Who Can Stand?

What comes to mind when you see this picture?

Devastation all around, yet one house, left standing.

Jesus talked about building our lives on a rock so they would stand.

We sing about our being built on nothing less than Jesus blood and that all other ground is sinking sand.

We have been studying through the book of Revelation.

At this point we are some where in the first 1/2 of the 7 Year tribulation. I believe the church has been raptured out before this time started.

6 seals have been peeled off the scroll in Jesus’ hands. Each of those seals revealed wrath. We have been told that at least 1/4 of population has been wiped out.

The very last verses of chapter 6 has a lost and rebellious humanity begging to die rather than repent.

Revelation 6:16–17 HCSB

16 And they said to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the One seated on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb, 17 because the great day of Their wrath has come! And who is able to stand?”

Notice their question: Who is able to stand? That’s what we want to talk about today

In much the same way that the house in the picture stood, I want to talk about people who stand firm in the faith in the Tribulation.

Restraining Grace

Revelation 7:1–3 HCSB

1 After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, restraining the four winds of the earth so that no wind could blow on the earth or on the sea or on any tree. 2 Then I saw another angel, who had the seal of the living God rise up from the east. He cried out in a loud voice to the four angels who were empowered to harm the earth and the sea: 3 “Don’t harm the earth or the sea or the trees until we seal the slaves of our God on their foreheads.”

4 angels restraining the winds, is a signal that there is a storm coming, They are told to hold off.

One of the things we don’t think enough about is how often God holds back evil, and judgment. Restraining evil is part of the grace given to every one, lost or saved. Its part of what is called common grace. Restraining evil- just think about the fact that God does not let evil people be as evil as they could be, nor as often as they could be. He does not let the Devil and his imps have free reign.

BUT HERE THERE IS THE RESTRAINING OF GOD’S WRATH.

Since the Tribulation has begun, why would God want to hold off?

It’s the same reason the Tribulation hasn’t started yet.

2 Peter 3:9 HCSB

9 The Lord does not delay His promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.

God doesn’t want people to die and go to Hell. He is pleading and patient.

Even after He begins to pour out His wrath, he presses pause and two incredible things happen.

The fact that he presses pause is so evident to me in the fact that we quickly saw the first 6 seals, and then chapter seven is an interruption before the 7th seal.

Sealing of Jewish Evangelists

Revelation 7:3–8 HCSB

3 “Don’t harm the earth or the sea or the trees until we seal the slaves of our God on their foreheads.” 4 And I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 sealed from every tribe of the Israelites: 5 12,000 sealed from the tribe of Judah, 12,000 from the tribe of Reuben, 12,000 from the tribe of Gad, 6 12,000 from the tribe of Asher, 12,000 from the tribe of Naphtali, 12,000 from the tribe of Manasseh, 7 12,000 from the tribe of Simeon, 12,000 from the tribe of Levi, 12,000 from the tribe of Issachar, 8 12,000 from the tribe of Zebulun, 12,000 from the tribe of Joseph, 12,000 sealed from the tribe of Benjamin.

Sealing- Protection and Ownership. It stands to reason that these Jewish believers have already been saved and are at work preaching the Gospel, but now they are receiving God’s special seal of protection and empowerment. There is much speculation about that that seal is and what it will look like, but I will leave that up to the sensationalizers. I love that in verse 2 it is the seal of the living God. Not made up gods. Not useless idols. God and God alone!

I will add that the Bible says that EVERY true Christian right now is sealed by the Holy Spirit. You belong to God and you are protected by God.

144,000. The Jehovah’s witnesses believe this is them. And when they outgrew 144,000 they said everyone else will live on the new earth.

Some Christians believe these 144k represent the church.

So I want to tell you who I think they are.... you might want to write this down. I think the 144,000 are Jewish believers.... just like the text says.

By the way, sometimes people make issue of the fact that the listing of the 12 tribes is different than other lists. But someone has done the research and pointed out that there are at least 19 different ways the tribes are listed throughout the Bible.

Oh, and there are groups out there that talk all the time about the lost 10 tribes of Israel who went off into captivity with Assyria and never came back. But, they must not be lost to God, because here he lists them all.

God sets aside these 144k with a special seal. He protects them and calls them His own.

But I called them Evangelists- WHY?

Because the very next thing that happens

Salvation of Gentile Believers

Revelation 7:9–14 HCSB

9 After this I looked, and there was a vast multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language, which no one could number, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were robed in white with palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice: Salvation belongs to our God, who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb! 11 All the angels stood around the throne, the elders, and the four living creatures, and they fell facedown before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying: Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and strength be to our God forever and ever. Amen. 13 Then one of the elders asked me, “Who are these people robed in white, and where did they come from?” 14 I said to him, “Sir, you know.” Then he told me: These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

You would do well to go through your Bible and mark every time you see the word “Then” or the phrase “After this.” I believe this marks sequence and chronology.

John says. then I saw… after this I saw. then I heard. its the march of time. One sequential event after the other.

John saw the sealing of the 144K and THEN he saw a vast multitude before the throne and lamb.

I believe they are there as the result of the 144k.

Just a few things to note:

John uses the word “Behold” again. He saw it and he wants us to see. “Check this out.”

The number is too many to count. Perhaps millions.

It was noticeable that these people were not Jewish. That must have been an incredible sight for this aged Jewish man who was the youngest follower of Jesus. John had helped carried the Gospel to the world. But Rome was turning up the heat as we saw in chapters 2-3. Who could have imagined that the GOSPEL would have such an impact around the world.

People retain their ethnicity when they die. I have heard statements and answered some questions about this through the years. But in heaven lets be clear: The things that separated are united. There came from every nation, every tribe, every people, and language.

And notice they are ALL STANDING!

Remember the picture from the beginning? That one house still standing!

Remember the what those who were dying in their rebellion asking “who can stand?”

Here is the answer! Second half of verse 14

Those who have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the lamb?

Application:

1. I don’t know what storm you are going through, but I know the only way to stand the storm is to be in right standing with God. Maybe you just needed to be reminded that if you are saved, you belong to God and you are protected by God.

2. I don’t know the state of your soul. But God does. And maybe He’s speaking to you right now. Who can stand before the throne of God and not be condemned? Those who have placed their faith in Jesus Have YOU ever truly done that?