After the interlude of [Rev 7], in which we were introduced to two groups of saints from the tribulation period, we now come to the "seventh" and final "seal." It is introduced with a thirty-minute "silence in heaven"—a reverent silence that precedes the increasingly severe judgments.
 | Author: William MacDonald Rank: Author Posted on: 2024-07-03 Source: Title: Commentary on the New Testament Year (original): 1989 Author: William MacDonald Number of pages: 1504 Publisher/Editor: CLV Print: GGP Media GmbH, Pößneck |
The Seventh Seal and the First Trumpet
[Verse 1]. With the breaking of “the seventh seal” the book is fully open. That means that the time of the end has come, for it was said to Daniel of this book that he had to seal it until the end time [Dan 12:4-9]. That means that the time has come that many prophetically announced events will be fulfilled. With a view to that a dead silence arises in heaven. It is the calm before the storm, a silence in which everything and everyone holds their breath in anticipation of what is about to happen.
That there is mention of “about half an hour” seems to be a symbolic indication for a very short period of time. It is presumably the period in which happens what John sees in [Verse 2-4]. In the following verses the first trumpet judgments are executed.
It is also possible that the “silence in heaven” of half an hour shows something of the mercy of God. God is slow to anger. He doesn’t like to judge, it is an unusual act of His [Isa 28:21]; [Lam 3:33]. The judgments under the sixth seal have not led to repentance. Following that, another half hour is waited. When there is no sign of repentance to be noticed, God must act, which implies that the judgments burst forth under the trumpets.
[Verse 2]. While there is, most likely, a dead silence in heaven, during that silence preparations are made for the trumpet judgments. John sees “the seven angels stand before God”. That seems to indicate that it is about seven specific angels, the seven angels, who are in an exceptionally privileged position, before God. These seven angels with their seven trumpets form together the judgment of the seventh seal.
Each of them receives a trumpet. No one else than the Lord Jesus will have given them those trumpets. That there is mention of “trumpets” here, means that God speaks with a loud voice through the judgments which are being poured out at the sounding of each trumpet. A trumpet which is sounded is a command for attention.
[Verse 3]. Then “another angel” comes. That again is no one but the Lord Jesus (cf. [Rev 10:1]; [Rev 18:1]), for only He is able to give strength to the prayers of the saints. He came and “stood at the altar”. An altar is an offering place where offerings are brought to God. At the end of this verse it is said that it is a “golden altar” and that it is “before the throne”. The offering place bears the mark of Divine glory, of which the gold speaks. The offering which is offered here to God, is not a bloody offering, but consists of “the prayers of all the saints”. Of prayers, you read that they are compared to incense [Ps 141:2]. Each sincere prayer is pleasing to God and will be answered by Him.
Because it is about the prayers of ‘all’ the saints, it is nice to consider that at that very moment the prayers will be answered which through the ages have been sent up to heaven by all the saints. It concerns the prayers of the believers who do not belong to the church. That becomes clear from the fact that these prayers are not connected with the throne of grace, but with the throne of judgment.
In the time of the great tribulation the saints cry out to the ‘God of vengeance’ [Ps 94:1] to come into action. They ask of Him to judge the wicked, from which they will be redeemed. This is again a proof that the church is not on earth anymore, for we are told to pray for those who persecute us and to bless them and not to curse them [Matt 5:44]; [Acts 7:60].
Each prayer only gets its full value to God because the Lord Jesus has a golden censer with much incense in it. The purpose of it is also described: “That he might add it to the prayers of all the saints.” No one but He is able to give strength to the prayers of all the saints (cf. [Rev 5:8]). He is the true High Priest. Everything you offer to God is only pleasing to God through Him [Heb 13:15]; [1Pet 2:5].
‘Incense’ represents the personal glories of the Lord Jesus, which became visible in His life on earth and His dying on the cross. Thinking especially of prayer, you read of Him that His whole life on earth was ‘prayer’ [Ps 109:4]. His life was also thereby a sweet incense to God.
[Verse 4]. Everything the Lord Jesus is as a Man to God ascends together with the prayers of the saints to God. It says so characteristically “before God out the angel’s hand”. In this way the involvement of the Lord Jesus with the prayer of the saints is presented greater than when the incense would ascend to heaven from the altar.
[Verse 5]. When the censer is empty, when the prayers have reached their destination, the Angel returns to the altar with the empty censer. He fills the censer with the fire of the altar which He then throws to the earth. Here you see that the Lord Jesus gives, as it were, the starting signal for the judgments. When fire is thrown to the earth, we observe impressive accompanying signals occur.
1. The “peals of thunders” make clear that God speaks through the judgments.
2. “Sounds” are no rumbling noises at a distance, but terrible deafening blows that make everything shake.
3. “Flashes of lightning” put everything in the light and are blinding.
4. “An earthquake” causes that the earth suddenly is ripped open under the feet and every hold is taken away.
The fire is taken from the burnt offering altar on which it burns ceaselessly. The burnt offering altar is the place where the burnt offering is consumed by fire, for the benefit of those who are reconciled and sanctified by it. That same fire is also used to consume those who have no part in the burnt offering. That the fire is put into the censer first, indicates that the following judgments are connected with the prayers of the saints and in that way are the answers to those prayers. It is all symbolic language to make clear the exercise of these judgments.
[Verse 6]. Then it is the angels’ turn to carry out their duty. They prepare themselves to sound the trumpets that were given to them. A trumpet announces judgment, but it also serves as a warning signal, so that people will flee the announced judgment [Ezek 33:2-4]. The destruction and siege of Jericho was also preceded by the blowing of trumpets [Josh 6:4]. This will also happen when the judgments and the taking possession of the earth will come to pass.
As is often the case, here also the number seven can be divided into four and three. Just as the first four seals form a whole, so do the first four trumpets. These four relate to creation, divided according to the four major domains: 1. the earth, 2. the sea, 3. the rivers and springs of waters, and 4. the sun, the moon and the stars. However, it does not yet concern the whole world, for there is constant mention of “the third part” in the following verses.
[Verse 7]. When the first angel sounds, “hail and fire, mixed with blood … were thrown to the earth”. “Hail” is a judging power that comes from heaven [Rev 11:19]; [Rev 16:21]; [Exod 9:23-24]; [Isa 28:2]; [Ezek 38:22]. “Fire” is God's consuming judgment [Rev 20:10]; [Luke 16:24]. “Blood”, separated from the body, speaks of death [Rev 16:3]. The fact that hail and fire are mingled with blood therefore means that those judgments will result in death.
The fire does its work and consumes the world wherever there is still a certain order of government, that is “the earth”. Arrogant powers, represented by “the trees” [Dan 4:19-27], will be consumed, as is all prosperity, represented by “all the green grass” [Isa 15:6]. Grass represents both Israel [Isa 40:7] and all of humanity [1Pet 1:24]. That it mentions the green grass, seems to emphasize that it concerns man in his prosperity.
In this verse “burned up” occurs three times. It is a verb that indicates ‘completely burned up’. It is about being burned to the ground. Although I prefer a symbolic explanation of this trumpet judgment, it is not unthinkable that this judgment is to be taken literally. It seems difficult to me to consider a literal event in connection to each trumpet judgment. I would like you to ponder on that yourself, without letting your fantasy run free. Of course that also applies to me. Therefore you need to read even more carefully what I propose to you as a possible explanation.
“A third part of the earth” means that the judgments will strike a limited territory and not the whole earth. It has all the appearances that this “third part” regards to the nominal Christian part, the false Christianity, which probably refers to the restored Roman empire or the united Europe. That is my opinion, because in this part of the world the light of the gospel has shone most clearly. That makes the responsibility of the people who live here greater than that of other people. And God always begins with His judgment with those who are most responsible (cf. [1Pet 4:17]; [Lev 10:3]).
That there is mention of “about half an hour” seems to be a symbolic indication for a very short period of time. It is presumably the period in which happens what John sees in [Verse 2-4]. In the following verses the first trumpet judgments are executed.
It is also possible that the “silence in heaven” of half an hour shows something of the mercy of God. God is slow to anger. He doesn’t like to judge, it is an unusual act of His [Isa 28:21]; [Lam 3:33]. The judgments under the sixth seal have not led to repentance. Following that, another half hour is waited. When there is no sign of repentance to be noticed, God must act, which implies that the judgments burst forth under the trumpets.
[Verse 2]. While there is, most likely, a dead silence in heaven, during that silence preparations are made for the trumpet judgments. John sees “the seven angels stand before God”. That seems to indicate that it is about seven specific angels, the seven angels, who are in an exceptionally privileged position, before God. These seven angels with their seven trumpets form together the judgment of the seventh seal.
Each of them receives a trumpet. No one else than the Lord Jesus will have given them those trumpets. That there is mention of “trumpets” here, means that God speaks with a loud voice through the judgments which are being poured out at the sounding of each trumpet. A trumpet which is sounded is a command for attention.
[Verse 3]. Then “another angel” comes. That again is no one but the Lord Jesus (cf. [Rev 10:1]; [Rev 18:1]), for only He is able to give strength to the prayers of the saints. He came and “stood at the altar”. An altar is an offering place where offerings are brought to God. At the end of this verse it is said that it is a “golden altar” and that it is “before the throne”. The offering place bears the mark of Divine glory, of which the gold speaks. The offering which is offered here to God, is not a bloody offering, but consists of “the prayers of all the saints”. Of prayers, you read that they are compared to incense [Ps 141:2]. Each sincere prayer is pleasing to God and will be answered by Him.
Because it is about the prayers of ‘all’ the saints, it is nice to consider that at that very moment the prayers will be answered which through the ages have been sent up to heaven by all the saints. It concerns the prayers of the believers who do not belong to the church. That becomes clear from the fact that these prayers are not connected with the throne of grace, but with the throne of judgment.
In the time of the great tribulation the saints cry out to the ‘God of vengeance’ [Ps 94:1] to come into action. They ask of Him to judge the wicked, from which they will be redeemed. This is again a proof that the church is not on earth anymore, for we are told to pray for those who persecute us and to bless them and not to curse them [Matt 5:44]; [Acts 7:60].
Each prayer only gets its full value to God because the Lord Jesus has a golden censer with much incense in it. The purpose of it is also described: “That he might add it to the prayers of all the saints.” No one but He is able to give strength to the prayers of all the saints (cf. [Rev 5:8]). He is the true High Priest. Everything you offer to God is only pleasing to God through Him [Heb 13:15]; [1Pet 2:5].
‘Incense’ represents the personal glories of the Lord Jesus, which became visible in His life on earth and His dying on the cross. Thinking especially of prayer, you read of Him that His whole life on earth was ‘prayer’ [Ps 109:4]. His life was also thereby a sweet incense to God.
[Verse 4]. Everything the Lord Jesus is as a Man to God ascends together with the prayers of the saints to God. It says so characteristically “before God out the angel’s hand”. In this way the involvement of the Lord Jesus with the prayer of the saints is presented greater than when the incense would ascend to heaven from the altar.
[Verse 5]. When the censer is empty, when the prayers have reached their destination, the Angel returns to the altar with the empty censer. He fills the censer with the fire of the altar which He then throws to the earth. Here you see that the Lord Jesus gives, as it were, the starting signal for the judgments. When fire is thrown to the earth, we observe impressive accompanying signals occur.
1. The “peals of thunders” make clear that God speaks through the judgments.
2. “Sounds” are no rumbling noises at a distance, but terrible deafening blows that make everything shake.
3. “Flashes of lightning” put everything in the light and are blinding.
4. “An earthquake” causes that the earth suddenly is ripped open under the feet and every hold is taken away.
The fire is taken from the burnt offering altar on which it burns ceaselessly. The burnt offering altar is the place where the burnt offering is consumed by fire, for the benefit of those who are reconciled and sanctified by it. That same fire is also used to consume those who have no part in the burnt offering. That the fire is put into the censer first, indicates that the following judgments are connected with the prayers of the saints and in that way are the answers to those prayers. It is all symbolic language to make clear the exercise of these judgments.
[Verse 6]. Then it is the angels’ turn to carry out their duty. They prepare themselves to sound the trumpets that were given to them. A trumpet announces judgment, but it also serves as a warning signal, so that people will flee the announced judgment [Ezek 33:2-4]. The destruction and siege of Jericho was also preceded by the blowing of trumpets [Josh 6:4]. This will also happen when the judgments and the taking possession of the earth will come to pass.
As is often the case, here also the number seven can be divided into four and three. Just as the first four seals form a whole, so do the first four trumpets. These four relate to creation, divided according to the four major domains: 1. the earth, 2. the sea, 3. the rivers and springs of waters, and 4. the sun, the moon and the stars. However, it does not yet concern the whole world, for there is constant mention of “the third part” in the following verses.
[Verse 7]. When the first angel sounds, “hail and fire, mixed with blood … were thrown to the earth”. “Hail” is a judging power that comes from heaven [Rev 11:19]; [Rev 16:21]; [Exod 9:23-24]; [Isa 28:2]; [Ezek 38:22]. “Fire” is God's consuming judgment [Rev 20:10]; [Luke 16:24]. “Blood”, separated from the body, speaks of death [Rev 16:3]. The fact that hail and fire are mingled with blood therefore means that those judgments will result in death.
The fire does its work and consumes the world wherever there is still a certain order of government, that is “the earth”. Arrogant powers, represented by “the trees” [Dan 4:19-27], will be consumed, as is all prosperity, represented by “all the green grass” [Isa 15:6]. Grass represents both Israel [Isa 40:7] and all of humanity [1Pet 1:24]. That it mentions the green grass, seems to emphasize that it concerns man in his prosperity.
In this verse “burned up” occurs three times. It is a verb that indicates ‘completely burned up’. It is about being burned to the ground. Although I prefer a symbolic explanation of this trumpet judgment, it is not unthinkable that this judgment is to be taken literally. It seems difficult to me to consider a literal event in connection to each trumpet judgment. I would like you to ponder on that yourself, without letting your fantasy run free. Of course that also applies to me. Therefore you need to read even more carefully what I propose to you as a possible explanation.
“A third part of the earth” means that the judgments will strike a limited territory and not the whole earth. It has all the appearances that this “third part” regards to the nominal Christian part, the false Christianity, which probably refers to the restored Roman empire or the united Europe. That is my opinion, because in this part of the world the light of the gospel has shone most clearly. That makes the responsibility of the people who live here greater than that of other people. And God always begins with His judgment with those who are most responsible (cf. [1Pet 4:17]; [Lev 10:3]).
Verses that belong to this explanation: 1-7
1 And 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. 7 The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.
 | Author: Ger de Koning Rank: Author Posted on: 2024-02-04 Source: Title: Revelation Author: Ger de Koning |
The seventh seal is opened. There was profound silence in heaven for a space; all was quiet in the church, for whenever the church on earth cries through oppression, that cry reaches up to heaven; or it is a silence of expectation. Trumpets were given to the angels, who were to sound them. The Lord Jesus is the High Priest of the church, having a golden censer, and much incense, fullness of merit in his own glorious person. Would that men studied to know the fullness that is in Christ, and endeavored to be acquainted with his excellency. Would that they were truly persuaded that Christ has such an office as that of Intercessor, which he now performs with deep sympathy. No prayers, thus recommended, was ever denied hearing and acceptance. These prayers, thus accepted in heaven, produced great changes upon earth. The Christian worship and religion, pure and heavenly in its origin and nature, when sent down to earth and conflicting with the passions and worldly projects of sinful men, produced remarkable tumults, here set forth in prophetical language, as our Lord himself declared, [Luke 12:49].
Verses that belong to this explanation: 1-6
1 And 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.
 | Author: Matthew Henry Rank: Priest AD: 1714 Source: Title: Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible Author: Matthew Henry |
There was silence in heaven: which is to represent as it were a general consternation, and an expectation of dreadful events at the opening of the seventh seal, and when seven Angels stood prepared to sound seven trumpets. (Witham)
 | Author: George Leo Haydock Rank: Author AD: 1849 Source: Title: Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary Year (original): 1859 Number of pages: 571 Print: Edward Dunigan and Brother, New York, New York |
Bishop Victorianus thinks that this period of silence indicated the beginning of the eternal rest. But He broke the silence, because He did not care about the temporal order of events.
In the sixth seal, God revealed the events of the judgment, and the fearful state to be of the wicked, who will seek the mountains and the rocks to fall on them, and hide them from the face of the One who is sitting on the throne. He did not speak about the response of God's children, which was revealed in the seventh seal; but "there was silence in heaven," as a result of the amazement that struck the heavenly creatures, at the glory that man obtained!
Thus, the Book of Revelation leaves us for "half an hour," just a short time, to admire in amazement, what He had prepared for us, forever. Yet he brought us back down to follow up the second series.
In the sixth seal, God revealed the events of the judgment, and the fearful state to be of the wicked, who will seek the mountains and the rocks to fall on them, and hide them from the face of the One who is sitting on the throne. He did not speak about the response of God's children, which was revealed in the seventh seal; but "there was silence in heaven," as a result of the amazement that struck the heavenly creatures, at the glory that man obtained!
Thus, the Book of Revelation leaves us for "half an hour," just a short time, to admire in amazement, what He had prepared for us, forever. Yet he brought us back down to follow up the second series.
 | Author: Tadros Yacoub Malaty Rank: Monk Posted on: 2023-01-13 Source: Title: The book of Revelation Year (original): 1996 Author: Fr. Tadros Yacoub Malaty Number of pages: 257 Publisher/Editor: St. George's Coptic Orthodox Church, Sporting, Alexandria Print: Anba Reuis Press, Abassia, Cairo, Egypt Translation: Victoria and Ramzy Malaty |
Whereby is signified the beginning of everlasting rest; but it is described as partial, because the silence being interrupted, he repeats it in order. For if the silence had continued, here would be an end of his narrative.
 | Author: Victorinus of Pettau AD: 303 |
The listed verse explanations of the individual persons have nothing to do with the explanations of the other persons. This also applies to the Bible translations.
