Friday, May 3, 2013
SILENCE IN THE HEAVENS TO LAST 1/2 HOUR AFTER FEAST OF TRUMPETS
Orson Pratt:
"Immediately after the sounding of this trump there will be silence in heaven for the space of half an hour." Whether the half hour here spoken of is according to our reckoning thirty minutes, or whether it be according to the reckoning of the Lord we do not know. We know that the word hour is used in some portions of the Scriptures to represent quite a lengthy period of time. For instance, we, the Latter-day Saints, are living in the eleventh period of time; and for aught we know the half hour during which silence is to prevail in heaven may be quite an extensive period of time. During the period of silence all things are perfectly still; no angels flying during that half hour; no trumpets sounding; no noise in the heavens above; but immediately after this great silence the curtain of heaven shall be unfolded as a scroll is unfolded. School children, who are in the habit of seeing maps hung up on the wall, know that they have rollers upon which they are rolled up, and that to expose the face of the maps they are let down. So will the curtain of heaven be unrolled so that the people may gaze upon those celestial beings who will make their appearance in the clouds. The face of the Lord will be unveiled, and those who are alive will be quickened, and they will be caught up; and the Saints who are in their graves, will come forth and be caught up, together with those who are quickened, and they will be taken into the heavens into the midst of those celestial beings who will make their appearance at that time. These are the ones who are the first fruits, that is, the first fruits at the time of his coming."
I have read an interpretation of this 1/2 period to be 21 1/2 years our time on earth, after the trumpets have blown - accounting for the translation of time from God's time to our time on earth, with His time being 1 day to our 1000 years. This is one reason why I think we have a number of years before the tribulation period starts. That's not to say that I want that delay, but I am persuaded it will be a number of years, due to this factor. I think the last trumpet *might* be blown in 2015 then the 21 1/2 year period, then the tribulations. Another perspective which may merit your consideration, though I certainly could be wrong. I also think that deep, profound, fully heart-changing spiritual preparation will be as important, if not even more important than physical preparation, though I am not seeking to excuse a lack of physical preparation. The blog has been beneficial in a number of ways. If you have interest, additional focus on the spiritual preparation necessary, would I believe, be very well-received, and tremendously worthwhile.
ReplyDeleteThe opposite could also be true... My wife died and came back during child birth. She told me she felt she had been gone for almost half an hour on the other side, where I saw only a few seconds of flutter on the heart monitor and in her eyes. Everyone I've ever talked to or read about has had a similar experience, a long time spent in the spirit world equals a short time here on earth. i.e. a half hour of silence over there may only be a few seconds down here. Just a thought.
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