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SERIES: THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST, WEEK 32

TITLE: THE CALM BETWEEN THE STORMS

TEXT: REVELATION 7:1-8

INTRODUCTION: (1) THE PROPHET HABAKKUK WAS INSPIRED TO SAY THIS IN HABAKKUK 3:2:

* LORD, I HAVE HEARD THE REPORT ABOUT YOU AND I FEAR O LORD, REVIVE YOUR WORK IN THE MIDST OF THE YEARS, IN THE MIDST OF THE YEARS MAKE IT KNOWN; IN WRATH REMEMBER MERCY.

** NOW THAT VERSE REMINDS ME OF REVELATION CHAPTER 7.

*** FOR WHEN YOU READ ABOUT THE JUDGMENTS AND THE WRATH OF GOD IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION CHAPTER 6, THE RESPONSE OF PEOPLE ALIVE IN THE TRIBULATION IS FEAR, ESPECIALLY UNDER THE SIXTH SEAL.

**** AND IN THE MIDST OF GOD’S WRATH HE REMEMBERS, HE MANIFESTS MERCY.

(2) FOR THE LAST VERSE OF REVELATION 6 STATES A FACT AND ASKS A QUESTION.

* “FOR THE GREAT DAY OF THEIR WRATH HAS COME (SPEAKING OF THE WRATH OF THE LAMB AND THE WRATH OF HIS FATHER) AND THE QUESTION IS ASKED AND WHO IS ABLE TO STAND?

** AND THE ANSWER IS NO ONE UNLESS GOD INTERVENES WITH SOVEREIGN GRACE AND MERCY.

*** AND IN REVELATION CHAPTER 7, GOD INTERVENES WITH MERCY.

**** IN REVELATION 7 THE PAUSE BUTTON FOR WRATH IN A SENSE IS PUSHED FOR IN THIS CHAPTER WE HAVE AN INTERLUDE.

(3) CHAPTER 7 FORMS A PARENTHETICAL SECTION BETWEEN THE SIXTH AND SEVENTH SEALS TO ANSWER THE QUESTION, WHO IS ABLE TO STAND?

* AND THE ANSWER IN THIS PARENTHESIS IN CHAPTER 7 IS TWO GROUPS.

** 144,000 JEWISH PEOPLE AND A MULTITUDE OF GENTILES WHICH NO ONE COULD NUMBER.

*** IN OTHER WORDS, TWO GROUPS WILL SURVIVE THE FURY OF GOD’S WRATH. ELECT SAVED JEWS AND ELECT GENTILES.

**** SO AFTER THE HORRIFIC TERRIBLE EVENTS OF THE SIXTH SEAL, AND BEFORE THE OPENING OF THE SEVENTH SEAL IN CHAPTER 8, THE LORD PROMISES THIS CHAPTER AS AN INTERLUDE FOR THE READER TO CATCH HIS BREATH.

(4) IN THE MIDST OF WRATH, GOD WILL REMEMBER MERCY. THERE IS A CALM BETWEEN THE TWO STORMS OF CHAPTER 6 AND 8.

* AND THOUGH THE TRIBULATION, THE GREAT TRIBULATION AND THE DAY OF THE LORD IS REVEALED TO BE OF UNPARALLEL JUDGMENT, DISASTER, DEATH AND THE POURING OUT OF GOD’S WRATH, IT WILL ALSO BE A TIME OF SALVATION FOR SOME.

** AND AS GOD IS A GOD OF WRATH, HE IS ALSO A GOD OF MERCY.

*** TITUS 3:5 SAYS: (READ IT). ALSO READ EPHESIANS 2:4.

**** AND WHAT A JOY TO TALK ABOUT HIS LOVE AND MERCY TODAY IN THE MIDST OF PORTIONS OF REVELATION THAT TALKS ABOUT GOD’S WRATH.

****BECAUSE OF THAT, I’VE TITLED THE MESSAGE TODAY, THE CALM BETWEEN THE STORMS.

(5) AND THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT WE HAVE IN REVELATION 7, A CALM OF MERCY BETWEEN THE STORMS OF GOD’S WRATH.

* AND SPECIFICALLY LOOKING AT REVELATION 7:1-8, WE’LL LOOK AT THREE THINGS UNDER THAT TITLE AND THEME.

** NO. 1 THE SERVANTS OF GOD THAT ARE DEFINED AS 4 ANGELS IN V. 1; NO. 2 THE SEAL OF GOD HELD BY A FIFTH ANGEL IN V. 2 AND V. 3A; AND NO. 3 THE SEALED, SPEAKING OF THE 144,000.

*** SO WE’LL LOOK AT THE SERVANTS, THE SEAL AND THE SEALED UNDER THE CALM BETWEEN TWO STORMS.

**** AND WITH THAT OUTLINE AND THEME IN MIND, LOOK AT V. 1 PLEASE WHERE WE’LL SEE OUR FIRST POINT TODAY, THE SERVANTS.

I. THE SERVANTS, (READ V. 1)

A. NOW FIRST OF ALL, THE PHRASE “AFTER THESE THINGS” OR “AFTER THIS” IS USED 6 TIMES IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION TO INTRODUCE TO US ANOTHER VISION THAT JOHN THE BELOVED, THE HUMAN AUTHOR OF THIS BOOK, IS HAVING.

* SO THE USE OF THE PHRASE “AFTER THESE THINGS” OR “AFTER THIS”, IN THIS PASSAGE SIGNIFIES THE VISION THAT STARTED IN CHAPTER 4:1 ENDS AND A NEW VISION IS STARTING, THE THIRD VISION OF JOHN IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION.

** NOW AS THIS NEW VISION STARTS JOHN SEES 4 ANGELS WHICH ARE MINISTERING SPIRITS, SERVANTS OF GOD THAT HAVE FUNCTIONS OF SERVING HIM, DOING HIS BIDDING, CARRYING OUT HIS WILL.

*** AND THESE 4 ANGELS ARE SEEN STANDING AT THE FOUR CORNERS OF THE EARTH, HOLDING BACK THE FOUR WINDS OF THE EARTH SO THAT THE WIND WILL NOT BLOW ANYWHERE ON THE EARTH.

**** AND OBVIOUSLY THE WORD “EARTH” AGAIN REMINDS US THAT THE EVENTS THAT ARE HAPPENING HERE GO BEYOND PALESTINE TO THE 4 CORNERS OF THE EARTH, AND TO SUCH AN EXTENT THAT THE WIND DOES NOT BLOW ON THE SEA OR ON ANY TREES, NOT A LEAF IS MOVING FROM THE WIND.

1. NOW SKEPTICS AND THOSE THAT ARE LOOKING FOR QUOTE ERRORS IN THE BIBLE IMAGINE THAT THEY HAVE US HERE.

* FOR THE EARTH IS ROUND AND NOT FLAT AND SQUARE, SO THE EARTH WOULD HAVE 4 POINTS. THEY WOULD COMMUNICATE THAT THE BIBLE IS PRIMITIVE AND NOT ACCURATE, FOR WHEN IT WAS WRITTEN THE NOTION WAS THE WORLD WAS FLAT.

** YET, ISAIAH 40:22, WRITTEN APPROXIMATELY 700 YEARS BEFORE THE BIRTH OF CHRIST, MAKES THIS STATEMENT:

*** “IT IS HE (SPEAKING OF GOD ALMIGHTY) WHO SITS ABOUT THE CIRCLE OF THE EARTH, AND IT’S INHABITANTS (HUMANS) ARE LIKE GRASSHOPPERS, WHO STRETCHES OUT THE HEAVENS LIKE A CURTAIN AND SPREADS THEM OUT LIKE A TENT TO DWELL IN.”

**** NOW THE WORD “CIRCLE” COMMUNICATES THE SPHERICAL FORM OF THE EARTH, ABOVE WHICH GOD SITS.

2. GOD DOESN’T SIT ABOVE A FLAT EARTH BUT A ROUND ONE.

* SO WHY DOES JOHN TALK ABOUT THE 4 CORNERS OF THE EARTH?

** WELL, THE PHRASE ACTUALLY TALKS ABOUT PRIMARY POINTS ON THE COMPASS WHICH ARE?

*** NORTH, SOUTH, EAST AND WEST.

**** FROM WHICH THE 4 WINDS (ALL THE WINDS) OF THE EARTH ORIGINATE.

3. IN LIGHT OF THAT, DR. HENRY MORRIS IN HIS COMMENTARY ON REVELATION HAD THIS TO SAY AND I QUOTE:

* THIS VERSE HAS LONG BEEN DERIDED AS REFLECTING A NAIVE “PRESCIENTIFIC” CONCEPT OF EARTH STRUCTURE, ONE THAT SUPPOSEDLY VIEWED THE EARTH AS FLAT WITH FOUR CORNERS. IN TERMS OF MODERN TECHNOLOGY, IT IS ESSENTIALLY EQUIVALENT TO WHAT A MARINER OR GEOLOGIST WOULD CALL THE FOUR QUADRANTS OF THE COMPASS, OR THE FOUR DIRECTIONS. THIS IS EVIDENT ALSO FROM THE MENTION OF THE “FOUR WINDS” WHICH, IN COMMON USAGE, WOULD OF COURSE BE THE NORTH, WEST, SOUTH, AND EAST WINDS.

** PARENTHETICALLY, ACCURATE MODERN GEODETIC MEASUREMENTS IN RECENT YEARS HAVE PROVED THAT THE EARTH ACTUALLY DOES HAVE FOUR “CORNERS.” THESE ARE PROTUBERANCES STANDING OUT FROM THE BASIC “GEOID,” THAT IS, THE BASIC SPHERICAL SHAPE OF THE EARTH. THE EARTH IS NOT REALLY A PERFECT SPHERE, BUT IS SLIGHTLY FLATTENED AT THE POLES. ITS EQUATORIAL BULGE IS PRESUMABLY CAUSED BY THE EARTH’S AXIAL ROTATION, AND ITS FOUR “CORNERS” PROTRUDE FROM THAT.”

*** NOW WITH WHAT DR. MORRIS HAD TO SAY IN MIND, NOTE THAT FROM THEIR KEY POSITIONS ON THE EARTH, THESE 4 POWERFUL ANGELS “HELD BACK” THE WINDS OF THE EARTH.

**** SO WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

4. WELL, FOR THE DURATION OF CHAPTER 7, FOR THE LENGTH OF TIME THAT THIS INTERLUDE, THIS PARENTHESIS TAKES IN CHAPTER 7, JUDGMENTS WILL BE HELD BACK AS THE ANGELS TURN OFF THE ESSENTIAL ENGINE OF WRATH IN THE EARTH’S ATMOSPHERE.

* THERE WILL BE NO WRATH SYSTEMS, NO STORMS FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. NO BREEZE, NO WIND TO MOVE CLOUDS, NO WAVES ON THE OCEAN FROM WIND, EVERYTHING WILL BE DEATHLY STILL AND CALM.

** AND IN ESSENCE THIS IS THE CALM BETWEEN THE STORMS OF THE SIXTH SEAL AND THE SEVENTH SEAL.

*** THERE WILL BE NO STORMS! DR. HENRY MORRIS ADDS AT THIS POINT IN HIS COMMENTARY ON REVELATION:

**** “THE CIRCULATION OF THE ATMOSPHERE IS A MIGHTY ENGINE, DRIVEN BY ENERGY FROM THE SUN AND FROM THE EARTH’S ROTATION. THE TREMENDOUS POWERS INVOLVED IN THIS OPERATION BECOME ESPECIALLY OBVIOUS WHEN THEY ARE DISPLAYED IN THE FORM OF GREAT HURRICANES AND BLIZZARDS AND TORNADOES. THESE WINDS OF THE EARTH MAKE LIFE POSSIBLE ON EARTH THROUGH THE HYDROLOGIC CYCLE, TRANSPORTING WATERS INLAND FROM THE OCEAN WITH WHICH TO WATER THE EARTH. YET THE ANGELS – ONLY FOUR OF THEM – HAD TURNED OFF THIS GIGANTIC ENGINE.” (END QUOTE)

5. NOW AGAIN MY POINT BEING, NO STORMS BOTH LITERALLY FROM NO HYDROLOGIC CYCLES AND NO PHYSICAL JUDGMENTS OF THE SEALS.

* FOR WE WILL SEE IN V. 2 THAT THE EARTH AND SEA WILL NOT BE HARMED DURING THIS CALM, THE INTERLUDE OF CHAPTER 7.

** BUT GUESS WHAT THE FIRST TWO TRUMPET JUDGMENTS IN REVELATION CHAPTER 8 DEAL WITH? THE EARTH AND THE SEA IN REVELATION 8:7&8.

*** AND TO ADD WEIGHT TO MY ARGUMENT, THE FOUR WINDS OF THE EARTH ARE OFTEN ASSOCIATED IN SCRIPTURE WITH GOD’S JUDGMENT. LET ME QUICKLY ILLUSTRATE.

**** IN JEREMIAH 49:36 IT SAYS: “I WILL BRING UPON ELAM THE FOUR WINDS FROM THE FOUR ENDS OF HEAVEN, AND WILL SCATTER THEM TO ALL THESE WINDS; AND THERE WILL BE NO NATION TO WHICH THE OUTCASTS OF ELAM WILL NOT GO.”

6. IN DANIEL 7:2&3 IN HIS VISION OF THE 4 BEASTS AND JUDGMENT THAT FOLLOWS HE SAID:

V. 2 – DANIEL SAID, “I WAS LOOKING IN MY VISION BY NIGHT, AND BEHOLD, THE FOUR WINDS OF HEAVEN WERE STIRRING UP THE GREAT SEA.

V. 3 - AND FOUR GREAT BEASTS WERE COMING UP FROM THE SEA, DIFFERENT FROM ONE ANOTHER.”

* AND THEN IN HOSEA 13:15, AN EAST WIND IS USED TO DRY UP THINGS IN GOD’S JUDGMENT, IT SAYS: “THOUGH HE FLOURISHES AMONG THE REEDS, AN EAST WIND WILL COME, THE WIND OF THE LORD COMING UP FROM THE WILDERNESS: AND HIS FOUNTAIN WILL BECOME DRY AND HIS SPRING WILL BE DRIED UP: IT WILL PLUNDER HIS TREASURY OF EVERY PRECIOUS ARTICLE.”

** NOW HERE AGAIN WIND IS ASSOCIATED WITH JUDGMENT. AND AS WE GO BACK TO REVELATION 7 GOD USES THESE 4 SPECIAL SERVANTS, 4 ANGELS TO STOP THE WINDS OF HIS JUDGMENT ON THE EARTH FOR A TIME, THE INTERLUDE OF REVELATION 7 BETWEEN THE 6TH AND 7TH SEALS.

*** SO WHAT WE HAVE IN REVELATION 7 IS THE CALM BETWEEN THE STORMS, THE WINDS OF GOD’S JUDGMENT.

**** WHICH LEADS US TO OUR 2’D POINT TODAY, THE SEAL, AS ANOTHER ANGEL, ANOTHER SERVANT OF GOD, A MINISTERING SPIRIT IS TALKED ABOUT.

II. THE SEAL, (READ V. 2)

A. NOW THE REASON FOR THE CALM OF REVELATION 7 IS TO SEAL GOD’S SPECIAL BONDSERVANTS, THE 144,000 AS WE’LL SEE IN VV. 3&4 AND TO SAVE A MULTITUDE OF PEOPLE FROM ALL NATIONS – GENTILES, IN WHICH NO MAN CAN NUMBER, IN V. 9 AND FOLLOWING.

* NOW JOHN HERE IN THIS 3’D VISION SEES ANOTHER ANGEL. AND THIS ANGEL IS ASCENDING FROM THE RISING OF THE SUN WHICH WOULD BE FROM THE EAST, FOR THE SUN RISES IN THE EAST AND SETS IN THE WEST.

** NOW REMEMBER JOHN WHILE SEEING HIS VISIONS IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION FROM HEAVEN IS EXILED ON THE ISLE OF PATMOS.

*** AND EAST OF THE ISLE OF PATMOS WOULD BE TOWARD THE LAND OF ISRAEL, THE LAND FROM WHERE THE 12 TRIBES OF ISRAEL CAME, MEMBERS OF WHICH ARE ABOUT TO BE SEALED.

**** NOW SPECIFICALLY THIS ANGEL HAS THE SEAL OF THE LIVING GOD.

1. NOW A SEAL IN THAT DAY WAS OFTEN USED BY KINGS AND OTHER OFFICIALS. IT SOMETIMES WAS A RING OR A CYLINDER WITH AN OFFICIAL MARK ON IT THAT IDENTIFIED IT TO A PERSON, ESPECIALLY OFFICIALS AND MONARCHS.

* AND THOSE INDIVIDUALS WOULD USE THEIR RING OR CYLINDERS BY PRESSING THEM INTO WAX AND THEN PRESSING OR STAMPING THEM ON A DOCUMENT AFFIRMING AUTHENTICITY AND GUARANTEEING THEIR SECURITY.

** THEREBY THAT DOCUMENT WAS OFFICIAL, SEALED BY THE PERSON WHOSE STAMP OR INSIGNIA WAS ON THE SEAL.

*** NOW THE SEAL THAT IS TALKED ABOUT HERE IS NOT THE SEAL OF A DIGNITARY, OR A KING OR ANOTHER POWERFUL EARTHLY OFFICIAL, BUT THE SEAL OF THE LIVING GOD!

**** AND THE SEAL CARRIES HIS AUTHORITY AND WILL SHOW HIS OWNERSHIP AND WILL BRING ABOUT THE LIVING GOD’S PROTECTION.

2. FOR YOU SEE IN CONTRAST, DEAD IDOLS CANNOT PROTECT ANYONE, BUT THE LIVING TRUE GOD CAN!

* AND IT APPEARS THAT THIS WILL BE A LITERAL PHYSICAL SEAL, FOR WE SEE THAT THE SEAL WILL BE ON THE FOREHEADS OF THE 144,000 IN V. 3.

** BUT LET ME ADD IN APPLICATION THAT EVERY ELECT PERSON IN CHRIST TODAY, EVERY TRUE BELIEVER HAS A SPIRITUAL SEAL UPON THEM TODAY.

*** AND THAT SPIRITUAL SEAL IS THE HOLY SPIRIT.

**** FOR II CORINTHIANS 1:21 & 22 SAYS:

V. 21 – NOW HE WHO ESTABLISHES US WITH YOU IN CHRIST AND ANOINTED US IN GOD,

V. 22 – WHO ALSO SEALED US AND GAVE US THE SPIRIT IN OUR HEARTS AS A PLEDGE.

3. AND THEN EPHESIANS 1:13 & 14 SAYS (READ THEM). ALSO READ EPHESIANS 4:30.

* NOW TRUE BELIEVER, THE SEAL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS GIVEN BY GOD AS HIS PLEDGE OF OUR FUTURE INHERITANCE IN GLORY.

** AND THAT SEAL, THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE GUARANTEE OF OUR ETERNAL REDEMPTION IN CHRIST. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE DOWN PAYMENT ON GOD’S TRANSACTION OF ULTIMATELY REDEEMING US, THAT GOD HAS GUARANTEED OUR FUTURE INHERITANCE IN HEAVEN.

*** IT IS A WONDERFUL TRUTH THAT COMMUNICATES THE TRUE BELIEVER’S SECURITY IN CHRIST, THAT WE WILL PERSEVERE IN CHRIST, THAT WHAT GOD HAS STARTED, HE WILL COMPLETE, READ PHILIPPIANS 1:6.

**** AND BELOVED, GOD PLACED HIS OFFICIAL STAMP ON THOSE WHO ARE TRULY CONVERTED AND HE WILL FINISH THE TRANSACTION BY HIS GRACE.

4. IT’S ALL GRACE FORM ETERNITY PAST, TO PRESENT TIME, TO THE FUTURE. SO WE ARE SECURE IN CHRIST, READ ROMANS 8:1 AND ROMANS 8:35-39.

* BELOVED, PRAISE GOD THAT YOU ARE SEALED TODAY! AND THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE SEAL.

** NOW AS WE GO BACK TO REVELATION 7:2, GOD WILL SEAL HIS BONDSERVANTS IN THE FUTURE IN THE TRIBULATION WITH A PHYSICAL SEAL TO SAY “YOU ARE MINE” AND “TO PRESERVE THEM” FOR THE WORK HE CALLS THEM TO DO.

*** NOW SPECIFICALLY IN V. 2 THIS ANGEL WHO HAS THE SEAL OF THE LIVING GOD CRIES OUT TO THE OTHER 4 ANGELS WE TALKED ABOUT IN V. 1, WHO HAVE GREAT POWER TO HURT THE EARTH AND THE SEA, BUT WILL BE RESTRAINED FROM DOING THAT IN CHAPTER 7.

**** I MEAN THEY HOLD BACK JUDGMENT IN CHAPTER 7, BUT THEY MAY BE THE VERY ANGELS THAT BLOW THE FIRST FOUR TRUMPET JUDGMENTS IN REVELATION 8 WHICH DEAL PRIMARILY WITH THE EARTH AND THE SEA AND THE TREES.

5. BUT IN CHAPTER 7, THEY ARE RESTRAINED, FOR LOOK AT V. 3A PLEASE.

B. READ V. 3A. NOW THE ANGEL REVEALED IN V. 2 TELLS THESE 4 OTHER ANGELS REVEALED IN V. 1, NOT TO HARM THE EARTH, THE SEA AND THE TREES UNTIL.

* IN OTHER WORDS, THE 4 ANGELS WERE PROHIBITED FROM LOOSING THE WINDS, THE JUDGMENTS ON THE EARTH AND THE SEA MANIFEST IN THE TRUMPET JUDGMENTS, UNTIL SOMETHING WAS DONE.

** THAT UNTIL WOULD BE, UNTIL CERTAIN PEOPLE WERE SEALED. AND THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE SEALED, THE SEALED, WILL BE THE DISCUSSION OF OUR THIRD POINT TODAY, THE SEALED. LOOK BACK AT V. 3 PLEASE.

III. THE SEALED, (READ V. 3)

A. NOW THE FIRST FOUR ANGELS WERE RESTRAINED TO BRING FORTH JUDGMENT UNTIL THESE 4 ANGELS JOINING THE ANGEL TALKED ABOUT IN V. 2, “WE”, UNTIL WE, THESE ANGELS TOGETHER SEALED THE BONDSERVANTS OF OUR GOD ON THEIR FOREHEADS.

* AND I INTERPRET THAT THIS SEALING BRINGS ABOUT THEIR SALVATION BECAUSE THEY ARE CALLED BONDSERVANTS OF OUR GOD.

** AND THE WORD SERVANTS OR BONDSERVANTS IS THE GREEK WORD DOULOS WHICH YOU CAN SEE ON THE SCREEN.

*** SO THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT SERVE GOD, AND THOSE WHO SERVE GOD ARE CHRISTIANS, SEALED BY GOD IDENTIFY HIS OWNERSHIP, HIS PROTECTION, HIS PURPOSE FOR THEM, SO SEALING IS SYNONYMOUS WITH SAVING.

**** BUT NOTICE THAT THIS SEAL IS ALSO A PHYSICAL SIGN UPON THESE PEOPLE. FOR THIS SEAL IS PLACED UPON THEIR FOREHEADS AND IDENTIFIES THEM AS THE BONDSERVANTS OF GOD, JUST AS THE MARK OF THE BEAST IN REVELATION 13:16-18 PLACED ON THE RIGHT HAND OR ON THE FOREHEAD OF THOSE WHO FOLLOW THE ANTI-CHRIST.

1. NOW WITH THAT IN MIND, NOTICE IN V. 4 HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE SEALED. LOOK AT V. 4 PLEASE.

B. READ V. 4. NOW NOTICE THAT JOHN “HEARD” THE NUMBER THAT WOULD BE SEALED AS HE IS IN HEAVEN IN THIS 3’D VISION.

* AND THE WORD “HEARD” IS AN IMPORTANT WORD, FOR THIS NUMBER IS NOT JOHN’S ESTIMATE, THIS NUMBER GIVEN IS A DIVINELY GIVEN EXACT NUMBER AND MUST BE TREATED AS SUCH.

** THEN SOME STILL SUGGEST THAT 144,000 IS SYMBOLIC OF A MULTITUDE OF PEOPLE, AN INNUMERABLE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE.

*** BUT THAT IDEA COMES OUT OF IMPOSITION OF PRECONCEIVED IDEAS, OF DEDUCTIVE RATHER THAN INDUCTIVE STUDY THAT BRINGS AN INTERPRETATION TO THE TEXT RATHER THAN ALLOWING THE PLAIN MEANING OF WHAT SCRIPTURE SAYS CONTEXTUALLY TO BE THE RULE OF INTERPRETATION.

**** FOR BEYOND HEARING AN EXACT NUMBER WHETHER IDENTIFIED BY THESE HOLY ANGELS OR THE LORD HIMSELF, WE HAVE AN EXACT NUMBER.

1. BEYOND THAT, WHY WOULD 144,000 REPRESENT INNUMERABLE AMOUNTS OF PEOPLE WHEN IN V. 9 WHEN IT IS TALKING ABOUT INNUMERABLE AMOUNTS OF PEOPLE IT SAYS THAT.

* FOR REVELATION 7:9 SAYS: AFTER THESE THINGS I LOOKED, AND BEHOLD, A GREAT MULTITUDE WHICH NO ONE COULD COUNT, FROM EVERY NATION AND ALL TRIBES AND PEOPLES AND TONGUES, STANDING BEFORE THE THRONE AND BEFORE THE LAMB, CLOTHED IN WHITE ROBES, AND PALM BRANCHES WERE IN THEIR HANDS.”

** NOW WHY WOULD WE HAVE AN EXACT NUMBER IN THE SAME CHAPTER IN V. 4 THAT WOULD REPRESENT INNUMERABLE PEOPLE, AND THEN USE THE WORDS WHICH NO MAN CAN NUMBER LATER?

*** IT IS FAULTY EXEGESIS THAT COMES TO THAT INTERPRETATION WITH PRECONCEIVED IDEAS.

**** NO. 2 – BEYOND AN EXACT NUMBER, 144,000, WE HAVE ANOTHER PHRASE THAT IS USED, “FROM EVERY TRIBE OF THE SONS OF ISRAEL.” AND 12 TRIBES WILL FOLLOW IN THE LISTING IN VV. 5-8.

2. NOW DO WE SYMBOLIZE THAT ALSO?

* NOW BEYOND THAT OTHERS TRY TO SYMBOLIZE FROM EVERY TRIBE OF THE SONS OF ISRAEL MEANING THE CHURCH.

** BUT THE TERM “SONS OF ISRAEL”: MUST BE INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITS NORMAL OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT USAGE AS A REFERENCE TO THE PHYSICAL DESCENDANTS OF ABRAHAM, ISAAC AND JACOB.

*** AND GALATIANS 6:16 IS NO EXCEPTION TO THIS RULE: FOR THE ISRAEL OF GOD IN THAT CONTEXT ARE SAVED JEWS WHO ARE SPIRITUAL AS WELL AS PHYSICAL DESCENDANTS OF ABRAHAM.

**** BEYOND THAT, TYPOLOGICAL INTERPRETATION DIVIDES THE CHURCH INTO 12 TRIBES, WHICH IS A MISNOMER.

3. AND AS DR. ROBERT THOMAS SAID IN HIS COMMENTARY ON REVELATION AND I QUOTE: THE FACT IS THAT “NO CLEAR-CUT EXAMPLE OF THE CHURCH BEING ISRAEL EXISTS IN THE N.T. OR IN ANCIENT CHURCH WRITINGS UNTIL A.D. 160.”

* HE WENT ON TO SAY: “SUCH AN ATTEMPT BECOMES EVEN MORE RIDICULOUS BECAUSE IT NECESSITATES TYPOLOGICAL INTERPRETATION THAT DIVIDES THE CHURCH INTO 12 TRIBES TO COINCIDE WITH THE LISTING OF REVELATION 7:5-8 WITH ALL THE IRREGULARITIES IN THE LIST.” (END QUOTE)

** NOW DR. THOMAS, A BRILLIANT LANGUAGE SCHOLAR WHO HELPED TRANSLATE THE ORIGINAL NAS IS VERY HONEST.

*** FOR THERE ARE SOME IRREGULARITIES IN THE LIST IN VV. 5-8 WHICH CAN BE EXPLAINED, BUT CONTEXT, AND THE CONSISTENT TEACHING OF THE OLD AND N.T. COMMUNICATES A LITERAL INTERPRETATION HERE.

**** NOW QUICKLY LOOK AT VV. 5-8.

C. READ VV. 5-8. NOW THE QUESTION THAT EXPOSITORS FACE IN COVERING PASSAGES IS HOW MUCH DETAIL DO YOU GO INTO WITH A BROAD AUDIENCE.

* AND SOMETIMES YOU GO INTO A LOT OF DETAIL AND TIMES YOU DON’T. WELL, HERE I’M NOT GOING TO GO INTO A LOT OF DETAIL AND EXPLANATION OF THE 12 TRIBES LISTED HERE, EXCEPT TO SAY:

** THAT THERE WERE 12,000 SEALED FROM 12 TRIBES SPEAKS OF GOD’S ELECTIVE PURPOSE, FOR MERE RANDOM HUMAN CHOICE WOULD NOT COME UP WITH SUCH AN EVEN DIVISION.

*** ALSO, WHILE THE TRIBAL RECORDS OF THE 12 TRIBES WHERE TITUS AND ROMANS ATTACKED JERUSALEM IN A.D. 70, GOD KNOWS WHO BELONGS TO EACH TRIBE.

**** ALSO, IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THERE IS NO STANDARD WAY OF LISTING THE 12 TRIBES. J.B. SMITH OBSERVES THAT THERE ARE AT LEAST 29 LISTS OF THE TRIBES OF ISRAEL IN SCRIPTURE IN WHICH THE ORDER OF THE TRIBES VARY.

1. FOR WE ARE TOLD THAT THERE ARE AT LEAST 19 DIFFERENT WAYS OF LISTING THEM IN THE O.T., NONE OF WHICH AGREE WITH THE LIST GIVEN HERE.

* AND THE IRREGULARITIES WITH JUDAH BEING LISTED FIRST HERE, THE OMISSION OF DAN HERE, AND EPHRAIM BEING REPLACED BY JOSEPH CAN ALL BE GIVEN SOME DETAILED EXPLANATIONS, WHICH BY PURPOSE AND TIME, I’M NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT HERE.

** BUT BOTTOM LINE, WE HAVE AN INSPIRED LISTING BY JOHN THAT GOD GIVES HIM FOR A PURPOSE AND THE QUOTE IRREGULARITIES CAN BE EXPLAINED IF WE BELIEVE THIS IS AN INSPIRED TEXT, WHICH WE DO.

IN WRAP UP: (1) TWO QUICK APPLICATIONS. WHO ARE THESE 144,000 SEALED SAVED BONDSERVANTS OF GOD?

* WELL IT APPEARS THEY WILL BE SPECIAL WITNESSES, JEWISH EVANGELISTS WHO ARE TALKED ABOUT IN REVELATION 14:1-5.

** BUT TO MAINTAIN SPIRITUAL INTEGRITY, THEY ARE NOT CALLED EVANGELISTS OR WITNESSES IN EITHER TEXT, WE ONLY ASSUME THEY ARE BY THE RESULTS THAT FOLLOW IN REVELATION 7 WHEN A MULTITUDE OF GENTILES ARE SAVED.

*** AND TO ME IT APPEARS CONTEXTUALLY, THESE PEOPLE ARE USED TO BRING THE MULTITUDES TALKED ABOUT HERE TO CHRIST.

**** BUT ONE THING FOR SURE, THIS CRITICAL PASSAGE REINFORCES THAT GOD IS NOT THROUGH WITH THE NATION OF ISRAEL AS WE SEE CLEARLY IN ROMANS 9-11.

(2) AND THOUGH ISRAEL FAILED IN ITS MISSION TO BE A WITNESS TO THE NATIONS, A LIGHT TO THE GENTILES IN THE O.T.

* IT APPEARS THAT WILL NOT BE THE CASE IN THE FUTURE AS IT APPEARS THESE 144,000 SEALED, SAVED JEWISH BONDSERVANTS WILL BE A LIGHT TO THE GENTILES.

** NO. 2 AS WE THINK OF REVELATION 7 AS A CALM BETWEEN THE STORMS, I WANT TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION IN APPLICATION, THE CALM THAT IS AHEAD OF US DURING THIS TIME OF STORMS.

*** LIVING FOR CHRIST IS NOT EASY, IT IS WARFARE, IT IS WORK, IT IS A BATTLE EVERYDAY BETWEEN THE FLESH AND SPIRIT AND WE GET WEARY.

**** AND IN THE MIDST OF THAT WARFARE THERE ARE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS AND VALLEY EXPERIENCES.

(3) AND YES WE HAVE CALM WITHIN, BUT STORMS WITHOUT. SO LET ME ADMONISH YOU TO FOCUS, TO LIVE, FOR THE OTHER WORLD, FOR THE FUTURE, FOR HEAVEN, THE TRUE CALM, THE TIME OF REST.

* AND LET ME ENCOURAGE YOU TO APPLY GALATIANS 6:9, (READ IT).

** LET ME ENCOURAGE YOU TO APPLY COLOSSIANS 3:1-4 (READ THEM).

*** AND LET ME ENCOURAGE YOU TO APPLY REVELATION 21:4 (READ IT).

**** AND BROTHERS AND SISTERS OUR LORD IS WITH US NOW AND WILL GO THROUGH THE STORMS OF LIFE WITH US AND HE IS SOVEREIGN. BUT THE CALM IS COMING. MAY WE LIVE AND FOCUS AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE CALM (HEAVEN).