How Long?
Notes
Transcript
v.9:
With the opening of the fifth seal, we see the result of the work of the antichrist up to this point.
These martyrs are those who will be saved (up to this point) during the tribulation.
We know that they are tribulation saints, because they are part of the fifth seal, and all of the seals are part of the great tribulation.
They will accept Christ, and pay the ultimate price for it.
These souls will accept Christ, and will pay the ultimate price for it
These souls will accept Christ, and will pay the ultimate price for it
Revelation 7:13-15
Revelation 7:13-15
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. Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them.
The anti christ will be allowed to persecute them, and he will gladly take the job
The anti christ will be allowed to persecute them, and he will gladly take the job
Daniel 7:25
Daniel 7:25
He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, Shall persecute the saints of the Most High, And shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand For a time and times and half a time.
Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21 serve not only to tell us about the tribulation, they also speak directly to those who will be saved during the tribulation.
Jesus speaks directly to those who will be saved during the tribulation
Jesus speaks directly to those who will be saved during the tribulation
Matthew 24:9-14
Matthew 24:9-14
“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. 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.
Jesus begins with some of the common signs which we see today (war, famine, earthquake, etc.) Matthew 24:7-8
These are the beginning of sorrows. They will increase as the time draws closer, and will continue into the tribulation at magnitudes greater than has ever been seen.
As Jesus very fluidly leads into the great tribulation, He is still speaking in such a way as to speak directly to those who will be saved during that time.
So, when the tribulation begins, and some people come to know Him, He will be speaking directly to them through these passages.
They will be delivered up into tribulation.
They will be hated by all others, because of their devotion to Him.
They will be offended, or accused and tried for being a Christian.
They will be betrayed and handed over by family, friends, and neighbors.
Hate will rule the day. False prophets will arise like never before, and many people will be deceived.
Lies and deception will be the law of the land.
Lawlessness will abound, meaning that sin will have no bounds, no shame.
The love of many will grow cold. Indeed, its hard to love, when you are completely immersed in sin.
It will be a loveless, sinful world, yet there will be those who will endure, and to those, Jesus is speaking.
We find these souls under the altar.
The true altar is in heaven, right where we see it in this passage.
Our earthly altars are but patterns or copies of the real one in heaven, which is where the better sacrifice is made.
It is this altar which Christ has entered, not one made with hands.
v.10:
From this altar, these martyred saints cry out, seeking vengeance on those who had persecuted them.
The word "avenge", in Scripture, always relates to the idea of punishment or retribution.
These saints are following God's teaching through Paul.
These saints are calling out to the Lord for vengeance, just as instructed in Romans
These saints are calling out to the Lord for vengeance, just as instructed in Romans
Romans 12:19
Romans 12:19
Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.
God will vindicate His elect by punishing those who killed them
God will vindicate His elect by punishing those who killed them
Luke 18:7-8
Luke 18:7-8
And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”
Nothing in this verse should be used to suggest that the saints in heaven are watching over our lives.
There is nothing to suggest that our deceased loved ones are involved in our lives or witnessing our lives from heaven.
In fact, we know that they certainly cannot come back to contact us.
In Luke 16 we see the account of the rich man and Lazarus.
Lazarus was in hell, and he knew his brothers were not saved, but there is nothing to indicate that he could somehow see them after his death.
He was also told that Lazarus could not leave heaven and go to them.
Its something that simply does not happen, and believing that it does, only opens the door to all sorts of demonic deceptions.
They would know that He has not yet avenged them, because they have not yet inhabited the earth for the millennial reign.
They would know, just as we do, that is when the decisive vengeance against the persecutors will happen.
v.11:
These martyrs are all given white robes, as evidence of their righteousness in Jesus Christ.
They are then told that they should rest a little longer. More saints would have to die.
God knows and has known since the beginning of time, each soul who would ever live and die for Him.
He knows their names and their number. He knows what must be completed.
God will answer their prayer for vengeance, but in his time. And not until the number . . . should be complete.
God has predetermined the number of the righteous whose death he will allow before moving to destroy the rebels.
God has a timetable of events that must take place. Nothing can shortcut this.
For those who follow Christ, you are never forgotten.
The crimes against you never go unnoticed.
Your prayers never go unheard, but we must understand that everything must happen in God's way, and in God's time.
We have no need to get discouraged, but every need to take our calling seriously.
We must be fully surrendered to Christ, and prepared for any outcome.
Our mission is urgent, and the stakes are high.