Revelation 8:7

¶ 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.

{G2532} The first {G4413} angel {G32} sounded {G4537}, and {G2532} there followed {G1096} hail {G5464} and {G2532} fire {G4442} mingled {G3396} with blood {G129}, and {G2532} they were cast {G906} upon {G1519} the earth {G1093}: and {G2532} the third part {G5154} of trees {G1186} was burnt up {G2618}, and {G2532} all {G3956} green {G5515} grass {G5528} was burnt up {G2618}.

The first one sounded his shofar; and there came hail and fire mingled with blood, and it was thrown down upon the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.

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.

And the first sounded, and there followed hail and fire, mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of the earth was burnt up, and the third part of the trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.

Revelation 8:7 introduces the first of the seven trumpet judgments, a series of escalating divine interventions upon the earth. This verse vividly depicts a catastrophic event involving hail, fire, and blood, signaling a profound disruption to the natural order and a foretaste of God's coming wrath.

Context

This verse immediately follows the opening of the seventh seal, which initiated a period of silence in heaven before the seven angels were given trumpets (Revelation 8:1). The trumpet judgments are distinct from the previous seal judgments, which primarily revealed events and their consequences. The trumpets represent direct, supernatural calamities poured out upon the earth, affecting specific aspects of creation. The imagery here draws heavily from Old Testament prophetic literature, particularly the plagues on Egypt, emphasizing divine judgment and a call to repentance before the ultimate consummation of God's plan.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment and Wrath: The sounding of the first trumpet unleashes a powerful display of God's judgment. The combination of "hail and fire mingled with blood" is a clear sign of divine displeasure and destructive power, impacting the very foundations of life on earth. This is not random chaos but a deliberate act of divine intervention to address human rebellion and sin.
  • Environmental Devastation: The direct impact on "the third part of trees" and "all green grass" signifies widespread ecological destruction. This partial, yet significant, devastation highlights the vulnerability of creation to God's judgment and serves as a stark warning to humanity. It's a reminder that human actions have cosmic consequences, and God's justice extends to the natural world.
  • Symbolic Imagery and Old Testament Echoes: The imagery of hail and fire strongly echoes the plague of hail and fire in Exodus 9:23-24, which devastated Egypt's crops and livestock. The addition of "blood" intensifies the imagery, symbolizing death, violence, and the severity of the judgment. These parallels connect John's vision to historical acts of God's judgment, providing a sense of continuity in God's dealings with humanity.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "the third part" (Greek: to triton) is significant and recurs throughout the trumpet and bowl judgments in Revelation (Revelation 8:9, Revelation 9:15, etc.). This consistent numerical detail suggests a judgment that is severe and widespread but not yet total annihilation. It implies a measure of divine restraint, perhaps offering an opportunity for repentance before the final, ultimate judgments are poured out.

Practical Application

Revelation 8:7 serves as a powerful reminder of God's sovereignty and the serious consequences of rejecting His authority. For believers, it reinforces the truth that God is in control, even amidst chaos and destruction, and that His prophetic word is reliable. It also underscores the urgency of sharing the gospel message, as these judgments highlight the impending need for salvation through Jesus Christ. For all, it's a stark warning to consider one's standing before a holy God and to respond to His call for repentance and faith.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Ezekiel 38:22

    And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that [are] with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone.

  • Revelation 9:4

    And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.

  • Revelation 9:18

    By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths.

  • Revelation 9:15

    And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men.

  • Exodus 9:23

    And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven: and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and the fire ran along upon the ground; and the LORD rained hail upon the land of Egypt.

  • Exodus 9:25

    And the hail smote throughout all the land of Egypt all that [was] in the field, both man and beast; and the hail smote every herb of the field, and brake every tree of the field.

  • Isaiah 28:2

    Behold, the Lord hath a mighty and strong one, [which] as a tempest of hail [and] a destroying storm, as a flood of mighty waters overflowing, shall cast down to the earth with the hand.

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