silence -- in marked contrast to the loud prayer & praise of 6:10; 7:10-12

-- in awesome anticipation of the terrible & wonderful things to follow. Zeph 1:2,3,7

-- the lull before the storm... The God of grace pauses in the process of judgment.
He waits to see if any might repent. 2Pet 3:9; Ezek 18:32; Rev 6:15-17

The seven seals may reveal the natural result of man's rebellion against God.

Man looks to a man (ie., the antichrist) for peace.
But the hearts of man contain war. 1The 5:3; Jam 4:1-4

The seven trumpets introduce God's direct & supernatural judgments.

There are many similarities between the Trumpet judgments and the Bowl (Vial) judgments (which begin in ch. 16). However, the Trumpet judgments seem measured and limited, as though God is still mercifully withholding the full force of His wrath. In the Bowl judgments, His wrath is poured out without measure.

trumpets- sound before events of outstanding importance in scripture. Eg.:

-- the giving of the Law (first occurrence). Ex 19:16; 20:18

-- the breaking of the Day of the Lord. Joel 2:1

Note: These trumpets, sounded by angels, should not be confused

with the trumpet at the Rapture which is actually the Lord's voice. 1The 4:16

Trumpets were sounded when Israel was on the move

(eg. in the wilderness to a new encampment, or in the day of battle).

A comparison of the order of events at the battle of Jericho (Josh 6:2-5), provides a pattern for understanding the progression of the 3 sevenfold judgments of Revelation:

At the downfall of Jericho	-	In the Tribulation
7 days march around the city . . .on the last day:	| |	7 seals are opened . . .at the last seal:
7 times around the city . . .on the last time:	| |	7 trumpets sound . . .at the last trumpet:
7 trumpets sound . . .Jericho falls.	| |	7 bowls are poured out . . .'Babylon is fallen.'

          The Rapture
              | - - - - - - - -  The Tribulation (duration 7 years)  - - - - - - - - |
Time line     |                                 |   - - The Great Tribulation - -    |    
Judgments:                                      |  (3.5 yrs, 42 months, 1260 days)   |
7 Seals       1  2  3  4  5  6  7                                                    |
7 Trumpets                      1 2 3 4 5   6   7                                    |
  (with 3 Woes)                         Woe Woe Woe
7 Bowls                                                                1 2 3 4 5 6 7 |

   Note 1: Although the judgments will fall in the order shown,
        individual judgments may overlap, and they may vary in duration.
   Note 2: The various judgments have few time markers. Therefore,
        we cannot be definite about which judgments mark the middle of the 
        Tribulation. The time flow shown above seems to correspond well with 
        the narrative,and will be discussed further as our study proceeds.

another angel- Some see Christ here. This angel serves as a priest.

But Christ, in ch. 4 & 5, left His intercessory role as Priest for that of Judge.

incense- Speaks of prayer. "given unto him... that he should offer it..." (cp. Psa 141:2)

But Christ has no need to be "given" incense.

-- His prayer alone prevails before the Father who always hears Him.

-- The merit of His atoning sacrifice is the sweet savour which makes our prayer effective. Eph 5:2

Note that there are two altars here:

-- the (brasen) altar of sacrifice (vs.3a), representing Christ's "one sacrifice for sins forever" by which the believer (and his prayers) have access into God's holy presence (Heb 10:12-14,19-22); and

-- the golden altar of incense (v. 3b), representing the prayers of the saints (those made holy).

The OT priest went in to the Holy of Holies (on the Day of Atonement) with-

-- a censer of coals from the brasen altar,

-- incense to be burned on the coals,

-- and the atoning blood to be sprinkled 7 times. Lev 16:12-14

But here, the motion is reversed:

-- the atonement has been rejected by the world,

-- the prayers of the saints, which once pled for mercy for their enemies, now plead for vengeance (cp. Mat 5:44; Rom 12:14,17,19-20; Rev 6:10)...

-- The fire of judgment comes out from the Mercy Seat with ominous consequences.

'Something like' a great mountain was literally cast into the sea.

What? an asteroid, a volcano, an atomic explosion?

Similar language is used regarding the judgment of Babylon for their

destruction of Jerusalem. Perhaps a corrupt nation is destroyed here. cp. Jer 51:25

What is being taken away? The staff of life.

Farm produce, sea food, transportation (of food and other goods).

Wormwood= a bitter and poisonous plant.

-- In the Russian Bible, the word is 'Chernobyl', also the name of their nuclear plant which suffered a catatrosphic melt-down. Perhaps this signifies nuclear fallout.

-- In scripture, Wormwood is connected with judgment particularly for turning to false gods as the source of life.

cp. Deu 29:18-20; Jer 9:13-15; 23:13-15; Lam 3:1-5,15-21

third part- could refer to either an intense regional obscuration,

or a widespread diminished intensity of light.

Again, there is a parallel to the plagues of Egypt. Ex 10:21-23

Consider the damage to agricultural production:

-- one third of land (v.7), one third of water (v.10), one third of light. Luk 21:25,26

-- The seasons continue, as per the Noahic covenant (Gen 8:22), but man has not kept his side of the bargain. God shows that He is able to call His loan of the necessities of life.

Some versions read 'eagle' but angel fits the context better.

God often uses angels to announce significant events (eg. the destruction of Sodom, the birth of John to Zacharias, the birth of Christ to Mary, Joseph and the shepherds).

inhabiters- from the verb "to dwell" with a prefix "down",

meaning 'those who have settled down, or, into' the earth.

Note that wrath is meant for citizens of earth -not the citizens of heaven. Heb 11:8-10,13-16

The last 3 trumpets are presented as 3 great "Woes" to mankind.

Note that the plagues poured out thus far are to be taken literally.

Rule of interpretation: "When the literal sense makes good sense,
seek no other sense... lest your search lead to nonsense."
The literal sense, though hard to receive or to explain is quite sound,
for the God of biblical revelation is the God of the universe.