Tribulation - Seventh Seal
By Brian C Thomas
Seventh Seal: Prelude to the Seven Trumpets
When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets. Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand. Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And there were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake. So the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound. - Revelation 8:1-6
When Jesus opens the seventh seal, silence comes upon heaven for about half an hour in John’s vision. This silence is in vast contrast to the normal activities of heaven. The scripture reveals that heaven is typically a noisy place with constant praise and worship of the Lord God Almighty. Earlier in the book, John speaks of lightnings, thunderings, and voices proceeding from the heavenly throne (Revelation 4:5). John also spoke of four creatures that do not rest day or night and cry out around the throne, “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty…” (Revelation 4:8) and the twenty-four elders chant, “You are worthy, O Lord…” (Revelation 4:10-11). In chapter 5, John sees large multitude of angels, creatures, and elders in heaven shouting, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain…” (Revelation 5:12). But all of heaven comes to an ominous silence amid the praise and worship upon the opening of the seventh seal. The heavenly hosts stand in awe as Christ reveals the misery that is about to come upon the earth. Their great silence is the “calm before the storm”.
When Jesus opens the seventh seal, silence comes upon heaven for about half an hour in John’s vision. This silence is in vast contrast to the normal activities of heaven. The scripture reveals that heaven is typically a noisy place with constant praise and worship of the Lord God Almighty. Earlier in the book, John speaks of lightnings, thunderings, and voices proceeding from the heavenly throne (Revelation 4:5). John also spoke of four creatures that do not rest day or night and cry out around the throne, “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty…” (Revelation 4:8) and the twenty-four elders chant, “You are worthy, O Lord…” (Revelation 4:10-11). In chapter 5, John sees large multitude of angels, creatures, and elders in heaven shouting, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain…” (Revelation 5:12). But all of heaven comes to an ominous silence amid the praise and worship upon the opening of the seventh seal. The heavenly hosts stand in awe as Christ reveals the misery that is about to come upon the earth. Their great silence is the “calm before the storm”.
The seventh seal is opened to introduce seven trumpet judgments upon the inhabitants of the earth during the Tribulation. Those horrible judgments will bring 'never before heard of calamity' upon those who have rejected Jesus Christ. Rejecters of Christ today would too stand in utter silence if they were shown what will happen during the seven trumpet judgments. Seven angels will each receive a trumpet when the seventh seal is opened. Note that the opening of the seal does not bring the angels before God. Apparently they stand before God continually awaiting their next command. Upon orders, each will blow their trumpet in sequence to bring judgments upon the earth. The book of Luke reveals the likely identity of one of these angels, “And the angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God,…” – Luke 1:19. Gabriel lets Zechariah know that he stands in the presence of God while in heaven. The same Gabriel appeared to Daniel on multiple occasions as a messenger from God (Daniel 8:15-16; Daniel 9:21). We can conclude that at least one of Gabriel’s jobs is to stand before God and carry out His bidding to mankind. Scripture does not identify the other six but they likely have the same assignments.
The passages describing the angel with the golden censer reveals that the prayers of all Christians continually go before the Lord God. As the angel offers the golden censer along with the prayers of the saints before the golden altar, John sees the smoke of the incense and the prayers of saints rise up before God from the angel’s hand. God’s people have been praying since the days of Christ on earth to bring justice upon those who have rejected His Son, Jesus Christ. Christians have faced tremendous persecution and many, many deaths for proclaiming faith in Jesus Christ. It very well may be that the prayers for the last two thousand years will be “unlocked” at this very moment. Notice that after the smoke of the censer and prayers go up before God, the angel then fills the censer with fire from the altar. He then heaves the fire-filled censer from heaven onto the earth as a display of the prayers for vengeance being fulfilled. This heavenly exchange (unknown to the inhabitants of the earth) brings thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake upon the world below. The actions of heaven initiate a sequence of events on earth in response. This will be a great unleashing of God’s tremendous wrath as the seven angels, with trumpets in hand, prepare to sound. Conclusion
The opening of the seventh seal will issue commencement of seven trumpet judgments upon the earth. Each trumpet will bring a fierce Godly judgment onto mankind. This is a good time to remind ourselves that fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, homosexuals, sodomites, thieves, covetous, drunkards, revilers, extortioners and all rejecters of Christ will not inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9-10). I strongly encourage all in these sinful lifestyles to repent and accept Christ as Lord and Savior while you still have time.
We look forward to the day when we will meet our Lord to live with Him for eternity in perfect peace and happiness. Until then, Blessings to Israel and to the only wise God, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.
We look forward to the day when we will meet our Lord to live with Him for eternity in perfect peace and happiness. Until then, Blessings to Israel and to the only wise God, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.