“When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.”  Revelation 8:1

Right now, we don’t see God actively stepping in to judge evil.  If we could see the evil in the world for three seconds, we would run away screaming.  God beholds everything that happens and He is silent.  This silence that flows from His mercy is long-suffering, not willing that any should perish!  He holds back, waiting for that last person to come into the fold and accept Him as Lord and Savior!

Jim Elliot wrote, “I think there is nothing so startling in all the graces of God as His silence.  When men have raged untruths in His Name, when they have used the assumed authority of the Son of God to put to death His real children, when they have with calloused art twisted the scriptures into fables and lies, when they have explained the order of His creation in unfounded theories while boasting the support of rational science, when they have virtually talked Him right out of His universe, when they, using the powers He grants them, claim universal autonomy and independence, HE, this great silent God says nothing!

When men stoned the prophets He sent them and finally crucified His Son, He was silent!  His love for His creature is so great that having spoken in Christ, He waits for men to turn for a moment to listen to His still small voice of the Spirit.  Now…after so long a time of restrained voice, bearing in Almighty meekness the blasphemies of His creatures, now…how shall break upon the ears, hearts and minds of reprobate man, the Voice of One so long silent?  It shall thunder with the force of offended righteousness, strike with lightning bolts upon the seared consciences; roar as a lion, ring as the battle shout of a strong, triumphant warrior!!

O God, what shall be the first tones of that voice again on earth?  Wonder and fear, for the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a battle cry, with the voice of the archangel and the trumpet blast of God Himself, made more terrible, if that could be, by the long suffering of His silence.”

Justice is coming for all of God’s people because the Judge is coming!  God is just; He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are in distress.  This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with His powerful angels.  “What may be known about God is plain to (unbelievers) because God has made it plain to them.  For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.” Romans 1:19-20.

 “The Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of His holy ones to judge everyone and convict the ungodly….” Jude 13-14.  “At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippines 2:10-11.

What a glorious day awaits the believer!  Jesus is coming soon!

Your friend,  Jean   (taken from one of Terry’s sermons)