An Interlude - Revelation 7:1-17
INTRODUCTION:
The question has been raised by many students of the Bible, will there be people saved after the rapture of the church? Will people be saved during the Tribulation period? Last week we already answered that question when John saw the souls of those martyred for their faith in Christ under the altar in heaven.
If we look down through the history of the Bible, we see over and over where God in His grace and mercy has preserved for Himself people, those who have put their faith in Him, during times of distress, trouble or judgment. Before the judgment of the flood, God made a provision for Noah and his family. God protected Rahab and her family when the rest of Jericho was destroyed. Over and over we see God preserving a remnant in Israel when He punished her with judgment. The same will be true in the Tribulation, God in His mercy and grace will save some through and in the Tribulation.
At the end of chapter 6 and the end of the sixth seal the question was asked, “…and who is able to stand?” referring to the Great Tribulation about to be unleashed on the earth, the wrath of Him who sits on the throne and the wrath of the Lamb. Chapter 7 is the answer to that question, these will be able to stand because they have in faith been saved by the blood of the Lamb. Chapter 7 should be in parenthesis, because it comes between the breaking of the 6th seal and the breaking of the 7th seal to answer the question posed at the end of chapter six. It is not in chronological order, but put here to answer the question, “…and who can stand?”
Let’s pray and then get into our passage for this morning.
--PRAY--
Turn in your Bibles to Revelation 7:1-17, our passage of Scripture for this morning. Please stand if you are able for the reading of God’s Word and follow along as I read.
Revelation 7:1-17,
“After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, so that no wind would blow on the earth or on the sea or on any tree. 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, 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.’ 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: From the tribe of Judah, twelve thousand were sealed, from the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand, from the tribe of Gad twelve thousand, from the tribe of Asher twelve thousand, from the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand, from the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand, from the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand, from the tribe of Levi twelve thousand, from the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand, from the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand, from the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand, from the tribe of Benjamin, twelve thousand were sealed. 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, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; and they cry out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.’ 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, saying, ‘Amen, blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen.’ Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, ‘These who are clothed in the white robes, who are they, and where have they come from?’ I said to him, ‘My lord, you know.’ And he said to me, ‘These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. For this reason, they are before the throne of God; and they serve Him day and night in His temple; and He who sits on the throne will spread His tabernacle over them. They will hunger no longer, nor thirst anymore; nor will the sun beat down on them, nor any heat; for the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the water of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes.’” (Revelation 7:1–17, NASB95)[1]
THE VISION OF THE FOUR ANGELS (Revelation 7:1-3)
John begins this chapter with the words, “after this…” showing us that his vision is shifting from the Lamb breaking the seals on the seven-sealed scroll to a new vision in which he sees four angels standing at the four corners of the earth holding back the four winds of the earth. These angels are given power over the elements of nature. Some want to say that because of John’s figure of speech referring to the four corners of the earth shows that John had a primitive notion that the earth was flat and square. This phrase as I already said is a figure of speech and actually refers to the whole earth by designating the four primary points on the compass: north, south, east, and west. From these key points the angels made sure that no wind blew on the earth, or the sea, or on any trees. These angels are “holding back” the four winds that are about to bring judgment on the earth. This phrase “holding back” seems to suggest that the winds are struggling to break free from their restraints. The holding back of these winds by the angels also symbolize the withholding of the plagues associated with the upcoming trumpet judgments. So, the next phase of God’s wrath is restrained for the moment.
The reason for this restraint at this time is made clear by what John sees next in his vision. John says that he saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, or from the east and this angel had with him the “seal of the living God.” A seal often referred to a signet ring which kings and other officials would use to stamp their seal into wax on documents or other items to authenticate them and to guarantee their security. We have already seen this in Revelation with the seven-sealed scroll of the Lamb, only the Lord Jesus Christ could break the seals of this scroll. This “seal of the living God” is used by God to seal that which is his own, to clearly establish what is His and what is not. Did you know that as believers we are sealed? Our Scripture reading this morning spoke of it. Ephesians 1:13-14 says, “In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.” (Ephesians 1:13–14, NASB95)[2] We are marked with the seal of God, showing that we belong to God, we are His own possession. There can never be any question as to whom we belong because we have upon us the seal of the living God, we are sealed in the Holy Spirit. Back to Revelation, John in his vision sees this angel coming from the east with the seal of the living God in his hand. As he comes he calls out with a loud voice to the four angels holding back the winds of judgment, we are told that these four angels have been granted the right to harm the earth and the sea, God has given the right to these angels to execute His wrathful judgment on the earth, but the angel with the seal of God commands them to hold back their judgment and to not harm the earth, or the sea, or the trees until we have sealed the bond-servants, the slaves of God on their foreheads. Revelation 14:1 identifies the mark left by the seal as the names of Jesus Christ and of God the Father.
The fact that they are called bond-servants indicates that those to be sealed are already redeemed, in chapter 14 we are told that these sealed ones have been purchased from among men as first fruits to God and the Lamb. The first fruits in Israel was the first of each thing harvested that was brought to the temple, it was like a promise of much more to come when the harvest was completed. This group bearing the seal of the living God will be the most effective missionaries the world has ever known, they will be effective in bringing the gospel to their own countrymen and to the nations, and will see many put their faith in Jesus Christ for salvation.
THE SEALING OF THE TWELVE TRIBES OF ISRAEL (Revelation 7:4-8)
Who are these that are sealed and how many does this angel seal with the “seal of the living God”? John tells what he heard, he did not actually see it, but heard that the number sealed was 144,000 sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel. There are many people and even some cults out there that demand that those sealed are the church. Nowhere in Scripture is Israel identified with or as the church. There is no example in the New Testament or even in the ancient church writings where the church is called Israel, this heresy did not arise until 160 A.D. This is not the church that is mentioned here, the church has already been raptured and is in heaven. The term Israel must be interpreted according to its normal biblical usage, that is it is a reference to the physical descendants of Jacob (later called Israel), the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham. John goes on to explain that 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes of Israel were sealed making the total of 144,000. John then lists by name each of the tribes that had 12,000 sealed. Even though the records of the tribes were lost when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem in 70 A.D., God knows who belongs to each tribe.
This list of the tribal names raises three interesting questions: Why is Judah listed first, even though Reuben is the firstborn? Why is the tribe of Dan omitted? Why is Ephraim omitted and his father’s name Joseph is in his place? Remember from our study of Genesis that Reuben forfeited his birthright as punishment for his sexual misconduct with Jacob’s concubine. In most tribal lists because Joseph was divided into two tribes, the tribe Levi is omitted to keep the sons of Jacob at twelve. Levi’s inheritance was the Lord and they became the priestly line. They are included in this list and Dan is omitted, some have said it is due to Dan’s reputation for idolatry. While Dan will receive an inheritance of land in the millennial kingdom, this tribe is not selected to be sealed during the Tribulation. Also, the name Ephraim is replaced by his father’s name, Joseph. In Isaiah we are told that Ephraim defected from the ruling house of Judah and in Hosea we are told that they too were filled with idolatry. Ephraim’s brother Manasseh is included because he was the faithful son of Joseph.
What we learn from this passage is of such importance, the biblical truth set forth here is that God is not done with the nation of Israel. The promises made to Israel that are yet unfulfilled will be fulfilled in the future because our God is a faithful God. Though Israel failed to be the witness nation they were called to be, that will not be the case in the end-times, from the Jewish people will come the greatest missionary force the world has ever known, bearing the seal of the living God on their foreheads, sealed for service to God and protected by God. This remnant of Israel will still be living at the end of the Tribulation when Jesus Christ returns.
THE BELIEVERS OF THE TRIBULATION (Revelation 7:9-17)
John in verse 9 tells us that his eyes are opened to a new vision and he looked and saw standing before the throne and before the Lamb a multitude that no one could count, this multitude came from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and tongues (or languages). There will be people from the deepest, darkest jungles of South America and Papua New Guinea. There will be nomadic people from the deserts of Africa, and tribes from the frozen northlands of Canada and Russia. There will be those from the nations of Asia and Europe, from the middle-east, from North and South America and Africa, and Australia. Every nation, tribe, people, language will be represented before the throne and in front of the Lamb in heaven. The shock of seeing this innumerable multitude of people is expressed by John when he says he looked, and behold, there they were. This group that John sees in heaven is distinct from the 144,000 mentioned in the first eight verses. Mainly, the fact that the first group in verses 1-8 is numbered, this group John says no one could count. The 144,000 are all Israelites, this group is from all over the world, representing every nation, tribe, people, and language.
John says this multitude is clothed in in white robes, a word in Greek that is used of long, full-length robes, this is the same word used in chapter six when white robes were given to the martyrs under the altar. That fact suggests that the group John sees here is in part that earlier group from chapter six, but as the Tribulation wears on the number of believers who die naturally or violently will increase the number of martyrs, eventually accumulating into this vast, innumerable multitude that John sees in this passage. John also tells us that these saints are holding palm branches in their hands. Palm branches are often seen in Scripture to depict celebration, deliverance, victory, and joy. They are waving these palm branches in celebration of Christ’s salvation. This group of martyrs is no longer seen under the altar crying out for God’s judgment on the earth, instead they are seen standing triumphantly before the throne of God. The cry from these saints is now one of joyful, exuberant worship. Their worship is focused on the salvation that is from God and from the Lamb. Their worship inspires the worship of all the angels, the elders, the living creatures to fall before God the Father and the Lamb and to exclaim a seven-fold benediction which begins and ends with “Amen,” meaning “so let it be.” They ascribe to God blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might. They are recognizing that these words describe forever some of the attributes of Almighty God, this praise will not be a one-time event, but will continue for all eternity.
John now becomes a participant in this vision as one of the elders asks him the question that I am sure was in John’s mind, “These who are clothed in the white robes, who are they, and where have they come from?” (Revelation 7:13b, NASB95)[3] This elder did not ask this question to gain information because he did not know the answer, but to emphasize his point. The elder’s question specifies and emphasizes the truth that people will be saved during the tribulation. John replies to the elder, “my lord, you know.” John’s response is a confession of ignorance and a request for further revelation. His use of the term “lord” is a title of great respect like saying “sir” in English. The elder did know and responded with the further revelation that John was seeking. The elder responded, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” (Revelation 7:14b, NASB95)[4] The elder first identifies where these white-robed saints have come from, they are the martyrs who come out of the great tribulation. Here we have a phrase that lets us know that this vision is not in chronological order, these saints John says come out of the “great tribulation,” literally translated, “the tribulation, the great one” a phrase that designates the last 3½ years of the Tribulation, John is seeing a vision from near the end of the tribulation of all those who died during the tribulation for their faith in Christ. John Macarthur writes concerning these martyred saints, “The heavenly elder’s reply confirmed the identity of these believers as ‘the ones who come out of the great tribulation.’ They lived into it, were redeemed during it, and have now come out of it through death. The Greek phrase translated ‘the ones who come out’ depicts a prolonged process. This group will keep growing as people keep dying during the tribulation.”[5] This is not describing the rapture of the church as some say, the rapture is an instantaneous event, not a prolonged one like described here. The description of these believers clearly distinguishes them from any other group of redeemed people in history.
The elder goes onto tell John how these believers came to be in the presence of God. The elder says it is because they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. These white robes symbolize holiness and purity. Soiled garments in Scripture symbolize the corruption of sin. Salvation is often depicted as a washing away of sin. From a physical point of view that anything could be made white by washing it in blood seems absurd, but not to those familiar with the Old Testament. Such a washing was necessary for spiritual cleansing. Just as Jesus Christ’s substitutionary death has paid the penalty for our sins, His death has paid the penalty for the sins these tribulation believers, and by repentant faith in Jesus Christ they were justified and reconciled to God.
The elder goes onto to tell John, that because they are redeemed, forgiven, and now in heaven they stand continually before the throne of God and serve Him day and night in His temple. This word translated “serve” means that they are fit for priestly service. Day and night is a figure of speech since we know there is no night in heaven, it is a way of saying that this service is their continual occupation. It says that their service is in God’s temple. God’s temple is the that holy domain where God’s presence dwells outside of the fallen universe, in other words God’s temple is heaven. But with the creation of the new heavens and the new earth where sin is forever done away with, there will no longer need to be a temple, God and the Lamb will be the temple and all believers from every age will worship and serve God forever.
The elder goes on to describe God’s kindness and love for these tribulation saints, He who sits on the throne will spread His tabernacle over them, here we have a beautiful picture of God promising to spread His tabernacle or tent of His presence over these persecuted believers. This statement means that God will take these believers to dwell with Him, it is a picture of the sheltering protection of the Lord. These believers have witnessed unspeakable suffering and indescribable horrors as God’s judgment was poured out on the earth. They have suffered terrible persecution at the hands of the Antichrist and his followers. But when they enter God’s presence, they will come into the most secure place, they will receive shelter from the terrors of the fallen world as God continues to unleash his righteous judgment on the earth. As they suffered on the earth they most likely went hungry, went thirsty, suffered the elements and were exposed to the scorching sun and heat and phenomenon which will occur during the tribulation. That will be no longer, the Lamb that is in the center of the throne, the Lord Jesus Christ, will be there shepherd, he will feed and care for them, He will lead them to the springs of the water of life. God will wipe every tear from their eyes, there will be no more sorrow, no more fear, no more terror. The tears will be wiped away forever.
CONCLUSION:
The question was asked at the end of chapter 6, “…and who is able to stand?” Chapter 7 is the answer to that question. First, the 144,000 Israelites sealed on their foreheads with the seal of the living God will be able to stand. They are sealed as God’s possession and they are protected from the persecution of the Antichrist. They will be the greatest missionary force ever known as they go into all the world with the gospel of Jesus Christ. That innumerable multitude seen in heaven by John will be in part because of the witness of the 144,000. These Israelites are the first who are able to stand.
Second, the innumerable multitude will also be able to stand. They will stand the test and be martyred for their faith in Jesus Christ. Their faith in Jesus Christ will not be easy, because of Jesus they will refuse to get the mark of the beast, they will be unable to buy anything, but will have to rely on other believers for food and drink. They will be on the run as they are hunted down and murdered for their faith. But the reward of standing firm in their faith and not denying their Savior is they will be before the throne forever worshiping the One who sits on the throne and the Lamb. God will comfort and care for them and never again will they lack anything.
So, the question is answered, who is able to stand? Those sealed and those who put their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ believing that He died for their sins, was buried and rose from the dead. This chapter should cause you to praise God that you will not have to suffer His wrath, because you have already put your faith in Jesus Christ and you will be raptured with the rest of the church and taken to heaven before the tribulation begins, but it should also cause you to be out sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with everyone so that they too can escape the wrath to come.
[1]New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. La Habra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995
[2]New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. La Habra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995
[3]New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. La Habra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995
[4]New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. La Habra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995
[5]MacArthur, John, Because the Time is Near. Chicago, IL : Moody Publisher, 2007