The Seventh Seal

When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.

Another angel with a golden censer came and stood at the altar; he was given a great quantity of incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar that is before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel. 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, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.

Revelation 8:1-5

Does prayer have any real impact on our world? Or is it merely a private conversation with God?

What would happen if we followed literally Jesus’ command to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us? What if we became known for approaching heaven on behalf of outcasts and disagreeable people?

At a climactic moment in history, heaven is quiet. Seven angels stand with seven trumpets, waiting. Silence reins, as if all heaven is listening on tiptoe. Then an angel collects the prayers of God’s people on earth – all the accumulated prayers of praise, lament, abandonment, despair, petition – mixes them with incense, and presents them before the throne of God. The silence finally breaks when the fragrant prayers are hurled down to earth: setting off a storm of thunder, lightning and an earthquake.

The message is clear. The prayers are essential elements in the final victory over evil, suffering, and death.

God’s work is done

by those who pray.

Our Daily Bread – May 7, 2009