Praying for Judgement - Revelation 8:6 - 11

"After the interlude of chap. 7, the seventh seal is opened and judgment continues. Seven angels receive seven trumpets that signal further wrath when blown. Four of the trumpets in chap. 8 affect nature. The remaining three trumpets, which signal wrath against sinful humanity, come later." [1]

Revelation 8:3–5 (NLT)

"³ Then another angel with a gold incense burner came and stood at the altar. And a great amount of incense was given to him to mix with the prayers of God’s people as an offering on the gold altar before the throne. ⁴ The smoke of the incense, mixed with the prayers of God’s holy people, ascended up to God from the altar where the angel had poured them out. ⁵ Then the angel filled the incense burner with fire from the altar and threw it down upon the earth; and thunder crashed, lightning flashed, and there was a terrible earthquake."

Is it not intriguing that the outpouring of God's judgement on earth is" probably in response to the prayers of the saints in 6:10?" [2]   "Symbolically, this represents the answer to the prayers of the saints through the visitation on earth of God's righteous judgments." [3]

It's not socially correct to pray for God's judgment, but these prayers called imprecatory prayers  are thought to be contrary to New Testament passivity and charity.  But it seems clear that to pray for God's judgment to fall on the wicked and for His Kingdom to come is not only illustrated here but appropriate. John Piper [4] says,

Suppose the Gestapo or some contemporary form of it is sweeping through your neighborhood and, in the most brutal way, wiping people out. Killing people. I think you would pray, "God, stop them! Do whatever you have to do to stop them!" Or, when they're in prison, "God, this was so wrong!"

So I want to say that there may be a time when you're calling God's judgment on somebody

Although we proceed slowly, whenever we pray, "Thy Kingdom come" we essentially pray for judgment on God's enemies.

My Lord and God.  You are the King.  You reign today in the midst of your enemies.  You will reign until all your enemies are made your footstool and every tongue will confess you as Lord.  I pray for Your glory.  I pray that the you come Lord Jesus.  I pray that Your Kingdom will come and Your will be done.  I pray that the kingdoms of the world will become the Kingdoms of You my God and King. Save Your elect.  Call the number of the Gentiles in. Revive Israel in these last days and come Lord Jesus come.  


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1.  Barry, J. D., Grigoni, M. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Mangum, D., & Whitehead, M. M. (2012). Faithlife Study Bible (Re 8:1–13). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.
2. Ibid, (Re 8:5)
3. Expositor's Bible Commentary, The, Pradis CD-ROM:Revelation/Exposition of Revelation/III. Vision of the Seven-Sealed Scroll, the Seven Trumpets, the Seven Signs, and the Seven Bowls (4:1-19:10)/B. The Seven Trumpets (8:2-11:19)/1. Preparatory: the angel and the golden censer (8:2-5), Book Version: 4.0.2
4. http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/ask-pastor-john/do-christians-have-permission-to-pray-imprecatory-prayers