Revelation 8:1-5 meaning

The seventh seal is broken in Revelation 8:1-5. Earlier, in Revelation 5, the Lamb (Jesus) was revealed to be the only one worthy to break the seals and open the scroll (Revelation 5:9). Revelation 6 saw the first six of seven seals broken, which revealed the four horsemen of the apocalypse, the martyrs under the throne, a great earthquake, and cosmic disturbance that split the sky.

Each time a seal was broken, instead of the contents of the scroll being read out loud, an action was played out in the throne room. In Revelation 7, angels placed the seal of God on the foreheads of 144,000 people from every tribe of the sons of Israel (Revelation 7:4), and all the people, angels, creatures, and elders worshipped the Lord.

All this appears to have taken place while John was viewing the vision from God’s throne room. That brings us now to Chapter 8, when the seventh and final seal is broken, out of which will flow seven trumpet judgments:

When the Lamb broke the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour (v 1).

After the noise and chaos of the previous six seals, this might seem underwhelming. But remember, before this, “a great multitude which no one could count…cry out with a loud voice” (Revelation 7:9). So in contrast to all the sound that preceded this seal, the difference would be stark. Moments of silence are often solemn in nature, which seems to be the case here, especially considering the seven trumpets that will immediately follow the seven seals.

Seven is symbolic in scripture for completion, as with the seven days of creation. The seventh seal is the last seal, and this seventh seal contains events which will bring this current age to completion. The seventh seal reveals a multitude of additional events.

After the seven seals, seven angels blow seven trumpets. Each of these trumpets will contain a judgement. Out of the seventh trumpet will come seven bowls full of judgment that will be poured upon the earth,

And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them (v 2).

These seven angels are those that stand before God, indicating that they have a high level of authority. The blowing of a trumpet has been used throughout time as a military signaling device. An example is the blowing of a trumpet in the stories of Joshua and Gideon (Joshua 6:5, 20, Judges 7:16-18). These trumpets will launch significant events that bring judgment upon the earth.

Prior to inaugurating all these judgments: Another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a golden censer; and much incense was given to him, so that he might add it to the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar which was before the throne (Revelation 8:3-4).

When we see the word throne it reminds us that God is in control. This is the eighth time the word throne has been used since Revelation 7:1, so it is very prominent. Throughout all of the seals and the trumpets, and later the seven bowls, whatever happens, God is in control.

The important seven angels who stand before God are given seven trumpets. And an angel with a golden censer is introduced to add incense to the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar.

In Revelation 5, after the breaking of the fifth seal, we saw the martyrs under the altar, who cried out, “Oh Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” (Revelation 5:10). That was one instance of the prayers of…the saints, that they would see God’s justice prevail and that He would avenge their blood.

We can presume that these prayers of all the saints would include similar prayers believers have made throughout time asking God for justice. All these prayers have been heard, as God promises (James 5:16). And they have apparently been saved up for this time. These prayers are from all the saints.

The Greek word translated saints is “hagios” which is often translated “holy,” as in Matthew 4:5 which speaks of the “holy city” which is Jerusalem. It means something set apart for a special purpose, as in Matthew 7:6, which says, “Do not give what is holy (‘hagios’) to dogs.” Here it applies to any believer who has been set apart and made holy by believing in Jesus and being born again to a new life (John 3:3, 14-15, 2 Corinthians 5:17). This then infers that any prayer from a believer which has not already been answered asking God to bring justice on the earth is being saved for this moment, as the prayers of all believers are included.

That these prayers of all the saints are added to much incense raises the question of the source and meaning of the incense. This could also refer to prayers, since we see in Revelation 5:8 that incense is stated as being the “prayers of the saints.” Perhaps prayers for justice are being added to prayers of other kinds that all relate to these coming judgments that will bring about the end of the age. This would indicate a fulfillment of James’s admonition that “the effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much” (James 5:16b).

The golden altar is likely the same one introduced in Revelation 6:9. There, it was simply called the “altar” underneath which dwelt the martyrs who consistently petitioned God to bring justice against those who unjustly took their lives. That there is an altar in God’s throne room, along with the burning of incense, underscores the assertion from Hebrews 9:23-24 that the earthly tabernacle which God instructed Israel to build while traveling from Egypt to the Promised Land was a copy of the true tabernacle in heaven (Exodus 25:8-9).

Next, an angel performs a function of burning incense, similar to the ceremony God instituted for the sons of Levi to perform (Exodus 30:1-10):

Then the angel took the censer and filled it with the fire of the altar, and threw it to the earth; and there followed peals of thunder and sounds and flashes of lightning and an earthquake (v. 5).

We will see throughout Revelation that God uses fire to cleanse and redeem. God Himself is said to be a consuming fire (Deuteronomy 4:24, Hebrews 12:29). It is not a pleasant experience, but it is a necessary refining process so that things can be restored. In this case, the earth is soon to be purified of unrighteousness.

The angel took the censer which was filled with the prayers of the saints and now adds to it fire from the altar. This might indicate that God now was answering the prayers by bringing His judgment fire to the earth. Now the angel threw it to the earth. This would indicate the initiation of God’s judgement upon the earth.

In the previous verses, God authorized various agents to accomplish tasks. For example, God authorized Death and Hades to bring death upon the earth (Revelation 5:8). In those instances, God was giving permission. In this instance, God is taking the action Himself. That would indicate that these judgements are going to be severe and will bring justice upon the earth.

The earth appears to convulse upon the throwing of the prayers and fire to the earth, as there followed peals of thunder and sounds and flashes of lightning and an earthquake. The disturbance encompasses heaven and earth. In the heavens, there are peals of thunder, announcing judgment through sound. There are also flashes of lightning announcing judgment through sight.

Upon the earth is an earthquake. All this takes place even before the seven angels begin to blow their trumpets. In the next verse, the angels begin to sound their trumpets, and tremendous judgments are poured out.