When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.  (Revelation 8:1)

The scene is the throne room of God. Transported in a vision, John the Apostle witnesses the enactment of salvation, and he is moved to tears:

Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals.  And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” 

And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. 

And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”  (ibid 5:1-5)

This is the heavenly acceptance of the commission to be the redeemer of humankind and blighted creation.  John has witnessed this event before, played out in the garden of Gethsemane, as along with his brother, James and Peter they keep a vigil of comfort with Jesus (Matthew 26:37).

(Jesus)…went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” 

And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” 

And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. (Luke 22:39-44) 

In heaven, Jesus accepts the commission to open the seals on the scroll and all heaven sings:

“Worthy are you to take the scroll
    and to open its seals,
for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God
    from every tribe and language and people and nation,
and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
    and they shall reign on the earth.”  (Revelation 5:9-10)

As each seal is released in turn, cleansing judgment is unleashed on the world and in his vision he sees two multitudes of the saved, Israel and the other nations (ibid 7).  But when the final seventh seal is opened, a profound silence falls.  The word in Greek is σιγή sigé and means the ceasing of tumult, or hush, and it is used in one other place in the New Testament.  

Paul has arrived in Jerusalem, unheeding of the warnings of his peril.  He is recognised and seized by a hostile crowd; only the intervention of the tribune of Jerusalem, Claudias Lysias, and a cohort of Roman soldiers prevented his summary and non-judicial killing.  As he is borne to safety, he begs Claudias to let him address the crowd.

And when he had given him permission, Paul, standing on the steps, motioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great hush, he addressed them in the Hebrew language… (Acts 21:40)

The murderous crowd fall silent in expectation.  This is the hush that descends on the clamour and tumult that characterises the fallen world and it mistaken desires – and there is a heavenly equivalent after the seventh and final seal is broken and the scroll of life is unfurled.

In this is the same hush of which psalmist wrote:

Come, behold the works of the Lord,
    how he has brought desolations on the earth.
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
    he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
    he burns the chariots with fire.
“Be still, and know that I am God.
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth!”  (Psalm 46:8-10)

The pause is the prelude to great sounding trumpets that shake the very foundations of heaven and earth, soon to be replaced with a new creation (Revelation 21:1)

This hush is the response of a stunned creation, marvelling at God’s mighty sacrifice of his son, astounded at the enormity of his grace and extent of His loving mercy. 

This is the Day of the Lord that is the coming of the Messiah:

Be silent before the Lord God!
    For the day of the Lord is near (Zephaniah 1:7)

Eternity is not in lockstep with time, so it is legitimate to equate this also to the deep silence the shepherds experienced on the hills of Bethlehem – for in heaven the Messiah is sent once, even if on earth there are two advents, and the first is heralded by the announcement of a birth.

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear.

And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloth and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest,
    and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”  (Luke 2:8-14)

This is reflected on the Christmas carol: ‘It came upon the midnight clear’:

The world in solemn stillness lay,
To hear the angels sing.

And

O hush the noise, ye men of strife,
And hear the angels sing.

Heaven and earth, angel and human, all creation is in breathless awe at God’s redemptive purpose through his glorious Son.