Keraia
Revelation 8

Revelation 8:7

The First Four Trumpets · Revelation 8:6–13
Read Revelation 8

Translations

Modern
Then the first angel sounded his trumpet, and hail and fire mixed with blood were hurled down upon the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, along with a third of the trees and all the green grass.
Traditional
The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.
Literal
And the first sounded his trumpet, and there was hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was cast upon 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.
Latin
Et primus angelus tuba cecinit, et facta est grando, et ignis, mista in sanguine, et missum est in terram, et tertia pars terræ combusta est, et tertia pars arborum concremata est, et omne fœnum viride combustum est.

Original

Greek
English
Then the first angel sounded his trumpet, and hail and fire mixed with blood were hurled down upon the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, along with a third of the trees and all the green grass.

Notes

Revelation 8:7

  • Hail and fire mixed with blood show the destruction of plant life, similar to the seventh plague on Egypt (see Exodus 9:13–35; Joel 2:31; Acts 2:19).

  • was burned up, along with … all the green grass: Nothing escapes God's judgment.

  • This vision does not need to align with Revelation 9:4 because each scene is independent and conveys its own message.

Revelation 8:7–12

Each of the first four trumpets affects one-third of its target (see Ezekiel 5:1–4, 12; Zechariah 13:8). This does not convey an exact measurement. Instead, it shows that God's judgment on the earth is starting but has not reached its peak. Together, the first four trumpets deliver a unified message of judgment on the entire physical world (as with Revelation 6:1–8).

Revelation 8:2–11:19

  • The second series of judgments involves seven trumpets. Like the first series (Revelation 6:1–8:1), it includes a pause (10:1–11:14; compare 7:1–17) and concludes with a view of God's eternal kingdom (11:15–19; see 7:9–8:1).

  • The trumpet judgments are similar to the ten plagues of Egypt (Exodus 7:14–11:10). They aim to show that earthly gods (or evil powers) are powerless and to clearly demonstrate God's power and control.

Theme notes and profiles

Angels Visions

Glossary

Book of Revelation Green

Topics

Angel (A Spirit): Functions of Medium of Revelation to Prophets Grass: Destroyed by Hail and Lightning Hail: Figurative Meteorology and Celestial Phenomena: General Scriptures Concerning Meteorology and Celestial Phenomena: Symbolical used in the Revelation of John The Apocalypse Vision of John on the Island of Patmos: The Hail and Fire