Revelation 7:1–17

Review…

• OUTLINE…
  • THREE sections – Revelation 1:19
    • PAST – John wrote the things he HAD seen – vison of Jesus – Revelation 1
    • PRESENT – the things which ARE – the SEVEN churches – Revelation 2-3
    • FUTURE – AFTER these things – Revelation 4-22
  • THREE events…
    • The RAPTURE – Revelation 4-5
    • The WRATH – Revelation 6-18
    • The RETURN of Jesus Christ – Revelation 19-22
  • THREE judgements…
    • The seven SEAL judgments – Revelation 6-8
    • The seven TRUMPET judgments – Revelation 8-14
    • The seven BOWL judgment – Revelation 15-18
    • Seven Seals…
  • FIRST seal – white horse – the rise of the Antichrist and start of the SEVEN years of Tribulation…
  • SECOND seal – red horse – PEACE is taken from the earth – outlaw of the worship of Jesus…
  • THIRD seal – black horse – FAMINE covers the world – because men are not looking to Jesus…
  • FOURTH seal – pale horse – DEATH and HELL – ultimate end for those who follow the Antichrist…
  • FIFTH seal – tribulation saints – an innumerable number saved DURING the tribulation…
  • SIXTH seal – great earthquake – as men try and hide from the WRATH of the Lamb!

Salvation in the Tribulation…

• 1^st – The Four Angels… vs. 1-3
  • 1^st – No Wind… vs. 1
    • After these things!
      • [Μετὰ ταῦτα] – the same phrase we saw after the SEVEN churches – Revelation 4:1
      • After the breaking of the SIXTH seal – there is PAUSE…
      • As we saw with the FIFTH seal – the heart of God is SAVE people…
      • The purpose of the TRIBULATION is to show men this life does NOT have the answer…
      • But since the CHURCH is in Heaven [raptured] who gives the GOSPEL to a lost world!
    • I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth – holding the four winds of the earth!
      • John saw FOUR angels – that STOOD [perfect] waiting at the FOUR corners of the earth…
      • The FOUR corners – refer to the FOUR directions – NORTH – SOUTH – EAST – WEST…
      • They had POWER [κρατέω] over ALL the wind [weather] on earth!
      • Some try and connect these FOUR angels – to the FOUR horsemen – Revelation 6:1-8
      • They correlate them to the FOUR horsemen in – Zechariah 6:1-8
      • Who are called the FOUR spirits [רוּחַ] – or WINDS of Heaven…
      • But this does NOT seem to be the case – as they have a DIFFERENT purpose…
      • The HORSEMEN in Zechariah come to bring REST – these ANGELS come to DESTROY!
    • That the wind should not blow on the earth – on the sea – or on any tree!
      • The FOUR angels – will make the WIND stop blowing [subjunctive]
      • It seems likely – these are the same FOUR angels from the Trumpet judgements…
      • When they are allowed to act – at the blowing of the SIXTH trumpet – Revelation 9:15
      • The wind will STOP – and one THIRD of all men [another TWO billion] will DIE!
      • No WIND might not sound that BAD – but it is DEVASTATING – WIND does a LOT…
      • It causes temperatures on earth to balance – not to HOT or COLD…
      • It also carries WATER from the oceans to the land – without it there will be DROUGHTS!
      • But as we so often SEE – God HOLDS back the judgment…
      • Because He is SLOW to WRATH – but has a LOT [רַב] of LOVE [חֶסֶד] – Psalms 103:8
  • 2^nd – The Seal… vs. 2-3
    • Then I saw another angel ascending from the east – having the seal of the living God!
      • Then John saw another [ἄλλος] ANGEL – coming from the RISING sun [ἥλιος]
      • With the SEAL [σφραγίς] of the Living God – NOT the SEVEN seals – Revelation 5:1
      • But like the SEVEN seals – this SEAL is something that can ONLY be opened by God!
    • [The angel] cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm…
      • Do not harm the earth – till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads!
      • The angels were NOT to harm the EARTH – until the SERVANTS [δοῦλος] were SEALED…
      • God will SEAL people [mark on their forehead] – so they CANNOT be harmed…
      • What is the SEAL – it is the HOLY Spirit God – II Corinthians 1:21-22
      • Ephesians 1:13 – “In Him you also trusted – after you heard… the gospel of your salvation. In whom also – having believed – you were sealed [σφραγίς] with the Holy Spirit of promise.”
      • When anyone believes in Jesus – puts their faith in the GOSPEL…
      • They are SEALED by the HOLY Spirit – they cannot be harmed by the WRATH of God…
      • The same SEAL [σφραγίς] – God uses to bind satan for THOUSAND years – Revelation 20:3
      • Meaning those who have this SEAL – also cannot be HARMED by satan!
      • I John 4:4 – “Because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world!”
• 2^nd – The Evangelists… vs. 4-8
  • 1^st – Back to Israel… vs. 4
    • I heard the number of those who were sealed – one hundred and forty-four thousand!
      • The BIG question – WHO are the ones sealed during the TRIBULATION…
      • It is NOT the church – because there are ONLY 144 thousand!
      • This number is famously claimed by the Jehovah Witnesses…
      • Born out of the GREAT disappointment in 1844 – William Miller…
      • Charles Taze Russell – took this out of CONTEXT – said only 144 thousand would be saved…
      • Which became problematic when the CULT grew larger than 144 thousand…
      • They were forced to change their DOCTRINE – that number is just those who go to heaven…
      • Others who follow their CULT – get to rule on earth!
    • One hundred and forty-four thousand – of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed!
      • The 144 thousand – VERY specifically comes out of the sons [υἱός] of ISRAEL…
      • We are given additional information about them – Revelation 14:1-4
      • They have Jesus NAME on their foreheads – and MEET Him on Mount Zion when He returns…
      • MEN who have NEVER been married – dedicated to the MINISTRY – I Corinthians 7:32
      • They are the FIRST to be SAVED after the rapture of the church – and then tell OTHERS!
      • Israel was ALWAYS meant to be a LIGHT to lost world – Isaiah 49:6
      • When Jesus was crucified – Israel was blinded [in part] for a TIME – Romans 11:25
      • And for the next TWO thousand years – God used the CHURCH as a LIGHT to the LOST…
      • But once the church is REMOVED [rapture] – God will once again use ISRAEL!
      • For the last SEVEN years – concluding the seventy week prophecy – Daniel 9:24-27
      • God will SEAL 144 thousand Jews – UNTOUCHABLE – to proclaim His GOSPEL…
      • Because even in the darkest times – God finds a way to make His LOVE known!
  • 2^nd – The twelve Tribes… vs. 5-8
    • The Twelve Tribes of Israel…
      • In describing WHO will be SEALED [passive] from Israel – John lists TWELVE tribes…
      • If you ask any JEW today what TRIBE they are from – they cannot tell you [lost to history]
      • But God does KNOW – and He will take seal TWELVE thousand – from each of the TRIBES!
      • There are some who try and say the CHURCH – has replaced Israel – Galatians 6:16
      • Because it was the JEWS who crucified Christ – Matthew 27:25
      • Which leads them to believe it is the CHURCH who is SEALED during the Tribulation…
      • But NOTE – it is not just ISRAEL – those who are SEALED come from the TWELVE tribes…
      • Unless we try and say the CHURCH has TWELVE tribes – this has to be true ISRAEL!
      • Jeremiah 31:36 – “I am as likely to reject my people Israel as I am to do away with the laws of nature!” [NLT]
      • As long as the sun rises – Israel will ALWAYS be the people of God…
      • And since God will never forsake Israel – that means God will not reject us
      • That should bring great comfort to our hearts – it means no matter how rebellious we get…
      • Like the parable of the lost sheep – God never gives up on us – Matthew 18:12
    • Who is Missing…
      • There are a total of FOURTEEN tribes in Israel…
      • When Jacob counted his children – he included the TWO sons of Joseph – Genesis 48:5
      • Yet in over TWENTY lists found in the OT and NT – only TWELVE are ever listed…
      • Meaning there are always TWO tribes who are not named!
    • The tribe of DAN…
      • Perhaps because it was the tribe of DAN – that led Israel into IDOLATRY!
      • FIRST – with the false religion that began with the IDOLS of Micah – Judges 17-18
      • SECOND – Jeroboam set up one of the Golden calves in the city of DAN – I Kings 12:28
    • The tribe of EPHRAIM…
      • Although they do seem to be there – mention instead as JOSEPH [father of Ephraim]
      • The tribe of Manasseh [the other son] is mentioned by name – leaving only Ephraim!
      • Again – perhaps cut out of the list because of IDOLATRY – Hosea 4:17
      • But there is HOPE – BOTH of these tribes are in the MILLENNIAL kingdom – Ezekiel 48:1-6
• 3^rd – The Tribulation Saints… vs. 9-17
  • 1^st – A great multitude… vs. 9-10
    • After these things I looked – and behold – a great multitude which no one could number!
      • [Μετὰ ταῦτα] – after the 144 THOUSAND had been SEALED…
      • John saw – and told us to also LOOK [imperative] – at a GREAT multitude in heaven…
      • It was so MANY people – it was NOT possible [δύναμαι] to count them!
      • This is the RESULT of the witness of the 144 THOUSAND…
      • Countless MILLIONS coming to FAITH in Jesus – during the TRIBULATION!
    • Of all nations – tribes – peoples – and tongue standing before the throne and before the Lamb…
      • Clothed with white robes – with palm branches in their hands!
      • Like the CHURCH – who are already in heaven [rapture] – Revelation 5:9
      • This MULTITUDE – comes from every part of the world…
      • They come from ALL [πᾶς] nations [ἔθνος] – tribes [φυλή] – peoples [λαός] – and languages…
      • This is the SAME group John saw after the breaking of the FIFTH seal – Revelation 6:9
      • But they are no longer under the ALTAR – they now STAND [perfect] before the THRONE…
      • They are CLOTHED [passive] in white [we will come back to this]
      • And they are holding PALM branches in their hands!
      • PALM branches – 2x in NT – also used when Jesus entered Jerusalem – John 12:13
      • On what we know as PSALM Sunday – the people came to WORSHIP Jesus…
      • Crying out – HOSANNA [יָשַׁע נָא] – save us now…
      • Yet they were looking for Jesus to overthrow ROME – not save them from SIN…
      • Therefore – FOUR days later this same crowd cried out – CRUCIFY!
      • The TRIBULATION saints will NOT be saved from the Antichrist – Revelation 13:7
      • But they will be SAVED from theirs SIN – which is what really matters…
      • If people come to Jesus looking for blessing from this LIFE – they will be disappointed…
      • The message of the GOSPEL – is about the hope of ETERNAL life!
    • Crying out with a loud voice – saying…
      • Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne – and to the Lamb!
      • The MULTITUDE yelled [present] with a LOUD [μέγας] voice…
      • Our SALVATION comes from the ONE sitting on the THRONE – our God and the LAMB…
      • NOTE – this group is NO longer asking for REVENGE – Revelation 6:10
      • Once they see the THRONE – and the LAMB – they just start to WORSHIP!
      • It is interesting – we will be able to discern RACE and NATIONALITY in heaven…
      • And people when they FIRST arrive – will still hold onto emotions from this life…
      • But the moment we see God – that all seems to melt away – and all that remains is WORSHIP!
  • 2^nd – The Angels… vs. 11-12
    • All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures…
      • Fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God!
      • Seeing this INNUMERABLE multitude worshiping Jesus [the Lamb]
      • ALL [πᾶς] of the ANGELS in heaven – all 100 TRILLION of them – Revelation 5:12
      • Along with the ELDERS [24] and FOUR cherubim – fell on their FACES – and WORSHIPED!
    • Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom – thanksgiving and honor and power and might…
      • Be to our God forever and ever. Amen!
      • Do NOT miss why ALL of heaven was so moved at the site of these martyred SAINTS…
      • They UNDERSTOOD what God had done – how the Tribulation had SAVED them…
      • Which is why they say AMEN – [ἀμήν] – this is the TRUTH…
      • God was BLESSING [εὐλογία] and bringing GLORY [δόξα] to His creation…
      • Because in His WISDOM [σοφία] – He knew the Tribulation would get our attention…
      • Therefore – we give Him THANKS [εὐχαριστία] – and HONOR [τιμή]
      • Because by His POWER [δύναμις] and MIGHT [ἰσχύς] – which are FOREVER – He saved us!
      • We see might see HARDSHIPS in life – but God see OPPORTUNITY…
      • God has plans we would never have imagined – we need to always remember…
      • His although ways are not our ways – His ways are always the BEST!
      • Isaiah 55:9 – “As the heavens are higher than the earth – so are My ways higher than your ways – and My thoughts than your thoughts.”
  • 3^rd – The Question… vs. 13-14
    • One of the elders answered – Who are these arrayed in white robes – where did they come from?
      • In the MIDST of the WORSHIP at the arrival of these MARTYRS…
      • One of the TWENTY four elders comes to John – and asks Him a question…
      • WHO are these clothed in white – and WHERE did they come from!
    • I said to him – Sir [κύριος] you know!
      • John wisely understood they ELDER was not asking a QUESTION…
      • He was looking to ANSWER the QUESTION John was afraid to ASK!
      • We are NOT going to understand everything in the BIBLE – the only way to LEARN is to ASK…
      • There is no such thing as a BAD question – what is important is we ASK!
  • 4^th – Eight Promises… vs. 14-17
    • He said to me – these are the ones who come out of the great tribulation!
      • The ANSWER to the QUESTION – they came out of THE [ὁ] Great [μέγας] Tribulation [θλῖψις]
      • The INNUMERABLE multitude worshiping before throne were TRIBULATION saints…
      • The ELDER goes on to DESCRIBE these SAINTS in EIGHT ways!
    • Washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb!
      • FIRST – they have washed their ROBES in the BLOOD of the Lamb – making them WHITE!
      • Everyone will one day stand before the Great white throne – Revelation 20:11
      • There are only TWO options as to what we can WEAR as we stand before a Holy God…
      • We can stand in our OWN clothes and be judged – FILTHY rags – Isaiah 64:6
      • Or we can be clothed in white garments – cleansed by the BLOOD of Jesus!
      • I Peter 1:19 – “[We were redeemed] with the precious blood of Christ – as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”
    • Therefore – they are before the throne of God!
      • SECOND – as a result [διά] of being CLEANSED – they are before [present] the THRONE…
      • Whether we are talking about SAINT in the OT – church – or Tribulation…
      • The ONLY way to be able to come before God – is through Jesus!
      • There are a lot of ideas about how to get to heaven…
      • But wide is the path that leads to destruction – many go in by it – Matthew 7:13
      • And if ALL roads lead to heaven – then the CROSS was NOT necessary – Galatians 2:21
      • Jesus did NOT suffered and die for no reason – He is the ONLY way to heaven!
      • John 14:6 – “No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
    • Serve Him day and night in His temple!
      • THIRD – the JOB of these SAINTS is to always [day and night] SERVE in the temple…
      • Like the LEVITES of the OT – Exodus 33:26-28 – these SAINTS have a UNIQUE role…
      • Because they were willing to STAND up for God – even though it meant DEATH…
      • They are given the privilege to SERVE the LORD forever in His TEMPLE!
    • He who sits on the throne will dwell among them!
      • FOURTH – God – the one who sits on the THRONE – will LIVE [future] with them!
      • It will no doubt be a DARK hour when these multitudes are put to DEATH for their faith…
      • One can easily image them questioning where the LORD was in their moment of need…
      • Yet there is no reason for them to FEAR – death is NOT the end – Matthew 10:28
      • And those DOUBTS will melt away once they arrive in HEAVEN…
      • Where they will be in the presence of the God forevermore!
    • They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore!
      • FIFTH – we are given some insight into how MANY of these SAINTS will perish!
      • During the TRIBULATION – the Antichrist will rule the world ECONOMY…
      • The only way to BUY and SELL will be to take his MARK – Revelation 13:7
      • The PROBLEM is anyone who takes the MARK cannot be saved – Revelation 14:9-10
      • Therefore – ALL who chose to stand for Jesus – will suffer HUNGER and THIRST…
      • But the moment they get to HEAVEN – their HUNGER ends!
      • Matthew 5:6 – “Blessed are those who hunger – thirst for righteousness – they will be filled.”
    • The sun shall not strike them – nor any heat [καῦμα]!
      • SIXTH – they will no longer suffer from the PLAGUES of the TRIBULATION…
      • The FOURTH bowl judgment comes from the SUN – Revelation 16:8-9
      • Where power is given to BURN men with HEAT [καῦμα] – only 2x in NT!
      • Believers are NOT immune from the judgements during the Tribulation…
      • But they only last for a MOMENT – while the JOY of the LORD is eternal!
    • The Lamb… will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters!
      • SEVENTH – The Lamb – Jesus Christ – will SHEPHERD them…
      • It is an interesting CONTRAST – to see a Lamb being the one to SHEPHERD…
      • But the REASON why these SAINTS are NOT hungry or thirsty anymore…
      • Is because Jesus will FEED [ποιμαίνω] them – LEAD them to LIVING water!
      • People WASTE most of their lives trying to satisfy their HUNGER and THIRST…
      • They try MONEY – POSSESSION – and RELATIONSHIPS…
      • But they are NEVER satisfied – because we were NOT created for these things…
      • We HUNGER for the TRUTH – and we THIRST for Jesus!
      • Psalm 23:1-2 – “The LORD is my shepherd… He makes me to lie down in green pastures.
        He leads me beside the still waters.”
    • God will wipe away every tear from their eyes!
      • EIGHTH – there will be NO more TEARS…
      • WIPE [ἐξαλείφω] – to completely remove ALL [πᾶς] tears – like they were NEVER there…
      • How does God WIPE out all TEARS – because there is no more REASON to CRY!
      • Revelation 21:4 – “God will wipe away [ἐξαλείφω] every tear from their eyes. There shall be no more death – nor sorrow – nor crying. There shall be no more pain – for the former things have passed away.”