Morning Bible Study: Revelation 8:1-5

The Seventh Seal

8 1  When the Lamb broke the seventh seal on the scroll, there was silence throughout heaven for about half an hour. 

2  I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and they were given seven trumpets. 

3  Then another angel with a gold incense burner came and stood at the altar. And a great amount of incense was given to him to mix with the prayers of God's people as an offering on the gold altar before the throne. 

4  The smoke of the incense, mixed with the prayers of God's holy people, ascended up to God from the altar where the angel had poured them out. 

5  Then the angel filled the incense burner with fire from the altar and threw it down upon the earth; and thunder crashed, lightning flashed, and there was a terrible earthquake. NLT

(the following is from www.easyenglish.bible)

"Verse 1 The seventh (7th) seal.

The Lamb then opened the seventh (7th) seal. All the many sounds in heaven stopped. There was a sudden pause. There was complete silence. It lasted for about half an hour.

Verse 2 There was a silence in heaven when the Lord broke the seventh seal. In the seventh seal were the events called ‘the 7 trumpets’. In the seventh trumpet, there were the events called ‘the 7 bowls’.

After that silence, John looked. He saw the 7 angels. These angels were a special group. They stood in the holy place, ready to serve God. Each of these received a trumpet. These trumpets bring the anger of God to the earth.

Verse 3 An angel came and he stood at the altar. He was not one of the 7. He had much incense, which he added to the prayers of God’s people.

The prayers of his people are important to God. He hears them and he answers them.

Verse 4 The sweet smell of the incense and the prayers rose up to God. God received the prayers of his people. He would answer their cry.

Verse 5 The prayers had risen to God. Then the angel took the empty bowl. He filled it with fire. Then he threw it to the earth. There were powerful effects in the sky. And the earth shook. The fire and the effects showed that God was angry. He was angry about people’s evil deeds. He was angry that they refused to obey him. He was angry that they would not accept his love. So, he would now act against the earth."