Revelation 8:1-5
Today's Passage: Revelation 8:1-5
This passage brings beautiful imagery. Silence in Heaven contrasted with the peals of thunder on Earth. The prayers of the saints mixed with incense. Although this is a difficult passage to understand fully, I think its point is simple - the Lord hears and answers prayers.
The first thing we see is the Lamb causing silence in Heaven. Jesus is the only one found worthy to open the scrolls and break its seals. He is the one who has conquered death and the grave, and here in this scene, he opens the final seal. The result is thirty minutes of silence in Heaven. Why?
I believe there are two reasons — awe and prayer. There is silence due to the awe and glory given to Christ for his authority and power to break/open the seal. Remember He was the only one found worthy of performing such a task. The second reason is prayer. The angels in the following verses bring the prayers of the saints before the Lord. The seals represent God’s judgments on the Earth and so it makes sense that as Christ opens this final seal, the saints respond with prayer.
Jesus instructs his people to pray “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven” (Matt 6:10). Verse 5 is the realization of that prayer from his people. As believers and saints, we pray for the Lord’s return and for his kingdom to come, and one day the Lord will answer that prayer. The Lord will move, the earth will shake, and his judgment will come.
So what are we to make of this passage? First, continue to run to the Lord in prayer. He hears your cries and one day he will come again to bring you home. We should be eager to pray. The same God who brings peals of thunder and flames of lightning is the God who hears your humble prayer. Remember that as you go before him.
Second, we should have an urgency about us. The Lord will come again and that is only good news to those who have made him their Lord and Savior. This passage represents eternal damnation to our friends, neighbors, and family members who have not professed his name. When we talk about living on mission in Lexington, this is what we mean. We must evangelize like this passage is true. The God who is bringing judgment has also provided the way to salvation through his only son, Jesus. So take a moment this morning to be silent — be in awe and be in prayer that God would give you an opportunity today witness to someone today.
Written By: Joe Weaver
This passage brings beautiful imagery. Silence in Heaven contrasted with the peals of thunder on Earth. The prayers of the saints mixed with incense. Although this is a difficult passage to understand fully, I think its point is simple - the Lord hears and answers prayers.
The first thing we see is the Lamb causing silence in Heaven. Jesus is the only one found worthy to open the scrolls and break its seals. He is the one who has conquered death and the grave, and here in this scene, he opens the final seal. The result is thirty minutes of silence in Heaven. Why?
I believe there are two reasons — awe and prayer. There is silence due to the awe and glory given to Christ for his authority and power to break/open the seal. Remember He was the only one found worthy of performing such a task. The second reason is prayer. The angels in the following verses bring the prayers of the saints before the Lord. The seals represent God’s judgments on the Earth and so it makes sense that as Christ opens this final seal, the saints respond with prayer.
Jesus instructs his people to pray “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven” (Matt 6:10). Verse 5 is the realization of that prayer from his people. As believers and saints, we pray for the Lord’s return and for his kingdom to come, and one day the Lord will answer that prayer. The Lord will move, the earth will shake, and his judgment will come.
So what are we to make of this passage? First, continue to run to the Lord in prayer. He hears your cries and one day he will come again to bring you home. We should be eager to pray. The same God who brings peals of thunder and flames of lightning is the God who hears your humble prayer. Remember that as you go before him.
Second, we should have an urgency about us. The Lord will come again and that is only good news to those who have made him their Lord and Savior. This passage represents eternal damnation to our friends, neighbors, and family members who have not professed his name. When we talk about living on mission in Lexington, this is what we mean. We must evangelize like this passage is true. The God who is bringing judgment has also provided the way to salvation through his only son, Jesus. So take a moment this morning to be silent — be in awe and be in prayer that God would give you an opportunity today witness to someone today.
Written By: Joe Weaver
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