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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

Some verses in the book of Revelation that are seldom analyzed is found in Revelation 8:4-5. Prior to noises, thundering, lightnings and earthquake, the Bible recorded a strange event, where smoke and incense WITH the prayers of saints rose before God, from an angel’s hand. This is then followed by the angel taking up the censer, a sort of covered incense burner, he fills it up with fire and threw it to the earth.

Now, what type of believers or saints and what kind of prayers could have resulted in the gathering of fire to be thrown to the earth and causing noises, thundering, lightnings, and an earthquake? Welcome to the final post on the series of the Seven Seals of Revelation.

As mentioned before in the first series here, seals are tools used to turn agreements into enforceable covenants. By the breaking of the last seal, signalling the incursion of noises, thundering, lightnings and earthquake on this world, these events are certainly not indicative of any favorable outcome between man and God. These calamities show beyond reasonable doubt that those on earth are facing the impending outburst of an angry God.

In Genesis 4:10, the world’s first murder did not end well for the oppressor and until today, the voice of Abel is still crying from the ground, seeking justice from God. We also read in Revelation 6:10, the martyrs were crying to God, how long more before God judges and avenge their blood on those who dwell on the earth.

You may argue that it does not appear to be honorable to speak against other believers, but the Bible never made specific distinction between believers and non-believers when it involves wickedness or oppression. If you cross the line and assumes the role of injustice, you’ll make yourself a target of scorn and hate by the deeds of your own hands; regardless of whether you call yourself a Christian or not as one. In Psalm 97:10, we are told that those who love the Lord, have been instructed to hate evil. And we are also profoundly reminded that God preserves the souls of His believers, and He will deliver them out of the hand of the wicked.

The breaking of the seventh and the final seal signifies that major trouble is simply waiting to happen. And if you read the style and attribute of all the seven seals, you’ll conclude that the seals are merely signs of warning of the wrath that is to come. They are like the synopsis or teasers of the bigger picture of things that are about to unfold.

And in Revelation 8:6, the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound them. Therefore, if you see noises, thundering, lightnings, and earthquakes, make no mistake about this; we’re not even anywhere inside the sequel of God’s wrath. Everything is merely about to begin. The angels with the trumpets are only at the preparation stage.

And Revelation 8:4-5 made it crystal clear, that the wrath of God on earth stems from the wickedness, oppression and the transgression of men at large, whom themselves are probably still unaware, of the gravity of disobedience against God and His commandments to men.