Silence in Heaven

1. At the end of the sixth seal, the unrepentant nations, confronted with the glory of Jesus' return, try to escape and to hide themselves in the rocks. Filled with fear as they behold this spectacle, they cry:
   «Why does God behave like this?»
   «Is it already the end of the world?»
   «What did we do wrong?»
   «Who is able to stand?»

2. Before describing the seventh and last seal, the book of Revelation answers the nations' question, asked at the end of the sixth seal. As an answer to that question, the book of Revelation designates the following groups of faithful believers (check off all the right answers):
   «The 144 000».
   «The twelve apostles».
   «The great multitude».
   «The 24 elders».

3. Then, the book of Revelation reports John's vision, at the opening of the seventh seal: «When He opened the seventh seal, there was in for about an .» Once again, the Word of God will help us to decode the meaning of this seal.

4. At the time of Jesus' return, the earth will be the scene of a very noisy spectacle. In the Gospel according to Matthew, Jesus Himself declares: «All the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with and great . And He will send His angels with a great of a trumpet.» The silence will thus take place in heaven only.

5. According to the Word of God, what causes the silence in heaven, at the opening of the seventh seal?
   This is a solemn moment.
   The angels hold their breath.
   Heaven is empty.
   Everyone stands open-mouthed.

6. The silence in heaven, at the opening of the seventh seal, lasts half an hour. According to the prophetic Word, half an hour symbolizes a period of:
   half an hour, literally.
   a week.
   two weeks.
   a month.

7. The period symbolized by the prophetic half an hour, in the seventh seal of Revelation, can also be found in another story, which Jesus compares to the day of His return, in the Gospel according to Matthew. What story is it?
   The Creation of the World.
   The Great Flood.
   The Ten Plagues of Egypt.
   The Red Sea Crossing.

8. In the story of Noah's ark and the Flood, reported in the book of Genesis, which of the following lasted one week?
   The time of Noah's preaching.
   The time for building the ark.
   The waiting time in the closed ark, before the Flood.
   The length of the diluvian rain.

9. Just like in the days of Noah, God will soon put an end to His offer of salvation. Jesus will then stop making intercession for the sinners, and will return to gather His people. During His trip from heaven to earth (the week of the seventh seal), it will be too late to repent and accept salvation. In the book of Revelation, Jesus Himself confirms that the time of grace will come to an end, and that He will declare on that day: «He who is unjust, let him be still; he who is filthy, let him be still; he who is righteous, let him be still; he who is holy, let him be still.»

10. Finally, as we are waiting for Jesus' return, let's remember the words of the apostle Peter, in his Second Epistle: «But the heavens and the earth which now exist are kept in store by the same word, reserved for until the day of judgment and perdition of men. (...) Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which dwells.» Let's prepare ourselves for this great and wonderful day!

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