The Pause in Heaven

In the final message in the Pause series, Pastor Gary Webber explores the meaning of the 30 minutes of silence John witnessed in Revelation and how that short pause reminds us that God is patiently waiting for us.

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 

and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 

And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying,

“Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”

Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” I said to him, “Sir, you know.”

And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

“Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence.

They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat.

For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. 

Revelation 7:9-8:1

Principle (KNOW):

• God pauses to protect us (Revelation 7:13-15)
  God doesn’t necessarily protect us FROM trials, but He always protects us THROUGH them.

• God pauses to provide for us (Revelation 7:16-17)
  The timing of God’s provision may be more important than the provision itself.

• God pauses because He is patient with us (Revelation 8:1)
  The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.
  – 2 Peter 3:9-10

Practice (DO):

Take time to prayerfully consider how God may be waiting on you. Make a list of how is protecting, providing, and demonstrating patience toward you. Thank Him through word and deed.

Suggested Reading List for “Pause”:

Revelation for Everyone, Tom Wright
The Last Days According to Jesus, R.C. Sproul
The Vision of His Glory, Anne Graham Lotz
Emotionally Healthy Spirituality, Peter Scazzero
Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day, Peter Scazzero

Daily Reading:

Day 1: Revelation 4-5
Day 2: Revelation 6
Day 3: Revelation 7
Day 4: Revelation 8
Day 5: Matthew 6
Day 6: Matthew 13
Day 7: Matthew 24

Check out these resources from RightNow Media:

The Last Days According to Jesus, R.C. Sproul