1-2 When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. 3 And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer, and he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne, 4 and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel. 5 Then the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and threw it on the earth, and there were peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake. 6 Now the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to blow them.

7 The first angel blew his trumpet, and there followed hail and fire, mixed with blood, and these were thrown upon the earth. And a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up. 8-9 The second angel blew his trumpet, and something like a great mountain, burning with fire, was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood. A third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.

10-11 The third angel blew his trumpet, and a great star fell from heaven, blazing like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many people died from the water, because it had been made bitter. 12 The fourth angel blew his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, and a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of their light might be darkened, and a third of the day might be kept from shining, and likewise a third of the night. 13 Then I looked, and I heard an eagle crying with a loud voice as it flew directly overhead, “Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth, at the blasts of the other trumpets that the three angels are about to blow!” From English Standard Version.

Jesus told a story of a poor widow who pestered a judge who was totally uninterested in her case so much, that he eventually gave her the justice she sought. Then Jesus said: “Learn a lesson from this unjust judge - even he rendered a just decision in the end! So don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly!” (Luke 18:6-8) And in Revelation 6:9-10 we're told how John saw a vision of “the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” Revelation Chapter 8 shows that God hears and answers the prayers of His suffering people.

What were God's people doing in vs 3? What happened to their prayers? (vs 4) And what was the outcome of their prayers mingled with the incense the angel added? (vs 5)

It seems that the strange events described in vs 7-11 were a response to the prayerful cries for justice by God's people. They were catastrophic events that affected the lives of people on earth. But notice, they affect only in part (one third), so they were warnings to mankind, but not yet the final judgement. In Bible times trumpets were often used to sound a warning to people.

Christians will differ in their explanations of the events we read of in vs 7-11. But remember that this is a vision, so they are symbols of God’s judgements. The encouraging truth of this chapter is surely that God sees the trials of His people and hears their cries. In Exodus 3:7 when God came to Moses He said: “I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries of distress because of their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them.” And God sent many plagues on Egypt when He rescued His people then. So be encouraged – God sees what is happening to His people in the world, and He hears their prayers. No wonder the chapter ends with the words of vs 13.