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.
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)
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
|
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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
|
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Rev 8
|
7th Seal & 1st 4 trumpets
|
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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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