|
Revelation
By Adam Bartlett
Chapter 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.
There are several pauses in the book of Revelation and chapter 7 is one of them. What I mean by a “pause” is that there is a flow of information and then it seems to abruptly stop and something else is brought into the picture. It is much like when we may tell a story and then in the flow of the story insert something that we feel is relevant and needed to complete the understanding of what is being said. It does not seem to fit with the flow, yet it is important to complete the “Big Picture” as we hear the phrase often used these days. We see this here in the fact that chapter 6 was in a flow of explaining the seven seal judgments, listing the first six.
Then in chapter 7, instead of it starting with the seventh seal it takes off with a new line of thought with the whole chapter devoted to explaining a special group that will be called out at this time. I would like to give an example of what I am trying to say at this point. Suppose you were on the roof of a ten story building looking down. You would be able to see many things happening below even up to a few blocks. You would be able to witness different things going on at the same time in different places within your view. To explain what you see you may need to refer to them as separate events even though they are happening simultaneously. This is what I believe is happening when we see these pauses in Revelation. Now move up to the roof of the Sears Tower or Empire State Building and you see a vast amount more. Now imagine God being able to see all that happens in the world simultaneously! What a Great and Awesome God we have!
There are other pauses also like chapters 10-14 and then 17-18; in the pause of 10-14 we see the Two Prophets that prophesy in Jerusalem for 3 ½ years, the Woman giving birth to a son, the Beast and a vision of Jesus and His people. In the pause of 17-18 we see the vision of Mystery Babylon and then the Fall of Babylon just before we move into chapter 19 which reveals Armageddon.
Now back to the chapter and verses at hand. We see four angels that are said to be at the four corners of the earth. These angels were given the orders by God to unleash the wrath in these judgments of the first six seals we have already discussed. They are now holding back the winds from blowing in the earth. Can you imagine no wind movement on the whole earth? Have you ever been some place where it is very hot and there seems to be absolutely no wind around?
Then another angel appears telling them not to hurt anything else until they number those that have been chosen which are Jews according to the following verses.
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.
There are many controversies about this section and the twelve tribes listed here and who they represent. I have heard it said and even said it myself out of ignorance that these 144,000 were going to be evangelists during the tribulation and win many to Christ. This is not true and is not supported scripturally neither here nor elsewhere. I do believe that these 144,000 Jews could very well be used to reach the Jews during the tribulation time as do the Two Witnesses. The Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that these 144,000 represent the true JW’s that made it to heaven and the rest of JW’s will remain on a “Paradise Earth” as they put it. Of course this is ludicrous because they are not even marked and set apart until this period of time and they are clearly of the twelve tribes listed.
There is much controversy over the fact that the tribes of Jews were scattered all over the earth and many say that there is no way they can trace their lineage anymore back to the original tribes. I say that it does not matter what man may say because God knows who they are and where they are and that is why “HE” Marks them and separates them for this purpose. They are still His chosen people, do you really believe He doesn’t know where they are or to what tribe they belong? Thus, He marks them and separates them, end of debate!
There are many other questions which we may never have the answers to until we get there and are able to “know” all things. One of those things is why there is a difference in this list of tribes and the ones listed in the Old Testament. Why is the tribe of Dan left out, and why is Levi included when they had no land distributed to them? Why is Ephraim left out and Joseph included? There are some scholars that give their guesses but that is exactly what they are, just a guess. All I do know is that for all the answers we do not have now we are promised in the following scriptures that we will know then.
1 Corinthians 13
12: For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
2 Corinthians 3
18: But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
What a wonderful promise to look forward to that we will know these things because we will be transformed into His likeness and behold Him for all eternity!
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.
John is now given a vision of the vast number that has been saved and they are worshipping God along with the elders, four beasts, and the angels. What a sight to see and what a thought of being in that number and worshipping alongside angels and all those that have made it through. It is hard to imagine the thunderous sound of the praises that will be reverberating throughout heaven. All the distractions we have here when we try to pray and worship God will no longer exist and we will be in the midst of the purest form of worship. It is something that we cannot begin to understand or imagine but we will not only be witnesses to it, we will be partakers in it.
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.
John is asked an interesting question by one of the elders as to who these people are. John said, “You know who they are” so tell me. The elder affirms that they are those that came out of the “Great Tribulation.” There is only one other mention of a multitude of people in heaven mentioned in chapter 15:2-4 and no mention again until chapter 19. Those mentioned in chapter 15 are speaking of those that refused the mark of the beast.
Those that believe in the Pre-trib view say that in chapter 4 that was a picture of the rapture and then they say that the 144,000 are evangelists during the Tribulation. They say that those that missed the rapture at the beginning of the tribulation will get another chance during the tribulation. They say that because the church is not mentioned from chapter 4 till 22 that it must mean they are in heaven. I know, because I also believed and claimed these very things. However, it is clear that in order for the Pre-trib view to work, many scriptures have to be stretched to agree with the claims.
For example in Matthew chapter 25 there are two parables that are undoubtedly referring directly to the end of time. In the first parable of the ten virgins it is clear that there were five foolish virgins that were not ready when the time came. They claimed to be Christians, they had lamps too, they had oil in them also, and they even had them lit at one time. However, they were not ready when the Groom came for the Bride, much like the majority in the churches today. Nowhere in that parable does it say that they have another chance to come in the door. Nowhere in the second parable about the servants and talents does is say the lazy servant had another chance. In fact in vs. 30 it says that he was cast into outer darkness, or in plain terms, hell.
If, and I say if, the 144,000 are evangelists I believe it can only be to the Jews at that time and nowhere does it say they will be evangelists to the world. Where that is derived is from chapter 14 of Revelation which we will cover later but I will elaborate a little now also. In this chapter it again speaks of these 144,000 but it still says nothing about them evangelizing the whole world. This is taken from 14:6 and they attach this verse to the 144,000 but it does not say that, it clearly says an “angel” is the one delivering the message.
It is claimed that John represents the church in chapter 4 and that is a picture of the rapture. Please refer back to my study on chapter 4 for an explanation on this.
It is clear by the declaration in the verses above that we are looking at in this chapter that the people spoken of came out of the Great Tribulation. They were not saved “before” or “after,” it says they came out of it. I believe if we look at what the Bible says and we believe that the rapture happens at the “last trump,” then that would put it at the seventh trumpet which leaves seven more bowls that are to be poured out. Therefore, these come “out of” the Great Tribulation.
What comfort in the last three verses of this chapter. We will dwell in the midst of God and He shall lead us, comfort us and wipe away any tears from our eyes. There will be no more sorrow, pain, suffering, anxiety, or anything of this earth to burden us anymore. We will truly know and experience true freedom and purity of mind and soul.
Back to Revelation Studies
Bible Headquarters
|
|
|
|