All things bear record · Revelation

Revelation 8

2 witnesses of Christ here.

The Lamb Opens the Seventh Seal

And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. Revelation 8:1

The 'he' who opens the seventh seal is the Lamb from chapters 5 and 6. Latter-day revelation explains the seventh seal as the seventh thousand years, when the Lord prepares the earth for His reign.

AttestedExplicitA pronoun that refers to Him

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

  • alludes to Revelation 6:1 — the Lamb opened one of the seals
  • interpreted by D&C 77:12 — the sounding of the trumpets of the seven angels ... in the beginning of the seventh thousand years

Altar of Incense (intercession)

And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. Revelation 8:3–4

The golden altar of incense, where prayers rise before God, echoes the temple service of the high priest, which pointed to Christ's intercession for His people. The angel here is not named as Christ, so this is a soft echo.

AttestedEchoAn object that is a type of Hima messenger speaking for Him

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

  • alludes to Leviticus 16:12-13 — the high priest takes a censer full of burning coals and incense before the LORD
  • alludes to Hebrews 7:25 — he ever liveth to make intercession for them