Chapter 7 describes a pause between the sixth seal (Chapter 6) and the seventh seventh seal (Chapter 8) and pictures God's care for those that are His. This was such a comfort to read and to study. What an encouragement this vision must have been to John! Here we see God at work even in the midst of trouble. Yes, the tribulation is a time of destruction and great judgment but it is also a time that God, as He always does, will remember mercy. John sees two groups of people..the sealed by God of the 12 tribes of Israel (the 144,000) and their converts, the tribulation saints. God has His servants that will proclaim the truth to the world...the time right after the rapture of the church will be a time where salvation will come to many!
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." 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: --Revelation 7:1-4
The four angels at the four corners of the earth seem to be holding back the coming storm of the seventh seal and are told to delay until the servants of God are sealed. These redeemed Jews...12,000 from the 12 tribes of Israel, will be responsible for the salvation of many Jews and Gentiles during the Tribulation. Israel will do what she refused to do in the Old Testament...be a witness for God in the world. These 144,000 are the first fruits of a ne redeemed Israel. God will protect them as they fulfill their mission to bring the gospel message to a world that is facing destruction.
Of the tribe of Judah twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Asher twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Levi twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand were sealed.--Revelation 7:5-8
These 144,000 are protected so that they can continue to witness for Christ. After their sealing the judgments will begin.
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." 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. --Revelation 7:9-14
Salvation belongs to God! Again, the tribulation will be a time of salvation. These are those saved and then martyred during the great tribulation...those who washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb. Matthew 24:12-14 says this:
And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.
Revelation 7 continues:
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." --Revelation 7:15-17
Look at the blessings to these tribulation saints...
They are near to God...before His throne. They serve Him day and night...which will be their desire. They enjoy close fellowship with Him. They are content...satisfied...the Lord is their Shepherd they have everything they need. They are safe..the Lord is their covering and shield. The Lamb guides them and leads them to fountains of waters. They are filled with joy...all tears wiped away.
No comments:
Post a Comment