Bible: Better to study individual verses than marathon reading

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Few verses in the Bible can contain a whole package of background information. Nothing is included by chance or used for artistic embellishment. It’s better to examine each individual verse closely than to run a literary long-distance race in sneakers. A good example is the opening of the 7th Seal.

Example of a short passage

“A book with seven seals,” this well-known saying in German-speaking countries describes a book that is generally difficult to read or comprehend. In fact, this metaphor originates from the Gospels, in which the first six seals are described in the Book of Revelation, chapter 6, and the seventh seal in chapter 8. There are numerous fables about the meaning of the seven seals, even those that turn the first seal, with its white horse, upside down and interpret its meaning as the appearance of the “Antichrist,” who only pretends to be the coming savior.

Conversely, the second rider depicted on the red horse, who brings death and destruction to the earth, is interpreted as the work of God. Everything is turned upside down, especially by those who believe in futurism. A version of the prophecy that comes from the pens of the Jesuits (Info).

The 7th Seal of the Book

The description of the first trumpets being blown begins with the 7th seal in Revelation chapter 8 (Info). The opening of the 7th seal describes a process that points to the moment when things are virtually complete. Everything has been decided, and thus it is clear which people are saved and which are lost.

See the passage mentioned, Revelation 8:3-5:
“And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there 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 of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.“

Also called angel as a symbol

At this point, an angel is mentioned. It is understandable to assume that it was actually a heavenly, winged being. However, this is not the case, because “angel” (Greek “angelos”) means, first and foremost, a messenger. Only in context does the nature of this angel become clear. Thus, in Revelation 2 and 3, seven angels of the churches addressed by letter are addressed, none of whom are heavenly messengers, but rather the elders, church leaders, or simply the contact persons of the respective churches.

Clearly the sanctuary

This angel, described in Revelation 8, stands at a golden altar with incense in his hands. If you look at the tabernacle where the offerings were presented, there were two altars. One in the outer courtyard, the altar of burnt offering, and one in the inner sanctuary, the altar of incense. Both the altar of burnt offering and the laver in the courtyard were made of copper, or rather, were covered with copper. Everything made of gold is located within the sanctuary. Thus, it is undoubtedly the golden altar of incense that stood in the sanctuary, just before the curtain of the Holy of Holies (Info).

This altar of incense stands before the throne, as described in Revelation 8:3. In the tabernacle, the Ark of the Covenant was located behind the curtain in the Holy of Holies. The lid of the Ark is also called the mercy seat, also framed in gold. The Holy of Holies and the Ark of the Covenant, in which, incidentally, the two stone tablets containing God’s Ten Commandments were placed, represent God’s seat with His people. However, this is not the “throne of glory,” but the “throne of grace.”

This “angel” is Jesus Christ

This angel holds a censer in his hand and lets the smoke rise from it along with the prayers of the saints (true believers). This symbolizes the prayers sent to God by believers, but spoken “in the name of Jesus Christ.” “No one comes to the Father except through me,” Jesus Christ said in John 14:6. This already applies to prayers, for the face of God has turned away from sinful man (see, for example, Isaiah 59:1-2). Without Jesus Christ, who also serves as mediator for human prayers, the prayers would not be acceptable.

No real, “classical” angel, that is, a created heavenly messenger, mediates the forgiveness of sins and prayers between humans and God. Jesus Christ is the High Priest of us all, who performs His ministry in the heavenly sanctuary. This present work has been symbolized by the tabernacle (Info). Therefore, it can be none other than Jesus Christ, who is portrayed here, as well as in other places in Revelation, as an angel, a messenger.

End of Jesus’ mediatory ministry

Verse 5 draws the “final line.” Jesus Christ will not be the mediator for humanity forever. He takes the censer and fills it with fire from the golden altar. With that, the fire and smoke are extinguished. The “angel” throws the censer to the ground. It’s over, finished, over. The cases or judgments for each individual person are decided. This is the moment when, figuratively speaking, the gate to Noah’s saving Ark is closed. The statement in Revelation 8:1 aptly describes this:
“And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.“

“About half an hour”—in prophetic terms, this corresponds to 7.5 days (Info). When the gate of Noah’s Ark was closed, nothing happened for the next 7 days. It remained “quiet.” Only after the 7 days of “silence” were over did the earth and heavens burst open, and the masses of water poured over the entire surface of the Earth.

The final closing of the saving door is also emphasized in the final admonition in Revelation 22:11:
“He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.”
Nothing works anymore. Not because God no longer allows it, but because each person has decided for themselves which path they want to take. The Holy Spirit withdraws. The truly steadfast believer remains faithful and cannot be dissuaded from it, and those who have decided against it will under no circumstances (want to) convert.

The conclusion of the drama

“Voices, thunder, lightning, earthquakes” are the descriptions of the events that immediately follow the extinguishing of the incense altar. When such things happen, the fun is over. The final events that lead to the destruction of all living things on the Earth’s surface. A kingdom of peace for 1,000 years on Earth? None! That’s a legend, a wishful thinking, a false doctrine (Info).

Revelation 16:21 describes the last of the 7 plagues:
“And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.“

Revelation 6:12-14 describes the events after the opening of the 6th seal:
“And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.“

Even Isaiah 51:6 gives a preview:
“Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished.”

Parallel statements

As always, the Bible is very subtle in its descriptions in Isaiah 51:6, if you read carefully. Lift your eyes upward toward heaven, but at the same time look down to earth. Where is the observer then? Somewhere in between. A clear reference to the moment of salvation for believers, who will be lifted up to Jesus Christ in the clouds. As Revelation 1:7, among others, suggests:
“Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.“

and was described by Paul, 1 Thessalonians 4:17:
“Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.“

and also announced by the two men in white clothing (angels, heavenly messengers), in Acts 1:11:
“Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.“

Better “deep” than “long”

A lot of background in just three verses, like in Revelation 8. Therefore, it’s better to read carefully, research the background, and if you don’t understand any passages, dig deep, as always, in prayer, until you truly grasp them. Go deeper. A long-distance marathon reading, “I’ve finished eight chapters today,” isn’t really the ideal. Read the Bible, understand it, preserve it, and live by it. Meanwhile, also prepare for the one who is already at the door (Revelation 3:20).

Bible verses from King James Version (1611)