Silence

Prayer – Lord, silence. Who can keep quiet for a half-hour? Silence is golden—like the 1960’s song—but my eyes still see. There is more symbolism here—as throughout Revelation, so I ask that you give me insight and wisdom that I can understand Your prophecy.                      

When the Lamb broke the seventh seal on the scroll, there was silence throughout heaven for about half an hour. I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and they were given seven trumpets. Then another angel with a gold incense burner came and stood at the altar. And a great amount of incense was given to him to mix with the prayers of God's people as an offering on the gold altar before the throne. The smoke of the incense, mixed with the prayers of God's holy people, ascended up to God from the altar where the angel had poured them out. Then the angel filled the incense burner with fire from the altar and threw it down upon the earth; and thunder crashed, lightning flashed, and there was a terrible earthquake. Revelation 8:1-5

 

Meditate. Consider silence.

 

Silence. Can you keep silent for a half hour?

 

Mount Saint Helens - Earthquakes & lightning?
In 1980 an earthquake of 5.1 magnitude 
and static lightning bolts of 2 miles long recorded
when the volcano blast occurred.

The seals don’t seem to be opened in order. Here we see the seventh seal opened before the fifth and sixth seals. Seven angels are given trumpets. Another angel has an incense burner. Those are not common in most churches, although you see them regularly in Catholic masses—especially at their funeral masses. Imagine the smoky incense and prayers rising up to God in Heaven…but look at what happens with that incense burner. An angel fills it with fire and throws it down on the earth. 

Listen. Look. We usually see the flash of lightning before the thunder crashes. Remember counting to seven for each mile to determine how far away the lightning is? Here the thunder crashes and then the lightning flashes. It is right there. Watch out. Then there was an earthquake. Are the lightning, thunder, and earthquake related? Recent news reports of the volcanoes, like the one in Iceland, note that earthquakes as well as lightning occur there. Lots of power in those volcanoes. Could the fire from the incense burner appear to be or cause volcanic activity?

Seven angels. Seven trumpets. Those trumpets will be critical in the next sequence of events—right to the end. Watch, or listen, for those trumpets to sound—although this likely to happen after the rapture.

Then the angel I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand toward heaven. He swore an oath in the name of the one who lives forever and ever, who created the heavens and everything in them, the earth and everything in it, and the sea and everything in it. He said, "There will be no more delay. When the seventh angel blows his trumpet, God's mysterious plan will be fulfilled. It will happen just as he announced it to his servants the prophets." Revelation 10:5-7

God’s mysterious plan revealed by Paul’s letters to the churches at Ephesus and Colosse—fulfilled in the Revelation prophecy. (Underlined for emphasis.)

God has now revealed to us his mysterious plan regarding Christ, a plan to fulfill his own good pleasure. And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ--everything in heaven and on earth. Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan. God's purpose was that we Jews who were the first to trust in Christ would bring praise and glory to God. And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. The Spirit is God's guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him. Ephesians 1:9-14

 

I want them to be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love. I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God's mysterious plan, which is Christ himself. In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I am telling you this so no one will deceive you with well-crafted arguments. Colossians 2:2-4

No more delay and don’t be deceived. Once that seventh trumpet sounds, God’s mysterious plan will be fulfilled. What a glorious day that will be. This week let’s look at what happens with the first four trumpets. Wait quietly…in silence for the Lord.

 

Verse of Salvation ~ I wait quietly before God, for my victory comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will never be shaken. Psalm 62:1-2

Happy Labor Day

Can you work or rest in silence?

 

© 2023 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved. 

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted. 

New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. 

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm. 

 

Books by Mickey M. Hunacek

Available as e-books or paperbacks at Amazon.com

 

Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character

Coins in the Bible: New Testament Stories