Have you ever wondered what happens to your prayers after you pray them? In Revelation 8:1–5, the opening of the seventh seal reveals a dramatic, awe-inspiring scene: heaven falls silent for about half an hour as an angel presents the incense-laden prayers of all the saints at the golden altar before God’s throne.
Our prayers do not evaporate into nothingness—they ascend directly into the presence of God. But the passage doesn’t stop there. When the censer is filled with fire from the altar and thrown back down to the earth, it triggers noises, thunderings, and an earthquake. What goes up in prayer inevitably comes down in divine power and judgment!
In this sermon, we explore:
The profound meaning behind heaven’s 30-minute silence.
Why Jesus’ entire teaching on prayer can be summarized with one simple word: ASK.
How contrastive traditions—from signage to Tibetan prayer flags—puddle in comparison to the biblical truth of prayers ascending like sweet incense before God.
The holy gravity of the Imprecatory Psalms and praying “Thy Kingdom Come” in light of God’s sovereign judgment.
Sermon Audio
Sermon Video
Revelation 8:1 When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven
for about half an hour.
Revelation 8:2 And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were
given seven trumpets.
Revelation 8:3 Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at
the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of
all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.
Revelation 8:4 And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints,
ascended before God from the angel’s hand.
Revelation 8:5 Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and
threw it to the earth. And there were noises, thunderings, and an earthquake.
I. THE SILENT PAUSE.
8:1 When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for
about half an hour.
Zephaniah 1:7 Be silent in the presence of the Lord God; For the day of the Lord
is at hand, …”
Habakkuk 2:20: (ESV) “But the Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence
before him.”
II. THE SILENT PREPARATION.
Revelation 8:2 And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were
given seven trumpets.
III. THE SAINTS’ PRAYERS.
Revelation 8:3 Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at
the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of
all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.
1 Corinthians 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit
who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?
1 Corinthians 6:20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body
and in your spirit, which are God’s.
Leviticus 6:12 And the fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it; it shall not be
put out …”
Leviticus 6:13 A fire shall always be burning on the altar; it shall never go out.
1 Thessalonains 5:17 Pray without ceasing,
Matthew 21:13 And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house
of prayer …”
James 4:2 “… Yet you do not have because you do not ask.
All of Jesus teaching on prayer in the Gospels can be summarized with one word:
“ASK.”
Luke 11:9 “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you;
Luke 11:10 For everyone who asks receives,
John 14:13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be
glorified in the Son.
John 14:14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.
John 15:7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you
desire, and it shall be done for you.
Revelation 8:4 And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints,
ascended before God from the angel’s hand.
Revelation 8:5 Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and
threw it to the earth. And there were noises, thunderings, and an earthquake.
Imprecatory Psalms
Psalm 55:15 Let death seize them; Let them go down alive into hell, for wickedness
is in their dwellings and among them.
Psalm 58:6 Break their teeth in their mouth, O God! Break out the fangs of the young
lions, O Lord!
Psalm 58:8 Let them be like a snail which melts away as it goes, like a stillborn child
of a woman, that they may not see the sun.
Psalm 104:1 Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, You are very great: You are
clothed with honor and majesty,
Psalm 104:35 May sinners be consumed from the earth, and the wicked be no more.
Bless the Lord, O my soul! Praise the Lord!
Matthew 6:10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Hebrews 10:26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of
the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
Hebrews 10:27 But a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation
which will devour the adversaries.
1 Corinthians 16:22 (KJV) If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be
Anathema Maranatha.
1 Corinthians 16:22 (ICB) If anyone does not love the Lord, then let him be separated
from God–lost forever! Come, O Lord! .” , …
