A Daily Walk

Guest (Male): You ever wonder about this? Sometimes we wonder if God actually hears our prayers. We’re not sure if they clear the ceiling or they get out above the clouds. We can even doubt the power of prayer, and we doubt it because we don’t necessarily see things change immediately.

But listen, friend, if you're in that place today and you're wondering, "Does God hear my prayer?" can I share with you what the Bible says about prayer? In 1st John chapter 5, it says, "This is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, we know that He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, we have the things that we have asked."

John Randall: I wonder if the reason we rarely, if ever, pray—and I mean really pray—is because we think God doesn't hear our prayers. But He does. He really does. And God answers every prayer, too. Maybe not the way we want or expect, but He does answer. Today on A Daily Walk, we come to Revelation chapter 8. The seventh seal is about to be opened, and there is silence in heaven. You'll soon see it’s because God is listening.

Well, good morning. If you have your Bibles with you, and I hope that you do, I want to encourage you now to open up to the book of Revelation, chapter 8, this morning, for a message entitled "Silence in Heaven." Revelation chapter 8, as we continue our study here through this last book of the Bible, a book that means the unveiling. The unveiling of Jesus and future events that will take place upon the earth—an important and relevant book, especially in light of the days in which we are living. Revelation chapter 8, beginning in verse 1, if you'd follow along with me.

"And 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, and 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 even an earthquake. So the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound."

In Revelation chapter 5, we were introduced to a scroll containing seven seals that no one was found worthy to open. Then suddenly, the Apostle John watched as Jesus, who is the Lion and the Lamb, stepped forward and took the scroll in His hand. He then proceeded to open each individual seal. As He did, judgment began to fall upon the earth.

At the close of Revelation chapter 6, all the seals had been opened except for the seventh seal. In Revelation chapter 7, we saw that there was a parenthetical pause in the timetable of judgment as the Lord showed mercy in the midst of judgment. During that time, there were 144,000 Jews that will be marked and protected during the Great Tribulation. Their mission will be evangelizing the world and bringing others to faith in Christ.

Then we observed how there will be a great multitude of martyrs who miss the Rapture, but then believe in Jesus, and they will have to die for their faith during the Tribulation period. Then they're taken to heaven to stand before the throne of God, and they were clothed in white robes, palm branches in their hands, and they were worshipping and serving the Lord.

But now, in Revelation chapter 8, the narrative of the wrath of God being poured out on a Christ-rejecting world begins again. As the seal judgments have ended and the seventh seal is now opened, it makes way for the seven trumpet judgments that were about to be unleashed upon the earth. Right before these judgments begin, there is an ominous reaction in heaven to the opening of the seventh seal.

In verse 1, we read, "And when He opened—that is, Jesus opened—the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour." When the seventh seal is opened, there were 30 minutes of silence in heaven. Now, to some people, 30 minutes of silence may not seem like a long time. To others, you would love to have 30 minutes of silence in your life.

But in heaven, this isn't the normal environment or atmosphere. For up to this point, we have read repeatedly of the things that the Apostle John had heard, such as the ongoing melodies of praise and worship around the throne of God as the angels were proclaiming God's power, His holiness, and His worth.

We read of the church that had been redeemed out of every tribe, out of every tongue, and out of every nation, and they were singing a new song about the sacrifice, redemption, and salvation that they had received. But now, there is a palpable silence in heaven as everything stops, the music shuts off, everything is silent and noiseless.

Folks, it would be the equivalent of silence in a courtroom before a verdict is pronounced, or the calm that is felt before a massive storm unleashes the power of unstoppable wind and rain. The silence in heaven is an indication that something is about to unfold that leaves everyone speechless.

The judgment that will come is almost too great to imagine. For when the trumpets have finished sounding, one-third of God's creation will be destroyed by the God who created it. In the Old Testament, we see similar reactions of silence to the judgment of God.

In Psalm 78, it says, "You caused judgment to be heard from heaven; the earth feared and was still, when God arose to judgment to deliver all the oppressed from the earth." In the book of Habakkuk, chapter 2, it says, "But the Lord is in His holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before Him." Then in Zephaniah chapter 1, verse 7, it says, "Be silent in the presence of the Lord God, for the day of the Lord is at hand."

Following this reaction of silence in heaven to the opening of the seventh seal, John now observes and records the preparation of the angels in heaven. In verse 2, he says, "And I saw seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets, and then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar, and 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."

Seven angels given seven trumpets. These angels have the privilege of standing before the throne of God. The word "to stand" here indicates that they have been there for some time. Because of their position before God, many have referred to these angels as the presence angels.

These angels participate in carrying out the judgments of God upon the earth. The Bible does give us some information concerning these created angelic beings in their service of the Lord. They are created by God, and they have been created with tremendous power from God.

We know from Scripture that there are different rankings and even classifications of angels, and they perform different tasks, such as the worship of God, the service of God, and they provide protection and deliverance for the people of God.

In Luke chapter 16, in verse 22, we read of the angels carrying the righteous in their time of death to the presence of the Lord. In Daniel chapter 10, we read of the angels involved in a spiritual conflict in heaven, in spiritual warfare. Here in Revelation, we read of them participating in carrying out the judgments of God upon the earth.

Seven angels are given seven trumpets, and when their trumpet sounds, judgment follows. You may ask the question, "Why trumpets?" Again, throughout the Bible, we see various uses of trumpets. According to Numbers chapter 10 in the Old Testament, trumpets had three purposes in which they were used.

For one thing, they were used to call a general assembly. Secondly, trumpets were used to announce going into war, into battle. Also, trumpets were used during special times of celebration. A trumpet sounded on Mount Sinai the day that the Law was given. Trumpets signaled the anointing and enthroning of a king. In the book of Joshua, we saw as trumpets blasted and the walls of Jericho came to the ground.

We also find the mention of trumpets in the New Testament. In speaking of the Rapture of the church, in 1st Thessalonians chapter 4, it says, "The Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with a voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first, and we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with the Lord in the air. And thus, we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore, comfort one another with these words."

A trumpet sounds before the Rapture of the church. Paul tells us in 1st Corinthians 15, "Behold, I tell you a mystery: we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead in Christ will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed."

In Revelation chapters 1 and 4, John said he heard a voice that was like a trumpet. But the trumpets used here in Revelation chapter 8, they’re not played for celebration, nor for a sacred assembly. But when they are played, unprecedented judgment falls.

In addition to the seven angels with seven trumpets, John sees another angel, and not with a trumpet in his hand, but with a golden censer filled with incense as he stood at the altar. In verse 4, it says that 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. The next angel that John observes has a golden censer, which was full of incense, and it represents the prayers of the saints before the throne of God.

Again, in the Old Testament—which, by the way, if you don't understand this yet, Revelation is uniquely tied to the Old Testament. There are many symbols and pictures that are revealed in Revelation that are found in the Old Testament.

In the Old Testament, in the building of the Tabernacle—which was that tent of meeting in the wilderness where Israel met with God for worship—there was an altar, there was incense, there were censers that were used by the priests. The reason the Lord was so insistent in telling Moses how to build the Tabernacle on earth was because it was a representation of the throne room in heaven.

Heaven has a throne, and the Tabernacle had a counterpart, which was the Ark of the Covenant that represented God's throne. So here is the angel before the actual throne of God with the prayers of the saints. Like smoke coming up, it says that's what the prayers were like. They were ascending before the throne of God.

What a powerful picture that is, friends, of prayer coming before the throne of God. Prayer and incense are often associated together in the Bible. In Psalm 141, the psalmist declared, "Let my prayer be set before you as incense, and the lifting up of my hands, let it be like the evening sacrifice."

In the Old Testament, the priests would burn this incense; it would ascend to heaven. Here we see that this is a picture of our prayers being offered up to the Lord. You know, someone said concerning prayer that prayer is not getting man's will done in heaven, but getting God's will done on the earth. Prayer is not overcoming God's reluctance, but it's laying hold of God's willingness.

Sometimes we wonder if God actually hears our prayers. We're not sure if they clear the ceiling or they get out above the clouds. We can even doubt the power of prayer, and we doubt it because we don't necessarily see things change immediately. We can't get our hands on it, so we don't know. We're praying, but we don't know what's happening on the other side. Nothing tangible yet has happened.

But listen, friend, if you're in that place today and you're wondering, "Does God hear my prayer?" can I share with you what the Bible says about prayer? In 1st John chapter 5, it says, "This is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, we know that He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, we have the things that we have asked, the petitions that we have asked of Him."

And let me tell you something else: God knows the things you have need of even before you ask. But prayer reveals a dependence upon God, and our prayers rise before His throne. Folks, listen, I love what Alan Redpath said. He said, "Prayer releases the grip of Satan's power while prayerlessness increases it."

That is why prayer is so exhausting and so vital. The Bible says that men ought always to pray, lifting up holy hands without wrath and without doubting. Pray without ceasing. We need to be a people of prayer. We can do everything we want until we pray, but you can't do more than that until you've prayed. Prayer is where the power is. Some people say, "Where's the greater work?" Prayer is the greater work.

You may recall it was back in Revelation chapter 6, verse 10, that the first group of martyred believers that we read about—who missed the Rapture but then turned to Christ for salvation—their prayers were recorded. In Revelation 6:10, it says they cried out with a loud voice, saying, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?"

And now, in chapter 8, verse 5, that prayer of Revelation 6:10 is about to be answered. Because in verse 5, it says the angel takes the censer, filled with fire from the altar, throws it to the earth, and thunder and lightning and earthquakes follow. Heaven's half-hour of silence comes to an end and judgment resumes.

The implications here are that people pray for the resolution of all things, and their prayers are touched by fire from the altar and then thrown back to the earth. Folks, it’s as if this picture here is all the prayers of God’s people that they’ve prayed for centuries for the kingdom of God to come and for righteousness to reign upon the earth are now being answered.

The silence in heaven gives way to thunder and lightning and earthquakes. Their prayers are being answered. One day the prayers that we pray—Lord, Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven—one day those prayers are going to be answered. They will be fulfilled.

People might scoff, people might think that’s a joke, but the Bible tells us very clearly those prayers are going to be answered, and John gets a glimpse of it right here in Revelation chapter 8. Before the trumpet sounds and judgment upon the planet’s ecology takes place, I want to mention a few things.

First of all, there are those people who have looked at the judgments revealed in Revelation as symbolic and not literal. However, I believe that these are literal judgments that will come upon the earth. Folks, when you read what’s recorded here in a moment, the truth is if earth, trees, and grass do not mean earth, trees, and grass, then nobody can tell you what it means. It says what it says. To go off of that, "Well, that doesn't mean that," you're off on an endless sea of conjecture.

I also want you to make note as we read these things: there is a connection between some of the judgments coming upon the earth that are similar and resemble the judgments that came during the days of Moses in the book of Exodus, chapters 7 through 11, when the nation of Israel was delivered. There are similarities.

The first four trumpets of chapter 8 are natural in that they affect the land, the salt water, fresh water, and the heavens. The fifth and sixth trumpets that are sounded in Revelation chapter 9 unleash demonic forces that will torment and then kill. The seventh trumpet will then start the seven bowl judgments.

The first trumpet, here it is: devastation upon the earth. Look at verse 7. "The first angel sounded, and hail and fire followed, mingled with blood, and they were thrown to the earth. And a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up."

As the first trumpet sounds, hail, fire mingled with blood thrown to the earth, it consumes and destroys one-third of the trees and the grass. This judgment is similar to the seventh plague that took place there in the book of Exodus in Egypt.

Today, there are many who are very concerned and passionate about the environment. They are mindful and do studies on what they classify as global warming and preserving the ecosystem. They want to save the whales and endangered species. I'm all for taking care of God's creation.

But for many, they worship creation rather than the Creator. They worship Mother Nature instead of Father God. They worship the earth, but they deny the existence of God who created the earth. The Bible tells us in Romans chapter 1, verse 25, "There are those who exchange the truth of God for a lie, and they worship and they serve the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forevermore."

Sadly, during the Tribulation period, the earth will be completely devastated. But thankfully, the Bible does tell us that one day there will be a new heaven and a new earth. Revelation 21 tells us John says, "I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away and also there was no more sea."

When one-third of the vegetation is affected, the lumber, the food supply will be impacted. Trees not only produce food, they also provide protection from violent storms and flooding. It really is overwhelming to consider what this will mean for the human race.

It's no wonder that people say Revelation is only symbolic or an allegory instead of taking it literally, because they're fearful of what may come, what will come. But notice the repetition also of the words "one-third, one-third, one-third, one-third." The implication is that the judgment is partial, not total.

In other words, God is still giving those people on the earth time to repent. However, as we continue through our study, we'll find that many people know where the judgment is coming from, but they still won't repent and turn to God. They'll actually curse God instead of turning to God.

God is gracious and patient, not wanting any to perish. But here you see just how stubborn people can be in their refusal of that grace. Pastor John Randall will be back in just a moment. This is A Daily Walk. Today’s message was based in Revelation chapter 8 and can be heard again at adailywalk.org.

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As we return to Revelation chapter 8, we read of something that could very well be a meteor or asteroid strike. Moving from the judgment on the land, we move to the judgment on the sea. The second trumpet sounds, verse 8: "And the second angel sounded, something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood, and a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed."

Now as the second trumpet sounds, John sees, he says, something like a great mountain burning with fire, and it hits the sea. Maybe it’s a reference to a meteor or an asteroid. We don't know. He said it was like a mountain; it was burning; it was on fire. Whatever it is, when that mountain hits the water, one-third of the creatures are destroyed, and one-third of the water, it says, turns to blood.

Again, that judgment reminiscent of what took place in Egypt when the water was turned to blood, but on a much greater scale. In addition, one-third of the ships are destroyed, which results in a disruption of business and transportation, causing economic upheaval. We'll save the rest of this chapter for next time. Thanks again for joining us today for A Daily Walk with John Randall.