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Whatever judgments come down upon the region below, they are seen by the apostle to be the consequences of activities in the region above. No stroke falls on earth that is not directed in heaven. The two worlds move in concert. The time-accomplishments of one world correspond to the time-appointments of another. We have set before us, in unmistakable symbolism, this truth — That in the developments of God's plans in providence, there are times of comparative quietude, during which it seems as if the progress of things was stayed awhile.

I. WHAT IS INTENDED WHEN WE SPEAK OF PROGRESS BEING APPARENTLY STAYED? There are in the Word of God great promises and prophecies which open up a glorious vision for the future days. There have been also great events which have excited in the Church of God the strongest hopes, and which ever and anon form a restful background. To such periods there succeed long years in which either no appreciable advance is made towards the inbringing of the new heavens and the new earth; or if in one direction some progress appears, in another the cause of righteousness seems checked afresh by new developments of error, folly, and sin. The prophets of God are crying, "Flee from the wrath to come." They long for some manifestation of Divine power to startle man. But no. Man goes on sinning. And our God seems a God that "does nothing" (Carlyle). The thunder is rolled up. The lightning is sheathed. There is a prolonged lull. There is "silence in heaven." The sceptic makes use of the quietude to ask, "Where is the promise of His coming?" The careless one settles down at his ease, and cries, "The vision that he seeth is for many days to come." Hollow professors desert in crowds, and go over to the ranks of the enemy. And still — still there is "silence in heaven." No voice is heard from the invisible realms to break in upon the steady course of this earth's affairs, or to arouse and convict a slumbering world!

II. WHAT DOES THIS SILENCE MEAN? What does it mean?

1. Negatively.

(1) It does not mean that this world of ours is cut adrift in space, or that the human family are left fatherless and lone.

(2) Nor does it mean that time is being lost in the development of the plans of God. Catastrophes are not the only means of progress.

(3) Nor does it imply that God is indifferent to the sin which He is ever witnessing. "The Lord is not slack," etc.

(4) Nor does it imply that God is working on any other plan than that which He has laid down in the book.

(5) Nor does the silence mean that God will ultimately let sinners escape with impunity (Romans 2:8, 4).

2. Positively.

(1) We are not to expect startling providences at every turn of life.

(2) We are to he guided more by what God says than by what we see before our eyes. The book gives principles which are eternal.

(3) There are other sides to, and other forms of, God's working than those which startle and alarm.

(4) By the silence of heaven God would test His people's faith, and quicken them to more fervent prayer.

(5) God would thus teach us to study principles rather than to gaze on incident.

III. WHAT SHOULD THIS SILENCE TEACH US? AND WHAT EFFECT UPON US SHOULD IT HAVE?

1. Let us learn anew to exercise faith in the spiritual power which God wields by His Spirit, rather than in the material energy which shakes a globe.

2. Let us use heaven's time of keeping silence as a time for breaking ours (Isaiah 62:1, 6, 7).

3. Let the ungodly make use of the space given for repentance, by turning to the Lord with full purpose of heart.

4. Let us lay to heart the certain fact, that, although judgment is delayed, come it will.

(C. Clemance, D. D.)

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KJV: And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.

WEB: When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.