Sermon Tone Analysis

Revelation 8:1-5

*The Critical Mass*

 

“When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.

Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.

And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer, and he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne, and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel.

Then the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and threw it on the earth, and there were peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.”[1]

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o you ever wonder whether your prayers are heard?

Do you ever question whether your prayers have an impact?

I suspect that each of us has, at one time or another questioned whether our prayers truly make a difference.

I encourage prayer, for your prayers have a far greater impact than you could ever imagine.

In the Revelation of Jesus Christ, I notice a surprising statement concerning what God is doing with the prayers of His people.

The prayers of God’s people appear to be stored up before the throne of God until they reach a critical mass, at which time they will be returned to the earth as mercy is transformed into judgement.

The Seventh Seal — The text describes judgements that will be sent against this unbelieving world during the Great Tribulation.

The one reading the Book of the Apocalypse will see that the book is divided into three parts: the things that John saw—the Risen Son of God, the things that are—a description of this present age, and the things that are to take place [see *Revelation 1:19*].

As John opens the *Fourth Chapter*, he directs the gaze of all who live during this present Age of Grace to a dark future following the removal of the people of God from the earth.

The next event on God’s Timetable is the removal of His people out of the world.

Paul speaks of that event in *1 Corinthians 15:51-53*.

“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 will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.

For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.”

This knowledge provides great encouragement to the weary child of God.

This same truth is declared in *1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17*.

“The Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God.

And the dead in Christ will rise first.

Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.”

The child of God can take great comfort in the knowledge that “God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with Him” [*1 Thessalonians 5:9*].

In John’s vision, after God’s people are removed out of the earth, the Court of Heaven is convened and John sees a scroll in the hand of Him who is seated on the throne [*Revelation 5:1*].

It has been suggested that the scroll that the Lord God holds in His hand is the title deed to the earth.[2]

Perhaps Dr. Criswell’s suggestion is correct.

He says that this is “a book of redemption,”[3] including the account of God throughout the long ages of history until the consummation of His salvation.

However, I am forced to confess that I do not know what the scroll is, though it is obviously important to God’s work.

Whatever the book may be or whatever it may represent, it is important in bringing about the consummation of salvation.

Writing is seen both on the inside and on the back of this book; there is no room to add anything to what has been written in this scroll.

The scroll is sealed with seven seals so that no one will be able to open the scroll.

John was so distressed by this knowledge that he wept loudly [*Revelation 5:2-4*], until his lamentation was interrupted by the word of one of the elders who stopped him and consoled him, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David has conquered, so that He can open the scroll and its seven seals” [*Revelation 5:5*].

The Lamb of God, the crucified and resurrected Son of God, amidst songs of praise by the redeemed saints of God and to the accompaniment of loud acclamations delivered by myriads and myriads of angels, takes the scroll from the hand of the True and Living God.

Then, as He breaks each of the seals in succession, divine judgements are pronounced upon earth dwellers.

At last, those who have chosen to be fully identified as belonging to the present world are held accountable for rejecting divine mercy and grace.

What frightful judgement awaits those who live for self and for the moment.

As each seal is broken, the successive judgements pronounced are accompanied by loud commands and cries.

When the first of the seven seals was broken, one of the Cherubs—one of the “Living Creatures”—roared, “with a voice like thunder, ‘Come’” [*Revelation 6:1*]!

The second “Living Creature” likewise boomed out a deafening command as the second seal was broken [*Revelation 6:3*], and the third “Living Creature” spoke with that same thunderous voice as the third seal was broken [*Revelation 6:5*].

In the midst of the “Living Creatures,” John heard another voice crashing upon his ears.

As the fourth seal was broken, the fourth “Living Creature” commanded with a voice like thunder, “Come” [*Revelation 6:7*].

As the fifth seal is broken, John saw “the souls of those who were slain for the Word of God and for the witness they had borne.”

Under the altar of God, they cry out, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before You will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth” [*Revelation 6:9, 10*].

As the sixth seal is broken, those dwelling on the earth cry out to the mountain and the rocks, asking them to fall on them so that they can escape the judgement that has at last come on them [*Revelation 6:16*].

With the opening of this seal, there is “silence in heaven for about half an hour” [*Revelation 8:1*].

This is an astonishing observation by the Apostle John.

In every other instance where he gives a description of Heaven, that holy place is filled with praise and sounds of worship.

Heaven is a noisy place, filled with joyous shouts and songs that have never been sung on the earth.

However, as the seventh seal is broken, there is silence for “about half an hour.”

No angel speaks; no elder shouts for joy.

Silence reigns.

As a boy, growing up in Kansas, I have frequently watched storms arise in the West and move toward the east.

A cloud would rise, and in a very brief time grow to an immense thundercloud.

The wind would pick up, and the hot, humid air would turn cold.

Soon, the wind would begin to blow.

No one panicked, even as the wind began to blow.

However, all at once, the wind would cease and a pervasive silence would blanket the earth.

The birds would cease singing; no breeze whispered through the leaves; the livestock would grow quiet.

It was time to find shelter; a storm was coming.

The breaking of the seventh seal unleashes the next heptad of divine judgements.

The judgements of God cascade onto the earth dwellers, each set of seven judgements concluding with the announcement of yet another septenary of judgements.

However, it is not the judgements that attract my attention at this time; it is not even the drama of watching the worship in Heaven unfold before my eyes that occupies my attention at this time.

It is the fact that as the people of God pray, their prayers play a role in the consummation of the ages far beyond anything that anyone could ever have imagined.

God is Creator of all things; and as Creator, He alone has the right to rule.

Awesome though His judgements are, He is just and righteous even in His judgement.

Christians, particularly, should read these words with understanding of what God is doing and why He is telling us what is coming on the earth.

He is telling us so that we will be moved with compassion to warn those who have tied their lives to this transient moment called “now.”

He tells us so that we will have confidence that despite the appearance that chaos now reigns, He is in control and all history is moving toward a consummation that He has foretold.

He informs us of what is coming on the earth so that we will prepare ourselves for that day, living righteous and holy lives that glorify Him and earn the respect of those watching the impact of His Spirit in our lives.

The Impact of Your Prayers in Heaven — As John watches the worship of the redeemed in Heaven, he is careful to note that the prayers of the saints ascend from the golden altar situated before the throne of God.

As the prayers ascend, they are accompanied by incense to ensure a sweet aroma rising before the Lord.

The scene is reminiscent of Noah worshipping when the ark had at last alit on Ararat.

Upon stepping out of the ark, “Noah built an altar to the Lord and took some of every clean animal and some of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar.

And when the Lord smelled the pleasing aroma” [*Genesis 8:20, 21*], He blessed mankind.

Incense on the altar pictured God’s view of prayer for ancient Jewish worshippers [e.g.

*Exodus 30:1*; *Psalm 141:2*].

When the Master taught that men “ought always to pray” [*Luke 18:1*], He implicitly spoke of God’s delight in receiving prayer.

Moreover, He spoke in an eschatological context.

Did you notice how this particular periscope ends?  “When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth” [*Luke 18:8*]?

As I review the text before us, I note several points of greatest significance.

First, *the prayers of the saints arise as a sweet aroma before the Lord God*.

John states, “the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God” [*verse 4*].

This is not the only time that the Revelation equates the prayers of God’s people to incense.

In *Revelation 5:8*, we read of the blood-bought redeemed as they worship in Heaven, “the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.”

The twenty-four elders symbolise the redeemed people of God who have been removed at the Rapture.

John uses poetic language to inform us that God delights to receive our prayers.

Among the Psalms is a statement that is an encouragement for us as we pray.

David says,

 

“Let my prayer be counted as incense before you.”

[*Psalm 141:2*]

 

Perhaps it is beneficial for us to remember that when we speak of prayers, we are speaking of requests.

The Greek term is *proseuché*, which when used as a technical religious term implies a request for help, made by speaking to a deity.

“Prayer is usually in the form of a petition…”[4]  Prayer is asking.

This is not to disparage meditation on the Word of God or even praising God, but prayer is asking.

Prayer, as taught in the Word of God, implies awareness of the One to whom we are speaking.

It is not simply that we are reciting words; but, rather, it is that we are actually communicating needs to Him who hears and answers prayer.