The reason we have this interlude in chapter 7 is because chapter 6 closed with this question Revelation 6:17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
In Chapter 7 we have this interlude answering that question.
We are told the only ones who can survive the wrath of God will be the 144,000 jewish missionaries that must be sealed by God.
It is interesting to note:
• That the anti-christ will seal his followers with the mark of the beast in their right hand or forehead.
• But the only ones who can survive the wrath of God are the 144,000 missionaries who the Lord seals.
The reason this is interesting is because the devil always copy God when it is possible.
In Revelation 8 before the wrath of God is going be poured out in the SEVEN TRUMPET JUDGMENTS God has to seal the 144,000.
The reason we know the 144,000 are jews is because the Word of God clearly states this is the situation.
We have listed here the tribes that the 144,000 come from. Let us compare the tribes of literal Israel to the list found here.
Literal Israel Revelation 7
Judah Judah
Rueben Rueben
Gad Gad
Asher Asher
Naphtali Naphtali
Manassah Manassah
Simeon Simeon
Issachar Levi
Zebulun Issachar
Benjamin Zebulun
Ephraim Joseph
Dan Benjamin
The difference between the two lists is that, the names of Ephraim and Dan have been left out and the names of Joseph and Levi being added in.
• The reason for excluding Ephraim is that they were heavily into idolatry. (Hosea 4:17)
• Dan was regarded as backbiters (Genesis 49:17) and there will be no backbiters/gossipers in heaven. (Romans 1:28-32)
There are two classes of saved: Jews and Gentiles. Both are called saints. But notice, never is the word “church” used in conjunction with them because the church has been raptured and no longer on earth.
• The opening of the first vision in chapter seven (Rev. 7:1-7) shows the 144,000 who represent Israel mission in the great tribulation.
• The opening second part of the vision in (Rev, 7:8-17) shows a great multitude of martyred dead in heaven. They died as a testimony to their faith. They represent every kindred, language and nation of the earth.
Chapter 6 has revealed that judgments are about to be unleashed. The four horsemen revealed war, famine, and death. The souls of the slain believers are crying out how long until God brings justice and righteousness.
They are told to rest a little while longer and that more are going to die before judgment is unleashed.
Revelation 6:12-17 showed us that a nation is about to fall. We have not been told specifically what nation is the object of God’s wrath at this point. There have been many clues, but nothing definitive yet.
The point thus far is that it will be “lights out” for this nation and the rest of the earth is to see God’s wrath and learn from it.
Many theologians believed that nation is Israel. Look at Ezekiel 9:1 records that judgment is coming against the city of Jerusalem. “Bring near the executioners of the city, each with his destroying weapon in his hand” (Ezekiel 9:1).
Before this judgment is brought against the city, the people of God are to be sealed first.
This brings our study into Revelation 7.
In the last part of Revelation 6 we are asked in verse 17, "For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?"
Yes, who WILL be able to stand? The 144,000 jewish missionaries will be able to stand.
In Rev. 7 we will be looking at two visions:
1) In this first vision John takes this opportunity to introduce us to the 144,000 missionaries that we will be hearing a lot in chapters to come.
2) In the second vision in this chapter we will see where many will be saved during the tribulation.
While the anti-christ will be putting pressure on the inhabitants of the earth to take his mark for food, these 144,000 will be preaching DO NOT TAKE THE MARK!!!
Let’s look at the two groups that Revelation 7 talks about…
I.THE FIRST VISION (Rev. 7:1-8)
Revelation 7:1-8 And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. And 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 given to hurt the earth and the sea, Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand.
In the first vision John sees four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the winds (Wrath of God) from blowing on the earth, sea, or on any tree.
Winds in Bible prophecy represent war, violence, bloodshed, and strife.
Jeremiah 25:32-33 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Behold, evil shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great whirlwind shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth. And the slain of the LORD shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth: they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung upon the ground.
An angel arises from the east having the seal of the living God, who cries out to the other four angels not to harm the earth, etc., until the servants of God have been sealed on their foreheads.
WHAT IS THE SEALING?
Revelation 9:4 shows that the sealing is for protection. Revelation 9:4 And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.
This spiritual protection will be further illustrated in Revelation 7:9-17 and will be explored further in that upcoming study.
There is one other aspect of the sealing of God’s people that cannot be overlooked. The other important function of the sealing in Revelation 7:1-8 is to identify those who are God’s. The sealed are those who are truly the people of God.
Again this will be contrasted later in Revelation 13 where we will read about those who have the mark of the beast (13:16-17).
• That marking in Rev. 13 shows that those people belong to the beast.
• Those who have the seal of the living God in Rev. 7 belong to God.
John then hears the number of those who are sealed. They are 144,000 of all the tribes of the children of Israel, with 12,000 from each tribe.
Illus: Much of the confusion regarding the 144,000 is a result of the false doctrine of the Jehovah’s Witnesses. The Jehovah’s Witnesses claim that 144,000 is a limit to the number of people who will reign with Christ in heaven and spend eternity with God.
• The 144,000 have what the Jehovah’s Witnesses call the heavenly hope.
• Those who are not among the 144,000 will enjoy what they call the earthly hope—a paradise on earth ruled by Christ and the 144,000.
In this first vision in Rev. 7:1-8 we have the SEALING OF THE 144,00 from suffering the WRATH OF GOD.
Now let us look at…
II. SECOND VISION (Rev. 7:9-17)
John begans this section with “After this” which refers to the first vision we just looked at.
Now let us look at the SECOND VISION IN Revelation 7:9-17 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
In Rev 7:9 we now see that this “great multitude” is not only from Israel and its twelve tribes but rather from every nation, kindred, people and tongue…so we have not only Jews but also Gentiles in this second group.
The white robes signify that they are redeemed so therefore they had received Christ…also of note…
• Unlike the 144,000 who are on Earth and are being sealed for protection from the coming judgments…
• They are in Heaven as they are “standing before the throne”.
The second vision reveals a large innumerable multitude of all nations standing before the throne and the Lamb who have came out of the tribulation period. They are clothed with white robes and palm branches in their hands, they cry out "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!"
They are joined in their praise by:
• Angels,
• The twenty-four elders,
• And four living creatures.
John is then told by one of the elders that those arrayed in white robes have come out of the great tribulation, with their robes washed and made white in the blood of the Lamb. Before the throne of God, they serve Him day and night in His temple.
Future blessings are then described: God will dwell among them, they shall be free from hunger, thirst, and the heat of the sun. The Lamb will shepherd them and lead them to fountains of living waters, and God will wipe all tears from their eyes.
What do the two visions represent?
(1)The 144,000 sealed on earth represent the redeemed on earth.
While they may be on the earth when God's judgment and wrath is outpoured, they are sealed and thereby spared from God's wrath (Ezek 9:1-11).
This does not mean they will not suffer tribulation, for while they may escape God's wrath they may still face the efforts of Satan (Rev.12:17; 13:7).
(2) The second vision provides hope for those who must pass through "the great tribulation". Provided they have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb,
• They are assured that they will serve God in His temple in "the intermediate state" (between death and the resurrection).
You see when the rapture took place all believers were placed in their glorified bodies in the twinkling of an eye. The redeemed who die during the tribulation will yet have to be placed in their glorified bodies. When we who are saved during the church age die the Bible teaches to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. But salvation is not complete for us until the rapture takes place and we are placed in our glorified body.
These who die during the tribulation salvation is not complete for them until at the end of the tribulation period all those who have died during this time will be placed in their glorified bodies.
Look at Revelation 6:9, we read of these, And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
• They are also promised future blessings in "the eternal state" (after the resurrection and judgment, (7:16-17 with 21:1-4).
Thus the great multitude in heaven represents the church "triumphant", …the redeemed in heaven.
Conclusion:
Next week in Revelation 8 we will see where the seventh seal will be un-ravel and we will began to talk about the trumpet judgments which are much more severe than the SEAL JUDGMENTS.
In this chapter we have looked at:
I. THE FIRST VISION (The redeemed on earth)
II. THE SECOND VISION (The redeemed in heaven)
