Laws Publishing
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REVELATION: AN OVERVIEW (Part V) |
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(Chapter 7) Jim
Laws |
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In chapter six John saw the opening of six seals, which revealed the work of God here on earth as well as in heaven along with the work of the enemies of God in opposing the church of the Lord. By the time we get to chapter seven there is an interlude between the opening of the sixth seal and the opening of the seventh. In this interlude John sees two visions. Perhaps these visions are designed to answer the question, which was posed in the concluding portion of chapter six, "For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?" (Rev. 6:17). |
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In the first vision of chapter seven John sees
four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the winds
from blowing on the earth, sea, or on any tree. Another angel coming from the
east having the seal of the living God cries out to the other four angels not
to harm the earth until the servants of God have been sealed on their
foreheads. Those who are sealed are 144,000 of all the tribes of the children
of |
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The second vision reveals a large innumerable multitude of all nations standing before the throne and the Lamb. Revelation 7:9 states, "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." As they are clothed with white robes having palm branches in their hands, they cry out, "Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb" (v. 10). Joining in with this praise are the angels, the elders, and the four living creatures. John is told that those who are arrayed in white robes have come out of great tribulation, with their robes washed and made white in the blood of the lamb. They are before the throne of God, and they serve Him day and night in his temple. Future blessings are then described: God will dwell among them, they shall be free from hunger, thirst, and the heat of the sun, the lamb will lead them to fountains of living waters, and God will wipe all tears from their eyes (v. 9-17). Perhaps one of the more tender verses in the entire Bible expressing the loving care, which the children of God will receive, is found in verse 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 form their eyes." |
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What do these two visions mean? The 144,000
have to do with the church still here on earth at any given time. John heard
that the number of those sealed (a symbol of God's protection of those that
are His) were 12, 000 each of the tribes of |
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It is sad to realize that the popular view of
passages just such as this, that is, the dispensation premillennial
view, misses the point of the passage so greatly. The passage does no say
that the 144,000 are in heaven; they are on earth. The premillennialist
has this reversed. On earth they are represented as 144,000, but in
describing this same group in their heavenly state, they are a number no one
could number. Premillennialists say that only
144,000 will be saved in heaven, but this is false, God's eternal purpose was
that all men be redeemed. This is found in God's promises to Abraham in Genesis
13 and 15. Galatians 3:7 speaks of those who are of the faith; they are the
children of Abraham (v. 29). All who are in Christ are the spiritual seed of
Abraham and the |
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The second vision is enlarged to include more
than those on the earth who are God's servants and in need of His
providential protection during the anticipated troubles. This vision views a
multitude of God's servants who stand before the throne in heaven itself.
This group stand secure with God, having stood faithfully through the
troubled times in which they lived. Therefore, the multitude in the vision
before the throne of God is the church triumphant. They are clothed in robes
of white, palms in their hands, a symbol of triumph and victory. Who are
these, this multitude which no man could number? The elder (vv. 13-14)
identifies them as being those who came out of great tribulation, who have
washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. They are
faithful Christians, all those who have been baptized into Christ and
received the atoning benefits of his cleansing blood. Revelation 1:5 states,
"And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first
begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that
loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood." When we are
obedient to the gospel by being baptized, we have our sins washed away (Acts Closely associated with this are the blessings
that are to be received by this numberless multitude which is in heaven. The
one on the throne will dwell with them: they shall not hunger nor thirst
anymore; neither the sun nor any heat shall strike them; the lamb will lead
them to living fountains of water; and God shall wipe away every tear from
their eyes. The message is an obvious one: When one faces the troubles on
earth, the saints of God are sealed, that is, protected. What is the final
destiny of the saints of God? They are cared for in heaven. With this before
us we can now better come to understand the thrust of chapters eight and nine
as God brings His divine chastisement upon the earth, such a chastisement
having the primary purpose of reformation of life. However, the earth
following its worldly mind set refuses to repent. Revelation
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