The Revelation of Jesus Christ Part 5
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Who is able to stand on judgment day?
Who is able to stand on judgment day?
What we learned is that the kings of the earth, the great ones, the generals, the rich and powerful, everyone slave and free - were not able to stand on judgment day.
The final judgment is the great equalizer of all humanity.
The final judgment is the great equalizer of all humanity.
Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains,
Rev 6
John is not providing us a chronological sequence of events but a theological emphasis.
John is not providing us a chronological sequence of events but a theological emphasis.
1 After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, that no wind might blow on earth or sea or against any tree.
2 Then I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, with the seal of the living God, and he called with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm earth and sea,
3 saying, “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.”
Rev 7:
I. The saints of God are sealed before the judgment of God falls.
I. The saints of God are sealed before the judgment of God falls.
A seal communicated ownership and protection.
A seal communicated ownership and protection.
1 Then he cried in my ears with a loud voice, saying, “Bring near the executioners of the city, each with his destroying weapon in his hand.”
2 And behold, six men came from the direction of the upper gate, which faces north, each with his weapon for slaughter in his hand, and with them was a man clothed in linen, with a writing case at his waist. And they went in and stood beside the bronze altar.
3 Now the glory of the God of Israel had gone up from the cherub on which it rested to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed in linen, who had the writing case at his waist.
4 And the Lord said to him, “Pass through the city, through Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations that are committed in it.”
5 And to the others he said in my hearing, “Pass through the city after him, and strike. Your eye shall not spare, and you shall show no pity.
6 Kill old men outright, young men and maidens, little children and women, but touch no one on whom is the mark. And begin at my sanctuary.” So they began with the elders who were before the house.
ezk 9
The Back ground to the present passage is .
Ezekiel has a vision in which he is transported to the temple in Jerusalem. There he sees the glory of the Lord—just as he had done on the plain. Then he is shown various examples of the idolatry being practised. He sees: an idol erected at an entrance to the altar (8:5–6); seventy elders of Israel worshipping animal motifs inscribed on the walls (8:7–13); women in mourning for the god Tammuz (8:14–15); twenty-five men worshipping the sun (8:16–18).
9:1–6a A man is commanded to place a mark on the foreheads of all those in Jerusalem who deeply regret such practices. The man begins to execute the command. Six other men are then told to kill anyone in Jerusalem who does not have the mark. 9:6b–7 They start with the elders in the temple.
You are kept by the power of God.
You are kept by the power of God.
God’s people are spared judgment.
13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
In Christ the people of God are protected from the judgment of God!
In Christ the people of God are protected from the judgment of God!
1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
The seal of God protects the entire community of faith.
The seal of God protects the entire community of faith.
4 And I heard the number of the sealed, 144,000, sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel:
5 12,000 from the tribe of Judah were sealed, 12,000 from the tribe of Reuben, 12,000 from the tribe of Gad,
6 12,000 from the tribe of Asher, 12,000 from the tribe of Naphtali, 12,000 from the tribe of Manasseh,
7 12,000 from the tribe of Simeon, 12,000 from the tribe of Levi, 12,000 from the tribe of Issachar,
8 12,000 from the tribe of Zebulun, 12,000 from the tribe of Joseph, 12,000 from the tribe of Benjamin were sealed.
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Preaching the Word: Revelation—The Spirit Speaks to the Churches Revelation 7:1–8: The Sealing of the Saints
The twelve sets of 12,000 points to a full and complete number of the sealed.
The twelve sets of 12,000 points to a full and complete number of the sealed.
The twelve sets of 12,000 points to a full and complete number of the sealed.
This perfectly perfect round number communicates that God seals a vast number.
This perfectly perfect round number communicates that God seals a vast number.
This is a theological picture of the church militant.
This is a theological picture of the church militant.
Anytime you see a census in the Old Testament you see the people of God prepared for war.
Anytime you see a census in the Old Testament you see the people of God prepared for war.
This is a picture of all believers who are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb.
This is a picture of all believers who are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb.
II. The saints of God worship before the throne of God.
II. The saints of God worship before the throne of God.
9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands,
10 and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”
11 And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,
12 saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”
13 Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?”
14 I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
15 “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 shelter them with his presence.
16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat.
17 For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
9-17
This is a classic example of how this book mixes metaphors to make a theological point.
This is a classic example of how this book mixes metaphors to make a theological point.
A standing/slain lamb.
The wrath of the lamb.
What you have is a numbered people who are numberless.
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9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands,
10 and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”
11 And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,
12 saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”
13 Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?”
14 I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
15 “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 shelter them with his presence.
16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat.
17 For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
This is the fulfillment of the promise made to Abraham.
This is the fulfillment of the promise made to Abraham.
16 I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted.
5 And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”
Gen
12 But you said, ‘I will surely do you good, and make your offspring as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.’ ”
7 Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham.
Gal 3
7 Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham.
Gal 3
14 so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.
26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.
27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.
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This is a picture of the church triumphant standing before the throne in worship. (v. 9)
This is a picture of the church triumphant standing before the throne in worship. (v. 9)
The church triumphant comes out of the great tribulation.
The church triumphant comes out of the great tribulation.
14 I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
The only way that the church can come out of the great tribulation is if the church has been in the great tribulation.
The only way that the church can come out of the great tribulation is if the church has been in the great tribulation.
The work of Christ ensures his people that they will ultimately be delivered out of trouble to triumph.
The work of Christ ensures his people that they will ultimately be delivered out of trouble to triumph.