The scroll was almost completely unrolled. The text revealed by the broken seals was described in the drama of John's vision before God took any action. When John saw the Lamb break open the seventh seal, all heaven fell silent. John watched as half an hour went by, with no action or reaction from the remnant of Israel (Revelation 7:4), the persecuted church (Revelation 7:14), many thousands of angels, the living creatures and the elders (Revelation 7:11). No one made any sound as they prepared themselves for the cataclysmic activity of God's judgement on the earth (Revelation 6:1-17).

Seven angels presented themselves to receive a trumpet each. Like the sounding of the rams' horns on the Jewish New Year (Leviticus 23:24; Numbers 29:1), the angels were getting ready to herald the new things the Lord was about to do in judging the earth (Matthew 24:31) and gathering His saints. While they were holding their instruments, awaiting the command to announce God's actions, another angel was given incense to offer. As in Numbers 16:46, where incense was offered to protect the innocent while rebellious priests were dying from plague, so the heavenly incense was both a sign of mercy for those who have 'washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb' (Revelation 7:14-17), and a harbinger of wrath for the proud and arrogant who have despised Christ (Revelation 6:15-17).

The incense of the obedience of Christ (Ephesians 5:2) is mixed with the prayers of the saints (Revelation 5:8) and the Lord was pleased. Then the moment comes, answering the prayers of God's suffering people for justice, "How long, Sovereign Lord …" (Revelation 6:10): the censor was refilled with hot coals from the altar in heaven and flung with great force to the earth. Its effect was the beginnings of the devastation of the world (Matthew 24:7-8) - the wrathful echo on earth of the glorious splendour of heaven (Revelation 4:5) - because the wicked have resisted submitting to God's majesty. No wonder there had been silence in heaven. It was the awed anticipation of the action of God against evil and all who believe that evil is good. But all God's people are protected by God's seal (2 Corinthians 1:22; Revelation 7:3).

All whose suffering for Christ seems unnoticed and unavenged, are awaiting the day when God will vindicate them. John was one, along with the many martyrs already in heaven, whose tormentors appear to have had little or no punishment. The church in these Last Days needs the assurance that the Lord will bring every unrepentant sinner to justice. In the meantime, we must go on trusting the Lord, standing for Him and, if necessary, suffering for Him too (1 Peter 4:12-14). Every prayer and cry is held in heaven until it is answered, constantly ascending to God. No believer is ignored, but the timing for action is in the Lord's hands. These verses give us fresh confidence in God's justice, and the confidence to bear testimony to the saving power of Christ as Satan's defeat grows ever closer (Revelation 12:10-12).