Reassurance to the Redeemed

REASSURANCE TO THE REDEEMED

Rev. 7

In chapter 6 we read about the breaking of the seals.

Judgment is coming on the Roman Empire and the opening of the seals not only warns of the coming judgment but also seems to be giving an indication to some degree the means in which Rome will fall.
Remember the four horses that came forth with the breaking of the seals? (White-conqueror with victor’s crown, with a bow, piercing the hearts of men with the word; Red – war, conflict, drains resources; black-economy; ashen-famine, pestilence, wild beasts, death).
The seals are a warning…God warns before He does…He gives people time to repent.

Then the fifth seal is broken…and the souls of those who had been slain because of the word…cried out, “How long, O Lord, will you refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”

And they are given white robes and are told to rest for a while because more would die before God brings forth His judgment.

And when the sixth seal is broken a picture of judgment and destruction is painted for us.

God is going to shake the foundation of the ungodly and turn their world upside down.
And no matter where they run, or where they try to hide…they will not escape “the wrath of the Lamb.”

And the chapter ends with this question: …for the great day of their wrath has come; and who is able to stand?”

And here in chapter 7 the writer answers this question.

Rev 7

7:1 After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth (Four relates to the world: east, west, north, south) , holding back the four winds of the earth(winds here represents the activity of God. In Exodus 10: 13 God told Moses to stretch out his hand and when he did an east wind brought locusts on the land. In Exodus 14: 21 God used a strong east wind to turn the sea into dry land. See also Isa. 57:13; Jeremiah 18:17; Dan. 7:2) , so that no wind should blow on the earth or on the sea or on any tree. (They hold the wind back so that no destruction on Rome can take place until God’s people are identified. This gave God’s people comfort. When Rome is destroyed God will know whom to destroy and whom to save.)

2 And I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun (This angel comes from the east…from where the light originates. His message is one of cheer.), having the seal of the living God; (The seal indicates that God owns sealed ones and would keep Satan from tampering with them. This message here in this chapter is for the saints. They are under God’s protection. Is this a protection from death? No, many will die. But when they do they will not be condemned like the wicked. Ezekiel 9 and 21: 3-4 will help you understand the principles of sealing.)

There is a point to consider here.
Some suffering is not the judgment of God.
Sometimes the innocent suffer with the guilty.
When this judgment comes on Rome it will mean severe hardship for these saints.
But, they will not receive the condemnation or the punishment that the wicked will receive.
The judgment will involve the righteous in suffering and it might look like they are being punished too.
But the sealing is God’s way of saying, “The righteous are not being judged.”

Rev 7:2

2 And I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, having the seal of the living God; and he cried out with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, 3 saying, “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the bond-servants of our God on their foreheads.”(This angel calls for delay. The reason for the delay: the welfare of the righteous. “Don’t hurt the earth until the righteous are marked.”)

The reason they are marked on their foreheads? That is where the thoughts come from. These are people who have their minds on God.

Notice that the “bond-servants of God” will be sealed.

How many does that include? ALL of them. Every bond-servant of God is sealed.
This is not a “part” sealing.
Some want to say that this “sealing” only involves a select few.
Not so. Whoever is a bond-servant of God is sealed.

4 And I heard the number of those who were sealed, one hundred and forty-four thousand sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel:

Some believe that the 144, 000 will be the exact number of redeemed in heaven.
However, if you look at verse 9 the indication is that some were already in heaven…a number so great that no one could count them.

Now, let me give you some thoughts about the number 144,000.

144,000 equals 12 x 12 x 1000.
12 is the number that represents God’s people (12 apostles, 12 patriarchs, 12 tribes).
By multiplying the number 12 by 12 and then by 1000 (which is a number of totality)…you have a number that symbolizes all the redeemed of the earth.
All of God’s saints on the earth at the time will undergo this period of trial when judgment comes on Rome.
But all are assured of God’s protection. See Amos 9:9.

Notice the phase: “from every tribe of the sons of Israel.”

Some believe that this is speaking literally of Israel. That this is speaking only of the Jews.
The problem is with the understanding of who “Israel” is.
A study of Romans 9 and Romans 11 will show you that just because they are Jews does not mean that they are “Israel.”
In fact, in Romans 9:6 the apostles Paul says: “For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel. 7 neither are they all children because they are Abraham’s descendants, but: “through Isaac your descendants will be named.” 8 That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants.

To speak of “Israel” is to speak of God’s redeemed people.

And that is confirmed by Revelation 14:1-5 because in that passage we are told exactly who the 144,000 are.

14:1 And I looked, and behold, the Lamb was standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His name and the name of His Father written on their foreheads. 2 And I heard a voice from heaven, like the sound of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder, and the voice which I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps. 3 And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders; and no one could learn the song except the one hundred and forty-four thousand who had been purchased from the earth. 4 These are the ones who have not been defiled with women, for they have kept themselves chaste. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These have been purchased from among men as first fruits to God and to the Lamb. 5 And no lie was found in their mouth; they are blameless.

“Israel” is an established name for the redeemed people of God.

Rev. 7:4 And I heard the number of those who were sealed, one hundred and forty-four thousand sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel:5 from the tribe of Judah, twelve thousand were sealed, from the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand, from the tribe of Gad twelve thousand, 6 from the tribe of Asher twelve thousand, from the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand, from the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand, 7 from the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand, from the tribe of Levi twelve thousand, from the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand, 8 from the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand, from the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand, from the tribe of Benjamin, twelve thousand were sealed.

Here is another problem for those who want to say that this is speaking of a literal Israel…or Jews.
Where is Dan? He is not included here? Where is He?

9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues (four statements: four is the number of the world. Indicates these people were once in the world) standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands(Lev. 23, 40. Palm branches were used in the “Feast of Tabernacles.” It was a time of celebration, joy, thanksgiving.”

10 and they cry out with a loud voice, saying,

“Salvation to our God (Salvation is attributed to Him) 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.”

Notice the seven phrases…means that God is worthy of all and total adoration.

13 And one of the elders answered, saying to me, “These who are clothed in the white robes, who are they, and from where have they come?”

14 And I said to him, “My lord, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation (probably the great tribulation mentioned back up in chapter 6. Daniel told of the time when the kingdom of God would destroy the 4^th great kingdom on the earth.) , and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 “For this reason, they are before the throne of God; and they serve Him day and night in His temple (notice, they are priests); and He who sits on the throne shall spread His tabernacle over them. 16 “They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; neither shall the sun beat down on them, nor any heat; 17 for the Lamb in the center of the throne shall be their shepherd, and shall guide them to springs of the water of life; and God shall wipe every tear from their eyes. ”

This chapter reassures these saints…the redeemed of God that when judgment and destruction comes on Rome…even though some of them may be killed in that judgment and destruction…they will be in heaven with God and the Lamb.

Salvation is theirs.