Bible Studies

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We continue this study with Rev. 8:1-5 here in Part 4.

REVELATION 8:1-5. I'll quote and rather thoroughly discuss these verses that introduce the SEVEN TRUMPETS of the book of Revelation, with the breaking of the seventh seal:

"When the Lamb broke the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. [[I assume this time of silence goes with the awesome significance of the Lamb's breaking the seventh and last seal. Now the all-important scroll that the Lord Jesus took from God the Father in Revelation chapter 5 can be opened. Once the scroll is opened, we begin to receive much super-important revelation of things that had not been revealed before, starting with the revelation of the seven angels with the seven trumpets, which will announce the coming of the Lord Jesus, the resurrection and rapture, and the day of judgment.

The Lord Jesus will return at the sounding of the seventh and last trumpet, right in the middle of Daniel's 70th week. The seventh trumpet is extremely important. God's plans to save and glorify His people and to judge the world at the end of this age will come to pass under the sounding of that trumpet (see Rev. 10:7; 11:15-19, for example). This is very important information, especially for the people who will be living on the earth at the time of Daniel's 70th week, which probably includes us.]] (2) And I saw the [The definite article ("the") is included in the Greek.] seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. [[These seven angels, who clearly have a high standing before God, have not been mentioned before in the book of Revelation, at least not specifically mentioned. They're mentioned again in Rev. 8:6 and then individually in the following verses as each one progressively sounds his trumpet (Rev. 8:7, 8, 10, 12; 9:1, 13; and 11:15). (It seems clear that they are different than the seven angels with the seven bowls of wrath [e.g., Rev. 15:1, 6-8].) Many commentators believe these seven angels are the seven archangels. ((I had a footnote here, F. F. Bruce ("New Layman's Bible Commentary" [Zondervan, 1979], page 1692), for example, says, "Gabriel identifies himself as one of these [that is, as an angel who stands before God] (Luke 1:19); cf. Tobit 12:15, where Raphael describes himself as 'one of the seven holy angels who present the prayers of the saints and stand before the presence of the glory of the Holy One.' The names of all seven appear in 1 Enoch 20:2-8 as Uriel, Raphael, Raguel, Michael, Sariel, Gabriel and Remiel: 'the archangels' names are seven.' " Craig S. Keener ("Bible Background Commentary" [Inter-Varsity Press, 1993], page 785) says, "Between the Old Testament and the New Testament Judaism had settled on seven archangels (adding five to the two important angels named in Daniel [Michael and Gabriel]), and they are probably in view here." It's clear that Michael is the (or, an) archangel (Jude 1:9; cf. 1 Thess. 4:16; Rev. 12:7; Dan. 10:13, 21; and 12:1). It's also clear that Gabriel is a mighty angel of God (Dan. 8:16; 9:21; Luke 1:19, 26; cf. Dan. 10:10-21). Daniel 10:13 is interesting, "But the prince of the kingdom of Persia [an evil angel] was withstanding me [probably Gabriel] for twenty-one days; then behold, Michael, ONE OF THE CHIEF PRINCES [my emphasis], came to help me...." The words "one of the chief princes" fit the idea that there are other archangels.))]] (3) [[Revelation 8:3-5 are discussed on pages 174-176 of my book, "The Mid-Week Rapture." For the full discussion, see pages 165-179. After I quote verses 3-5 and make a few comments, I'll include a lengthy excerpt dealing with Rev. 8:1-5 from Article #19 of my e-book (which is also available now in a printed version), "Introduction to the Mid-Week Rapture."]] Another angel [As discussed in "The Mid-Week Rapture," this angel/Angel probably is the Angel (or Messenger) of the LORD [Yahweh] of the Old Testament (God the Son).] came and stood at the [sacrificial] altar, holding a golden censer [or, firepan]; and much incense was given to him, so that he might add it to [offer it with] the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar which was before the throne. (4) And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel's hand. (5) Then the angel took the censer [or, firepan] and filled it with the fire of the [sacrificial] altar, and threw it to the earth [[Compare Ezek. 10:2. The first three trumpets all include fire (in one form or another) being thrown to the earth/sea, and the sixth trumpet mentions the plague of fire (Rev. 9:17, 18). On the fire of God's judgment in the book of Revelation, also see Rev. 11:5; 14:10, 18; 16:8; 17:16; 18:8; 19:20; 20:9, 10, 14, 15; and 21:8.]]; and there followed peals of thunder and sounds and flashes of lightning and an earthquake [cf. Rev. 11:19; 16:18].

A Lengthy Excerpt Dealing with Rev. 8:3-5 from Article #19 of my book, "Introduction to the Mid-Week Rapture":

Revelation 8:3-5 contain some very important information that is related to the sounding of the trumpets and God's end-time salvation of His people and His end-time judgment of the world. In verses 3, 4 the prayers of the saints are offered before God. For one thing, these verses help demonstrate that the events associated with the sounding of the seven trumpets will come to pass (in part) in answer to the prayers of the saints. I'm speaking especially of prayers like "Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." It is important to know that the judgments associated with the trumpets will not be coming against believers. And it is important to know that God's promised full and final salvation will come to all the members of His true Israel (which includes all true Christians, who have been grafted into God's true Israel [Rom. 11:17-24]) under the sounding of the seventh trumpet. Knowing that these things will come to pass in accordance with the will of God, and in answer to our prayers, helps give us the right perspective as we discuss the seven trumpets.

In verses 3 and 4 we read of an "angel" offering our prayers before God, and in verse 5 we read of this same "angel" casting fire on the earth, which will initiate God's end-time judgment of the world. I cannot be dogmatic on this point, but I believe the evidence is very strong for the point of view that this "Angel" (or "Messenger") is the Lord Jesus Christ, and I favor this viewpoint. We'll discuss this viewpoint as we continue. These verses become all the more interesting if the Lord Jesus Christ is the One doing these things.

I'll quote Rev. 8:3, 4 from the "New King James Bible." (Unless I mention otherwise, I always quote from the "New American Standard Bible," 1995 edition.) "Then another angel, having a golden censer [or, fire-pan], came and stood at the altar. And he was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar [upon the golden altar of incense] which was before the throne. (4) And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from [or, out of] the angel's hand."

First let's discuss the words, "another angel." This angel is another angel in distinction from the "seven angels" of Rev. 8:2. As I mentioned, I favor the viewpoint that this "angel/Angel" is the Lord Jesus Christ. Quite a few commentators agree. I discussed this viewpoint in substantial detail in my book, "The Mid-Week Rapture." I admit, of course, that it is highly unusual to refer to the Lord Jesus Christ as "another angel," but I believe the evidence for this viewpoint is so strong that I have to favor this viewpoint. Of course God the Son is not a created angel, but He did appear quite often in the Old Testament as the Angel (or Messenger) of Yahweh. (See my paper "The Name Yahweh and God the Father and God the Son" on my internet site [Google to Karl Kemp Teaching].)

As I mentioned when we discussed Rev. 7:2 in the last article [in the last article in my book, "Introduction to the Mid-Week Rapture

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