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SERIES: THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST, WEEK 35

TITLE: THE SEVENTH SEAL: THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM

TEXT: REVELATION 8:1-5

INTRODUCTION: (1) CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY, FOR THE MOST PART, HAS VERY LITTLE SUBSTANTIVE KNOWLEDGE OF SCRIPTURE.

* IN FACT, IT IS ALARMING HOW IGNORANT MANY PROFESSING CHRISTIANS ARE OF THE WORD OF GOD.

** THERE CERTAINLY IS A FAMINE IN OUR LAND TODAY ABOUT THE BIBLE AND IT’S PROPER APPLICATION.

*** YET OCCASIONALLY ON THE NEWS OR IN A NEWSPAPER WE’LL HEAR OR READ A DESCRIPTION OF A NATURAL DISASTER WITH THESE WORDS, IT WAS OF “BIBLICAL PROPORTIONS” TALKING ABOUT THE SEVERITY OF THE CATASTROPHE.

**** A REFERENCE TO THE BIBLE IS USED TO DESCRIBE HOW MASSIVE THE NATURAL CALAMITY IS.

(2) AND SOMETIMES INSURANCE COMPANIES WILL TALK ABOUT SUCH AN EVENT AS “AN ACT OF GOD.”

* ONE WONDERS WITH THOSE REFERENCE ABOUT GOD AND THE BIBLE AND HOW OTHERS DAILY USE THE NAME JESUS CHRIST AS A SWEAR WORD WHEN SOMETHING GOES WRONG, HOW PEOPLE AND REPORTERS WILL DESCRIBE THE PLAGUES GOD SENDS IN THE GREAT TRIBULATION IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION IN THE BIBLE.

** FOR YOU SEE GOD SENT THE ORIGINAL “PLAGUES OF BIBLICAL PROPORTIONS” ON PHARAOH AND THE EGYPTIANS.

*** AND THESE 10 PLAGUES RECOUNTED IN EXODUS 7-12, BROUGHT ABOUT THE RELEASE OF ISRAEL FROM BONDAGE.

**** YET, STARTING IN REVELATION CHAPTER 8, JOHN SEES FIRST HAND FROM HEAVEN A SERIES OF DIVINE PLAGUES THAT ARE THE “ULTIMATE IN BIBLICAL PROPORTIONS.”

(3) FOR AS BAD AS THE FIRST SIX SEAL JUDGMENTS WERE IN REVELATION CHAPTER 6, THEY PALE IN SCOPE, INTENSITY AND IMPACT TO THE SEVENTH TRUMPET JUDGMENT THAT FOLLOW AND THE SEVEN BOWL JUDGMENTS THAT FOLLOW THE SEVEN TRUMPET JUDGMENTS.

* BELOVED, WHEN THE LAMB, THE LORD JESUS OPENS THE 7TH AND LAST SEAL ON THE LITTLE SCROLL THAT WAS THE TITLE DEED TO THE EARTH IN REVELATION 5:1.

** WHEN CHRIST DOES THAT, THE JUDGMENTS OF THE DAY OF THE LORD WILL INTENSIFY AND EXPAND – GROW DRAMATICALLY.

*** FOR THIS FINAL SEAL CONTAINS WITHIN IT THE FULL SWEEP OF THE REMAINING JUDGMENTS FROM GOD OF THE TIME OF THE GREAT TRIBULATION, THE LAST 3 ½ YEARS OF GOD’S WRATH BEING POURED OUT.

**** FOR OUT OF THE SEVENTH SEALS COMES THE SEVEN TRUMPET JUDGMENTS AND OUT OF THE 7TH TRUMPET JUDGMENT COMES THE 7 BOWL JUDGMENTS, WHICH YOU CAN SEE ON A CHART TAKEN FROM THE BIBLE KNOWLEDGE COMMENTARY.

(4) IN OTHER WORDS, FROM THE SEVENTH SEAL, THE SEVEN TRUMPETS ROLL OUT AND FROM THE SEVENTH TRUMPET ROLL OUT THE SEVEN BOWL JUDGMENTS.

* AND THOUGH SOME BELIEVE THE JUDGMENTS OF THE TRUMPET AND BOWL JUDGMENTS HAPPEN SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH THOSE OF THE SIXTH SEAL.

** IT APPEARS MORE LIKELY TO THEM AS TELESCOPING OUT OF EACH OTHER, ONE AFTER ANOTHER, SEQUENTIALLY, THAT THEY ARE SUCCESSIVE.

*** NOW THE REASON FOR THIS VIEW IS THERE IS NO DESCRIPTION OF JUDGMENT IN THE 7TH SEAL, BUT AN ANTICIPATION OF TERRIBLE JUDGMENT FOLLOWED IMMEDIATELY IN THE TEXT BY THE 7 TRUMPET JUDGMENTS.

**** THEN, THE 7TH TRUMPET JUDGMENT DOES NOT IN ESSENCE DESCRIBE A JUDGMENT IN CHAPTER 11 VERSES 15-17, BUT RATHER CONTAINS THE ANTICIPATION OF HEAVENLY REJOICING OVER THE NEXT JUDGMENTS TO COME, THE BOWL JUDGMENTS WHICH WILL LEAD TO THE FINAL DESTRUCTION AND ESTABLISHMENT OF THE RULE OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AS HE COMES BACK TO THE EARTH IN REVELATION 19.

(5) BEYOND THOSE OBSERVATIONS, THE JUDGMENTS BECOME MORE SEVERE AS THE PERIOD ADVANCES TOWARD THE ULTIMATE RETURN OF CHRIST.

* THIS APPEARS TO SHOW US CHRONOLOGICAL PROGRESSION.

** NOW THE PROGRESSIVE JUDGMENTS WITHIN THE 7TH SEAL WILL TAKE PLACE OVER THE LAST 3 ½ YEARS OF THE TRIBULATION.

*** AND WHILE THE EXACT TIMETABLE FOR THE TRUMPET AND BOWL JUDGMENTS IS NOT REVEALED, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE 5TH TRUMPET WHICH WILL LAST FOR 5 MONTHS IN REVELATION 9:10, THEIR ESCALATING DEVASTATION INDICATES THAT THEY ALL OCCUR DURING THE LAST HALF OF THE TRIBULATION CALLED THE GREAT TRIBULATION.

**** SO THE SEVENTH SEAL OPENS UP ALL THE JUDGMENTS THAT FOLLOW UNTIL THE RETURN OF CHRIST.

(6) AND SPECIFICALLY TODAY I’VE TITLED OUR STUDY OF THE SEVENTH SEAL AS THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM.

* FOR THE CALM, THE SILENCE WE WILL SEE IN V. 1 IS A DRAMATIC PAUSE, A HUSH THAT COMMUNICATES THE AWE AND DREAD OF THE COMING TEMPEST.

** AND WE WILL COVER THIS CALM, THIS HUSH BY LOOKING AT 5 KEY WORDS FOUND IN THE TEXT DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY IN REVELATION 8:1-5.

*** NO. 1 THE SILENCE, V. 1; NO. 2 THE SEVEN IN V. 2 TALKING ABOUT THE 7 ANGELS AND THE 7 TRUMPETS; NO. 3 THE SAINTS SPECIFICALLY TALKING ABOUT THEIR PRAYER, V. 3; NO. 4 THE SMOKE, V. 4; AND NO. 5 THE STORM THAT WILL FOLLOW, V. 5.

**** AND WITH THAT OUTLINE AS OUR PATH TO FOLLOW, LOOK AT V. 1 PLEASE WHERE WE’LL SEE OUR FIRST POINT, THE SILENCE.

I. THE SILENCE, (READ V. 1)

A. NOW HERE IN V. 1, THE LAMB – THE LORD JESUS CONTINUES WHAT HE STARTED BACK IN CHAPTER 6 VERSE 1, OPENING THE SEALS TO THE SCROLL THAT WAS THE TITLE DEED TO THE EARTH.

* AND IN REVELATION CHAPTER 6, CHRIST THE LAMB BROKE OPEN SEALS 1-6. CHAPTER 7 WAS KIND OF A PARENTHESIS, A PARENTHETICAL SECTION BETWEEN THE SIXTH AND SEVENTH SEAL INTRODUCING TWO GROUPS WHO SURVIVED THE FURY OF GOD’S JUDGMENT, THE 144,000 AND PEOPLE WHO COME TO KNOW CHRIST AND ARE MARTYRED.

** NOW IN CHAPTER 8 VERSE 1, WE HAVE A CONTINUATION OF THE JUDGMENTS UPON EARTH WITH THE SEVENTH SEAL AND WHAT WILL COME OUT OF IT.

*** NOW AS CHRIST BREAKS OPEN THE SEVENTH SEAL THERE IS SILENCE IN HEAVEN FOR ABOUT HALF AN HOUR.

**** AND THIS SILENCE IS SIGNIFICANT.

1. IT IS SIGNIFICANT FOR THIS IS PROBABLY ONLY THE 2’D TIME IN THE HISTORY OF CREATION, SINCE GOD CREATED EVERYTHING INCLUDING THE ANGELS, THE CHERUBIM, THE SERAPHIM, THAT THERE IS SILENCE IN HEAVEN.

* FOR UNDERSTAND WORSHIP AND PRAISE AND ADORATION GOES ON NIGHT AND DAY WITH THE ANGELIC HOST AND PEOPLE IN HEAVEN SAVED BY GOD’S SOVEREIGN GRACE.

** I MEAN AS WE’VE LEARNED IN REVELATION 4 & 5, IN AND AROUND THE THRONE, THE CONTINUAL ACTIVITY IS ADORATION, AWE AND VENERATION.

*** THE HOLY, HOLY, HOLIES, THE WORTHYS, THE BLESSINGS, THE HONOR, THE AMENS, THE PURE PRAISE AND WORSHIP IS A 24-7 ACTIVITY. AND IT IS LOUD AS WE’VE LEARNED, A LOUD ROAR.

**** BUT HERE THERE IS SILENCE IN HEAVEN FOR ABOUT HALF AN HOUR.

2. AND THE ONLY OTHER TIME THAT I CAN THINK OF THAT THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED WOULD BE WHEN CHRIST WAS ON THE CROSS AND GOD HAD TO PULL THE WINDOW SHADES OF HEAVEN AS JESUS BECAME THE SIN OFFERING, THE LAMB WHO WOULD DIE AN HORRIFIC DEATH.

* AND THAT IS ONLY SPECULATION. I DON’T HAVE SCRIPTURE TO BE AUTHORITATIVE ON THAT, BUT CERTAINLY THAT IS A REASONABLE CONJECTURE.

** BUT FOR SURE, THERE IS SILENCE AT THIS TIME. NOW WHY?

*** WELL, THIS SILENCE IN HEAVEN INDICATES THAT THE MOMENTOUS NATURE OF OPENING THE 7TH SEAL IS RECOGNIZED TO THE POINT THAT THE REDEEMED IN HEAVEN AND THE WORSHIPPING HOST OF ANGELS FALL SILENT.

**** THIS POINT OF TIME IS OMINOUS; IT IS A DRAMATIC PAUSE, A HUSH OVER HEAVEN, THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM, THE STILL THAT PRECEDES THE COMING TEMPEST.

3. BELOVED, SOMETHING MAJOR IN JUDGMENT IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN. IT’S AS IF HEAVEN HELD IT’S BREATH.

* THE HEAVENLY HOST AND THE REDEEMED ARE SILENT IN ANTICIPATION OF THE GRIM REALITY OF JUDGMENT THAT WILL COME OUT OF THE SEVENTH SEAL ROLLING OUT THE 7 TRUMPET JUDGMENTS LEADING TO THE 7 BOWL JUDGMENTS.

** AND SILENCE IS THE ONLY PROPER AND APPROPRIATE RESPONSE TO SUCH CATACLYSMIC JUDGMENT, WITH DIVINE JUDGMENT FROM THE HOLY GOD OF JUSTICE AND WRATH.

*** FOR EXAMPLE, THE PSALMIST WROTE IN PSALM 76:8&9 –

V. 8 – YOU CAUSED JUDGMENT TO BE HEARD FROM HEAVEN; THE EARTH FEARED AND WAS STILL.

V. 9 – WHEN GOD AROSE TO JUDGMENT, TO SAVE ALL THE HUMBLE OF THE EARTH.

**** HABAKKUK DECLARED IN HABAKKUK 2:20 – BUT THE LORD IS IN HIS HOLY TEMPLE. LET ALL THE EARTH BE SILENT BEFORE HIM.

4. ZEPHANIAH 1:7 SAYS – BE SILENT BEFORE THE LORD GOD! FOR THE DAY OF THE LORD IS NEAR, FOR THE LORD HAS PREPARED A SACRIFICE, HE HAS CONSECRATED HIS GUESTS.

* AND THEN ZECHARIAH 2:13 GIVES THIS COMMAND – BE SILENT, ALL FLESH, BEFORE THE LORD; FOR HE IS AROUSED FROM HIS HOLY HABITATION.

** SO THERE ARE TIMES WHEN SILENCE IS APPROPRIATE BEFORE THE HOLY GOD OF THE UNIVERSE.

*** AND SILENCE IN HEAVEN IS A HOLY HUSH AT THIS TIME IN ANTICIPATION OF WHAT UNFOLDS OUT OF THE 7TH SEAL.

**** SILENCE IS NOT GOLDEN AT THIS TIME, IT IS APPROPRIATE AND A HOLY RESPONSE.

5. BUT LET ME SAY IN APPLICATION THERE ARE TIMES THAT SILENCE IS GOLDEN, HAVING QUIET TIMES OF COMMUNION BEFORE OUR HOLY GOD, MEDITATING ON TRUTHS, THINKING ABOUT TRUTHS ABOUT HIM, PRAYING AND WORSHIPING HIM.

* WHEN YOU SHUT OUT ALL THE NOISE OF LIFE THAT DISTRACTS US AND CAN EVEN TAKE US AWAY FROM HIM.

** AND WE NEED A DAILY QUIET TIME, A TIME WHENEVER IT MAY BE, THAT OUR FOCUS IS UPON HIM WITHOUT DISTRACTION.

*** AND BROTHERS AND SISTERS, I CHALLENGE YOU TO PRIORITIZE A QUIET TIME BETWEEN YOU AND OUR CREATOR – SAVIOR GOD DAILY. (IT’S SOMETHING YOU SCHEDULE).

**** WELL, I MUST MOVE ON, AND EVEN MOVE FROM THE SILENCE TO THE SEVEN. LOOK AT V. 2 PLEASE.

II. THE SEVEN, (READ V. 2)

A. NOW AS THE SILENCE IN HEAVEN CONTINUES, JOHN’S ATTENTION IS DRAWN TO THE SEVEN ANGELS WHO STAND BEFORE GOD.

* AND THE PRESENCE OF THE DEFINITE ARTICLE “THE” – THE SEVEN ANGELS, SUGGEST THAT THESE ANGELS ARE A SPECIAL GROUP, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE PHRASE “WHO STAND BEFORE GOD” IS USED.

** NOW THEY ARE SPECIAL IN THE SENSE THAT WHAT IS SAID ABOUT THEM IS SAID ABOUT THE ANGEL GABRIEL IN LUKE 1:19.

*** AND AS GABRIEL IS TALKING TO MARY HE COMMUNICATES THAT HE IS AN ANGEL “WHO STANDS IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD.”

**** NOW BECAUSE THESE 7 ANGELS “STAND BEFORE GOD” – “STAND IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD” IN ESSENCE, SOME SUGGEST THAT THESE ANGELS ARE A HIGH ORDER, HIGH RANKING ANGELS AND THAT MAY BE TRUE BY THE DEFINITE ARTICLE AND THEIR LOCATION, AND I WON’T SPECULATE BEYOND THAT.

1. NOW AS JOHN HAS A FRONT SEAT VIEW IN HEAVEN OF ALL THAT IS HAPPENING, HE SEES THAT SEVEN TRUMPETS WERE GIVEN TO THESE ANGELS IN PREPARATION FOR THE TRUMPET JUDGMENTS THAT WILL SHORTLY FOLLOW.

* AND EACH ANGEL WILL BLOW THEIR TRUMPET, WILL SOUND THEIR TRUMPET BEFORE EACH OF THESE JUDGMENTS ARE SET IN MOTION.

** SO EACH OF THE 7 TRUMPETS UNLEASHES A SPECIFIC JUDGMENT OF GREATER INTENSITY THAN THE FIRST SIX SEALS, BUT NOT AS DESTRUCTIVE AS THE SEVEN BOWLS.

*** AND AS TRUMPETS ARE USED IN SCRIPTURE TO SUMMONS PEOPLE, ANNOUNCE NEWS, TO SOUND AN ALARM AND OTHER THINGS –

**** THESE TRUMPETS WILL BE USED TO ANNOUNCE OR UNLEASH JUDGMENTS UPON THE EARTH. EACH ANGEL WILL BLOW HIS TRUMPET AND JUDGMENT WILL FOLLOW.

2. AND ALTHOUGH NOT SPECIFICALLY IDENTIFIED, IT APPEARS THAT GOD ALMIGHTY IS THE ONE WHO GIVES THESE TRUMPETS TO THESE ANGELS FOR THEY ARE BEFORE GOD AND THE VERB “GIVEN” IN IT’S USES IN REVELATION WOULD AT LEAST SUGGEST THAT.

* SO WE HAVE 7 SPECIAL ANGELS WHO WILL BLOW 7 TRUMPETS THAT UNLEASH SPECIFIC JUDGMENTS, WHICH LEADS US TO OUR THIRD POINT TODAY, THE SAINTS, LOOK AT V. 3 PLEASE.

III. THE SAINTS, (READ V. 3)

A. NOW IN V. 3, JOHN’S ATTENTION IS DRAWN FROM THESE 7 SPECIAL ANGELS TO ANOTHER ANGEL THAT IS SEPARATE FROM THE SEVEN.

* AND THE ADJECTIVE “ANOTHER” SHOULD SETTLE THE IDENTITY OF THIS ANGEL FOR IT IDENTIFIES ANOTHER OF THE ANGEL CLASS BUT SERVES TO DISTINGUISH HIM FROM THE GROUP OF 7 ALREADY MENTIONED.

** NOW CLEARLY THIS IS AN ANGEL. AND I BRING THAT UP BECAUSE SOME COMMENTARIES COMMUNICATE THAT THIS ANGEL IS CHRIST, THE REASON BEING BECAUSE OF THIS ANGEL’S ASSOCIATION WITH THE PRAYERS OF THE SAINTS THAT HE IS A MEDIATOR LIKE CHRIST.

*** BUT CLEARLY THIS ANGEL IS AN ANGEL, THE PHRASE “ANOTHER ANGEL” COMMUNICATES ANOTHER OF THE SAME KIND.

**** AND CHRIST HAS ALWAYS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS THE LAMB IN V. 1, AND HE IS NOT AN ANGEL OR A CREATED BEING BUT GOD.

1. AND THE PROBLEM COMES WHEN THE WHOLE IDEA OF THIS ANGEL PERFORMING A MEDIATORIAL SERVICE, A PRIESTLY FUNCTION IN PRAYER, FOR WE KNOW THAT CHRIST IS OUR ONLY MEDIATOR, AND OUR GREAT HIGH PRIEST, READ I TIMOTHY 2:5 AND HEBREWS 4:15.

* NOW CHRIST IS OUR MEDIATOR AND OUR HIGH PRIEST, SO THE IDEA IS, HE MUST BE THIS ANGEL.

** BUT THAT IS PRESUMPTUOUS AND COMES FROM A FAULTY WAY OF INTERPRETING SCRIPTURE.

*** NO. 1 THIS ANGEL DOESN’T PERFORM MEDIATORIAL SERVICE IN THIS VERSE AND NO. 2 WE SHOULD NEVER DEPART FROM THE PLAIN CLEAR MEANING OF THE WORDS HERE AND IMPORT SOMETHING FROM OTHER PRINCIPLES.

2. FOR THIS ANGEL DOES NOT ADD TO THE PRAYERS OF THE SAINTS, HE ADDS NOTHING LIKE THAT, HE ONLY ADDS INCENSE THAT WAS GIVEN TO HIM TO THE PRAYERS OF THE SAINTS.

* THE NEW AMERICAN STANDARD UPDATE IS CLEAR AND VERY GOOD HERE, IT SAYS: “MUCH INCENSE WAS GIVEN TO HIM, SO THAT HE MIGHT ADD IT TO THE PRAYERS OF ALL THE SAINTS.”

** SO SPECIFICALLY AND PARTICULARLY HE ADDS INCENSE.

*** NOW TO HELP EXPLAIN THAT, NOTICE AS YOU LOOK BACK AT V. 3 THE PLACE WHERE THIS ANGEL IS STANDING IS THE ALTAR, HOLDING A GOLDEN CENSER.

**** AND THIS IS THE ALTAR OF INCENSE.

3. LET ME EXPLAIN BY QUOTING FROM JOHN MACARTHUR’S COMMENTARY ON REVELATION 1-11. HE SAID AND I QUOTE:

* JOHN NOTES THAT THE ANGEL CAME AND STOOD AT THE ALTAR. THAT ALTAR IS THE HEAVENLY COUNTERPART TO THE ALTAR OF INCENSE IN THE TEMPLE, WHICH ALSO WAS MADE WITH GOLD (EXODUS 30:3).

** IT WAS THE SAME GOLDEN INCENSE ALTAR SEEN BY ISAIAH IN HIS VISION (ISAIAH 6:6) AND BY EZEKIEL (EZEKIEL 10:2). THE FURTHER DESCRIPTION OF THIS ALTAR AS BEFORE THE THRONE ASSURES JOHN’S READERS THAT THE ALTAR OF INCENSE WAS THE EARTHLY COUNTERPART TO THIS HEAVENLY INCENSE ALTAR.

*** THAT IS EVIDENT BECAUSE THE ALTAR OF INCENSE IN THE TABERNACLE AND THE TEMPLE WAS THE NEAREST THING TO THE HOLY OF HOLIES WHERE GOD’S GLORY DWELT (EXODUS 30:6). CONSISTENT WITH THAT IDENTIFICATION IS THAT FACT THAT THE ANGEL HELD IN HIS HAND A GOLDEN CENSER OR FIREPAN.

**** IN THE OLD TESTAMENT ERA, THE PRIESTS WOULD TWICE DAILY (MORNING AND EVENING) TAKE HOT, FIERY COALS FROM THE BRAZEN ALTAR (WHERE SACRIFICES WERE OFFERED) AND TRANSPORT THEM INTO THE HOLY PLACE TO THE INCENSE ALTAR (EXODUS 30:7, 8; II CHRONICLES 29:11; I KINGS 7:50; II KINGS 25:15; JEREMIAH 52:18-19). THEY THEN IGNITED THE INCENSE, WHICH ROSE TOWARD HEAVEN, EMBLEMATIC OF THE PRAYERS OF THE SAINTS.

4. NOW FROM THAT JOHN MACARTHUR USES A N.T. ILLUSTRATION FROM THE LIFE OF ZACHARIAS TAKEN FROM LUKE 1:8-10 WHICH ADDS LIGHTS TO WHAT IS GOING ON HERE IN REVELATION 8:3.

* LUKE 1:8-10 –

V. 8 – NOW IT HAPPENED THAT WHILE HE WAS PERFORMING HIS PRIESTLY SERVICE BEFORE GOD IN THE APPOINTED ORDER OF HIS DIVISION

V. 9 – ACCORDING TO THE CUSTOM OF THE PRIESTLY OFFICE, HE WAS CHOSEN BY LOT TO ENTER THE TEMPLE OF THE LORD AND BURN INCENSE.

V. 10 – AND THE WHOLE MULTITUDE OF THE PEOPLE WERE IN PRAYER OUTSIDE AT THE HOUR OF THE INCENSE OFFERING.

** NOW HERE’S THE PICTURE WE GET FROM THIS TEXT, WHILE THE PEOPLE STOOD OUTSIDE PRAYING, ZACHARIAS BURNED INCENSE INSIDE, SYMBOLIZING THE ASCENDING OF THOSE PRAYERS TO GOD.

*** SO THIS ANGEL, LIKE ZACHARIAS, ADDS INCENSE TO THE PRAYERS OF THE SAINTS ON THE GOLDEN ALTAR BEFORE THE THRONE OF GOD.

**** SO THERE IS AN ALTAR OF INCENSE AT THIS TIME BEFORE THE THRONE OF GOD. AND YOU CAN SEE A PICTURE OF WHAT THE O.T. ALTAR OF INCENSE LOOKED LIKE ON THE SCREEN.

5. NOW WHAT WOULD HAPPEN WAS THIS. THERE WERE BURNING COALS ON THIS BRAZEN ALTAR AND WHEN INCENSE WAS THROWN ON THESE HOT BURNING COALS, SMOKE WOULD RISE TO GOD SYMBOLIZING THE PRAYERS OF HIS PEOPLE.

* AND THAT’S WHAT WE HAVE PICTURED IN V. 4 WITH THE SMOKE, OUR 4TH KEY WORD TODAY. LOOK AT V. 4 PLEASE.

IV. THE SMOKE, (READ V. 4)

A. NOW V. 4 TAKES US BACK TO THE PICTURE OF THE GOLDEN ALTAR OF INCENSE.

* AND THE SMOKE OF THE INCENSE, INCENSE THAT WAS BURNT BY THE HOT COALS ON THIS GOLDEN ALTAR WOULD TURN TO SMOKE.

** AND AGAIN IN THE O.T., THE PRIESTS WOULD BURN INCENSE UPON THIS ALTAR AND THE SMOKE WOULD FILL THE TEMPLE OR TABERNACLE AND WOULD THEN ASCEND TO HEAVEN.

*** AND THIS INCENSE WAS SYMBOLIC OF WORSHIP AND PRAYER AND A REMINDER THAT INTERCESSION TO THE LORD HAS THE CHARACTER OF SWEET INCENSE.

**** SO THE INCENSE HERE WITH THE PRAYERS OF THE SAINTS GOES UP BEFORE GOD OUT OF THE ANGEL’S HAND.

1. SO THE SMOKE PRODUCED BY THE BURNING INCENSE RISES IN THE COMPANY OF THE PRAYERS OF THE SAINTS.

* AND IN THIS CONTEXT IT WOULD APPEAR THAT THE SAINTS AND TRIBULATION SAINTS STILL ON EARTH THAT ARE SUFFERING AND ASKING FOR GOD IN HIS JUSTICE TO JUDGE, SAYING LIKE THE SAINTS IN CHAPTER 6 VERSE 10, HOW LONG O LORD?

** AND IT APPEARS THE LORD ANSWERS THEIR PRAYERS WITH THE TRUMPET JUDGMENTS. IN OTHER WORDS, HOW LONG IS ABOUT TO BE ANSWERED CLEARLY IN RESPONSE TO THE PRAYERS OF THE SAINTS.

*** WHAT HAS BEEN ORDAINED WILL COME TO PASS AS THESE PRAYERS ARE USED AS MEANS IN THE TIMING OF GOD’S JUDGMENTS.

**** FOR AS WE LOOK AT PRAYER AND THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD, WE SEE THAT GOD HAS ORDAINED PRAYER AS A MEANS TO THE END OF ACCOMPLISHING THIS PURPOSE.

2. AND AS JAMES 5:16B SAYS: (READ IT).

* SO GOD USES PRAYER AS A MEANS TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT HE HAS ORDAINED. AND THE SMOKE OF INCENSE, A PICTURE OF PRAYER IS COMBINED WITH REAL PRAYERS THAT ARE USED AS SWEET INCENSE IN THE NOSTRILS OF GOD.

** AND THAT THOUGHT LEADS US TO OUR 5TH AND LAST KEY WORD TODAY, THE STORM. LOOK AT V. 5 PLEASE.

V. THE STORM, (READ V. 5)

A. NOW IN V. 5, THE SILENCE COMES TO AN END, AND THE PRAYERS OF THE SAINTS ARE ANSWERED.

* FOR THE START UP OF GOD’S JUDGMENT BEGINS AGAIN.

** AND WE SEE THIS BY THE ANGEL THAT IS AT THE GOLDEN ALTAR OF INCENSE TAKING THE CENSER OR FIREPAN AND SCOOPS UP SOME OF THE HOT COALS AND THROWS THEM TO THE EARTH.

*** AND THIS PICTURES JUDGMENT ABOUT TO BE IMPOSED IN ANSWER TO THE PRAYERS CONNECTED TO THAT SAME ALTAR.

**** THE FIRE OF THE ALTAR, THE FIERY COALS PICTURE JUDGMENT AS THE FIRE OF HELL IS A JUDGMENT UPON UNSAVED PEOPLE.

1. IN OTHER WORDS, FIRE PICTURES JUDGMENT AND IT PRODUCES A STORM ON THE EARTH.

* FOR WHAT FOLLOWS ARE PEALS OF THUNDER, RUMBLES OF THUNDER, LOUD THUNDER, VOICES, PROBABLY SOUNDS.

** ALSO LIGHTENING, GREAT FLASHES OF LIGHTENING AND AN EARTHQUAKE.

*** THE FIRESTORM OF THE TRUMPET JUDGMENTS ARE ABOUT TO BLOW AS GOD CONTINUES TO POUR OUT HIS WRATH ON THE EARTH.

IN WRAP UP: (1) IN APPLICATION, SOMETIMES PEOPLE ASK, IF GOD HAS ORDAINED ALL THINGS THAT COME TO PASS, THEN WHY SHOULD I BOTHER TO PRAY?

* WELL, OUR TEXT TODAY ANSWERS THAT QUESTION. JOHN REISINGER SAID IN HIS BOOKLET “THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD AND PRAYER” THAT “EFFECTUAL (EFFECTIVE) PRAYER IS THE ORDAINED MEANS THAT GOD USES TO ACCOMPLISH HIS ORDAINED PURPOSES.”

** AND BELOVED, WE MUST LEARN TO SEE THAT PRAYER IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL FOR THE REASON THAT A SOVEREIGN GOD HAS PURPOSED TO USE PRAYER AS A MEANS TO REACH AN END.

*** GOD USES THE PRAYERS OF THESE SAINTS IN OUR TEXT TO BRING ABOUT JUDGMENT ON THE EARTH DURING THIS TIME.

**** THE FERVENT PRAYER OF A RIGHTEOUS PERSON AVAILS MUCH!

(2) OUR FATHER HAS CALLED US TO PRAYER AND PRAYER CHANGES US! IT IS A JOY TO CAST CARES UPON HIM, TO PRAY FOR THE LOST, TO PRAY FOR HIM TO BE GLORIFIED, TO ASK FOR STRENGTH, TO ASK FOR HELP, TO ASK FOR GRACE IN THE TIME OF TEMPTATION.

* AND TO ULTIMATELY PRAY, THY KINGDOM COME AND IT WILL, AND FOR HIS WILL TO BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN.

** SO AS A PART OF OUR QUIET TIMES AND CONTINUALLY, TO PRAY WITHOUT CEASING, I THESSALONIANS 5:17, TO BE IN THE ATTITUDE OF PRAYER.

*** LET US WORSHIP OUR GREAT HOLY GOD BY APPLYING ROMANS 12:12 (READ IT).

**** MAY WE BE MEN AND WOMEN OF PRAYER.

1. PRAY IN YOUR QUIET TIMES.

2. PRAY AT ALL TIMES

3. PRAY WITH OTHERS – FLOCKS AND 9:15 A.M.

4. BUT PRAY DEARLY BELOVED!