Matthew Henry Commentary Revelation 8:1-6

"And when he opened the seventh seal, there followed a silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. And I saw the seven angels that stand before God; and there were given unto them seven trumpets. And another angel came and stood over the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should add it unto the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel`s hand. And the angel taketh the censer; and he filled it with the fire of the altar, and cast it upon the earth: and there followed thunders, and voices, and lightnings, and an earthquake. And the seven angels that had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound." — Revelation 8:1-6 (ASV)

The seventh seal is opened. There was profound silence in heaven for a time; all was quiet in the church, for whenever the church on earth cries out from oppression, that cry reaches up to heaven; or it was a silence of expectation. Trumpets were given to the angels, who were to sound them.

The Lord Jesus is the High Priest of the church, having a golden censer and much incense, fullness of merit in his own glorious person. Would that people studied to know the fullness that is in Christ, and endeavored to be acquainted with his excellence. Would that they were truly persuaded that Christ has such an office as that of Intercessor, which he now performs with deep sympathy.

No prayers, thus recommended, were ever denied hearing and acceptance. These prayers, thus accepted in heaven, produced great changes on earth. The Christian worship and religion, pure and heavenly in its origin and nature, when sent down to earth and conflicting with the passions and worldly projects of sinful people, produced remarkable tumults, set forth here in prophetical language, as our Lord himself declared (Luke 12:49).