Silence in heaven indicates solemnity. At the opening of the seventh seal, all heaven becomes silent because the age is about to be changed from the age of God's toleration to the age of God's wrath.

The seventh seal brings in the seven trumpets, which are the contents of the seventh seal. The seven seals are opened secretly, whereas the seven trumpets are sounded openly.

The seventh seal brings in the seven trumpets, which are the contents of the seventh seal. The seven seals are opened secretly, whereas the seven trumpets are sounded openly.

See note Rev. 7:2¹.

The altar of burnt offering (cf. Exo. 27:1-8).

The golden censer signifies the prayers of the saints (Rev. 5:8), which are brought to God by Christ as "another Angel."

Incense signifies Christ with all His merit to be added to the prayers of the saints that the saints' prayers offered upon the golden altar might be acceptable to God.

Lit., give.

At the opening of the seventh seal, there still will be saints praying on the earth.

The golden altar is the incense altar (cf. Exo. 30:1-9).

The smoke of the incense indicates that the incense is burned and ascends to God with the prayers of the saints. This implies that the prayers of the saints become effective and are acceptable to God.

Lit., incenses.

The implication here is that this is the answer to the prayers of the saints, especially the prayer in the fifth seal, mentioned in Rev. 6:9-11, and the prayer mentioned in Luke 18:7-8. The prayer of the saints in this chapter must be for the judgment of the earth, which opposes God's economy. The answer to the saints' prayers is the executing of God's judgment upon the earth through the succeeding seven trumpets.

To cast fire to the earth is to execute God's judgment upon the earth. Therefore, the thunders, voices, lightnings, and an earthquake came as signs of God's judgment.

The seven trumpets were given to the seven angels (v. 2). But it is after the prayers of the saints (vv. 3-5) are answered that the seven angels are prepared to trumpet. For God's will in heaven to be carried out on earth, the saints' prayer is required.

The third part of the earth refers probably to certain regions of the earth that are most evil and sinful.

Referring probably to the sea that adjoins the regions that commit evil against God. This part of the sea also will be damaged by God's judgment.

Lit., souls.

A bitter plant.

Today those who oppose God and those who practice evil against Him still enjoy God's creation. Because of man's evil opposition against God, the water of God's creation, which is crucial to human life, will probably be damaged in a limited way by God's judgment.

The first four trumpets, which are not yet the direct judgment on men, form one group, like the first four seals. The first trumpet is a judgment on the earth, including the trees and all the grass, as occurred in Egypt (Exo. 9:18-25); the second, a judgment on the sea, including the living creatures and ships; the third, a judgment on the rivers and springs of waters, as occurred in Egypt (Exo. 7:17-21); the fourth, a judgment on the sun, the moon, and the stars that they may be darkened, as also occurred in Egypt (Exo. 10:21-23). By the judgments of these four trumpets, the third part of the earth, the sea, the rivers, and the hosts in the heavens are damaged and are thus caused to be no longer good for man's living. At the sixth seal, before the seven trumpets, there was already a judgment on the earth and on the hosts of the heavens (Rev. 6:12-14). The extent of the damage caused by that judgment was not as definite as the extent of the damage caused by the first four trumpets. At the seventh trumpet, through the seven bowls there will be further judgments on the earth, the sea, the rivers, and the sun (Rev. 16:1-21). Those will be God's most severe judgments on the earth and heaven.

Referring probably to that part of the sun that shines upon the evil regions of the earth (cf. Matt. 5:45). God knows which part this is, and it will be damaged by God's judgment.

The last three trumpets will be the last three woes (Rev. 9:12; 11:14) of the great tribulation (Matt. 24:21), which will occur in the last half of the seventieth week (Dan. 9:27), a period of three and a half years (Dan. 7:25; 12:7; Rev. 12:14), that is, forty-two months (Rev. 11:2; 13:5), or twelve hundred and sixty days (Rev. 11:3; 12:6).