THE SEALED SERVANTS OF GOD
Our Text: Revelation 7
To set the stage for this chapter we must realize that the first half of the Tribulation period is probably over and the period of "The Great Tribulation is about to begin. The Jews have realized that the man of sin is not the Messiah and has broken the covenant of peace and has turned his evilness on the children of Israel. There will be some saved by the preaching of the "two witnesses" but now God will unleash the largest missionary, evangelistic group recorded in the Bible. In all the world there has not been this many true missionaries for God at any one time, even in our day.
Zec 13:8 And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein.
Zec 13:9 And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.
Our Text:
Rev 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.
Rev 7:2 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,
Rev 7:3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
(After these things)
In Chapter 6 verse 9-11 we see some of God's people that are saved during the first half of the Tribulation period. I believe that the phrase "after these things" refer mainly to this happening because in Chapter 7 we will see the means for more to be saved.
Rev 6:9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
Rev 6:10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
Rev 6:11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
The Lord God of all creation has given Satan permission to unleash his evilness but God always has control of who can be injured or killed.
We have proof:
Job 1:6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.
Job 1:7 And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
Job 1:8 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?
Job 1:9 Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?
Job 1:10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.
Job 1:11 But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.
Job 1:12 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.
and again:
Job 2:3 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.
Job 2:4 And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.
Job 2:5 But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face.
Job 2:6 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.
In the Book of Ephesians we find these words:
Eph 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Daniel saw in his vision how these four winds strove upon the great sea but we must realize that the term "sea" sometimes represents people.(Dan7:2)
We have proof that Satan has used the winds for destruction and death before:
Job 1:12 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.
Job 1:18 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:
Job 1:19 And, behold, [there came a great wind from the wilderness], and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
God has commanded His angels to deny Satan this power until He has sealed the the servants of God. How do we know this?
There is only one seal that we read about in the Bible that protects God's children.
Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Eph 1:14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
Then this angel in verse 2 is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. He always comes from the East:
Eze 43:2 And, behold, [the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east]: and his voice was like a noise of many waters: and the earth shined with his glory.
He will establish the children of Israel as He did the Church:
2Co 1:21 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;
2Co 1:22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
2Ti 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
Eph 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
Jesus Himself prophesied of this coming day. These that would be sealed would preach the gospel of the kingdom, the Millennial Kingdom promised to the Jews.
Mat 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; [and then shall the end come].
This verse has never been for the Church but it has always been for the children of Israel. The end of The tribulation period will come shortly after the preaching of the 144,000.
This is the New Covenant mentioned by the prophets:
Jer 31:31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
Jer 31:32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:
Jer 31:33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Jer 31:34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
Explained again in the New Testament:
Heb 8:8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:
Heb 8:9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.
Heb 8:10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; [I will put my laws into their mind], and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
Heb 8:11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
Heb 8:12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
Heb 8:13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.
Notice the words "I will put my laws in their minds".
In Revelation verse 3 it says "till {we} have sealed the servants of God (in) their foreheads".
That "we" is none other than the Holy Spirit. Back in the book of Genesis we find the proof:
Gen 1:26 And God said, Let [us] make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
"till we" is the same as "let us" because it is the Holy Spirit that will seal these 144,000.
Php 2:5 says Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
These that are sealed in their heads will go through the tribulation period uninjured!
Rev 9:4 And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; [but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads].
and later:
Rev 14:1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.
We also have proof of how Jesus said He would protect His disciples. He was talking to Jews then and He is now:
Luk 10:18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
Luk 10:19 Behold, [I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you].
Luk 10:20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
Compare Revelation Chapter nine:
Our Text:
Rev 7:4 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.
These are not the Jehovah's Witnesses. These are of the children of Israel. There are no lost tribes of Israel. God knows where every person on this Earth is at any minute. Surely He would know where the children of Israel are also.
Our Text:
Rev 7:5 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.
Rev 7:6 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.
Rev 7:7 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.
Rev 7:8 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.
Again we can ask that question, "What's in a name"? We can only guess why these names were chosen but it is not for us to guess. A more realistic choice is to just believe and research or study the scriptures.
2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
1.) Judah............Praisers of God.
2.) Reuben.........Looking to the Son.
3.) Gad...............A Company (of).
4.) Aser...............Blessed ones.
5.) Nepthalim.....Wrestling with.
6.) Manasses.......Forgetfulness.
7.) Simeon...........Hearing and Obeying.
8.) Levi................Cleaving to.
9.) Issachar.........A Reward.
10.) Zabulon........A home a dwelling place.
11.) Joseph..........Adding.
12.) Benjamin.....Sons at God's right hand.
In other words, they are praisers of God, looking to the Son, a company of blessed ones wrestling with forgetfulness, hearing and obeying and cleaving to a reward of a home and a dwelling place adding Son's at God's right hand.
These are now servants of God and He has the same rules for all servants:
1Co 7:21 Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.
1Co 7:22 For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant.
Joh 15:15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
Joh 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
Let's get a better idea of these servants:
Rom 1:1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,
Rom 1:2 (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)
Rom 1:3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;
Rom 1:4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:
We know the Apostle Paul was mighty in preaching to the Gentiles but he would always try to reach his own nation of the Jews when he could. In fact Paul said these words:
1Co 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
1Co 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
1Co 15:5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
1Co 15:6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
1Co 15:7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.
1Co 15:8 And last of all he was seen of me also, [as of one born out of due time].
Now I do not believe Paul was talking about the past but of the future. Most everyone's bills come due at the end of the month.
We know that Paul was the last to see the Resurrected Christ and the Gospel was revealed to him by Christ Himself. We now have 144,000 mighty preachers just like the Apostle Paul. It will not take very long for God to evangelize the world. It was never the job of the Church to do this. It has always been Israel who was chosen as God's children to do this.
Our Text:
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.
The proof is written in God's word. A great multitude that no one could number.
Salvation is still by the Lamb of God. There is no other way to get to the Father in Heaven.
There could not be a better people for this task. They had been scattered throughout all these nations so they would not need interpreters. They would know all the languages. God would give them the task that He had originally had for them. "To carry His word to this whole planet"!
Hab 3:2 O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy.
Our Text:
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.
Rev 7:15 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.
Rev 7:16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.
Rev 7:17 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.
The elders (The Church) asked what are these not who are these. Notice the answer. They have washed their robes in the all cleansing "Blood of the Lamb". Still only one way. It's through the Blood of Jesus! All suffering is over. There is no more tribulation for God's children. Only God's wrath remains.
The angels have always rejoiced when a sinner has been saved by the Lord God Almighty!
Luk 15:10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
The devil has a way of sealing his children also:
1Ti 4:2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
They will have no mind to seal!
Let's pray!
Our Text: Revelation 7
To set the stage for this chapter we must realize that the first half of the Tribulation period is probably over and the period of "The Great Tribulation is about to begin. The Jews have realized that the man of sin is not the Messiah and has broken the covenant of peace and has turned his evilness on the children of Israel. There will be some saved by the preaching of the "two witnesses" but now God will unleash the largest missionary, evangelistic group recorded in the Bible. In all the world there has not been this many true missionaries for God at any one time, even in our day.
Zec 13:8 And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein.
Zec 13:9 And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.
Our Text:
Rev 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.
Rev 7:2 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,
Rev 7:3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
(After these things)
In Chapter 6 verse 9-11 we see some of God's people that are saved during the first half of the Tribulation period. I believe that the phrase "after these things" refer mainly to this happening because in Chapter 7 we will see the means for more to be saved.
Rev 6:9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
Rev 6:10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
Rev 6:11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
The Lord God of all creation has given Satan permission to unleash his evilness but God always has control of who can be injured or killed.
We have proof:
Job 1:6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.
Job 1:7 And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
Job 1:8 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?
Job 1:9 Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?
Job 1:10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.
Job 1:11 But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.
Job 1:12 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.
and again:
Job 2:3 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.
Job 2:4 And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.
Job 2:5 But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face.
Job 2:6 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.
In the Book of Ephesians we find these words:
Eph 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Daniel saw in his vision how these four winds strove upon the great sea but we must realize that the term "sea" sometimes represents people.(Dan7:2)
We have proof that Satan has used the winds for destruction and death before:
Job 1:12 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.
Job 1:18 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:
Job 1:19 And, behold, [there came a great wind from the wilderness], and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
God has commanded His angels to deny Satan this power until He has sealed the the servants of God. How do we know this?
There is only one seal that we read about in the Bible that protects God's children.
Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Eph 1:14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
Then this angel in verse 2 is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. He always comes from the East:
Eze 43:2 And, behold, [the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east]: and his voice was like a noise of many waters: and the earth shined with his glory.
He will establish the children of Israel as He did the Church:
2Co 1:21 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;
2Co 1:22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
2Ti 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
Eph 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
Jesus Himself prophesied of this coming day. These that would be sealed would preach the gospel of the kingdom, the Millennial Kingdom promised to the Jews.
Mat 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; [and then shall the end come].
This verse has never been for the Church but it has always been for the children of Israel. The end of The tribulation period will come shortly after the preaching of the 144,000.
This is the New Covenant mentioned by the prophets:
Jer 31:31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
Jer 31:32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:
Jer 31:33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Jer 31:34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
Explained again in the New Testament:
Heb 8:8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:
Heb 8:9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.
Heb 8:10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; [I will put my laws into their mind], and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
Heb 8:11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
Heb 8:12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
Heb 8:13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.
Notice the words "I will put my laws in their minds".
In Revelation verse 3 it says "till {we} have sealed the servants of God (in) their foreheads".
That "we" is none other than the Holy Spirit. Back in the book of Genesis we find the proof:
Gen 1:26 And God said, Let [us] make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
"till we" is the same as "let us" because it is the Holy Spirit that will seal these 144,000.
Php 2:5 says Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
These that are sealed in their heads will go through the tribulation period uninjured!
Rev 9:4 And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; [but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads].
and later:
Rev 14:1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.
We also have proof of how Jesus said He would protect His disciples. He was talking to Jews then and He is now:
Luk 10:18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
Luk 10:19 Behold, [I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you].
Luk 10:20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
Compare Revelation Chapter nine:
Our Text:
Rev 7:4 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.
These are not the Jehovah's Witnesses. These are of the children of Israel. There are no lost tribes of Israel. God knows where every person on this Earth is at any minute. Surely He would know where the children of Israel are also.
Our Text:
Rev 7:5 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.
Rev 7:6 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.
Rev 7:7 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.
Rev 7:8 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.
Again we can ask that question, "What's in a name"? We can only guess why these names were chosen but it is not for us to guess. A more realistic choice is to just believe and research or study the scriptures.
2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
1.) Judah............Praisers of God.
2.) Reuben.........Looking to the Son.
3.) Gad...............A Company (of).
4.) Aser...............Blessed ones.
5.) Nepthalim.....Wrestling with.
6.) Manasses.......Forgetfulness.
7.) Simeon...........Hearing and Obeying.
8.) Levi................Cleaving to.
9.) Issachar.........A Reward.
10.) Zabulon........A home a dwelling place.
11.) Joseph..........Adding.
12.) Benjamin.....Sons at God's right hand.
In other words, they are praisers of God, looking to the Son, a company of blessed ones wrestling with forgetfulness, hearing and obeying and cleaving to a reward of a home and a dwelling place adding Son's at God's right hand.
These are now servants of God and He has the same rules for all servants:
1Co 7:21 Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.
1Co 7:22 For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant.
Joh 15:15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
Joh 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
Let's get a better idea of these servants:
Rom 1:1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,
Rom 1:2 (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)
Rom 1:3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;
Rom 1:4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:
We know the Apostle Paul was mighty in preaching to the Gentiles but he would always try to reach his own nation of the Jews when he could. In fact Paul said these words:
1Co 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
1Co 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
1Co 15:5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
1Co 15:6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
1Co 15:7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.
1Co 15:8 And last of all he was seen of me also, [as of one born out of due time].
Now I do not believe Paul was talking about the past but of the future. Most everyone's bills come due at the end of the month.
We know that Paul was the last to see the Resurrected Christ and the Gospel was revealed to him by Christ Himself. We now have 144,000 mighty preachers just like the Apostle Paul. It will not take very long for God to evangelize the world. It was never the job of the Church to do this. It has always been Israel who was chosen as God's children to do this.
Our Text:
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.
The proof is written in God's word. A great multitude that no one could number.
Salvation is still by the Lamb of God. There is no other way to get to the Father in Heaven.
There could not be a better people for this task. They had been scattered throughout all these nations so they would not need interpreters. They would know all the languages. God would give them the task that He had originally had for them. "To carry His word to this whole planet"!
Hab 3:2 O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy.
Our Text:
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.
Rev 7:15 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.
Rev 7:16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.
Rev 7:17 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.
The elders (The Church) asked what are these not who are these. Notice the answer. They have washed their robes in the all cleansing "Blood of the Lamb". Still only one way. It's through the Blood of Jesus! All suffering is over. There is no more tribulation for God's children. Only God's wrath remains.
The angels have always rejoiced when a sinner has been saved by the Lord God Almighty!
Luk 15:10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
The devil has a way of sealing his children also:
1Ti 4:2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
They will have no mind to seal!
Let's pray!
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