Tag: Revelation 8
Powerful Prayers
Scripture reading for December 10: Revelation 8
“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 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.” Revelation 8:1-5
Often people wonder if their prayers are heard or answered by God. Prayer is an act of faith coming from a belief that God is alive and actively concerned about each person and their needs. God has told His people that when they call on Him in the times of trouble they honor Him and He will deliver them. (Psalm 50:15) Jesus Christ spent time each day in prayer with His Father, often all night! Jesus urged His disciples to pray, asking the Father in His Name for their needs and promised answers. (John 16:23-24)
As John was in heaven observing Jesus Christ open the seventh seal on the Father’s scroll, he faced a period of silence lasting about half an hour. It was as if all heaven stood at attention as the Lamb revealed the contents of the scroll and the judgments coming soon. Seven angels with seven trumpets stood ready before the throne. Another angel stood at the golden altar with a golden censer. This angel was given incense to offer with the prayers of the saints. God received the prayers as the sweet smell of incense. In response, the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and hurled it on the earth. Fireworks resulted resembling a great thunderstorm with lightning and thunder and a great earthquake.
How does your view of prayer and its effects get shaped through this picture shown to John? Will you pray powerful prayers that move heaven to shake the earth on behalf of believers or the lost?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for hearing and answering prayers of Your people. Increase my faith to pray even more powerful prayers that shake the heavens and the earth as You send forth the answers. Shake up my children and grandchildren to fulfil Your calling. Shake up my lost friends and neighbors with heaven’s lightning and thunder. Amen!
Incense and Trumpets!
Scripture reading for December 10th: Revelation 8
After viewing the great multitude wearing white robes around the throne, John’s attention was again taken by Jesus Christ, the Lamb as He opened the seventh seal of the scroll. As this scroll was opened, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour! (Revelation 8:1) It was if all attention was focused on the Lamb as a new phase of God’s salvation plan was now ready to unfold!
After the silence, seven angels who stood before God’s throne were given seven trumpets. “Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of the saints, on the golden altar before the throne. The some of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, went up before God from the angel’s hand. 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, flashes of lightning and an earthquake.” (Revelation 8:3-5)
We can understand the power of prayer from this revelation. Prayer comes before God’s throne as incense. It is an act of faith and worship and pleasing in His sight. At this time, during the great tribulation, “much incense” was offered. Prayer is a lifeline of the faithful and it has powerful results! Coals from the altar are taken and hurled at the earth resulting in powerful signs of God’s presence and delivering power and judgments! As a result, the seven angels began to sound their trumpets, one by one and great and powerful signs appeared on earth bringing punishment on those who were unrepentant! Oh that God’s people would pray and not faint!