Introduction: When we studied the “Seven Seals” last week, did you
notice that we were missing a seal? That is right, Revelation 6 ended
with the sixth seal! It turns out that the seventh seal is found in
Revelation 8. We study Revelation 8 next week. Revelation 6 ended
with momentous signs taking place in the heavens. What is happening
in the galaxy causes world leaders to realize that Jesus is coming
and the “day of wrath” is beginning. Revelation 8 begins the
discussion of a horrible time on earth. So what is Revelation 7
about? As we will study this week, it is about those who are saved!
Note that there are important points in Revelation 7 that are
difficult to understand. Let’s dive into our study of the Bible and
see what we can learn!
- Sealed Against Harm
- Read Revelation 7:1-3. What is about to come on the earth?
(Harm! The following chapters in Revelation discuss
terrible times.) - Who is in charge of the timing of the terrible
things? (God. God’s angels are seen to be “holding
back” the terrible times.) - Why are the terrible times ahead delayed until the
“seal of the living God” is placed “on the foreheads
of the servants of our God?” (The seal helps us or
protects us in some way. Otherwise, the delay would
make no sense.) - Do you think that those who have the seal are
protected from all harm? - Where is the seal placed? (On the forehead.)
- Why? (The seal reflects a decision to be a
servant of God.) - Read Revelation 7:4-8. Who are these 144,000? (They are
servants of God who seem linked in some way to the tribes
of Israel.) - Read Revelation 7:9. Are these also sealed? (Revelation
7:3 reveals the sealing process is about to begin.
Revelation 7:4 describes those sealed “from all the tribes
of Israel.” Then Revelation 7:9 describes those from
“every nation, tribe, people, and language.” The way this
is written indicates that they are all sealed, but this is
subject to debate.) - Why would the sealing of the “tribes of Israel” be stated
separately from the sealing of those of all other nations?
Why are those sealed from all other nations the only ones
described as “wearing white robes?” (John’s vision is of
two different places. The 144,000 are on earth and the
unnumbered multitude are in heaven. The language of
Revelation 7:3 indicates that the 144,000 are alive just
before the opening of the seventh seal! The unnumbered
multitude seem to be those saved over the history of the
world. Perhaps the link to the twelve tribes is not
important, and the 144,000 are a subset of the unnumbered
multitude.) - Does the number 144,000 seem odd to you? (In this
book of symbols, it seems symbolic.) - The Proclamation!
- Read Revelation 7:10-12. How are all saved? (Through the
power of God. It is not our own works.) - Do you think this proclamation has something to do
with their sealing? - Read Revelation 4:11 and Revelation 5:12. What are
the reasons for the previous statements of praise?
(God as Creator and Jesus’ sacrifice at the cross.) - What memorializes both of those events? (The
Sabbath. God made the Sabbath holy in
connection with His Creation ( Genesis 2:2-3),
and Jesus observed a Sabbath rest after His
crucifixion. Matthew 28:1-2.) - Does observing Sabbath have anything to do with
the seal? - Read Ezekiel 9:3-6. Ezekiel describes a kind of forehead
“sealing” process. Who obtains the seal that keeps them
from being destroyed? (Those who “grieve and lament over
all the detestable things that are done.”) - If Ezekiel’s account helps to form our judgment, it
seems that those who are sealed have a special regard
for the work of God. They celebrate His Creation, His
victory at the cross and they detest the rejection of
God by those who do detestable things.) - This brings to mind that this week the State of
New York voted to allow abortions for unborn
babies at full term! Do you grieve and lament
about that? Do you recall what your child
looked like the day it was born? - Read Revelation 7:13-14. How would you put John’s response
in modern language? (Why are you asking me? You know the
answer to your question.) - We assume the elders are advisors to God. Why would
one of them ask such a question? (He wanted John to
think about it. He wanted us to consider it.) - What do we know about this unnumbered multitude?
(They have “come out of the great tribulation” and
they are saved by grace alone.) - Read Revelation 12:17. (Read the entire chapter if you
would like a better view of this.) Are we the “rest of her
offspring?” (Yes!) - Look again at Revelation 7:14. What do you think is
the “great tribulation?” (It is the conflict between
Jesus and Satan here on earth. Specifically, it is
the “war” that Satan has been waging against
Christians since Jesus returned to heaven. See
Revelation 12:17. This is some evidence that the
unnumbered multitude are those Christians who lived
after the cross. But, the better suggestion is that
the 144,000 are just one part of the larger
unnumbered multitude. The difference is that only the
144,000 lived during the time before the opening of
the seventh seal.) - The Results
- Read Revelation 7:15. Where do the unnumbered multitude
live? (“Before the throne of God.”) - Read Revelation 21:1-4. Where does God live in the
future? (On earth.) - Where do we live? (On earth and in the New
Jerusalem!) - Why? (Because we are the living memorial to
Jesus defeat of Satan and sin!) - What does it mean in Revelation 7:15 that God will
“spread His tent” over us? (Read Revelation 7:16. We
are protected from hunger, thirst, and heat.) - Why do you think there is so much focus on
heat? (Read Revelation 16:8. It could be
because in this area of the world, heat was a
particular problem. It could be because one of
the final plagues is the sun scorching the
people.) - Read Revelation 7:17 and re-read Revelation 21:4. What is
absent in the earth made new? (Sadness and mourning!) - Friend, do you want to be there? Do you want to live
without worry and sadness? Do you want to live in the
center of the world empire? Why not wash your robe in the
blood of the Lamb? Why not do that by being baptized and
trusting in Jesus for your salvation? - Next week: The Seven Trumpets.
