Revelation 7 09 17

The Second Triumphal Entry

Revelation 7:9-17

Introduction:

What we remember/recognize on Palm Sunday

ð     Jesus entering Jerusalem on His way to the cross

ð     Jesus riding on a donkey

ð     People with Palm branches praising Jesus

ð     People throwing their clothing down in the way

What we may not realize is that this is not the only time in Scripture where a large number of people gather with palm branches in hand to praise Jesus

Three things that we can learn from this triumphal entry:

1.      Salvation is from God alone

2.      The struggles of life will not go on forever

3.      The hope we have in Christ will lead to more than we can imagine

I.                   Salvation is from God alone v. 10

Those standing here before the throne of God had been oppressed by the anti-christ during the tribulation period (we will look more at that later in our study).  They knew full well that the only salvation came from God

Salvation: 

ð     To be forgiven of our sin

ð     To have a relationship with God

ð     To have eternal hope in Him

1.      The majority of people today believe that in some part salvation is up to them

Ask a group of people today how a person is saved:

ü      Going to Church

ü      Being baptized as a baby or as an adult

ü      Doing more good than bad

ü      Following the 10 commandments

ü      Giving to those in need

All of world’s religions today are built on a list of dos and don’ts that make a person acceptable to God

Penny Warner letter from Senegal

   -Sacrifice for fellow who died to lighten his load of sin

Christianity is not!!  Anyone who thinks it is has completely missed the point

·         It is built on a personal relationship with Christ by faith which then changes our works.

·         Faith changes our relationship which then changes our works

A system of works leaves people unsure and miserable in light of eternity

Constant questioning if enough has been done

A system of works leaves people open to abuse greed

§         Die for our cause and you will go to heave

§         Give and we will pray your loved one into heaven

2.      The main point is that salvation belongs to God v. 10

1)      It began in the heart of God:  Genesis 3

Adam and Eve sinned:  Were they concerned about forgiveness?

·         No! they were concerned with who was at fault!!

God made a promise right then to send a Savior

All through the OT people proved again and again that they could not deliver themselves from sin

All through the OT God reminded the people again and again that He would send a Savior

2)      It continued  with Jesus being the Lamb of God 7:10

John the Baptist:  Behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.

1 Peter 1:18-21

…knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 20He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you 21who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

3)      We receive that salvation today by faith:

Ephesians 2:8-10

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Acts 16:31:  Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.

Romans Road:

Romans 3:23 All have sinned

Romans 5:6 we were without strength

Romans 6:23 Wages of sin is death

Romans 10:10, 13

For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

II.               The struggles of life will not go on forever vv. 9-15

1.      This group was praising God:  Why?

2.      That had gone through great tribulation and suffering:  God had delivered them!!

3.      They were now safe in their God

1)      Dressed in white: 

·         Shows forgiveness

·         Shows identification:  they belong to Him

2)      Palms in their hands:

·         Goes back to the OT celebration of the Feast of the Tabernacles

·         Collected branches from trees and palm branches to build huts or booths to live in for 7 days.

·         It reminded them of Gods deliverance: here as well!!

3)      God would dwell among them v. 15

·         literally means that God would spread His tent over them and put His arms around them

·         Illustration of a child in trouble that runs to mom/dad

4.      Application:

Satan often uses our struggles to get our mind off of the things of God

Often feel the way the disciples would have felt on Saturday:

         *Whole world seemed to end of Friday

         *We get through one struggle and another is waiting

         *We get one billed paid off and 2 more show up

         *We cross 1 item off to do list and add 5 more

We cannot see Sunday coming: resurrection

This passage reminds us that victory is coming:  He will deliver us

III.              We have a hope in Him that will lead to more than we can imagine vv. 15-17

1.      God is with them v. 15

2.      God will meet their needs vv. 16-17

3.      God will remove all sorrow from them v. 17

      No more: sorrow, loss, suffering, hurt, disappointment, etc.

Illustration:

He was just a little fellow. His mother died when he was just a child. His father, in trying to be both mom and dad, had planned a picnic. The boy had never been on a picnic, so they made their plans, fixed the lunch, and packed the car. Then it was time to go to bed, for the picnic was the next day. He just couldn’t sleep. He tossed and he turned, but the excitement got to him. Finally, he got out of bed, ran into the room where his father had already fallen asleep, and shook him. His father woke up and saw his son. He said to him, "What are you doing up?" "What’s the matter?"
The boy said, "I can’t sleep."

The father asked, "Why can’t you sleep?"

In answering the boy said, "Daddy, I’m excited about tomorrow."

His father replied, "Well, Son, I’m sure you are, and it’s going to be a great day, but it won’t be great if we don’t get some sleep. So why don’t you just run down the hall, get back in bed, and get a good night’s rest."

So the boy trudged off down the hall to his room and got to bed. Before long, sleep came--to the father, that is. It wasn’t long thereafter that the little boy was back pushing and shoving his father, and his father opened his eyes. Harsh words almost blurted out until he saw the expression on the boy’s face. The father asked, "What’s the matter now?"

The boy said, "Daddy, I just want to thank you for tomorrow."