17 Time Is Near 7-1-17

Hope in the Midst of Trials

Revelation 7:1-17

Introduction

Revelation 7:1-17 presents a vision of a great multitude from every nation standing before God,

symbolizing hope for believers during times of persecution and trials.

This passage emphasizes God's protection and the ultimate redemption of His people.

I have a story sent to me by e-mail that illustrates this fact.

I was walking down a dimly lit street late one evening when I heard muffled screams coming from behind a clump of bushes.

Alarmed, I slowed down to listen and panicked when I realized that what I was hearing was the unmistakable sounds of a struggle:

heavy grunting, frantic scuffling and tearing of fabric.

Only yards from where I stood, a woman was being attacked.

Should I get involved?

I was frightened for my own safety and cursed myself for having suddenly decided to take a new route home that night.

What if I became another statistic?

Shouldn't I just run to the nearest phone and call the police?

Although it seemed an eternity, the deliberations in my head had taken only seconds, but already the cries were growing weaker.

I knew I had to act fast.

How could I walk away from this?

No, I finally resolved, I could not turn my back on the fate of this unknown woman, even if it meant risking my own life.

I am not a brave man, nor am I athletic.

I don't know where I found the moral courage and physical strength--- but once I had finally resolved to help the girl, I became strangely transformed.

I ran behind the bushes and pulled the assailant off the woman.

Grappling, we fell to the ground, where we wrestled for a few minutes until the attacker jumped up and escaped.

Panting hard, I scrambled upright and approached the girl, who was crouched behind a tree, sobbing.

In the darkness, I could barely see her outline, but I could certainly sense her trembling shock.

Not wanting to frighten her further, I at first spoke to her from a distance.

It's OK, I said soothingly.

The man ran away.

You're safe now.

There was a long pause and then I heard the words, uttered in wonder, in amazement.

“Dad, is that you?” And then, from behind the tree, stepped my youngest daughter, Katherine

God still reigns on the darkest night, in the dimmest hour, in the seemingly most God-forsaken time He Still Reigns.

The vision we study today, is of a truly terrible time in human history

We have read and studied the great tragedy of the Great Tribulation.

We have seen how the anti-christ will ride out deceiving.

He will be followed by war, famine and death.

Even the earth will quake, the stars will fall from the skies with the skies rolling up like a scroll.

But this passage reminds us Who is in control.

Hope in the Midst of Trials

Bible Passage: Revelation 7:1–17

1. Protection Amidst the Storm

Revelation 7:1–3 NASB 95

1 After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, so that no wind would blow on the earth or on the sea or on any tree. 2 And I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, having the seal of the living God; and he cried out with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, 3 saying, “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees until we have sealed the bond-servants of our God on their foreheads.”

Angels holding back the four winds v.1.

The Angelic world is prepared for unprecedented horror but God says, “Wait!”

Here were 4 powerful beings holding back the winds of destruction.

4 Angels that held in their hands the very lives of countless human beings.

And God says through the 5th angel, “Wait!”

God has that same kind of power and the same desire to withhold judgement today.

2 Peter 3:9 NASB 95

The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

The only reason God has not called fire down from heaven on this wicked and perverse people is because of his desire to win them.

Our world is dark, even bleak

But our Lord God wants all who will to turn to Him

The reason he keeps his church alive today is because he intends to use us to win the world to himself.

FBC Marshallville has a purpose

That purpose will always be to be His witnesses, His disciple makers.

God is not slow about his return he is patient desiring all to be saved.

That desire of God is to our advantage but it is available for a limited time only.

God is like the father who looks longingly out his window in hopes of his son’s soon return.

He knows the boy is in trouble.

He knows the trouble could lead to his death.

He also knows the trouble is the only thing that will bring the boy back to himself.

God loves us so much that he is willing to wait so that as many as will may come to Him.

He holds the destruction back so that he might mark those who call upon him and take His name.

God Protects against the Storm

2. Preserves for a Purpose

Revelation 7:4–8 NASB 95

4 And I heard the number of those who were sealed, one hundred and forty-four thousand sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel: 5 From the tribe of Judah, twelve thousand were sealed, from the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand, from the tribe of Gad twelve thousand, 6 from the tribe of Asher twelve thousand, from the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand, from the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand, 7 from the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand, from the tribe of Levi twelve thousand, from the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand, 8 from the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand, from the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand, from the tribe of Benjamin, twelve thousand were sealed.

The Bond-servants of God sealed on the forehead vv.2-3. Who Are They?

Vv. 4-8 144,000 Jews foretold

We can see God is not finished with his people.

He takes this number from those who do not believe and makes them his witnesses.

Can you imagine.

God’s people sold out to Jesus!

This people will finally be about the work God has called them to.

The 14th chapter gives even more description of these people.

Revelation 14:1–5 “Then I looked, and behold, the Lamb was standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His name and the name of His Father written on their foreheads. 2 And I heard a voice from heaven, like the sound of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder, and the voice which I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps. 3 And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders; and no one could learn the song except the one hundred and forty-four thousand who had been purchased from the earth. 4 These are the ones who have not been defiled with women, for they have kept themselves chaste. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These have been purchased from among men as first fruits to God and to the Lamb. 5 And no lie was found in their mouth; they are blameless.”

V.3 tells us they will be singing a new song

It will be on Mount Zion with the Lamb.

No one else will be able to learn it.

They will be virgins.

They will be found blameless with no lie being in their mouths.

Obviously God still reigns even during the great tribulation.

How else can you explain God’s people turning to God through Jesus?

Jesus is the stumbling block to the Jew.

But in the most perilous times God calls his people out.

The times we live in today are perilous for many.

Most of us don’t want to talk of persecution but it happens.

In our own homes often we are bludgeoned by false doctrines or false gods.

We are often made to feel bad for wanting to tell someone the truth of eternity or abortion.

Doesn’t your heart break when you think of the men and women who literally die for Christ?

In Muslim countries you risk your very life when you become a Christian.

Yet God still reigns does he reign in your life?

God Preserves for a purpose

3. Praising Our Redeemer

Revelation 7:9–12 NASB 95

9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; 10 and they cry out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” 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.”

Not only are the Jews saved but these verses tell of a great multitude which no one can count who are saved as well.

This multitude is from every nation, all tribes and tongues.

Those praising God are so many more than simply the 144,000.

A multitude innumerable.

Think of how many it takes to be innumerable to God.

He speaks of a 200 million man army 9:16.

Yet this group is too numerous for anyone to count.

No question about it many will come to know Jesus as Lord during this incredibly horrible time.

Revelation 7:9 NASB 95

9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands;

Everyone of them is standing before the throne and before the Lamb.

They’re praising God

They’re causing others to praise God.

This picture invites us Christians to see our trials as temporary,

Encouraging us to join in the praise of the Lamb,

Recognizing our struggles are woven into God's redemptive story.

God gives us reason to praise our Redeemer

4. Promise of Eternal Peace

Revelation 7:13–17 NASB 95

13 Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “These who are clothed in the white robes, who are they, and where have they come from?” 14 I said to him, “My lord, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 For this reason, they are before the throne of God; and they serve Him day and night in His temple; and He who sits on the throne will spread His tabernacle over them. 16 They will hunger no longer, nor thirst anymore; nor will the sun beat down on them, nor any heat; 17 for the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the water of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes.”

God never ceases in his desire to love us.

Scripture tells us many will turn from God and worship the beast.

But this passage tells us many will turn to him.

But they will still live terrible lives.

I do not believe they will suffer from the judgments of God but they will suffer at the hands of the anti-christ and those around them.

The 5th seal told us many would be martyred during this tribulation.

God is wonderful for he loves us even when we are at our lowest.

Look at the promise of God's eternal comfort found in these verses.

The imagery of God wiping away every tear speaks directly to our suffering and sorrow.

Consider how the Lamb ensures an end to our trials,

Offering nourishment, protection, and eternal joy.

It’s an invitation to endure with the knowledge that Christ already conquered pain and death, providing a vision of hope and restoration.

Conclusion:

This passage drops us into a world where the church has been removed and taken home to heaven.

Yet He tells the angels of destruction to wait.

Many today do not believe in the second coming of Jesus because so much time has passed since his first coming.

But Jesus is coming again.

This time he is coming in victory with Satan bound and gagged.

Will you today praise our Lord for the victory he has already promised us.

#294 Have Thine Own Way Lord

1.   Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!

Thou art the potter, I am the clay. Mold me and make me after Thy will, While I am waiting, yielded and still.

2.   Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way! Search me and try me, Master, today! Whiter than snow, Lord, wash me just now, As in Thy presence humbly I bow.

3.   Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way! Wounded and weary, help me I pray! Power, all power, surely is Thine! Touch me and heal me, Savior divine!

4.   Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way! Hold o'er my being absolute sway! Fill with Thy Spirit till all shall see Christ only, always, living in me!