Revelation 7:1-17

Chapter 7. I’ll read the whole chapter for us. And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth that the wind should not blow on the earth or the land, nor on the sea or on any tree. I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God, and he cried with a loud, 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 are the number of them that were sealed, and there were sealed 144,000 of all the tribes of the children of Israel. of the tribe of Judah were sealed 12,000, of the tribe of Rubin were sealed 12,000, of the tribe of Gad were sealed 12,000, of the tribe of Asher were sealed 12,000, of the tribe of Nephilim were sealed 12,000, of the tribe of Manassas were sealed 12,000, of the tribe of Semin were sealed 12,000, of the tribe of Levi were sealed 12,000, of the tribe of Isakar were sealed 12, of the tribe of Zetkaar were sealed 12, of the tribe of Zet Zabuland were sealed 12,000, or Zebulon, of the tribe of Joseph were sealed 12,000, of the tribe of Benjamin was sealed 12,000. After this I beheld in loa 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 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 worship God, saying, Amen, blessing and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor and power and might be unto our God forever 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 lamp. 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. God blessed to us His sacred word. this morning. The last words of chapter six were, the great day of his wrath has come and who shall be able to stand. Well, chapter seven answers that question for us. Here we have another vision, and this vision sort of backs us up a little bit and shows us before the judgments that are coming, that we just read about, the sealed judgments, these six, some of the something happens so that some are preserved, so that they are able to stand when the wrath of the lamb is poured out. And so we see that’s what is focused upon here. We said that the sealed judgments were a terrible outpouring and divine wrath on the apostate nation of Israel. The seven sealed book from Ezekiel chapter two and three we saw refers to the woes in Laman upon the nation of Israel. The four horsemen, conquest, bloodshed, famine and death would bring devastation, culminating in the collapse of the apostate nation, which the sixth seal, verses 12 through 17 of chapter 6 reveals to us. So here, what we’ve had here in the seals are really sort of an overview of what’s going to happen. when we get the book open, so we sort of have just the broad brush strokes of what’s going to happen. Who will survive this Holocaust? This present vision, Chapter 7 answers, the Jews who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. We have here the ceiling of the 144,000 in the first eight verses of this chapter. The four angels here are portrayed as temporarily holding back these four winds from blowing on the land, bringing destruction. In Jeremiah chapter 5, it’s interesting, God says, Behold, I will raise up against Babylon a destroying wind. And he talks about Babylon’s fall. Well, here, these are destroying winds, and God is sort of holding them back. It’s possible the four winds represent the four winds. horsemen that he’s going to unleash upon them. But anyhow, God’s holding this judgment in check until he has sealed the people that he wants to preserve when the judgment is poured out. The Roman salt upon Israel was brutal. Their armies swept through Galilee and Judea, on the way to Jerusalem. and the Roman armies were really the great sword of God here, producing slaughter of the Jews. Believing Jews were caught up in many of the hardships that faced the Jews during the war. So, I mean, this was not something that was easily endured, and yet, you know, they’re sort of caught up in this, but while they are caught up in the, I effects of the war, they are still preserved by the Lord. God takes measures so that they are not wiped out, like many of the other Jews were. He seals 144,000 of them, 12,000 from each of the tribes that are mentioned here. In Revelation, perfectly rounded thousands usually are symbolic. And I think here it’s symbolic as well. This is a very few number compared with the innumerable number of Gentiles that we’re going to talk about in the latter part of this chapter, who, while they’re not preserved from death, they are still, as martyrs, taken to heaven, and we see the glories that they enjoy. And we’ll talk about that in verses 9 and 17. So who are these 144,000? Well, I read it here. They’re specifically from the tribes of Israel. I think, you know, compared to what we see at the second part of this chapter, it seems like he’s saying, these are the ones I preserved during the war, but we’ll see that the Great Tribulation goes beyond the borders of Israel, and therefore other believers, Gentile believers, are going to be killed and martyred, and we’ll take that into account later. They’re from every tribe and nation and tongue and so forth. So that’s the contrast here between the two. So they’re also mentioned as the first fruits in chapter 14 in verse 4. We looked at that in the past. So these, this tells us that these are the early believers in Christ. The early church we’re talking about that’s being preserved here. They were converted of John’s generation. Now, you might ask me, and if you’ve, if you looked at this carefully, you might say, well, how come Dan is it mentioned? Did you notice that there’s one tribe, they put Levi in, but Dan is not mentioned? I have no perfect answer for that. Some believe that the tribe had become extinct. And they base that on the fact that while Dan is mentioned in First Chronicles chapter 2 and verse 2 as one of the sons of Jacob, when you read the rest of the Quran. chronicles there and they give the list of the names, Dan is not mentioned in the offspring of Jacob. In other words, he’s mentioned, and then somewhere when they get to the saying, well, here’s where the offspring, they don’t mention Dan. So evidently, some believe that perhaps the tribe basically got wiped out, got became extinct. That may be why it’s not mentioned here in this particular passage. That’s the best explanation I can give you. Now they are protected by God in the land, which is being judged. Remember the four winds are being held back from the earth or the land. And so this is what we’re focused upon at the early part of this. Christ warned his followers that when they saw Jerusalem surrounded or compassed with armies to flee to escape, don’t get caught up in the destruction. In Luke chapter 21, we’ve read this in the past. verses 20 to 24. I won’t repeat it right now. The events of Revelation anticipate what is going to happen very soon. And historically, the Christian Jews heated Christ’s words and did escape. Ezekiel provides a very similar picture of God preserving his people during the first destruction of Jerusalem when Babylon destroyed it in 586 BC. I refer you to Ezekiel, if you would, chapter 9, verses 1 to 6. We’ve read this in the past, but just for refreshing our memory, we see what God did in the past, and we have a similar thing being done here in the present. Ezekiel, chapter 9, verses 1 to 6. He cried. also in mine ears with a loud voice saying, Cause them that have charge over the city to draw near. Even every man with his destroying weapon in his hand. Behold, six men came from the way of the higher gate, which lieth toward the north. Every man, a slaughter weapon in his hand. One man among them was clothed with linen, with a rider’s inkhorn on his side. And they went in and stood beside the brazen altar. And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon he was, to the threshold of the house. And he called the man clothed with linen, which had the rider’s horn by his side. And the Lord said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and they cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof. To the others, he said in mine hearing, go ye after him through the city, and smite, let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity, slay utterly old and young, both maids and little children and women, but come not near, any man upon whom is the mark, and begin at my sanctuary. They began at the ancient men which were before the house. And we see the destruction that took place at this time. And so before the present destruction here of Jerusalem, God took care, certainly even before the war. to identify his own, separate them for safety during this Holocaust, which was coming. Now, it’s interesting, when one reads history on this, that when Nero committed suicide in 68 AD, Roman Civil War occurred. Vespucian, or Vespasian, temporarily ceased operascian, with regard to assaulting Jerusalem. He went and he secured the throne of Rome for himself, the emperorship first. And then eventually, he would use Titus’ son, who he left behind, to complete the task of mopping up the Jews and conquering the city of Jerusalem. So there was, a pause. Christians who were still in Jerusalem or around the area took advantage of the pause and fled. Here’s what Eusebius’ ecclesiastical history says. This was sort of their final chance and God gave him a pause. It’s okay, this is it. You see Jerusalem being surrounded. You better get out of here. And so here’s what Eusebius says. But the people of the church in Jerusalem had been commanded by revelation vouchsaf to approved men there before the war, to leave the city and that dwell in a certain town of Peria called Pelop. And when those that believed in Christ had come thither from Jerusalem, then as if the royal city of the Jews and the whole land of Judea were entirely destitute of holy men, the judgment of God at length overtook those who had committed such outrages against Christ and his apostles and totally destroyed that generation of impious men. I’ll just stop there for now. He goes on to describe some of the atrocities that occur, but he indicates to us they got out. They took advantage of this destructive. that was coming and were able to take heat to the warning and get out of it. So we have the ceiling here of the hundred and forty four thousand. Any questions about this? All right, then let’s look at the innumerable multitude in chapter seven verses nine to seventeen as we continue this morning. Associated with the falling away or the apostasy of the Jews, we find God opening the door of salvation to the Gentiles. You find that in Romans 12 that’s mentioned. In Romans 11 and 12 would indicate that to have that to us. Matthew 21 tells us that that God is going to take away the kingdom from the Jews and give it to a nation that’s worthy of it. And then in chapter 22, remember there is the parable in Matthew 22 of the king that is going to have a wedding feast for his son. Those who were first bidden to the feet. And what happens that? God, the king, sends out his messengers into the highways and byways invites people to come. Here are the Gentiles who are going to be called in. And what happens to those who refuse to come? The Bible said the king’s going to send his army and destroy their city and burn it with fire. You read that in Matthew chapter 22 and verses 1 to 10. You can read that for yourself. So here’s what we have. have if the Jews aren’t going to come, God’s going to call Gentiles. And as a result of this prophecy and this teaching, Paul’s missionary work and others, we find great multitudes of Gentiles were converted and brought to salvation in Christ. The great tribulation was not confined to Israel. where Christians were under persecution throughout the Roman Empire. But these are the ones that came out of the Great Tribulation, as he tells us in verse 14. These are they which came out of Great Tribulation, have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Now, the Great Tribulation is a specific period of time. This does not refer to a general. tribulation that we could sort of say that all Christians endure. How do we know this? Well, look with me at Matthew chapter 24 in verses 21 and 22. Here’s what Jesus says in his all of that discourse. When he talks about, you know, the, basically the destruction of Jerusalem and the fleeing of Judea because the abomination and desolation is coming and so forth. and how it’s going to be difficult to flee on the Sabbath day and so forth. He says this, for then shall there be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. Except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be say, but for the lex’s sake those days shall be shortened. Now notice here that this great tribulation of which, which Jesus speaks is a specific period of time. There’s nothing like it before it. There’s nothing like an afterwards. It is a shortened period of time. It’s not a lengthy time, a general tribulation at all Christians endure throughout all ages. A specific period related to 70 AD here and we see this time frame laid out for us. And so when we see these people coming out of the Great Tribulation, we’re talking about a specific group of Gentiles. Now it’s true that all believers will die and they will go to heaven and whether they’re martyred or not. They’re going to be at the throne of the Lord and so forth. That’s true. But he’s specifically talking about what about those who were martyred here? What about the Gentiles who were put to death? J. Adams in the time is at hand says this. A large group of Jews, have been sealed for delivery from this persecution in Jerusalem proper. However, across the Roman Empire, a greater multitude of believers will soon suffer martyrdom. Having seen so many others escape, they must now die. Is God fair? Is he truly in charge? Lest they question the wisdom or equity of God, the problem is anticipated in an answer. They are shown that it is just as much God’s will for Son to be slain as for others to be sealed. So these Gentiles now in heaven are clothed in the white robes of Christ’s perfect righteousness. In verse 9, it tells us this. A glorious church here without spart or wrinkle is being formed. It’s not completed yet, but it’s being formed. And here is a portion of it so that they are holy and without blemish. They have palms in their hands. Now, no one actually seems to want to talk about these palms in their hands. The only thing I can tell you is in Zacharii, chapter 14 and verse 16, it talks about the Gentiles who take part in the Feast of the Tabernacles. And I suggest you that the idea here is that they are participating in the worship of the true God. and perhaps that’s the suggestion with palm trees of palm branches in their hands here. I suggest you look at Zechariah 1416 and weigh that for yourself. I’m just going to make that suggestion to you as an area to exam. They praise God and Christ the Lamb, because Christ, of course, is the one who was sacrificed himself to save them and granted them the salvation they enjoy. Once again, and all those around the throne worship and praise the Lord, just as in chapter 5. There is a note of triumph here in victory. Yeah, they were martyred, but here they are in heaven. And so it’s not the terrible thing because to depart and be with Christ is a glorious moment for the believer. So while on earth persecuted Christians knew the hardships of hunger and thirst, had the heat, so, you know, persecution upon them and so forth. But now all that is gone. In heaven, Christ is their shepherd. He takes wonderful care of them. They lack nothing, and all sorrow is removed. Versus 16 and 17. Notice the heavy emphasis here upon the glorious gains and blessings of the faithful martyr. Of the faithful martyrs. Verse 9 talks about that. I’m being clothed and so forth. And then in verses 15 and through 19, we see the blessing that rests upon these individuals. One other thought I’ll suggest to you here, and that is the living fountains of waters that are mentioned here in verses. In these verses, in verse 17 in particular, we see it here. What is this living fountains of water? all about. Well, let’s look at Jeremiah moment. I told you, I think you almost have to have an understanding of the Old Testament and these passages of Scripture in order to interpret the book properly. Look at chapter 2 in verse 13 of Jeremiah. For my people have committed two evils, they have forsaken me. the fountain of living waters and addued themselves out cisterns, broken cisterns that can hold no water. They forsaken me, I am the fountain of living waters. And then look at chapter 17 and verse 13, very similar thought. O Lord, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be ashamed. They that depart from these shall be written in the earth. Because they have forsaken the Lord, the fountain of living waters. So if Christ leads us to the fountain of living waters, I take it, he takes us into the very presence of God, and this is a glorious place to be in the presence of God. And because all the graces of God, all the blessings of God, are associated here with this idea of, I think, the fountains of living waters. Many thoughts on that? for this section. All right. I have time to just briefly give you a few practical implications from our chapter here. And the first is this. In verses 1 to 8, God is careful to preserve a people for his name despite the majority of people opposed to Christ in his kingdom. We look at Israel. Look at how many people were opposed to Christ, and yet he has some that he will preserve. There’s a remnant according to the election of grace, as Romans 116, indicates, that God will say they may be small in compared to the rest of the nation. But God seals each one who belongs to him so that they are preserved when Christ meets out this judgment. 2. Peter 2.9 says the Lord knoweth how to deliver the God lay out of temptations. So Christ’s people need not fear the outpouring of divine wrath for they have Christ who will shield them during this period. Secondly, God will have a greater harvest of souls among the Gentiles than among the Jews. As 7-9 tells us about this great multitude, that no. man can number, whereas the Jews are numbered,000 144,000. That’s the contrast here. This is according to the divine prophecy. Remember Isaiah 541. More of the children of the desolate than the married woman. If you study, I think that you’ll see the indication here is that those who weren’t seeking the Lord are the ones that God brings in and saves them. It is God’s purpose to provoke the Jews to jealousy by saving the Gentiles, as Paul tells us. And so the success of the gospel among the Gentiles is what will bring this to pass. And God fulfills his promise to Abraham, that in him in his seed in particular, all the nations of the earth will be blessed. And that’s what we see here. The Gentiles are made heirs of the promise of Abraham a covenant through Christ, the true seed. If you be Christ, then are you Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise. Galatians 329. The third thing I suggest to you, we see something here about the worship of the saints in verses 10 to 12 of this chapter. In acts of religious worship, the believer draws near to God, and is able to approach through Jesus. Christ, the mediator. The throne of God is unapproachable if it weren’t for Christ. Approaching the throne requires a covering of perfect righteousness. they wash their robes in the blood of the lamb and they’re perfectly white, is what we’re told here. So true worship involves the praise of the God and the Lamb for the great salvation that he has provided. And praise involves honoring God for all his glorious attributes. Verse 12. His glory, his wisdom, his power, his might. And, of course, they say, be unto God forever. Amen. Let it be so. Fourthly, heaven provides a happy freedom from all the sufferings of this present world and this present life. Versus the third. 13 to 17. When we read this passage, which you have no sense of want, we see that all needs are provided. You have no reason to worry about provisions. They hunger and they thirst no more. Suffering and pain are no longer reality. When he talks about the sun being, you know, neither shall the sun light upon them nor any heat. Here I think he’s talking about some type of persecution. some type of trouble that is upon them. Suffering and pain are no longer re-out. They’ve reached a state of rest from all the labors of this life. And this lists a great burden. I like verse 17, how it is God’s going to wipe all tears from their eyes. There’s nothing to make you sad. There’s nothing to cause mourning. any longer. The sin, the sickness, the persecution, the pain is all gone. God comforts his people. Leads them under the living of fountains of water. Every blessing of divine grace in Christ is given to you by God. I like what Psalm 1611 says. In thy presence is fullness of joy at thy right hand. there are pleasures forevermore. So we’re led to the living fountain of water. If we’re led to the Lord God, we’re able to approach him, it’s the place of blessing. It’s the place of joy. It’s a place of heavenly pleasures for all we’ve done. And that, I think, is some of the principal practical lessons we can learn from this. Any other thoughts on this? Any other questions? Maybe you’ve thought of a practical idea from this passage as well. All right. Then we can close then with a word of prayer.