Rev 8:1-5 And 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.
Good morning, Reader! Grab your favorite beverage and let’s begin today’s post with chapter 8. We will be watching as John’s writings unfold a series of judgments one right after the other. They come swiftly and people aren’t finished with the repercussions of the one before when the next judgment comes.
The seventh seal is ushering the trumpet judgments. It’s interesting to me that the seventh seal begins with silence in heaven, a holy and foreboding hush for about a half hour. As God rested on the seventh day from creation, here also we are told of a pregnant pause, a silence, a rest if you will. Just as we saw praising in chapter 7, we now suddenly experience silence, preparing us for the next series of judgments.
Verse 8 reveals an angel standing at the altar and he was given a golden censer and incense. This gesture is described as the prayers of all the saints being offered up on the golden altar before the throne. The prayers of the saints are never forgotten by God; they are preserved by the Lord and seen rising before Him. As we saw in Revelation 8:5, the angel fills the censer with fire and casts it to earth. It continues to say that there are voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake. No other judgment was introduced in this manner – I find that interesting.
Rev 8:6-7 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.
Now we see the first angel blow the first trumpet and one third of the earth’s trees were burnt up and all grass was burnt up. Can you imagine what this will do? The phrase, “mingled with blood” may be referencing that many will die. This judgment is quite similar to the plagues of Egypt in Exodus 9:22-26. This will have tremendous ecological ramifications. What will livestock graze upon? Those who promote a “green” planet have no idea what is about to come upon the earth.
Where will you be during this period, reader? Will you be safe in Heaven with our Groom or will you be on earth, serving Satan and his beast? Friend, it is no coincidence that God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved if you are not already. Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab to You Can Be Born Again and Know It!
Leave a Reply