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Rev. 8:1-4: And when He broke the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. And I saw the seven angels who stand before God; and seven trumpets were given to them. And another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a golden censer; and much incense was given to him, that he might add it to the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel's hand.
         Who would think, after the believing one has reached the state of nothingness, that there should be another seal to be opened? It seems all is done. It is true that on the believer's side, all is done, but there remains a seal which will manifest this truth to others.
         Before this takes place, the inward parts of this one are placed in a state of silence.
         After "the seven trumpets given to the seven angels standing before God" are announced, then prayer and intercession for others are given to these. These prayers are enclosed in a pure will. ..as in a "golden censer." There, with the "fire" of love, the prayers are melted together before God. These prayers are continual sacrifices going up before God.
         This is the state of the bride of whom it was said: "Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense?" These prayers, prayed in different places by different persons, are gathered and offered to God on His altar because they are according to His will.
         This kind of prayer is pure, and it is simple.

Rev. 8:5: And the angel took the censer; and he filled it with the fire of the altar and threw it to the earth; and there followed peals of thunder and sounds and flashes of lightning and an earthquake.
         When God wants to pour His pure love on the earth, He commissions the angel to take "the censer" (which is the will and heart of that praying one) and He fills the censer with the "fire" of love. Where does He take this fire? From the altar of the Will of God.
         What happens when these blessed seven Spirits cast on the earth this fire which produces such lovely blazes? There are "thunderings." There arise persecutions, strange murmurs against these believers, in which the inner grace is outpoured. Did You not say that You came to throw a fire on the earth and that You wanted it to be kindled?
         Nothing can quench this divine fire.
         Pour it forth upon the earth again, oh Lord!

Rev. 8:6: And the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound them.
         When God sends His fire on earth, He stirs apostolic men to announce His truth, and through this fire to bring destruction, destruction even as far as the self life of man.

Rev. 8:7:  And the first sounded, and there came hail and fire, mixed with blood, and they were thrown to the earth; and a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.
         When the spirit of sacrifice increases on earth and truth begins to be announced there will be "hail"-- or tempests-- to prevent it. Those who persecute the spirit of sacrifice will rain fire.
         The same thing happens to us individually. "Hail" falls on His holy ones, a hail of outward (and often inward) sufferings. This fire is "mixed with blood," which means it is not pure. But though this fire is not purified, it consumes the strength of self.

Rev. 8:8,9: And 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; and a third of the creatures, which were in the sea and had life, died; and a third of the ships were destroyed.
         The fire now changes the sea into blood. The soul loses its ability to feel, taste, see, hear and touch. All is taken, and this causes the second death!
         We must know that "Revelation" is not only a revelation of the last judgments (Reference: AP Adams "Judgement", but it is a prophecy of what must happen to the Church of God, especially in the end when it will spread throughout all the earth. This book is written outside and inside because it is the inward and outward truth of Jesus Christ-and His Church which will be manifested everywhere. Since this inward and outward truth must be discovered to all men, the signs thus described must be taken-- not literally-- but with the meaning the Holy Spirit gives.
         "A mountain" of anger, of fury, of "fire." A mountain of intense spiritual fire will be cast into the Church. Men powerful in words will arise and change the third part of this sea into blood, tears, afflictions and "the third part of the creatures in the sea died."
         Those that are dead will not be changed.
         Oh God, You will do it for Your glory, and this will be unveiled to those who will be given light.

Rev. 8:10,11:  And 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 waters; and the name of the star is called Wormwood; and a third of the waters became wormwood; and many men died from the waters, because they were made bitter.
         The third herald of the truth has no sooner finished sounding the trumpet than "there fell a great star from heaven." This star, that which has guided the soul, falls in such a way that "the rivers" of grace and comfort are changed into "bitterness" and grief. Only "the third part is bitter," though it seems to the soul that all has been changed into bitterness. The divine delights of these rivers were flowing when this star shone in his understanding; all this is changed into "wormwood." It seems he will have no pleasure ever in life. This state causes the "death" of reasoning and understanding.
         The "self-mind" will never die except by the fall of this large star.

Rev. 8:12,13:  And the fourth angel sounded, and a third of the sun and a third of the moon and a third of the stars were smitten, so that a third of them might be darkened and the day might not shine for a third of it, and the night in the same way. And I looked, and I heard an eagle flying in mid-heaven, saying with a loud voice, "Woe, woe, woe, to those who dwell on the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!"
         Oh God, what grief and desolation is brought to the earth by this fourth angel, for You enlighten only by bringing darkness. Every self light must be destroyed to enter into the light of truth. These things happen, to the Church and to the individual, so they might be placed in reality. In this great disaster the lights of the Church and the holy ones will not be totally put out and the darkness will not be forever.
         What message do we see here for ourselves? That if the third part of the soul will be in darkness, it still retains much light which does not show. The believer, suffering darkness, must taste the deepest woes before enjoying the highest benefits.
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^{(1) Guyon, Mme. Jeanne, CHRIST OUR REVELATION, Gardiner, Main, Reprinted 1987 Christian Books Publishing House ( Book in now out of print)}

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