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Salvation in the Tribulation
- 1st – The Four Angels… vs. 1-3
- 1st – 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
- After these things!
- 2nd – 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!”
- Then I saw another angel ascending from the east – having the seal of the living God!
- 1st – No Wind… vs. 1
- 2nd – The Evangelists… vs. 4-8
- 1st – 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!
- I heard the number of those who were sealed – one hundred and forty-four thousand!
- 2nd – 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
- The Twelve Tribes of Israel…
- 1st – Back to Israel… vs. 4
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.”
3rd – The Tribulation Saints… vs. 9-17
1st – 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!
2nd – 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.”
3rd – 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!
4th – 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!
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