Revelation 8

As I read the 8th Chapter of Revelations, the following are my thoughts. First, the Prophet Joseph Smith answered -

"...the first seal contains the things of the first thousand years, and the second also of the second thousand years, and so on until the seventh." (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 77:7)

He also answered -

"...in the beginning of the seventh thousand years will the Lord God sanctify the earth, and complete the salvation of man, and judge all things, and shall redeem all things, except that which he hath not put into his power, when he shall have sealed all things, unto the end of all things; and the sounding of the trumpets of the seven angels are the preparing and finishing of his work, in the beginning of the seventh thousand years—the preparing of the way before the time of his coming." (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 77:12)

It becomes obvious that the seventh seal or 7th thousand years does not begin with come second coming of the Savior, but it is the beginning ofthe cleansing and perfecting of this last seal wherein somewhere early in this period, the Savior will return. As we read a modern day revelation on the last days, the Lord also says in the early 1800's -

"Abide ye in the liberty wherewith ye are made free; entangle not yourselves in sin, but let your hands be clean, until the Lord comes." (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 88:86)

Why?

"For not many days hence and the earth shall tremble and reel to and fro as a drunken man; and the sun shall hide his face, and shall refuse to give light; and the moon shall be bathed in blood; and the stars shall become exceedingly angry, and shall cast themselves down as a fig that falleth from off a fig-tree.
88 And after your testimony cometh wrath and indignation upon the people.
89 For after your testimony cometh the testimony of earthquakes, that shall cause groanings in the midst of her, and men shall fall upon the ground and shall not be able to stand.
90 And also cometh the testimony of the voice of thunderings, and the voice of lightnings, and the voice of tempests, and the voice of the waves of the sea heaving themselves beyond their bounds.
91 And all things shall be in commotion; and surely, men's hearts shall fail them; for fear shall come upon all people.
92 And angels shall fly through the midst of heaven, crying with a loud voice, sounding the trump of God, saying: Prepare ye, prepare ye, O inhabitants of the earth; for the judgment of our God is come. Behold, and lo, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him." (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 88:87 - 92)

Comparing these events to that of the 8th Chapter of Revelations, I have this feeling that the seventh seal has been opened. One reason is that in recent days we have already heard -

"...the testimony of the voice of thunderings, and the voice of lightnings, and the voice of tempests, and the voice of the waves of the sea heaving themselves beyond their bounds." (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 88:90)

I believe the events prophecied of John of the seven angels are as a result of -

"...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.
4 And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand." (New Testament | Revelation 8:3 - 4)

I see these events of the last day coming not only because of great wickedness upon the earth, but because of the faithful prayers of the righteous. Is it any wonder -

"...the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake." (New Testament | Revelation 8:5)

I have a strong feeling that the events described as the seven trumpets of the seven angels sounded, though maybe in some cases literal, the majority of the these events are symbolic and spiritual to the point as revealed -

"...another angel shall sound his trump, saying: That great church, the mother of abominations, that made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, that persecuteth the saints of God, that shed their blood—she who sitteth upon many waters, and upon the islands of the sea—behold, she is the tares of the earth; she is bound in bundles; her bands are made strong, no man can loose them; therefore, she is ready to be burned." (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 88:94)

In other words, the sounding of the seven angels is really the parable of the wheat and tares as the tares are bound.

One more personal thought, when the Lord tells us -

"...angels shall fly through the midst of heaven, crying with a loud voice, sounding the trump of God, saying: Prepare ye, prepare ye, O inhabitants of the earth; for the judgment of our God is come. Behold, and lo, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him." (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 88:92)

...I believe that this prophecy is being fulfilled by angels or priesthood leaders we sustaing as prophets, seers, and revelators, bearing testimony and declaring preparation over satellite, internet, as so forth. What better way than to describe this modern day miracle to those of previous generations as "fly through the midst of heaven".