| Scripture |
Expanded Comments |
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| 1 And, as soon as he opened the seventh seal, there came to be silence in heaven, as it were 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 which, before God, do stand; and there were given unto 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, came, and took his stand at the altar, having a censer of gold: and there was given unto him much incense, that he might give [it] unto the prayers of all the saints, upon the altar of gold 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 the smoke of the incense went up, with the prayers of the saints, out of the hand of the messenger before God. |
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| 5 And the messenger at once took the censer, and filled it from the fire of the altar, and cast unto the earth; and there came to be thunderings, and voices, and lightnings, and an earthquake. |
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| 6 And, the seven messengers who had the seven trumpets, prepared themselves, that they might 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, sounded; and there came to be hail and fire mingled with blood, and it was cast unto the earth; and, the third of the earth, was burned up, and, the third of the trees, was burned up, and, all green herbage, was burned 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, sounded; and, as it were a great mountain burning with fire, 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 the third of the creatures which were in the sea, which had life, died, the third of the ships, was destroyed. |
Life – Greek, psuche, soul, being. E338
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| 10 And, the third messenger, sounded; and there fell, out of heaven, a great star, burning as a torch, and it fell 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 became wormwood, and many of the men died of the waters, because they were made bitter. |
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| 12 And, the fourth messenger, sounded; and the third of the sun was smitten, and the third of the moon, and the third of the stars,–in order that the third of them might be darkened, and the day might not shine for 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 eagle, flying in mid-heaven, saying with a loud voice–Woe! woe! woe! unto them that are dwelling upon the earth, by reason of the remaining 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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