“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, NIV)
Just as Christ had opened the other six seals (6:1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12), now He comes to open the last seal. But this time there is a dramatic pause -- a time of silence -- for one half an hour. "But an ominous silence pervades all nature, which is indicative of the solemnity of the things that are about to take place. It is the calm before the storm." [1] Why 1/2 hour? Well this must indicate brevity not an actual time from. It also reminds us of the imagery in the Book and a warning not to read it with a "wooden literalism."
Notice Zephaniah 1:7 (NIV)
7 Be silent before the Sovereign Lord, for the day of the Lord is near. The Lord has prepared a sacrifice; he has consecrated those he has invited.
Just prior to that call in Zephaniah we have these sombre warnings:
“I will sweep away everything from the face of the earth,” declares the Lord. “I will sweep away both man and beast; I will sweep away the birds in the sky and the fish in the sea— and the idols that cause the wicked to stumble.” “When I destroy all mankind on the face of the earth,” declares the Lord, “I will stretch out my hand against Judah and against all who live in Jerusalem. I will destroy every remnant of Baal worship in this place, the very names of the idolatrous priests— those who bow down on the roofs to worship the starry host, those who bow down and swear by the Lord and who also swear by Molek, those who turn back from following the Lord and neither seek the Lord nor inquire of him.”” (Zephaniah 1:1–6, NIV).
A call to silence is a sobering call just before God punishes. I am reminded of one of the most mis-used passages in the Bible. It is found in Psalm 46:10 (NIV)
10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
So many take this verse as intended for comfort to the people of God. It is not intended. It is the dramatic pause before God makes Himself known in power and judgement. "The promise of God’s subduing the nations is fulfilled in Christ (Matt. 28:18–20; Luke 24:47; Eph. 1:20–22; Rev. 5:9–10)." [2]
As this Seventh Seal was opened "seven trumpets were given" to seven angels (Notice the use of 7). The 7th Seal is actually the unfolding of the 7 trumpets and 7 bowls of wrath. "Another way to think about this is that the seven trumpet judgments (and seven bowl judgments of chapter 16) are what is written on the scroll. After the seventh seal is broken, the scroll unrolls to reveal its contents." [3]
Father, it is easy to read Your Word callously and carelessly. The "Sela" pause is intended to make us think of the horror of Your wrath. Your punishment will fall on real people, in real time. It is very, very real. We do not gloat. We do not lift our heads in contention. We stop and think. How horrible it will be for those who reject the Savior. “How shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him.” (Hebrews 2:3, NIV). Lord turn the hearts of our loved ones to Christ. That is the only hope. Save them, Lord Jesus.
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1. KJV Bible Commentary. 1994 (E. E. Hindson & W. M. Kroll, Ed.) (2676). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
2. Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (995). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
3. Easley, K. H. (1998). Vol. 12: Revelation. Holman New Testament Commentary (142). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers
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