WEEK 20
¡§Silence in Heaven¡¨
Date: November 14, 2002
Place: Allendale Baptist Church
Text: Revelation 8:1-6
Introduction
Someone asked me the other day why are we studying Revelation? I have to ask this question, why was Revelation written?
Not for our entertainment. Not to confuse us.
But to bring us to a greater knowledge & revelation of God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
But as I read & study this book and every part of the Word of God, it makes me realize the importance of being a faithful witness.
As we continue our study in Revelation, we pick up in chapter 8 verses 1-6 tonight. Up to this point we have witnessed the opening of 6 of the 7 seals. Chapter 7 we said seems to be a pause, a break, or a parenthesis.
„h In chapter 7 we noticed the sealing of the 144,000 Jews and the great multitude that are saved during the tribulation period to numerous to count.
„h Verses 10-17 in chapter 7 we once again see the worship that is never ending around the throne of God.
Before we begin our study let me give you a brief overview of what will take place in chapter 8.
1. The opening of the 7th seal.
2. A great silence in heaven
3. Another great earthquake
4. Then the first four of the trumpet judgments.
Verse 1
¡§When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.¡¨
„h Chapter 8 begins as Jesus opens the 7th seal. This opening introduces the seven trumpets
„h I heard a story of a young theologian that interpreted this passage a Scripture as meaning there will be no women in heaven.
„h Now I have to say I do not believe as this young man.
„h As Jesus opens the 7th seal we see that He is still in control of all that has happened and about to happen.
„h Someone has said there always seems to be claim before the storm. This is what seems to happening here. All of heaven stops its action and causes a great silence
„h Dr J Vernon McGee says ¡§the silence marks the transition from grace to judgment.¡¨
„h God has always been a gracious God offering salvation to all who would receive through His Son Jesus. Now Jesus the gentle Lamb stands to judge the world.
Verse 2
¡§And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were give seven trumpets.¡¨
„h Once again we see the angels and there purpose is to serve the Lord.
¡§Seven trumpets¡¨
„h John the Revelator being a Jew knew the important history of the trumpet in the life of Israel.
„h Number 10 tells us trumpet had three important uses
1. They called the people together. Remember a trumpet was sounded to call the people together when Moses was given the Law at Mt. Sinai.
2. They announced war. Joshua had the people blow the trumpets at the conquest of Jericho.
3. They announced special times. In 1 Kings 1:34-39 trumpets were sounded when the king was anointed and enthroned.
„h The trumpet judgments we are about to see are of greater intensity than the seal judgments, but not as destructive as the final bowl judgments
Verse 3
¡§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 is before the throne.¡¨
„h Some have said this is referring to the Lord Jesus, because He intercedes on behalf of the saints.
„h This is not Jesus. He has moved from His place of intercessor, to the place of Judge.
¡§censer¡¨
„h This is a golden pan, suspended on a rope or a chain, that was used to transport fiery coals from the brazen altar to the altar of incense, in order to ignite the incense.
„h The golden altar is where prayer is offered and incense is symbolized as prayer.
„h The psalmist David said in Psalms 141:12; ¡§Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense.¡¨
„h ¡§Incense speaks of the value of Christ¡¦s name & work in prayer.
„h Why do we end our prayers in Jesus name? Because Jesus said¡¨ if you ask in My name¡K¡¨
„h Here they are offering incense, sweet smelling incense. We are not heard for our much speaking or our flowery prayer. We are heard when our prayer is made in Jesus name.
„h It is interesting that the incense was given to an angel. Jesus didn¡¦t need anything given to Him when He prayed.
Verse 4
¡§ And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel¡¦s hand.¡¨
„h Prayer is going to be answered because of Jesus
„h Let me stop and ask this question; what is the purpose of prayer?
„h I say this it is not to get our will done in heaven, but to get God¡¦s will done here on earth. Even if that involves judgment.
„h Someone has said, ¡§true prayer is serious business, so we had better not move the altar too far from the throne.¡¨
Verse 5
¡§Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And there were noises, thunderings, lightenings, and an earthquake.¡¨
„h On the Day of Atonement the high priest of Israel would take a censer with him into the holy of holies along with the blood of the animal sacrificed to be placed on the altar.
„h But in the case the angel put the incense on the altar and threw the coals from the altar to the earth. The prayers ascended as incense now the answer coming down.
„h Remember back in Revelation 6:9-11 the tribulation martyrs prayed for God to vindicate them. Here God answers
¡§Thunders¡¨
„h This denotes the approach of the coming storm of God¡¦s judgment.
¡§Lightenings¡¨
„h Follow the thunder. This is a reversal of the natural order. We see lightening before we hear the thunder due to the fact the light waves travel faster than sound waves.
¡§Earthquake¡¨
„h This is the earth¡¦s response to the severe pressure which is placed upon it during the judgment of the great tribulation period.
Verse 6
¡§So the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.¡¨
„h The half hour of silence is over. The prayers of the saints have been heard. Now the angels stand ready to blow and bring forth divine judgment upon rebellious men.
„h I have to say this before we close and start the judgments next week, the trumpet judgments are literal, and they are not symbolic. Yes there is some symbolic meaning in revelation, such as the numbers, the trumpets we look at tonight, but it is not hidden.
„h God through His Word does not confuse nor does He ever hide truth.
