Revelation 8:5

And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake. CAST IT INTO (UNTO) THE EARTH. The hot coals off the altar cast on the earth, symbolize God's fiery judgments about to descend on the Church's foes in answer to the saints' incense-perfumed prayers, which just ascended before God (cf. ). How marvelous the power of prayers! THERE WERE - `ensued.' VOICES, AND THUNDERINGS ... 'Aleph (') B place "voices" after "thunderings;" A places it after "lightnings....

1-6 The seventh seal is opened. There was profound silence in heaven for a space; all was quiet in the church, for whenever the church on earth cries through oppression, that cry reaches up to heaven; or it is a silence of expectation. Trumpets were given to the angels, who were to sound them. The Lord Jesus is the High Priest of the church, having a golden censer, and much incense, fulness of merit in his own glorious person. Would that men studied to know the fulness that is in Christ, and endeavoured to be acquainted with his excellency. Would that they were truly persuaded that Christ has such an office as that of Intercessor, which he now performs with deep sympathy. No prayers, thus recommended, was ever denied hearing and acceptance. These prayers, thus accepted in heaven, produced great changes upon earth. The Christian worship and religion, pure and heavenly in its origin and n...

Verse Revelation 8:5. _CAST_ IT _INTO THE EARTH_] That is, upon the land of Judea; intimating the judgments and desolations which were now coming upon it, and which appear to be farther opened in the sounding of the seven trumpets. _THERE WERE VOICES_] All these seem to point out the confusion, commotions, distresses, and miseries, which were coming upon these people in the _wars_ which were at hand....

AND THE ANGEL TOOK THE CENSER - Revelation 8:3. This is a new symbol, designed to furnish a new representation of future events. By the former it had been shown that there would be much prayer offered; by this it is designed to show that, notwithstanding the prayer that would be offered, great and fearful calamities would come upon the earth. This is symbolized by casting the censer upon the earth, as if the prayers were not heard any longer, or as if prayer were now in vain. AND FILLED IT WITH FIRE OF THE ALTAR - An image similar to this occurs in Ezekiel 10:2, where the man clothed in linen is commanded to go between the wheels under the cherub, and fill his hands with coals of fire from between the cherubims, and to scatter them o

EXPOSITION REVELATION 8:1 AND WHEN. Καὶ ὅταν, instead of καὶ ὅτε (as in the other seals), is read in A, C, and gives a certain indefiniteness which does not belong to any of the rest (Alford). Ὅτε is, however, found in א, B, P, Andreas. HE HAD OPENED THE SEVENTH SEAL; _he opened. _As in the case of the other seals, the silence accompanies the opening (see on Revelation 6:1, Revelation 6:3, Revelation 6:5, etc.). This completes the number, and sets the roll free ...

AND THE ANGEL TOOK THE CENSER,.... The golden one before mentioned, the use of which was to take and carry in it burning coals of fire: AND FILLED IT WITH FIRE OF THE ALTAR; of burnt offering, for upon that, and not upon the altar of incense, fire was; the allusion is to the priest "that was worthy to use a censer e; who took a silver censer, and went to the top of the altar (of burnt offering), and having removed the coals there, and there took them in his censer, and went down and emptied them into a golden one, and there was scattered from it about a kab of coals;'' for the golden one held a kab less than the silver one f; AND CAST [IT] INTO THE EARTH: the Roman empire: by "fire" some understand the Spirit of God, and his gifts and graces, which sat upon the apostles as cloven tongues of fire on the day of Pentecost; and which they suppose were now plentifully bestowed on the mini...

ANGEL (_ See Scofield) - (Hebrews 1:4). _...

CHAPTER 8 Revelation 8:1 . The silence in heaven when the seventh seal is opened is indicative of the solemn things which are now to come. The scroll is now fully opened and there is an ominous hush as the seven angels prepare to sound their trumpets of judgment. John beholds these seven angels, but before they begin to sound “another angel” is seen standing at the altar. This angel is not a creature, but like the angel of Jehovah in the Old Testament, is our Lord Himself. He is seen as the Priest in behalf of the praying, suffering saints on earth. No angel can offer the prayers of the saints, but He, who is the one intercessor, alone can do that. And for what do they pray on earth? For mercy for those who persecute the remnant of Israel? No! They pray for divine intervention, for the fire of judgment as Elijah did....

REVELATION 8:1. SILENCE IN HEAVEN: the explanation of this silence has always puzzled commentators. The usual interpretation is in the words of C. A. Scott (Cent.B, p. 198): It suggests the wistful or alarmed uncertainty with which the end of the silence was awaited. The silence big with fate conveys as nothing else could the sense of trembling suspense. Charles's theory, that Revelation 8:2 is out of place and the silence in heaven is explained in Revelation 8:3, gives what seems to be the true interpretation. The praises and thanksgivings of all the mighty hierarchies of heaven are hushed in order that the prayers of the suffering saints on earth may be heard before the throne of God (_op. cit.,_ p. 153).

We now pass down the records of the world's history to the beginning of. new period. In the seventh chapter the prophet has portrayed the four winds as held back from the work of destruction until the servants of God are sealed. That work has now been accomplished. They can be held back no longer, but will now burst upon the world in fury. Their movement and the consequences that follow when they are let forth, are presented in the opening of THE SEVENTH SEAL. I quote from the beginning of the eighth chapter: And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. And. saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets. And another angel came and stood at the altar, having. golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar wh...