The Timing of God
12/8/25 Bible Thought (Revelation 8)
God’s delays are not God’s denials.
Up to this point in Revelation we have seen six of the seven seals upon the scroll opened. Now, in Revelation 8, we see the final one opened which brings about unprecedented judgment by Almighty God through seven trumpets and the end draws even nearer (Rev. 8-11).
Suspense heightens.
For we see that with the final seal undone that there is silence in heaven for a half hour. Angelic beings that have cried out in ceaseless praise to God throughout eternity quiet their voices as there is a great anticipation of God’s coming judgment.
Although this chapter—and much of Revelation, if we are honest—seems frightful with the great displays of God’s just wrath, there is no reason for the believer in Jesus Christ to be afraid.
Confidence To the End
Firstly, we must remember the picture of the saints gathered around the throne from chapter seven and know that ultimately God is the One we must fear (see Matt. 10:28).
Secondly, and what is absolutely crucial for us to grasp, is this outpouring of God’s just judgment is an answer to the prayers of the martyrs that were initially shown to us back at the loosing of the fifth seal (see Rev. 6:9-11) that are now offered as incense before God (Rev. 8:3-4).
These saints cried out for justice. Their blood was spilled and the guilty ones were seemingly unpunished for their crimes. Will not the Judge of the earth act justly?
Certainly He will—simply in His time.
Incomprehensible Mercy
One of the beauties of this passage is that we see both the justice and mercy of God.
God’s just judgment is sure to come upon the ungodly, but not before they have an opportunity for repentance.
As we see the seven trumpets blown by the seven angels, it is apparent that God could have blotted everything out in a moment. He could have swept over the earth leaving no survivors. Yet the consistent pattern in this series of judgments is that it fell upon one third of the earth, not three thirds.
One scholar has noted the significance of this by writing:
“The purpose of the visitation is to warn people of the full wrath of God yet to fall, and in so doing to bring them to repentance.”[1]
Just as in the days of Pharaoh in the book of Exodus, judgment doesn’t come entirely in a moment. As hearts are hardened God’s judgment does get progressively worse, but not without first offering people an opportunity to turn from their wicked ways. Under the new covenant even the most wretched sinner can find in Christ the One who already bore God’s wrath for them and be spared.
Bringing it Home
As we survey this chapter, I believe there are two things we ought to take away.
First, God does hear and answer our prayers. They are collected in heaven. Even as the God-fearing Cornelius once found that his prayers had accumulated like a memorial before God (see Acts 10:4).
God might not answer our prayers today, or even tomorrow, but that doesn’t mean that our prayers will be denied.
Consider what the apostle John wrote:
“And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him” (1 Jn. 5:14-15).
If our prayers are in alignment with the will of God, they will be answered according to God’s will in God’s time.
Secondly, we must see from this chapter that while God’s judgment is delayed it is sure to come. God is just. He will punish sin. No one will get away with murder—literally or figuratively—for one day they will have to give an account before God.
You cannot hide from God (see Jer. 23:23-24) and every sin will one day be paid for, either through the substitute offered at Calvary, or by the perpetrator themselves. The present delay is a direct byproduct of God’s mercy, but His wrath will eventually come.
It simply comes in His timing.
Challenge for Today:
Do I ever find myself doubting the efficacy of prayer because answers don’t come according to my time frame?
Let us remember that God works all things according to the counsel of His will, and in accordance with His perfect plan. His timing, though it might be delayed, is better than ours and we must trust that He will do what is best.
[1] Robert H. Mounce, The Book of Revelation, The New International Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1997), 178.
Great lessons from a difficult book.