Coming Out Of Tribulation.

Salvation Belongs To Our God

Revelation 7:1-17ESV

Between Revelation 7, and Revelation 8, the blessed reader gets a look at another powerful event that will take place.

Revelation 7:1ESV After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, that no wind might blow on earth or sea or against any tree.

Angels, who are so prominent in Revelation, are the instruments that God uses to temporarily suspend judgment on the earth. They are used both to withhold judgment (7:1-3) and to execute it (8:2).

One scripture reference—Jeremiah 51:1ESV The Lord says:“I will cause a destructive wind to blow against Babylon and the people who inhabit Babylonia.

The indication is that judgment is impending, it is about to be poured out.

The “four corners of the earth” speak of global authority and activity under God’s sovereignty.

These angels will hold back, “Holding back” is the Greek word kratew. It is a strong word meaning, “to grasp, seize, restrain.”

Fact—Angels are God’s created beings. For every believer, angels excel to do God’s word.

Listen to Psalm 103:20-21ESV Bless the Lord, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, obeying the voice of his word! 21 Bless the Lord, all his hosts, his ministers, who do his will!

“Angels are active now, and will be active during end time events.” P.H

Psalm 91:1ESV He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

Revelation 7:2-3ESV Then I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, with the seal of the living God, and he called with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm earth and sea, 3 saying, “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.”

“Understand that God has the ability to hold back, and or, even destroy your foes!’ ‘Time and time again in the OT, God speaks to His people to stand still a watch the salvation of the Lord.” P.H

Revelation 7:4-8ESV And I heard the number of the sealed, 144,000, sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel: 5 12,000 from the tribe of Judah were sealed, 12,000 from the tribe of Reuben, 12,000 from the tribe of Gad, 6 12,000 from the tribe of Asher, 12,000 from the tribe of Naphtali, 12,000 from the tribe of Manasseh, 7 12,000 from the tribe of Simeon, 12,000 from the tribe of Levi, 12,000 from the tribe of Issachar, 8 12,000 from the tribe of Zebulun, 12,000 from the tribe of Joseph, 12,000 from the tribe of Benjamin were sealed.

These 144,000 are the first to be saved; they are the first converts after the Tribulation begins.

It’s important to note that God’s bride will be caught up just prior to the tribulation. Jesus will call His bride, the bride of Christ home, and these 144,000 Jews will fill the spiritual vacuum after the rapture.

1 Corinthians 15:52KJV “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18NIV For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Revelation 7:9-10ESV After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

“Clothed in white robes” speaks symbolically of the imputed righteousness of Christ given to them at the point of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.

Notice, Revelation 7:9b…with palm branches in their hands…

Again, with palm branches in their hands… This suggests the element of joy and worship. The use of palm branches according to ancient traditions symbolized festive joy and worship as well as victory or triumph!

1 John 5:4-5ESV For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

To me—lifting of the hands is an act of worship. In the OT Israel would give God a wave offering.