November 20, 2012
CALM BEFORE THE STORM
Revelation 8
Nika Spaulding
Central Truth
God provided the "calm before the storm" to heighten the awe and expectation of His judgments that would rain down upon the land.
Key Verse | Revelation 8:1
When the Lamb broke the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. (Revelation 8:1)
Revelation 8
The Seventh Seal and the Golden Censer
1 When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. 2 Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. 3 And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer, and he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne, 4 and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel. 5 Then the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and threw it on the earth, and there were peals of thunder, rumblings, 1 8:5 Or voices, or sounds flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.
The Seven Trumpets
6 Now the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to blow them.
7 The first angel blew his trumpet, and there followed hail and fire, mixed with blood, and these were thrown upon the earth. And a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.
8 The second angel blew his trumpet, and something like a great mountain, burning with fire, was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood. 9 A third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.
10 The third angel blew his trumpet, and a great star fell from heaven, blazing like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. 11 The name of the star is Wormwood. 2 8:11 Wormwood is the name of a plant and of the bitter-tasting extract derived from it A third of the waters became wormwood, and many people died from the water, because it had been made bitter.
12 The fourth angel blew his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, and a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of their light might be darkened, and a third of the day might be kept from shining, and likewise a third of the night.
13 Then I looked, and I heard an eagle crying with a loud voice as it flew directly overhead, “Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth, at the blasts of the other trumpets that the three angels are about to blow!”
Dive Deeper | Revelation 8
Hunkered down with pillows over me and my best friend next to me, I flinched at the sounds of shattering glass, impaling wood, and crumbling homes. Then, unexpectedly, silence swallowed us, beckoning us to make our exodus from the hallway closet. However, years of living in Oklahoma provided me with the insight to know that the eye of the storm provides only temporary relief from the chaos. After seconds that seemed like decades, the destruction roared again, leveling everything in its path.
May 3, 1999, taught me a valuable lesson about wisdom in silence. Only a fool would have run out of that closet in the fleeting moments of respite. Similarly, only a fool would think the half an hour of silence mentioned in Revelation 8:1 is a sign that God is done judging the world. Instead, the counsel of Scripture tells us this is the "calm before the storm," the silence before the trumpets that bring wrath. God will allow fleeting moments of silence so that the world can stand in awe and expectation of the judgments He will soon bring forth.
No one can know for certain when the Tribulation will come, but one thing we can know for sure is that a day of judgment is coming. Today is our "calm before the storm." The wise will recognize a storm brews on the horizon, but the foolish will confuse these moments of silence as permanent relief from God's perfect judgment. Utilize wisdom in silence; live like Christ could return at any moment. Like the watchmen of old, sound your horn so that those around you will know the silence will not endure forever. As wise people, may we live lives enjoying the silence, yet may we be ever mindful that our Savior will return, and this time as the Lion of Judah.
Discussion Questions
1. How can you demonstrate wisdom in silence? What are you doing with your life that demonstrates you recognize that Christ will come back someday to judge the world?
2. Who in your life needs to know that judgment will come to all people? When will you tell him or her about Jesus Christ?
3. In what ways have you grown comfortable or entitled in this season of calm? How can you live a life on alert that this is not our home?
WEEKLY FAMILY ACTIVITY
November 19-23 (Revelation 7-11)
Read Revelation 7:9-17.
• This is a continued part of John's revelation about the end times. Who was standing in front of the throne?
• What does every nation, tribe and people mean? What were they shouting?
• What does the word salvation mean? (being rescued from something, saved)
• Who is the Lamb?
• How did the Lamb provide salvation to those who believe in Him?
• How do you receive the salvation that the Lamb provides?
• In verses 15-17, there is a list of things that God will do for the believers. What are they?
• Why do those things sound so great?
Activity: The believers were standing before Jesus and praising Him. What are some of your favorite praise songs? What about your favorite Psalms in the Bible? Take time as a family to write an original praise to Jesus. It could be a poem or a song.