v1 2 Peter 3:8 says “…that one day is with the Lord a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” If this is taken literally John could be seeing 20.83 years of silence, or just 1/2 hour it’s not clear. It also isn’t clear if the silence was in reverence that the seal was opened or fear for what was to come.
v3 This censer is like a bowl used to burn incense, which is symbolic of prayers and here it is stated that it is offered with the prayers.
v4 This smoke ascended from the angels hand up before God.
v5 After the prayers have ascended the fire (coals) from the altar are put in the censer and cast to earth as Judgment that those saints who prayed had been persecuted by the wicked. What comes next will be in retribution for the evil acts committed by some on this earth. Look at the initial destruction that follows the censer, “voices, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake”
v6 The sounding of the trumpets are apparently similar to the seals in that they represent the completeness (the number 7 represents whole, complete, perfect since the Lord chose 7 days to create the earth) of the age of the earth. Here in the 7th seal (the time when God sanctified man) we get the finishing of the preparations for the second coming when man will be sanctified. The trumpets thus go before the King of Heaven and Earth, proclaiming that his work to save man is complete, perfect.
What does “the third part mean” as it will be used for the duration of Revelation. Symbolically 3 represents truth, because we live in a 3 dimensional world any 3 numbers can define a point in space. 42 feet east, 100 feet north 77 feet in the air. for example much the same way we use longitude latitude and altitude (a spherical style coordinate system) notice we see in the Old Testament the prelude to the higher law given in 2 Corinthians 13:1
Deuteronomy 17:6 reads “At the mouth of 2 witnesses or 3 witnesses shall he that is worthy of death be put to death. 13:1 ” This is the 3rd time I am coming to you. In the mouth of 2 or 3 witnesses shall every word be established. Notice how many people Jesus took with him to the mount of transfiguration 3 Peter, James, and John so they could testify that critical priesthood keys were passed to Jesus from Moses, Elias and others. Notice how many were asked to accompany him further into the Garden of Gethsemane 3 Peter, James, and John. Notice how many groups of people testified of the birth of the Redeemer of Man kind 3 Shepherds, Anna, and Simeon. The Wise men came later bearing 3 gifts testifying of his divine mission and sonship Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh. Peter denies 3 times, and is subsequently asked to feed the sheep and lambs 3 times by Jesus at the shore of Tiberias. 3 witnesses of the empty tomb, Mary, Peter and John. The list could go one for quite some time. suffice it to say 3 is a witness nubmer defining truth. In Revelation 12 we are told that the Dragon (Satan) takes a 1/3 part of the stars (spirits) from heaven to follow him to the earth to torment man. This 1/3 are the portion that are wicked, it also represents not enough to define truth ie it defines lies. Therefore what might be destroyed is the untrue or because of the untrue part is destroyed. Either way this 1/3 is linked to Satan and untruth, so when we see 1/3 we can see what is meant.
v7 1/3 part of green burned Green is a symbol of life.
v8 1/3 part of sea becomes blood
v9 1/3 part of creatures in sea die and 1/3 part of ships destroyed
v10 1/3 part of the rivers and fountains (springs?)
v11 1/3 part of waters become wormwood (death is associated with worms)
v12 1/3 part sun, 1/3 part moon, 1/3 part stars (1/3 part light) the day and night both with no light for a 3 part.
v13 Woe, woe woe (3 woe’s) to the inhabitants of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the 3 angels which are yet to sound.
To many 3′s and 1/3′s to ignore. 1/3 of everything is destroyed. Heaven was purified once by casting out of the 1/3 and the Earth is apparently going through the exact same cleansing prior to the coming of the Lord Jesus which will occur during this 7th seal.
Revelation 8:1-13
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