Revelation 8:8

And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood;

And {G2532} the second {G1208} angel {G32} sounded {G4537}, and {G2532} as it were {G5613} a great {G3173} mountain {G3735} burning {G2545} with fire {G4442} was cast {G906} into {G1519} the sea {G2281}: and {G2532} the third part {G5154} of the sea {G2281} became {G1096} blood {G129};

The second angel sounded his shofar, and what looked like an enormous blazing mountain was hurled into the sea. A third of the sea turned to blood,

Then the second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned to blood,

And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood;

Revelation 8:8 KJV describes the dramatic sounding of the second trumpet judgment, a pivotal event in the unfolding series of divine judgments upon the earth.

Context

This verse is part of the seven trumpet judgments, which commence after the breaking of the seventh seal. Following the first trumpet's devastation of land and vegetation (Revelation 8:7), the second trumpet focuses its destructive power on the sea. These judgments escalate in intensity, revealing God's progressive wrath against a rebellious world, yet they are often described as partial judgments, affecting "a third part" rather than the whole, hinting at a period of opportunity for repentance.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment on Creation: The casting of a "great mountain burning with fire" into the sea signifies a massive, catastrophic event targeting the marine environment. This judgment disrupts the natural order and sustenance derived from the oceans.
  • Cosmic and Environmental Devastation: The impact turns "the third part of the sea became blood," causing widespread death to marine life (Revelation 8:9) and rendering a significant portion of the waters unusable. This highlights the severe ecological consequences of these judgments.
  • Symbolism of the "Mountain": The phrase "as it were a great mountain burning with fire" uses a simile, suggesting that while the impact is real, the "mountain" itself might be symbolic. It could represent a powerful nation, a kingdom, a great leader, or an immense destructive force. The imagery evokes immense power and destruction, often associated with judgment in prophetic literature.
  • Partial Judgment: Like the first trumpet, this judgment affects "the third part," emphasizing that these are not yet the ultimate, all-encompassing judgments, but severe warnings designed to call humanity to account.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "as it were" translates the Greek word hos (ὡς), which means "as, like, just as." This is crucial because it suggests the "great mountain burning with fire" might not be a literal geological mountain. Instead, it indicates a resemblance, implying a symbolic or metaphorical representation of something immense, destructive, and prominent. The imagery of water turning to blood strongly echoes the plague on the Nile in Exodus 7:20-21, connecting these end-time judgments to historical acts of divine power and highlighting the consistency of God's methods of judgment.

Practical Application

For believers today, Revelation 8:8 serves as a powerful reminder of God's sovereignty over all creation, including the forces of nature, and His ultimate justice. It underscores the severity of unrepentant sin and the inevitable consequences of rejecting God's ways. While these prophetic events point to a future time of tribulation, they also call humanity to a present reality of humility, repentance, and seeking the Lord. The specific targeting of the sea reminds us of the interconnectedness of creation and the widespread impact of divine judgment, urging us to consider our own relationship with God and His call to repentance before the day of the Lord.

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.

  • Jeremiah 51:25

    Behold, I [am] against thee, O destroying mountain, saith the LORD, which destroyest all the earth: and I will stretch out mine hand upon thee, and roll thee down from the rocks, and will make thee a burnt mountain.

  • Exodus 7:17

    Thus saith the LORD, In this thou shalt know that I [am] the LORD: behold, I will smite with the rod that [is] in mine hand upon the waters which [are] in the river, and they shall be turned to blood.

  • Exodus 7:21

    And the fish that [was] in the river died; and the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink of the water of the river; and there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt.

  • Mark 11:23

    For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.

  • 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.

  • Revelation 16:3

    And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead [man]: and every living soul died in the sea.

  • Revelation 16:21

    And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, [every stone] about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.

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