The Experience And Mission Of The 144,000 Series

May 04, 2024

Last week we concluded our examination of the 7 Trumpets.

Today, we will turn our attention to the Interlude in Revelation 10:1-11:14

The Interlude between the 6th and 7th Seals introduced us to God’s end-time spiritual army – the 144,000 (Rev. 7).

The Interlude between the 6th and 7th Trumpets reveals their Experience and Mission.

Before the blowing of the 7th Trumpet, John sees a mighty “angel” descending from heaven. He is clothed in a cloud, a rainbow is above his head, his face shone like the sun and his feet were like pillars of fire. Sound Familiar?

Jesus was enveloped in a cloud (Matthew 17:5)

He went up in a cloud (Acts 1:9)

He is coming in the clouds (Rev. 1:7)

The rainbow was the sign of a Covenant between God and the people of earth (Genesis 9:12-13)

A rainbow appeared around God (Ezekiel 1:28)

A rainbow encircles the Throne of God (Rev. 4:3)

His face shone like the sun (Matthew 17:2, Rev. 1:16)

His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace (Ezekiel 1:27; Revelation 1:15)

Even though John describes this Being as an angel, the evidence suggests that this it is none other than Jesus.

In his hand he holds a little scroll, which represent the prophecies of Daniel that had been sealed until the time of the end.

Daniel 12:8-9 - I heard, but I did not understand. So I asked, "My lord, what will the outcome of all this be?" He replied, "Go your way, Daniel, because the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end.

Before John can speak, Jesus plants his feet on the sea and the land, indicating the universal scope of the message about to be proclaimed. He roars like a lion and in response, the 7 thunders answer back, indicating the message is coming from the throne of God.

Job 37:5 - God's voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding.

John is about to write down what he has just heard, but a voice from heaven stops him: "Seal up what the seven thunders have said and do not write it down." (10:4b)

What the 7 thunders have just said is, therefore, not relevant to God’s people.

One of the things humans are really good at is making stuff up when they are not given an immediate or satisfactory answer.

Conspiracy theories are born out of unanswered questions…..

When studying prophecy, it is important not to venture beyond what God has revealed. We must resist the urge to make stuff up to fit our own narrative.

God has revealed to us everything that is important regarding our salvation. However, there are some things about the future that God has chosen not to reveal. We have to be okay with that.

Deuteronomy 29:29 - The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this law.

Jesus now raises his right hand toward heaven and swears by the One who is eternal and who created the heavens, the earth, and all that is in them, that “there will no longer be time.”

However, John is then told that the end is not yet here. The Mystery of God will be complete and the end will come at the sound of the 7th Trumpet.

So, what is Jesus talking about?

There are 2 Greek words for our word “time”

Chronos = a period or span of time.

Kairos = a point in time.

It is “chronos” that is used here, indicating that a span of time has come to an end. Hmmm…..

The time-prophecies in the Old Testament are located in which book? Daniel. All the time prophecies of Daniel, (1260, 1290, 1335) fit under one umbrella of time – 2300 days/years – which ended in 1844.

It is revealed to John that the time prophecies of Daniel have an end date during the time of the 6th Trumpet, which lines up with our conclusions from studying Daniel’s time prophecies.

“This time, which the angel declares with a solemn oath, is not the end of this world’s history, neither of probationary time, but of prophetic time, which should precede the advent of our Lord. That is, the people will not have another message upon definite time. After this period of time, reaching from 1842 to 1844, there can be no definite tracing of the prophetic time. The longest reckoning reaches to the autumn of 1844” {Ellen White - SDA Bible Commentary}

The voice from heaven spoke to John again, instructing him to take the little scroll and eat it. He is told that it will turn his stomach sour but will be sweet “like honey” in his mouth. John reports that this is exactly what happened.