G.K. Chesterton once said, “Whenever you remove any fence, always pause long enough to ask yourself the question, ‘Why was it put there in the first place?’ Howard Hendricks says, “You are I are living in a time when fences are being removed all around us. America is playing a dangerous game with her destiny, removing fences that were put there for a reason. Fences that were put in place for our own spiritual protection. Fences for our national character. Fences for our families. Fences for the church of Jesus Christ. Fences that were built on the nature and character of God. And we are now trying to remove them.”
What we are reading in the current framework of Revelation are the events that will take place during the Great Tribulation. As a review we’ve already studied several parts:
John’s Rapture in Chapter 4
-The Scene in the Throne Room of Heaven
-The emergence of the Lamb that was slain
-The receiving of the scroll and the worship of the Lamb
-The opening of the first 6 of the 7 Seals on the Scroll
-Seal One - White Horseman
-Seal Two - Black Horseman
-Seal Three - Red Horseman
-Seal Four - Pale Green Horseman
-Seal Five - Martyrdom of Saints
-Seal Six - Global Upheaval and cataclysm
Now we come to a pause before the 7th seal is opened.
When I was in the State Troopers we took boxing to improve our fighting skills. If you’ve ever boxed before you know that the padding on the ends of the gloves does more to protect the knuckles of the person hitting than those who are being hit. It was during a sparing session that I got clobbered by three rapid punches before I could get my wits about me to block. The most reprieve I had was the milliseconds in-between the punches! But I used those milliseconds to practice a defensive technique called OODA-Loop. Observe, Orient, Decide, Act. As a result, I was able to guard myself, reposition for a more devastating attack than I was receiving, and ultimately win the round.
The Great Tribulation will be a time of trouble that will make the WWII holocaust pale in comparison. This is known as the “Time of Jacob’s Trouble.” (See Jer 30:7) Jeremiah 30:6 describes it in terms of the pains of childbirth, indicating a time of agony. But there is hope for the people of Israel, for the Lord promises He will save them. Even though this is “the time of Jacob’s distress” (NASB), and even though “in all history, there has never been such a time of terror” (Jeremiah 30:7, NLT), God will deliver His people.
In Jeremiah 30:10–11, the Lord references the blessings that will come after the “Great Day of the Lord” or “Time of Jacob’s trouble: “‘I will surely save you out of a distant place, your descendants from the land of their exile. Jacob will again have peace and security, and no one will make him afraid. I am with you and will save you,’ declares the Lord.”
Like Jeremiah, Jesus described the tribulation as a unique time of suffering, speaking of “great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again” (Matt 24:21) The Lord also used some of the same imagery as Jeremiah.
?6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are but the beginning of the birth pains. (Matthew 24:6–8 ESV)
Paul, too, described the tribulation using the simile of birth pains:
?3 While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. (1 Thessalonians 5:3 ESV)
This event follows the rapture and the removal of the church in 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18.
These “birth pains” are described in detail in Revelation 6—12. One purpose, maybe even the main purpose, of the tribulation is to bring Israel back to the Lord (Jeremiah 30:22; Hosea 6:1–2; Zechariah 12:10).
The time of Jacob’s trouble demonstrates that God keeps His promises, judges sin, and saves those who trust in Christ. In the end times, God will pour His judgment on a wicked world, and this seven-year tribulation, from Israel’s point of view, is the time of Jacob’s trouble. In this time, God purges His chosen people of the wicked and unbelieving, but “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the Lord has said, even among the survivors whom the Lord calls” (Joel 2:32; cf. Romans 10:13). After that time of Jacob’s trouble is a time of peace, as the Lord Himself sets up His kingdom on earth for 1,000 years (Revelation 20:1–6; cf. Isaiah 11).
Chapter 6 is a pause in the action of the unsealing of the scrolls and a fulfillment of this great revival.
?1 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. (Revelation 7:1 ESV)
The four angels have been empowered to cause great HARM to the earth, but they are told to temporarily restrain from doing these things. The terminology “four corners” has always been used as a metaphor for “everywhere” or “from every direction.”
The word “wind” here is from the Greek word “anemos”, which is used to describe a judgment of God upon the earth. And just as there are a few moments before a thunderstorm that is still and quiet, God will quiet the winds for a short while before His judgment is delivered to an unrepentant world.
?2 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 the 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.” (Revelation 7:2–3 ESV)
This imagery is drawn from Ezekiel’s vision in EZEKIEL 9:3-6 where a "man clothed in linen" was told to go throughout the city of Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of those who grieve and weep over all the sinful things that are done in that city by other people. And those who are marked will be spared the coming destruction.
VERSES 4-8 tell us who these slaves of God are going to that receive the seal: They will come out of each of the 12 tribes of Israel; 12,000 from each tribe. They will be Jewish men who become evangelists. How should we interpret the 144,000? If we take a literal approach, they are JEWISH BELIEVERS.
?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. (Revelation 7:5–8 ESV)
What is significant about the 12 tribes? The first question about this body concerns its identity. Some readers interpret the 144,000 literally. A prominent example is the Jehovah’s Witnesses, who believe that only 144,000 people will spend eternity in heaven. They further teach that this number was achieved in 1935, so that believers after that date will not enter heaven but will make up the blessed multitude on earth, which they see described in Revelation 7:9–17. Not only is there no basis for this interpretation, but it gets the two groups exactly backward. In John’s vision, the 144,000 sealed servants are undergoing trials on earth, and the vast multitude describes the Christians in heaven. (Philips)
Others try to replace them with the church. It is important to understand the folly of this belief. There is no biblical basis for the church replacing Israel. Nowhere in the Bible is the term Israel used to describe the church
?12 in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Thessalonians 2:12 ESV)
16 Then those who feared the Lord spoke with one another. The Lord paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the Lord and esteemed his name. (Malachi 3:16 ESV)
These 144,000 Jews are “sealed,” which means they have the special protection of God. This is their specific identification. The 144,000 are divided among the 12 tribes of Israel. Though only God may know their tribal ancestry, there are 12,000 from each tribe. In the midst of tribulation, there is great mercy. God knows who belongs to Him, and God knows how, if He chooses, to protect them. In the destruction that He brought in the flood, He knew how to protect the eight people that He wanted to protect. In the destruction that came in the city of Jericho, He knew how to protect the one woman He wanted to protect - Rahab. (MacArthur)
Interestingly, the 12 Tribes listed: Judah, Reuben, Gad, Asher, Naphtali, Manasseh, Simeon, Levi, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, and Benjamin are different from other lists. In the Old Testament, there are a number of different listings of these tribes, and they’re different. Sometimes the order of birth is followed, such as in Genesis 29 through 35. Sometimes the order of Jacob’s blessing is followed, such as in Genesis 49. Sometimes the order of encampment is followed, such as in Numbers chapter 2. Sometimes the order of the census before the invasion of Canaan is followed, such as in Numbers 26. Sometimes the order of blessing and cursing is in Deuteronomy 27. Sometimes the order of Moses’ blessing, Deuteronomy 33. Sometimes the order of the princes in Numbers 1. Sometimes the order of inheritance, Joshua 13 through 22. Sometimes the order by the wives and the concubines, 1 Chronicles 2 through 8. Sometimes the order of the gates of the city, such as Ezekiel 48. (MacArthur)
The first tribe was named Judah. But Judah wasn’t the firstborn; Reuben was. According to 1 Chronicle 5:1, Reuben lost his birthright because he sexually defiled his own father’s bed. And Levi, who was usually not listed is listed here. Why? The answer is because Dan is left out. Some think this is because Dan is the tribe of the Antichrist, based on Daniel 11:37 and Jeremiah 8:16. Ephriam is also not listed, but Joseph and Manasseh are listed. Dan and Ephriam were both tribes associated with introducing idolatry into the nation of Israel (Genesis 49:17; Judges 18:30; Hosea 4:17, Deuteronomy 29:18-21).
You will be happy to know that in the millennial listing of the tribes, Ezekiel 48, Dan is included. God’s grace triumphs on Dan’s behalf and Dan is brought into millennial glory, but Dan is not protected through the tribulation because of idolatry.
The wrath belongs to those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. And when the full fury of that wrath hits, it’s going to consume the ungodly, but some of the godly will survive, including these 144,000 Jewish evangelists.
?14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. (Matthew 24:14 ESV)
This pause and these 144,000 are God’s final redemption of Israel. It is estimated that there may be 50,000 missionaries in the world today. Imagine 144,000 totally-committed, sold-out Jews who understand who their Messiah is and are instrumental in the salvation of many. That’s this group. They have preached judgment; they have warned about the impending day of the Lord; they have called people to repentance during the time of the tribulation. I believe by their service, by their instrumentation, all Israel - and any others - will be saved.
9 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!” 11 And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.” (Revelation 7:9–12 (ESV)
I think it is significant that they are waving Palm Branches. Reminiscent of the Triumphal entry. Now they are once again hailing Jesus as King. During the Triumphal Entry (Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-10; Luke 19:28-40; John 12:12-19), the people in Jerusalem welcomed Jesus as the King of Israel. In the vision of Revelation 7, the saints in heaven praise Jesus as the King of all nations.
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 (v. 9a).
“Hosanna in the highest” (Matthew 21:9; Mark 11:10) means “may those in heaven sing, ‘Hosanna.’” “Hosanna” means “save us.” It expresses both prayer and praise.
This underscores the purpose of the tribulation: to bring Israel back to God.
?10 and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”(Revelation 7:10 ESV)
Do you see the paradox here? At the triumphal entry, they shouted Hosannah, which turned into Crucify Him. Now they hail him as king and savior. We might assume that there isn’t going to be any salvation in the tribulation. We’ve read about all these horrible judgments. Even though there is an ultimate sense in which evil runs its course and the ultimate and final destruction of the power of God will fall, there will be even in that hour the greatest revival the world has ever known and the gospel will triumph in the hearts of millions.
?13 Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” 14 I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 “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 shelter them with his presence. 16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. 17 For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” (Revelation 7:13–17 ESV)
It was important that John knew the identity of this great multitude. But he didn’t know that he should ask, so one of the elders prompted him to ask. John’s response, basically says, “You got me...” Washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb: Those saved in the great tribulation are saved just like everybody else, by the blood of the Lamb. The difference is Grace. This is an age of grace when God’s judgment and wrath are being withheld.
This is written, I believe, first of all, to encourage us of the ultimate gospel triumph, when the few will become many, and to encourage preachers and witnesses to be faithful. Notice that their robes are washed by the blood of the Lamb. The robe was very much an identity. To have a white robe was a symbol of absolute purity. Here is a paradox, a precious paradoxical truth. Blood doesn’t stain, blood cleanses every stain. The divine detergent removes sin altogether.
“They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Not one of them became white through his tears of repentance, not one through the shedding of the blood of bulls or of goats. They all wanted a vicarious sacrifice, and for none of them was any sacrifice effectual, except the death of Jesus Christ the Lord. They washed their robes nowhere but in the blood of the Lamb.” (Spurgeon)
The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin. The Bible says we have received forgiveness through His blood. We couldn’t be redeemed by the blood of bulls and goats, but by the blood of Jesus Christ, we have been redeemed. Peter calls it precious blood, the blood of a Lamb without blemish and without spot. And so, here are redeemed people whose sins have been washed away in the blood of the Lamb.
15 “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 shelter them with his presence. (Revelation 7:15 ESV)
God’s protection and security will be upon them. God will put His tent around them. His Shekinah presence will become their protection. Remember, they have seen indescribable horrors. They’ve seen millions of people die. They’ve seen the disasters of the four horsemen of the apocalypse and the following sixth seal when the universe collapsed. They’ve seen all of this. And they’ve suffered much and this has brought them to repentance by the blood of the Lamb. When they come into the presence of the Lord, they come to a secure place. Revelation, chapter 13, chapter 21, talks about God becoming our tabernacle in whom we find our safety.
Psalm 46:1 “1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” What a wonderful promise. Never again will anyone harm them, never again will they suffer pain.
?17 For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” (Revelation 7:17 ESV)
