so that many people died from the poisonous bitter waters. [12] The fourth messenger sounded his trumpet, and one-third of the sun, one-third of the moon, and one-third of the stars were darkened. As a result, one-third of their light flickered and failed. For one-third of the day, the sun did not shine; and likewise for one-third of the night, the moon and stars did not give their light. [13] Then I saw an eagle flying through midheaven, and I heard it cry with a loud voice. Eagle: Woe, woe, woe-horror, disaster, and calamity-to the earth dwellers! The rest of the trumpet blasts from the last three messengers are about to sound.
