Revelation Chapter 8
The Seventh Seal
VERSE 1 continued “When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.”
We continue with the explanation of this verse as explained in the Southern Wisconsin notes.
Another scripture, that we find interesting in regards to what the silence in heaven may represent and its relationship to judgement, is found in the parable of the feast, where one of the guests came, and did not have on the wedding garment.
“And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how comes thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matt 22:11-13)
As we pointed out in Rev 7:17, the tears were because of their personal failure and of realizing it was their fault. This is very similar to a court case where it’s obvious that the defendant is guilty. If you were to go to court and you had no real defense because you were guilty, then you would have no choice but to be silent before the judge, especially in a situation where God is the judge. Even in human courts those who are guilty or who seem so, usually are not allowed to testify by their lawyers.
There is no way that you can lie to God, so if you are guilty you could only be silent, because there will be no excuses that will get you off the hook. Consequently, during the time of the harvest judgment the false church system had no defense that it could make, because it was indeed guilty, hence, the silence in heaven. See also Dan 7:9-12, 15-27, where we see God sitting in judgment.
The other possibility about the silence is simply that as with all tragic endings we would be silent in respectful sorrow because of all those that had lost out and failed their judgment!
Another confirmation that we are correct about what this seal means, has to do with the parallel that we have been following with Matt 24. We saw that the sixth seal was describing the events of Matt 24:29-34. If the parallel continues for the seventh seal, we should then find judgment in the verses immediately after Verse 34.
We actually see this to be true in several places, in that judgment is mentioned in the parable of the faithful and wise servant (See, Our Lord’s Great Prophecy, Part 89) We also see it in the parable of the wise and foolish virgins, and again in the parable of the talents.
We even see it in the parable of the sheep and the goats, which is mentioned last. This is fitting, in that we know judgment starts with the house of God, but that the world will also be judged after the church is complete.
“For {it is} time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if {it} {begins} with us first, what {will be} the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? AND IF IT IS WITH DIFFICULTY THAT THE RIGHTEOUS IS SAVED, WHAT WILL BECOME OF THE GODLESS MAN AND THE SINNER? (1 Pet 4:17, 18 NAU)
Revelation is a Court Case Transcribed in Advance
This is like a court case in which God has used the six preceding seals to describe and show us what the false church system has done wrong. In the seventh seal he has brought this false church and state system before the judgment seat to declare their guilt.
“But the court shall be seated (for judgment, a.k.a. beginning at the time of the end, i.e., at the end of the 1260 years [1799 A.D.] the final verdict then being delayed or postponed until 1878 A.D., that verdict being, “Babylon is fallen”, “We would have healed her, but she is not healed; forsake her.” Rev 18:2; Jer 51:9), and they shall take away his (or its) dominion (its eviction being given in, 1914 A.D.), to consume and destroy it forever (“Thus with violence the great city Babylon shall be thrown down, and shall not be found anymore,” ???? A.D.).” (Dan 7:26)
“After these things I heard something like a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, "Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God; BECAUSE HIS JUDGMENTS ARE TRUE AND RIGHTEOUS; for He has judged the great harlot (Babylon the Great, a.k.a. the professing church) who was corrupting the earth with her immorality (false doctrines and practices), and HE HAS AVENGED THE BLOOD OF HIS BOND-SERVANTS ON HER."(Rev 19:1, 2 NAU)
Since they are guilty, he is now able to bring about their destruction AS A SYSTEM. No one will question the punishment that comes on them, as well as no one would be able or willing to defend them. It should be obvious to everyone that study the scriptures that they are guilty as charged!
In our next post we move on to the Seventh Trumpet.
