Chapter eight begins with the breaking of the seventh seal which depicts a silence in heaven following the final judgment depicted in the breaking of the sixth seal (6:17). The silence in heaven is that of holy awe following the final judgment. It may also be considered the quiet before the storm as the vision of the trumpets will reveal the judgment of God, once again, upon the wicked.

Whereas the seven seals largely portray the experience of God’s people in a world under judgment, the seven trumpets depict the experience of the unbelieving during that same period of time. This helps explain the escalating horror of the descriptions. “The silence is that during which the angel burns the incense on the altar to accompany the prayers of the saints.” As a result, “at the climax of history, heaven is silent so that the prayers of the saints can be heard, and the final judgment occurs in response to them” (Richard Baukham).

The prayers of the martyrs (6:9-11) and of all the saints (8:3) have been heard and God will answer with righteous judgment upon those who have shed their blood. The content of the saints’ prayers is clearly indicated in the Lord’s response of casting fire upon the earth (8:5). The seven seals depict the forces that are enacted in the seven trumpet judgments. The Lamb’s judgment will be the appropriate response to the wicked cruelty poured out upon his saints in this present evil age. All creation will know that the Lord is righteous and that he judges justly.