THE PRAYERS OF GOD’S PEOPLE
Revelation 8:1-13
The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God’s people, went up before God from the angel’s hand. (4)
chapter 8
1. When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.
2. And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.
3. Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all God’s people, on the golden altar in front of the throne.
4. The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God’s people, went up before God from the angel’s hand.
5. Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it on the earth; and there came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake.
6. Then the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to sound them.
7. The first angel sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled down on the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.
8. The second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a huge mountain, all ablaze, was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned into blood,
9. a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.
10. The third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water -
11. the name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters turned bitter, and many people died from the waters that had become bitter.
12. The fourth angel sounded his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them turned dark. A third of the day was without light, and also a third of the night.
13. As I watched, I heard an eagle that was flying in midair call out in a loud voice: "Woe! Woe! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded by the other three angels!"
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
1. The seven seals in Revelation refer to a series of judgments from God. Before the seventh and final seal was opened, there fell an awesome silence in heaven. Among the angels in the presence of God, one angel stood out. He served a priestly function on behalf of God’s people. He offered up much incense, along with the prayers of all God’s people. The prayers of God’s people are beautiful and pleasing to him. And God listens to prayer. Then the angel filled the censer with fire from the altar and hurled it to the earth, bringing calamity. Those who fail to repent and return to the Lord bring judgment on the earth.
2. The trumpets refer to God’s judgment. As the angels sounded their trumpets, judgments came on the earth. One third of the earth was burned up, and one third of the sea turned to blood. When a star called Wormwood fell, one third of the rivers became bitter. At the sound of the fourth trumpet, one third of the sun, the moon, and the stars turned dark. It was the time of woe. But this was the time for all people to come to God, repent, and offer up prayers.
Prayer: Lord, you are the judge of all the earth. Teach me to repent and come to you in prayer.
One Word: God hears our prayers