So, a summary of chapter 7....in verses 1-8, we see the believers receiving a seal to protect them through great tribulation and suffering. In verses 9-17, we see the believers finally with God in heaven. All who have been faithful to God and singing his praises. Their trials are over and they will have no more tears, pain or fears.
:)
v1-5-
1 When the Lamb broke the seventh seal on the scroll,there was silence throughout heaven for about half an hour. 2 I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and they were given seven trumpets. 3 Then another angel with a gold incense burner came and stood at the altar. And a great amount of incense was given to him to mix with the prayers of God’s people as an offering on the gold altar before the throne. 4 The smoke of the incense, mixed with the prayers of God’s holy people, ascended up to God from the altar where the angel had poured them out.5 Then the angel filled the incense burner with fire from the altar and threw it down upon the earth; and thunder crashed, lightning flashed, and there was a terrible earthquake.
Imagine there being silence for half an hour. We have minute silences at football and on remembrance day, but imagine half an hour! Must have seemed like ages! During this time, the only thing happening was the prayers of God's people mixing with the incense. The seven trumpets (v2) are judgments, but they are only partial...God's final and complete judgement hasn't yet come :)
In those days, a censer was filled with sweet-smelling incense to be used for special ceremonies. But here, it is filled with the prayers of christians! The angel was helping deliver them....this is great! It's a nice reminder that our prayers are never on their own :D
The Holy Spirit helps us (Romans 8 v16)...16 For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children.
When the angel throws the incense burner on the Earth, it reveals God's judgement of the Earth in answer to the prayers of his people for those who had persecuted them.
This shows that judgement and revenge are in God's hands, not ours! No matter how much we might want to get our own back, we are to pray to God for justice.
v7-13-
6 Then the seven angels with the seven trumpets prepared to blow their mighty blasts. 7 The first angel blew his trumpet, and hail and fire mixed with blood were thrown down on the earth. One-third of the earth was set on fire, one-third of the trees were burned, and all the green grass was burned.
8 Then the second angel blew his trumpet, and a great mountain of fire was thrown into the sea. One-third of the water in the sea became blood, 9 one-third of all things living in the sea died, and one-third of all the ships on the sea were destroyed.
10 Then the third angel blew his trumpet, and a great star fell from the sky, burning like a torch. It fell on one-third of the rivers and on the springs of water. 11 The name of the star was Bitterness. It made one-third of the water bitter, and many people died from drinking the bitter water.
12 Then the fourth angel blew his trumpet, and one-third of the sun was struck, and one-third of the moon, and one-third of the stars, and they became dark. And one-third of the day was dark, and also one-third of the night.
13 Then I looked, and I heard a single eagle crying loudly as it flew through the air, “Terror, terror, terror to all who belong to this world because of what will happen when the last three angels blow their trumpets.”
These trumpet blasts have 3 purposes-
- To warn the people of judgement
- To call good and evil to battle
- To announce Jesus' return
These warnings should urge us to make sure our faith in God is both certain and sure.
Since only one third of the Earth and everything is destroyed, it only means there is partial judgement from God! Although, his full wrath is yet to be unleashed :/
The first four trumpets bring disaster on the world. But this time, it's nature that's affected- the earth, sea, sky, rivers....not us lot. Human sin is the cause of this, which is TERRIFYING...but only partial.
The worrying thing is the next few trumpets will bring worse judgments :(
....Have a look tomorrow to see what they are
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