p. 85 | THE SEVENTH SEAL by E. Everts

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 15, 1857

THE SEVENTH SEAL.

By E. Everts

BRO. SMITH: In Review of Dec. 18th, I notice remarks on the seventh seal. I view your remarks very correct and appropriate; and inasmuch as all scripture is given to perfect us, "and thoroughly furnish us to all good works," I believe that to search diligently to know every truth, especially all that have a fulfillment near the end of the world and the coming of Christ, is reasonable, duty and safe.

The seventh seal of course comes in numerical order, and the sixth opens to our vision the great day of the wrath of the Lamb, which develops the most distressing scene that mind can rest upon. It is a scene when the kings, great men, rich men, chief captains, mighty men, every bondman and every freeman will join in the most awful and distressing prayer-meeting that can be imagined. It takes place when there is no Daysman, no Intercessor, to plead for poor sinful mortals. It must be when our great High Priest has finished his unequaled work of mercy, of pleading the merits of his precious blood for poor sinners, and has laid by his priestly garments, and clothed himself with garments of vengeance, and with zeal as a cloak." Isa. lix, 16, 17.

O, truly that awful day is rolling on; yea, it hasteth greatly—it is near. Yea, this is the generation; our neighbors, our dear friends, our families, yea, my dear brethren, ourselves must witness it. What part shall we act in this awful drama? Shall we enjoy the unspeakable consolation, that the "44" consecration and faithfulness afforded when we felt that we had done all that we could by works of entire consecration to God, and solemn warnings in tears to all around? O may the Lord help us to ponder well the coming events.

What will transpire at the close of the scenes of the sixth seal? "And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour." Rev. viii, 1.

This short description of what transpires under the opening of the last seal, has left a field open for many conjectures. But does not the word of God afford us light on which we may rest our weary thoughts? "Silence in heaven." How stupendous the thought! Never since "the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy," [Job xxxviii, 7.] have the holy angels who cry day and night, Holy! holy! holy! making all heaven's arches resound with the high praises of God, permitted silence in heaven.

But our Saviour has pointed us to a time when we may reasonably conclude that there will be silence in heaven; for he says, "When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory; and before him shall be gathered all nations; and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth the sheep from the goats." Matt. xxv, 31, 32. When this emptying heaven of all the holy angels takes place, will not there be "silence in heaven?" "About half an hour." Will it not be some seven days? for a prophetic hour is fifteen days.

My dear brethren, will not the high praises of God from the redeemed break the silence of that half hour? When they sing the songs of redeeming love, and raise such shouts of victory, as heaven never before witnessed; when saints of all ages, from righteous Abel to the last sealed saint, from the sea, from the land, shall be gathered by the great Jubilee trump, ascend with Jesus and the bright retinue that escorted the King of glory upon the white cloud, join in the greeting of patriarchs, prophets, holy apostles, and near and dear friends; will they not together break that silence that paved the way for an abundant entrance through the pearly gates to approach the tree of life? Amen. E. EVERTS.

Round Grove, Whiteside Co., Ills., Jan. 4th, 1857.