487. There followed silence in heaven.- That this signifies astonishment that the state of the church was such, and that its end was at hand, is evident from what follows, where its destruction is treated of, and the condemnation of all with whom the church was not, that is to say, with whom no conjunction of truth and good, or of faith and charity existed, for this conjunction constitutes the church with every one. Because these things were perceived in heaven, and engaged the minds of the angels when the seventh seal was opened, there was thence astonishment, and from astonishment, silence. Silence has several significations; in general it signifies all those things which cause it, and amongst these astonishment especially induces it.