It is a great privilege to travel. Visiting a distant place is something that most people hope to do or if they have done it, they wish to go again. When arriving at a foreign country or territory, its worth having a tour guide to show you the sites and introduce you to the locale and describe the culture. My son has been traveling over the last few years. Lori was interested in knowing how many countries my son and I have been to. I mentioned that I was in 13 countries yet he found that he was in 17. He took my crown of world traveler away from me.
As we approach this chapter of Revelation, a suggestion can be made to view the Apostle John as acting as our tour guide to heaven, as we visit God and His throne. It’s through this chapter, we can glimpse into Heaven, take in sights of AWE and be welcomed by the faces of those eager for us to join with them as in verses 9-10 “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!”
Yet back in chapter 6, in the last verse, there is a question to be answered. “For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”
That question “Who is able to stand against God?” is answered in chapter 7!
There is a great contrast between Revelation chapter 6 and 7. Chapter 7 is the moment of time between the sixth and the seventh seal that would unleash God’s judgement. In chapter 6, there is panic on earth from the great cosmic disturbances and people are trying to flee from God’s pending judgment.
For review to where we are in our study, the scroll was introduced back in chapter 5. This scroll contains the judgment of God. It has seven seals affixed to it. In order to open this scroll, all seven seals must be broken and then the declaration of its contents is made known.
Chapter 7 serves as a dramatic interlude, a delay if you may, between the sixth and 7th seal of the scroll.
During this interlude God assigns four of His angels to hold back the winds of judgment and destruction to wait on people to repent.
After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, that no wind might blow on earth or sea or against any tree. (Revelation 7:1 ESV)
Revelation 7:2-3 Then I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, with the seal of the living God, and he called with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm earth and sea, saying, “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.” (ESV)
There are special people distinguished as those who belong to Him before He judges the rest of the world. In verse 4, God seals these 144,000 Jews. He puts His seal of ownership on them, and He secures them for safe delivery into Heaven.
It is as if this moment in chapter 7 is when the 144,000 Jews will look at each other and realize that they were wrong about Jesus. They will understand that He indeed is their Savior and Messiah.
This is much like the USPS “registered mail, return receipt requested.” It costs extra to send the letters that way, but when the post office clerk puts that special mark on that letter, a seal (if you will), it is a guarantee that the letter would arrive at its intended destination.
That’s what God does for 144,000 Jews. He puts a seal on them. He marks them as His own, and He guarantees their safe delivery into His Kingdom.
Flip ahead to Revelation 14 verse 1: “Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with Him 143,999…” Is that what your Bible says? No! “And with Him 144,000 who had His name and His Father’s name written on their foreheads.”
Not a single one of them is missing. They are ALL standing with Jesus in heaven. None of them lost their salvation. Every single one that God sealed made it to heaven. Not one was lost.
Gentiles have the same promise from God. Ephesians 4:30 states that all who believe in what Jesus did for them on the cross are sealed for redemption.
Back in our account in the book of Revelation, there is critical point of this verbal exchange between the apostle John and this elder. These verses disclose why they are in heaven. Notice verses 13 and 14.
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.”
It is pleasurable to break from the dismal disposition of people in Chapter 6 and read the security and blessedness for those who are under God’s provision of salvation in Chapter 7.
This is an example of how God is gracious, He desires that no one should suffer His wrath. 2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
Not only does Revelation chapter 7 explain God’s provision for salvation from His wrath, but it also answers who is able to stand with God in heaven.
For all those in Heaven they are refreshingly comforted as in verses 16-17 “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.”
There is no destination that we’ll ever travel to, that is more awesome than our home in heaven!
Also within our text are the words “the living God.” The designation of “Living God” is found in other places in the Scriptures.
One example is Joshua reminding the people as they cross the JORDAN “this you shall know that the living God is among you, and that He will not fail.” Joshua 3:10. The Israelites were not to allow any circumstance or the sight of anything to arouse their fear. They were to trust in God’s promise and continue onward.
There is another period of destruction besides in the book of Revelation that is recorded in the Scriptures. Remember in the book of Exodus everyone in Egypt endured the ten plagues. The focus of the plagues was on things that support life so that the people would repent and obey God. The lesson in Exodus is the same as in the book of Revelation. God had given Egypt and all the people every possible opportunity to repent. (see also Luke 11:9)
So we read of a numbered people from among Israel in Revelation 7:4 through 8! But these Israelites are not the only recipients of God’s grace as there are an innumerable number of other people of every nation that repent also. Notice God’s mercy and grace in the next segment of verses.
Verse 9 begins “After these things I looked and BEHOLD”
Please keep in mind that the Apostle John has never left the throne room scene.
Take notice of the word “behold” when reading the Scriptures! Often it is used when a startling vision or occurrence is taking place! For example during the birth of Christ, Mary, Joseph, Elizabeth and Zacharias were greeted by Gabriel in this way.
In the book of Revelation, there is great emphasis brought forth in verse 9. Notice what these people are doing (Standing). Juxtapose verse 9 with chapter 6:15-17. None of the people can stand and then the people in verse 9 are standing before the throne and before the Lamb. There is a distinction between these two groups of people.
It is critical to see how people can stand before God! Notice the rest of verse 9 and into verse 10.
they are 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!”
These robesof white symbolize not only their salvation through faith, but that they own the righteousness of Jesus Christ.
If I told you that they are saved because they earned heaven because of good works, that’s a lie. If I told you they are there because of a church they belonged to I’m deceiving you. If I told you that they kept some rite or commandment I’m a false teacher. If I said that they are in heaven because they are born into a spiritual family or heritage that is not what God says!
Directly from the voices of this great multitude and the words of one of the elders in heaven, the answer of how people have the ability to stand before God and be given salvation is declared in verse 10 and verse 14.
In verse 10 the people shout a very specific claim for their personal right to dwell in heaven and avoid God’s wrath to come. Notice the universal testimony of every person who suffers for their faith during the tribulation! They cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”
And then in verse 14 we discover the authority to claim such a statement from this great multitude of gentile people. Notice verse 14 “These are the ones who … washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”
This is a very critical truth! “The blood of the Lamb” is a reference to the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ for every person.
Look at Revelation chapter 7:15, notice that it is exclusively through Jesus Christ’s sacrificial death that every person in heaven is able to stand before God and dwell with Him. Also the phrase “day and night” is an idiom meaning unceasingly or better said forever and ever!
Verses 16 and 17 are so comforting, these two verses convey the ultimate satisfaction of God’s people. In fact the picture of these people compared to those who are stubborn on earth described in chapter 6 is quite stark. They are sheltered from all discomfort in the presence of God and sheltered from the destruction by God.
John records that God’s seal that is placed on the people is a reminder that they are God’s possession, and because of that, they are secure. The power structures of this world might harass, intimidate, persecute, and even execute, but those who are under the Blood of Jesus Christ will ultimately be victorious.
Although in times of difficulty it may seem God does not protect or deliver us in the way that we would like,
Revelation chapter 7 reveals that faith in Jesus Christ is the only appropriate response in any situation.
Last week, Dan Scholton, mentioned the account from the book of Daniel of the three young men who refused to follow King Nebuchadnezzar’s order that all were to worship a large golden statue. Because of their refusal, they were condemned to death in the fiery furnace. When brought before the king, they courageously replied to him, “If our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire and out of your hand, O king, let him deliver us. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods and we will not worship the golden statue that you have set up” (3:17-18). Even Daniel was well aware that belonging to God did not mean exemption from persecution and death.
Revelation chapter 7 serves to remind us that faith in Jesus Christ should not be dependent on the outward circumstances of our lives. God will save every person who trusts in Jesus Christ’s salvation of paying for our sin through dying on the cross.
Living for God today, is worth it all. That promise is from God. Put your trust in Christ, and find your security in Him. More than that, find a sure and certain salvation in Him, as well. Know TODAY that you are going to heaven when you die. Then live EVERY DAY for Him while you live on earth.
Mommy and daddy, had planned a picnic. Their little boy had never been on a picnic, so they made their plans, fixed the lunch, and packed the car. Then it was time to go to bed, for the picnic was the next day.
He just couldn’t sleep. He tossed and he turned, but the excitement got to him. Finally, he got out of bed, ran into his mother and father’s room, where they had already fallen asleep, and shook his father awake. His father woke up and saw his son.
He said to him, “What are you doing up? What’s the matter?”
The boy said, “I can’t sleep.”
The father asked, “Why can’t you sleep?”
In answering, the boy said, “Daddy, I’m excited about tomorrow.”
His father replied, “Well, Son, I’m sure you are, and it’s going to be a great day, but it won’t be great if we don’t get some sleep. So why don’t you just walk back down the hall, get into bed, and get a good night’s rest.”
So the boy trudged off down the hall to his room and got in bed. Before long, sleep came – to his father, that is. But it wasn’t long until the little boy was back. He was pushing and shoving his father, and his father opened his eyes. Harsh words almost blurted out until he saw the expression on the boy’s face. The father asked, “What’s the matter now?”
The boy said, “Daddy, I just want to thank you for tomorrow.” (Benjamin Reaves, “Living Expectantly,” Preaching Today, Tape No. 65; www.PreachingToday.com)
When we think about what our Heavenly Father has planned for us, we can’t help but say, “Father, I just want to thank you for tomorrow.” Well we should thank Him today, but not only by the words we say, we should thank Him by the way we live our lives waiting for His promise.
Have you claimed His sacrifice on the cross for yourself? Are you comforted that you know your final destination? The Apostle John describes this blessing earlier in Revelation 1:3-6
“Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near. John, to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”