Join Bible teacher and author David Hawking as he uncovers the mysteries of Revelation chapter 8. The episode discusses the heavenly silence that signifies the beginning of divine judgments through seven powerful trumpets. Discover how these events align with biblical prophecies and uncover deeper spiritual truths about faith, perseverance, and God’s unwavering justice. David connects these past revelations with our present lives, urging believers to remain steadfast in their faith and understanding of the end times.
The prayer of all the saints who have been martyred through the years, how long, O Lord, until you avenge our blood, is now being answered. God’s answering the prayer of his believers who have suffered through all the years and said, how long do the righteous suffer and the wicked prosper? Haven’t you asked that question?
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Thank you.
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This is Hope for Today with Bible teacher and author David Hawking. Today in our Revelation series, the final seal opens and heaven goes silent. Not from doubt, but from what comes next. Seven trumpets are raised, and with each blast, the plan unfolds. Precise, unstoppable, ordained. Earth isn’t just shaken, it’s summoned to face what its inhabitants have ignored. The first four trumpet judgments sound in Revelation 8, 1-13, and the stage is set for what’s still to come. Stay with us as David opens the passage on Hope for Today. Hope for Today Before we begin, just a quick reminder that Hope for Today is made possible by the generous support gifts of listeners like you. You know, if you believe in bringing the truth of God’s Word unfiltered, uncompromised to a world that desperately needs it, Would you consider, perfectly consider giving today? We could really use the help. Call us at 1-800-75-BIBLE in the U.S. or 888-75-BIBLE in Canada. Bible by the numbers 24253. Or give on our website davidhawking.org. davidhawking.org. Every donation helps us keep teaching the Bible book by book, just as God wrote it. And here’s David with today’s study.
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Revelation 8, beginning at verse 1. And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. And I saw the seven angels who stood before God, and to them were given seven trumpets. And another angel came and stood at the altar having a golden censer, and it was given unto him much incense that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense which came with the prayers of the saints ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand. And the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and cast it upon the earth. And there were voices and thunderings and lightnings and an earthquake. The opening six verses give us the preparation for these terrible, awesome judgments that are coming on the planet. And in looking at those verses, I’d like you to see five things. I think the thing that hits us is the introduction, verse 1 and 2. We notice a heavenly silence. Like the calm before the storm and how interesting after the terribleness of the first six seals and announcing this terrible day of God’s wrath and who will be able to stand and then describing the 144,000 Jews will be sealed and protected by God and a great multitude out of every nation, tribe, and tongue who will be saved and killed during the tribulation. It’s very interesting to me that all of a sudden heaven is silent. The dramatic calm before the storm. You notice in verse 2, these seven angels appear before us again. The seven spirits of God, the ones previously referred to. And it uses the definite article in front of them. These seven angels means the one we’ve been talking about all the way through the book. Go back to chapter 1 and look at verse 4. Chapter 1, verse 4. He called them the seven spirits who are before his throne. In verse 20, he told us the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches. In chapter 2, verse 1, he holds the seven stars in his right hand. The authority of Christ over them. Chapter 3, verse 1. He that hath the seven spirits of God. Angels are spirits, so don’t get confused here. It’s the same ones being mentioned throughout the entire book. In chapter 5, verse 6, in the scene in heaven, we see again the seven spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. Hebrews 1.14 says of angels, they are ministering spirits sent forth into all the earth by God to exercise his purposes on behalf of of both believers and unbelievers. The seven angels are the same ones, the ones who stand before God. And the picture here is they are at attention. They are ready to exercise and move on whatever God tells them to do. And God is unleashing his fury against the world like never before in history. There are trumpet sounds, we’re told. Verse 2, to them were given seven trumpets. There’s been a lot of talk about the seven trumpets. For instance, in 1 Corinthians 15, it tells us that we who are believers in Jesus Christ are going to be transformed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump. And some people believe that the seven trumpets here in Revelation are the last trumpets to be blown by God. And so the seventh trumpet, which is going to be blown about the middle of the tribulation period, would indicate the trumpet when the rapture takes place. And that’s how those who are mid-tribulationalist or what we call today pre-wrath rapture people, that is the wrath is only seen as the final three and a half years, they believe the rapture will come in the middle of the tribulation. So we will have seen what we’ve already studied. And that is their argument because of the seven trumpets and believing that that’s the last trumpet that God will ever blow. But it’s very interesting that in the book of 1 Corinthians 15, where we have the statement, the last trumpet, we also have the statement, the last man. And it refers to Jesus Christ. There is the first man, Adam, and there is the last man, Adam, namely Jesus Christ. He was not the last man to live on the earth, but first and last in the sense of what the passage is talking about. In Adam all die, in Christ all shall be made alive. The last trumpet is dealing with the end of the church age. It deals with God’s final consummation of all of those who have lived in this period of time known as the church age and when we will be raptured and taken up to be with the Lord. It is not the last trumpet that will be blown. There are many trumpets going to be blown in the tribulation period. And the seventh trumpet in the tribulation is not the last trumpet to be blown. There will also be trumpets blown in the millennial age. So we need to be careful. Sometimes we jump too much to conclusion. At the time of the giving of the law in Exodus 19, there was the sound of a trumpet and thunderings and lightning and flashes as God gave his wonderful law, which expressed his holy and righteous character. In Leviticus 23, we learn of the trumpets that are used in the Feast of Jehovah. There’s actually a feast called the Feast of Trumpets. Some believe that that’s likened unto the rapture of the church. We also read in Numbers 10 that trumpets were used in assembling the nation of Israel and even calling them to war. But what I believe the trumpets are really reflecting is what we have in the prophecy in Joel. Will you turn there, please? Joel chapter 2. Joel chapter 2. Because in fact, this prophecy is quoted in the book of Revelation as beginning the day of God’s wrath when the sun is turned into darkness and the moon into blood. And it’s in this particular book that we learn about the trumpets that are blown as warnings. In the book of Numbers, God told those who were in charge of the trumpet blowing that when an enemy was approaching, they would assemble and warn the people of God of impending danger coming by blowing the trumpet. Look, please, at chapter 2 of Joel, verse 1. It says, blow the trumpet in Zion and sound an alarm in my holy mountain. Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble for the day of the Lord cometh for it is near at hand. In chapter 6, verse 17, the day of God’s wrath has come and who will be able to stand? Now the trumpets are sounding the alarm that it’s going to be severe and terrible and worse than any other time in history. By the way, in the same chapter, look at verse 15, Joel 2.15. It says, blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the people and sanctify them. The appeal is to turn to the Lord. It’s going to be a terrible period of time. Back at verse 12 and 13. Turn unto me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, with mourning. Rend your heart and not your garments and turn to the Lord your God. For he is a gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. Here’s a trumpet that’s sounding and warning God’s people. The day of the Lord is at hand. And the trumpet is blowing for the people of God saying, get ready, this is serious times. And you can imagine all those dear people who will come to know the Lord during the tribulation, how the sound of the trumpets is reminding them to turn to the Lord before it’s too late. And there’s still hope even in the tribulation, for out of there shall come a great multitude who will turn to the Lord. Let’s come back, please, to Revelation chapter 8. The trumpet sounds again in the introduction to these judgments as a severe warning by God of the terrible nature of what is coming, a warning to get ready. Let’s take a look also at the identity of the strong angel in verse 3, Revelation 8, verse 3. Now, there are a lot of people who say this is Jesus Christ. I’m not going to hold that. It makes a nice sermon, though, because he’s interceding here. And so people say this is our Lord interceding on behalf of the prayers of the saints. I have a hard time with that. The term the angel of Jehovah in the Old Testament, which refers to Jesus Christ, our Lord, is never so used in the New Testament. There’s not one passage that indicates that he is an angel. As a matter of fact, we are told that all the angels of God, Hebrews 1, 6, are to worship him. And I notice very clearly it says in verse 3, and another angel. And that’s another reason why I believe this is not Christ, because another is in Greek the word another of the same kind, which is referring to the seven angels of verse 2. So we have another angel like the seven angels. It’s simply a regular angel. Some like to think this is the same as the strong angel, who perhaps is Gabriel in the book. But all it says is another angel came. God can use any of them. He’s got millions of them. And just at one little request, you over there, you know, no problem. Another angel comes and stands at the altar. Now look at the incense that is offered here in verse 3. There was given unto him much incense, not a little, much. It’s like you’re overloading it. Why? That he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne, and the smoke of the incense which came with the prayers of the saints ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand. The angel takes the censer, fills it with fire from the altar. This is very unusual symbolism. Priests didn’t do this, of course. And cast it upon the earth, and there were voices and thunderings and lightnings and an earthquake. Rather dramatic. Now the place where this incense is offered, would you notice that carefully? It says the golden altar, which was before the throne. You know, in Exodus 30, verse 6, concerning the altar of incense, it says that’s where the Lord is going to meet us. I don’t know if you’ve ever done a study of the tabernacle and its furniture, but if you were taking an aerial view of the tabernacle and the temple and all its furniture, all of it is in the shape of a cross, and that blesses me. But as you look at the holy place, after offering the sacrifice on the bronze altar, which is out of the courtyard, the priest then washes his hands and his feet in the basin of water that’s right in front of the door of the holy place. He walks into the holy place, and on his right is the table of showbread. Christ is indeed the bread of life. And on his left is the table with the seven golden candlestick. He is indeed the light of the world. But right in front of the second veil, And by the way, behind that, only the high priest could go once a year on the Day of Atonement, where the Ark of the Covenant was, with the mercy seat, the slab of gold on top of it, where the blood was put once a year on the Day of Atonement. Only the high priest could do that. Not the regular priests who ministered every day. But every day they prepared the bread. Every day they lit the candles. And every day they went to an altar that was sitting in front of the second veil. And it was called the Altar of Incense. Isn’t that beautiful? And every time the priest comes and offers that, the smoke fills the place. It’s a sign of God’s people praying and asking the Lord to work in our behalf. But I want to take it a step further. I believe that there’s a special prayer that is being indicated. Now let’s take a look at this verse again. Verse 3, he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar. That altar, by the way, is mentioned seven times in the book of Revelation. Apparently there’s a golden altar in heaven. that is a heavenly fulfillment of all the earthly type. And God has worship going on, and the symbol of his worship remains as God’s people will be reminded. Can you imagine if tonight is the night you die, your body will go to the grave, and your soul spirit is going to be with the Lord? What a wonderful thing this is. And I want you to see that here is being pictured something that’s back in chapter 6. Go back to chapter 6, please, and look at verse 9. We were told that there was somebody under the altar. Now, you’ve got to keep your symbolism flowing in Revelation. Keep all your facts together. I know it’s easy to get lost. But in chapter 6, verse 9, under the altar, we have the souls of those who were slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. And they cried with a loud voice saying, here’s their prayer. How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? Well, chapter 6 at the end announces the day of God’s wrath has come and who’s able to stand. So now the angel, in addition to the seven who have their trumpets, ready to announce the terrible judgments of God, the day of his wrath has come. An angel steps up and symbolizes that it’s the answer of their prayers. Interesting that he doesn’t allow the smoke to ascend up the throne of God, but instead takes with the censer and throws it to the earth. The prayer, therefore, is being sent back by God the Father saying, here’s my answer and watch what I’m going to do. So the prayer of all the saints who have been martyred through the years, how long, O Lord, until you avenge our blood, is now being answered. And the angel symbolically throws it to the earth. And once again, the sign that the spectacular judging hand of Almighty God is involved and that the justice and holiness and righteousness of God is involved is by the thunderings, the lightnings that are accompanying this, which we read about in verse 5. And an earthquake again. The earth shakes and there are thunderings and all of that. What’s happening here? God’s answering the prayer. of his believers who have suffered through all the years, and said, how long do the righteous suffer and the wicked prosper? And God’s going to answer it. When I look at the impact of these prayers, not to belabor the point unnecessarily, but there’s a precious truth here. Look at verse 4. The smoke of the incense which came with the prayers of the saints ascended up before God. out of the angel’s hand. And as I looked at the impact of these prayers, the first thing that struck me was that they are ascended up before God. You know, sometimes when we pray, it seems like our prayers only go to the ceiling. You wonder if you’re making contact. Aquinas, who I don’t recommend all that he wrote, but Thomas Aquinas has a very famous statement in one of his writings. He was a brilliant man, but he said, there’s a ceiling to which reason goes beyond which there is faith. A lot of us try to reason and think the thing out, but you know, faith believes God. Hebrews 11.6 says it’s impossible to please God. unless you have faith. Without faith, it’s impossible to please him. For he who comes to God must believe that he is, that he’s all he claimed to be, and that he’s a rewarder of those that diligently seek him. Isn’t it wonderful to see how God’s answering prayer? And if you diligently seek him, the Bible says, and believe in who he is, God rewards that with answers. Well, I’ll tell you, he’s really going to reward it in their tribulation period. but it ascends up before God. There’s no hindrance whatsoever. There’s no sin blocking it. Psalm 66, 18 says, if I regard or entertain sin in my heart, the Lord will not hear me. Pray all day, but the prayer is an abomination. Any man who turns his heart or his ear away from hearing God’s law, Proverbs 28, 9, his prayer is an abomination. Isaiah 59, your sins have separated between you and your God so that he will not hear. Interesting. But here, it ascends directly to God. The prayer is being answered. And they’re answered, of course, by this angel’s action showing that. And it’s all acknowledged by these voices and thunderings and lightnings and earthquakes.
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That’s Bible teacher and author David Hawking, and this is Hope for Today. David will be back to close out our time in the Word, so stay right there. First, Matt and I have an excellent resource that may just help you see why skimming through the book of Zechariah isn’t enough.
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Zechariah was a young man among the captives who returned from Babylon, and God called him in 520 B.C. to preach repentance to the returned exiles. and encouraged them to rebuild the temple and restore proper worship.
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Zechariah reminded the people of God’s simple plan. If they would repent and return to him, he would return to them the blessings of protection he had promised.
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The returning exiles had grown discouraged, and Zechariah was a new voice from the Lord to renew enthusiasm for completing the temple restoration, remaining faithful to him, and rebuilding a God-honoring community from the ruins. Now, Matt,
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Zechariah is also a wonderful book of Bible prophecy. The ministry of the Messiah is clearly laid out, both the first coming and the second coming.
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Jim, there’s no other Old Testament book that has as much detail. Zechariah has numerous powerful prophecies that were fulfilled in Jesus’ ministry. And many are quoted in the Gospels. The triumphal entry. His death and the scattering of his followers. Messiah’s role as king and priest everywhere. And there’s even more. Wow. that the nation was purged of idolatry, so it will be by the fires of the tribulation that Israel will be purified from its sin of sins, the rejection of the Messiah. That’s it.
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Well, this and more awaits you inside Visions of the Future by David Hawking, our featured resource for August, and it’s just $15.
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And as always, please faithfully pray for hope for today.
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To get your copy of Visions of the Future by David Hawking, just call us at 1-800-75-BIBLE if you’re in the U.S. or 1-888-75-BIBLE in Canada. You can also order yours right now at davidhawking.org. And if this ministry has helped you grow in your understanding of God’s Word, if it’s strengthened your faith, if you found clarity, hope, or even conviction from these broadcasts, Can we ask you to do something? First, pray for us. Pray for this ministry. And then would you also consider giving a contribution beyond any resource you might purchase? Not because you’re pressured, but because you believe God is using this broadcast ministry in your life and the lives of others to make a difference. When you give, you can help us keep Hope for Today on the air and online. You help us continue to teach the Bible, the whole Bible, and nothing but the Bible to a world that is spiritually starving. To donate, call 800-75-BIBLE in the U.S. or 1-888-75-BIBLE in Canada. Bible again, by the numbers 24253. Or you can give safely and easily online at davidhawking.org. And if you prefer to write, you can mail your gift to Hope for Today, Box 3927, Tustin, California, 92781. In Canada, write to Hope for Today, Box 15011, RPO, Seven Oaks, Abbotsford, BC, V2S 8P1. And here’s David.
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Thanks for listening, friends, to Hope for Today and our study of the book of Revelation. We’re in chapter 8, talking about trumpet judgments. We’re told that there are seven angels. When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven, just a dramatic quiet. And the seven angels had seven trumpets. Maybe they’re shofar trumpets like Jews would have. But we’re told it’s going to be a wonderful day, but it’s going to be a day of judgment. It’s a judgment that the world is due because of their sin. Well, I’m telling you, this chapter is a great blessing, chapter 8. There’s a lot of amazing things that are happening when the seven angels have the seven trumpets and they begin to sound. And the first angel that we saw sounded, there came hail and fire mingled with blood. They were cast upon the earth, and the third part of all trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up. You talk about a devastating judgment. Wow. And this is only the first trumpet that was blown. It’s a judgment from the wrath of Almighty God and His Son, our Messiah, our blessed Lord Yeshua. I hope you can be with us for our next broadcast.
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Well, thank you, David. And friend, if you missed any part of today’s message, you can listen again. Just head over to davidhawking.org. You’ll find the full broadcast along with our most recent programs ready to stream. And well, it’s a great way to catch up and share the program as well. And while you’re on the website, check out our entire library of resources, including David’s books, MP3 series and study notes, so many things there for you. Whether you’re looking to understand Bible prophecy, maybe dig into a specific book, or maybe just stay grounded in truth, we’ve got something for you. Again, that’s DavidHawking.org. Well, next time, the trumpets continue to sound and the judgments that follow shake heaven and earth. Don’t miss what’s coming next in Revelation chapter 8. And until then, may God bless you and keep you as you stay in his word. Amen. Join us next time on Hope for Today.
Join Bible teacher and author David Hawking as he uncovers the mysteries of Revelation chapter 8. The episode discusses the heavenly silence that signifies the beginning of divine judgments through seven powerful trumpets. Discover how these events align with biblical prophecies and uncover deeper spiritual truths about faith, perseverance, and God’s unwavering justice. David connects these past revelations with our present lives, urging believers to remain steadfast in their faith and understanding of the end times.
