Sermon Tone Analysis

Restraint on the Earth and 144,000 are sealed.

7:1-9

King James Version (Chapter 7)

7 And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.

2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,

3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.

4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.

5  Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand.Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand.Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand.6

Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand.Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand.Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand.

7  Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand.Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand.Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand.8

Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand.Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand.Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand.

9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;

Revelation 7

The actions that are being described here have never taken place before, on the earth.

Do not let anybody try to tell you this is a done deal already.

It has not yet happened.

It is limited in time to the timetable of God’s Word.

As we get ready to read of the sealing of 144,000 Jews, four angels stop the carnage on behalf of those who need to be sealed of God.

A fifth angel orders them with a loud voice, to “stop!” His command is to momentarily stop the judgment while God puts his seal upon the 12 tribes minus Ephraim and Dan.

Ephraim was Joseph’s son from Egypt.

Both tribes were instrumental in bringing idolatry into Israel.

Manasseh, the other son is included in this list as a representative of the tribe of Joseph.

V. 4- 8. Another multitude appears with praise.

Their identity is in verse 14.

Their struggle on earth was so severe that tears followed them into heaven.

7:1-8 – The Sealing of the 12 Tribes

A. The wind is put on hold!

7:1

Nothing moves until God accomplishes his purpose.

It took four angels to complete the task of keeping the wind off the earth, sea, and trees.

This is the calm before the storm.

The 3 most evident places of the action of wind

B. Judgment by the Horsemen is halted.

7:2,3

The 5th angel has a voice like a megaphone.

He stops the damage before the sealing takes place and it stays halted until it is done.

Just as Satan’s number will be in the people of Earth’s foreheads, so will these 144 thousand Jewish evangelists have God’s seal in their foreheads.

Vs.3.

Compare with Ephesians 1:13.

God is taking special steps to preserve this number of people because of the nature of judgment involved.

God is also taking special steps to momentarily preserve the earth, sea, and trees.

Matthew 24:21, 22 – “For then shall be great Tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

And except those days are shortened, there should be no flesh saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.”

C. God’s seal is put on 144,000 Jewish foreheads, not Jehovah Witnesses.

7:4-8

In the Old Testament, the Levites were usually left out of the list of 12 because of their position as priests, but now they are included as Dan and Ephraim are left from the list.

7: 9-17 This is the Multitude without number.

These people are not the church but are representative of those who are saved during the Great Tribulation.

It appears that even though there is great wickedness, and judgment on the earth, an uncountable multitude will make it into heaven through salvation in Jesus Christ.

A. The Identity of the Multitude.

7:9-14

King James Version (Chapter 7)

9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; 10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.

11 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, 12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever.

Amen.

13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes?

and whence came they?

14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest.

And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb

1.

An innumerable company of nations, kindred’s, people groups, languages, and were standing before the Lamb of God: He only was the one worthy to open the Book/Scroll.

9

2.

They were noisy: Loud voices saying “Salvation to our God who sits upon the throne and unto the Lamb.” 10

3. Angels and Elders are still where it is happening.

11

4.

More Blessing is given to the Lord

5.

One of the elders-vs.14

”14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest.”

The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version.

(Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), Re 7:14.

B. The Provision for the Multitude.

7:15-17

King James Version (Chapter 7)

15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.

16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.

17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

1.

They are before the throne and the Lord dwells among them.

7:15

2. They shall not hunger any more, nor shall they be affected by the Sun or heat.

7:16

3.

They are fed by the Lamb.

They are led to living fountains of waters.

God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

7:17

Why will there be tears?

By the description of the provisions, what can we discern about the trials of the tribulation saints?

REVELATION 8

THE SEVENTH SEAL

The last six seals are in Chapter’s 6 and 7.

They are 6 seals of progressive despair for the people of Earth during the first three and a half years of the Tribulation period, Daniel’s 70th week.

Recap:

1stseal- The white horse and rider going forth to conquer…the anti- Christ

2ndseal- The seal of bloodshed takes peace from the earth, killing each other.

3rdseal- Famine drives prices to a day’s wages per bushel.

4thseal- This is the seal of the corpse, the death rider.

Scavengers kill humans.

The death toll could hit over a Billion.

5thseal- The tribulation martyrs are revealed.

People will be saved during the Tribulation.

6thseal- The seal of anarchy is opened and releases the mother of all earthquakes, and huge changes in the sky.

At this point as chapter 7 features the sealing of the 144 thousand Jewish witnesses, more Tribulation martyrs are revealed and a halt is ordered in heaven for the sealing and the revealing.

8:1-6

King James Version (Chapter 8)

And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.2

And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets.

3 And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.

4 And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand.

5 And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.

6 And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.

Revelation 8:1

Heaven goes silent for a half hour: The other seals are rather noisy.

This ½ hour pause is measured in anticipation of the dreadful things yet to occur.

If the previous chapters were not enough, this is horrible.