Revelation 8:1-2

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Revelation 8:1-6

In these verses we have the prelude to the sounding of the trumpets in several parts. I. The opening of the last seal. This was to introduce a new set of prophetical iconisms and events; there is a continued chain of providence, one part linked to another (where one ends another begins), and, though they may differ in nature and in time, they all make up one wise, well-connected, uniform design in the hand of God. II. A profound silence in heaven for the space of half an hour, which may be... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Revelation 8:1-5

8:1-5 When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. And I saw the seven angels who stand in the presence of God, and seven trumpets were given to them. Another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer; and he was given much incense that he might add it to the prayers of the saints on the golden altar before the throne. The smoke of the incense went up with the prayers of the saints from the hand of the angel before God. And the angel took... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Revelation 8:2

8:2,6 And I saw the seven angels who stand in the presence of God, and seven trumpets were given to them; and the seven angels with the seven trumpets prepared to sound the trumpets. These seven angels, known as the angels of the presence, were the same as the archangels. Their names were Uriel, Raphael, Raguel, Michael, Sariel, Gabriel and Remiel ( Tobit 12:1 ; Tobit 12:5 ). That they were called the angels of the presence means two things. First, they enjoyed a special honour. In... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 8:1

And when he had opened the seventh seal ,.... That is, when the Lamb had opened the seventh and last seal of the scaled book: there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour ; not in the third heaven, the seat of the divine Being, of angels and glorified saints, where are hallelujahs without intermission; but in the church, which is oftentimes signified by heaven in this book, and where now the throne of God was placed, in that form as described in Revelation 4:4 , or... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 8:2

And I saw the seven angels ,.... Not the seven spirits of God, Revelation 1:4 ; their names, as well as their office, differ; nor the ministers of the word, though these are often called angels in this book, and blow the trumpet of the Gospel, and lift up their voice like a trumpet; but the angelic spirits, and these either evil ones, since they are the executioners of wrath and vengeance, and bring judgments on the earth; and who, are sometimes said to stand before God, 1 Kings 22:21 ;... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 8:1

The seventh seal - This is ushered in and opened only by the Lamb. Silence in heaven - This must be a mere metaphor, silence being put here for the deep and solemn expectation of the stupendous things about to take place, which the opening of this seal had produced. When any thing prodigious or surprising is expected, all is silence, and even the breath is scarcely heard to be drawn. Half an hour - As heaven may signify the place in which all these representations were made to St.... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 8:2

The seven angels which stood before God - Probably the same as those called the seven Spirits which are before his throne, Revelation 1:4 ; (note). There is still an allusion here to the seven ministers of the Persian monarchs. See Tobit 12:15. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 8:1

And when. καὶ ὅταν , instead of καὶ ὅτε (as in the other seals), is read in A, C, and gives a certain indefiniteness which does not belong to any of the rest (Alford). ὅτε is, however, found in א , B, P, Andreas. He had opened the seventh seal; he opened. As in the case of the other seals, the silence accompanies the opening (see on Revelation 6:1 , Revelation 6:3 , Revelation 6:5 , etc.). This completes the number, and sets the roll free ( Revelation 5:1 ).... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 8:1

Silence in heaven. "Silence in heaven"? and that for "about the space of half an hour"? £ What can this mean, or how can it furnish an expositor with material for instructive teaching? The question is a natural one, and it is capable of being answered. This verse is neither to be dismissed as if unintelligible, nor slighted as if unimportant. It is full of most intense significance, and will be found to illustrate the truth that some of the most obscure and unpromising verses of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 8:1

Blessed silence. "There was silence … half an hour." No one certainly knows what these words mean. Every one can see that they tell of a pause, an interval between the opening of the seventh seal and the sounding of the first of those trumpets of which this eighth chapter mainly speaks. It may be—as one great expositor suggests—that during that Lord's day in which St. John was in the Spirit, and during which he saw in stately procession the series of magnificent visions, or heard, one... read more

Group of Brands