1 The Lamb opened the seventh seal. Then there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.
2 I saw the seven angels who stand in front of God. Seven trumpets were given to them.
3 Another angel came and stood at the altar. He had a shallow gold cup for burning incense. He was given a lot of incense to offer on the golden altar in front of the throne. With the incense he offered the prayers of all God's people.
4 The smoke of the incense together with the prayers of God's people rose up from the angel's hand. It went up in front of God.
5 Then the angel took the cup and filled it with fire from the altar. He threw it down on the earth. There were rumblings and thunder, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.
6 Then the seven angels who had the seven trumpets got ready to blow them.