| Scripture |
Expanded Comments |
| |
|
| 1 And when it opened the seventh seal, there was 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
|
| 2 And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. |
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
|
| |
|
| 3 And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and much incense was given to him, that he might give efficacy to the prayers of all saints at 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
|
| 4 And the smoke of the incense went up with the prayers of the saints, out of the hand of the angel before God. |
|
| 5 And the angel took the censer, and filled it from the fire of the altar, and cast it on the earth: and there were voices, and thunders and lightnings, and an earthquake. |
|
| |
|
| 6 And the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves that they might sound with their trumpets. |
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
|
| |
|
| 7 And the first sounded his trumpet: and there was hail and fire, mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth; and the third part of the earth was burnt up, and the third part of the trees was burnt up, and all 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
|
| |
|
| 8 And the second angel sounded his trumpet: and as 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
|
| 9 and the third part of the creatures which were in the sea which had life died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed. |
Life – Greek, psuche, soul, being. E338
|
| |
|
| 10 And the third angel sounded his trumpet: and there fell out of the heaven a great star, burning as a torch, 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
|
| 11 And the name of the star is called Wormwood; and the third part of the waters became wormwood, and many of the men died of the waters because they were made bitter. |
|
| |
|
| 12 And the fourth angel sounded his trumpet: and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so that the third part of them should be darkened, and that the day should not appear for the third part of it, and the night the same. |
Was smitten – A third part of the empire was extinguished. HG77:2
|
| |
|
| 13 And I saw, and I heard an eagle flying in mid-heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to them that dwell upon the earth, for the remaining voices of the trumpet of the three angels 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
|