We will be looking at the Book
of Revelation today. Please get your Bible and turn to chapter 8. I will be
reading from the ESV, the English Standard Version.
It is an honour to be able to
spend time with you this morning and open the Bible and talk about Jesus.
First, let’s pray:
Father, Pour out your Holy Spirit upon us as we read your
word. Open the eyes of our hearts, so that we can receive what you desire to
give us. In Jesus’ name, Amen,
Read all of Revelation
8.
Revelation
8 - English Standard Version (ESV)
The Seventh Seal and
the Golden Censer
8 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,[a] flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.
The Seven Trumpets
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.[b] 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!”
Footnotes:
b. Revelation 8:11
Wormwood is the name of a plant and of the bitter-tasting extract
derived from it
1. The end of all things can be
sensationalized or forgotten but cannot reasonably be denied.
2. I can only have hope if the
living God is the One who brings all things to an end.
Read 8: 6-13.
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.[b] 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!”
3. Does suffering lead me to
exalt myself against God or does suffering lead me to seek refuge in the
immensity and sovereignty of the ultimately good God?
Read 8: 7b, 9, 10, 12.
7 (b)…
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.
…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.
Note the two-thirds who do not
suffer!
4. Does my health and prosperity
and safety deepen me in idolatry and self-centredness or does my health and
prosperity and safety deepen me in habits which humbly and gratefully bring
glory to God?
Read 8: 1-5.
1When
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.
5. God is not waiting for me to
make a sacrifice - He is waiting for me to humbly turn to Him and be gripped by
the once-for-all sacrifice made by Jesus.
What about you? Are you
developing a hard heart distant from God? Or are you developing a soft heart
inclined towards God?
Let’s just pray:
Father, pour out your Holy Spirit upon us. Turn our
hearts to you. Incline our hearts to you.
Rev. Canon George Sinclair
Church of the Messiah
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