No way. I couldn’t believe my eyes. My wife had just handed me an advertisement from Red Lobster. There it was, as plain as day. Unlimited shrimp. With my free hand I wiped the drool from my chin and grabbed my keys. If they’re going to be serving up free shrimp, I’m going to support them in their cause.
We took our seats at a table in the middle of the restaurant and waited. Finally, the waitress arrived. I interrupted her pleasant offer of beverages with the demand: “Unlimited shrimp! Now!” After an antagonizing delay, she returned with a smile and a steaming platter of hot, juicy shrimp. The tantalizing seasoning drizzled over the heavenly crustaceans overwhelmed my senses as I reveled in the delightful flavor.
Then they were gone.
But, alas, no fears. The brochure said, “unlimited shrimp,” and unlimited shrimp was what I had come for. Frantically I searched for the waitress, and when she appeared on the horizon, I shouted out my order for seconds.
Then I waited. And waited. And waited. That was fine. I could be patient. After all, maybe they had to send someone out to trap a few more shrimp. All I could think about was the next batch that would soon sizzle before me.
Eventually the waitress appeared with another serving and was gone before I hardly knew she was there. I glanced at the plate. It was much smaller this time as was the portion strategically positioned on it. Before the plate had a chance to cool down, I emptied it and once again began searching the room for our waitress. I flagged her down just as she attempted a military-style evasive maneuver around the next table. After more waiting, another tiny plate appeared, the contents of which also disappeared in short order.
Now for another wait. The check was already on our table—they didn’t seem to have any problem delivering that in a timely fashion. Finally, I caught on—they didn’t really want to give me unlimited shrimp. They just wanted me to leave.
Sometimes we may be tempted to view prayer that way. Does God really care about what I am asking? Does He even hear me?
In Revelation 6, we saw souls of martyrs under the altar, crying out to God for their blood to be avenged. How long would it be? It seemed like they were not getting an answer. Maybe God didn’t care.
But wait…their answer was about to come. God heard their prayers, and He was going to unleash unprecedented judgments on the world.
The seventh seal on the scroll of God’s judgment was broken, and there was silence. Nothing—for a whole half hour. Then, just as suddenly as the silence began, it ended. Seven angels stood in line to receive a trumpet each, and when they did, they patiently waited as one more angel took a censor filled with incense and offered it on the throne. Immediately, the first four angels each took a turn blowing their trumpets. As they did, much of the sea turned to blood, marine animals died, a comet struck the earth, and the sun, moon, and starts were robbed of some of their luminosity. As if that weren’t enough, a warning was given about the next three angels that would soon sound their trumpets. Things were getting bad. Really bad. And it all kicked off when the angel offered the incense on the altar.
The incense, we are told, was not just everyday, common incense. It represented the prayers of the saints. The saints who had endured persecution and martyrdom had prayed for revenge, but it didn’t come…until now. It seemed like God didn’t care about the suffering of His servants, but He was planning to answer their prayer in a big way.
Yes, God hears the prayers of His people. Sometimes He answers in small ways, and sometimes He answers in big ways. When it comes to avenging the persecution of His people, the effects of prayer can be devastating.
