Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near. Revelation 1:3 NIV
Welcome, welcome, I’m so glad you’re here. This is our eighth week of studying Revelation.
Let’s read this one in the NIV. You can find it and any other version you might prefer at biblegateway.com.
Before we begin, let’s pray.
Lord Jesus, these chapters get more difficult and scary as we go along, yet I know You are always leading and with me. I ask today, please reveal what we need to see and what is important for life in general in this time. Always for Your glory. Amen.
Please read Revelation 8:1-2 NIV
The Seventh Seal and the Golden Censer
Silence for half an hour. Wow. Can you imagine that? Maybe that doesn’t surprise you. I guess it depends on how you think heaven sounds with all that is going on there all the time.
Seven angels were given trumpets. Trumpets are a feature of many festivals and many call to God’s people.
Footnote from the AMP on verse 2
In the Old Testament, trumpets announced God’s commands to congregate, move camp, and prepare for war (Num 10:1-9). Trumpets were also used to announce celebrations (Num 10:10; 29:1), royal coronations (1 Kin 1:34, 39; 2 Kin 9:13), and God’s impending wrath (Josh 6:1-8; Zeph 1:14-16). Angels will blow trumpets during the judgment and resurrection (Matt 24:31; 1 Cor 15:52; 1 Thess 4:16).
Please read Revelation 8:3-4 NIV
The prayers God’s people have prayed through the centuries are all involved here. Much incense was given the angel to offer with them. The incense with the prayers went up before God.
Please read Revelation 8:5 NIV
Faithlife Study Bible: “hurled it on the earth”
Initiates judgment in response to the prayers of the saints—probably those recorded in Rev 6:10.
John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016)
Revelation 6:10 – They called out in a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?”
Please read Revelation 8:6-13 NIV
The Trumpets
Faithlife Study Bible on verses 6-13:
The next wave of judgments begins; four of the seven trumpets are blown in this section. The attacks, which come against nature and the cosmos, are intended to lead sinful humanity to repentance, not totally destroy them.
John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016)
The judgements of water and light here correspond to Exodus 7:20-25 and Exodus 10:21-23.
Footnote on verse 13 from the AMP
Revelation 8:13 The Greek word used here (midair) refers to the meridian or zenith, the highest point of the sun in the sky, where the sun is directly overhead.
Revelation 8:13 During the first four trumpets, judgment fell on nature, but in the final three trumpet judgments (chs 9-11), unbelieving humanity will be directly punished through torment, death, and at last total destruction.
Faithlife Study Bible “to those who live on the earth” In Revelation this phrase refers to unbelievers, not all earth’s inhabitants (compare Rev 3:10; 6:10; 11:10; 13:8). Whereas the first four trumpets affected everyone (or at least those in one-third of the earth), the final three are only for unbelievers. The seal mentioned in 7:3 protects the remaining believers from the demonic oppression of the final three trumpets (see 9:4).
John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Re 8:13.
I added these footnotes to help explain what we’re seeing in this chapter because it’s very scary and I don’t want you to quit studying because you fear what is yet to come.
Yes, it is true, the three trumpets remaining to be blown are against the remaining people, but not those of us who have been sealed with the Spirit. All of this judgment will come. Know who you are and Whose you are and behave like it.
Lord Jesus, thank You. Praise be to Your holy Name. Thank You for saving us. Thank you for being our ever-present helper. Thank You for loving us and protecting us and controlling everything for us: Your gathering, Your church, Your ecclesia. Help us continue studying and help us learn, Lord, so that we can be all You want us to be. In Your holy Name, I pray. Amen.