Sermon Leftovers: Revelation 8 - Sound of silence
During the sermon this past Sunday we spent time in Revelation 8 (Link to the children's message and sermon). This chapter in Revelation has a stark and unmistakable contrast between silence and many sounds. In nearly every verse there is a reference to either the absence of sound, or something which makes a sound. What I'm going to do today, is give you some notes, and quotes on the silence in Revelation 8:1. Later this week we will discuss in more detail the sounds that come after the silence of Revelation 8:1.
Revelation 8:1 When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.
There are a few instances of silence in the Bible, especially in relationship to God's presence. The Hebrew word often used in connection with silence before the Lord is "הַס" (pronounced Haas).
- The LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent (הַס) before him. (Hab 2:20)
- Be still (הַס) before the LORD, all mankind, because he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.” (Zec 2:13)
- “In that day,” declares the Sovereign LORD, “the songs in the temple will turn to wailing. Many, many bodies—flung everywhere! Silence! (הַס)” (Am 8:3)
- Be silent (הַס) before the Sovereign LORD, for the day of the LORD is near. The LORD has prepared a sacrifice; he has consecrated those he has invited. (Zep 1:7)
Alfred Edersheim’s description of this Temple ceremony helps us understand the setting reflected here: “Slowly the incensing priest and his assistants ascended the steps to the Holy Place, preceded by the two priests who had formerly dressed the altar and the candlestick, and who now removed the vessels they had left behind, and, worshipping, withdrew. Next, one of the assistants reverently spread the coals on the golden altar; the other arranged the incense; and then the chief officiating priest was left alone within the Holy Place, to await the signal of the president before burning the incense. It was probably while thus expectant that the angel Gabriel appeared to Zacharias [Luke1:8-11]. As the president gave the word of command, which marked that ‘the time of incense had come,’ ‘the whole multitude of the people without’ withdrew from the inner court, and fell down before the Lord, spreading their hands2 in silent prayer. “It is this most solemn period, when throughout the vast Temple buildings deep silence rested on the worshiping multitude, while within the sanctuary itself the priest laid the incense on the golden altar, and the cloud of ‘odours’ [5:8] rose up before the Lord, which serves as the image of heavenly things in this description.”
In Steve Gregg's book "Revelation: Four Views" he cites Matthew Henry as an authoritative commentator representing the "Historical" approach to interpreting this part of Revelation 8:
Matthew Henry suggests two possible meanings of the silence in heaven: (1) that there was a brief period following the destruction of Jerusalem during which no complaints from the saints (as found in 6:9–10) were presented in heaven because all was temporarily peaceful for the church on earth. This silence was soon broken by the renewed prayers of the saints for relief from additional trials (8:3–5); or (2) that this is “a silence of expectation.… The church of God, both in heaven and earth, stood silent, as became them, to see what God was doing, according to that of Zech. 2:13, Be silent, O all flesh, before the Lord, for he has risen up out of his holy habitation.”
What can we say for certain about this silence? A few things:
- Certainly, there is an aspect of holiness. God's otherness, his distinction and difference is to be witnessed in silence.
- Certainly, there is an aspect of anticipation. What is to come next in the story of Revelation? The flow of the story with this silence brings a tension and drama to what may occur next.
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