We looked at the scroll. We know that the scroll holds the future of our world. We know that Jesus is the only one with the power to manage the scroll. Starting today, Jesus is breaking the seals found within the scroll. Over this seven-part series, we are looking at what the different seals represent and how we can be interpreting these seals in our world today. This series will be called “Sealed No Longer.” Again, my goal is to look deeper into what the seals represent and how we can be mindful of how to interpret those events in our world today. The seventh and final seal is in Revelation 8:1-5:

Revelation 8:1-5

1             When the Lamb broke the seventh seal on the scroll, there was silence throughout heaven for about half an hour.

2             I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and they were given seven trumpets.

3             Then another angel with a gold incense burner came and stood at the altar. And a great amount of incense was given to him to mix with the prayers of God’s people as an offering on the gold altar before the throne.

4             The smoke of the incense, mixed with the prayers of God’s holy people, ascended up to God from the altar where the angel had poured them out.

5             Then the angel filled the incense burner with fire from the altar and threw it down upon the earth; and thunder crashed, lightning flashed, and there was a terrible earthquake.

Now, why is there a big gap between the sixth and seventh seal? Truthfully, I believe it’s a design pattern from John because the seven trumpets (which is our next Bible study) follows a similar pattern. Let’s recap what happened in-between though to make sure we’re not missing anything crucial:

• Four angels appeared at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds.
• The fifth angel approached from the east, carrying the seal of the living God.
  • The land, seas, and trees were not to be destroyed until this seal was placed of God’s servants.
• This group of people shared their praise to God.
  • They claimed that salvation is only from God and the Lamb.
  • They claimed that blessing, glory, wisdom, thanksgiving, honor, power, and strength belong to God.
• We then receive a description of these people and how our eternal forms will be:
  • We’ll never be hungry or thirst.
  • We’ll never be burned.
  • We’ll never be pained.

After this exchange, Heaven went quiet. This silence was present for about 30 minutes. Imagine being at a concert enjoying the music and singing, and the artist went silent for thirty minutes straight. No noise from the musicians. Just pure silence. This must have felt like it lasted forever.

During this silence, the only thing that’s recorded that happened is the praying of the saints. It’s an important thing for us to take away. In our times of silence, seek God. It’s hard to hear God in all the noise that exists around us all the time, because God is that still small voice. In our silence, we allow God a chance to exist in front of us and give ourselves the chance to acknowledge, honor, and glorify him. It’s our time to shout to God the joys we’ve experienced and the concerns that weigh on our hearts.

Silence can be uncomfortable. Silence can be weird. Silence can be scary. Silence can also be breathless with expectation. Silence can also convey our trust and confidence in who God is and what we know he can do for us. In that silence, we can restore the strength that God gifts to us and restore the justice and faith that we can be strong again in the future against any enemies or oppressors that come across our path.

An incense burner that was filled with live coals was used in Temple worship. The incense was poured over the coals, and the pleasing aroma drifted up to God, symbolizing believers’ prayers ascending to the throne. Again, it’s the Old Testament sacrificial system being reference in the New Testament times. However, this isn’t a sacrifice.

The angel throws the incense burner down over the Earth. This represents the judge that God released to the earth as an answer to the prayers of the saints (martyrs) for justice for those that oppressed and killed him. This shows that judgment, vindication, and revenge are in Gods hands; not ours. No matter how much we want revenge and retaliation on our enemies, we must pray and ask God for HIS justice to be done.

I’ve mentioned this many times by now over the course of the last two years, but this is the truest prayer I’ve prayed. When I’ve been mistreated by those around me, I have had to pause and ask God for his justice to be done. Did this mean I wanted them harm or wanted to see revenge brought upon them? Not necessarily. What it meant was that I want to set aside my own emotions and allow God to do what he does best. I wanted to put aside the hate and represent it with love. I will still them with respect because they are a human at the end of the day. I don’t have to agree with them, support them, etc. I will still treat them in the same way God has treated me for my life. I will allow God’s justice to take place in their lives, whether it’s positive or negative is not my responsibility to determine. I coexist and that may be the extent of how deep our relationship will go. If it’s restored, great. If not, that’s ok. God has the final say, and it’s my job (and our job) to allow his word to stand alone.

Check out the next series here: The Trumpet Sounds – Part 1