Revelation 8:1-4
When he 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, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all God’s people, on the golden altar in front of the throne. The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God’s people, went up before God from the angel’s hand.
Prayer is often something we know we should do, but sometimes it gets pushed to the edges of our busy lives. Yet, in Revelation 8:1–4, we are given an encouraging glimpse into heaven that reminds us just how precious and powerful our prayers really are. John describes a moment of silence in heaven — "about the space of half an hour" (v. 1) — an unusual and dramatic pause in the middle of the opening of scrolls and unfolding judgments. This silence comes just before the next series of events in God's plan. But what happens during that silence? The prayers of the saints are presented before God!
