Hail & Fire: God’s Answer to the Prayers of the Saints – Revelation 8
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HAIL & FIRE:
God’s Answer to the Petitions of the Saints
Revelation: Every Eye Will See Him
Revelation 8
THE TEXT:
The text for the sermon today is Revelation 8. Our text can be found on page 1030. These are the words of God:
1 When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. 2 Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. 3 And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer, and he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne, 4 and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel. 5 Then the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and threw it on the earth, and there were peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.
6 Now the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to blow them.
7 The first angel blew his trumpet, and there followed hail and fire, mixed with blood, and these were thrown upon the earth. And a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.
8 The second angel blew his trumpet, and something like a great mountain, burning with fire, was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood. 9 A third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.
10 The third angel blew his trumpet, and a great star fell from heaven, blazing like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. 11 The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many people died from the water, because it had been made bitter.
12 The fourth angel blew his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, and a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of their light might be darkened, and a third of the day might be kept from shining, and likewise a third of the night.
13 Then I looked, and I heard an eagle crying with a loud voice as it flew directly overhead, “Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth, at the blasts of the other trumpets that the three angels are about to blow!”
GRAB THEIR ATTENTION
When you think of the sound a trumpet and the music it makes, what comes to mind?
- Haydn’s “Trumpet Concerto in E-Flat Major”
- Louis Armstrong & Ella Fitzgerald “Summertime” from Porgy & Bess
- Miles Davis “So What”
- Brecker Brothers “Skunk Funk” (Live in Barcelona w Dennis Chambers)
- Military Bugle Call – Taps
A major difference between us and the original first-century audience of Revelation is that we most-often hear the trumpet in a big band playing a song for dancing, while they understood the trumpet to be a blasting signal of an approaching army.
In the Scriptures, the trumpet could be used for various occasions such as a solemn day of remembrance (Lev. 23:24), a triumph (Josh. 6:4) or a coronation (1 Kings 1:34), but most often, in the ancient world, if you heard the sound of a trumpet outside the city gates it was the sound of doom.
RAISE THE NEED, SIGNPOSTS, STATE THE DESTINATION
And that is the case here in Revelation 8. When these trumpets blow, no one begins dancing. But in order to understand these trumpets I have to make something clear from the beginning: these trumpets are all sounding today.
The trumpets that John saw are symbolic of God’s activity in the world throughout this age which serve a specific purpose: they warn those who are running from God to turn around before it’s too late.
You are not to read these trumpets in a literalistic way. If a literal third of the earth was burned up, and a mountain of fire was thrown into the sea and a third of the creatures in the sea died, and a literal star fell from heaven and ruined a third of the rivers, and the sun was a third darker than it currently is—if all of that is to be taken as a literal scientific explanation of a future calamity—then the earth would first burn from a star being thrown into it and then it would freeze instantly when the Sun was darkened and there would be zero life left.
So, I say again, these symbols are not to be read in a literalistic way. This passage, like most of Revelation, employs terrible and cataclysmic images in order to sober us as readers to spiritual realities.
Today, as we study Revelation 8, we’ll see that these trumpets are strongly connected to the 7 seals we just finished studying. They are not the same thing as the seals, but they happening during the same time as the seals. We’ll also see that these trumpets are God’s response to the prayers of his persecuted saints.
In fact, that’s basically our outline of the text for today. The chapter breaks down cleanly into two sections:
- The Prayers of the Saints Ascend to God (8:1-6)
- The Trumpets of God Warn Unbelievers. (8:6-13)
Church as we consider the prayers of the saints, I hope you will consider you own prayer life, your own motivations for praying, and that you will pray more than you have before today.
Non-Christian, this passage is a warning to you. God wants to get your attention. I pray that you will read these trumpets and understand that God warns you because he desires to extend mercy to you. His mercy is found in his Son, Jesus Christ, and in Christ alone. So I pray that you will turn to Christ today in belief and trust.
- THE PRAYERS OF THE SAINTS ASCEND TO GOD (8:1-6)
If you’ve been with us for the duration of our study in Revelation, you know this isn’t the first time the prayers of the saints are mentioned. At the beginning of Revelation 5, Jesus Christ, in a vision appears as the Lamb taking a 7 sealed scroll from the hand of God and before the throne were bowls of incense which we are told are the prayers of the saints. (Rev. 5:8)
Those 7 seals represent the unfolding of all history and testing which the church has endured in all centuries. When the 5th seal was broken, in Revelation 6:10, we heard the prayer of the martyrs in heaven:
“O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”
So, the prayers of persecuted saints feature heavily in the 7 seals, and these same prayers are the pivot point, or the hinge from the 7 seals and into the 7 trumpets. There’s much symmetry between the seals and the trumpets.
Remember, in chapter 7, 4 angels were holding back the winds of judgment, and another angel told them to wait until all the saints of God were sealed.
Well, look at chapter 8 verse 2:
2 Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. 3 And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer, and he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints
You say, “What is going on with all these seals, these trumpets? How does it call connect.” Well, remember that Revelation was not written to confuse you. It was written to encourage you. Instead of tripping over the parts you don’t understand, stand back and ask, “What in this passage is clear?” And here is what is crystal clear: the prayers of the saints are instrumental in the activity of God.
You and I are called to pray to God, to make our requests known to him. And we do. We do pray. We pray for our church, the spread of the gospel. We pray for family and friends who do not walk with Christ. We pray for our presidents and governors and civil magistrates. We pray for church members who are sick, or struggling. We pray for all those things. And yet, if we’re honest, life can completely beat us up, turn us upside down, make us question everything.
And God, in Revelation 8, is graciously reminding us that our prayers matter. That our prayers have great effect in the world. And he is here, in this passage encouraging us to pray more.
Consider, the purpose of prayer.
When you read Revelation, and see Jesus Christ, breaking all these seals, unfolding as it were all of human history, you see that he is totally sovereign. Everything is under his control. Not an atom in the universe vibrates without his permission. And you may wonder: why should I pray? What’s the purpose of prayer?
Well, Revelation 8 tells us why we should pray. This passage tells us that our prayers are part of the eternal decrees of God. That God has decreed from the beginning non only what will happen, but he has also decreed that our prayers are a means by which these things will happen.
God ordains both the end and the means to the end. In Revelation 8, God has decreed that evil will be judged, and along with that he’s decreed that his righteous judgment will be a divine response to our prayers.
4 and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel. 5 Then the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and threw it on the earth,
In ways that we cannot understand, God uses our prayers to carry out what he has already decreed from all eternity. In verse 2, 7 angels are given trumpets, but their blowing the trumpets is delayed. First, the saints must pray.
Listen, prayer does not force God to do anything. God does not change. He is immutable. But prayer can certainly change circumstances, and it definitely changes us.
Friend, my study in this passage was so greatly benefited by a sermon preached by Dr. Joel Beeke. And here’s a helpful illustration he gave:
When a man in a boat wants to come back to land, he guides his boat into a harbor and then throws out a line to the shore. When the rope is secured on the shore, the man pulls on the rope as though he were pulling the shore to him. But really he is pulling himself to shore. Likewise, when we pray, we think we are pulling God to us, but really we are pulling ourselves to God. That is what it means to lay hold of God. You cannot bring God in line with your plans. Rather, when you pray, you bring yourself in line with God’s eternal purposes and decrees. To lay hold upon God is to align yourself with His will and purposes.
Consider, as well the people who pray.
You’ve heard me use the word “saints” a lot today. That’s because this is the word used in Revelation 8:3
3 And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer, and he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne, 4 and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints,
What is a saint? Are these super-extra-holy people? Are they people who did so many good and moral deeds in their life that we can now pray to them as some churches do?
No. Friend, read the New Testament, and you will find over and over again that the Bible applies this term “saint,” to every single person who puts their faith in Jesus Christ. The word simply means, “Set apart one.”
No where, in the Bible does God promise to hear the prayers of unbelievers. If he does, it is simply because he is being merciful. But over and over again God promises to hear the prayers of those who belong to his Son Jesus Christ.
Did you pay close attention to which prayers were offered in verse 3?
he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne
Christian, if you belong to Christ, the God may delay his answer to your prayer. He may answer your prayer differently than your requested or expected. But never, not even once have you prayer a prayer that God refused to hear.
Consider, the basis for our prayers.
What gives us the right to pray? None of us has earn the right to an audience with God. Why would God promise to listen to us? Well, notice in the passage, where our prayers are placed.
They are placed on an altar with incense: symbolic of the fragrant life of Christ. In other words, though we are sinners, and our lives a full of imperfections, when mixed with Christ, his beauty covers our ugliness, and our prayers become a sweet smell to God.
This is why we conclude our prayers, “In Jesus name.” It’s an acknowledgement that Christ is our only foundation, our only hope, the only reason we get to say this prayer in the first place.
Friend, no matter how doubting, how uninformed, how weak your prayers are, when you pray them in the name of Jesus, trusting in the life and death of Jesus, wanting to obey and honor Jesus—those prayers arise to your heavenly Father and please him.
If you struggle to pray… maybe you are a new Christian, or a young person in the room, open your Bible to the Psalms, read one a day and personalize it. Read it to the Lord, and at the very end, add your own requests and thank God for his provision in your life. I promise you, that if you will pray through each of the 150 Psalms consecutively, you’ll become a better prayer.
Or, ask another more mature Christian if you could meet together to pray. Brothers and sisters, I regularly grow in my prayer life because several of you stop by the church and ask to pray with me and for me, and me for you. Most of those prayer times are short (5-10 minutes at most) but my own personal prayers have grown because I have listened to you pray.
So, we see the prayers of the saints ascend to God.
- THE TRUMPETS OF GOD WARN UNBELIEVERS (8:6-13)
As we consider the first 4 of the 7 trumpets in these verses, we could spend hours reading various interpretations. Some have argued that these trumpets are all past history and represent the Visigoths and Vandals sacking Roman. Others believe these trumpets are yet future and are to be read in a very literal way. Still others see them as judgments poured out on Jerusalem leading up to the destruction of the Temple in A.D. 70.
But, if we ask the question, “What in this passage is clear,” we find a simple answer: whatever these trumpets are—they serve as a warning to unbelievers. Look down at verse 13:
13 Then I looked, and I heard an eagle crying with a loud voice as it flew directly overhead, “Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth, at the blasts of the other trumpets that the three angels are about to blow!”
You say, “But what are these trumpets?” Well, I’ll tell you my view. Just as the 7 seals primarily focused on the sufferings of the saints throughout the church age, the 7 trumpets are primarily focused on all of the judgments of God which warn unbelievers.
There are two Old Testament passages which set the backdrop for these trumpets. The first is found in Joshua 6:4
The children of Israel has just crossed the Jordan and were beginning the conquest of Canaan. The first garrison they came to was Jericho. The children of Israel were not to take up weapons against the city, rather God was going to judge the Canaanites himself. The children of Israel were told simply to walk around the city and in 6:4 God gave them the following instructions:
4 Seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark. On the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. 5 And when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, when you hear the sound of the trumpet, then all the people shall shout with a great shout, and the wall of the city will fall down flat, and the people shall go up, everyone straight before him.”
So, just as in Joshua’s day, these 7 trumpets are a signal of God’s judgment.
The second OT background text is the plagues of Egypt found in Exodus 7-10. The first trumpet (hail, fire, and blood) corresponds to the plague of hail and fire (Exod. 9:22–25); the second and third (poisoning of the sea and waters) to the plague on the Nile (Exod. 7:20–25); the fourth (darkness) to the plague of darkness (Exod. 10:21–23); and the fifth (locusts) to the plague of locusts (Exod. 10:12–15)
The trumpets of Revelation borrow the imagery of the Egyptian plagues to speak figuratively about calamities throughout history.
- The first trumpet symbolizes calamities which effect the land—trees, grass, and vegetation burned up. This is also the source of most of our food.
- The second trumpet symbolizes calamities which effect salt water seas and oceans—where most of the world’s shipping and fishing takes place.
- The third trumpet targets freshwater rivers.
- The fourth trumpet brings judgment in the heavens. The solar and lunar bodies are darkened.
And, notice the recurrence of the 3. 1/3 of the trees, seas, rivers, stars. That number isn’t telling us something of mathematical significance. Rather, it’s pointing to the fact that these calamities are only a partial judgment. There is a greater, or total judgment of God yet to come.
Interestingly, when the 7 seals were broken, their damage effected ¼ of the earth. Now with the trumpets, the damage increases to a third. And finally, when the seven bowls are poured out later in Revelation, damage is done to everything. In other words, Revelation is written in such a way to help you think about the coming judgment of God.
Friend, if you do have not turned from your sin to Christ, you may be tempted to look at the calamities of this world and ask, “Why me. Why is all of this happening?” And, at least part of that answer must be: “These tragic calamities are happening as a warning to you, and to all who have not yet trusted in Christ.”
When wildfires cover millions of square miles, or a hurricane blocks out the light of the Sun, or a volcano erupts all of us ought to be reminded: that our lives are fragile. Friend, we are puny and pathetic creatures in comparison with the forces of fire, wind, and rain.
We ought to be reminded that though the resources of the earth are great—the fields, the rivers, the food—they are not infinite. A single spark can destroy a crop. We ought not put our trust in ourselves, or the planet, or our human leaders. To trust any of those things as if they have the power to save us, friend, is an idolatrous trust. And it’s a trust that will ultimately fail.
Christian, where are you placing your trust today? Where do you go to find comfort in times of anxiety or distress? As our society continues to unravel, to whom are you looking for security? Those of you who work for big corporations here in the city; you see companies hire and companies lay-off employees without a second thought. Have you ever considered that the insecurity of your job market may actually be one of the mercies of God—a wave tossing you back onto the solid rock of his care for you?
Christ the sure and steady anchor in the fury of the storm
When the winds of doubt blow through me and my sails have all been torn
In the suffering, in the sorrow when my sinking hopes are few
I will hold fast to the anchor it shall never be removed
Non-Christian, where are you placing your trust? What is the anchor of your soul? When the trumpets of judgment blast, to whom will you go for refuge?
Friend, God has delayed that final day of judgment, but it will come. On that day God will reconcile all accounts. His perfect justice will be applied to every injustice. His holy wrath will visit every sin that has not been atoned for. There will be no where to hide, no excuses, no second chances.
And this means, that the great danger to your soul is not a wildfire, or a hurricane, or job loss: it’s God himself, and you are making yourself more his enemy every day.
Thankfully, this holy God has not delayed his judgment because he’s lazy. He’s not being patient in carrying out his judgment because he is slack. He has been patient because he is merciful. He is offering you an opportunity to turn your trust from whatever you have been trusting in (that’s called repentance) and turn towards Jesus Christ believing in his death for your sins and resurrection (that’s called faith).
Why belief in Jesus? Well, because Jesus Christ was himself sinless, when he died, his death was substitutionary—he took the place of all those who would believe in him. And God poured out his divine justice on Jesus for our sins.
So believe in him now. Believe in him today. He is the only shelter from the storm. If you have more questions about this, talk to me after the end of the service, I’ll be at the back door of the church.