Scripture reading: Revelation 8:1-5.

Sermon text: Revelation 8:6-13.

We often hear of the “calm before the storm.” This phrase refers to more than weather events; it also refers to historical events as well.

In chapter 8, we find a calm in heaven before the storm slams earth with a cosmic vengeance. Events in chapter 8 reveal the justice of God on a sinful world that rejected His Son and persecuted His people. Even worse for the unrighteous, the chapter ends with a pronouncement of even worse calamity to come.

At the end of chapter 6, Jesus had broken 6 of the seals protecting the scroll of human history. The 4 horsemen of chapter 6 unleashed havoc on the planet, only to be followed by events reminiscent of Joel 2’s prophecy of cosmic chaos. These events drove even the most callous unbelievers to call for deliverance from God’s judgment. Unfortunately, these unbelievers opted to call on rocks and mountains rather than on God’s grace for their deliverance.

In chapter 8, St. John recorded the breaking of the seventh seal by Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. Silence descended on heaven when Jesus broke the seal. This seems odd given the rapturous worship scenes we’ve examined thus far in the book. This chapter records the first — and possibly, the only — period of heavenly silence recorded in Scripture.

The silence was broken when an angel offered incense at the altar in heaven. This incense accompanied the “prayers of the saints” as they rose before God. Every prayer for justice; every prayer for mercy; every prayer for forgiveness comes before the throne of God. God is not ignorant of earthly events, and He hears the prayers of His people.

Then, the angel threw the “coals” onto the earth, resulting in further damage similar to that at the end of chapter 6. Anyone living on earth in this time will experience fear like nothing ever experienced in our lifetimes.

Could it get worse? With the breaking of the seventh seal, 7 angels receive trumpets to pronounce the judgment of God. Just as those alive feel it couldn’t get worse, the worst comes.

Notice the destruction that results from the first 4 blasts. A third of all vegetation dies; a third of the sea becomes blood, killing a third of the creatures and ships; a third of the fresh water becomes poisonous; and the celestial lights on which humans have relied throughout our existence becomes dimmed by a third. No one can ignore such events.

Someone may ask, “Is St. John speaking literally or figuratively here?” I would ask that person to examine the Scriptures and see what such language foretells throughout the Bible. Every time a prophet used cataclysmic language, God’s judgment appeared on the horizon and marched toward the unbelievers, inevitable and unstoppable.

Actually, these events remind us of another time God’s judgment fell on a sinful nation, and in that case the language is literal; the events really happened. Remember the plagues of Egypt? We discussed them on Wednesday night back in the spring. God turned the water to blood, plunged the nation into darkness, destroyed the crops and livestock with horrific weather, and practically destroyed the nation before Pharaoh Amenhotep II relented and allowed the Hebrews to leave Egypt. After Amenhotep’s slaves left Egypt, he found himself presiding over a ruined, powerless nation.

The connection with Egypt should give us a clue about the big question regarding these events: why? Why would God send such destruction on the earth?

This question has an ominous answer: God’s holiness requires that He judge sin, and God’s sense of justice requires that He answer the prayers of His people. Notice that the saints in heaven had prayed for justice for their sufferings. Remember that the Hebrews in Egypt had prayed for centuries for justice. When God answers the prayers of His people, He does so completely. Egypt reaped the judgment for the sins it committed against Israel. Human civilization as a whole has rejected the gospel of Jesus Christ and persecuted His people throughout the history of the Church. Nations have refused to submit to the lordship of Christ and fulfill God’s call for justice and compassion.

This lessson is emphasized by the words of the “eagle” who proclaims, “woe, woe, woe.” At no other place in Scripture will you see this word used 3 times together. Every time this word appears, terrible things fall on the hearers. Now, the world hears it 3 times together. Nothing in Scripture or in history — no invasion, no war, no plague, no earthquake, no hurricane or tornado or tsunami — will compare with the destruction to come. God’s justice will fall on an unbelieving world. All the world will understand that God has acted on behalf of His believers.

Far too many people read these verses and think, “This won’t happen to me; I have nothing to worry about.” However, St. John’s words should apply to our everyday lives as much as they warn us about the judgment to come. Can we see any lessons here that apply to our lives today?

First, I see that God hears our prayers and will work on our behalf to bring justice for His saints. While those who persecute us may seem to win in the short term, God works on an eternal scale to bring justice for His people.

Also, I see that God will never ignore sin. St. Peter tells us that God is withholding justice now that more people may believe in Jesus Christ and find salvation from the coming judgment (2 Peter 3). However, as in the Old Testament, God’s patience will eventually end in justice and judgment. The time will come when God’s patience will end and rebellious humanity will receive its due reward.

Lastly, I see a challenge. Does this judgment trouble you? Do you know people you’d rather see avoid the coming chaos? What if these events were to occur in our lifetimes? If you know someone that you don’t want to suffer this, what are you doing to help them receive mercy from God rather than justice? Remember that anyone fixating on the when of this prophecy had better think of loved ones who will face this terror. You could be the person to help others avoid the catastrophe of justice and instead experience the ecstasy of eternal worship.

If you’ve never heard of the coming judgment before, you now know what the world will one day face. If you so choose, you can receive mercy for your sins. St. Paul tells us that everyone who confesses Jesus as Lord, believing God raised Him from the dead, will be saved from judgment. Do you wish this release? Confess and believe. Eternal joy awaits those who avoid chaos through confession in Jesus as Lord.