The Revelation of John 8

¹And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.

...................

² And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets.

³ And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.

⁴ And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.

⁵ And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.

⁶ And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.

⁷ The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.

⁸ And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood;

⁹ And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed.

¹⁰ And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters;

¹¹ And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.

¹² And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.

¹³ And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!

The Seals and Trumpets

The Problem of a Strict Chronological Sequence

The sixth seal, as described in Revelation 6:12-17, brings a global earthquake, the darkening of the sun and moon, the falling of stars, the sky rolling up like a scroll, and people of all social classes realizing that "the great day of His wrath has come."This appears to be a final scene after which nothing could logically continue.
If we accept that the trumpets follow this event, we face a major contradiction: how can humanity continue in the face of such total destruction?
This leaves us with two options:

1. Accept "by faith"an impossible chronological sequence.

2. Recognize that the seals and trumpets describe the same period from different perspectives.

The second option is the only one that rationally resolves the problem. The seals and trumpets are not successive series of events but rather two perspectives on the same period. The main difference lies in the purpose and audience of each series.

The First Trumpet - 70 AD

In Revelation 8:7 and 9:4, we notice a significant contrast between two trumpets and their impact on the "grass, greenery, and trees."The first trumpet speaks of fire, blood, and the destruction of a third of these, while the fifth trumpet forbids harming them and focuses solely on people. This suggests that the first trumpet signals a dramatic change in historical reality, while the fifth trumpet describes a transformation at the level of perception and belief.

If "grass, greenery, and trees"symbolize spiritual nourishment and the religious structure of a community, then the first trumpet seems to refer to the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in 70 AD, an event that affected not only the Jewish people but also early Christianity. Until that point, Christianity was still perceived as a branch of Judaism, a "sect"or "party"(Acts 24:5), and many of the first Christians were Jews who continued to observe certain Mosaic practices. Therefore, the fall of Jerusalem was not just a tragedy for the Jews but also a moment of profound change for the Christian community.

The Destruction of the Temple

For the Jews, the destruction of the Temple meant the loss of the center of their religious worship. The burning of the Temple by the Romans perfectly symbolizes the image from Revelation – fire devouring the grass, trees, and greenery. Beyond the physical destruction, this event was also a major blow to their identity and spirituality. Jews around the world were economically and religiously affected, as the temple could no longer function as a reference point for sacrifices and pilgrimages.

For Christians, however, the destruction of Jerusalem had a different significance. Jesus Himself had predicted this disaster (Matthew 24:2, Luke 21:20-24), and many Christians saw this event as the fulfillment of His prophecies and those of the prophet Daniel (Daniel 9:26-27). The fall of Jerusalem confirmed to them that the Old Covenant system had come to an end and that the new covenant inaugurated by Christ was now the only path to salvation.

At the same time, this event had practical effects on Christians. According to church history, many Christians fled from Jerusalem before its destruction, taking refuge in Pella, a city in Decapolis. This migration led to a clearer break between Christianity and Judaism, accelerating the process by which Christianity became a distinct religion and not just a Jewish sect.

The Destruction of Jerusalem

Moreover, the destruction of Jerusalem radically changed the Roman authorities' perception of Christians. Until then, Christianity had often been confused with Judaism, but after 70 AD, the Romans began to treat it as a separate movement, leading later to more intense persecutions against Christians, especially during the reigns of emperors Domitian and Decius.

Therefore, the first trumpet in Revelation 8:7 can be interpreted as symbolizing the destruction of Jerusalem and the order of the Old Covenant, with a devastating impact on both Jews and Christians. While the Jews lost the temple and the traditional structure of their religion, Christians underwent a profound redefinition, confirming their faith in Jesus’ prophecies but also facing new challenges and persecutions. This was one of the greatest changes in the early history of Christianity, marking a new stage in God's plan for His people.

The Second Trumpet - 325 AD

The second trumpet in Revelation 8:8-9 describes a dramatic event, symbolized by a "great burning mountain"being thrown into the sea, with significant consequences on one-third of the sea, the living creatures in it, and the ships.

If we interpret this "mountain"as representing a great authority imposed on the peoples, we can identify this event with the rise of Emperor Constantine the Great and the decisions of the Council of Nicaea (325 AD). These fundamentally changed the religious and political order of the Roman Empire, having a profound impact on the peoples of that time.

The Conversion of Constantine and the Change in Religious Order

After his victory at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge (312 AD), Constantine issued the Edict of Milan (313 AD), which legalized Christianity and officially ended persecutions. This moment represented a major turning point: Christianity, previously marginalized and persecuted, gradually became the favored state religion.

The "great burning mountain"symbolizes this shift in authority, which did not come without conflict. This marked, slowly but surely, the end of paganism as the dominant force in the Roman Empire. The "fire"represents radical transformation, while the "blood"symbolizes the conflicts and struggles between followers of different religious beliefs.

The Council of Nicaea (325 AD) and the Imposition of Official Dogma

If the Edict of Milan guaranteed the freedom of Christianity, the Council of Nicaea led to the centralization and officialization of Christian dogmas. Under the direct influence of Constantine, this council established the doctrine of the Trinity and condemned Arianism, imposing an official creed on Christians.

This decision had a profound impact on the peoples of the empire. In apocalyptic symbolism, the "sea"represents the masses of people, and throwing this "mountain"into the sea suggests that the authority of the emperor and the Council of Nicaea was imposed upon all the peoples of the empire. Those who did not conform to the new official dogma risked excommunication or even persecution.

The Impact

Revelation mentions that "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."This can be interpreted as follows:

• "A third of the sea became blood"– The religious and political change generated conflicts and resistance. Christianity became the dominant religion, but not everyone accepted the change without opposition.

• "A third of the living creatures in the sea died"– Many religious groups, including Arians and other dissenters, were marginalized or persecuted.

• "A third of the ships were destroyed"– The ships could represent social, economic, and religious structures that were affected by this radical change.

The second trumpet in Revelation announces the fundamental change brought by Constantine and the Council of Nicaea upon the Roman world. This imperial authority, imposed on the peoples, transformed Christianity from a persecuted religion into a dominant one, but at the cost of major doctrinal and social conflicts.

Through this perspective, we see how biblical symbolism reflects the dramatic changes that shaped not only the history of the Roman Empire but also the direction of Christianity for centuries to come.

The Third Trumpet - 610 AD

The third trumpet in Revelation mentions a "great star falling from heaven, burning like a torch,"and its effect is the transformation of "a third of the rivers and the springs of water"into "bitter water"(wormwood), which leads to the death of many people. If we interpret this image in the context of Christian history, an event that remarkably fits is the rise of Islam and the spread of the Quran as a new source of faith, which led to the spiritual death of a large portion of Christians in the Middle East, North Africa, and Asia Minor.

The "great star falling from heaven, burning like a torch"can be seen as a reference to Muhammad, who claimed to receive divine revelations in the year 610 AD. His message, later recorded in the Quran, was a new light for his followers, but from a Christian perspective, this light represented a departure from the true revelation of Christ. The Quran challenged fundamental Christian doctrines and replaced them with a new religious vision, which, from a Christian point of view, can be considered "bitter water"that poisoned the spiritual wells.

Muhammad and the Quran

The impact of this new faith was devastating for Christianity at the time. Islamic conquests, which began after Muhammad's death in 632 AD, led to the loss of essential regions for Christianity:

• Jerusalemfell to the Muslims in 637.

• Syria and Egyptwere rapidly conquered.

• North Africa and Spainbecame dominated by Islam.

In these areas, many Christian churches were converted into mosques, and Christian communities shrank significantly, either through forced conversions or due to economic and social pressures. Symbolically, this process represented a "spiritual death"for Christians in these regions, as they were cut off from faith in Christ and from the sources of Christian truth.

This interpretation gains even more relevance when we consider that the churches mentioned in Revelation – the seven churches of Asia Minor (Ephesus, Pergamum, Laodicea, etc.) – were located in regions that, starting from the 7th-8th centuries, became predominantly Muslim. Christianity in those areas was almost completely eradicated, and despite later efforts by Christian churches, those territories were never fully reconverted to Christianity.

Therefore, if we view Revelation as a prophecy concerning the history of Christianity, the third trumpet would symbolize the rise of Islam, Muhammad as the "fallen star,"the Quran as the "bitter waters,"and the conquest of Christian territories as a "spiritual death"of the Christian population in those regions. The most fitting event for this interpretation would be the year 610 AD when Muhammad received his first revelation, marking the beginning of Islam and the emergence of a new source of faith that replaced Christianity in many regions.

The Fourth Trumpet - 1054 AD

The fourth trumpet describes a crucial moment in Christian history, a blow to the system of authority and spiritual influence that dominated the Christian world. The symbolic image of the sun, moon, and stars losing a third of their light suggests not only a decrease in religious influence but a drastic weakening of a power structure that had been perceived as fundamental to the world order. In this context, the Great Schism of 1054fits perfectly with this prophecy, marking the moment when the absolute hegemony of papal Rome was shattered, and the unity of Christendom was irreversibly broken.

Rome - The Inheritor of the "Lighting System" of the World

Until that moment, Rome considered itself the absolute center of Christianity, not only spiritually but also politically. The Pope was seen as the "sun"that illuminated the entire Christian world, providing direction and supreme authority over all Christendom. The Church was organized into a hierarchical system in which bishops, cardinals, and Christian kings represented the "moon and stars"– structures that reflected the light of papal authority and maintained both religious and political order throughout Europe.

This position of Rome was not accidental but had deep roots in the heritage of past great empires. Papal Rome was not just the political successor of the Roman Empire but also the inheritor of the astral symbolism from previous empires:

• Egypt worshiped the sun god Ra, and pharaohs were considered sons of Ra, granting them divine authority.

• Babylon used celestial bodies in its religion, and stars were associated with gods and royal authority.

• The Medo-Persian Empire had a dualistic system where light (the sun) symbolized the supreme good.

• Greece and Rome revered the Sun as the source of reason and divine order, and

• Roman emperors, especially during the period of the imperial cult, were considered manifestations of the Unconquered Sun (Sol Invictus).

The papacy positioned itself as the inheritor of this astral symbolism, claiming divine power transmitted over the centuries through kings and emperors of the world. In this context, Rome not only assumed the role of the "sun"of Christendom but also shaped the entire political and religious order according to this image.

The Schism of 1054 – The Blow to the "Sun" of Rome

The schism between the West and the East struck directly at this concept. Until then, although tensions had existed between Rome and Constantinople, Christendom had been perceived as a united body, and the pope had been recognized (albeit with reservations) as the supreme authority of the Christian world. However, in 1054, the rupture became definitive.

Officially, the schism occurred when the envoys of Pope Leo IX excommunicated Patriarch Michael Cerularius, and in turn, he excommunicated the papal delegation. But this separation was not just an administrative or theological issue—it was an act of direct challenge to Rome’s hegemony over the entire Christian world.

From this point forward:

• The "Sun" of Rome was darkened for one-third of Christendom.The Orthodox world, led by Constantinople, refused to recognize the pope’s authority, and the papacy lost its status as the absolute leader of Christians.

• The "Moon" (the subordinate religious administrative structures) was affected,as Rome’s hierarchical system no longer had influence over the Eastern Church, which consolidated its own leadership system around its patriarchs.

• The "Stars" (political and spiritual leaders) were also darkened,as Byzantine emperors and Eastern rulers no longer regarded Rome as the supreme authority in matters of faith.

In the eyes of the Orthodox world, Rome was no longer the source of divine light but had become a center of spiritual arrogance. For the first time in history, the Pope was directly called the Antichristby the Orthodox. This accusation was not just an insult but a profound theological declaration: the pope was now perceived as an usurper of Christ’s position, a leader who claimed absolute authority that only Christ rightfully held. This concept would later become a major theme in the Protestant Reformation, where reformers adopted and amplified this idea.

The Eagle – Symbol of Divine Judgment on Rome

An important element of the fourth trumpetis the appearance of the eagle, a powerful symbol that announces future calamities. The eagle represents supreme authority and imperial strength, used by many empires and kingdoms to symbolize power. The fact that this symbol is introduced in the context of the darkening of the sun, moon, and stars indicates a divine verdict on papal Rome.

The eagle sends the message that this change is not merely a historical accident but a divine judgment on an authority that had exceeded its limits. If Rome had presented itself as the "light of the world", then the Schism of 1054was an act of exposure and the darkening of a false light. Rome could no longer claim to be the only source of truth because a significant portion of the Christian world now regarded it as a corrupt authority, and its claims were challenged.

Long-Term Consequences

The schism was not an isolated event but a turning point in the history of Christianity. This symbolic darkening of papal Rome had profound consequences:

1. Prepared the Ground for Future Challenges to the Papacy, Including the Protestant Reformation. Once Rome’s authority was questioned, this process became irreversible.

2. Weakened Christian Unity. making the Church more vulnerable to external threats, such as Muslim invasionsand the conquest of Constantinople in 1453.

3. Eroded the Political Influence of the Pope, leading, over time, to the conflict between religious and secular power in Europe.

4. Created Two Distinct Christian Traditions, Catholicism and Orthodoxy evolved separately and, to this day, have not fully reconciled.

Conclusion: The Fourth Trumpet and the Fall of Rome’s Lighting System

If papal Rome saw itself as the "sun"of the Christian world, the Schism of 1054 represented the first major eclipse of this world—a darkening that shook the foundations of papal power. The pope’s absolute authority was challenged, the "light"of Rome was diminished, and Christendom was divided into two irreconcilable camps.