We saw in our previous study that the world of religion,
education, politics, along with others, are all filled with countless
souls who believe ILLUSIONS to be real. It is not uncommon for
many to embrace those vaporous trails as if their salvation depends
on it. However, let them believe what they will; but there will be
a time, hopefully very soon, that the truth will be heard and
received with heartfelt joy.
For you see, there must be a time of silence before all the
kingdoms (Revelation 11:15, the kingdom (singular) of the world,
is come the kingdom of the Lord's and of His christ(s)(plural, which is His
corporate Body.)
“And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence
in heaven about the space of half an hour (an unspecified
period of time). And the seven angels which had the seven
trumpets prepared themselves to sound. And I saw another mighty
angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a
rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun,
and his feet as pillars of fire....And cried with a loud voice, as
when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered
their voices. And in the days of the voice of the seventh angel,
when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be
finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.”
Revelation 8:1, 6 & 10:1, 3, 7.
We hear from quite a number who are concerned about the
rarity of fellowship, as well as it being so quiet inwardly and
outwardly. The word of revelation is not stirring in them like they
once knew it, and we are asked: “What happened to the ministries
who used to travel the country breaking new ground with the word
of the Kingdom and sharing revelations from on high with the
body of Christ? Why has there been such a stillness, such a hush
from hearing our Lord’s voice? Other than The Pathfinder, and a
couple of others that come by mail, why are we alone and without
other sources? Just to read or be with one or two others who speak
the same language would be wonderful. Where are they? The
thunder and trumpets of revelation used to be the norm, but not
now! Why is it so still and quiet? It is like a holy hush has settled
over the body of Christ.”
We, of course, empathize with each of them; but we should be
encouraged that although silence has swept over our lives,
trumpets and thunder are coming.
Trumpets and thunder are two of the most awe-inspiring
phenomena known to man. It goes without saying that when a
trumpet sounds, all attention is given to it. Thunder can roll
fiercely through the heavens with the deep roar of a lion and then
wane into the muffled clouds as searching for its prey. In the
scriptures, they both often represent declarations and some sort of
judgment upon people and nations. Trumpets signify a clear
declaration, a command, a revelation, or a message.
There is a thunder that comes from fiery channels of lightning
streaking through the dark body of vapors, seemingly slicing it
open and signaling the earthbound rain and hail to start their
descent. "The clouds poured out water: the skies sent out a sound:
thine arrows also went abroad. The voice of thy thunder was in the
heaven: the lightning lighted the world: the earth trembled and
shook. Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and
thy footsteps are not known." Psalms 77:17-19.
At times lightning bolts are never seen, other than illuminations
from deep within the secret chambers of charged thunder clouds;
but if one is near enough, the report of those secret conclaves can
be heard.
Thunder can come as an instant clap, an ear-piercing burst that
jars the heavens and sets the earth ablaze, and every living creature
scurries for cover in fear as the Psalmist wrote: "At Thy rebuke
they fled; at the voice of Thy thunder they hasted away." Psalms
104:7. The resound of thunder, symbolizing the majestic voice of
God, who can silence it? It would be just as easy to chain the wind
or stay the tide as it would be to shut His voice that thunders from on High,
i.e. the same voice that speaks in and from the Body of Christ, the manifested
sons of God!
There are vast resources and treasures in God's heavens, and
one of them is Thunder, and notably so; for it is often used in
reference to judgment, change, and restoration. Although judgment
is not pleasant to anyone who is contrary to God or who might be
running from Him. For instance, I knew a man who loved to hear
the word of the Lord. It excited him as revelation became a musical chord in his
spirit; but after a few weeks, he pulled back the reins, dismounted,
as it were, and went back to his old way of life. I questioned him
to see what caused this sudden change of direction. He said: “I
came to the realization that the more I know the more I will be
held accountable and responsible for. If I don’t know about it, I
won’t be responsible for not living it. Therefore, I do not want to
hear any more of the word.” I told him that if a bridge has been
washed out by a flood, it is a good thing to know about it so you
can be accountable and apply the brakes before plunging into the
river. But, sadly he did not take heed, and he plunged into the
metaphorical river. For he was tragically killed sometime later at
the young age of forty-nine years old.
Notwithstanding, God’s thundering voice unveils and brings to
pass excellent things. For instance, "In the days of the voice of the
seventh angel, when He shall begin to sound, the mystery of God
should be finished." Revelation 10:7. It is at the sounding of this
mighty angel—Christ who is clothed with His cloud of many
members—that causes the seven thunders to utter their voices from
within their secret places. When the pealing thunder echoes
through the heavens and sweeps over the earth, God's mystery will
be finished and manifested openly to be seen by all men. Such a
wonder is presently hidden from the world and the church system
at large, but not from those to whom the heavens have opened and
love is the essence of their lives."That their hearts might be
comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the
full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgment
of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; In
Whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."
Colossians 2:2-3. Therefore, since we are in Him, wherein the
mystery of God, the finished work, resides, we should know
somewhat of its treasures. It is after we have known silence, and
have been imbued with this pristine laurel that the voice of the
seven thunders can be uttered. Silence is a precursor to His voice,
and without the sound of His voice, we are without a word to
thunder.
Once the sound of His voice streaks through His cloud, the
mystery of God that is already finished in Christ will be
manifested. Although unknown to others, being hidden since the
dawn of the ages, its destiny is to be known by the elect, and it will
be known as it is brought into the earth. It will not remain in the
ethereal vapors of heaven forever. And we note that the finished
product, the manifestation of the mystery of God, is after the
Mighty Angel who is clothed with the cloud speaks, and the seven
thunders and the seventh angel begin to utter their voices.
Revelation 10:1-7.
Sevenis very significant in the economy of God. It is the most
frequently used number in the Bible. The Hebrew word for seven
is sheba', which comes from shaba', meaning, "to be complete...
to seven oneself, i.e. swear (as if by repeating a declaration seven
times)" (Strong's Exhaustive Concordance). Seven speaks of
fullness, completion, perfection. Nothing can be added to or taken
from it without it becoming superfluous or lacking while marring
its perfection. The Hebrew word for sabboth is shabath and is
derived from shaba', and means, to cease, desist, REST, and from
this comes Shabbath,or SABBATH a DAY OF REST. Therefore,
seven/sheba'/shabbath speaks of a completed work wherein rest
is found.
It is Seven that stamps spiritual perfection and completion to
the things it is connected. With time it tells of the sabbath, and
marks off the week of seven days. Seven completes the colors of
the spectrum and the rainbow. Seven also satisfies in music the
notes of the scale, with the eighth merely being a repetition of the
first.
It is said that the every cell of the human body is replaced every
seven years, yet each replacement is inferior to the one it replaces.
This inferiority process, of course, is due to Adam's genetic code
of death in all creation. Regardless of how many vitamins we take,
the aging process marches ever onward; for down to the smallest
atom, they are all embraced by the same genetic code.
We find shaba'in Genesis 21:31, "Wherefore he called that
place Beersheba; because there they sware(shaba) both of them."
This oath of Abraham to Abimelech was based upon the seven ewe
lambs which were set aside (vrs. 28-30). This points to the idea of
satisfaction and fullness in the oath. It was the security,
satisfaction, and fullness of the obligation, or completeness of the
bond, which caused the same word to be used for both the number
seven and an oath; and so it is written, "...an oath for confirmation
is an end of all strife. "Hebrews 6:16.
Seven, as pertaining to fullness, can also be seen in the
scriptures in conjunction with sin: An unclean spirit, upon finding
the backslider empty, swept and garnished, brought back seven
spirits worse than himself, and they entered him (Mat 12:45).
Mary Magdalene had seven spirits cast out of her (Luke 8:2).
Knowing the significance of this number, and that it was
commonly used in the ancient Greek and Hebrew to express
fullness, we can see that it was not speaking specifically of seven
spirits in either of these two cases. With the backslider, Jesus was
merely using an analogy to show the fullness of sin that would
come upon Israel. The seven spirits cast out of Mary, the harlot,
indicated the ultimate depth to which she had fallen, and in the
midst of that unfathomable depth she was forgiven, delivered, and
lifted into life by Jesus. Using her as a type of the Church, it would
be speaking of her destiny in the fullness of sin, but eventually
delivered. Whether referring to good or evil, holy or unholy, pure
or profane, the number seven in scripture carries the thought of
fullness, completion, totality, satisfaction, etc.
We see seven churches listed in the book of Revelation, and
how it speaks of the birth, growth, death of the church and her
resurrection as a whole. It deals with her shortcomings and lack as
well as her complete victory and fullness in Christ. After the seven
judgments of seals, trumpets, angels, etc., and the seven Spirits
which minister life, New Jerusalem comes in full manifested glory
from the heavenlies.
The impact of seven when applied to God's creation is
profound. It ultimately brings completion/fullness/perfection of
His mystery to everything that sees, hears, or is touched by it.
For it is in God's foreordained purpose for all men to see and
fellowship the mystery which has been hidden since the foundation
of the world.It has been the plan of the ages which God formed in
Jesus Christ, and we expect it to be expressed without much more
delay. (rf. Ephesians 3:9-12). Since this seems to be next on God's
agenda, we can count on the trumpet to be sounded and to know
the reality of what it brings.
The groaning creation is standing on tiptoe, waiting for this
sound. And God is raising up a people not content to remain in the
old, any more than Jesus could have been content to stay in
Nazareth. What will the manifestation of God’s sons be like? I
don’t fully know what it will be like, any more than the early
disciples knew what the day of Pentecost would be like when they
went into the upper room with their Lord. I do know what it will
NOT be like! It will not be like any move of God, any revival, any
experience, or anything we have seen in our life-time! The move
of God on the day of Pentecost and the new order of the church
age was as different from the old order of Israel and the law as
anything could possibly be. It is a new sound and the sons of God
are on standby, waiting in the wings to hear the sound. Because
there is silence in their heavens, they have been given the wisdom
and understanding to distinguish the sound and to move at once
when it is proclaimed.
That reality, however, will not come until there is an open
declaration in the earth by God's own sons; but lest we get ahead
of ourselves, we must keep in mind—silence comes before thunder
and the trumpets.
"And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence
in heaven about the space of half an hour." Revelation 8:1.
Every member of that heavenly realm was seen in holy awe and
humble reverence in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ. The
opening of the seventh seal makes a way for the seven Spirits of
God, the seven messages of God, the fullness of God to be
manifested. All who see Him, first those round about His throne,
and those throughout all the subdued heavens, shut their mouths at
the presence of His majestic glory. Crowns are cast at His feet; for
none are found worthy to wear them but Him. Mighty is He in all
His splendor, and His beauty to behold is beyond compare.
There is no clamoring in this place, no vying for position, no
competition or jealousy, no desire to be seen or heard; for unless
He is seen and unless He speaks, there is nothing worthy to do or
of value to say. And the silence does not end until the seven angels
are prepared to sound! When the inner preparation is complete in
the Lord’s people and the conditions are right for the seven spirits
of God to be revealed out of them, the silence will be broken. It
will be broken by a mighty blast of God’s breath!
“And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared
themselves to sound.” Revelation 8:6.
That is what the word sound in this verse means—to trumpet,
to sound a blast. It is neither a mellow sound nor an appeasing
sound. It is far from being a gentle murmur, a suggestion, or a
quiet whisper in the mulberry leaves. When the fullness of the
revelation, glory, and power is to be known, the thundering
trumpet sounds within and without the sons of God. The sudden
blast will not tarry. There will be a great voice sounding from
heaven. It will transform the sons of God and empower them with
irrefutable authority. The sound will also shake the nations of the
world and kingdoms of men. The thundering trumpet of
revelation will come with resounding overtures, and it is in the
bed of silence where it is conceived.
Ah, silence in heaven. All the messengers of God, the living
creatures, and all the saints of fire are in such awe that they
reverently hold their peace. Not a word is spoken for half an hour.
It is an appointed time to hold back Kingdom's thunder. There is
no sounding of the trumpet. Although the hour of a new message
is drawing near, it cannot be proclaimed until our voices are
released to thunder His message.
We know how to continue trumpeting and thundering the
sounds of Passover and Pentecost; is it not better to be still in the
utter silence of God’s awe than to keep on blowing the trumpet of
a dying age? If a trumpet must be blown for this old age, let it be
Taps and not Reveille.
The hour of a new day is upon us that will bring a wonderful
change. Things will be vastly different. We believe that the hour
is swiftly approaching for the silence to end, and the new will
swallow up the old as surely as the dawn swallows up the night.
When the old has been brought to its conclusion, the new becomes
a reality! There has come upon us a deep and marvelous work in
the elect during this silence. It is a transition in the apprehended
ones of their Father, and the new move of God will break forth
within each vessel when the silence has finished its purpose. Many
things are being hushed within His body, for the Lord will not
permit the new sound of the Kingdom to be mingled with the old
sounds that are passing away. If that happened, it would be giving
an uncertain sound. It would be confusing. But this sound will be
clear and certain in the ears of God’s firstfruits.
In the presence of Deity comes the silence of our souls—our
minds, our wills, our wants, our emotions. Every particle in the
heaven between our ears ceases its stirring. That is the heaven
wherein there will not be a word uttered or even a thought to rise
when the seventh seal, the floodgate of perfection, is opened, and
we will minister from that high and Holy Place of God. We neither
need nor are we appeased by the sounds coming from the heavens
of soulish fervor. Neither can we become one with the Amens nor
praises from the heavens of the outer-courts, especially from loud
and disruptive religious spirits. There is no place in the Holiest of
all for self-serving people, whether ministers or those being
ministered to. Nor is a party spirit welcomed therein. It is an
offense to the somber place of God.
When one enters the Most Holy place and ministers from
therein, he will refrain from inciting the people to worldly
laughter. Although joy is one of the basic elements of the
Kingdom of God, it is joy in the Holy Spirit, not joy in the spirit
of drunkenness. Laughter will heal hurting souls; but the carnal wit
of Adam has no place in the Holy sanctuary of God. The people
may be lifted into the roar of laughter by it; however, the wine of
intoxication will keep men from ministering unto the Lord. Ezekiel
said that "Neither shall any priest drink wine when they enter into
the inner court."Ezekiel 44:21. The inner court, whether the holy
place or the Most Holy place, is not a place for drunkenness. It is
solemn. It is serious. It is a place that demands silence from all
flesh and the soulish heavens round about. When those of honor
become too humorous while ministering, they can become, as it
were, court jesters which are as dead flies in the apothecaries
ointment as noted in Ecclesiastes 10:1.
Although unknown by many, we are experiencing silence today
in His cloud of glory. It is a strange and difficult time for some; the
quietness is unsettling. But others are anxiously resting. They are
enraptured by its overwhelming peace. In humble repose, they
view God's works which were finished at the founding of the
world. Rather than looking for what He is going to do, they see
what has already been done as the Son's glory beams upon those
finished works. Heaven's Holy host is taken aback by the vista of
flaming glory. With bated breath, the cloud of His saints anxiously
abide in their place until the time for their thunder to break the
deafening silence.
Then comes the awaited hour. The moment arrives when the
seven thunders utter their voices, voices John heard resounding
throughout God's high and holy realm, but was forbidden to write.
Rather than making a record for others, He was told to hold his
pen and seal up those heralds of truth. (Rev 10:4). We can,
therefore, only speculate what he heard in our day and what will
be its thundering manifestation.
This, no doubt, was akin to what Paul wrote about concerning
the one who heard things that were inexpressible in human terms,
things which would only become defiled when conveyed by the
inquisitive mind of man. It was so foreign to the earthy that the
natural tongue could say nothing to enlighten the elect.
In the presence of our Lord, when He is seen in His temple, in
you and in me, what is there to say? Nothing! Absolutely nothing!
Unless, however, it is the hour for us to thunder the word of His
earthshaking sound. Until then, we rest in utter silence. If we do
not see Him high and lifted up, and He is not seen or heard—be
hushed! Be still! For if you shout, holler, clamor, and run the aisles
in heated fervor with hopes of raising His presence, all that will
likely be raised is a dust cloud. Therefore, rest. Be at peace. Be
still.
"...Let all the earth be silent before him." Habakuk 2:20
NASB). There are no positions or places for untransformed
particles of earth in His presence. Oh, but praise God! When
religious demagoguery is quelled, when Babylon is fallen, and all
of man's schemes are history—the earth can, and will, stand in
awesome wonder before Him. It is then that "The whole earth is at
rest, and is quiet..." And then "...they break forth into singing"
Isaiah 14:7.
This is a perfect picture of today—the tooting of horns, the
squeaking and squawking, the plucking of stringed instruments,
the discordant tones that seemingly have no coherency; every man
intent on doing his own thing, and this is alright if they are part of
the orchestra; for it is the time of fine-tuning. We might not sound
like much at the moment, but just wait a little while. After the
silence of the Conductor's raised baton, what a sound will be heard
reverberating from the Holy Cloud of Heaven!
Much of what we witness is doubtless part of the symphony
that is tuning up. And some, sad to say, is the sound of people who
feel they have to work up a religious fervor before the Spirit will
come in, not realizing He is already in their presence. He is as
much there as lightning is in the cloud before it strikes. We do not
attend many meetings these days; but when we did in the past, at
times we endured that which had been done the same for years on
end. There was a lot of routine singing, clapping, loud voices,
teaching, preaching, prophesying, or whatever else people did to
"get in the spirit." And I say we endured, because a lot of it was
exactly that, an endurance. Of course, it could be that they were
members of the orchestra, and that was merely part of the tuning
process; but it seems that a tremendous amount was the sound of
men being busy about church.
We were so encouraged by what our friend, Alyce McPherson,
said a few years ago concerning this sort of thing. She was relating
about being in a "Kingdom" meeting and so much religious
nonsense was going on. She asked the Lord, "How much longer
must we endure this?" An immediate answer came, saying, "As
long as you remain you will have to endure it, and as long as you
remain—you give it life."
I fear that we have for much too long been feeding and
energizing untransformed earthiness in the gatherings around the
world. We don't want to be rude and walk out every time we don't
feel the Spirit moving, or the meeting is not going the way we
think it should; but neither should we simply endure the antics of
flesh and children. Frankly, kindergarten, marbles, and mud-puddles have no place in the regal halls of God's Kingdom. They
may be alright in certain places, at certain times, and with certain
people, depending on their level of maturity and the order of the
day; but let us be serious in the holy courts of God. Folly should
not be seen where the elders cast their crowns in humble
reverence.
It was sad to see in those days that some teachers and preachers
were more like court jesters than ministers of the Lord’s word, and
surely, the King was not humored by it. Some of the people may
have been; but the King and His court were surely not. Reflecting
on this reminds me of what Solomon wrote: "Dead flies make a
perfumer's oil stink, so a little foolishness is weightier than
wisdom and honor." Ecclesiastes 10:1. The Amplified makes it
little more clear: "Dead flies cause the ointment of the perfumer to
putrefy [and] send forth a vile odor; so does a little folly [in him
who is valued for wisdom] out-weigh wisdom and honor."
I am not suggesting that we should put on some sort of
Pharisaical facade of somber faces, and mope around with no joy
in our lives; but we should not replace ineptness with humor. If we
do not have a life-giving word from the throne, then let us sit down
and be silent! If our music and songs are merely for
entertainment—stop it! If the featured speakers, the prophets, the
healers, the singers merelyserve as talent shows—don't do it
anymore.
There were times when we would gather together and
reverently sit in silence until there was something to be said or
done by the Spirit. Although I do not think it happens much today,
silence might be the only thing necessary at times. Or perhaps, just
perhaps, the word is to be ministered first, and then the spirit of
worship and praise could sweep over the people in anointed song,
praise, and thanksgiving. We can, no doubt, find a few scriptures
which will support our formulas for conducting meetings; but,
brethren, WE should not attempt to be the conductors when we
meet in the name of our Lord, and formulas fit very awkwardly in
the Kingdom of God.
Back in the late 1970s and early 80s, we had Bible studies in
our home, and I was the primary teacher, that is, until my Lord
spoke to me. In essence, He said: “My body has more than one
member, and each member has a truth and expression of me that
no other can express. As long as you are the only speaker,
everyone will be limited, and as long as you are their only voice,
they will only express what you have taught them rather than me.
Therefore, since all who attend the meetings are members of my
body, give them the liberty to express me in their unique way of
myself.”
This was shared with the others at the next meeting, and I told
them that this would be the last time I would be a principle that
should be met so that everyone else who had something should
share it as well. This was expected to be the norm starting with
next week’s meeting. I also said that if no one had anything, there
would be no reason to try and stir or whip up something.
Well, as you might have suspected, NO ONE, had anything to
share when we met the following week, and since I had nothing
stirring in my spirit, I said: “Ok! Since no one has anything,
including me, let’s have some ice cream and cake.” That is what
we did, and I waited to see what next week’s meeting would bring,
and it was a remake of the former week. And I told the same thing.
The third week was different. Everyone had something to share
that was precious to them that they share, and after a couple of
weeks more, they all had so much to express of the wonders of the
Lord, I had a hard time passing along what was so real in my life,
and it continued that way until the Lord spoke again to let me
know it was time to stop the meetings so they could continue on in
the journey in which they were called. This is not for everyone,
since there are no molds or set ways to form the lives of the saints;
but that was how He did it with us back then, and it was good.
There are those occasions in gatherings, of course, when the
King of Glory comes among us in His Imperial presence, with the
conductor’s baton in hand, and not a breath can be heard. Then
there are those times when we should come together in humble
reverence, quiet our heavens, silence our earth, and wait for the
King. If He remains obscure or silent, then perhaps we should be
a little more obscure and silently go home, and continue in such.
And again, it could be that after the space of half an hour, the
trumpeting voice of thunder will be birthed, and we will be heard
resounding from the clouds of heaven and raining/reigning God's
glory, judgment, and restoration upon the earth.
Indeed, there is Calm Before The Storm and following with
great wonders when the One upon the Throne Thunderous His
voice, and it is heard throughout the world, marvelous changes
will be made forever! For that matter, some changes have
already been made!
Elwin R. Roach
The Pathfinder ✦ PO Box 4004 ✦ Alamogordo, NM 88311-4004
full assurance of