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.”

“The lesson is that down here at the end of the Gospel Age, between the completion of the sacrifice of the last members of the elect body of The Christ and the future Time of Trouble, there will be a jubilation period in heaven above concurrent with a momentary void in the lives of those remaining below. Thus, the seventh-seal silence refers to a situation somewhat similar to the closing events of the First Advent. The comparison is to the departure of the last members of the Little Flock beyond the veil of flesh while the secondary or Great Company class are left behind to await renewed strength and further investiture of the Holy Spirit.

When Elijah the Prophet (a type of the Little Flock) was taken up to “heaven” or earth’s atmosphere, Elisha (a type of the Great Company class), his companion, was left below. Elisha cried with anguish, and rent his clothes, before donning Elijah’s cloak of authority left behind (2 Kings 2:11–13).

As the wise virgins (typifying the Little Flock) were entering the marriage, the foolish virgins (typifying the Great Company clas) went to the marketplace. The latter, returning with oil in their vessels, found the door shut and themselves denied entry (Matt. 25:10,11).

After the Lord’s goat (a type of the Little Flock) offering was consummated, the live goat (or “scapegoat” typifying the Great company class) was taken into the wilderness (Lev. 16:20–22).

When the Christ is complete, the half hour of silence will occur, preceding the earthquake (the great time of trouble, specifically Armageddon). In other words, the silence will take place between the completion of the sacrifice and the Time of Trouble. It will accentuate the earthquake, and the earthquake will punctuate the silence. During this interim period, the Church will be formally presented to the Father and given their reward. After their grand entrance (2 Pet. 1:11), God has a time scheduled—the exact length of which is unknown (perhaps six months more or less)—that will be a waiting period for the Great Company class. Very likely, the expression “about the space of half an hour” is meant to be commensurate with the last half of the future “hour” of power of the beast in Rev 17:12.

The Great Company will wait down here during the silence, realizing they have missed out on the high calling, sensing an experience of withdrawal and alienation, and wondering where they stand with the Lord. The Bride will have made herself ready (Rev. 19:7), and the Great Company will be deeply disappointed and chagrined at first, for but ever so brief a moment of time, that they were not chosen by the Lord. They will realize they have not been as faithful to their vows of consecration as they could have been. As a result, they will begin an introspection and examination of their lives and say, “I know the Lord has not been pleased with me to the extent of choosing me as his Bride, but I love the Lord, not the world, and now I need his forgiveness.” Accordingly, this class will cry unto the Lord for help. Thus, the period of silence will be beneficial in that it will awaken the Great Company to their shortcomings and a realization of their need for more of the Holy Spirit.

Just as in the type it was a prerequisite that Elisha to see Elijah being taken, so in the antitype the Great Company will recognize the true Church having departed. The Elisha class will be given rejoicing experiences later, but first there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matt. 25:1–13; Hab. 3:18).

In fact, when the door to the high calling closes, three classes, finding themselves outside, will weep and gnash, knock, and try to enter the door (Matt. 7:21–23; Luke 13:24–30; Matt. 22:2–13): The Great Company (1) without (many of whom will recognize Elijah’s departure) and (2) those within the church systems (in Babylon), and (3) the Judas class, whose doom is oblivion (Jude 12,13). The Great Company will, however, be later comforted and told that it is blessed to go to the marriage supper (Rev. 19:9).

The way the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles at Pentecost is similar in principle to the manner in which those of the Great Company (that is those who recognize Elijah’s departure, the last of the true body of Christ going beyond the vail) will get the “double” portion of Elijah’s spirit after the Church is beyond the veil (2 Kings 2:9).”

Continued with next post.