Two-Edged Sword Ministries
The interlude is over - the 144 000 Jews are sealed from the wrath of God that is about to be released on the earth. A large multitude is seen in Heaven praising the creator of all. And ....
When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. [ Rev 8:1 NIV]
It is important to note; that unlike the first six seals, the seventh seal has nothing to do with the earth. We are told that the seventh Seal is merely silence in the heavenly realms. But we are also given a bit more information ... this silence in heaven is to last for 1/2 an hour. Without getting too technical; lets consider this time-frame a bit more. We know that numbers in the Bible are not given to us as fillers; so lets see whether this "half-an-hour" time frame carries any significance. The book of Revelation mentions "hours" on quiet a few occasions:
Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth. [ Rev 3:10 NIV ]
He said in a loud voice, "Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water." [ Rev 14:7 NIV]
In one hour such great wealth has been brought to ruin!' [ Rev 18:17 NIV ]
Let us first once again consider the promise made to the faithful Christians "Philadelphians". We know the hour of trial is the tribulation as clearly this is the period of time that Daniel says will test those on earth. If the whole hour is the tribulation; it therefore makes sense that half-an-hour refers to half the tribulation.
As the tribulation is seven years in length, this makes "this silence" the last half of the tribulation; or because we are told after Seal six that Gods wrath is now approaching, it is now named the "Great Tribulation". This period of time suggests that the first half of the tribulation is over and that the second half of the tribulation will commence with the heavenly realms being silent. This is confirmed later in the scriptures as the wrath of God is released on the face of the earth.
But the big question that has not been answered is
As the tribulation is seven years in length, this makes "this silence" the last half of the tribulation; or because we are told after Seal six that Gods wrath is now approaching, it is now named the "Great Tribulation". This period of time suggests that the first half of the tribulation is over and that the second half of the tribulation will commence with the heavenly realms being silent. This is confirmed later in the scriptures as the wrath of God is released on the face of the earth.
But the big question that has not been answered is
"why is the 7th seal merely silence in heaven?".
All the other seals have been seals that have brought pain, misery, bloodshed and judgment.
Why should this seal be different? There are a few considerations we need to consider;
The seventh scroll that is opened contains such awful and terrible punishments that heaven is silenced by the wrath of God to come. (Bear in mind, however, God does describe exactly how his wrath will come with his judgments - And we know it is going to be nothing like we ever read or saw before.)
God is waiting for more people to repent before he releases his judgments. (This is plausible because Gods’ desire is for all of us to repent and not be damned.) However, you will notice in the second half of the tribulation on how few unbelievers repent.
Others’ believe that this is the time that starts the tribulation. In other words, the seventh seal occurs at the same time the antichrist signs the peace treaty with Israel. However, this view is seriously falwed as we are told after the launch of the sixth seal that Gods' wrath is rapidly approaching.
Whilst others believe that this is the time that the “Bema Judgment” of Christians occurs. We recall from "prophecy essentials" that the Bema judgment throne refers to the judgment of Christians of their works. Although; as believers, we will not be condemned; we will receive rewards according to what we have sown on earth. We know that the rapture has taken place and the tribulation saints have also been taken from the earth at the mid-way point.
Bear in mind; that all the other seals has been judgments that have been poured on the earth by Jesus; thus making the Seventh Seal a heavenly judgment - The bema judgment! See our article corner for more information on this judgment.
Two-Edged Sword Ministries - South Africa
Copyright © May 2003 [ T.E.S. Ministries ]
All rights reserved.
First revision, November 2006 [2.0]
Second Revision: March, 2009 [3.0]
All rights reserved.
First revision, November 2006 [2.0]
Second Revision: March, 2009 [3.0]
Scripture quotations marked " NIV " are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by Permission of Zondervan Publishing house [4]