From: Revelation 8:1-13 The third vision is introduced with the opening of the seventh seal. Remember, it is the Lamb of God Who opens the seals of the book in heaven. Now, the revelation of God can be unleashed -- the book may be opened. There was silence for about half-an-hour. The term “half-an-hour” signifies a very short time; but, the silence itself signifies that something magnanimous was about to occur. It was a moment of waiting with expectancy; in fact, it was the moment. Next, John saw seven angels with seven trumpets. The seven trumpets signify warning of judgment; there were seven; His judgment was complete (Cf Joshua 6:6). Following, John saw another angel who was before the altar of incense; the angel took the golden censer, filled it with incense and offered it with the prayers of the saints. The smoke ascended to the throne of God. The angel, then, took the censer and filled it with the coals of the altar and cast it to the earth. (The revelation of Jesus Christ continues to unfold.) The altar of incense was the place of atonement and communion with God. It was where the priests interceded on behalf of God’s people. Here, the angel was the Christ who is the only Mediator (1Timothy 2:5) between God and man. He intercedes on behalf of His people (Romans 8:34). The prayers of the saints had been answered, for the angel cast the censer with the coals of fire from the altar to the earth. Hence, the judgments of God began to be executed; here, in terms of warnings. Heaven began to ready itself: voices, thunders and lightnings, and an earthquake followed the casting of the censer to the earth. “And the seven angels having the seven trumpets prepared themselves that they might sound their trumpets.” (The Land or earth symbolizes Jerusalem cf 1:7. The warnings are comparative to those which were against Egypt under the command of Moses.) The FIRST angel sounded his trumpet. The warning was found in conjunction to the disasters of the earth’s vegetation. The judgment was limited in that it was defined as affecting only one-third of the trees and grass. The SECOND angel sounded his trumpet. The warning was found in conjunction to marine disasters. The effects of the judgment was limited in that it was defined as having affected only affect one-third of the sea. The THIRD angel sounded his trumpet. The warning affected the fresh water resources, in so much, that men died. The effects of the judgment is limited in that it was defined as having affected only one-third of the rivers and fountains of waters. The FOURTH angel sounded his trumpet. The warning was found in conjunction to cosmic disasters. The effects of the judgment was limited in that it was defined as having affected only to one-third of the cosmos. Judgment reined on Jew and Gentile, religious and government leaders and systems. There was a pause in regard to the sounding of the remaining trumpets. An angel announced that three “woes” were to be experienced by those who dwelled upon the Land. (The woes are spiritual, rather than physical, in nature.)
Posted on: Sun, 07 Jul 2013 23:40:01 +0000
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