Revelation 7 (Lesson 13)

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Welcome back…

I hope you all enjoyed your fellowships last week and got a chance to watch the lecture on mybsf.

CHRISTMAS

I’m not sure how we got here as it feels like just yesterday we were meeting for our first week of Revelation- but today is our last meeting before we take a break for Christmas…

and our gift to you over break is that you will only have 1 lesson to complete…

LESSON 14….

You can spend the extra time reviewing the last 14 weeks are maybe even simply reading through the whole book of Revelation.

I know that the book of Revelation can feel intimidating but guess what. You are still here.

continue to pour into his word…continue to keep coming back..even when it’s hard…even when you don’t understand….

and come back on January 8, 2025- ready to continue your journey through the book of Revelation with us.

Maybe God is calling you to invite a friend over break…it’s never too late to jump in! Share with them what God has taught you so far and invite them to come and see who God is through his word.

In-climate Weather

also- If you didn’t notice- December came in with a bang..bringing cold weather and even some flurries of snow.

So that brings us to the question- what happens if the weather is bad on a Wednesday.

In the event that we need to cancel in-person class due to in-climate weather-

This information will come directly to you from your group leader.

So, be sure to look and make sure you don't have a message from her before coming to BSF on Wednesday mornings.

If we cancel in person classes, our adult discussion groups will still meet on zoom for discussion at 9:30 and the lecture will be recorded and posted on mybsf.org.

You do not need a zoom account to join a meeting.

All you will have to do is click the on the link your group leader sends you or go to zoom and enter the meeting ID and password.

Your group leader will only send this to you in the event that we cancel due to in-climate weather.

Also- if you are home with kids- I would encourage you to still jump on. You can mute yourself and jump in when you can or simply listen as much as possible.

Also, If we need to cancel in person class on Wednesdays- we will not have any preschool or student program on those days.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to your group leader or our admin. team if you have any questions!

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so..Let’s Pray

INTRODUCTION:

It’s Christmas time- which means that all the iconic Christmas movies are on TV….

including…the classic Charlie Brown Christmas….

In the Charlie Brown series, Linus, Charlie Brown’s best friend, is never without his iconic blue security blanket.

He drags the thing everywhere and refuses to put it down.

In fact- throughout the Charlie Brown story- a lot of effort is put in by his friends to get him to give up the security blanket.

but…despite their best efforts…He refuses to give it up.

During the Charlie Brown Christmas…

Charlie Brown is feeling like a complete failure after his friends harshly inform him he has screwed up everything by picking the smallest and saddest looking Christmas tree.

Completely distraught and understandably beat down by his friends- he gives up- and says…I guess I don’t know what Christmas is all about…and then- he throws up his hands…”Isn’t their anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?”

Linus doesn’t hesitate…he jumps in and calmly and confidently says: “sure Charlie Brown- I can tell you what Christmas is all about…”

and then- dragging his blanket…he walks out on stage.

and begins to recite Luke 2…

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not:

and in that moment….as he says the words fear not…Linus drops his security blanket…

the thing he clung to desperately for security- for comfort….was no longer needed…

Fear not..for unto you this day a child is born…he is Christ the Lord….Jesus had come…

there was no need to be afraid…

It was as if the words he was speaking became real to Him.

Most of us don’t cling to a blanket for security…but we so often cling to things of this world…

Our scripture today challenges us to examine what we are clinging to for security..

True security is about the ability to protect or be protected no matter what kind of danger is present.

There is a big difference between feeling secure and being secure.

You may be blissfully ignorant about the danger you are in.

Or you may be very safe but you still worry all the time.

Are we really ever truly secure?

well…Revelation 7 tells us that YES- that Jesus secures the salvation of God’s people for all eternity.

Jesus secures the salvation God’s people for all eternity.

In our passage today we will see God’s people:

SECURED THROUGH TRIALS: 7:1-8

SECURED FOREVER: 7:9-17

Get out your Bible’s with me and turn to Revelation 7

SECURED THROUGH TRIALS

Last week we finished by reading about the 6th seal. And now…we take a pause…

The events happening in chp. 7 are like a parenthesis in the middle of the 6th and 7th seal.

In the coming weeks we will not only read about 7 seal judgements, but also 7 trumpet judgements and 7 bowl judgements.

There are different perspectives as to how to interpret the timing of these events.

Some theologians see these as chronological with the judgements of the seals coming first followed by the trumpets and bowls. This is the viewpoint you will see reflected in your BSF notes.

While others view the seals, trumpets and bowls all happening simultaneously- but John is just being given the same event over and over from different perspectives.

But remember that Revelation is less about time lines and symbols and way more interested in exalting Jesus.

And that is exactly what we see happening here in chpt. 7- and what we will see again between the 6th and 7th trumpet and then again between the 6th and 7th bowls…

The point of these pauses or parenthesis is to re-orient the 1st century Jews and remind them HOW to live in light of what they are hearing and their future hope.

Yes- judgement is certain…but these pauses are reminders to us that Revelation was meant to ENCOURAGE suffering believers.

So here God rolls back the curtain and shows How His people are secured in the midst of trials and tribulation.

So here we will 1st see God’s judgement restrained in vs’s 1-3 and then we will see his servants sealed in vs’s 4-8.

JUDGEMENT RESTRAINED (vs’s: 1-3)

So- with that context- let’s dive into chp. 7 and see what encouragement God gives to His people.

vs. 1

After this I saw 4 angels standing at the 4 corners of the earth, holding back the 4 winds of the earth to prevent any wind from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree.

ok so we have 4 angels at the 4 corners of the earth holding back 4 winds.

4….4…4…

heads up…our chapter today has a lot of numbers in it…

Ok- so the number 4 in scripture means global totality. in other words-the judgement is going to encompass every portion of the earth.

BUT….the winds are being held back.the winds here reflect the coming judgement…

Winds are a picture of destruction..

think about the power of winds.

hurricanes…tornados…

My aunt lives in Florida-and water is not her fear when a hurricane comes..it’s the damaging winds and tornados that come with it.

The wind brings catastrophic damage and here the angels are holding back the coming judgement..the coming destruction…

but why?…let’s keep going..vs 2

2 Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea: 3 “Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees UNTIL we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.”

Notice here that it doesnt say that he is going to remove his servants from the trials ahead.

Instead- God puts the pause on the coming destruction to first PROTECT God’s servants…His people...

Over and over in scripture we see God protect his people through the trial, not from the trial.

The angels bringing judgement are being told to wait because God always protect his OWN…

God restrains his judgement so that he can SEAL His people.

A seal indicates ownership and protection.

I have 3 girls in my house somewhat close in age and they all feel VERY passionately about what is MINE…

So- they write their name on it..

but before they do….they always wanna know where the permanent marker is…

no crayon..no pencil..and certainly not a washable marker…

books…toys..dolls…clothes…SIGNED- with their name.

But- it’s much more than their name…it’s their seal…their permanent seal

which communicates:

IT’S MINE. DON’T TOUCH IT…

In scripture we see multiple examples of God sealing his people-holding back his wrath UNTIL AFTER they are sealed to make sure his own are protected.

When the floods came- God is the one who sealed the door of the ark- protecting Noah and his family.

In Exodus- God gave the people of Israel time to put HIS seal on their doorways…the blood of the lamb…to protect them from the final plague—death…

God’s people might be walking through catastrophic events on earth but they will be the most secure people on earth not because of anything they have done, but because of the one who claims ownership and relationship with them.

The seal John is referring to in Revelation 7 is most likely a spiritual sealing- and probably not a physical one.

This means that those who are sealed are not saved from the physical realities of judgement here on earth,- but from spiritual ones- God is protecting His people from his wrath.

and these verses give us confidence that God is going to seal ALL his people BEFORE he allows any judgement to move forward.

As we see him command the angels to hold back the winds..

later in Revelation…we will read about the Mark of the Beast- this is Satan’s mark.

Satan may be marking his people but not before God marks His.

God’s people were secure in their salvation..secure in the judgement…and therefore secure in their mission- able to endure through any trial that comes their way.

B. SERVANTS SEALED 4-8

Let’s look now at vs’s 4-8 where we see God’s servant’s sealed.

vs 4- Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel.

So- who are the 144,000?

There are two main viewpoints:

one is that these are ethnic Jews who turn to Christ others see it as the whole, big C church .

144,000 is most likely a symbolic number that represents completeness.

Your notes point out some unique features of this particular list of the tribes and the number 144,000- and I’m not going to re-iterate your notes to you so be sure to check those out for another layer….

But- Don’t miss this-

This was God’s plan from the very beginning when he promised Abraham in Genesis that his descendents would be as numerous as the stars in the sky.

God never forgot his promise…He is faithful.

So whether this is literal Jews or the whole church- we can be certain that this not one of his children was lost..

So, you can read Revelation 7 and you can be sure that NO one is missing.

God KNOWS his own…He’s had this mapped out and planned from the beginning of time.

He hasn’t lost track of them..

He knows EXACTLY where they are and he SEALS His own so that NO ONE and NOTHING can separate them from Him.

Ephesians 1:13 promises that every believer…at the moment of salvation is SEALED by the Holy Spirit.

They are protected from the wrath of the lamb…

If you are a believer and have put your faith in Christ then you are already sealed.

You are His.

and nothing and no one can take that away from you…

The sealing of the 144,000- no matter WHO they are reminds us of God’s faithfulness

and this truth empowers His people to stay FAITHFUL through whatever trial they are facing right now on earth.

TRUTH: God knows and secures His own for eternity. God knows you…but do you know Him?

Security starts with communion…with relationship with God.

When you know the one who provides you with TRUE security it empowers you to live faithfully because it grows your trust in the one holding all things together.

In the midst of an insecure world..God promises to be your security now and forever.

Often we know in our heads the truth that we are secure- but yet- on a practical level- our actions are motivated more by fear instead of faith…

In the Charlie brown Christmas episode..while Linus drops his blanket while reciting Luke 2- when he is finished…he picks it right back up and walks off the stage.

How often do you- like me- do this?

Linus had just had a moment of freedom- a moment of letting go of the thing he was so desperately clinging to for security.

and then..he put his fear back in the driver seat of his life…as he picked his blanket- right back up.

What is it- that you are desperately clinging to for security….what is it you are tempted to pick up and drag along with you as soon as you walk out the door?

is it a wordly comfort…your job…your home..your loved ones…your reputation…

How might making space daily for continuous and repeated communion with Christ empower you to drop your blanket for good and live secure in Christ now.

SECURE FOREVER Transition: In verses 9-17- we get a glimpse of God’s people living securely forever in heaven…

and those who are secure because of salvation experience God’s

- presence

- purification

- and his provision.

PRESENCE

the first part of John’s vision was on earth and now we have moved to heaven.

in vs’s 9-12 we see God’s people together in His presence worshipping:

9 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, STANDING before the throne and before the Lamb.

Here we see another grouping of 4..nation..tribe..people..and language..again…this represents the WHOLE world….God’s salvation will be global- reaching into every people group..

it’s as if God is restoring what was broken at the tower of Babel- there the languages pushed them a part…here..they are drawn together as one.

vs 9 goes on…

They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.

10 And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”

God had been faithful to provide salvation through the sacrifice of the lamb and to protect his people from tribulation.

They had endured…

Palm branches and white robes signify victory…they had endured not because of anything that they had done- but because of the Lamb.

and the victory they received through Salvation not only saved them from their past sins but it also brought them into God’s presence forever- driving them to worship.

So…Secure in their salvation…they stand…

in chp. 6- we are left with the question of who can stand as we looked at the judgement being brought in the 1st six seals.

the answer.

is they can..

those who were sealed from every tribe..language..nation and tongue..

and unlike the people we saw in chp. 6 who ran from the presence of God- here- they stand and worship…claiming the victory they have in Christ..

but their ability to stand comes from the purification provided by the lamb…

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PURIFICATION

vs 13

13 Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?” 14 I answered, “Sir, you know.”

…When I want one of my child to reflect on something- I will often ask them a rhetorical question….

My oldest does not appreciate this- she has figured out that I know the answer to my own question.

But my purpose in asking is to get her to reflect on something.

That is what the elder is doing here…there was a lot to see in the vision…

and here—the elder draws John’s attention..to their white robes…to make sure that he didn’t miss it.

When John asks for further explanation..he responds: “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

So- first what is the Great Tribulation?

Like many things in Revelation- there are different viewpoints.

Many view this as the final period of persecution before Christ’s second coming..

but Christians have been enduring trials for many years and so some believe that it refers to the entire age of trials.

But regardless, AGAIN we are drawn to the white robes.…

Yes- the great multitude lived through the great tribulation- but their security and ability to stand before the throne comes from the blood of the lamb.

Your Sin is ugly…it’s dirty…it stains…it tears you away from God…

next to a righteous and holy God all people deserve eternal death and separation from Him.

No one is good enough..no one is worthy to stand before the Lamb..

and yet God..knowing every single thing you will do and have done…

provided a spotless lamb…

his one and only son…

and his blood was poured out…so that..

God’s people…so that you…can stand before the throne.

In Isaiah 1: 18 God says: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;

…this is why they worship the lamb.

It’s why they are shouting victory…it’s why they are robed in white…

Christ’s blood was always enough to cleanse and purify.

Salvation is not dependent on frail, fallen people, but on the finished work of Jesus Christ.

Since your salvation is based on Christ’s righteousness alone, the penalty for your sin is perfectly and eternally satisfied.

Because Christ absorbed God’s wrath against believers’ sin when He died on the cross, believers do not face eternal condemnation.

If you are a believer…then one day you will be able to stand in front of the throne- clothed in white..sealed and secured..….

but so often we question our security..we wonder if God still loves us…if our salvation is secure..

we strive and work hard to earn something we already have…

but in the words of the great theologian…Stevie Wonder…

Like a fool I went and stayed too long Now I'm wondering if your love's still strong

Here I am....SIGNED…SEALED….DELIVERED….I’M YOURS.

Stevie goes on..

He says you set my soul on fire.

That’s why I know you’re my hearts only desire.

Here I am…signed..sealed..delivered…I’m yours...

Ladies- if you are a believer- your name is signed in the book of Life..

You have been sealed by the Holy Spirit.

and Delivered by the lamb…

and therefore you can STAND in front of the throne and say with confidence…I’M YOURS.

Those who are secure in Christ will face the wrath of the lamb unafraid..because they have been wiped clean by his blood…they will endure through the great tribulation and in the end..they will overcome…all because of what he has done..

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the final verses of chapter 7 end with a beautiful promise of a shepherd that shelters his own forever and ever.

PROTECTION

VS. 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.

the word shelter is the same word we find in the OT for tabernacle.

we see it again in John 1 when Jesus comes and makes his dwelling..or his tabernacle among us..

a dwelling or a tabernacle is a home.

A home is meant to be a place of rest..of security…a safe place- where we find shelter and provision.

So God comes- he provides a home in Him as he protects and shelters his people.

And in response- they serve him day and night.

But- God doesn’t need people to serve Him- but yet- they get to-

Their service is a worshipful response to the gift of security they find in Him.

One theologian said: Any thought of heaven being a boring and dull place is banished forever by the beautiful simplicity of this verse. For all of eternity it will be our delightful and joyful privilege to serve in the worship of Him who saved us by washing us clean by His blood.

the final 2 verses continue to point to God’s protection as he shelters his people forever through his presence…

these verses are taken from Isaiah 49:10 and points us to a future where all is restored…and on that day…vs 16 says:

16 ‘Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them,’ nor any scorching heat. 17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”

and what a glorious day that will be.

God’s care for his own is personal.

Never again will they long for anything…in Him His people will be completely satisfied..

He will personally wipe away every tear from your eyes as he draws near to you.

Think about how close you have to be to someone to literally wipe away a tear.

One leader pointed out yesterday- that he is the one wiping away tears- he doesn’t send someone else to do it..

He is personal..and he is leading His own to rest…

and while we long for that day.

as a believer- you can live right now- sheltered by your good shepherd…finding peace and comfort in Him as you walk through life.

Knowing that in Him- you are secure- you are safe- you are cleansed- washed by the blood of the lamb forever and ever…

PRINCIPLE: God’s people find their eternal home and shelter in His presence.

When we dwell somewhere, we put ourselves under the authority of the one who runs the home.

I remember pushing back against my parents about the way they did things- and my Dad would always remind me that as long as I lived in his house- I was under his authority and had to follow his rules.

and while I didn’t always like the rules- I found security as I surrendered to my Dad.

Because security comes with surrender.

My dad provided for me…I was never hungry..I was never thirsty..and he most certainly wiped away tears from my eyes.

but his provision for me was only temporary and as much as he tried- he could not secure me forever- only Christ could that…

some of you have never experienced the security of an earthly Father and surrendering to Him feels terrifying…

But there is a good, good Father who longs to draw near to you.

to wipe away your tears...

Come…into his presence…live a life of surrender to Him…

and as he shelters you- step into a life of peace and comfort and rest in Him…forever and ever.

CONCLUSION

At the end of the Charlie Brown Christmas—we see all the children gathered around the Christmas tree…singing..Hark the Herald Angels Sing.

an impromptu worship service.

but before they sing..Linus wraps his blanket around the base of the tree..and this time..he doesn’t pick it back up…

Because he no longer needs it…

He gave up his blanket…finally surrendering…laying it the foot of the tree- which for believers- is a symbol of what Christmas is all about. The tree points us to Christ.

This year as you approach the Christmas season and reflect on the gift of Christ- who came for you…

What do you need to lay at the foot of the tree today?…FEAR NOT…lay it down…surrender it all…and find eternal security in Christ now and forever.

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We are going to end our day together like the saints in heaven- worshipping…

in a moment we are going to sing Joy to the World.

I know I told you a few weeks ago that this was not a Christmas song…

and while that is still true…there is a reason we sing it at Christmas.

Joy to the world…to every tribe, nation, language and tongue.

Jesus- the king has come..

receive Him…

prepare for Him..

and sing…

Because he reigns..now and forever..

that’s our hope this Christmas…it’s our joy…

So stand and sing with me.

And then I will close us in prayer.