Revelation 7:1-17

INTRO

If you stood before God this very day would you be ushered in ?

Are you saved ?

How do you know ?

PRAYER

A -

C -

T -

S -

MESSAGE

Revelation 7:1–3 “1 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.

Allegorical - not view earth as a square

Wind often seen as destructive = [ Sirocco ] = hot dry scorching wind

Ex 10 = Locusts \ Ex 14 = dried up the red sea

Daniel 7:2 “2 Daniel declared, “I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea.”

2 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,

Rising Sun = EAST = Ezekiel 43:4 “4 As the glory of the Lord entered the temple by the gate facing east,”

Wise Men = Matthew 2:1 “from the east came to Jerusalem,”

Seal = signifies ownership / authority

who is this angel?

The Living God !!

3 saying, “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.””

Believers are Sealed and Protected by the Lamb.

2 Timothy 2:19 “19 But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.””

Physical / Supernatural ?

Physical = Hebrew ( tau ) - x = cross

Revelation 13:16 “16 Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead,”

anointed with oil

Revelation 14:1 “1 Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads.”

Supernatural = Holy Spirit

Ephesians 4:30 “30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”

2 Corinthians 1:22 “22 and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.”

Revelation: Verse by Verse Holding Back the Winds of Destruction (7:1–3)

It is clear that there is no middle ground. You either belong to Christ or belong to Satan, and that will determine your eternal destiny.

If you belong to Jesus you are secure !! No need to fear !! He is a good father !! You are His beloved Child !!

John 6:39 “39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day.”

Revelation 7:4–8 “4 And I heard the number of the sealed, 144,000, sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel: 5 12,000 from the tribe of Judah were sealed, 12,000 from the tribe of Reuben, 12,000 from the tribe of Gad, 6 12,000 from the tribe of Asher, 12,000 from the tribe of Naphtali, 12,000 from the tribe of Manasseh, 7 12,000 from the tribe of Simeon, 12,000 from the tribe of Levi, 12,000 from the tribe of Issachar, 8 12,000 from the tribe of Zebulun, 12,000 from the tribe of Joseph, 12,000 from the tribe of Benjamin were sealed.”

Literal / Figurative

Literal Israel = tribes

Romans 11:25 “25 Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.”

Figurative Israel = the church

Romans 2:28–29 “28 For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. 29 But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.”

Believers are Sanctified and Purified through the Lamb.

Revelation 7:9–10 “9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands,

Promise Fulfilled - Abraham

Genesis 22:17 “17 I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore.

Genesis 26:4 And in your offspring all the nations of the earth shall be blessed,”

Promise to the Disciples

Matthew 24:14 “14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”

Robes / Branches

Revelation 6:11 “11 Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.”

Triumphant Entry - Hosanna = save us please !!

John 12:13 “13 So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!””

10 and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!””

Is your love and appreciation for Jesus contagious ?

Revelation 7:11–13 “11 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, 12 saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.” 13 Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?””

7x Worship

Blessing = eulogia - a good word

glory = doxa - honor derived from ones character and good reputation

wisdom = sophia - divine knowledge and perspective of all things

thanksgiving = eucharistia -

honor = time - public and deserved recognition

power = dunamis - gods omnipotence, his ability to act as he wills

strength = ischus - often related to Gods mighty acts to save

ALL to the LIVING God FOREVER !!

Revelation 7:14 “14 I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”

Believers are sanctified and PURIFIED through the Lamb !

God wants these to be know for His sake… He is faithful to preserve you!

Hebrews 12:1 “1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,”

Jesus foretold this

Matthew 24:21–22 “21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. 22 And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.”

Life is in the blood !

By his wounds we are healed !

By His sacrifice we are made clean !

By His death we obtain Life !

CLOSE…

Believers have Satisfaction and Provision in the Lamb.

Revelation 7:15–17 “15 “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 shelter them with his presence.

They are before the throne

they have access !!

sheltered by His presence !!

Exodus 13:21–22 “21 And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. 22 The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people.”

Luke 13:34 “34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!”

16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. 17 For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.””

The miseries are over! … trials are over … loss is over … sorrow is over

4 horseman

trumpets / bowls

Even today !!

James 1:2–4 “2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

2 Corinthians 4:17 “17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,”

Jesus is our Shepherd !

tears of joy !!! not of sorrow…

Revelation 21:4 “4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.””

Charles Spurgeon - Sept. 21st 1884 - Metropolitan Tabernacle - Heaven Below (Rev 7:16-17)

The Perfection of the Provision

The Description of the Provider

The Manner of This Provision

Believers are Sealed and Protected by the Lamb

Believers are Sanctified and Purified through the Lamb

Believers have Satisfaction and Provision in the Lamb

GROUP QUESTIONS

How does the blood of Jesus make us clean?

What does it mean for Jesus to be the “Shepherd of our souls”?

How does the Lord show mercy, even in wrath? Does this mean God is indecisive?

How should we understand the 144,000? What are the options? What is the main point we need to gather from these worshipers in this passage?

When has the Lord proved Himself faithful in your life despite your own unfaithfulness?

How should the vision of Revelation 7:9 inform and shape our missionary efforts?

What does it mean to ascribe to the Lord the characteristics of Revelation 7:12? How do you honor the Lord with each of these praises in your own life?

Why might some think of heaven as a boring and monotonous place? How do these verses provide an alternative picture?

In these verses the Lord provides for His people’s every need and counteracts their greatest threats (see 7:16). How have you seen the Lord provide for your needs, and what threats do you long to see Him address?

Do a word search of shepherd in the Bible. How does Jesus fulfill or give new meaning to each of these images as He relates to His redeemed bride?