Tag: Revelation 8:13
Prayers that shake the earth!
Scripture reading for December 24: Revelation 8-9
As Revelation chapter 8 begins, the seventh seal was opened in heaven by the Lamb. This seal revealed seven angels who had seven trumpets standing before the throne of God. Another angel, who had a golden censer, stood at the golden altar right in front of the throne and was given incense to offer. We are told that this incense was the prayers of the saints. Our prayers come before God’s throne in heaven like sweet incense. Our cries, worship, adoration and thanksgiving have a special place close to the seat of our King in the universe!
Heaven’s response to these prayers is instructive! The angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the golden altar and then hurled it to the earth. This act produced thunder, lightning and an earthquake. Never make light of prayer for our prayers have the power to move God to shake the earth!
Then the angels with the trumpets began to sound them one by one. With each trumpet blast, there was a corresponding reaction on earth that brought judgment and destruction. As John watched the first four angels and the events on earth, an eagle that was flying in midair spoke in a loud voice. “Woe! Woe! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded by the last three angels.” (Revelation 8:13)
The fifth trumpet sounded and John saw a star that had fallen from the sky. This star was some sort of angel for he was given the key to the Abyss. When he opened it smoke rose and darkened the sky. Out of this smoke, creatures like locusts with the sting of a scorpion covered the earth. They were instructed to sting only those without the seal of God and those affected suffered horribly.
The sixth trumpet brought the release of four angels of death who were bound by the river Euphrates. These killed a third of mankind. They loosed what looked like an army of mounted troops numbering two hundred million. These troops killed them with plagues of fire, smoke and sulfur. Even this display of mighty power did not cause any to repent of their demon worship, idolatry, murder or sexual immorality!
These trumpet judgments were inflicted on the unsaved of the earth but they were so hardened in their sins that they refused to repent! These chapters of Revelation show us the power of prayer and the protection of the seal of God on those who are saved. They warn us of the power of sin to blind and harden us. Let us continue to pray and ask God to shake our unsaved loved ones into the kingdom!
Prayers go up–power comes down!
Scripture reading for December 13th: Revelation 8
Key Scriptures: Revelation 8:1-5 “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 their 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, an an earthquake.”
As the last of the seven seals is opened, all of heaven quieted down to a complete silence. All heaven was waiting in eager anticipation for the next unfolding of the revelation of Jesus Christ. John was looking and saw seven angels given seven trumpets. Another angel stood at the altar before the throne and had a golden censer in his hand, ready to offer the incense that was given, along with the prayers of the saints. As the incense was offered up from the hand of the angel, the censer was filled with coals from the altar and he cast them upon the earth. The result was lightning and thunder and a great earthquake that shook the earth. The point is that our prayers have great power to move heaven to act on earth!
Revelation 8:6-7 “Now the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to blow them. The first angel blew his trumpet, and there followed hail and fire, mixed with blood, these were thrown upon the earth. And a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.”
Faith confession and prayer: Father God, thank You for the great privilege of prayer and for hearing our prayers and answering. You are so faithful and true to Your Word that if we call upon You, You will answer. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit to empower me to pray more effectively and to see your kingdom and power released upon the earth in these last days that souls might be saved and judgment averted.
Revelation 8:13 “Then I looked, and I heard an eagle crying with a loud voice as it flew directly overhead, “Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth, at the blasts of the other trumpets that the three angels are about to blow.”