1. God hears all our prayers (1-5)

The opening of the seventh, and final, seal was marked with silence. But before carrying out the judgment contained within, an angel offered incense on the altar, with the prayers of all God's people. They went up before God, then the censer was hurled to earth, marking the dreadful beginning of horrible plagues. Often our prayers seem small, unheard, or insufficient. But the Almighty God who has power to destroy the earth does not ignore a single one. All the prayers of all God's people are heard by God.

2. Judgment hurled to the earth (6-13)

God's judgment is carried out step by step, according to His own plan and will, not in one event. The first four trumpets signal cataclysmic events caused by things hurled down: destroying ? of the earth, the sea and its creatures, the rivers are poisoned, and celestial bodies destroyed. The worst is yet to come.