** The Seventh Seal and the Seven Trumpets **

And when He had opened the seventh seal,
there was silence in heaven as of half an hour.

And I saw the seven angels,
who stood before God;
and there were given them seven trumpets.

(Revelation 8:1-2)

AR 386

The church of the Reformed is here treated of,
as to the quality of those therein
who are in faith alone:
the preparation of the spiritual heaven
for communication with them.

"And when He had opened the seventh seal,"
signifies exploration by the Lord
of the state of the church,
and thence of the life of those
who are in His spiritual kingdom,
being those who are in charity and its faith,
in this case who are in faith alone.

"There was silence in heaven as of half an hour,"
signifies that the angels of the Lord's spiritual kingdom
were greatly amazed when they saw those
who said they were in faith in such a state.