Revelation 8:7 – 12

First Trumpet: Vegetation Struck

7 The first angel sounded: And hail and fire followed, mingled with blood, and they were thrown to the earth. And a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.

The plagues we see in the second half of chapter 8 symbolized show the reverses which came upon the Roman Empire and resulted in the downfall of the government.

In a book which uses symbols to predict facts then they are shown as if things such as trees and grass being destroyed. But these things such as fire and hail do not represent actual thunderstorms with lightnings and hail which destroy the vegetation of the earth.

Remember when Constantine accepted Christ, he threw his government into a major upheaval, and the entire empire suffered. The government went from one which was not only condoning the persecution of Christians but it was government policy to do so. The persecutors went from being government contractors to becoming Roman outlaws, all at the desire of the leader.

Second Trumpet: The Seas Struck

8 Then the second angel sounded: And something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood. 9 And a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.

The seas represent the people of the Roman Empire. The effects of God's influence and judgments on the political aspects of the government of the Roman Empire is symbolized in this verse. The great mountain represents some great unit of the government. It's downfall is felt by the people as if a great mountain with wildfires all over it were thrown into the sea.

All of these calamities represent the effects on the people by the political confusion of this department of the Roman government's destruction.

What would happen in our world if, for example, the department of Treasury was destroyed? What would happen to the population if all the paper money we hold was deemed totally worthless?

Third Trumpet: The Waters Struck

10 Then the third angel sounded: And a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. 11 The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the water, because it was made bitter.

There is no meteor or great star falling on the earth as predicted here. What is predicted is the fall of a great leader of the Roman Empire.

This fall of a great leader is shown to fall on the rivers and springs which because of the importance of water to life shows how vital this person was to the Roman Empire.

“Wormwood” shows the effect on the Empire. “Wormwood” is from the Greek word APSINTHOS, which Thayer defines, "wormwood, absinthe." Webster's -definition of the word is as follows: "A green alcoholic liquor containing oils of wormwood and anise, and other aromatics. Its continued use causes nervous derangement." it is no wonder if it poisoned the water system of an Empire that its effect would cause many to die.

Fourth Trumpet: The Heavens Struck

12 Then the fourth angel sounded: And a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them were darkened. A third of the day did not shine, and likewise the night.

13 And I looked, and I heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, “Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!”

The sun, moon, and stars represent the leaders of the empire, all of this upheaval was caused by the wrath of God being unleashed by the four angels upon the Roman Empire.

For the people of the political leadership of the Roman Empire, their problems have just begun. This angel who is flying through the midst of heaven (political heavens of the Roman Empire)

The angel announced to the leaders of the Roman Empire the worst is yet to come with the trumpet blasts of the final 3 angels.