The Seventh Seal and the Golden Censer. The Trumpets. Revelation 8:1-13

Transcription

1 1 The Seventh Seal and the Golden Censer The Trumpets Revelation 8:1-13.

2 2 Text: Revelation 8:1-13, The Seventh Seal and the Golden Censer The Trumpets 1. 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. 6. 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. 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; 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.

3 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; 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. 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. 13. And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound! (AKJV) Introduction: I. Chapter 6: Six Seals; The Seals are broken: Revelation. II. Chapter 7: Interlude; Who will survive? The Sealed of God. III. Chapter 8: Seventh Seal; The Trumpets are Blown; Warning. Commentary: Seventh Seal: Prelude to Seven Trumpets Revelation 8:1-6, And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. 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

4 4 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. And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound. (AKJV) I. Silence. A. The seventh seal is opened. B. The significance of this silence in heaven for about thirty minutes is nearly impossible to determine. Speculation asserts that we have a pause before another climactic event begins. Some think the silence is the extent of the seventh seal. (Coffman) II. Seven Angels. A. Should we understand the seven literally? Hailey thinks not. B. Note what the word seven is attached to elsewhere: 1. Spirits. 2. Churches. 3. Horns. 4. Eyes. 5. Seals. 6. Trumpets. 7. Bowls. III. Another Angel.

5 5 A. Stood before the altar. 1. Having a golden censer. 2. Given much incense. 3. Offer with the prayers of the saints. a. On the golden altar. b. Before the throne. B. From the hands of the angel, the prayers and smoke of the incense ascended to God. 1. Maybe the image of the incense with the prayers of the saints conveys that the prayers are a sweet aroma to the Lord. 2. It has been rightly said that if it is worth thinking about it is worth praying about. 3. The prayers of the saints resulted in the Lord s action (not exclusively or even prominently). C. From the altar fire was taken, filled the censer with it, and threw it toward the earth. D. The seven angels prepared to sound the trumpets. 1. It would be better to get the sense of what is occurring than to try to interpret each sign. 2. To do so, is hopelessly speculative even if some of them were right, how would you know that for certain? 3. What is occurring?

6 6 a. In Revelation 6:9, 10, the martyrs cried to the Lord, How long. In this portion of the Revelation, the answer is beginning to be given. b. Revelation 6:9-10, And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? (AKJV) c. In chapter 7, the Lord answers about those who can stand when the Lord renders His judgments. d. Chapter 8 is the initial blasts of judgments. The First Trumpets Revelation 8:7-13, 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. 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; 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. 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; 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. 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. And I

7 7 beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound! Note: Roper makes a great point (citing the words of Summers) that the world at that time was divided into four categories: land, sea, fresh waters, and heavenly bodies. With these trumpets, each suffers. Exactly when these judgments occur, there is no way to determine. I. The First Trumpet: A. Hail and fire mingled with blood. B. Thrown to the earth. C. A third (1/3 rd ) of the vegetation was burned up. II. Second Trumpet: A. A great mountain (or something like it), burning with fire, was thrown into the sea. 1. Is it possible that the word mountain could represent a strong hold of authority. 2. If so, then the judgment of the Lord upon (against) this mountain results in the death of the following. a. Jeremiah 51:23-25, I will also break in pieces with thee the shepherd and his flock; and with thee will I break in pieces the husbandman and his yoke of oxen; and with thee will I break in pieces captains and rulers. And I will render unto Babylon and to all the inhabitants of Chaldea all their evil that they have done in Zion in your sight, saith the Lord.

8 8 Behold, I am against thee, O destroying mountain, saith the Lord, which destroyest all the earth: and I will stretch out mine hand upon thee, and roll thee down from the rocks, and will make thee a burnt mountain. (AKJV) B. A third (1/3 rd ) of the sea became blood. 1. A representation of the mass of humanity (13:1) 2. Difficult to interpret, but maybe the mountain going into the sea and becoming blood results in the following: C. A third (1/3 rd ) of the living creatures in the sea died. D. A third (1/3 rd ) of the ships were destroyed. Economic hardship was the result. III. The Third Trumpet:... A. The great star fell from heaven burning like a torch. 1. Some think this is to be the anti-christ. 2. If this were actually a literal occurrence, then a great star would be a great planet for a star is a planet (cp. Webster s). 3. The earth, in its entirety, would be destroyed. 4. Reading the two verses does not show one planet hitting another. B. It fell on a third (1/3 rd ) of the rivers and on springs of waters. C. Name of the star is wormwood. The word does not come from the image of the word broken in two. Rather, it is a plant that is

9 9 found in many varieties in Palestine and is bitter in taste, though not poisonous. 1. Waters made bitter. 2. Many men died. Though not poisonous, it became death to many. IV. The Fourth Trumpet: A. Diminished light. Clearly, judgment is in view. Yet, total judgment does not seem to be what we are to understand, but judgment in part. 1. Jeremiah 4:23, I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light. (AKJV) 2. Ezekiel 32:7-9, And when I shall put thee out, I will cover the heaven, and make the stars thereof dark; I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon shall not give her light. All the bright lights of heaven will I make dark over thee, and set darkness upon thy land, saith the Lord GOD. I will also vex the hearts of many people, when I shall bring thy destruction among the nations, into the countries which thou hast not known. (AKJV) 3. Donald Taylor thinks these refer to human authorities. 4. Hailey says, It seems, therefore, that the darkness in John s vision indicates a lack of understanding and insight on the part of those who direct human affairs. 5. Elements:... a. A third of the sun was struck.

10 10 b. A third of the moon was struck. c. A third of the stars was struck. d. A third of the day did not shine. B. Likewise the night. It can be understood how the first four being struck would lose their capability (in part) to shine. This one is peculiar. C. An angel flying pronounces woes upon those remaining because of the last three trumpets.

11 11 Questions Revelation 8: When the seventh seal was opened, what happened, how long did it last, what was seen and what was given? 2. What happened when another angel with a golden censer came and stood at the altar before the throne? 3. What happened when the first angel sounded his trumpet? 4. What happened when the second angel sounded his trumpet?

12 What happened when the third angel sounded his trumpet? 6. What happened when the fourth angel sounded his trumpet? 7. What did an angel exclaim? 8. To what seven things is the number seven attached in Revelation? 9. What is the connection between incense and the prayers of the saints?

13 Roper made a great point that the at that time was divided into :,,, and. 11. What is a wormwood? 12. Is the great star that fell from heaven burning like a torch the anti- Christ? a literal planet? Give reasons for your answer. 13. What does the diminished light of the fourth trumpet indicate? 14. When the fourth trumpet sounded a of the, and were struck and for a of a the did not shine.

14 Others would be visited upon the of the when the last sounded their trumpets.