March 19, 2022
When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets. 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 was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand. Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And there were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake. So the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound. Revelation 8:1-6
Among the Hebrews, silence was associated with the coming of God in judgement. The Jews believed and taught that silence occurs in order for the prayers of the saints to be heard before He comes.
Be silent in the presence of the Lord God; for the day of the LORD is at hand. Zephaniah 1:7a
Be silent, all flesh, before the LORD, for He is aroused from His holy habitation. Zechariah 2:13
The Christian era (from the ascension to the return of Jesus) is indeed a time of testing. Jesus ascended into heaven to begin His work as our great high priest in the heavenly sanctuary. Throughout these centuries, He has been our advocate before God, and the verses above beautifully encourage His people to be in prayer. Our earnest prayers offered before God with the added incense play a vital role in shaping us for His purposes, aiding us in truly hearing Him.
As progressive events were represented by the opening of the first six seals, the seventh seal takes us back around to cover the same period of time, with additional detail, in the trumpets. We will begin to look closely at Old Testament trumpets and their symbolism. At the time that Jesus walked the earth, those who had the most access to the words of Scripture were, generally speaking, the very ones who refused to acknowledge Him. This was not passivity on their part, but active rejection with a broad negative influence. This stubborn refusal in their thinking moved them from what was a favorable place in the eyes of God to the side of opposition to the gospel, placing them outside the protection offered by the covenant. This rendered them subject to the “covenant curses” or judgements.
The covenant curses actually prove the longsuffering nature of God—not to be misunderstood as tolerating wickedness—but instead of pouring out His wrath all at once, He exercises divine restraint in measuring the trouble that is allowed to warn His beloved of their waywardness and call them to repentance. God’s Word specifies that judgement begins with the house of God, as Jesus reminds us here: “for everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.” (Luke 12:48b)
Ezekiel chapter 9 shows us that God’s faithful people are marked (v.4) in a way that the angels can see, so that they are protected during a time of judgement. These instructions given to the angels: “but do not come near anyone on whom is the mark; and begin at My sanctuary.” (Ezekiel 9:6b) This is a heads-up to us now that we should desire to be marked by God!
For the time has come for judgement to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? 1 Peter 4:17