Revelation Insights: Sealed Jewish Slaves of God and Heavenly Angels

Grace Bible Church Glorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ

A reminder to consider others Please: Silence your cell phone & all electronic devices Use the nursery or cry room if your child is fussy Get up during the preaching only if absolutely necessary (please sit in back if you must leave early) Refrain from eating & drinking during worship service (except medical needs)

The Sealed Jewish Bond-Slaves of God & The Multitude in Heaven Revelation 7:1-17 Revelation 4 - John is caught up in the Spirit to throne room of God in heaven & records what he sees Revelation 5 - John records the worship of the Lamb who is found worthy to open the 7 sealed scroll

Review Revelation 6 Revelation 6:1-8 - The breaking of the first four seals release four successive judgments from God to the earth The 5th seal reveals the martyrs under the altar & their plea for God s justice & vengeance on the wicked

Review Revelation 6 The 6th seal brings a great shaking resulting in signs in heaven & earth & men try to hide from God s wrath Revelation 6:17 ends with their question, and who is able to stand? Revelation 7 answers that question

The Sealed Jewish Slaves of God Revelation 7:1-8

The Angels Revelation 7:1-2 A new vision occurs after this - the 6th seal - and describes what occurs in an interlude before the 7th seal Four corners of the earth does not support a flat earth which is contrary to Biblical cosmology

The Angels Revelation 7:1-2 The four angels are in position in all four corners of the compass to hold back the wind A fifth angel with the seal of God rises from the east and commands the other four

The Angels Revelation 7:1-2 The seal of God is used to mark what belongs to Him - which in this case will protect them Rev. 14:1 indicates this seal is the names of the Lamb & the Father written on their forehead

The Command Revelation 7:3 The harmful winds controlled by these angels are to be held back until God s slaves are sealed Ezekiel 9:4 is an example of such a seal protecting faithful individuals from God s wrath

The Sealed Slaves Revelation 7:4-8 12,000 from each of the twelve tribes of Israel listed total 144,000 Allegorical interpreters use conjecture & eisegesis to explain passages according to their presuppositions

The Sealed Slaves Revelation 7:4-8 The order in listings of the tribes of Israel vary a lot with Levi being left out the most often This is a list of those that are sealed, not a list of tribes existing. Dan is absent here, but present in Ezek. 48

The Sealed Slaves Revelation 7:4-8 Possibly Dan & Ephraim do not have anyone from their tribe sealed due to their idolatry These 144,000 Jews come to faith in Messiah early in the tribulation & are sealed so they can serve God

The Sealed Slaves Revelation 7:4-8 They are protected from God s wrath on the earth, but persecution from evil men will make them martyrs The 144,000 will be able to stand in the day of God s wrath

The Great Multi-Ethnic Multitude Revelation 7:9-17

The Great Multitude Revelation 7:9 John sees this after these things (the sealing of the 144,000) during the interlude between the 6th & 7th seal His attention is drawn back to the scene in heaven where he sees an innumerable multitude

The Great Multitude Revelation 7:9 In contrast to the 144,00 Jews, this multitude is made up from every nation, tribe, peoples & tongues This is a comprehensive categorization of the four ways people can be grouped

The Great Multitude Revelation 7:9 The innumerable multitude was standing before the throne and before the Lamb The white robes are the same as those of the martyrs after the 5th seal - symbolize dignity, holiness & victory

The Great Multitude Revelation 7:9 The palm branches used in celebrations of triumph - such as Jesus entry into Jerusalem in John 12:13

Their Cry & Worship Revelation 7:10-12 Heaven is punctuated at times with loud voices - angels & martyrs (Rev. 5:2, 12; 6:10; 7:10) They praise & worship the Lamb & God for salvation - in both the sense of redemption & victory

Their Cry & Worship Revelation 7:10-12 Vs. 11 - Angels join the praise & worship for the salvation granted to the multitude Vs. 12- The angels add a seven-fold doxology describing God s character and actions

Their Identity Revelation 7:13-14 A dialogue following a Semitic pattern begins between one of the elders & John to identify the multitude These are additional martyrs added to the ranks of those already in heaven after the 5th seal

Their Identity Revelation 7:13-14 The great tribulation here is not that Jesus spoke of in Matt. 24:21 which matches the judgments to come This is the hour of testing & great day of their wrath, not the tribulation of John or Smyrna (1:6; 2:9-10)

Their Identity Revelation 7:13-14 The blood of the Lamb cleanses & makes white the stains of sin because it is the price of atonement

Their Service Revelation 7:15 These martyrs serve / worship before the throne of God in a priestly role as promised (Rev. 1:5-6; 5:10). They serve day & night - an idiom of continual, unceasing worship in the heavenly temple

Their Blessedness Revelation 7:16-17 The first two blessings parallel Isa. 49:10 - no more hunger or thirst Food and water is not a necessity of a soul, and whatever they do need will be fully satisfied by the Shepherd

Their Blessedness Revelation 7:16-17 Neither the sun will beat down on them any longer nor will they be subject to scorching heat (4th bowl?) God will wipe away their tears (a promise reflecting Isa. 25:8) - the sorrows of life will be behind them

Conclusions Both the 144,000 and the martyrs will stand in the day of God s wrath - protected from or removed from that wrath The good news: Multitudes will be saved The bad news: For most it will come with martyrdom

Grace Bible Church Glorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ