And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. Rev 8:1 KJV.
There was silence in Heaven…
It has been a series of panoramic events. Things have been happening in rapid successions in Heaven as the seals were being opened one after the other. But after the opening of the seventh seal, something strange happened. Rather than the usual happenings of events, something unusual was observed; there was silence in Heaven.
Heaven’s Silence: A Waiting Silence
There are times and seasons when Heaven goes on silence over the saints; moments when it appears nothing is happening in the lives of those who believe in God. This time of Heaven’s silence is when it appears God has abandoned and given up on His Own people. Moment of Heaven’s silence are periods of no visible activities of progress in life; seasons, when the Israel of God confesses “My way, is hid from the LORD, and my judgments are passed over from my God”. Silent nights… When the Heaven seems closed and God seems not to be within the reach of men. Silent times-moments when men feel God has lost track of them and does not care what happens to them again. Silent times are times of obscurity and darkness.
There was silence in Heaven for about the space of half an hour… Considering all the previous panoramic chain of events before this silence, this dramatic pause must have seemed to last for an eternity. Silent moments are not easy moments to cope with. They are periods of agitations and eagerness for a response. It’s always as if it will never end. Silent times are waiting times.
Heaven’s Silence: A Time-bound Silence
And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. One interesting thing about Heaven’s silence is that it is time-bound-for about half an hour. Heaven’s silence is not meant to last forever. It is for an appointed time and for a purpose. After that silence in Heaven, God again moved into action in more dramatic ways. So when it says in the Book of Revelation that there was silence in Heaven for the space of half an hour, that was because God was moving the scenery for the next act. So then, the silences you experienced when your hopes are shattered and your plans delayed or destroyed may be God’s way of preparing you for the next act. So hold steady. God never abandons His children and He takes a Father’s interest in everything we do. He hurts in your hurts- never forget that. And guess what? That silence is just for “half an hour.” No silence will last for eternity. Heaven will eventually speak, and when He speaks, He will speak peace to His people.
When Zion said, “The LORD has forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me”, the Lord replied back, “Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.” When we are experiencing Heaven’s silence and we feel that God has deserted us, let’s remember His Word of promise “I will not forget you.” God’s silence is not synonymous to forgetfulness on the side of God. Heaven’s silent time is God’s period of silent but an active time of underground work for the next chapter of the manifestation of His power. The reason why it appears silent to you is that you are in the dark as to what the Lord is doing in the backstage.
Heaven’s Silence: Time of Prayer and Trust
During the time of Heaven’s silence, the only activity was the prayers of the saints (Revelations 8:3, 4). Prayer ought to be our preoccupation during the time of Heaven’s Silence. We must continue instant in prayers, praying with all prayers and supplications. The attitude and lifestyle of prayer is the healthy and profitable attitude to maintain during the times of Heaven’s silence. We must continually seek God in our silent night. We must trustfully wait on God for His salvation. The attitude of Job in His moment of suffering and Heaven’s silence must be our own attitude as well. When the Heaven was silent over Job’s suffering, he trustfully said, “Though He slays me, yet will I trust Him.” and “All the days of my appointed time will I wait until my change come.” During this time of Heaven’s silence on Job, he did not sin against God nor charge God foolishly. But rather, he trusted in the God of His salvation. And at the expiration of the “half an hour” silence, God spoke again and the life of Job experienced a turnaround which made the glory of his later days far greater than the former.
Joseph also experienced this kind of Heaven’s Silence. For many years the Heaven was silent over the dream of his life and it appeared the dream would die in the realm of imagination, never to see the light of day. As he moved from Pit to Portiphar’s house and to Prison, he probably would have forgotten if he ever had any dream. But through it all, he followed God faithfully and trustfully, and when the silent time expired, the silence gave way to the voice of deliverance and enthronement! And it became evident that the years which looked to men as if the Heaven was silent, God was busy working in the affairs of men and in the life of Joseph to bring about the fulfillment of His good purpose for his life.
Jesus Christ also was not exempted from Heaven’s silence. At the peak of His suffering on the Cross, it appeared the Father had forsaken and abandoned Him; the Fellowship and the Company which He had accessed and enjoyed all through His earthly ministry suddenly became inaccessible. It was so painful that the Eternal Son cried out in pain, “My Father! My Father! Why hast Thou forsaken me?” And though there was no immediate response from the Father, Jesus still said, “In Thy Hand, I commit my spirit”. That is trust at its peak during the painful time of Heaven’s silence! To make matter worse, the strange silence which began on Friday did not end there, it continued into Saturday and extended into Sunday. During this silence, it was as if nothing would happen as all the disciples and friends of Jesus had lost hope in Him. But the silence of God, as earlier mentioned, holds greater hope than we can possibly imagine. Heaven’s silence is not to be mistaken for idleness, inactivity or forgetfulness. When it seemed everything was silent on Jesus, great works of deliverance was going on behind the scene as He descended into the lower part of the earth to contend with powers which had held humanity in captivity since the fall of Adam. It was during this silent time that He led captivity captive, destroyed the powers of darkness and triumphed over them in it. Eventually, God spoke concerning Jesus Christ. The silence of Saturday finally gave way to the Sunrise of Sunday as the Sun of Righteousness arose in glory from the cold grave of death never to die again!
Heaven’s Silence: A Test of Believer’s Trust
What normally appears to men as silence is a designed programme in God’s Agenda to execute His will. Note, God is not under obligation to involve a man in the details of His doings. The secret things belong unto God, and the things which are revealed belong unto us. Many times men only receive the final, finished product of God’s marvelous acts. Several acts of God that we receive are products of silent, invisible workings of His Hands. So, Heaven’s Silence is designed by God to test our faith, patience, and trust in the God we are serving. God seems to be saying to us by His Silence, “When it appears my works are not visible to your eyes, can you still trust my Faithfulness?” “When the promise seemed delayed, do you still believe I cannot forget?”
Are you currently experiencing Heaven’s Silence in any area of your life? This silence could be in form of financial lack, delay in child-bearing, no job, lack of ministerial breakthroughs, health challenge, “unanswered” prayers, delay in marriage, and so on. And it seems there is no hope. Do not worry, God is only moving the scenery for the next act that will make the rest part of your journey in life smoother, faster and more fulfilling. No problem will enjoy eternal life. God’s silence isn’t empty. It is full of answers. “His anger lasts only for a moment. But His favor lasts for a lifetime! Weeping may go on all night, but joy comes with the morning” (Psalms 30:5).
Keep On Keeping On!
Moments of Heaven’s Silence can be painful at times. But one way to handle it effectively is to TRUST IN THE LORD in those times. Simply TRUST. That’s what Job did. He said, “All the days of my appointed time will I wait until my change comes”, and “Though He slays me, yet will I trust Him.” Trust is confidence or reliance on God’s attributes and personality that He loves you and will not forget you. During Heaven’s Silence, simply TRUST that God is working behind the scene for your good.
Simply trusting every day
Trusting through a stormy gale
Even when my faith is small,
Trusting Jesus, that is all
So when you get to the end of your rope in the moment of Heave’s silence, just tie a knot and hang on. Help is on the way. The Lord whom you seek will suddenly appear. And when He appear, He will speak peace ad comfort to your soul. Joy comes in the morning! So….
Keep On Keeping On!
God Bless You!