sf854 - PEACE IN THE MIDST OF THE STORM (Revelation 7 1-17)
Revelation 7:1-17; Key: 7:1-4
INTRODUCTION
The Purpose of this book is to reveal Christ
The outline of the book (1:19)
Revelation 1:19 (NKJV) 19Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this.
What he has seen (1)
What is (2-3)
What is to come (4-22)
Ø Rapture (4:1)
Ø Picture of the saints in heaven (5)
Ø The beginning of the Great Tribulation (6)
Ø This is a parenthetical chapter
Two groups in view - The Sealed Jews and The Saved Gentiles
1A. THE SEALED JEWS (7:1-8)
Many people will be saved during the Great Tribulation
1B. The stillness they will observe. (7:1)
The “winds” symbolize God’s judgement
Proverbs 1:27 (NKJV) 27When your terror comes like a storm, And your destruction comes like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you.
This verse demonstrates God’s protection of His people.
2B. The sealing they will experience. (7:2-3)
The seal of God is the Holy Spirit.
Revelation 14:1 (NKJV) 1Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father’s name written on their foreheads.
Ø “Foreheads” = This speaks of the true knowledge of God
3B. The significance of their election. (7:4-8)
God is not finished with the Jewish people
Isaiah 60:1-3 (NKJV) 1Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you. 2For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people; But the LORD will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you. 3The Gentiles shall come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising.
“The greatest evangelistic harvest will take place during the great tribulation” A. Rogers
Dan and Ephraim are left out of the 144,000 because of their idolatry.
Ø No one knows his or her tribe today.
Many groups think they are the 144,000
Ø Jehovah Witness; Liberals think this is the church
Israel is a miracle nation
God has promised to preserve Israel.
Jeremiah 31:35-36 (NKJV) 35Thus says the LORD, Who gives the sun for a light by day, The ordinances of the moon and the stars for a light by night, Who disturbs the sea, And its waves roar (The LORD of hosts is His name): 36“If those ordinances depart From before Me, says the LORD, Then the seed of Israel shall also cease From being a nation before Me forever.”
God has promised to save Israel.
Romans 11:25-29 (NKJV) 25For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; 27For this is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins.” 28Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers. 29For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
*Remember Jacob is the name for fleshly Jews
They will escape the persecution of the Tribulation
They will defy Satan’s secular rule!
2A. THE SAVED GENTILES (7:9-17)
1B. Who are these people who are saved? (7:9)
Their Number
“Great Multitude” = Gentiles who will be martyred
Is this a second chance?
Ø No, if you do not believe the truth now you will believe a lie!
2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 (NKJV) 9The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
Ø The reason a man will not believe is that he loves his sin. The opposite of truth is not error but sin. It is not an empty head but a wicked heart.
Ø This is part of God’s judgement on those who reject Him
Only those who have not heard and rejected the truth will be saved.
Their nationalities (7:9b)
Their nature (7:9c)
Ø They are saved people
Matthew 24:14 (NKJV) 14And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.
This is the “end” of the great tribulation
2B. What is the reason for their praise? (7:10 - 12)
They praise God for His grace. (7:10a)
They praise God for His government. (7:10b)
They praise God for His gift. (7:10c)
They praise God with all of creation (7:11-12)
3B. They will endure great persecution. (7:13-14)
They paid with their lives for their faith, they refused to take the mark. (6:9)
4B. They will inherit a great privilege. (7:15)
In the OT only the priest could serve in the Temple. In heaven, everyone will!
We will be able to serve Him completely, fully, and freely!
5B. They will enjoy a bountiful provision. (7:16-17)
All of their physical needs are met. (7:16)
All of their spiritual needs are met. (7:17a)
All of their psychological needs are met. (7:17b)
APPLICATION
God is not finished with the Jewish people - they cannot be destroyed.
There will be no second chance for those who have heard the gospel and rejected the truth (Jesus).
God always takes care of his people!
PEACE IN THE MIDST OF THE STORM
Sunday, September 19, 1999 - Revelation 7:1-17
1A. THE ____________________________ JEWS (7:1-8)
1B. The ___________________ they will observe. (7:1)
Proverbs 1:27 (NKJV) 27When your terror comes like a storm, And your destruction comes like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you.
2B. The ______________ they will experience. (7:2-3)
Revelation 14:1 (NKJV) 1Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father’s name written on their foreheads.
3B. The __________________ of their election. (7:4-8)
God is not finished with the _______________ people
Isaiah 60:1-3 (NKJV) 1Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you. 2For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people; But the LORD will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you. 3The Gentiles shall come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising.
Israel is a _______________ nation
God has promised to _____________________ Israel. (Jeremiah 31:35-36 )
God has promised to _____________________ Israel. (Romans 11:25-29)
2A. THE _______________________ GENTILES (7:9-17)
1B. Who are these ____________ who are saved? (7:9)
Their ______________________
“Great Multitude” = Gentiles who will be martyred
Is this a ______________________ chance?
2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 (NKJV) 9The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
Their nationalities (7:9b)
Their ________________ (7:9c)
Matthew 24:14 (NKJV) 14And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.
2B. What is the _________ for their praise? (7:10 - 12)
They praise God for His _________________. (7:10a)
They praise God for His government. (7:10b)
They praise God for His gift. (7:10c)
They praise God with all of creation (7:11-12)
3B. They will __________ great persecution. (7:13-14)
4B. They will ______________ a great privilege. (7:15)
5B. They will enjoy a bountiful provision. (7:16-17)