Day 246, Revelation 8
Chapter 7 was an unexpected pause in the sequence of seal opening. But what a revelation of Jesus we gained from it. We have a Savior who is sealing us with the Holy Spirit, so we have a glorious future to anticipate. One where He shepherds us to living water, while His Father spreads His tabernacle over us. Next time you are tempted to view God as angry with someone (whether you or an enemy), or to imagine Him as a distant inspector, keeping careful note of every weakness and failing, be sure to evangelize your heart by reading the second half of Revelation 7 again!
NOW we come to the seventh seal – the seal that will enable God’s plan to be unfurled.
After the worship-filled vision in Chapter 4, the excitement of the Lamb/Lion being worthy to open the scrolls in Chapter 5, the surprising unveiling of evil in Chapter 6, and the vast crowd of victorious children of God worshipping in Chapter 7, you might expect a great crescendo as the seventh seal is opened. Anyone who has witnessed a full performance of Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture can still feel the energy of the organ, the cannons, and the full orchestra in fortissimo emotional impact.
But the seventh seal is totally different.
There is silence.
Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still and know that I am God.”
In the silence God is.
This is not the absence of activity – there are seven angels given seven trumpets in preparation for our next pattern of seven. But there is silence, stillness, knowing God. And in the stillness, an eighth angel has incense representing the prayers of the saints. Our senses are all involved again, as our ears hear the silence, our eyes see the handing out of trumpets and the smoke of the incense, our nostrils are filled with the aroma of many prayers, and our hearts leap as the angel fills the incense burner with coals from the altar and hurls them to the earth. Here come the natural disasters that speak of purification in answer to our prayers. Earthly prayer rises to the altar in God’s tabernacle, and the coals from that altar are flung to the earth in powerful demonstration of God’s answers to prayer. Just as in Exodus, when all God’s children cried out for release from Egyptian slavery, so John’s unveiling of Jesus brings plagues on earth in answer to the prayers of Jesus’ brothers and sisters, Father God’s children, who long for injustice and suffering to end. Just as the plagues in Egypt were designed to teach Pharaoh to change his heart, so these plagues are crafted to convince the earthly to look heavenward. (Again, I recommend “Revelation for Everyone” by N.T. Wright for more on this section of Revelation).
Throughout the chapter there are links to many other scriptures, too numerous to list here. One example would be verse 10 which is John’s poetic reference to Isaiah 14:12. That verse was spoken to the King of Babylon but seen as a picture of satan’s fall. John includes it here as a precursor to final judgments to come later in the drama.
The chapter ends with an eagle (possibly symbolizing John’s own gospel) flying overhead and crying “woe to the people of the earth.” The contrast is between the people of the earth and the people of the heavenly tabernacle, sealed with the mark that qualifies them to be led to the fountain of life.
Remember, beware logical literalism. Instead allow poetic prophetic imagery to inspire your imagination and increase your revelation of Jesus.
Have a great day!
Mark.