The Future According to GodНамуна

REVELATION 8: Silence in Heaven

Revelation 8 announces a silence in heaven. Why? Please read or listen to Revelation 8.

COMMENTS

In 1995, at forty years old, after reading Revelation 8, I wrote in my personal Bible reading journal, "Silence in heaven before final judgment of earth. Incense and prayer. First trumpet: hail and fire. One-third of the earth burns up. Second trumpet: the sea turns to blood. One-third destroyed. Third trumpet: the river and springs become bitter. Fourth trumpet: sun, moon, stars, one-third darkened. Judgment on earth will be awful. People will cry out for death rather than live through this.”

In 2008, at fifty-three years old, after reading Revelation 8, I wrote, "There is a lot of activity in heaven. The Lamb breaks the seventh seal, causing silence as saints pray and angels prepare judgment on earth. The four trumpet blasts destroy one-third of the earth. Trees, grass, the sea, ships, rivers, waters, moon, stars. In other words, one-third of land, water, and heaven is destroyed as partial judgment, so people can still repent before the final judgment."

In 2013, at fifty-eight years old, I split this chapter into a couple of days, reading Revelation 8:1-5 ESV on the first day and verses 6 through the end of the chapter on the second day. I wrote, "Silence in heaven. The ceaseless prayer and worship by living creatures, elders, angels, and throngs of people stops. This may be the only time in eternity when heaven is silent. It is the announcement of the beginning of the end as seven angels with trumpets prepare to respond to the cry of the saints on earth by destroying what becomes an evil inhabitant of humanity. An angel throws fire to the earth, and the beginning of the end begins.”

The next day, I wrote, "Judgment, wrath, plagues, destruction, all initiate from heaven. Angels with trumpets announce devastating destruction of one-third of the earth, one-third of the sea creatures, one-third of the waters, and one-third of the light. God's initial judgment is restrained. Is he trying to get the attention of people so some can repent and be saved? What terror, hate, and struggle will it be like on earth? Yet, ‘Woe, woe, woe’ (Rev 8:13 ESV), as the next three angels are about to blow their trumpets.”

Let's look at Revelation 8. The chapter opens with silence in heaven. Yes, silence. Can we imagine silence in heaven? We read earlier chapters of the ceaseless praise all around the throne of God. Silence?

The Lamb, Jesus, breaks the seventh seal, and an angel takes a censer filled with fire and throws it to the earth. The seven angels begin to blow their trumpets of judgment. We only get through four of those angels before an eagle cries out loud, “Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth, at the blasts of the other trumpets that the three angels are about to blow!” (Rev 8:13 ESV). A third of virtually everything on earth is destroyed in the first judgments of God. Yet, as I mentioned in my journals, this is probably restraint, allowing people one more chance to come to saving faith in Christ.

I also mentioned in one of my journals that all this devastation comes from heaven. It comes from angels. It comes from instructions by the Lamb of God, Jesus.

DIGGING DEEPER

The practical application from Revelation 8 is: do not take sin lightly. God is going to judge. I heard some people say over my lifetime, “Sin is not that big a deal because God has to forgive me.” Friends, God chooses to offer forgiveness through the blood of Jesus at the cross of Calvary, but it is our responsibility to accept that forgiveness. Anybody who understands what Jesus went through at the cross, the penalty that was paid, and now looking at the Book of Revelation, cannot take sin casually. We cannot take the forgiveness of God casually.

This chapter reminds us of the seriousness of how God is going to deal with sin. As we close chapter 8, this is a time I do not look forward to the next chapter, when three angels blow more trumpets of judgment upon the earth.

PRAYER

Lord, we pray, we come to You humbly as we read these chapters. This judgment we read about is not just upon the earth; it is the judgment we all deserve. But by Your grace, but by Your forgiveness, but by Your mercy, we are forgiven. For those of us who have accepted that forgiveness, we do not face this kind of judgment, though we deserve it. We give You praise; we give You thanks that You gave the price for our sin on the cross of Calvary. To God be the glory, amen.