Sealing of the Saints (Rev 7)

Introduction & Recap:

· the Lamb who was slain is worthy to open the seals - containing God's purposes to punish the wicked and vindicate the righteous

· The seals are opened unleashing God's wrath e.g. war, famine, death, sky-falling earth-shattering end-of-the-world catastrophes. Chapter ends with everyone: rich or poor, slave or free crying out in : The great day of wrath of God and the Lamb (Jesus!) has come, who can withstand it?

· answers that question.

Exposition:

Who is safe from God’s wrath?

· Those who are sealed on their foreheads ().

What is the seal?

· The seal on the forehead is the written name of the Father and the Son ().

· Like how slaves were marked by their master, the 144000 bear the name of God indicating they belong to Him (, ) and are under His protection (). Even today documents are sealed to indicate their authentic and untampered condition.

· Not necessarily physical protection but spiritual (many believe that the sealed 144000 will be martyred).

· Spiritual protection. Not necessarily physical protection (many believe that the sealed 144000 will be martyred).

· It is having the name of the Father and the Son written on their forehead ().

· Like the mark in , it is unlikely to be visible but still entails public identification with the Lord. “forehead” not “heart”.

· Like the mark in , it is unlikely to be visible but still entails public identification with the Lord.

· The beasts tries to imitate this with his own: the Mark of the Beast ().

Who are the sealed?

Who are the 144000 () and what is their relationship to the "great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language" ()?

· Dispensationalists insist they are literally 144000 Jewish Christians during the Great Tribulation

o But do not insist they are literally male virgins (), only spiritually pure.

o Many also believe these 144000 Jews will be instrumental in converting "a great multitude" of Gentiles during the Great Tribulation cf Pate, MacArthur. Others believe the "great multitude" is the church already raptured to heaven just before the Great Tribulation () cf Thomas.

· Others believe they symbolically represent all of God's people both Jew and Gentile i.e. the church.

o The 144000 and the "great multitude" are referring to the same people.

§ The list of tribes in is unconventional. Dan is omitted (replaced by Levi) while instead of Ephraim and Manasseh its Joseph and Manasseh. In any case the northern tribes are lost - completely assimilated with others.

§ Typical of apocalyptic literature, twelve (the number of tribes) is both squared and multiplied by a thousand—a twofold way of emphasizing completeness cf Mounce, 158

§ With the antichrist correspondingly marking all his people, it makes more sense for God to mark all Christians. They will all need it. The ones sealed are "the servants of our God" () - a term in Revelation that regularly refers to all the redeemed (; , ; , ) cf Beasley-Murray. All true believers will have the name of God written on them ().

§ Like when John hears of a triumphant lion of Judah but instead sees a slain lamb (), he hears of the 144000 from Israel but sees instead "a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation...". OT expectations are fused with NT realities far beyond all imagination.

o They persevered and remained pure "come out of the great tribulation" wearing "white robes" because they are "washed...in the blood of the Lamb" ().

What is the goal/result of all this?

· All praise and glory to God ()

o Holding "palm branches" representing festive celebrations (), the redeemed cry "salvation belongs to our God!"

o The angelic hosts fall down and worship

· The great multitude will be forever blessed ():

o serving God in His heavenly temple (service is a privilege)

o enjoying His presence and provision "The Lamb is their Shepherd"

o never to suffer again (implying that was their experience on earth)

Practical Implications:

(the same regardless of which view):

· Be aware of spiritual warfare. Pick your side.

o Census is usually taken to determine fighting strength ().

o Those who belong to God suffer the beast’s wrath but those who belong to the beast suffer God’s wrath. Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

o Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

· Be thankful for the salvation we can have in Christ.

o For all eternity you will be thanking Him. Might as well start now.

· Trust in God's promises and protection.

o Don't doubt that by God's grace you can persevere.

o Don't doubt that it is all worth it in the end.

· Identify with Christ and live for Him

o Tribe of Dan is omitted from the list presumably because they were notoriously idolatrous (, ).

o The 144000 "did not defile themselves", "follow the Lamb wherever he goes", "blameless" ()

· Share Christ's love with all people (including Jews) so that they too can be saved from His wrath.