With
this post we will continue building on the foundation of information
established in previous posts. This post
begins with the opening of the seventh seal.
Revelation 8:1 “And when he had
opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an
hour.”
It would
seem that after a time of praise and worship in heaven, the opening of the
seventh seal causes all in heaven to become silent in anticipation of what will
follow. We are talking billions of
angels and saints; that silence must be deafening.
Revelation 8:2-5 “And I saw the
seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets. 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. And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before
God out of the angel’s hand. 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.”
Either during
or directly after that silence it seems that a special ceremony is conducted
before God that is directly connected to the trumpet judgments to follow. The seven angels that will authorize the next
seven judgments are presented the trumpets they will blow to announce the
dispensing of each judgment. Another
angel with a golden censer appears to offer incense along with the prayers of
the saints on the golden altar before the throne. The smoke that arises from the burning
incense is directly related to the prayers of the saints that ascend to God.
When I think of an altar, I think of
sacrifice. I believe that the incense being offered represents the sweet
smell of obedience to the Lord, sacrifices that were made in obedience to
God—especially the sacrifice of His Son. We were told in Revelation 5:8
that the prayers of the saints were odours. The word for odours is the
same word for incense—thumiama. Prayer is also a sweet smell of
obedience to the Lord.
1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 “Pray
without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in
Christ Jesus concerning you.”
The smoke from the incense ascends
before God from the censer in the angel’s hand. He then takes the censer
and fills it with fire from the altar. Sacrifices made at the altar were
representative of judgment for sin. Now the fire from the heavenly altar
is being cast to the earth in approval of the judgment against sin that is to
follow.
Most of my life I have heard it taught that the
seventh seal only served to introduce the seven trumpet judgments. Actually, it also results in judgment on
earth. When it is opened, the people on
earth experience:
·
Voices –
noises, sounds, voices are all possibilities
·
Thunderings –
to roar
·
Lightnings –
lightning, glare, bright shining
·
an earthquake
– a commotion, rock to and fro, agitation, shaking
Are the voices in some way associated with our
prayers? Are the voices understandable? Where is the center of this
activity? Is it worldwide? From my perspective, the thunderings and
lightnings aren’t as frightening as the earthquake—but I’m not sure but what
the voices would be the cause of greatest fear.
The specific answers to my questions aren’t what are
important. What is important is that God is trying to get the attention
of those on planet earth—to get as many to call on Him for deliverance as
will.
Romans 10:13 “For whosoever shall
call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
(to be
continued…)
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