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CLOSURE OF THE SEALS AND INTRODUCTION OF THE TRUMPETS
WHEN THE LAMB OPENED THE SEVENTH SEAL, THERE WAS SILENCE IN HEAVEN FOR ABOUT HALF AN HOUR.THEN I SAW THE SEVEN ANGELS WHO STAND BEFORE GOD, AND SEVEN TRUMPETS WERE GIVEN TO THEM.AND ANOTHER ANGEL CAME AND STOOD AT THE ALTAR WITH A GOLDEN CENSER; AND HE WAS GIVEN MUCH INCENSE TO MINGLE WITH THE PRAYERS OF ALL SAINTS UPON THE GOLDEN ALTAR BEFORE THE THRONE; AND THE SMOKE OF THE INCENSE ROSE WITH THE PRAYERS OF THE SAINTS FROM THE HAND OF THE OF THE ANGEL BEFORE GOD. THEN THE ANGEL TOOK THE CENSER AND FILLED IT WITH FIRE FROM THE ALTAR AND THREW IT ON THE EARTH; AND THERE WERE PEALS OF THUNDER, VOICES, FLASHES OF LIGHTNING, AND AN EARTHQUAKE.
NOW THE SEVEN ANGELS WHO HAD THE SEVEN TRUMPETS MADE READY TO BLOW THEM.
REVELATION 8:1-6
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| The Explanation
THIS SILENCE HAS SEVERAL INTERPRETATIONS: IS THE SEVEN SEAL 'S ACTUAL CONTENT THE TRUMPETS? DOES IT REPRESENT GOD'S REST? IS IT A TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF GOD'S REVELATION? IS HUMANITY AWE STRUCK AT THE END OF HISTORY IN RESPONSE TO GOD'S FULL REVELATION OF HIS MYSTERIOUS SOVEREIGNTY? IS IT GOD'S FINAL JUDGMENT? |
| Scriptual Aspect
SILENCE OCCURS IN MANY WRITINGS ,AND WITH DIFFERENT MEANINGS.
PSALM 76: THERE THE SILENCE IS A SIGN OF IMPENDING JUDGMENT
PSALM 88: SILENCE IS THE CLEANSING FROM WITHIN WISDOM
8:1-12: SILENCE IS INTERPRETED AS GOD'S WISE JUDGMENT IT IS NOT FEAR, BUT HUMANITY IS IN AWE BY THE WISDOM OF GOD
ISAIAH 41: IN THAT SILENCE, GOD'S CURSES AND BLESSINGS, CONTAINED, ARE READY TO FLOW. |
| Liturgical Aspect
HABAKKUK:2 GOD FROM THE LITURGY AND THROUGH THE LITURGY WILL BE JUDGING THE NATIONS
ZEPHANIAH:1 GOD IS SEARCHING THE HEARTS OF PEOPLE BEFORE THE JUDGMENT. HE IS JUDGING THE WORLD AND THE TRUMPETS WILL BE HEARD ON THE DAY OF THE LORD. THE SILENCE IS ON US BECAUSE WE ARE AWE STRUCK BY WHAT GOD IS ABOUT TO DO.
MATHEW:22 WE ENTER THE LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST IT IS A SILENCE WHERE WE EXAMINE OUR CONSCIENCE WHERE WE OFFER OUR PETITION TO GOD WHERE WE WORSHIP HIM AND RECOGNIZE WHO HE IS AND WHO WE ARE. GOD ACTS THROUGH THE LITURGY. ROMANS:3 1-20 THE CHURCH GATHERED (GOOD AND BAD) UNDER ONE ROOF AND IT IS GOD FROM HIS THRONE WHO IS ACTING IN RESPONSE TO OUR PRAYERS.THIS CONVERSATION WITH GOD, IS SHAPING HISTORY. |
Conclusion
THE SILENCE AFTER OPENING THE SEVENTH SEAL, IS ASSOCIATED WITH DIVINE JUDGMENT AND IS A SIGN OF ANXIOUS EXPECTATION OF REVELATION, AND IT ALLOWS THE PRAYERS OF THE SAINTS (SYMBOLIZED BY THE INCENSE ) TO REACH GOD "CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER IS SILENCE", THE SYMBOL OF THE WORLD TO COME.OR "SILENT LOVE'(JOHN OF THE CROSS). WORDS IN THIS KIND OF PRAYER FEED THE FIRE OF LOVE. IN THIS SILENCE, UNBEARABLE TO MAN, GOD THE FATHER SPEAKS TO US HIS INCARNATE WORD, WHO SUFFERED, DIED AND ROSE; IN THIS SILENCE AS ADOPTED CHILDREN OF GOD ,ENABLES US TO SHARE IN THE PRAYER OF JESUS. |
NAJI MOUAWAD
Inspirational lecturer, well versed in the teachings of the Catholic Church about the
LIVING WORD of GOD (the BIBLE)
Hosted at
St. Ephrem Maronite Catholic Church
Home of
The New Marian Shrine in San Diego
Every Wednesday
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Navajo Road Exit from I 125, East to Medford
(Behind Our Lady of Grace)
St. Ephrem Church, 750 Medford Street, El Cajon, CA 92020
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