Verse 1. “When the Lamb
broke the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an
hour.”
The long awaited seventh seal of the scroll first
seen in Revelation 5:1 is now broken by Jesus Christ, the Lamb of
God. The end of time, the finish of life as we have known it, is
nearly here. What will happen in relation to the seventh seal? We
have wondered, and the answer is found in this verse – Silence in
heaven! All of the multiplied millions and perhaps billions of beings
before the throne become utterly silent. Not a sound is heard.
This silence may or may not be reflected on
earth, for remember, we are now outside space and time, looking into
the very place of God, like an audience, surprised that they are
invited to go back stage during intermission. The silent response of
the angels, cherubim, people and other creatures at this moment, is
reasonable. We are seeing His mighty works and gentle care for His
people, as exhibited by the Lamb of God. We too, should be silent
before Him, awestruck in wonder at His glory.
Verse 2. “And I saw the
seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to
them.”
These seven angels are very special because they
have been chosen from innumerable angelic beings to exercise specific
acts at the time of God’s judgment on the human race. “Seven”
is reminiscent of the time of creation, where the seventh day
signified that all was complete in relation to the creative acts of
God and there was nothing more to do. That was the beginning – this
is the end; the termination of all human history as we know it. The “trumpets”
are devices that will be used to signal events that now will occur.
How is a special messenger, an “angel”
(or a human being) chosen by Him for a special work? Why are these
angels any different from all the others? I do not think that God
gives special offices because anyone STRIVES for them. Rather, it is
Christ who holds all offices, which He shares among those who delight
in Him. As God the Father said for all the world to hear when God the
Son was baptized,
“This is My beloved
Son, in whom I am well pleased.” If you want to please
the Father and be used by Him, then DELIGHT in His Son.
Verse 3. “Another angel
came and stood at the altar, holding a golden censer; and much incense
was given to him, so that he might add it to the prayers of all the
saints on the golden altar which was before the throne.”
Seven angels have been given seven trumpets at
the throne of God, and now an eighth angel is given a purpose
different from the rest. You may recall God’s direction that an “altar
of incense” was to be built and placed into the tabernacle
(Exodus 30:1 and forward). Aaron the high priest was to “burn
on it sweet incense every morning” (Exodus 30:9).
Everything in the tabernacle was representative of some aspect of the
“walk” we are intended to have with the Lord.
The incense represents the prayers we should
continually be offering up to Him. What are we to do in life when
problems are presented to us? What is the very FIRST thing we should
do? Why – we are to pray! We are to be “praying
always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful
to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints”
(Ephesians 6:18). A difficult life becomes actually beautiful for the
one who prays “in the Spirit” of God.
Verse 4. “And the smoke
of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out
of the angel's hand.”
At the end of Chapter Six, the “lost” were crying
out to the rocks, “fall
on us and hide us from God.” Here is evidence that
prayers, with incense, will be offered to God, even during the time of
greatest trouble the world has ever known. And many them will be
uttered for their persecutors, who have been hiding from God. Note
that these prayers are being said by those who suffering for their
faith. One of the greatest events in the history of the world is
occurring (the Tribulation); and what is God doing at such a time? –
He is LISTENING and responding to the prayers of those who have placed
their trust in Him.
You have to wonder – Are the events in this
Chapter CONSECUTIVE to the “scroll
”
and “seals”
of Chapter Six, or are they CONCURRENT to what will happen? It is not
totally clear, though I conclude that the judgments to follow in this
Chapter come AFTER Revelation Chapter Six. Note that MANY on earth
are praying right at this moment, and many will pray even during the
time of great judgment that is to come. Your prayers are valuable and
they are HEARD.
Verse 5. “Then the
angel took the censer and filled it with the fire of the altar, and
threw it to the earth; and there followed peals of thunder and sounds
and flashes of lightning and an
earthquake.”
This is like throwing the contents of a glass of
water into someone’s face – as an insult! The incense in the censer
of these verses represents the prayers of God’s saints. If you wonder
why God would judge humanity, the answer is here. We were created to
have fellowship with Him, and our end of the “bargain” is to
especially include prayer. Yet many refuse to address Him, and these
verses note that prayers ARE being made to Him, even during the
greatest time of Tribulation this world has ever known.
The fact that your life is difficult is no excuse
– God reasonably expects that you will trust in His Son, receive His
Spirit, read His Word, and commune with Him. Those in His Son are born
anew, and they are given a heart for prayer. He gives His Spirit who
shows us how to pray, and His Word, which brings you faith to pray.
He has made it so easy for us that we have NO EXCUSE when we do not
pray. His evidence against this world continues: Those who will not
pray are to be judged by Him.
Verse 6. “And the seven
angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound them.”
Seven angels now prepared themselves to sound
their trumpets at just the right times and in the proper order, as
directed by God. It’s important for us to note that, much like these
angels, not only are we in Christ called to God’s service, but we also
must prepare ourselves in response to that call. In Ephesians 6, Paul
encourages us to “put on the whole armor of
God” (verse 11), which is summed up in the command: “put
on Christ” (Galatians 3:27).
Part of the armor He provides is to protect our “feet,”
representing the part of us that is in continual contact with this
world. You are to cover “your feet with the
PREPARATION of the gospel of peace” (Ephesians 6:15). “Gifts”
of service are given to all who TRUST in the Lord Jesus, but just like
the angels readying themselves to use these “trumpets,”
you are to PREPARE yourself to use those gifts in service to our Lord.
Verse 7. “The first
sounded, and there came hail and fire, mixed with blood, and they were
thrown to the earth; and a third of the earth was burned up, and a
third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned
up.”
The “hail and fire”
of this verse is similar to God’s judgment on the Egyptians, who had
enslaved God’s people Israel (Exodus 6:15). The blood of this verse
in Revelation was not present when the hail and fire fell on Egypt,
but it is seen in the subsequent Passover (Exodus 12), given to Israel
in relation to their freedom from slavery. The blood speaks
prophetically of the death of our Lord, who saves us from the slavery
of sin. Prayer (represented by the “censer”
– verse 5) is applied faith. Most do not pray to our holy God, and
these judgments are in direct relation to unbelief which is often
expressed by a refusal to pray.
The prayers of His faithful ones have been flung
(verse 5) into the faces of those in this world who will not pray; and
the judgment on those who have no faith in God will wreak destruction
on planet Earth. We are presently troubled by the loss of our rain
forests, which may be a precursor of that which is to come. But the
destruction during the Great Tribulation will be enormous. When the
first angel sounds, fully ONE THIRD of the foliage of this planet will
be destroyed. JUDGMENT is certainly in the future of mankind.
Verse 8. “The second
angel sounded, and something like a great mountain burning with fire
was thrown into the sea; and a third of the sea became blood,”
The second of seven angels now takes up the
trumpet given him by God, signaling a new phase of judgment on this
people, this planet. “Something like a great
mountain” is like the “stone that
struck the image” of Nebuchadnezzar, which “became
a great mountain and filled the whole earth” (Daniel 2:35). In
that vision, the “stone was cut out of the
mountain without hands” and it destroyed the nations of this
earth” (Daniel 2:45). The “mountain”
of this verse is also made “without hands.”
Another key “mountain”
in Scripture is seen in Matthew 17:20, where Jesus said that our faith
in God is the key to incredible power – “If
you have faith as a mustard seen, you can say to this mountain, move
from here to there and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for
you.” Do you know what it means to look to God in prayer? The
judgment on this planet is because we, as a people, have refused to
trust in Him. If you do trust Him, He will call you to Himself, and
no “mountain” of difficulties in front
of you, will prevent His loving will from being accomplished in your
life. You can ask and He will answer.
“Sea” (Greek “thalassa”)
and “blood” (“Greek
haima”) translate simply as “sea”
and “blood.” The words may indeed
carry symbolism, but it is more likely in this context that they just
refer to a future condition of the oceans of earth.
Verse 9. “and a third
of the creatures which were in the sea and had life, died; and a third
of the ships were destroyed.”
It is God’s will for us that we are to keep and “tend”
His creation (Genesis 2:15), for His purposes and not just for our
own. We have shown ourselves as a people to be rebellious, not acting
for Him. Humanity has taken His creation for themselves. None of us
escape His judgment for any of this, for “all
have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
He will (reluctantly) destroy creation and all lovely created things
if He must, in order that some might come to faith in Him.
He has promised us that indeed, “the
wages of sin is death” (His judgment will come), but in
addition, “the gift of God is eternal LIFE in
Christ Jesus our Lord” Romans 6:23). A third of the creatures
in the sea, which we look to for food, and a third of the ships we use
for commerce will be destroyed. He has decreed this, in hopes that
some people, in desperation, will finally look to Him. Judgment is
terrible, but faith in the Lord will give eternal life.
Verse 10. “The third
angel sounded, and a great star fell from heaven, burning like a
torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of
waters.”
You have been offered “living
water” by and through the Lord Jesus Christ (John 4:10). That
thirst, deep inside you, the “itch” for more in life is perhaps
because you have not received His “living
water.” You may have dabbled in something of Christianity, but
He wants more – He wants your heart and your life. He, your Creator,
reasonably expects that you will TRUST in Him, and that you will
express that trust in prayer, seeking Him in everything. Ultimately,
judgment falls on those who refuse His offer.
The “great star”
(Greek “astro megas”) which falls from heaven may well be a meteor,
but that would be merely a thing of this universe. The Book of
Revelation focuses on the real causes behind outward events. It is
always best to let Scripture interpret Scripture, and a “star”
is used in Revelation 1:16 and 20 as a descriptive phrase for an “angel.”
Whatever this fiery “star” is, it will
plummet from heaven into space and time, and in relation to its fall,
fully one third of the fresh water supplies of this planet will
somehow be ruined (see verse 11).
Verse 11. “The name of
the star is called Wormwood; and a third of the waters became
wormwood, and many men died from the waters, because they were made
bitter.”
“Wormwood,” is
from the Greek word “apsinthos,”
which was a bitter tasting plant used for medicinal purposes. It was
described in medical journals as to its use, but in other writings it
symbolized bitterness, suffering and sorrow. John’s readers in the
churches of the Roman Province of Asia would have been very familiar
with this word. Something very similar happened in Egypt, at the time
Israel was being released from slavery.
The streams and rivers of Egypt were turned to “blood”
and became undrinkable (Exodus 7:1-25). Not all of the water in that
place was affected, because all were able to access drinkable water by
digging under the ground near the river (Exodus 7:24), much like the
other unaffected two thirds of the waters in the Book of Revelation.
The intention of the Exodus plagues was to 1) Rescue Israel from
slavery in Egypt, to 2) Show the sovereignty of God and 3) Reveal His
love to a people in need. Something very much like that will happen
during the time of the Great Tribulation.
Verse 12. “The fourth
angel sounded, and a third of the sun and a third of the moon and a
third of the stars were struck, so that a third of them would be
darkened and the day would not shine for a third of it, and the night
in the same way.
The fourth angel now sounded his trumpet,
signaling yet another judgment upon this earth. We of this place have
looked to our own devices and many fail to ask God; attempting to
light their own way. This is seen in Isaiah 50:10-11 – “Who
among you fears the Lord? Who obeys the voice of His Servant?”
The answer is: “The one “who walks in
darkness and has no light;” concluding, “Let
him trust in the name of the Lord and rely upon his God.”
Verse 11 of Isaiah 50, completes the word
picture: “You who kindle a fire, who encircle
yourselves with sparks; walk in the flight of your fire and in the
sparks you have kindled – This you shall have from My hand, you shall
lie down in torment.” Jesus said, “I
am the light of the world” (John 8:12). We try with our ideas
and “solutions,” to light our own way. We were created to trust in
Him, and when we do not, we “shall lie down
in torment” (Isaiah 50:11). Our light will be darkened and we
will not understand.
Verse 13. “Then I
looked, and I heard an eagle flying in mid heaven, saying with a loud
voice, ‘Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth, because of the
remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to
sound!’”
More “woe” is
about to come upon the people who remain alive on earth after the
judgments of God that have already occurred. The “eagle”
(Greek “aetos”) of this verse is sometimes translated as “vulture.”
We see this in Matthew 24:28 and Luke 17:37, as birds of prey
gathering to feast upon a dead person, signifying the corrupt (dead)
state of humanity. These symbolic “birds” are circling the human race
right now.
These verses, these “trumpets”
are being sounded at the place of God in eternity. The judgments of
these verses will be literal in their effects on earth, and they
additionally carry symbolism. That is, as in verse 12, the atmosphere
may indeed be darkened to reduce visible light by the inevitable
clouding that will occur from earthquakes, pollution and volcanism.
The inability of people to “see” also refers to humanity’s
UNDERSTANDING, which will further be darkened at the time of the end.
BOTH phenomena occurring together, is likely what is being presented
in these verses.
Ron Beckham, Pastor
Friday Study Ministries
P.O. Box 92131
Long Beach, CA
90809-2131 USA
www.fridaystudy.org
Ron@fridaystudy.org
