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Revelation Chapter 8: Verse 1
thru 6, The 7th Seal
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nd 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 trumpets. 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. 6 And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets
prepared themselves to sound. (Rev 8:1-6)
If
the first six days of Creation involved the physical Creation of the Universe
and all life, the Seventh Day belonged to the Lord. He is the Lord of the
Sabbath. Likewise, the first six seals make reference to those things coming in
judgment that originate upon the earth. The Seventh Seal records events more
especially originating from on high in Heaven. And when he had opened the
seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.
Of course, all judgments originated and follow from our heavenly High Command,
but these that follow are particularly so.
The
opening of the Seventh Seal begins with a silent rest in Heaven of thirty
minutes. For such a period of silence to begin immediately upon the opening of
the Seventh Seal signifies the crucial importance of the events that follow.
Divine Perfection is symbolized with that number seven just as in the Seven
Days of Creation, the Rainbow, the musical Scale, and here, in the seventh
Seal. This is a moment for total concentration in Heaven and earth for that
which is about to be revealed. Your attention is commanded at the sound of
every Trumpet just as those bugle calls to an army in the field.
We
have already discussed the Seven Angels of God who stand over the Seven
Churches. The Old Testament Hebrew writers believed that there were seven
Archangels. Two are overtly identified by name in Holy Scripture – the
Archangels Michael and Gabriel. The non-canonical Book of Tobit (considered
useful for historical context) names a third Archangel – Raphael, in Tobit
12:15. I am Raphael, one of the seven holy angels, which present the prayers
of the saints, and which go in and out before the glory of the Holy One.
In Jewish apocalyptic
literature of the post-exilic period, names are given for the Seven Archangels,
or Princes:
- Suruel
- Raphael
- Raquel
- Michael
- Gabriel
- Remiel
- Uriel
(see the
apocryphal books of Tobit 12:15, 1 Enoch 20:1-7, 9:1, and 40:9)
Remember, these books are not accepted as Scripture, but solely as
historical works. The Angel of the Presence of the Lord is not included among
these created beings. He is referred to in Isaiah below:
7 I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the Lord, and the
praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord hath
bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he
hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of
his lovingkindnesses. 8 For he said, Surely they are my
people, children that will not lie: so he was their Saviour. 9 In
all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved
them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and
carried them all the days of old. (Isaiah 63:7-9)
Another
Angel of His Presence is mentioned in Joshua: 13 And it
came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and
looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in
his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for
us, or for our adversaries? 14 And he said, Nay; but as captain
of the host of the Lord am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to
the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his
servant? 15 And the captain of the Lord'S host said unto
Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy.
And Joshua did so. (Josh 5:13-15) Why would we consider this Captain of the Host to be the Angel of the
Presence of the Lord?
When
Joshua inquired of His identity, the Personage responded, Nay; but as captain
of the host of the Lord am I now come. How did Joshua respond to
this comment? Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and
said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant? This is a profound
expression of reverence owed only to God. Joshua worship this Figure – men do
not worship Angels. This is the same Personage (our Lord Jesus Christ) as John
describes in Rev 1:11-20.
Later
in Revelation, John attempts to worship an Angel (perhaps believing him to be
God) and is rebuked gently: 8 And I John saw these
things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to
worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things. 9 Then
saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and
of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book:
worship God. (Rev 22:8-9) We bend the knee and worship ONLY God as His Elect people.
Here
follows an important reflection on the worship foreshadowed in the Old
Testament Tabernacle: 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.
Only One has the authority today to intercede on our behalf – the Lord Jesus
Christ. This Angel is separate from the other seven and is by every definition
of much greater Presence.
You will remember that the High Priest alone was
allowed to enter the Holy Place to offer up the prayers of the people. In
approaching the veil (behind which was the Holy of Holies and the Ark of God
and Mercy Seat), the High Priest passed between the seven candlesticks which
represented the Light of Christ and His churches, and the Shewbread Table which
held the unleavened Bread representing the blessed Redeemers sinless offering
for us. Before the Veil of the Holy of Holies stood the Table of Incense where
also was observed the sprinkling of blood representing the cleansing of our
sins by that same sprinkling of blood of the Lord Jesus Christ symbolized in
Holy Baptism. Here the High Priest offered up the prayers of the people
illustrated in the rising smoke and sweet savor of the incense burned on the
Altar of Incense. In this text, just as the High Priest stood in the figurative
place of Christ, so does the Angel stand in the figurative place of the same,
and is His excellent Type. The Angel is given much incense since he will
symbolically offer up the prayers of ALL of the Saints of God – that includes
you and me. The prayers of God’s people ALWAYS end in the hands of God. Only
this Personage is able to make intercession for us, and we are reminded of the
necessity to pray aright – in the Name of Jesus Christ for only He is able to
lift them to God the Father.
The Priest could not stand before this Altar of
Incense unless he had first made an atonement for sin. Our Lord, as our High
Priest today, has made that final offering once-and-for-all for an atonement.
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. What meaning may we glean from this latter passage?
This fire of condemnation cast down upon the earth is not for the sin of Adam,
for God’s people have been absolved of that sin by the blood of Christ. This is
the fire of the approaching Last Day cast down to burn with fervent heat the
elements of the world, and to destroy all who have rejected that salvation
purchased by Christ, and who have taken lightly the prayers of the Altar
offered up. This glimpse of a future fiery end does not come with a gradual
warning, but all at once with the thrust of the Great Angels censor! But the
day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens
shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent
heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. (2 Peter
3:10)
Here follows the
benediction to these events and an introduction of other profound events to
follow: And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared
themselves to sound. When we read these words, we are witnessing a
revelation to us from Heaven. Do we take this to heart that we must hear with
clear and understanding ears the trumpet calls of the Seven Angels.
