Revelation 7

From: www.gracethrufaith.com


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Between the 6th and 7th seals there's a pause where two important events take place, one on Earth and the other in Heaven. Both involve the disposition of a group of God's people, but neither one is the Church. It won't be seen or heard from as a group again until the end of chapter 17.

144,000 Sealed

After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth to prevent any wind from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree. Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea: "Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God." Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel. From the tribe of Judah 12,000 were sealed, from the tribe of Reuben 12,000, from the tribe of Gad 12,000, from the tribe of Asher 12,000, from the tribe of Naphtali 12,000, from the tribe of Manasseh 12,000, from the tribe of Simeon 12,000, from the tribe of Levi 12,000, from the tribe of Issachar 12,000, from the tribe of Zebulun 12,000, from the tribe of Joseph 12,000, from the tribe of Benjamin 12,000. (Rev. 7:1-8)

The multiple use of the number four here emphasizes that the Creation is in focus, because by the end of the fourth Day of Creation light had been separated from darkness, the atmosphere had been formed, the land had been separated from the water, vegetation had begun to grow and with the addition of the sun moon and stars, day had been distinguished from night. As of Day Four the Creation was now complete and ready to support habitation, and so the number four is the number of Creation.

But the judgment upon the Creation will be delayed until one other event takes place. This is the commissioning of the 144,000 Jews who many believe will evangelize the world during Daniel's 70th week. Carrying the seal of God on their foreheads protects them from the coming judgments. In Ezekiel 9:4 we read of a similar case where before the City of Jerusalem was destroyed by the Babylonians, angels went through out, searching for and sealing the faithful to protect them from the destruction. Here the Lord again delays the coming judgments until His faithful can be sealed.

After Jacob adopted Joseph's sons Ephraim and Manasseh, there were fourteen names to choose from in naming the tribes of Israel. But the Bible never lists more than 12 at a time, so sometimes the mix is different. The Levites received no land and never went to war, so they're often omitted. Joseph was also left out when Ephraim and Manasseh were included, since each of them received half of his tribe as an inheritance. But in this listing Levi and Joseph are included while Dan and Ephraim are not.

Most scholars believe that Dan was omitted because it was through the tribe of Dan that idolatry was introduced into the land after Solomon died. (1 Kings 12:28-30) Jacob had prophesied in Genesis 49:17 that Dan will be a serpent by the roadside, a viper along the path, that bites the horse's heels so that its rider tumbles backward hinting that Dan would be responsible for Israel's fall back into idolatry. There's a tradition that Dan was a ringleader in the kidnapping and sale of Joseph into slavery, and another one that the anti-Christ will come from the tribe of Dan. For these or other reasons, no one from the tribe of Dan is sealed. But God is merciful, and at the beginning of the Kingdom Age when the land is re-distributed, Dan receives the first share. (Ezekiel 48:1)

Although Ephraim is not mentioned by name, his people are included since they make up the group called Joseph here. Remember, the tribe of Joseph was divided between Ephraim and Manasseh. By naming Joseph and Manasseh to the list the people from both halves of Joseph's tribe are sealed without mentioning Ephraim's name. 1 Kings 12:28-30 also tells us that a golden calf was set up in Bethel, in the land of Ephraim, in addition to the one in Dan. The Lord hates idolatry.

Efforts to spiritualize this passage into a group symbolic of all believers are a woefully inadequate attempt by replacement theology advocates to deprive Israel of its End Times role in God's redemptive plan. The passage is simply too clear to justify allegorizing. And those who say the list can't be accurate because 10 tribes disappeared in 721 BC when the Northern Kingdom was scattered would do well to read 2 Chronicles 11:16. Those from every tribe of Israel who set their hearts on seeking the LORD, the God of Israel, followed the Levites to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices to the LORD, the God of their fathers. Josephus reported that this caused a substantial increase in Jerusalem's population. God has always maintained a faithful remnant of His people.

The Great Multitude in White Robes
After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb."

All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: "Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!"

Then one of the elders asked me, "These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?"

I answered, "Sir, you know."

And he said, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore, "they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them. Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." (Rev. 7:9-17)

There are differing opinions as to who this multitude is. By their white robes and their declaration as to the Author of their salvation, everyone agrees that they're believers from Earth. But the facts that John, the disciple most closely associated with the Church, didn't recognize them, their arrival in Heaven follows the Rapture by three chapters, and their destiny is that of servants in the Temple and not co-regents of the Universe, mean they are post rapture believers and not part of the Church. They've been caught up in the destruction on Earth during the first half of the 70th Week and have paid the ultimate price for their new-found faith.

They're called Tribulation martyrs or Tribulation saints, but technically that's not accurate either, because the Great Tribulation hasn't begun yet. We're still in the first half of the 70th week.

How do we know that? The Greek word translated "out of" in the phrase "these are they who have come out of the Great Tribulation" is the same word that's translated "from" in Rev 3:10 in the Lord's promise of deliverance for the Church. Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth. According to The Strong's Concordance it's a primary preposition denoting origin. It means "from, or out of, the place, time, or cause" of a specified event.

So, like the Church, these saints been removed from the place, the time, and the cause of the Great Tribulation. They didn't come to faith in time for the Rapture so they won't share in the Church's unique destiny and blessing. But most likely being finally persuaded to faith by the Church's disappearance, they'll be martyred early in the 70th week, and so will escape the worst of it. Later on the living will envy the dead so much that they'll long for death, but death will elude them. (Rev. 9:6)

These saints will have a privileged existence in eternity, always in the presence of the Lord. They'll serve Him day and night in His Temple and will never want for anything. The Lord will spread His tent over them, meaning that He'll be personally responsible for their welfare. They'll neither hunger nor thirst, and the Lord will remove every regret from their minds, wiping every tear from their eyes.

But neither will they ever sit on a throne at the side of their Beloved, examples for all the Universe to see of the incomparable riches of God's grace, expressed in His kindness to the Church, His work of art (Ephes. 2:6-10). They'll never share in His inheritance nor be counted among the most favored group in all of Creation. When push came to shove they needed one final incontrovertible sign that it was right to believe. Lacking the faith to accept what they could not see, they required evidence. That evidence came to them in the form of the Rapture of the Church, when those who believed by faith alone disappeared before their very eyes. Too late, they finally believed.

As the Lord said to Thomas, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." (John 20:29)

With the coming seventh seal, the Trumpet judgments are introduced. This second cycle of judgments will complete the first half of Daniel's 70th week and set the stage for the introduction of the anti-Christ and the Great Tribulation.


..................................................benny

Good post , but the great multitude is today's Body of Christ .... both those asleep and those living at the time of the Lord's "harpazo" action

They have come out "away" from great tribulation of the Lord's wrath and are already around the throne with the 24 elders

The elders refer to this multitude and they are present at the time

.....before the actual events of the tribulation period begin on the earth in chapter 8

The 144,000 Isralite mortals will also be sealed for protection before the events of the tribulation begin on the earth

If one is "out" of something one is not in it

The same Greek form of "ek" is used in Revelation 3:10 and Revelation 18:4

The Lord will keep the living believers of His church "from" His hour of trial

The martyrs will not be kept from the tribulation period


Lexicon Results for ek (Strong's G1537) Greek for G1537 ἐκ Transliteration
ek
Pronunciation
Part of Speech
preposition
Root Word (Etymology)
a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), from, out (of place, time, or cause; literal or figurative
TDNT Reference
n/a
Outline of Biblical Usage 1) out of, from, by, away from
Authorized Version (KJV) Translation Count — Total: 921 AV — of 366, from 181, out of 162, by 55, on 34, with 25, misc 98


Read the related scriptures in chapters 4,5, and 7 very carefully .... the multitude is already there

These are not the martyrs under the alter who are those that will become believers during the tribulation period and killed for their faith

The great multitude is far to large for the few who will be come believers during the tribulation period and martyred

These martyrs will not move from under the alter until all of them have been killed and their addition to the Body of Christ will take place at the end of the tribulation period as noted in 15:2 and the second part of 20:4

John's spirit is taken into the future to be shown what will take place in heaven and on the earth

My guess would be the he will be one of the 24 elders .... if so he saw himself there

It is very possible that John was the elder who identified the great multitude as "John" looked on

The great multitude and the 24 elders are the same as those noted in 11:1, 12:12, 13:6, 17:14, 19:1-14, and those given the judgment as first listed in 20:4

The tribulation period will produce very few who will repent and believe during the tribulation period and most of them will be national Israelites

The balance of humanity will not repent ad will most of the will be killed and losr forever

The martyrs are never spoken of as a great multitude

I would also suggest a careful study of chapter 14's harvest

This harvest is one of the "grapes" [unbelievers and followers of the beast] who are ripe for judgment

The Lord will harvest these and the angel will gather them into His wine press

He will then tread the wine press at Armageddon

The point made here is that this harvest is not one of believers

Not the martyrs, and certainly not the great multitude

Gideon said, this is a false assumption. The center of attention is those that were martyred during the great tribulation, who did not worship the beast. We see the same scene around God's thrown, the twenty four elders, the dead saints that have died in Christ, by natural causes and or martyrdom. There are no raptured saints in heaven, there is no bible to suport this false claim. Now the scene changes dramatically, as the martyrs from the tribulation are now added to the scene. Hence, the multitude becomes great now. No longer is it just the twenty four elders and the saints as we see in chapter 5, but the numbers grow exponentially in chapter 7, with the tribulation martyrs. For such one asks, who are all these? Now in chapter 7 the multitude grows greatly, as the souls of the dead martyrs are added to the picture. The rapture has not occured as falsely speculated by some. The rapture does not occur until the end of the Great tribulation. We see that clearly, when Christ returns with all these armies of folks that return for their resurrected imortal bodies and the angels come also,
All the saints are resurrected in Chapter 20, including the souls of these martyrs killed by the beast. In summary, the scene in heaven is a picture of their souls in heaven. The are not raised, any of them until Christ returns in Chapter 20 at the end of the Great Tribulation. You can argue this all you want, but no matter which way you turn the Bible will prove you wrong again. The multitude grows exponentially during the time of the Great Tribulation, because the antichrist kills so many saints, during this period.



season.


Rev 20:4 ¶ And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and [I saw] the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received [his] mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.


We see some core, indisputable proof here. God makes no mistakes when he has his prophets record scripture. Here we see John, saying up to verse 4 that he saw the souls of them that we martyred for not worshipping the beast. Notice he said souls. If they were raputured saints in heaven, they would have glorified bodies already. They are souls because as all the saints written in the Lambs book of Life, they do not receive their bodies until verse 5 here below; it is indisputable, that the martyrs, and all those blessed during this resurrection will rise all at once, when time on earth ends for the earhly kingdom, and it is time for God's kingdom to take charge. . Only the saints, the blessed and holy ones will have part in the only first resurrection, at the end of the Great Tribulation. The second death hath no power over any saint, and we all shall reign with CHrist for 1,000 years. Notice that we do not see the word Church anywhere, even during the millenial reign. Does anyone care to comment on that?

Rev 20:5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This [is] the first resurrection.

Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy [is] he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years




thousand.


Rev 7:9 ¶ 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;


Rev 7:10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.


Rev 7:11 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,


Rev 7:12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, [be] unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.


Rev 7:13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?


Rev 7:14 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.

We see one of the 24 elders asking John who this great multitude of people were. John answers and said, Sir, you know was his response to one of the 24 that asked. So the elder responds back to John because he knew John did not know, and said these are the martyrs of the Great Tribulation.

Gideon said, this is a false assumption. The center of attention is those that were martyred during the great tribulation, who did not worship the beast. We see the same scene around God's thrown, the twenty four elders, the dead saints that have died in Christ, by natural causes and or martyrdom. There are no raptured saints in heaven, there is no bible to suport this false claim. Now the scene changes dramatically, as the martyrs from the tribulation are now added to the scene. Hence, the multitude becomes great now. No longer is it just the twenty four elders and the saints as we see in chapter 5, but the numbers grow exponentially in chapter 7, with the tribulation martyrs. For such one asks, who are all these? Now in chapter 7 the multitude grows greatly, as the souls of the dead martyrs are added to the picture. The rapture has not occured as falsely speculated by some. The rapture does not occur until the end of the Great tribulation. We see that clearly, when Christ returns with all these armies of folks that return for their resurrected imortal bodies and the angels come also,
All the saints are resurrected in Chapter 20, including the souls of these martyrs killed by the beast. In summary, the scene in heaven is a picture of their souls in heaven. The are not raised, any of them until Christ returns in Chapter 20 at the end of the Great Tribulation. You can argue this all you want, but no matter which way you turn the Bible will prove you wrong again. The multitude grows exponentially during the time of the Great Tribulation, because the antichrist kills so many saints, during this period.



season.


Rev 20:4 ¶ And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and [I saw] the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received [his] mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.


We see some core, indisputable proof here. God makes no mistakes when he has his prophets record scripture. Here we see John, saying up to verse 4 that he saw the souls of them that we martyred for not worshipping the beast. Notice he said souls. If they were raputured saints in heaven, they would have glorified bodies already. Furthermore, if they were raptured before the tribulation as pretribers falsely claim again, they certainly would not have been martyred during the Great tribulation, which starts 3.5 years after the tribulation commences. They are souls because as all the saints written in the Lambs book of Life, they do not receive their bodies until verse 5 here below; it is indisputable, that the martyrs, and all those blessed during this resurrection will rise all at once, when time on earth ends for the earhly kingdom, and it is time for God's kingdom to take charge. . Only the saints, the blessed and holy ones will have part in the only first resurrection, at the end of the Great Tribulation. The second death hath no power over any saint, and we all shall reign with CHrist for 1,000 years. Notice that we do not see the word Church anywhere, even during the millenial reign. Does anyone care to comment on that?

Rev 20:5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This [is] the first resurrection.

Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy [is] he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years




thousand.


Rev 7:9 ¶ 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;


Rev 7:10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.


Rev 7:11 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,


Rev 7:12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, [be] unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.


Rev 7:13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?


Rev 7:14 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.

We see one of the 24 elders asking John who this great multitude of people were. John answers and said, Sir, you know was his response to one of the 24 that asked. So the elder responds back to John because he knew John did not know, and said these are the martyrs of the Great Tribulation.



We can see also that the numbers will grow when Christ returns and raptures the living saints also. This will probably be a small number also, as the antichrist has killed most saints on earth.

The 144,000 are sealed to protect them from the wrath God will now pour on the earth, starting with the destruction of Babylon.

"this is a false assumption."

Is it now?

You are saying that the scriptures present a "false" assumption

Gideon said, no, I am saying the assumption you presented of pretrubulationalism is false. The post trib assertion is all that
coincides harmoniously with scripture. Every pretriber has a different view. Atleast Benny had enough sensable knowledge to say the ones that came out of the Great Tribulation in Rev 7 were martyrs. He was willing to admit that, but you bumbled the entire thing up by saying these are saints that were taken out and up to heaven by rapture before the tribulation starts. Benny had it half right and you have it completely, entirely wrong.

"Gideon said, no, I am saying the assumption you presented of pretrubulationalism is false"

>I believe this topic is about Revelation's chapter 7

>You continuously direct your argument for a post-tribulation rant

>Why do you do this?

>What is your motivation?

>Be honest

>You have not proven you view here at all

>You go on and on .... and on, and actually begin to discount your own position by your off chart renderings of many things

>The more you rant, the more apparent it becomes that you do not understand the scriptures

>Or you do, but intentionally deceive

>Better for you that it is the first

>As I study your material I see some of the most sorid ideas included in your postings among your efforts to prove agsinst the Lord's early "harpazo" action for today's Body of Christ

>You seem to be obsessed with this theme and are willing to compromise any particular and correct rendering of the scriptures to get there

>I wonder why?

Ahh! Stephen,

Your onto your typical badmouthing spree of slanderous accusations because you don't agree with someone.

Why don't you just end the debate here (with me anyway) and post that scripture I've asked you to several times.

You know, the one you've avoided and replied with "who's your daddy"!

Please. Quote a verse that proves that Christ returns before the tribulation?

But instead, you have always resorted to your badmouthing schemes of egotistical slander.

Grow up and answer the question!

SW

Gideon said,

Hey let's face it all scipture presented in attempts to dissolve a post trb assertion, as we see in scripture are snuffed out by scripture. What one must understand is Revelation is an overlaping of prophetic events. The overlapping takes place at least 5-6 times. Chist comes in Chapter 1, Christ does not come in Rev. 3:10 as pretribers falsely speculate, Christ comes in Chapter 6, Christ does not come with the come up hither as some speculate; this is only the angel directing John to come up. Christ comes in Chapters, 11, 12, 19, 20. The acounts in these chapters describe different detaills of what transpires in one single event, the return of Christ at the end of the tribulation. We see this throughout scripture in Revelation and Daniel especiallly. So once again your estimation is far off the mark; Benny was atleast half way correct, while the inference you created was far off.

"Grow up and answer the question!"

>I do not waist my time with your kind

>You will have to seek your answers from other forum posters

>Your accusations are all mute and you know it

>Those who speak in your demeanor are to be avoided in my opinion

Gideon said,(KJV) Proverbs - Chapter 15

Pro 15:1 ¶ A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.


Pro 15:2 The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.


Pro 15:3 The eyes of the LORD [are] in every place, beholding the evil and the good.


Pro 15:4 A wholesome tongue [is] a tree of life: but perverseness therein [is] a breach in the spirit.


Pro 15:5 A fool despiseth his father's instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.


Stephen said

Give up you rant Gigit

Look at you own crass demeanor and apply the scriptures you list to yourself

I only do this when I detect, know, and can see behind the curtain of one who brings attended discord

Dear Gideon:

Re. your post to Stephen in which you say, in part,




Charlie -- It is not a false claim, Gideon.

John saw the 24 elders on the seats in Rev.4:4 after he entered the door in heaven, Gideon. The elders were in heaven when John saw them.

In order for them to be in heaven they would have to be resurrected.

You say they have died 'in Christ' and it is those who are 'in Christ' who will be resurrected/raptured.



Charlie -- Still in heaven, Gideon, John tells us in Rev.5:8-10

And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; and hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

Charlie -- This is not just the 24 elders, Gideon, this is all the resurrected/raptured saints from 'every kindred, and tongue, and people and nation' Those who were 'in Christ' and are to be kings and priests of God and reign over the nations of the earth, from heaven, under the leadership of the Lamb of God during the 1,000 years.

Pre-trib, Gideon, not post trib.

As I see it.

God bless you. Charlie.

Very obvious Charlie

These are some of the most over looked and under studied scriptures by many of those who claim Bible expertise

Yet they are some of the most important related to the Lord's promises and intentions, and the believer's greatest hope

[Revelation 4, 5, 7, 11, 12, 13, 17, 19, and 20]

All of them contain passages that reflect the immortalized Body of Christ of today just before, during, and after the tribulation period ... they are with the Lord in the heavenly state of existence

This evidence by itself underwrites a pre-tribulation immortalization of today's Body of Christ not to mention all of the other related passages of scripture that signify the event and its position in the time line of the Day of the Lord

All attempts to blot out this truth are doomed to failure and one really has to consider the motives of those who are doing it today. Are these just unlearned and or deceived by those they follow .... or is there something cooking under the pot?

Who would want to mislead away from the Lord's admonition to be ready and waiting for this event and why?

All of the answers to these questions can be found in th scriptures

Pastor Raymond Shocley

Chapter 7

This Chapter, is an important Chapter in understanding the Book of Revelation and where things fit, their timings in relation to one another. In my opinion the Book of Revelation has three basic kinds of Chapters, the first is the Chronological type. Chronological is the order of things as far as when they happen in time, such as if I tell you about the events that happen on Monday, then Tuesday, Wednesday and so on. We don't start on Thursday and then jump to Monday and then Saturday, and chronological is in order. Chapter 1 through 6 is chronological. In Chapters 1 through six you have the first church, then the second, and so on, you have the Rapture between the end of Chapter 3 and the beginning of Chapter 4, then the Tribulation period, all in chronological order.

Chapter 7 is not a chronological chapter in the sense that it follows Chapter 6. It is instead, what we call a parenthetical chapter. By parenthetical I mean, in the middle of a sentence the writer will put a sentence within a parenthesis that look like this ( ). The purpose of the parenthesis is for the writer to give you more information about that specific thing or time without breaking the sentence structure. Chapter 7 is full of information that we need, that is being inserted for us but it doesn't follow Chapter six as far as its parenthetical application it is going on at the same time chapter 4 is happening, some of this will become more clear as we go through the text. I will be cross referencing back to the other chapters. It is important for you to know what is happening here, because if Chapter 7 followed 6 we would have to go through all of this war in Chapter 6, before the 144,000 are sealed and a great multitude is in heaven. The 144,000 get sealed before any of chapter six happens, and we will see that in the coming scriptures. Chapter 8 will chronologically follow Chapter 7. When chapter 7 events are over Chapter 8, will follow. But Chapter 8 events will parallel Chapter 5 and 6. And when you see Chapter 8 it will be obvious to you that they are in paralleling the same time as five & six. Chapter eight will allow us to look at some events that we have already seen, but they will be broken down into greater detail.

Chapter 9 will chronologically follow Chapter 8 but we will be into new material. There is a third kind of Chapter and that starts at 10, 11,12, 13, and 14. These Chapters in one sense of the word are happening at the same exact time, to get a real understanding of these Chapters you have to view them at the same time. It reminds me of the old medical dictionaries that had the inserts with the clear plastic pages. By turning the pages you can understand what a human being was built like. First page the man would be fully clothed, then you flip the page and the man is in his birthday suit, the next page shows you frontal organs, the next page shows you the back organs, the next the veins and circulatory system, and at last just a skeleton. Looking through each one you see an aspect of the human body. One of the most important times of the Tribulation period is the middle because there are a lot of changes in characters and relationships, Chapters 10 through 14 covers the changes that take place, they cover more than the middle but the importance is the middle area. Now that you understand that there are different kind of Chapters it will give you a better understanding to all of the events and how they correspond with each other. Now understand the heart of the Book of the Revelation is a seven-year Tribulation period. Everything that you see revolves around that Tribulation period, it happens either before it, or in the first half, or in the middle, or in the second half, or after it. With that understanding it should clear up a lot of confusion.

Re 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.

We have four angels on the four corners of the earth, and what are they holding back? Winds and if they let the winds blow the verse says the earth is going to be hurt. Do we see any parallels to what has already happened in Chapter 6? We had four horses in Chapter 6 and we have four winds in Chapter 7. When the horses were turned loose, what was the result of it? The earth was hurt and damaged very severely. In this verse is the earth hurt? No, it isn't hurt yet. The angels are being told to hold back the winds so the earth isn't hurt. They are told, "do not hurt the earth until we have sealed the servants of God in their foreheads." We are told the number of these servants is 144,000 thousand. The following versus will tell us exactly who they are, 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes of Israel.

Who do think is preventing the tampering with the seven seals? God has an angel making sure that these horses don't go anywhere until he allows it. This is God's almighty power in action, He is the hindered, he is the restrainer, he is the one that holds the horses back until we (The Raptured) are taken out of the way. Until God allows, the Antichrist can do nothing. The Antichrist can put his pawns on the board, but he can't make the move as long as God is restraining him. The four angels are going to restrain until the sealing has taken place. The Jehovah's Witnesses cult claims that the144,000 is taken from their membership. The Bible plainly states that these people they are Jews. They are blood born ethnic Jews. God has 144,000 of them living a pure life. They are in God’s hand right now. My guess is that they are probably about 30 years old, I think this because as types of Jesus Christ they would be similar to him in many ways. They are able to live during the worst time of human history, during a time where persecution, debauchery will reign supreme. They live undefiled lives. They remain uncontaminated by the sexual immorality of the world.

What God is doing in all of this situation is to disarm every charge that might suggest that God is unholy or unrighteous in expecting us to live for him. There are those who would suggest that it is impossible to live a righteous life, and it is humanly impossible for us to resist temptation. Jesus came showing us that it is possible, if you want to. The problem is that most people have "broken want too." The truth is you and I do wrong it is because we want to do wrong more than we want to do right. When we do right, it is because we want to do right more than we want to do wrong. Our wants define our character. Some people may say, "Well, of course Jesus could do it because he was God." The 144,000 do it and they are not God. They live right and it is the proof that you could if you wanted to. I don't remember a sin that I have committed, where anybody held a gun to my head to make me do it. If they did, I probably handed them an empty gun and said, "hold this on my head and say it is your fault." Most of us sin because we want to. These chosen have a three and a half year ministry starting at the beginning of the Tribulation period and ending in the middle of the Seven Years. Why does God seal them at this time? It is necessary to seal them because of the group that we will see in heaven. We are going to explain this group and their relationship to the group in verse nine.

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.

Verses five through eight, simply give us the description of whom the 144,000 are and they are 12,000 men from each tribe of Israel listed.

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;

Now we have a second group. Who is this group? There are lots of theories about whom this group is. Three leading theories are suggested. The four leading theories. The First, is that this is the Church and it is proof that they go through the Tribulation. I don't like that one at all, but if you want it, then according to your faith be it unto you. There are some people in the town where I leave that take this view and believe that the Tribulation is already going on now. I just can't figure out who the Antichrist is if we are already in the Seven-Year Tribulation. The thing that triggers the Tribulation is his open revelation to the world in the peace treaty with Israel.

Second theory, this is the church and it goes through half of the Tribulation, this one we can rule out because the multitude is seen in heaven before we come to the middle of the Tribulation.

The Third theory is, this is a great group of Gentiles saved during the Tribulation as a result of the ministry of the 144,000 Jews placed on the earth to minister at the time of Tribulation. Now if you hold that opinion, you are among some intelligent company, most of the prophecy books that are written hold that opinion. At one time I thought that was true, but I kept reading it and came to the conclusion that there is something missing here, something is wrong.

So I will tell you whom I think this group is. You read it and use a little common sense and let's see what we come up with. I believe this is the church, and that it is proof that the church does not go through the Tribulation period at all. Here is why I have this opinion, John is looking at this group, where is the multitude when he sees them? They are in heaven, and they are there before the ministry of the 144,000 Jews gets started. We have already established that the witnesses’ ministry is at the beginning of the Tribulation period. This multitude has shown up and are standing in front of the throne of God, and if you will notice in this chapter there is not a single word to link these two groups mentioned together, is there (The Great Multitude and the 144,000)? Their only link is that they are in the same chapter. It is an assumption by some folks that since they are in the same chapter there must be a causative effect here that the group being first caused the second group. I think that assumption is wrong.

The reason I think we see both groups in this chapter is our Righteous God always leaves the world with a witness and light just in case there is just one soul that would do right if he could see some light. The witness to the world right now has been the Christian church. Before the church, the Jews were the light. God called Abraham, and made from him Israel the nation. God then gives the Word of God to them. Through the Jewish nation will come the Savior-Messiah, the real light. Jesus Christ is the light of the world. But when Israel rejected Jesus Christ and then crucified him, God allowed them to be scattered. He stopped using them as the light. From that time the church served as the light. But soon the Rapture is going to take place, and when the Rapture of the church has taken place the light will be removed. The church moved from Earth to Heaven. So if this is the beginning of the Tribulation there should be a group called the church in Heaven. There is supposed to be a group of people there, and in Chapter 7 there is one. Why wouldn't that group be the church? The reason we see the groups together is because he wants the world to know that there has never been a moment that he has left it without a light. As the church went up, these 144,000 are sealed and sent out. Simultaneously as gravity turns loose of your ankles the 144,000 will step out into the world. Israel becomes the light again and they have the message of God.

Since the nation of Israel has not accepted Jesus Christ, and they will play patsy with the Antichrist for three and a half-years. God uses the 144,000 to symbol and this number has a symbolic meaning. These are literal people, but they serve as the symbolic representation of the nation of Israel. As soon as Israel gives her heart and life to Christ, the 144,000 will no longer be needed on this earth. The nation of Israel gets saved and Joel 2:38 really gets fulfilled. This is the time that God pours out the Holy Ghost on the nation of Israel. When the nation of Israel receives the outpouring of the Holy Ghost, they become the light of the world. It is at that time God will remove the 144,000 Jews. We will see in Chapter 14 that the144,000 will be redeemed from the Earth. They are taken up in the middle of the week.

There are a couple of things we will want to learn about, so that we have a full understanding. As we read we will see the great group before the throne and notice some things about them. One is they are so great a number that no man is able to number. That is the same thing we saw in Chapter 5, a great multitude that no man could number.

10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.


We see that this group stands before the throne and that they are clothed in white robes. The robes represent the righteousness of Christ. This group sings of the Salvation our God. They would do this because they received salvation from the Lamb, this is the Raptured Church.

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.

Didn't we see this same scene in Chapter 5?

13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?

One of the elders asked John who is that group of people and where did they come from? Evidently God wants us to understand this.

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.

Now do you see that word "great Tribulation," these words are what cause a lot of confusion. A lot of people think, that if you are going through the tribulations you have gone through the Great Tribulation. Understand something, if you get to Heaven it will be said about you that you have washed your robes in the blood of the Lamb, and that you went through great Tribulation in your life. All that live Godly suffer great persecution. Lets look in Chapter 1 at a statement that will shed a little light for us.

Revelation 1:9 I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

John says he is a companion in what? In Tribulation. Whom was he writing that to, the Seven Churches of Asia? These churches were local churches, which were representative of church ages that would progress through history. He is telling them that he is their companion in Tribulation and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ. He is telling them that he is on the isle of Patmos, because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. John was going through tribulations at that time. He knew that the church he was a part of was also experiencing tribulations. It is safe to say whatever age of Christianity that you want to point to, there were believers that went through immense temptation and tribulations. They did not go through the Seven-year Tribulation period of the Book of Revelation. Did John go through the Seven-year Tribulation? Did the apostle Paul, did the apostle Peter go through the Tribulation? No! But did they go through Tribulations? If they crucify you upside down, your personal tribulations can't get much worse. If they chop your head of in a Roman prison, your personal tribulations can't get much worse. Did the Smyrna Christians who were being fed to the lions during Nero's reign go through tribulation? Yes, they did, but will they go through the Seven-year Tribulation period? No! They will not because they have died without the Seven-year Tribulation having begun. Antipas is mentioned in the letter to the Pergamos church, he was roasted to death inside of a brass bull, did he go through tribulations? He did, but he didn't go through the Seven-year Tribulation period. The Sardis church had 68 million Protestants burned at the stake, did they go through tribulations? Yes, but they didn't go through the Tribulation period. What I am saying to you is the church has tribulations in this world, but the Seven-year Tribulation period is for Israel and the sinful world. The church is Raptured so that it will not see this time. So it would be correct to say "These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." They have experienced great tribulations, and are now before the Lord. What great joy they have because they have sent up treasure in heaven. It seems clear to me this is the church raptured, caught up into the presences. This is one of the strongest conclusive evidences proving that we do not go through the Tribulation period. Chapter 8 is going to give us more proof that the Rapture will occur before the Tribulation period starts.

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.

This multitude serve God day and night, like a priest does in the temple. Didn't God tell us we would be kings and priests in Chapter 1:6?

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.

This is a group of people whose source of life is the Lamb. We are perfected and glorified through Christ. This is the Raptured Church.

Gideon said call it what you may. It does not change the fact that these are clearly saints that have died; they have not been raptured with some secret, nonscriptural, hidden, mysterious pretrib rapture, nor will they ever be. The rapture does not take the saints to heaven, but rather establishes them to imortalization so they can rule on earth, whether it be the dead saints or souls of those in heaven which will be resurrected on the last day, even now are some in heaven, or the living that are raptured on the last day, only to come down with Christ to reign. Low I AM with you even until the end of the world. That certainly means the church is clearly here until the end of the world. This is just a simple undeniable fact we even see in the Great Commission.

Some just will never understand no matter the evidence given in scripture regarding the immortalized Body of Christ and its position in relation to the coming tribulation period on the earth.

Why not?

The answer to this question should be a warning to them regarding their continued rejection of the Lord's intended pre-tribulation action for today's Body of Christ