8:1 And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.
Attention is now focused on the Seventh or Crown Chakra. This is the seat of Spiritual Consciousness. The ultimate achievement of union with God is the silence of the mind. This is symbolized here by the “silence in heaven”. Most meditation sessions last for about a half hour, once the individual masters it.
8:2 And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets.
The seven angels with seven trumpets symbolize the seven awakened chakras under the direction of the Higher Self (spiritual enlightened individual).
8:3 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.
This eighth angel symbolizes the spiritual consciousness itself, seeking still greater purification.
8:4 And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before the gods out of the angel's hand.
The smoke from the incense symbolizes the spiritual energy contained in prayers. In this case, they are prayers for union with God, or spiritual awakening.
8:5 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.
The fire from the altar being thrown to earth symbolizes the manifestation of this spiritual purification process within the body, the One Mind transmuting the One Thing. The thunderings, lightnings are energies within the chakras being awakened. The earthquake is surfacing of the Divine consciousness.
8:6 And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.
The sounding of the seven trumpets symbolize the manifestation of the spiritual consciousness within the individual. The events that follow are the manifestations brought about by this.
8:7 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.
Hail is symbolic of “crystallizing” or uniting ideals under the spiritual influence, fire is purifying earthly influences, and the blood of the Lamb of God symbolizes our being cleansed from all sin. The first sounding also burns up a third of the trees and grasses of the earth, again symbolic of removing or transmuting earthly influences (materialistic, selfish thoughts and desires).
8:8 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;
8:9 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.
This symbolizes the continued reduction or transmutation of the earthly influences to make way for greater spiritual influences. Water and the sea symbolize emotions and urges that lie below the surface of consciousness but have tremendous influence over our actions, thoughts, and desires. These must be and are destroyed. The mountain is “the mount,” the sixth chakra that has direct connection to this second chakra. It sends its message crashing into the emotions and subliminal urges of this center to subdue its lower influences and allow for more of its higher purposes to awaken.
8:10 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;
8:11 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.
The star called Wormwood symbolizes heavenly influences (the star) coming into the body (the earth). The waters becoming bitter is a symbolic way of saying that the earthly influences are becoming less desirable, less tasty, causing earthly influences to be subdued and spiritual ones to be magnified. Waters again symbolize emotions and unseen influences that are below the surface of consciousness. All must be subdued in order for the spiritual transformation to take hold and grow.
8:12 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.
This is symbolic of the death of the lower nature to make room for the Diving Light, our Spiritual nature.
8:13 And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabitants of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!
These four lower centers are identified with the earthly portion of our nature, and the next three higher centers with the heavenly portion. Therefore, it is not surprising that “those who dwell on the earth” are going to have great woe when the heavenly influence comes into full glory throughout the body. The body will lose much of its earthly urges and desires, leaving those who have feasted on these and developed appetites for them to suffer the next three woes.