The Seventh Seal

Silence in Heaven

Before we get into today’s lesson I want to review some of what we have studied so far. The Apostle John received this message while he was in exile on the Island of Patmos because of persecution by Rome. I think it is important to study Revelation because there is a promise in verse 3. “Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy and blessed are those who hear it.” According to scripture we are being blessed.

The first 3 chapters record Jesus’ message to the seven churches in the ancient world. Letters of commendation, condemnation and a call to hear.

Chapter 4 takes us to a vision of the throne room of God. Where we see and hear the constant praise of God by Angels, Cherubim, Seraphim, and the 24 elders seated around the throne.

In chapter 5 we are introduced to the Lamb of God who was slain and who is worthy to open the seals on the scroll in God’s hand.

In chapter 6 we read about the 4 horsemen of the Apocalypse and the destruction that they visited upon the earth. The fifth seal revealed the souls of those who were slain because of the word of God calling out to God “How Long.” the 6th seal opened to a great earthquake and the sun turned black, the heavens receded and mountains and islands were removed from their place. Men hid and called rocks to fall on them to hide them from God.

Chapter 7 calls for the placing of a seal on the foreheads of the servants of God. 144,000 were sealed from the 12 tribes of Israel. There were also a multitude wearing white robes standing before the throne holding palm branches and praising God. These are the ones who have come through the great tribulation. I mentioned last week that some scholars believe that the church will be raptured or taken to heaven before the tribulation. Others would say that these who have been through the tribulation would be the raptured ones. The more I study I find that I would go with the rapture before the tribulation, but I would also caution everyone to be prepared no matter when Jesus comes for his own.

When we come to chapter 8 working our way through John’s Revelation we have seen the tremendous amount of praise. That is in the heavenly throne room. Angels, seraphim, cherubim, constantly praising god and the Lamb. the twenty four elders kneeling before the throne of God. Now to see a time when the seventh seal is opened and there is silence for half an hour, gives us pause as well. There can be worship in silence as well as in the audible praise of God. In music a pause can proceed a change about to take place in the music. A moment of silence is often used as a sign of respect such as a silent prayer offered in respect for someone. A speaker might use a silent pause as a way to heighten anticipation or to call attention to the next point. A teacher might use silence to bring her class to attention.

John saw seven angels with seven trumpets standing before God. Then another angel standing at the altar offered the prayers of all God’s people along with incense as a sweet smelling offering to the Lord. One commentator suggests that the thirty minutes of silence was such the God could appropriately receive all of the prayers. Whatever the reason for the silence I think it demonstrates the importance of our prayers. We see that they are heard and answered. Then the angel took coals of fire from the altar and hurled them to the earth and there were loud thunderings, lightning and an earthquake.

The first angel blew his trumpet and hail and fire mixed with blood was hurled down to earth and a third of the earth was burned up, along with a third of the trees and a third of the grass. Think about the economic collapse followed by starvation if one third of the food supply is destroyed.

The second angel sounded his trumpet and a huge mountain was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned to blood and a third of the living creatures in the sea died and a third of the ships were destroyed. The people who first read John’s letter viewed it as happening in their current day. many comparisons to Rome were made. If you compare these events to the 10 plagues in Egypt When Moses confronted Pharaoh you see many similarities only they are more severe and involve the whole world not just one country. One comment that I read stated that in 2016 there were an average of 50,000 shipping vessels on the oceans at any given time. That means that 17,000 vessels were destroyed. The impact to the supply chain would be enormous. the basics of food and water as well as needed household items. Gasoline for cars, batteries, clothing, many other items that we use and depend on every day.

The third angel sounded his trumpet and a great blazing star fell from the sky and a third of the waters turned bitter. We know that a person can live on average 2 weeks or more without food, but only 2 to 5 days without water. The bitter water might quench your thirst, but it might also make you sick when you drink it.

The 4th angel sounded his trumpet and a third of the sun, moon , and stars turned dark making a third of the day and night without light. Have you noticed when you are out at night that there is so much artificial light. If you look outside you can see lights from neighboring houses, but also nearby communities as well. last year we had a power outage and when I looked outside everything was dark. This trumpet would darken a third of the world. Then John heard an eagle flying in mid air calling in a loud voice: “Woe! Woe! Who! Just like in the four seals we see a change in the last three of the trumpets.

The fifth angel blew his trumpet and a star that had fallen from the sky and was given the key to the shaft of the Abyss. When it was opened smoke like smoke from a gigantic furnace rose from it and darkened the sun and sky. Out of the smoke came locusts who were given power like scorpions. They were told not to harm the grass or any plant or tree, but only those people who did not have God’s seal on their forehead. Torture but not kill people would want to die but death will elude them. Can you imagine pain so great that you want to die. Cookie told me that when she had food poisoning she felt so bad that she wanted to die. This plaque is like that but it is for all the people. All the people who don’t have God’s seal.

The sixth seal releases the four angels that are bound at the river Euphrates who have been kept there for this day and hour. To kill a third of mankind. 2 million soldiers. Estimates are that China could mount an army of 2 million. Horses described as having heads of lions, out of their mouths came fire, smoke, and sulfur and their tails were like snakes having heads that inflict injury. the rest of mankind who were not killed by the plaques still did not repent of the work of their hands, the worship of demons, idols, murders, magic arts, sexual immorality or thefts.