TyndaleStudyNotes
Rev.8.1
8:1 The opening of the seventh seal concludes the first act and dramatically initiates silence, which suggests the mystery of God in his dealings with the world (10:4; 1 Kgs 19:11-12). Perhaps the mysterious silence here is analogous to God’s rest on the seventh day of creation (Gen 2:1-3; see also Heb 4:1-11). • half an hour: This brief hush precedes the un...
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8:1 The opening of the seventh seal concludes the first act and dramatically initiates silence, which suggests the mystery of God in his dealings with the world (10:4; 1 Kgs 19:11-12). Perhaps the mysterious silence here is analogous to God’s rest on the seventh day of creation (Gen 2:1-3; see also Heb 4:1-11). • half an hour: This brief hush precedes the unfolding of the second act of divine judgment when God will answer the prayers of his people.
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TyndaleStudyNotes
Rev.8.10-11
8:10-11 The star named Bitterness (literally wormwood, a shrubby plant yielding a bitter extract) is symbolic rather than physical. Bitter water is connected with judgment from early in Israel’s national experience (Exod 15:22-26; Num 5:18; Jer 9:13-16; 23:15). The message is that wide-scale judgment has begun.
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TyndaleStudyNotes
Rev.8.12
8:12 the fourth angel: On the fourth day of creation, God made the sun . . . the moon, and . . . the stars (Gen 1:14-19). • the day was dark: This judgment replicates the ninth plague in Egypt (Exod 10:21-23).
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TyndaleStudyNotes
Rev.8.13
8:13 The ancients regarded the eagle as a symbolic messenger of God (see 4 Ezra 11:7-8; 2 Baruch 77:19-26). • Terror, terror, terror: A threefold announcement would be recognized as a message from God (see Acts 10:16). • The terror (Greek ouai) that sounded like an eagle’s screech was directed against humans of this world who were not among God’s faithful pe...
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8:13 The ancients regarded the eagle as a symbolic messenger of God (see 4 Ezra 11:7-8; 2 Baruch 77:19-26). • Terror, terror, terror: A threefold announcement would be recognized as a message from God (see Acts 10:16). • The terror (Greek ouai) that sounded like an eagle’s screech was directed against humans of this world who were not among God’s faithful people (Rev 6:10; 9:4, 20).
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