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Expanded Comments |
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| 1 And when he openeth the seventh seal, there came silence in the heaven about half-an-hour, |
Opened the seventh seal – The scroll is open to all who follow the Lamb; and the mystery is about finished. (Rev. 10:9) R2156:4; A87
In the days of the voice of the seventh angel. R2209:1
Silence – Synchronizing with Psa. 46 where, after the desolations God makes in the earth by which war is made to cease, he says, "Be still and know that I am God." HG82:3
Half an hour – A prophetic hour is fifteen days. Hence "about the space of half an hour" might be seven days. HG82:3
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| 2 and I saw the seven messengers who before God have stood, and there were given to them seven trumpets, |
Seven trumpets – Representing seven great periods of time and their events. B148
To shadow forth the events by which the dominion of the last of the four Gentile kingdoms was to be broken, overthrown and finally destroyed. HG76:3
The events under the first six trumpets refer to humanity's doings, while the seventh refers specially to the Lord's work, and covers the "Day of the Lord." (1 Thes. 5:2) B148
Under the first four trumpets, the scourges were brought upon the two western parts of the empire. Under the fifth and sixth, the dominion of Rome at the east, at Constantinople, was subverted. Under the seventh, great Babylon will go down to rise no more. HG77:1
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| 3 and another messenger did come, and he stood at the altar, having a golden censer, and there was given to him much perfume, that he may give [it] to the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar that [is] before the throne, |
Much incense – As, on the Day of Atonement, Aaron burned the incense in the Holy place before the Lord, so Christ entered into heaven itself with the sweet incense of his perfect obedience, and his sacrifice was therefore acceptable to God on our behalf. R1836:6
The willing services of the priests; their praises, their willing obedience--all things whatsoever they do to the glory of God. T120
Offer it with – Nothing was said about offering the incense the second time. Since we do not go into the Holy as individuals, but as members of the Body, we are safe in saying that we are, "in Christ, a sweet savor to God." R4922:3; Q342:6
The prayers – The prayers of priests of God are effectual. Our Lord Jesus kept the incense burning continually, and could say, "I know that thou hearest me always." (John 11:42) T120
Long prayers made to be heard of men, "have their reward" (Matt. 6:5), and never reach that golden censer before the throne. HG52:2
Of all the saints – "For we are unto God a sweet savor of Christ." (2 Cor. 2:15) R4922:4; Q343:T
Our sacrifice would avail nothing were it not for Christ's sacrifice and the sweet odor of his personal merit ascending to God with our prayers for a share in his meritorious covering. R1836:6
Upon the golden altar – The Priest standing at the incense altar and crumbling the incense on the fire in the top of the altar would cause the sweet perfume of the incense to enter the presence of Jehovah beyond the veil. R5961:3*
Before the throne – Those who offer incense acceptable to God come very close to their Father--close up to the "veil" which separates from the Most Holy. T120
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| 4 and go up did the smoke of the perfumes to the prayers of the saints out of the hand of the messenger, before God; |
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| 5 and the messenger took the censer, and did fill it out of the fire of the altar, and did cast [it] to the earth, and there came voices, and thunders, and lightnings, and an earthquake. |
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| 6 And the seven messengers who are having the seven trumpets did prepare themselves that they may sound; |
The seven trumpets – We, in common with almost all expositors, recognize that the seven trumpets are symbolical. R2992:5
Begin with the first trumpet and the first plague (Rev. 16:1); and compare them from the first to the seventh. HG84:4
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| 7 and the first messenger did sound, and there came hail and fire, mingled with blood, and it was cast to the land, and the third of the trees was burnt up, and all the green grass was burnt up. |
First angel – Fulfilled by the events under Alaric, the Gothic chief, who commenced these scourges on the empire, and styled himself, "the scourge of God." HG77:1
Hail – The formation and discharge of such hail implies a dense, dark cloud, and much electrical disturbance. Thunder and lightning would not be absent. R3344:4*
The third part – After Constantine the sovereignty was divided into three parts; hence the frequent use of the terms, "a third part of men," etc., alluding to the third part of the empire which was under the scourge. HG76:6
The trumpets are confined to a third, while the plagues, which are to be universal, are to be poured out upon all the prophetic earth instead of a third part. HG77:1
You may multiply the scourge of the corresponding plague by three. For where a third part of men were slain, tormented, etc., under a trumpet, the plague is upon all. HG84:4
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| 8 And the second messenger did sound, and as it were a great mountain with fire burning was cast into the sea, and the third of the sea became blood, |
The second angel – Brought about by Genseric, whose attacks were mainly from the shores of Africa, and on the water. HG77:2
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| 9 and die did the third of the creatures that [are] in the sea, those having life, and the third of the ships were destroyed. |
Life – Greek, psuche, soul, being. E338
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| 10 And the third messenger did sound, and there fell out of the heaven a great star, burning as a lamp, and it did fall upon the third of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters, |
The third angel – Under Attilla, who first attacked the empire in its eastern possessions, and then suddenly, like a falling star, invades the west. HG77:2
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| 11 and the name of the star is called Wormwood, and the third of the waters doth become wormwood, and many of the men did die of the waters, because they were made bitter. |
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| 12 And the fourth messenger did sound, and smitten was the third of the sun, and the third of the moon, and the third of the stars, that darkened may be the third of them, and that the day may not shine the third of it, and the night in like manner. |
Was smitten – A third part of the empire was extinguished. HG77:2
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| 13 And I saw, and I heard one messenger, flying in the mid-heaven, saying with a great voice, 'Wo, wo, wo, to those dwelling upon the land from the rest of the voices of the trumpet of the three messengers who are about to sound.' |
A loud voice – Noise, shout, voices, trumpets, etc., connected with the coming of Christ, and the closing work of the Gospel, are events, not literal noise, or metallic trumpets as under the Law. HG25:6
Woe, woe, woe – The remaining trumpets, the fifth, sixth and seventh, are called woe trumpets. HG77:2
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