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| 1 And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. |
The following quote from Easton's Bible Dictionary may be helpful for some. We give it here as support for our contention that this verse really should be Revelation 7:18 and the next verse is actually the beginning of Chapter 8!"The division of the Bible into chapters and verses is altogether of human invention, designed to facilitate reference to it. The ancient Jews divided the Old Testament into certain sections for use in the synagogue service, and then at a later period, in the ninth century A.D., into verses. Our modern system of chapters for all the books of the Bible was introduced by Cardinal Hugo about the middle of the thirteenth century (he died 1263). The system of verses for the New Testament was introduced by Stephens in 1551, and generally adopted, although neither Tyndale's nor Coverdale's English translation of the Bible has verses. The division is not always wisely made, yet it is very useful."
If this verse were correctly placed as the last verse of Chapter 7, it would help to clarify our understanding as it is clearly wrapping up the Bible's presentation of the Seven Seals.
Had opened – This is a review. This is given in the PAST TENSE! By the time we reach this verse we are looking back at the 7th seal having already been opened. That is why the word "seal" or "sealed" was used 16 times in Rev. 7:2-8, i.e., because that was the description of the seventh seal and what was done with that seal.
Seventh seal – The last seal. The previous six were described in chapter 6. Chapter 7 introduces the setting for the seventh seal. It then describes our Lord as having that seal and using it to leave an intellectual impress (mark or seal) in the forehead of each of the 144,000.
The fact that this verse alone mentions the seventh seal, and it is apparent that the description beginning in verse 2 introduces the trumpets adds to the thought that the entire seventh chapter is discussing the seventh seal. This verse is the closing remark concerning the seventh seal.
Silence in heaven – This silence is in the nominal heavens.
According to the book "The Three Worlds," this silence equates to the silence of Psa. 46 which comes after the Lord has conquered the nations. If that is the case, this would correspond to "the still small voice" of 1 Kings 19:12. - We also note the Pastor's words in June 1916: "Some who have The Three Worlds or the old edition of Day dawn would perhaps like to know my present opinion of them – whether I still think them profitable books to loan to truth-seekers. To this I reply, Certainly not; for the very immature views of God's Truth therein presented fall far short of what we now see to be God's wonderful Plan. Things which are now clear as noonday were then cloudy and mixed." R5909
For half an hour – If one takes a day as being one thousand years (2 Pet. 3:8), one hour would be 1/24th of that or about 42 years. Hence a half hour would be about 21 years.
Speculation – thinking 'out loud'
There are at least three possibilities here.
1) From 1874 to 1895, the first half of Pastor Russell's ministry there was relative quiet amongst the nominal churches. Then as the popularity of the Truth grew and began to take the best of the church membership, the nominal systems became outraged and went forward with their attacks on him and the Truth.
2) Same principle as point #1 but using the starting date of 1878 when Babylon as a system was rejected and the call to "come out of her my people" went forth. 21 years later would bring us to the date 1899. What happened in 1899 that could bring an end to the relative silence? That is when Volume 5, "The Atonement Between God and Man" was published. Why would this have an impact that would bother the nominal churches? Because it attacked the trinity and showed just how false was the basis of this unholy doctrine. – see Rev. 13:16-18
3) As before a half hour = 21 years. This being from the time when Pastor Russell recognized the Lord's presence in 1876 [ R88] until 1897 when "The Day of Vengeance" (later renamed to "The Battle of Armageddon") was published. This latter one created a great stir in the nominal heavens because it held up Babylon before the world to let them all see what was its true character.
4) – None of the above. |
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| 2 And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets. |
Seven angels – Primarily the seven messengers to the church and secondarily the church itself as represented in these 7 (Rev. 15:5-8).
Stood before God – This is similar to the expression "before the throne." The thought here is that these are able (by the robe of Christ's righteousness) to stand before God. It also indicates, as does the phrase 'before the throne' (see vs. 3) that these are a class that are in the flesh.
To them were given seven trumpets – This is important. These messengers did not take on the task of being God's messengers themselves. They did not 'sound a trumpet before themselves.' No, they were given the trumpets. |
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| 3 And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. |
Another angel – As distinguished from the 7 angels of verse 2. This angel is our Lord. Why do we say this is our Lord. Because He, as the anti-typical High Priest is able to stand before the Golden Altar (which was in the Holy, just before the Most Holy) and offer incense.
Stood at the altar – It was the High Priest who stood at the Golden Altar (in the Holy) just before the entrance to the Most Holy.
Golden censer – The censer is the container for the incense.
Much incense – see additional comments for vs. 4. – Gold = divine authority.
Offer it with – Eph. 5:1,2; 2 Cor. 2:15
The prayers of all saints – The fact that this includes all saints indicates that this part of the picture takes place throughout the entirety of the Gospel Age.
The golden altar – This is the incense altar in the Holy of the Tabernacle just before the 2nd veil leading into the Most Holy.
What a beautiful picture is found in Exo. 30:1, 3, 7-8 where Aaron (picturing our Lord Jesus) when he dresses the lamps in the Holy, burns incense. This incense is burned on the golden altar just before the Most Holy so that it's aroma goes into the Most Holy, to the presence of God Himself.
Before the throne – Before the throne. |
| 4 And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand. |
The smoke – Remembrance.
Of the incense – The new creation sacrificing its human nature.
With – It is this combination of both incense and prayers that goes before God as a sweet savor.
The prayers of the saints – Prayer is the Christian's lifeline to God. We may think of it as the umbilical chord of the embryo New Creature.
Went up before God – These go to God Himself.
Out of the angel's hand – It is not our workmanship that counts but it is that of the angel, our Lord. Because of Him our little sacrifices along with our prayers do indeed ascend to God as a sweet smelling savor. |
| 5 And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake. |
The angel – Our Lord.
Took the censer – Just like the High Priest on the Day of Atonement (Lev. 16:11-13).
Filled it with fire – The fiery trials of the New Creation.
Cast it into the earth – Organized society under religious restraint. At this time it was the Roman 'earth.'
And what is the effect of casting the new creation into the symbolic earth?
And there were voices – Expressions of Truth. In this case, the teachings of the Apostles.
And thunderings – Controversies.
And an earthquake – Revolution. In this case the 'Christian' revolution.
Lightening – Diffusions of knowledge.
This is the first of three places in Revelation where we see this combination, i.e., Voices, thundering and earthquake. The other two are Rev. 11:19 when the seventh angel (third woe) sounds and the last is in Rev. 16:18 when the seventh plague is poured out. |
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| 6 And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound. |
The seven angels – The seven messengers to the seven stages of the church.
Which had the trumpets – Each message is trumpet-like, i.e., it sounds loud. These messages are not done in secret. Each message reverberates throughout the symbolic earth and each shakes things up.
Here is another case where the Lord counts the beginning as the fulfillment. As we go forward from here through chapter 11 we see each angel sound his trumpet. It becomes quite clear that these seven are the same as the seven messengers to the seven churches. Yet here it says that all seven "prepared themselves to sound." This seems to say they are all ready at the very beginning of the Gospel Age. It seems the only way to understand this is to accept the premise that God counts the beginning as being the fulfillment. see topic Small Beginnings.
In the book "The Three Worlds" (found in Harvest Gleanings I) the suggestion is made to compare each trumpet with the corresponding plague and note the similarity. See Trumpets and Plagues. |
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| 7 The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up. |
The first angel – The Apostle Paul.
Sounded – Gave his message, or rather he announced the Lord's message.
Hail and fire – Hard truth's and fiery troubles. Remember this is not the effect it has on the true church.
This also fits the description of the 7th plague on Egypt. Exo. 9:22-35.
Mingled with blood – The life is in the blood. – Lev. 17:4; Deut. 12:23 In this case it would appear to be the lives of the people of Jerusalem. It was their blood that was spilled in 70 A.D. with the fall of the city and the destruction of the temple.
All the green grass – Green = life. Grass = men or mankind. Green grass therefore pictures justified men. Since this is the time of the harvest of the Jewish age the thought seems to be that justification under the law enjoyed by Israel was to disappear.
Burnt up – Destroyed. |
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| 8 And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood; |
The second angel – The Apostle John.
As it were – Strong's 5613 meaning 'as' or 'like' – thus, "Like a great mountain.."
A great mountain – The [pagan] Roman empire. This seems to be supported by the expression "great mountain." A mountain is a kingdom. A great mountain therefore would seem to be something more. We suggest here that it is one of the universal dominions (Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome.)
Burning with fire – Being destroyed, consumed. The fact that is not a 'burnt' mountain but one that is burning indicates that pagan Rome was in the process of being destroyed, but its destruction is not yet complete.
Cast into the sea – Given over to the irreligious restless masses. R498
Third part of the sea --
Became blood – As in the First plague in Egypt. |
| 9 And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed. |
Third part of the creatures – ?
Which were in the sea – The irreligious restless masses.
3 groups had life. True church, great company, second death.
And had life – Souls (psuche). Were justified.
Died – Lost their justified condition.
Third part of the ships – Ships are carriers of people and their goods. Could this have reference to organizations that have their trade more with the irreligious masses than they do with organized society?
Ships = commerce?
Profiting from the Pagan religions of Rome.
Were destroyed – Along with Pagan Rome. |
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| 10 And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters; |
The third angel – Arius – already identified as the third angel (messenger) to the church of Pergamos. See Rev. 2:12
Fell a great star – Someone who really stood out.
From heaven – The nominal church. Since 'heaven' does not appear in the context of these trumpet soundings prior to this account it seems to imply that the condition of the church had not yet reached a 'nominal' enough condition in the prior periods to warrant its being called 'heaven'.
Burning as it were a lamp – This indicates this star (Arius) is closely associated with the Holy Spirit. – See Rev. 1:4
It fell upon the third part of the rivers – Channels of Truth.
The fountains of waters – Sources of Truth.
It is worth noting that this star falls on the third part of the rivers. There is no thought of it falling on only a third part of the fountains of waters. |
| 11 And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter. |
Wormwood – Bitter. see Wormwood. When taken in the wrong amount it can cause hallucinations.
Third part of the waters – New Albany: The waters (truths) were divided into 3 parts. The Apostasy, Judaism, the Truth.
We would suggest the order being Old Testament teachings, New Testament teachings and the Apostasy. It is this last, the Apostasy, that became bitter.
Became wormwood – Took on the same characteristics as the 'great star' that fell.
Many men died of the waters – Because they did not drink the waters of truth (New Albany).
Because they were made bitter – Professing to be the real Truth, the Gospel of Christ was completely corrupted (made bitter) by the Papacy. |
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| 12 And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise. |
The fourth angel – Peter Waldo. See Rev. 2:18
Sounded – Proclaimed the message publicly.
Third part of the sun – The sun = the Gospel light.
Was smitten – The truth suffered, was smitten.
Third part of the moon – The law (moon) also was diminished in its brightness.
Third part of the stars – The lights in the nominal heavens, leaders and teachers.
Third part of them was darkened --
The day shone not for a third part of it --
The night likewise -- |
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| 13 And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!
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I beheld – The John class, those saints still living in the flesh during the time of our Lord's Parousia – Presence.
Heard an angel flying – A messenger.
How could the John class, living during the period of the 2nd Advent, hear this message if it was coming at the end of the 4th stage of the church? – As indicated in Rev. 1:9,10 John heard "a voice behind" him. These are looking at the pages of history, but not as the natural man does, these are looking to see the fulfillment of prophecy. And so it is with us. We look back to see these fulfillments in the light of God's Word. – Please note the comments at the end of this verse.
Through the midst of heaven – This sound is heard in the nominal heavens.
Saying, Woe, Woe, Woe – Three periods of trouble coming, each of which will be much greater (from their perspective) than any that have come before.
To the inhabiters of the earth – To those who dwell in Christendom ("organized society under religious restraint.") – Please see topic Earth Dwellers.
By reason of the other voices – Messages of truth.
Of the trumpet – Publicly announced.
Of the three angels – Wycliff, Luther and Russell.
Which are yet to sound – Not during the fourth (Waldo) stage of the church.
The contrast between the 4th and 5th messengers and the manner they conducted themselves and proclaimed their messages is what helps us to understand why the trumpets that begin with number 5 are described as being woes to those who dwell in Christendom.
Waldo (4th messenger) was trying to get the approval of the established church and only when forced to flee did he set up his work in the mountains, away from the established strongholds of Christendom.
Wycliffe, on the other hand, was disgusted by the scene of two men, each claiming to be the pope and each labeling the other as the "anti-christ." As a result, his opposition became very public and had an impact upon the established order of things. |