SESSION #7: REVELATION #7 – THE 144,000 AND THE GREAT MULTITUDE:
(Pastor Chris Jordan - 2011 - Beausejour Community Church)
“After these things I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, on the sea, or on any tree. Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, saying, "Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.” (Rev. 7:1-3).
What are the four winds?
• evil forces of devastation, universal or divine judgement
• whatever it is, God is restraining it for the sake of His chosen people
What is the seal of God? It refers to God’s ownership and protection of His people
• “Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.” (2 Cor. 1:21-22).
• “in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance.” (Eph. 1:13b-14a).
“And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed:” (v.4).
• Of the tribe of Judah 12,000 Of the tribe of Simeon 12,000
• Of the tribe of Reuben 12,000 Of the tribe of Levi 12,000
• Of the tribe of Gad 12,000 Of the tribe of Issachar 12,000
• Of the tribe of Asher 12,000 Of the tribe of Zebulun 12,000
• Of the tribe of Naphtali 12,000 Of the tribe of Joseph 12,000
• Of the tribe of Manasseh 12,000 Of the tribe of Benjamin 12,000
Who are the 144,000?
• a description of the entire Christian church (we are spiritual Israel)
• 144,000 = 12 x 12 = 144 (x 10 x 10 x 10 = a perfect cube)
• “A great wall with twelve gates…and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel…the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.” (Rev. 21:12-14).
Why is this likely not referring to literal Israel?
• “There is neither Jew nor Greek…for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (Galatians 3:28-29).
• “Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh… that at that time you were without Christ… But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation.” (Ephesians 2:11-14).
Other interpretations:
• The PDF interpretation sees this 144,000 as being literal, physical Jews who will preach the Gospel during the ‘seven year tribulation’ before Christ’s return.
• The Jehovah’s Witnesses say that there will only be 144,000 in Heaven! (false teaching)
“After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!" All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen.” (Rev. 7:9-12).
What is the Great Multitude? - a picture of the Christian church
• Note – John HEARD (144,000) and SAW (Great Multitude)
• Just like in Revelation 5 where John HEARD (Lion of Judah) and SAW (slain Lamb)
• white robes = clothed in His righteousness
• great multitude – tells us God has chosen to save many people!
“Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, "Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?" And I said to him, "Sir, you know." So he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” (Rev. 7:13-17).
• Note the revelation of Jesus here: He is the Lamb of God who will shepherd us and lead us to living fountains of waters, just like He is described in Psalm 23!
Why is this likely referring to all Christians in general, and not a specific group?
1. All Christians will have tribulation in the world
Jesus said, “In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33).
2. All Christians are washed in the blood of the Lamb
“To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood.” (Revelation 1:5)
3. All Christians are headed for Heaven
“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house (Heaven) are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” (John 14:1-3).
What is the description here of Heaven?
a) God who sits on the throne will live with us
b) We shall never again be hungry or thirsty
c) We will be fully protected from the sun’s heat
d) Jesus the Lamb will be our Shepherd and will lead us to living fountains of water
e) God will wipe away all our tears
• NOTE: This is a promise of what all Christians have to look forward to.
“We see what is the work of heaven, and we ought to get our hearts tuned up for it, and to long for that world where our praises, as well as our happiness, will be perfected.” (Matthew Henry).
REVELATION CHAPTER 8 – THE SEVEN TRUMPETS #1:
“When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets.” (Revelation 8:1-2).
TRUMPETS in the Old Testament were:
• warnings of coming judgement and call for people to repent (Is. 58:1, Ezek. 33:3)
• blown to proclaim the rule of a new king (1 Kings 1:34,39)
“Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand. Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And there were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake.” (Revelation 8:3-5).
• This is similar to Exodus 19:16-18 where Moses met with God on Mount Sinai.
• Reminder –God is a God who answers prayers! Our prayers ascend before His throne.
• Note – the judgments about to be described in the seven trumpets are not to be feared by God’s faithful church – these are the threatenings promised to God’s enemies!
TRUMPET #1:
“So the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound. The first angel sounded: And hail and fire followed, mingled with blood, and they were thrown to the earth. And a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.
• Where did this imagery come from? The Old Testament book of Exodus:
• “And Moses stretched out his rod toward heaven; and the Lord sent thunder and hail, and fire darted to the ground. And the Lord rained hail on the land of Egypt.” (Ex. 9:23).
TRUMPET #2:
Then the second angel sounded: And something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood. And a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.
• “Then the Lord spoke to Moses, "Say to Aaron, ’Take your rod and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt… that they may become blood.” (Exodus 7:19).
• What does the burning mountain represent? Possibly Israel (see. Ex. 15:17).
TRUMPET #3:
Then the third angel sounded: And a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the water, because it was made bitter.
• What is this star falling to the Earth? It is likely not a literal star.
• Stars in Revelation 1 = angels. Could this fallen star be a fallen angel?
TRUMPET #4:
Then the fourth angel sounded: And a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them were darkened. A third of the day did not shine, and likewise the night. And I looked, and I heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, "Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth,* because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!” (Rev. 8:6-13). * unbelievers.
• “Then the Lord said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt.” (Exodus 10:21).
• What does it mean that the sun, moon and stars were struck? In the OT, this imagery was used for the fall of nations and national rulers. (see Isaiah 24:19-20).
QUOTE:
“References to the Egyptian plagues suggest that in Revelation we have the final exodus of God’s people from the bondage of a world controlled by hostile powers.” (NASB Study Bible).
REVELATION #9 – THE SEVEN TRUMPETS #2
TRUMPET #5:
“Then the fifth angel sounded: And I saw a star fallen from heaven to the earth. To him was given the key to the bottomless pit.” (Revelation 9:1).
• Who is this star? It is an angel (see Rev. 1:20), possibly a fallen angel
• Jesus said, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.” (Luke 10:19).
“And he opened the bottomless pit, and smoke arose out of the pit like the smoke of a great furnace. So the sun and the air were darkened because of the smoke of the pit. Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth.” (Rev. 9:2-3a).
• See again the imagery from Exodus: “Then the Lord said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts, that they may come upon the land of Egypt.” (Exodus 10:12).
“Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth. And to them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. They were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. And they were not given authority to kill them, but to torment them for five months. Their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it strikes a man. In those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will desire to die, and death will flee from them. The shape of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle. On their heads were crowns of something like gold, and their faces were like the faces of men. They had hair like women’s hair, and their teeth were like lions’ teeth. And they had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots with many horses running into battle. They had tails like scorpions, and there were stings in their tails. Their power was to hurt men five months.” (Rev. 9:3-10).
• QUOTE: “Can you conceive of a more frightful and horrible and true picture of the operation of the powers of darkness in the souls of the wicked during this present age? Here are the demons, robbing men of all light, that is, of all true righteousness and holiness, joy and peace, wisdom and understanding.” (William Hendriksen).
WHAT ARE THE LOCUSTS?
• These locusts didn’t harm the grass or plants (like literal locusts would)
• These locusts came to harm “those men who do not have the seal of God.”
• God’s faithful servants would not be harmed by this coming demonic attack:
• Where did the imagery of these locusts come from? The OT prophet Joel.
“Blow the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in My holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble; For the day of the Lord is coming… A day of darkness and gloominess, A day of clouds and thick darkness… A people come, great and strong… A fire devours before them, And behind them a flame burns; The land is like the Garden of Eden before them, And behind them a desolate wilderness; Surely nothing shall escape them. Their appearance is like the appearance of horses; And like swift steeds, so they run… Like a strong people set in battle array. Before them the people writhe in pain; All faces are drained of color… The earth quakes before them, The heavens tremble; The sun and moon grow dark, And the stars diminish their brightness. The Lord gives voice before His army… For strong is the One who executes His word. For the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; Who can endure it?” (Joel 2:1-10).
“And they had as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, but in Greek he has the name Apollyon. One woe is past. Behold, still two more woes are coming after these things.” (Revelation 9:11-12).
• the demons had as king...the angel...Abaddon = Destroyer = Satan
TRUMPET #6:
“Then the sixth angel sounded: And I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, "Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates." So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released to kill a third of mankind. Now the number of the army of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them. And thus I saw the horses in the vision: those who sat on them had breastplates of fiery red, hyacinth blue, and sulfur yellow; and the heads of the horses were like the heads of lions; and out of their mouths came fire, smoke, and brimstone. By these three plagues a third of mankind was killed--by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone which came out of their mouths. For their power is in their mouth and in their tails; for their tails are like serpents, having heads; and with them they do harm. But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk. And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.” (Revelation 9:13-21).
Why does God pour out His wrath in judgment upon mankind?
• First and foremost, His desire is that they would repent of their sins and turn to Him.
• What were the sins they did not repent of? Demon worship, idolatry, murder, sorceries (Greek pharmakeia) – drug use or witchcraft, sexual immorality, thefts
APPLICATION: How should we respond to the reading of these judgment trumpets?
1. If we are children of God, then let us thank Him that these judgments will not befall us.
2. If we are guilty of any of these sins, then let us be quick to repent and return to God.
3. This should motivate us to share the Good News of salvation with our unsaved loved ones so they can escape the wrath of God as well.
Beausejour Community Church Website: www.beausejourchurch.ca
Pastor Chris Jordan’s Blog: http://thelandofpromise.blogspot.com/
