REVELATION 8: 1 - 5 (PART 1 OF 2)

REVELATION 8   PART 1 OF 2
VERSES 1 - 5
THE SEVENTH SEAL

(golden censer)

   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 trumpet.

   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.

    (King James Version, KJV, public domain)

COMMENTARY

   So, we are back to the action here in chapter 8.  The Lamb breaks the seventh and last seal; and when He does, there is silence in Heaven for about half an hour.  We have seen and heard angels and saints singing and worshiping God from the beginning of this Book, but now, all is silent.  I imagine everyone holding their breath expectantly.  Hold on, because it is going to get rough!

   It is mentioned in one of the commentaries I am reading, that angels are created beings and not eternal.  We are aware they are created beings, but I have not considered they are not eternal because we are eternal.  Furthermore, the same angels have been around for thousands of years.

   Seven angels standing before God are each handed a trumpet.  But wait! Before the first angel sounds his trumpet, another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer.  This is our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Who is interceding for us before God constantly. 

   This Angel filled the censer with smoke from the incense and prayers of the saints.  We go to Exodus 30:  6 - 10 to refresh our memory about the incense:  

"6) Put the altar in front of the curtain that shields the ark of the covenant law---before the atonement cover that is over the tablets of the covenant law---where I will meet with you.

7) Aaron must burn fragrant incense on the altar every morning when he tends the lamps.

8) He must burn incense again when he lights the lamps at twilight so incense will burn regularly before the LORD for the generations to come.

9) Do not offer on this altar any other incense or any burnt offering or grain offering and do not pour a drink offering on it.

10) Once a year Aaron shall make atonement on its horns.  This annual atonement must be made with blood of the atoning sin offering for the generations to come.  It is most holy to the LORD.  (NIV)"

The incense then carries the prayers of all saints who have been martyred for The Lord mixed with prayers of the saints who are left on Earth.  After He offered this up to our God and Creator, He filled the censer with fire from the altar which is before God and cast it to the earth.  So, as their prayers go up, judgement comes down.

   This will be manifested as lightening bolts from a clear sky in what appears to be a world-wide storm.  Multitude of fearful voices will be heard.  Then a world-wide earthquake.

   Dear friend, please don't tarry to accept your priceless gift of salvation from The Lamb.  Please click this link to go to our "Pathway to Salvation" page:  http://omaswisdom.blogspot.com/p/path-to-salvation.html


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