Silence… before the storm
By Rev Willem J.J. Glashouwer.. “When he opened the seventh seal, there was SILENCE in heaven for about half an hour. And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.”- Revelation 8:1-2.
The seventh seal of the scroll is broken. The scroll that – as a guardian-redeemer’s deed – contains the right of the lawful owner of heaven and earth. The lawful owner is the Creator of heaven and earth. The final rule over heaven and earth is claimed by Him and brought back to Him by the Only One capable to break the seals: the Lamb that was slain and that establishes His everlasting Kingship as the Lion from Judah. The scroll was sealed with seven seals, but now the seventh seal is broken and the final stage of the history of mankind and the world unfolds.
But before the events of the end times will unfold and the angels of judgment sound their seven trumpets, there is a SILENCE in heaven. Before this phase of world history reaches its completion and finds its final fulfilment – first there is a half hour of SILENCE in the heavens.
As if heaven and earth hold their breath. As if angels and powers and forces and the world rulers of darkness suddenly fall silent. The breaking of the seals has brought world history with her wars, famines, deceases, false prophets, lawlessness and lovelessness, persecution and martyrdom – already for two thousand years – up to this point in time.
The Gospel of the Kingdom has resounded as a testimony to all nations and a part of Israel, the 144,000 Jews chosen from the twelve tribes, is sealed. “The remnant of Jacob will be among the nations, in the midst of many peoples… Just as you, Judah and Israel, have been a curse among the nations, so I will save you, and you will be a blessing. Do not be afraid, but let your hands be strong.”- Micah 5:8; Zechariah 8:13. From the Gentile world a crowd will come that no man can number.
Breaking the seventh seal will set the trumpet and scale judgments into operation – the wrath over the unbelievers, the Godless nations. The persecutions of the believers are over. The day of “vengeance of our God” begins. Isaiah 61:1-2. But before that happens there will be SILENCE in heaven. The hymns will stop. It will be stock-still. Everyone will keep his breath. What is going to happen now that God’s wrath is about to break loose? One thing is certain: God’s children are safe and salvaged from the wrath, and the servants from Israel are sealed.
“Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all God’s people, on the golden altar in front of the throne.”- Revelation 8:3.
The sounding of the trumpets is a declaration of war from the Lord to the earthlings. The history of the earth under the five seals is the history of mankind of the past two thousand years. At the sixth seal God intervenes and the warning character of the plagues that have hit the earth under the breaking of the five seals is now over.
Men has invoked judgment upon himself. The blood of the martyrs under the fifth seal asks for it, begs for it, cries even out for it. Mass abortion, suicide/euthanasia, the pollution of the earth, air and water, the stored “overkill” of the ABC-weapons (atomic, bacteriological and chemical) the lawlessness and decadence, the Towers of Babel built by science and technique, the antichrist(s): “The earth will become desolate because of its inhabitants, as the result of their deeds.”- Micah 7:13. The day of the Lord is near. But of that hour of trial half an hour is filled with SILENCE.
The seven angels (archangels?) are ready with the trumpets that will pound the earth and the people and will create chaos. But first that impressive SILENCE. God is silent. Jesus Christ is silent. The heavenly choirs fade away. “Be silent before the Sovereign Lord, for the day of the Lord is near.”- Zephaniah 1:7a.
“The great day of the Lord is near— near and coming quickly. The cry on the Day of the Lord is bitter; the Mighty Warrior shouts his battle cry. That day will be a day of wrath— a day of distress and anguish, a day of trouble and ruin, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness— a day of trumpet and battle cry against the fortified cities and against the corner towers. “I will bring such distress on all people that they will grope about like those who are blind, because they have sinned against the Lord. Their blood will be poured out like dust and their entrails like dung. Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the Day of the Lord’s wrath.” In the fire of his jealousy the whole earth will be consumed, for He will make a sudden end of all who live on the earth.”- Zephaniah 1:14-18.
“Be still before the Lord, all mankind, because he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.”- Zechariah 2:13. What is going to happen?
PRAYERS
Another angel (the same one as in Revelation 7:2?) is going to stand at the altar with a golden censer and with a lot of incense the prayers of all saints (Psalm 14:1-2); Revelation 5:8) are placed on the altar – before the throne. All prayers of all saints from all ages, including the prayers from the souls of the martyrs under the altar. They are going to be answered now. “And will not God bring about justice for His chosen ones, who cry out to Him day and night? Will He keep putting them off? I tell you, He will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?”- Luke 18:7-8.
All the spiritual energy of faithful and persevering prayer, millions and millions of prayers, the conglomeration of all prayer energy of the ages is placed on the altar, cleansed and sanctified. Now justice will be done. “Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is Mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.”- Romans 12:19; Deuteronomy 32:35.
Justice will be done. Heaven that occasionally looked like copper, listens to all prayers. Before the Kingdom finally breaks through, the world of satan and Godlessness, the injustice that has become virtually absolute like in Sodom and Gomorrah, that world must be destroyed. And then the prayer: “Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”- Matthew 6:10, will be answered.
Then the earth comes under the direct kingship of Jesus Christ –“The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: “The kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord and of His Messiah, and He will reign for ever and ever.”- Revelation 11:15.
Rev Willem J.J. Glashouwer
President Christians for Israel International
