154    The Bible and the Future of the World 

The Seventh Seal (Rev 8:1 6) 

     When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for 

about half an hour. Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and 

seven trumpets were given to them.  (Rev 8:1 2). 

    The seventh seal is distinguished from the other six seals by the half an 

hour of silence. Even Heaven is in awe at the power and extent of the 

punishments of the seventh seal. The afflictions of the seventh seal are 

greater than all sufferings from the first six seals combined. These events of 

the seventh seal will begin during or at the end of the war between the great 

monarch and the Arab forces. I think that the events of the first six seals will 

end about the year  A.D. 2037, so that the events of the seventh seal (but 

only of the first six trumpets) will occur from approximately  A.D. 2038 to 

late 2039 or early 2040. 

    The events of the seventh seal are divided into seven parts, as symbolized 

by the seven trumpets. This division gives an order to this long series of 

punishments from God. Each trumpet represents a related series of events 

occurring at about the same time. There will be varying lengths of time 

between the events of one trumpet and another. These things do not 

necessarily occur immediately one after another. 

    After the half hour of silence, an angel mixes the prayers of the saints with 

incense on the altar of God. The angel takes the fire from the altar and 

throws fire down upon the earth. Then there is extraordinary thunder, 

lightning, and an earthquake. This event will mark the beginning of the 

punishments of the seventh seal. 

    Notice that the fire that causes these sufferings came from God and from 

the prayers of the saints. It is an act of Divine Justice, but also an act of 

Divine Mercy. These next sufferings, of the seven trumpets, are God's 

punishment on unrepentant sinners. When God punishes unrepentant 

sinners, it is justice upon the sinner, but it is also mercy upon those who 

have suffered because of their sins. 

The First Trumpet (Rev 8:7) 

     The first angel blew his trumpet, and there followed hail and fire, mixed 

with blood, which fell on the earth; and a third of the earth was burnt up, 

and a third of the trees were burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.  

(Rev 8:7). 

    The earth will be scorched with fire. This is a punishment from God for 

sin. Nothing like this has ever happened before in the history of civilization.