The Signs of the Times (37): Silence

‘When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.’
Revelation 8:1-2

Silence…the calm before the storm. Before the events of the end times unfold and the angels blow their seven trumpets, there is SILENCE in heaven first. Before this phase of world history is revealed and completed, there is silence for about half an hour.

As if heaven and earth are holding their breath. As if angels and powers and forces and the rulers of darkness suddenly fall silent. The Gospel of the Kingdom has resounded as a testimony to all nations, and a portion of Israel, the one hundred and forty-four thousand Messianic Jews have been sealed. ‘The remnant of Jacob will be in the midst of many peoples like dew from the Lord’ Micah 5:7. ‘Just as you, Judah and Israel, have been a curse among the nations, so I will save you, and you will be a blessing. Do not be afraid, but let your hands be strong’ Zechariah 8:13. From the gentile world will be coming a multitude that no one can count. ‘After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”’

The oppression of the believers is ending. ‘The day of vengeance of our God’ has begun (Isaiah 61:1-2). But before that happens there is silence in heaven. It is dead quiet. Everyone is holding their breath. What will happen now that God’s wrath is about to break forth? One thing is for sure: God’s children are safe and hidden from this wrath, and the servants of Israel are sealed.

Man has invoked God’s judgement upon himself. The blood of the martyrs under the fifth seal in Revelation 6 asks, begs for it. The mass abortion, suicide/euthanasia, pollution of earth, air and water, the stored overkill of the ABC-weapons (Atomic, Biological and Chemical), the lawlessness and decadence, the towers of Babel of science and technology, the anti-Christ(s): ‘The earth will become desolate because of its inhabitants, as the result of their deeds’ Micah 7:13. The Day of the Lord is coming. But from that hour of temptation half an hour is filled with SILENCE.

God is silent. Christ is silent. The songs of the heavenly choirs are fading away. ‘Be silent before the Sovereign Lord, for the day of the Lord is near’ Zephaniah 1:7a; 14-18. ‘Be still before the Lord, all mankind, because He has roused Himself from His holy dwelling’ Zechariah 2:13. What is about to happen?

All the prayers of all saints of all the ages, including those of the souls of the martyrs under the altar, will now be answered. ‘And will not God bring about justice for His chosen ones, who cry out to Him day and night? Will He keep putting them off?  I tell you, He will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?’ Luke 18:7-8. Religion galore. But life-saving true faith?

Hebrews 3:7-13 speaks to Israel and to us: ‘So, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you [Israel] did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the wilderness, where your ancestors tested and tried Me, though for forty years they saw what I did. That is why I was angry with that generation; I said, ‘Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known My ways.’ So I declared on oath in My anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’ ” See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.’

Don’t postpone until tomorrow what you can do today. Get right with God, right now! ‘Today’ is the day of mercy for you! Surrender to God and Christ, and live forever and ever!