May 27, 2020 (Wednesday)
“When he opened the
seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.” [Revelation 8:1 NIV]
Is this literally a half hour, or based on Daniel’s “missing
week,” (where one day equals one year) two weeks? The answer is unknown. It might have just been a time long enough to
be awkward to John but not long enough to be considered a section of the day.
This is the only place or time silence is mentioned in
heaven. Praise or cries for justice are the norm in heaven, but here is a
universal pause. One idea is this is a
time of preparation or a time for people to repent. It has been suggested this
is the “parenthesis of grace.” Another idea is this half-hour represents the
fall of the Roman Empire.
Some have suggested it is the “Sabbath” of the church.
Others have claimed it is the beginning of eternal peace (Bede, Primasius,
Victorinus, Wordsworth). Those who hold to the preterist view variously assign
the silence to the destruction of Jerusalem (Manrice), A.D. 312-337
(King), the period following A.D. 395 (Eiliott), the millennium (Lange), and
Julian’s decree imposing silence on the Christians (De Lyra).
Other ideas include the time when the Church will be
triumphant on earth (Vitringa), the astonishment of Christ’s enemies
(Hengtesnberg), and the silence of creation in awe of the catastrophes about to
happen (Ebrand and Dusterdieck). The image of silence also comes from the
temple worship as incense was offered.
”And I saw
the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.”
[Revelation 8:2 NIV]
“THE” (article IS in the Greek) reference to the seven
angels implies these angels have already been seen in the vision (most likely
seven churches). Another thought is these angels are mentioned in places we do
not necessarily consider inspired but were readily used by other inspired
writers (Paul, Peter, and Jude). An apocryphal writer, Tobit, 12:15 states, “I
am Raphael, one of the seven angels who stand ready and who enter the Lord’s
glorious presence.”
Wesley stated, “These trumpets reach nearly from the time of
St. John to the end of the world; and they are distinguished by manifest
tokens. The place of the four first is specified; namely, east, west, south,
and north successively: in the three last, immediately after the time of each,
the place likewise is pointed out.”
Confused yet? When I originally typed this up, I ran through
an explanation of Daniel 9:27 and the “missing week.” But I cut those two
paragraphs, because you might think I was smart (at worst) or insane (at best).
I’m trying to make an impression. Lots of people way smarter than me have
disagreed based on their perspective in history and what they were attempting
to accomplish. The thing to remember when interpreting prophecy is something
that is past or present to the original readers may reflect (or foretell) a
future event.
It is possible the book of Revelation is a commentary on
Rome in the first century and give a picture of events from then until the
final day and be predictive of future events. What I want to point out is the
extent God the Father will go through to save people. Immediately after the
sealing of a certain number of witnesses, there is silence. The horror’s
judgement have been stilled for a period. It is an opportunity for repentance
(and evangelism). It is history taking one deep breath before pressing to its
conclusion.
I think we are seeing God pausing before what is about to
happen. Ever sense that happening in your life? Does God have your attention?
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