After this insertion of Ch. 7 into the vision, John return’s to the seals.  As this last (seventh) seal is opened, we expect the end of the vision of the seals, but instead it is the beginning of a new series of visions of angels with trumpets.  John will go over this info again and again revealing more details each time.  There is more to the End then we can take in at once.  Each series of visions brings out something new.

 

v.1 --   The Sixth Seal was opened in Ch. 6.  There has been a gap now in the story.  The seventh seal is opened and there is silence in heaven.  John tells us that the silence lasted about ½ hour.  How accurate is this in a place where this is no time?  It seems long enough for the next immediate events to take place.  When other seals were opened there were noticeable things heard and seen.  Now there is silence.  Solemn, awesome, and impressive, silence.  In 7:3 major events were held back until the servants of God were sealed.  Here the events that are being held back wait while the prayers of the saints come to the throne. (8:3) - Everything stands poised while they pray.  There is a sense of awe at the presence of God.  He is about to unleash severe judgments on people, and all heaven remains silent.  A Dramatic pause!  (Heb. 2:20/Zeal. 1:7-8, Zech 2:13)  “The Lord is in his holy Temple; let all the earth be silent before him.”

 

v.2 --   EL  --    The opening of the seal introduces a vision of the “seven angels who stand before God”.  They are a specific seven – as seen in ancient Jewish writings – (Tobit 12:15).  In another writing they are named – notice the closeness to God – by “el” (Heb. EL = name of God).  Uriel, Raphael, Raquel, Michael, Saraquel, Gabriel, and Ramiel, (Enoch --).  John refers to 7 angels in other places – (8:6, 15:11, 6-8; 16-1; 17:1; 21:9).  These 7 angels stand before God and serve God – They are given 7 trumpets – “war horns” used to announce, proclaim, warn (Mt. 24:31; 1 Cor. 15:52; 1 Thess. 4:16) – Trumpets and end- time.  Raphael = “One of the seven holy angels who present the prayers of the servants and enter into the presence of the glory of the Holy one – (Tob. 11:15)  Zech. 1:19 – “I am Gabriel.  I stand in the presence of God.”

 

v.3 --   Prayer is extremely important to God – and to us.  The future events are on hold while the prayers of the saints rise to him.  These prayers even set the next judgments in motion when the prayers end.  Prayers are offered up with much incense, gold alter & gold censer show the value of the prayers – There is unity in heaven and on earth as this scene takes place.  This all takes place “before the throne”.  The importance and value of prayer is stressed here.  “The prayers of the believers (saints).

 

v.4 --   The incense and the prayers together went up before God from the angel’s hand.  Angels are not mediators on our behalf.  We have only one mediator – Jesus. ) 1 Tim. 2:15).   But, angels are fellow servants – (19:10; 22:9).  Heaven and earth are working together to bring our prayers to Almighty God.  Prayer is not as lonely a venture as we sometimes think.  Notice also the altar – sacrifice -- There is something sacrificial in true prayer – we have access through Jesus, because He sacrificed His life for us, our service and praying is sacrificial.

 

v.5 --   Now the angel takes fire from the altar and puts it with the censer and hurls it to the earth.  The judgments are ready to commence.  Notice now, the sounds as at other points of judgment.  The prayers of the saints play a big part in the judgments since the fire that kicks it all off comes from the altar that the prayers were offered on.  What are the real powers behind the world and what are the deep secrets of our destroy?  The prayers of the saints and the fire of God!  There is nothing more powerful than prayer set ablaze with the fire of God and cast upon the earth!  Never stop praying.  God is listening, and at the right time, powerful action will take place.  All this takes place in silence – intensifying the scene.

 

            God is about to answer the prayers of the saints and V.5 ends with the silence being broken by “thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightening, and an earthquake.”  Like Ex. 19:16 – the world trembles in the presence of Almighty God.