Revelation 7-8

Introduction:

We saw the seals being broken in the previous chapter.

The seals represent the anti-christ, war, famine, death...

These things are going to occur in the near future, most believe.

I believe this stuff will happen with your guys’ generation.

In chapter 7, 1-8 talks about the Jews… 9-17 is talking about the Gentiles.

Chapter 7

V.1-3

Angels at the 4 corners...

Now, this shouldn’t be taken as John saying the earth is flat.

It should be taken more as the angels shadow the whole world.

The angels are holding back harmful winds from blowing on the land.

Or, the 4 winds represent the 4 horsemen of the first 4 seals.

Some believe this because of

Zechariah 6:5 ESV

And the angel answered and said to me, “These are going out to the four winds of heaven, after presenting themselves before the Lord of all the earth.

Usually wind in the bible is a symbol of destruction

Jeremiah 4:11–12 NKJV

At that time it will be said To this people and to Jerusalem, “A dry wind of the desolate heights blows in the wilderness— Toward the daughter of My people— Not to fan or to cleanse— A wind too strong for these will come for Me; Now I will also speak judgment against them.”

Jeremiah 51:1–2 NKJV

Thus says the Lord: “Behold, I will raise up against Babylon, Against those who dwell in Leb Kamai, A destroying wind. And I will send winnowers to Babylon, Who shall winnow her and empty her land. For in the day of doom They shall be against her all around.

God sends another angel, who had the seal of God, and he told the 4 angels not to harm these things until we have sealed the servants of God.

In the Bible, Seals speak of ownership.

Today, we are sealed by the Holy Spirit.

In order to claim to be a child of God, you have to be sealed by the Holy Spirit.

The 144,000 Jews will receive a mark on their foreheads. Whereas those who get the mark of the beast are followers of Satan. .

The seal is for protection… Like how God protected Noah from the flood, Israel from the plagues of Egypt, and Rahab and her house in Jericho.

God is still watching over His people.

V. 4-8

These are people who will be protected during the Great Tribulation.

We’ll see more of them in Chapter 14.

V. 9-10

John is seeing all the believers who will be in heaven.

There is a great multitude from every tribe and people.

There will be a lot of diversity in heaven.

The diversity shows that we will all not be the same… We will still be individual.

There’s individuality in heaven.

Palm branches and white usually symbolizes victory.

So, these people, us, will be victorious.

They’re worshiping God for salvation

They recognize that God is the source of Salvation and no one else.

V. 11-12

More worship then ensues, because of the believers worship.

V. 13-14

These people are the ones who are rescued during the Great Tribulation.

Seeing so many people saved during this time shows God’s grace and mercy.

Those whop are saved during this time are saved the same way we were… By the blood of Jesus.

V.15-17

In heaven, there will be no hunger, thirst, scorching heat… Remember, this stuff was going on when they were in the tribulation.

Heaven is going to be a place of joy and satisfaction. There will be no wanting, because we will have everything we need.

Chapter 9

V.1-2

Now, the opening of the 7th seal, could be one of the most important events. Why? Because there was silence in heaven for after it was opened.

The seventh seal is important because it includes all the events from here to chapter 19.

V. 3-6

Here is an additional angel, who has a golden censer.

In the OT, the tabernacle had a bronze censer, but later on King Solomon used golden censers.

The censer here is symbolic of the prayers of all the saints.

We see the angel offered the incense to God, then filled the censer with fire, and threw it on the earth.

There was thunder, rumbling, lightning, and an earthquake.

Note, the fire came from the very altar where the prayers of the saints have been offered.

The prayers of believers plays an important part in ushering the judgments of God.

V.7

This is a supernatural judgment, hail, fire, and blood all become mingled.

The target of this judgment is a 1/3 of green vegetation.

This would affect nature, but also the food supply.

V.8-9

God turned the sea into blood… What does this remind us of?

The plagues of Egypt in Exodus

It’s not a literal mountain… but like one.

There was a triple judgment resulted:

Saltwater turned to blood, 1/3 of sea life died, and a 1/3 of ships were destroyed.

The ocean takes up what, about 75% of the world? So you could imagine how destructive this judgment is.

V.10-11

Next, we have a star from heaven that fell to earth.

Wormwood is its name.

1/3 of all rivers were made bitter.

It seems as though the rivers are made poisonous, because wormwood isn’t poisonous, it’s just a bitter taste.

Many men died from the drinking water.

V.12

The sun, moon, and stars were all struck.

It seems that John is making the point that 1/3 of light was gone.

This could be a temporary judgment, because later on we will see the sun’s power will be intensified in chapter 16.

V.13

Here, we see a brief intermission.

The angel said “woe” a total a three times.. one fore each of the trumpets that are left.

The next 3 trumpets are going to be more severe and destructive than those before.