The Last Silent Night and the Silver Haired Saints

In the USA and 160 other countries, CHRISTmas is a national holiday to celebrate the birth of Christ Jesus. Christmas became a federal holiday in the United States on June 28, 1870.

Christmas, sights and sounds are everywhere. Christmas music, movies, twinkling lights, decorated trees, Nativity Scenes. There’s excitement and anticipation in the atmosphere, at least among the kids who still believe.

About 2,000 years ago before the very first Christmas there was excitement and anticipation in the atmosphere, or at least among those who still believed in the coming of the Christ.

Even though they didn’t know the first CHRISTmas was upon them, they felt it.

They still believed, even though long lay the world in sin and error pining. Messianic Scriptures were coming alive, birthing a thrill of hope that yonder lies a new an glorious morn.

There was a remnant that still believed even though it’d been over 400 years of silence from heaven. Over 400 years since the prophet Malachi spoke and wrote:

Malachi 3:1; “Behold, I send My messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight. Behold, He is coming,” says the Lord of hosts.

The Old Testament ends as the New Testament ends, talking about the coming of Christ.

The very last two verses of the Bible say it like this:

Revelation 22:20-21
²⁰ He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! ²¹ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

With a promise and a blessing, the New Testament ends.

With a promise and a warning, the Old Testament ends. We’ll look at the warning in a moment, but first, let’s clarify who the messenger is that prepares the way.

In Matthew 11:10, speaking of John the Baptist Jesus quotes Malachi 3:1. "For this is he of whom it is written: ‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, who will prepare Your way before You.’

He spells in out again in Matthew 17:10-13. “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first? ¹¹ Jesus answered and said to them, “Indeed, Elijah is coming first and will restore all things. ¹² But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him but did to him whatever they wished. Likewise the Son of Man is also about to suffer at their hands.” ¹³ Then the disciples understood that He spoke to them of John the Baptist.

Now, let's see how the Lord concludes the Old Testament with a promise and a warning:

Malachi 4:5-6

⁵ Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. ⁶ And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.”

The promise: I'm coming. The warning: If I don't you're in big trouble. 

After those words...

BOOM.

400 YEARS OF SILENCE.

As far as Scripture is given, not another Word from God. Not another, “Thus saith the Lord” from a prophet.

A time of violence on earth and silence from heaven.

Until Gabriel showed up and broke the silence.

Luke 1:5-17

⁵ There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. ⁶ And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. ⁷ But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years.

⁸ So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division, ⁹ according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. ¹⁰ And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense. ¹¹ Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. ¹² And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. ¹³ But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. ¹⁴ And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. ¹⁵ For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. ¹⁶ And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. ¹⁷ He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

As far as recorded in Scripture, who does God choose to speak to first after a 400 year silence?

A couple of senior citizens, “barren and well advanced in years.”

 Zacharias and Elizabeth.

The silence is broken in answer to a prayer that likely has been silent for some years. Since they were well advanced in years, they probably were no longer praying to get pregnant. 

But when Christ comes near, miracles happen, prayers are answered.

WARNING: The silence is broken, and then Zacharias is immediately silenced, because he doubted and opened his mouth in unbelief. Luke 1:18-20. To whom much is given, much is required.

Now, chronologically speaking who else does God speak to regarding this silence-breaking Good News?

 Matthew 2:1-2,16.

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, ² saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” ... ¹⁶ Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men.

The wisemen may have seen the star over two years prior to speaking to horrible Herod. They probably came from Persia, (modern day Iran) about 800 to 900 miles. They may have been traveling a long, long time.

The prophet Daniel had been chief of the wisemen in Persia some 500 years prior. These wisemen might’ve read Daniel’s prophecy regarding the timing of the coming of the Messiah. Daniel 9:24-27.  

Additionally, the wisemen may have read the prophecy of Balaam about the “star coming out of Jacob.” Numbers 24:17. Balaam was from Pethor, a town near Persia.

We’re not told their age, but wisemen, learned in astronomy were probably “well advanced in years” like Zack and Liz. 

Okay, so the Lord wants to break a 400-year silence, and who does He choose to break the news?

 Senior Citizens.

1.    Zachariah & Elizabeth.

2.    The Wisemen.

Who’s next?

Well of course Mary (Luke 1:26-38) and Joseph (Matthew 1:19-25); they obviously needed to know.

Then, after Jesus is born the shepherds are told by angels. Then, others are told by shepherds. Luke 2:8-10.

Who’s next?

Two more Senior Citizens:

Simeon, Luke 2:25-35. He knew by the Holy Spirit.

Anna, Luke 2:36-38. She knew by the Holy Spirit too, and spoke to all who looked for redemption...

The broken silence begins and ends with Silver Haired Saints.

1.    Zechariah and Elizabeth 

2.    Wisemen

3.    Simeon

4.    Anna

It’s noteworthy that the only ones who just knew, by the Holy Spirit within, not a supernatural sign without, were the last two, the silver-haired saints, Simeon and Anna.

Dear Saints,

400 YEARS OF SILENCE.

Israel was in Egypt over 400 years until God sent 80-year-old Moses to deliver them out of bondage and into the Promise Land. That was the time when the iniquity of the Amorites was full; Genesis 15:16. A time of promise for one, and judgement, for the other.

The world lay over 400 years in silence between the Testaments until, The Deliverer (announced largely to silver haired saints) came to deliver mankind out of the bondage of sin (lest I smite the earth with a curse).

Friends, it’s been over 400 years since the Mayflower Compact. After the Mayflower landed at Plymouth Harbor the pilgrims wrote and signed a covenant with God, vowing to follow Him in all their ways in this New Promise Land, we now call, America.

Is the iniquity full?

What if today is the Day, the Father says, “Gabriel go get your horn, Son, go get Your Bride.”

What if today is the Day, The Deliverer comes; a promise for one, and judgement for the other.

Will He find you faithful; His messenger, wisely reading and following the signs, knowing the Truth, speaking the Truth to others and all who look for redemption?

Or will He find you in doubt, unbelief and silence?

Personal Note: I wrestled with silence from heaven until the evening before delivering this message. All I had was a glimpse of what He wanted to say— the old silent prayer of Zacharias and the 400 years of silence. The message came hard like chiseling each word from stone. I wrestled with doubt, even after delivering the message. But then, late that evening, I read an email from the Epoch Times, that read:

Good Evening
December 18, 2024
TODAY IN HISTORY

Mayflower arrives at Plymouth Harbor

1620

I had no idea.

That may mean nothing to you.

But a personal pat on the back and an ‘attaboy son, from God, means everything to me.

Let’s pray.

Lord, thank You for confirming Your Word. Help us, to know You, really know You, intimately, personally, walking so near You we have no need for signs in the stars, angels from heaven, but simply Your Holy Presence with us, in us, always.

Oh, and merry CHRISTmas, thank You for coming.

We love You, forever.

Amen.

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