Revelation Sermon - 18
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Revelation: He Saw What?!
Revelation 7:9-17
1. Introduction – Last week I started out by saying that the visions aren’t recorded in chronological order.
a. A good question to ask when reading Revelation is “what did John see next?” Not, “what happens chronologically next.
i. This section of chapter 7 is once again one of those times where what John saw next doesn’t happen chronologically after to what John saw previously.
b. In fact, last week, the first vision of the interlude went back to before the breaking of the seals to show how God sealed his people.
i. And this section of the vision actually fast forwards. This vision brings us forward in time to the peace and clam and worship that will take place after the chaos of the tribulation.
c. This is another example of how Revelation keeps us on our toes. Not only does it loop back on itself, it also moves forward and gives us a glimpse of the end.
i. In fact, this vision in the interlude could very well BE the end of the book – it has that feel to it.
1. But, its not. It’s intended to bring hope to Christians who are suffering persecution.
2. Seeing & Hearing – This morning I want to take some time to point out something that is happening in this chapter and actually happens a lot through the book of Revelation.
a. In this chapter and throughout the book, there is a relationship between what John hears and what he sees.
i. In many chapters we’ll see a phrase, “I heard…” and later in the chapter the phrase, “I turned to see…” appears.
1. And what we’ll notice is that what John sees clarifies what he has heard. Or sometimes what John hears clarifies what he sees.
b. Back in chapter 5 – remember John saw the scroll, he saw that it was sealed and he began to weep because no one was worthy to open it.
i. But then, one of the elders told John about the Lion from the tribe of Judah.
1. He heard about the Lion, but when he turned to see the Lion, what did he see?
a. He saw the Lamb that was slain.
i. What John saw clarified what he heard. Because the Lion of Judah wasn’t worthy to open the scroll because he acted like a Lion.
2. The Lion was worthy to the break the seals and open the scroll because he acted like a self-sacrificial Lamb.
a. It wasn’t through roaring and strutting like a Lion that victory was won – it was through his blood that he ransomed people to God and won the victory.
c. So that happened in chapter 5, and the same thing happens here in chapter 7.
i. Look at 7:4. I heard how many were marked by the angel…144,000.
1. Now look at 7:9. John turns to seen this group that he has just heard about, and what does he see??? He actually sees a group so large they cannot be counted.
a. What he saw was something beyond his wildest imaginations.
i. What he saw clarified what he heard. Not a literal 144,000 from the tribes of Israel, but a group so big gathered around the throne that they literally could not be counted.
3. Comparing – And if we read and study chapters 5 and 7 together, we see that there are actually a lot of similarities between these two chapters.
a. And while chapter 5 gest a lot of the attention, in some ways chapter 7 is even better!
i. Chapter 7 enhances and expands on chapter 5. So, for the rest of the time this morning, we’re going to look at the similarities of these two chapters and see how the vision of 7:9-17 expands on what was told to us in chapter 5:1-14.
b. Notice the similarities. Both chapters describe events that happen around God’s throne.
i. Both chapters show us the rich heavenly music that surrounds God’s throne.
1. But I want you to see how 7:9-17 enhances the vision of chapter 5.
c. In chapter 5, the scroll is yet to be opened. In chapter 5, there is still the anticipation of what will happen when the scroll actually is opened.
i. There is still the anticipation of destruction at the hands of the horsemen, the Antichrist, the dragon and the beat.
d. However, in chapter 7, we’re told that the countless number around God’s throne are those who have passed through the great tribulation.
i. The vision of 7:9-17 is a vision of heaven after God wipes away evil, after God establishes his kingdom and after God vindicates his people.
1. Chapter 5 is a vision of what heaven is like before the Lamb opens the scroll, but 7:9-17 is even better – because it gives us a glimpse of what heaven will be like when all of God’s redeemed gather around his throne in the eternal praise and worship of his name.
e. And if you remember back a few weeks ago when we studied chapter 5, I described for you the ever-widening circle of praise.
i. Before God’s throne are 4 living creatures, 24 elders, and in chapter 5 we’re told that thousands and millions of angels, and then all of creation sang praises to God and the Lamb.
1. But here, in chapter 7, the circle of praise gets even bigger, if you can imagine that.
ii. In this chapter, all of God’s redeemed are added to the circle.
1. There they are, standing around the throne singing their song – “Salvation comes from our God!”
f. God’s people are added to the circle, but look closely at the wording of 7:11 – how many angels?
i. In chapter 5 it was thousands and millions of angels, but here, we’re told that ALL of the angels in heaven join the chorus!
1. This picture is astounding to me; it’s very moving.
a. All of the ransomed people of God, the 4 living beings, 24 elders, all the angels in heaven, and all of creation singing praise to God who sits on this throne and to the Lamb
4. Completion – Also, what makes this scene an enhancement of the previous heavenly throne room scene is the feeling of completion that this scene has.
a. Not only are God’s people gathered around the throne, not only have they come through the great tribulation…
i. But they are wearing white robes and waving palm branches. Both of these are symbols of victory.
1. Roman generals would ride through the streets after a military victory – they would wear a white robe and people would wave palm branches.
a. On Palm Sunday, people waved palm branches around Jesus as he entered Jerusalem because they mistakenly thought he would overthrow the Romans.
b. And here in 7:9-17, God’s people are wearing white robes and waving branches, not as a sign of their own victory, but as a sign of the victory that God and the Lamb won on their behalf.
c. So what victory are they celebrating? In order to answer that question, we have to look at a strange exchange between John and one of the elders.
i. In the middle of this worship scene, one of the 24 elders asks John, “Who are all these people?”
1. Now, this exchange seems a little weird and awkward to us, but this is a common literary technique in prophetic and apocalyptic writings.
a. Having an angel or heavenly being ask a somewhat rhetorical question serves as a way to explain what’s going on in the vision.
d. And we’re told in this exchange that the massive crowd around God’s throne are those who have come through the great tribulation.
i. And since they have come through it, they are now celebrating God’s victory over the forces of evil. See how this is fast-forwarding to a time of peace and harmony? Fast-forwarding to a time after the 7 seals?
1. So, I said the phrase, now let’s talk about… the great tribulation. What is this? How are we to understand it?
e. Is the tribulation mentioned here an intense and specified period of time when God’s people will be severely persecuted?
i. Or does this phrase refer to the persecution that God’s people have always faced and will always face?
1. I think back to a promise that Jesus made to his disciples before he was crucified.
a. He said to them, “In this world you will have trouble.” He promises them that if they are faithful to him, the world will reject them and persecute them.
f. And we see through the book of Acts – there is steady and increased persecution of God’s people.
i. We’ve seen it in our study in Revelation – that ever since Jesus established his kingdom on earth the world has been resisting its coming.
1. It’s true – God’s people have always and will always face resistance and persecution and pressure from the fallen world around us.
g. But I believe this phrase ‘the great tribulation’ describes a different level of persecution.
i. Just look at the grammar. The elder says to John “the great…” The fact that the word ‘the’ is used – the definite article – points to the fact that this particular tribulation is different.
1. The elder doesn’t say, ‘those who were persecuted’ or ‘those who died in a tribulation.’
a. No, the fact that its referred to as ‘the great tribulation’…
i. The fact that it is set apart in the text by the question/answer heightens the intensity of what this great tribulation really is.
h. But even the great tribulation doesn’t spell defeat for God or for God’s people.
i. Because of their perseverance and faithfulness through the great tribulation, God’s people are made pure.
1. And again, we see a common theme here that runs through the entire book of Revelation.
a. Pressure and persecution from the outside world serves…not to discourage or deter God’s people…
i. Pressure and persecution and tribulation come upon God’s people in order to refine and strengthen them in their faith and commitment to God.
ii. This great crowd came through the great tribulation, and they were made pure – they are paradoxically made pure – but having their robes washed in the blood of the Lamb.
5. Prophecy Fulfilled – And the last way chapter 7 enhances chapter 5 is the fulfillment of prophecy.
a. In vv.15-17, prose so beautiful it should be a song, the elder describes events that are first mentioned in Isaiah 49.
i. The prophecy of Isaiah 49 is fulfilled here – eternal worship in God’s presence, peace from internal and external pressures of life.
1. The promise of God’s presence with his people…all of those are fulfilled here.
b. In chapter 5 we stand on the precipice of the coming future, but in chapter 7 we get a taste of what the future will be like…and it’s awesome.
6. Take Aways – So what can we take away from this section of the interlude?
a. Well, once again, we are reminded of the centrality of worship. Look at the songs of this chapter.
i. Vv.10 &12 are both songs. And vv.15-17 are so epically beautiful it should be a song.
b. The redeemed gather around the throne and worship. The angels, the elders, the living beings gather around the throne and worship.
i. And we’re reminded that we too are to join our voices – even now – we are to join our voices with theirs in the praise and worship of God, who sits on his throne, and the Lamb.
c. What else can we take away? In this passage we get a glimpse of heaven…and it’s awesome.
i. The elder tells John that the redeemed gather around God’s throne and serve him in this temple.
1. A couple things to note. First, probably not a literal temple. The temple of God in heaven is really the place of his presence.
d. And this word ‘service’ comes from a very specific Greek word. The word is latreuo. And throughout the Bible it is a deep and rich term…and it has a double meaning.
i. It means both service and worship.
1. Picture this, gathering around the throne of God and worshipping and serving him. Or better yet, gathering around God’s throne and we serve him BY worshipping him. Yes please. Come Lord Jesus.
a. And we’re told that there is no stopping this worship and service. Day and night this worship and service happens.
i. The best-known example of temple worship would probably be the temple in Jerusalem.
1. Well, the temple in Jerusalem always closed for the night.
b. After the final evening sacrifice the temples gates were closed until the first morning sacrifice.
2. But not in the heavenly temple. No closing the gates, no stopping the service, no stopping the worship. What a picture!
e. And finally, this morning – I don’t want you to write anything for this, just focus on this phrase – God will give them shelter.
i. This image is drawn from the book of Exodus. Remember when the people of Israel were making their from Egypt to the Promised Land…we’re told that as they made their journey God’s glory went before them.
1. God’s glory was presented as a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.
a. This image became known as the Shekinah glory of God. The manifest and present glory of God.
f. Later, when Israel built the tabernacle, God’s glory, his Shekinah filled it.
i. When Solomon dedicated the temple, God’s glory filled the Holy of Holies.
1. And when Jesus came to earth, he was the Shekinah glory incarnate – the word becoming flesh and dwelling among us.
g. And the amazing picture here is one of God dwelling permanently with his people. As his people worship and serve him, God’s presence protects them. This is a theme that is developed at the end of the book also.
i. In the presence of God, hungry, thirst, sunburns and heat stroke, tears, fears and anxieties are all gone in his sheltering presence.
7. Conclusion – It kinds seems like we’re at the end here! And it feels that way because we are.
a. Remember, Revelation comes to the end several times then it starts again and fills in some details or further explains events that were mentioned previously.
i. This is a way of heightening expectation and anticipation for when the end fully and finally comes.
b. Before we charge ahead, before we look at the breaking of the 7th seal, the opening of the scroll and the blowing of the 7 trumpets…let’s pause, and cherish this moment.
i. Take in this captivating moment. A number no one can count standing around God’s throne.
1. This speaks to the success of the Christian witness.
a. Think about it, at the end of the 1st century, Christianity was only 60 years old – and it seemed like it was a fledging endeavor. So, to Christians at the end of the 1st century – even 144,000 would have sounded like a lot of Christians.
c. Imagine their excitement when they found out that the 144,000 was actually a group of people too many to count.
i. A crowd that size showed John, the seven churches, and it shows us today, that God’s work and God’s kingdom will be successful.
1. In heaven, there will be a group of people that no one can count gathered around God’s throne worshipping him.
d. Doesn’t that fill you with hope? Excitement? Does it give you goose bumps think about it? It should…this is our future!
i. This scene should fill us with confidence, knowing that the kingdom of God will not fail…
1. Knowing that even if suffering and persecution come along…God’s kingdom will still come and be victorious.
a. And we should be filled with confidence knowing that one day we will gather around God’s throne to worship him and the Lamb.
i. What a great scene.
e. Next week, I have something special in store for you…You’re not going to want to miss it. There’s not going to be a recording of it because we are going to be looking at something so deeply personal it cannot be recorded.
i. So you’re going to want to make sure you are here next week as we break the 7th seal and start revealing the content of the scroll.