1. All'apertura del settimo sigillo si fece silenzio in cielo per circa mezz'ora.
2. Quindi vidi che ai sette angeli ritti davanti a Dio furono date sette trombe.
3. Poi un altro angelo s'appressò con in mano un braciere d'oro e si pose al lato dell'altare. Gli fu dato una gran quantità d'incenso, affinché l'offrisse, quale simbolo delle preghiere dei santi, sull'altare d'oro antistante al trono.
4. Salì verso Dio il fumo dell'incenso, simbolo delle preghiere dei santi, dalla mano dell'angelo.
5. Poi l'angelo prese il braciere, lo riempì con il fuoco dell'altare e lo gettò sulla terra; ne seguirono tuoni, clamori, lampi e scosse di terremoto.
6. E i sette angeli con le sette trombe si disposero a dar fiato alle trombe.
7. Il primo suonò la sua tromba: vi fu grandine con fuoco mescolato a sangue che cadde sulla terra; la terza parte della terra rimase bruciata, la terza parte degli alberi rimase bruciata e ogni specie di piante rimase bruciata.
8. Il secondo angelo suonò la sua tromba: come una enorme massa incandescente cadde nel mare; la terza parte del mare diventò sangue,
9. per cui la terza parte degli esseri marini dotati di vita morì e la terza parte delle navi perì.
10. Il terzo angelo suonò la sua tromba: cadde dal cielo una stella enorme, che bruciava come una fiaccola, e cadde sulla terza parte dei fiumi e sulle sorgenti d'acqua.
11. Il nome della stella è Assenzio; difatti la terza parte delle acque si mutò in assenzio e molti uomini morirono per l'acqua diventata amara.
12. Il quarto angelo suonò la sua tromba: fu colpita la terza parte del sole, la terza parte della luna e la terza parte delle stelle, in modo che s'offuscò la terza parte di loro e così il giorno non brillava per una sua terza parte e lo stesso la notte.
13. Udii poi in visione un'aquila, che volava allo zenit, dire a gran voce: "Guai, guai, guai agli abitanti della terra per i rimanenti squilli di tromba dei tre angeli che s'appressano a suonare!".
Footnotes:
8:1-5 - The seventh seal is opened, and there is silence in heaven for half an hour. This silence symbolizes the anticipation before the final judgment, a moment of awe before God's greatness (see also Habakkuk 2:20 and Zechariah 2:13).
8:6-7 - The angel offers incense with the prayers of the saints before God. This moment symbolizes the intercession of the faithful and the ascension of their prayers to God, which are heard and answered (see also Revelation 5:8 and Psalm 141:2).
8:8-9 - The second angel sounds his trumpet, and a great mountain is thrown into the sea, symbolizing God's judgment on the nations. The sea, often a symbol of chaos, receives divine judgment (see also Jeremiah 51:25 and Isaiah 13:19).
8:10-11 - The third angel sounds his trumpet, and a great star called wormwood falls upon the waters. This symbolizes the impact of sin and corruption on the earth and the nations, with devastating consequences (see also Ezekiel 14:19-21 and Revelation 9:1-2).
8:12-13 - The fourth angel sounds his trumpet, and the sun, moon, and stars are struck, symbolizing the cosmic chaos that accompanies God's judgments. This partial destruction reflects the great tribulation that will come before the final restoration (see also Joel 2:10-11 and Matthew 24:29).
Verses related to Apocalisse, 8:
Revelation chapter 8 introduces the seven trumpets of judgment. What calamities are announced? This vivid text describes the opening of the seventh seal and the beginning of the trumpets. The first four trumpets bring destruction upon the land, seas, fresh waters, and celestial bodies. The chapter emphasizes the intensification of divine judgments and the intercession of the saints. Themes of warning, partial judgment, and God's sovereignty over creation are prominent. Examine with us five biblical passages that relate to the alarming events of this prophetic chapter.
Exodus 30:1-3: "Make an acacia altar to burn incense. Make it square, eighteen inches long, eighteen inches wide, and three feet high; the ends will form one piece with it. Cover the top, all sides and ends with pure gold, and make a gold frame around it." - The description of the altar of incense in the tabernacle relates to the heavenly altar mentioned in Revelation 8:3.
Joel 2:30: "I will show wonders in heaven and on earth, blood, fire and pillars of smoke." - The wonders described by Joel are similar to the events that occur with the sounding of the trumpets in Revelation 8.
Exodus 9:23-24: "When Moses stretched out his rod toward the sky, the Lord caused thunder and hail, and lightning fell to the earth. So the Lord rained hail on the land of Egypt. Hail fell and lightning flashed amidst the rain of stones. Such a severe hailstorm had never hit all of Egypt since it became a nation." - The plagues of Egypt, especially those of hail and fire, are reminiscent of the judgments described in Revelation 8:7.
Jeremiah 51:25: "I am against you, O destroying mountain, you who destroy the whole earth, declares the Lord. "I will stretch out my hand against you, I will roll you off the cliffs and make you a charred mountain."" - The image of a mountain being thrown into the sea in Revelation 8:8 can be related to this prophecy of Jeremiah.
Amos 5:8: "(He made the Pleiades and Orion, changes the darkness into dawn and makes the day become night. He calls the waters of the sea and pours them out on the face of the earth; the Lord is his name.)" - Amos' mention of God's control over the heavenly bodies relates to the cosmic events described in Revelation 8:12.
FAQ:
What happens when the first angel blows his trumpet?
The first angel blows his trumpet, causing hail and fire mixed with blood to destroy a third of the earth, trees, and green grass. (Revelation 8:7)
What happens with the second trumpet in Revelation 8?
The second trumpet causes something like a great mountain of fire to fall into the sea, turning a third of the sea into blood, killing a third of the living creatures, and sinking ships. (Revelation 8:8-9)
What is the impact of the third trumpet?
The third trumpet causes a star called "Wormwood" to fall, which turns the waters of the springs bitter, killing many from the bitterness of the waters. (Revelation 8:10-11)
What does the fourth trumpet mean?
The fourth trumpet causes a third of the sun, moon, and stars to be darkened, representing the diminishing of divine light and the increasing of spiritual darkness. (Revelation 8:12)
What is the "woe, woe, woe" mentioned after the fourth trumpet?
The "woe, woe, woe" are warnings of suffering that will come with the last three trumpets, which bring even more intense judgments. (Revelation 8:13)
