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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. |
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 angels which stood before God; and to them were given 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 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. |
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 the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand. |
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| 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. |
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| 6 And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to 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 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.
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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 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 – 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 the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed. |
Life – Greek, psuche, soul, being. E338
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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 – 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 part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter. |
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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. |
Was smitten – A third part of the empire was extinguished. HG77:2
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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! |
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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