In chapter 6 we counted off those first six seals as one by one Jesus began to break them; opening the scroll that only He was worthy and able to open. These seals are most often thought to be within the 7-year tribulation period. However, we should be open to the fact that these may serve as an introduction to the end times events. Matthew recorded Jesus' words:
"Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows. (Matthew 24:4-8)
It is after these beginning sorrows that they would be delivered up to tribulation and martyrdom. The world will be a hate-filled place as love grows cold, deception will abound.
13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved. 14 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. (Matthew 24:13)
Then in Matthew 24:29 He speaks of a time of cosmic disturbances; when the sun and moon are darkened, the stars fall from heaven and the powers of heaven would be shaken. It is then that the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven. These cosmic disturbances of Matthew look very much like those of the 6th seal. At the same time, the first seals could be classified as the beginning of sorrows. The fact is we don't know and aren't suppose to know.
Note: We often read a timeline into the events, assuming they are sequential and giving them a place on the timeline. However, we don't know how much time on earth passed between seals. We don't know at the releasing of the 4 horsemen that they had an immediate effect on the earth.
As John watched this vision, he can see that God was shaking the world. This we can know for sure. It is the time of Jacob's trouble as God deals with Israel and judges the nations.
Between the 6th and 7th seal, we see the emerging of some people groups.
Revelation 7:1
The 'meta touta' opening chapter 7 is 'after these things'. However, the sequence is John speaks of is the sequence of what he sees. He saw the seals and after that he saw these four angels. This doesn't automatically assume the events of chapter 7 are after chapter 6.
I saw a bully approaching a young boy. The young boy cowered in fear as the bully approached. It appeared he was in for it as the older boy snarled and pounded his fist into his palm.
Then I saw an older boy standing on the street corner. He called out to Alex, his younger brother. He also said hello to Ted, an older boy who was walking away.
The second part could stand alone could it not? However, what if the older boy on the corner were the young man's big brother? When he said hello, was he simply getting the bully's attention to let him know he was there? The two small paragraphs could be very much interlaced and overlapping.
The point is, there is a sequence to the visions, but that sequence may not be the sequence of events.
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John saw four angels at the four corners of the earth. These are the 4 directions, showing the scope of the prophecy is the entire earth. They were holding back the four winds of the earth. These winds appear to be symbolic of the destructive force of God over the face of the earth. They have God's destructive power at hand, but for the moment they hold back. There's a time out in the action, something important must be done first. Are these the 4 horsemen being held back.
Note: Consider Zechariah 6:4 where the 4 chariots were coming with colored horses. When asked what they are, they are described as the four spirits of heaven who go out from their station before the Lord of the whole earth.
Revelation 7:2-3
It's interesting this angel is ascending; coming up, as if he's been about his business on the earth. This angel is sealed. That seal is to be understood as a mark of authenticity or ownership. This angel is marked for the Lord, by the Lord. This angel is marked so there is no mistake about who he belongs to and this mark may be a form of protection also. He ascends from the fray and speaks to the other four. He knows it is granted to them to harm the earth and sea. However, he tells them to hold off 'until we have sealed the servants of our God."
You get the feeling that there are a lot of angels running around down here on earth as it becomes an even greater spiritual battlefield than ever before. All these angels, along with the demons (fallen angels) are down on the earth, down in the darkness of a world ruled by Satan, down where the destructive winds of God are ready to blow.
It's worth noting these servants of God will be sealed on the forehead. This word for forehead means the space right between your eyes. It's interesting that this word for forehead is only used in Revelation. It's the same word to describe where some will receive the mark of the beast, on their foreheads, right between the eyes. Is this a mark on the mind or conscious? Will people be marked spiritually or will there be some physical mark that indicates spiritual status.
Note: This is an interesting thought as humanity is drawn into an electronic world where thoughts and actions can be so driven and controlled by social media. We see more movement in the culture towards monitoring personal activity to give you a social score. If you say and do the right things you will be rewarded with points and opportunity for success as defined by the powers that be. At the same time, we see visionaries speak of linking computers to the human mind. In fact, this is being done on a limited scale already. The advancements expected over the next few years are frightening.
In Ezekiel's vision, we see a similar idea:
3 Now the glory of the God of Israel had gone up from the cherub, where it had been, to the threshold of the temple. And He called to the man clothed with linen, who had the writer's inkhorn at his side; 4 and the Lord said to him, "Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it." (Ezekiel 9:3-5)
Revelation 7:4-8
This word for 'sealed' is seen 25 times in the New Testament. There are 16 occurrences in Revelation, 1 in Matthew, 1 in Romans, 1 on 2 Corinthians and 2 in Ephesians. It is used to speak of the work the Holy Spirit does in a believer, sealing them. The number of those servants of God that are sealed is 144,000. These servants are 'bondservants' (doulos). These are those who willing bond themselves to the home of the master, making a lifetime commitment.
Strange things have been done to this passage over the years. Some denominations have claimed they are the 144,000. Others make the number symbolic of a larger group of believers. However, we can't just make this symbolic without a reason. If you make the number symbolic, do you also make the tribes symbolic? Where does that stop? Consider these things about the list of servants:
- These are ethnic Jews.
- They are Jewish Christians, devoted to the Lord; sealed. This seal may also provide some protection from the rampant evil on the earth.
- They may or may not know they are sealed and part of this group.
- They may not even know what tribe they belong to, but the Lord does.
- It's commonly understood they are evangelists, or at least those who openly share the Lord, leading people to Christ.
In addition, in Revelation 14 we find out more.
- They had God's name written on their foreheads.
- They learned an exclusive song, only they could sing. This might be a song that pertains to their unique work in this tribulation period.
- They are celibate men.
- They follow the lamb wherever He goes.
- They were blameless before the Lord.
There are a couple things worth noting about this list of tribes. While it seems like a list of the 12 tribes would always be the same, there is, in fact, many different variations of the 12 tribes in the bible. The tribe of Dan is missing from the list. Some say this is because the Antichrist will come from the tribe of Dan. Others say Dan is left out because this tribe was the first to introduce idolatry to the land. While the tribe of Dan is omitted from this list, it is on the list of tribes of the millennial kingdom in Ezekiel 48:30-35; which is a list of the sons of Jacob. Apparently, Dan will be redeemed in the end of days.
Even without Dan, there are 12 tribes. In some lists, Joseph is represented by his sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. The list of servants has Manasseh but instead of Ephraim, Joseph is listed. Ephraim was also involved in idolatry as Dan was.
5 The man Micah (v.1 a man from the mountains of Ephraim) had a shrine, and made an ephod and household idols; and he consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest. 6 In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes. (Judges 17:5-6)
The list of tribes changes with the purpose of the list or when the list was made. For instance, when the tribes are listed in regard to inheritance or allotment, then the Levites aren't on the list because their inheritance is the Lord.
You need to know it's a somewhat widely taught misconception that Israel forfeited its promises and that the church replaced Israel. This is called replacement theology. Those who believe this place the church in the place of Israel and all its promises. This belief is full of problems, the primary of which is that the Lord is simply not done with the Jews. This entire 70th week of Daniel is the Lord dealing with the Jews. Daniel was praying for the future of his people, for their return to the land and for their restoration. God responded by showing him a vision of their future. That was God showing Daniel that how he would deal with His chosen people in the end times.
Israel is mentioned 75 times in the New Testament. It is always referred to Israel as a nation, even though the Jews were a people without a home for many years. It was May of 1948 when they became a recognized nation again. Many of those theologians who had written off the Jews were assuming the church had now taken the place of Israel. When they became a nation again in 1948, they had to quickly reconsider their views. (I'm sure some denominations split and formed new ones over that.)
God is not done with Israel.
25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: "The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; 27 For this is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins." (Romans 11:25)
This is Paul reiterating the covenant promises God made to Israel. Paul had no reason to write this about Israel if he really meant the church. God made 4 unconditional covenants with Israel.
The Abrahamic covenant(Gen 12:1-3). God promised to bless Abraham.
The Palestinian Covenant (Deut 30:1-10; Gen 13:14). God gave Israel the Promised Land.
The Davidic Covenant (2 Samuel 7). God promised an eternal King would come from King David and rule from that throne.
The New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-33). God promised Israel a new heart on which He would write His will.
God is not done with Israel. In the days we live, we ought to watch Israel, they are the key to our times.
Revelation 7:9-12
On the earth, the winds of wrath were being held back while these servants of God were marked and about their business on the earth. Then John then saw a great multitude from all tribes and nations and people and language. These aren't just Jews, but also gentiles from all over the world. There are so many of them, no one could count them. This multitude is clothed in white and standing before the throne waving palm branches. The white robes show purity, having been washed clean. Waving a palm branch is like waving a flag of victory. These appear to be the fruit of the ministry and labors of the 144,000. This multitude seems to be a group of new arrivals celebrating. They are celebrating their salvation before the throne of God.
Just think, these may be some of the people we know today, those we prayer for who have spent their entire life in rebellion. They have may have been devout atheists and despised the thought of God. Then when hell was unleashed on earth they recognized something was wrong. These folks may be like the thief on the cross, having received their salvation on their deathbed. And they opened their eyes standing before the throne of God. They are praising God.
Those who hold to a pre-wrath or mid-tribulation view of the rapture see this verse as supporting their position. Some see these believers as being symbolically before the throne but still physically on earth. The text doesn't seem to support this. If they are new believers, how did they get in heaven? They aren't called martyrs, although earlier we saw that there were more martyrs expected.
All the angels, the 24 elders and 4 creatures before the throne all fall on their faces and worship. They sing a sevenfold song of praise: Blessing, Glory, Wisdom, Thanksgiving, Honor, Power and Might. All these belong to God eternally.
Revelation 7:13
This was the question on John's mind. But he hadn't asked, or maybe couldn't ask, so the elder voiced the question to him to reveal his ignorance. John knew this elder had the answer. This great diverse crowd that is in heaven comes from all languages and all cultures. These are saints who came out of the tribulation. Their robes were made white by washing them in the blood of Jesus. That's an interesting concept isn't it; "Washing in the blood of Jesus." You wouldn't think of anything being white after being washed in blood.
Isaiah 1:18 says:
"Though your sins are like scarlet,
They shall be as white as snow;
Though they are red like crimson,
They shall be as wool.
These believers came out of the worst of circumstances, from the darkest of times. Those that come from those hopeless and seemingly impossible situations will see clearly the contrast of what they were and what they had become. If they could just have that knowledge now, if we could just have that knowledge now. These new believers worship and praise God in joy and humility. This is their testimony. These people came to know Jesus in a hostile world.
Because these people are mentioned right after the 144,000 it may be the evangelism of these 144,000 that led these folks to Jesus. And as soon as they trust in Jesus, they were killed for their faith. These people found themselves in the presence of God. Isn't that amazing? They didn't know the first hymn. They might not have been able to recite a single bible verse. They probably had no understanding of eschatology, didn't know what a pre-trib from a post trib and didn't care. They didn't know if they were a Calvinist or an Armenian; Baptist, Pentecostal, or a Methodist. All they knew was they were once blind and now they could see clearly for the first time ever. They had answered the call of the gospel to repentance and faith. Having answered that call, they now serve before His throne.
Revelation 7:16-17
The Lamb will also be a Shepherd and He will lead the believers to living waters. This brings to mind the story of Jesus with the woman at the well. He said to her:
"Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life." (John 4:13-14)
You get a feeling these folks had known hunger and thirst. They had known the harsh conditions of life and the earth. They knew fear and there was death all around them. They knew weeping and sorrow and grief unimaginable. This kind of suffering may have been because they accepted Christ and denied the mark of the beast. John is borrowing the vision of Isaiah 25:4-8 where all these things will be reversed. All that caused God's people distress, sorrow and pain will be wiped away. Death is conquered, fear is gone, faith brought to completion. There will be a great feast and God will wipe away the tears.
I'm struggling with verb tense in this study. We are looking back at John who is looking forward to our future. His vision happened, past tense. But what he sees in the future hasn't happened. He saw this last group of people when all their suffering was behind them. All those physical things are gone and the discomfort of the flesh had been wiped away. John describes this as if it was happening before him, but it hasn't actually happened yet. It is yet before us.
You know what really thought provoking. I wonder if John saw the faces of any of those people. When John saw the church around the throne, did he see your face? When he saw these tribulation saints, did he see the face of people we know? When he saw the earth-dwellers hiding in caves shaking their fist at God, did he see the face of anyone we know?
Where would you show up in John's vision?
We can know the answer to that question. It can be settled today. We can know the sure hope of Jesus Christ. You can have the shepherd, Jesus, who will lead you to those living fountains of waters. You can know a day is coming when every tear will be wiped away, when all of sorrow and grief is gone, when the cares of this world are blotted out.
Make sure you are marked. Make sure you are sealed by the Holy Spirit. This seal is your promise that Jesus is coming to take you home someday. We can do this in the comfort of today, without persecution, without going through this dark time that is yet coming.
©2021 Doug Ford
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