May 2, 2023
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Reading along with us in Revelation? Here’s today’s reading:
Revelation 8 (NIV)
The Seventh Seal and the Golden Censer
1 When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.
2 And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.
3 Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all God’s people, on the golden altar in front of the throne...........Continue Reading
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Revelation 8
When I think about the previous chapters and all of the constant praise that was happening, how much more significant and surprising this 30 minutes of silence must have been. Silence is hard to come by and for this to occur it must have been somehow magnificent in the opposite way of the constant praise.
Then the prayers of the people are thrown back down to earth and the trumpets begin. So much pain and destruction come from the judgement of God.
I observe in chapter eight, the 7th seal opened reveals deafening silence. What follows is not happiness and joy. I get the vision of prayers expressed in incense and smoke. But what I find curious, is that available the angel collects the prayers and cast them to earth, as if they were a weapon. The next four trumpet scenes are not good. They are not of the natural world, not natural events. I ascribe them to the hand of God. Many die. There are three more angels to sound, and they bring woe.
I do not remember another time when we see a picture of heaven and it is silent – no praise and worship going on. Our God is serious and Wow to those who don’t think so.
The last verse speaks Wow to those “inhabitants of the earth”, the wicked of the world.
Silent for 30 minutes. The beginning of God pouring out his wrath on the earth. 1/3 of the earth destroyed. Hard to imagine after this there are still those that refuse to believe. And now being warned that three more trumpets to be sounded bringing unimaginable times like never seen before
Revelation 8 when the seventh seal was opened it says there was total silence for about a half an hour, can’t imagine what that silence felt like. John saw seven angels and they have seven trumpets and they each destroy a third of the earth in a partial judgment from God! There’s more judgement to come but God has promised us protection from spiritual harm.
Silence in heaven for a half hour. God is very serious about what is to happen. In this seventh seal we have seven angels with seven trumpets. In this chapter there are only the first four angels out of the seven angels. Although there are other angels mentioned. One of the angels had a golden censor and he offered much incense with the prayers of all the saints. Another angel took the censer and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it the earth. And there were voices thunderings, and lightnings, and earthquake. 1st angel sounded = hail and fire. Trees, and grass green burnt up. 2nd angel sounded = great mountain burning with fire cast into sea. third part sea became blood. third part of creatures died, and third part of ships were destroyed. third angel sounded = great star from heaven fell burning like a lamp. Fell to third part of rivers and upon the fountains of waters. Star is called Wormwood. Men died of the waters. Forth angel sounded = third part of the sun, moon, and stars were smitten. They became darkened. Then another angel appeared flying in the midst of heaven calling out Woe, woe, woe to people on earth in preparing for the other angels that are to come. These are terrible things that are happening to the earth and all that are in it.
Revelation 8
It is interesting to consider the significance of this period of silence. It certainly can be considered the calm before the storm. Let’s make sure we understand the distinction and seriousness of what is going to happen next. I wonder too if there is an aspect of God saying this is not coming easy for me, I would much rather bless than curse. I also see intention here in God’s orchestration of things. All the things I have done before and all the things I will do after I have done on purpose, so let me pause to show my intentionality. It reenforces His right to judge in this way as well. And to think in this powerful and glorious setting our prayers matter and have substance. Incense was an important aspect of the Holy place. The fire that burned it was never to go out, the altar of incense stood just outside the holy of holies, and the mixture of incense was specific and was not to be used anywhere else. And to think our prayers are associated with that and considered a pleasing aroma to God. So the prayers and the incense go on the altar and then the angel fills the censer with fire from the altar. It is not clear that the prayers or the incense are part of that fire…but it the censer filled with that fire that is throne on the earth….almost as if a preparation or sanctifying/purifying it for the judgement to come.
And this is what the wrath of God looks like. It is measured desolation, but desolation none the less. Great power is expressed here. The glory of God in punishment that God has warned the world about. And just in case the first 4 trumpets weren’t bad enough, further warning is given of the three trumpets yet to be sounded.
There is silence for half an hour. A time of quiet calmness before something terrible happens. When the trumpets are sounded, God’s wrath is unleashed upon the earth like nothing that has ever happened before. And woe to the earth’s inhabitants for the next three trumpets to be sounded, there is more to be done to inflict pain and suffering upon them.
Silence in Heaven for about a half an hour.
First 4 trumpets deliver destruction. It is interesting that everything is 1/3. I can’t imagine what 1/3 looks like. Does that mean 1/3 randomly over the whole earth or a swathe covering 1/3 all in one area? Like North America, but not other areas?….curious.
The moon and the sun and the stars are explained. “A third of the day did not shine, and likewise the night.”
my assumption would be 1/3 over all the earth…there is a measure of grace that it is not total devastation anywhere…