8:6 {4} And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.
(4) This is the work of the administers. The angels, the administers of Christ, by sounding trumpet and voice (for they are heralds) effectually call forth the instruments of the wrath of God, through his power. Until now, things have been general. Now the narration of specific things follows, which the angels fix in number wrought in their order, set out in Re 8:7 and is concluded with the declaration of the event which followed these things done in the world, and in chapters ten and eleven.
8:6 And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets. See Re 8:2. There is the utmost deliberation. All must be made ready. The four angels hold back the winds (Re 7:1), then there was the silence of half an hour (Re 8:1); now the seven angels
prepared themselves to sound. This implies that all things were being made ready for the great events to follow.
Trumpets. The trumpet is used to give a signal. Usually it implied the march or charge of armies. See Joe 2:1,15; Jer 4:5 Eze 33:1-6. Sometimes it calls the people to worship. See Nu 31:6 1Ch 15:24. The reader will see that the first is likely to be the significance here.
8:6 And the seven angels prepared themselves to sound - That each, when it should come to his turn, might sound without delay. But while they do sound, they still stand before God.
8:1-6 The seventh seal is opened. There was profound silence in heaven for a space; all was quiet in the church, for whenever the church on earth cries through oppression, that cry reaches up to heaven; or it is a silence of expectation. Trumpets were given to the angels, who were to sound them. The Lord Jesus is the High Priest of the church, having a golden censer, and much incense, fulness of merit in his own glorious person. Would that men studied to know the fulness that is in Christ, and endeavoured to be acquainted with his excellency. Would that they were truly persuaded that Christ has such an office as that of Intercessor, which he now performs with deep sympathy. No prayers, thus recommended, was ever denied hearing and acceptance. These prayers, thus accepted in heaven, produced great changes upon earth. The Christian worship and religion, pure and heavenly in its origin and nature, when sent down to earth and conflicting with the passions and worldly projects of sinful men, produced remarkable tumults, here set forth in prophetical language, as our Lord himself declared, Lu 12:49.
