Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Revelation: Revealing the Coming King Chapters 7 and 8



Revelation 7, The Sealing of the 144,000 and the Great White-robed Multitude





Rev 7:1   And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.  2   And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,  3   Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.  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.  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 144,000 sealed


According to verse 3, what does the sealing precede?


The sealing precedes the sounding of the trumpets which a judgment upon the earth, trees and sea.


What tribe is missing from the 12 tribes?

The tribe of Dan is missing.  Manassa, one of the sons of Joseph is in it's place.


What are these sealed ones called in relationship to God and what will be their purpose during the tribulation?

They are called the servants of God (Gk. doulos, bond-servants, slaves).  They will be the witness to proclaim the coming of the kingdom to all the earth.


The Great, White-robed Multitude


9  After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; 10  And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. 11  And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, 12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. 13  And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? 14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. 16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. 17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.


Who are these in white robes? 
Those who have died for the testimony of Jesus Christ during the great tribulation. 

What is their connection with the 144,000? 
They are the fruit of the witness of the 144,00. 


Are they the same as those seen when the 5th seal was opened? 
They are the final number of those seen at the 5th seal. 

What is the sequence in the Tribulation for this vision? 
Sometime after the middle of the week.  They come out of the "great" tribulation.  Which refers specifically to the last 3 1/2 years.  (see Matt 24:21) 

What assurance can we draw from the vision of the 144,000 and this innumerable multitude? 
That God will always have a faithful remnant which though small will always accomplish His will.  We also see that an innumerable host of people will believe on Jesus during the tribulation, more than during any other period of history.


Revelation 8, The Sounding of the Trumpets


The First Four Trumpets


1 And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. 2 And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets. 3 And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. 4 And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.  5 And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.  6 And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound. 


Why is there silence in heaven for a half an hour?
It is the silence before the storm of the increased wrath of God.

Why are trumpets used for the next series of judgments?
Trumpets were used for warning and for calling to war.  Here they warn those on earth of God's wrath and call to war the angels against those on the earth.

What is significant about the angel with the censor?
He has the role of a high priest.

What are the prayers of the saints about at this time?
Vengeance upon the earth for their deaths.  (Rev. 6:10)

What was the role of incense, smoke and the altar in the OT Tabernacle?
It was for the appeasement of God's wrath.  It ascended up into heaven and was a sweet smelling savor.

What is different about the censor, incense and altar in Rev 8?
It does not go up, it is cast down.  Instead of appeasement it is now the agent of wrath.

The Four Trumpets Sound


7  The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.  8  And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood;  9  And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed.  10  And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters;  11  And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.  12  And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.  13  And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!


List the first four trumpet judgments below.

1st Four Trumpets

1.  Hail and fire mingled with blood.  1/3 of trees burnt up, all the grass burnt up
2.  Great fiery mountain cast into the sea. 1/3 of sea becomes blood, 1/3 of sea dies, 1/3 of ships destroyed
3.  Great star (Wormwood) falls from heaven, 1/3 of fresh waters made deadly bitter
4.  1/3 of sun, moon, stars darkened, they don't shine for a third part of the day.



Are these literal or figurative judgments?
They are almost all seen in other place in the scripture as literal.  It makes sense, unless otherwise stated, to interpret them as literal here.

As horrible as these judgments are what does verse 13 tell us of the next three trumpets?
They will be even worse.  They are distinguished from the others by being called the "Three Woes."

Bible Chapter
Before the Tribulation or Earlier
First Half of the Week
Middle of the Week
Second Half of the Week
Immediately After the Tribulation
Rev 6

First 6 seals opened



Mat 24

Wars and Rumor of wars
Abomination of Desolation
Shortening of Days
Sign of Son of man like lightning
Rev 7

144,000 of Israel sealed

Great multitude out of the Great Tribulation with Christ

Rev 8

7th Seal & 1st 4 trumpets



Rev 9

5th & 6th trumps





Conclusion

  One day instead of praying for forgiveness the saints will pray for vengeance and God will answer their prayers with unimaginable wrath and recompense.
  We need to be praying now for forgiveness and be working to bring our family and friends to repentance before it is too late and God’s trumpets of judgment begin to sound.
  And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Roman 13:11-12



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