When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.
Parallel translations
- WEB When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.
- KJV And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.
- NKJV WhenHe opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.
- NASB When the Lamb broke the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.
- NLT When the Lamb broke the seventh seal on the scroll, there was silence throughout heaven for about half an hour.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
When the Lamb opens the seventh seal, heaven falls silent for about half an hour. The silence marks a solemn pause before the next series of judgments.
Overview
The hush in heaven heightens awe and anticipation, perhaps signaling reverent stillness before God's judgments or the answering of the saints' prayers. The seventh seal opens into the seven trumpets, linking the sequences of judgment. The dramatic silence underscores the gravity of what God is about to do.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Zech 2:13Be silent before the LORD, all people, for He has roused Himself from His holy dwelling.”
- Hab 2:20But the LORD is in His holy temple; let all the earth be silent before Him.
- Rev 6:1Then I watched as the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say in a thunderous voice, “Come!”
- Ps 62:1For the choirmaster. According to Jeduthun. A Psalm of David. In God alone my soul finds rest; my salvation comes from Him.
- Job 4:16It stood still, but I could not discern its appearance; a form loomed before my eyes, and I heard a whispering voice:
- Rev 5:1Then I saw a scroll in the right hand of the One seated on the throne. It had writing on both sides and was sealed with seven seals.
- Ps 37:7Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when men prosper in their ways, when they carry out wicked schemes.
- Rev 6:9And when the Lamb opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony they had upheld.
- Rev 6:12And when I saw the Lamb open the sixth seal, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black like sackcloth of goat hair, and the whole moon turned blood red,
- Rev 6:5And when the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” Then I looked and saw a black horse, and its rider held in his hand a pair of scales.
- Rev 6:7And when the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!”
- Rev 6:3And when the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!”
- Rev 5:9And they sang a new song: “Worthy are You to take the scroll and open its seals, because You were slain, and by Your blood You purchased for God those from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.
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Christ at the center
Revelation ends the story with the slain-yet-standing Lamb who is worthy, the Lion of Judah, the Alpha and Omega, the returning King who makes all things new and dwells with his people forever.
How Revelation 8:1 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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