Sealed In The Midst Of Chaos
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
This morning, we looked at the thought of “Hope In The Midst Of Chaos” - I think we can all agree that the time of Tribulation on this earth will certainly be chaos…I’m glad, again, that I will not be around to experience it!
We looked at the first four verses here in chapter 7, in closing this morning, I said we would look into these 144,000 tonight so that’s what we are going to do.
First, let’s recap just a moment from this morning:
There are four angels that stand on the four corners of the earth, or four directions of the earth - North, South, East, West; holding the winds of the earth.
There’s a fifth angel that comes on the scene having the seal of the living God - Aren’t you glad tonight that we serve the living God!?
Let’s look at the Scripture tonight and see what we can learn:
The Number of the Tribes Sealed
The Number of the Tribes Sealed
4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.
This angel comes to seal the “servants of our God in their foreheads”...
John tells us where they were sealed (forehead),
who were sealed (servants of God from all the tribes of the children of Israel)
and how many were sealed (144,000–12,000 from each tribe).
The Bible is very clear as to where these people come from. They are from “all the tribes of the children of Israel”.
Over the years, many groups have tried to claim that they are part of the 144,000. The Jehovah’s Witnesses, the World Wide Church of God, the Seventh-Day Adventists, among others, have all tried to make that claim.
This is during the tribulation period—which the world is not in yet—and these are Jews from the 12 tribes of Israel—not Gentiles!
If anyone tells you that they are a part of the 144,000 ask them what tribe they belong to?
David Levy wrote, “The term Israel must refer to the physical descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The fact that the 12 tribes are singled out during the Tribulation indicates that this is speaking of a literal, physical Israel.”
The text is clear that this is literally 144,000 Jews that will be saved, sealed, servants, and secured! God knows His servants and God shelters His servants in the midst of the storms.
19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
Satan and the Antichrist and the unbelieving world will hate it, but they will not be able to stop or shut up these 144,000 Jewish evangelists! God will see that they are sealed and secured!
Lehman Strauss wrote, “This sealed remnant of Jews, not having had the gospel explained to them before, will turn to Christ after the rapture of the Church. They will inherit the kingdom under the rule of the Son of Man shortly after they have been sealed. The beast and the Antichrist will not be able to destroy them.”
The Bible says the 144,000 come from the twelve tribes of the nation of Israel. 12 Tribes, 12,000 from each tribe = 144,000 Jews.
David Jeremiah gave some interesting insight—he said, “The number 12 in Scripture is always associated with Israel. Twelve tribes, 12 stones on the High Priest’s breastplate representing the 12 tribes, 12 loaves of showbread in the tabernacle representing the 12 tribes, 12 gates in the New Jerusalem, 12 thrones for the 12 apostles who will judge the 12 tribes.”
In Revelation 21, we study and find that the New Jerusalem had twelve gates, and “at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel” (Revelation 21:12).
We may also discover that “the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.” (V. 14).
In verse 16 of chapter 21, we are told that “he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs.” Verse 17 tells us that “he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.”
Certainly it is no accident the way God’s Word describes the use of twelve.
The Name Of The Tribes Sealed
The Name Of The Tribes Sealed
5 Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand.
6 Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand.
7 Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand.
8 Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand.
The purpose of these twelve tribes of Israel is found in the meaning of their names.
1. Judah= Praisers of God
2. Reuben= Looking to the Son
3. Gad= A company of
4. Asher= Blessed Ones
5. Naphtali= Wrestling with
6. Manasseh= Forgetfulness
7. Simeon= Hearing and Obeying
8. Levi= Cleaving to
9. Issachar= A Reward
10. Zebulun= A Home & Dwelling Place
11. Joseph= Adding
12. Benjamin= Sons at God’s Right Hand
These twelve tribes then are praisers of God that are looking to the Son. They are a company of blessed ones that are wrestling with forgetfulness and are hearing and obeying the Lord. They are cleaving to a reward, a home and dwelling place. They are adding sons at God’s right hand.
Something interesting to notice concerning these names is that there is an omission of the tribe of Dan and Ephraim - Instead of those names, we find Levi and Joseph.
John MacArthur wrote, “The omission of the tribe of Dan in favor of the priestly tribe of Levi is also unusual. Dan was evidently omitted due to the tribe’s tendency for idolatry which was even worse than that of the rest of the nation. While Dan will share in the millennial blessings the tribe will not be selected for this duty nor protected during the Tribulation. Similarly, the name of Ephraim is omitted in favor of his father Joseph because Ephraim defected from the ruling house of Judah. Also Ephraim, like Dan, was consumed with idolatry. His brother Manasseh is included because he was the faithful son of Joseph.”
21 And the Lord shall separate him unto evil out of all the tribes of Israel, according to all the curses of the covenant that are written in this book of the law:
I find it interesting that God knows who they are!
I said in the beginning that if anyone tells you they are part of the 144,000, ask them what tribe they are from…The reason for this, is not only because we aren’t in the Tribulation, but it’s also because no Jew today has any clue what tribe they belong to...
There is only one Jew in the entire universe who knows which tribe He is from. There is only one Jew who still possesses an accurate genealogy of his ancestry and His name is Jesus Christ. He is from the tribe of Judah, Matt. 1.
No other Jew knows which tribe he is from because all the genealogical records were destroyed in 70 AD when Titus, the Roman general, destroyed the temple in Jerusalem. The birth records were stored there and they were destroyed forever.
Now, no Jew may know which tribe he is from, but God does. He knows how to find them. He knows how to save them. He knows how to use them.
He’ll use them to bring a great revival in the midst of chaos - that’s what we will look at next time...
Conclusion
Conclusion
For, now, we should take a moment thank God for His grace.
We should praise Him that He has a great plan to save many people during the most horrible time earth will ever know.
We should also thank Him for His sealing ministry in our lives.
What a blessing it is to know that we have been sealed and that we are safe and secure in the Lord Jesus Christ.
We should also look at our efforts to share the Gospel in these days. I don’t know about you, but I could do a much better job at getting the Gospel out.
So, here is the invitation. If you would like to praise the Lord for His grace in your life and for the seal He has placed on you, come and do that now.
If you would like to ask Him to help you be a better witness for the glory of God, you come now.
If you would like to be saved so that you can miss the Tribulation, you can do that now.