Those who stand and escape the wrath of God are those who worship Christ. Those who have a mark from God are branded by God. Those who have the mark of the beast belong to Satan. God knows His own and protects them.
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The Heavenly Cry of the Redeemed
Revelation 7:1-10
What is the heavenly cry of the redeemed in heaven? What does their worship look like? Well, we have seen one vision of heavenly worship in Revelation chapters 4 and 5. This morning, we are going to look at heavenly worship in Revelation chapter 7.
There are many different ways people have interpreted the Book of Revelation.
The Preterist View: The book of Revelation was fulfilled in the first century, with the Fall of Jerusalem in 70 A.D.
The Historicist View: The book of Revelation has been fulfilled throughout church history. Certain symbols represent particular people or events in church history.
The Futurist View: The book of Revelation will be fulfilled in the last 7 years of church history.
I want to propose another view that I think has much to commend it: The Progressive Parallelism View. This view sees that the book of Revelation divides itself into 7 parallel sections. Chapters 1-3; 4-7; 8-11; 12-14; 15-16; 17-19; 20-22. Each section looks at the church age from Christ’s 1st coming to His 2nd coming from a different perspective. It is looking at the same diamond from 7 different vantage points. The last section takes us past Christ’s 2nd coming to new heavens and new earth. In most of these 7 parallel sections you will find a reference to the end of the world and God’s judgment. For example, in Rev. 6:12-17 we read that the sun becomes black, the moon became like blood, the stars fell to the earth, the sky was split apart like a scroll, every mountain and island were moved out of their places, and the wrath of the Lamb had come. All of those things point to the end of the world and God’s final judgment. However, we will find something similar at the end of chapter 11, 14, 16 and 19.
All of this tells me that we should not try to read the book of Revelation chronologically. If we do, we will think that the contents of chapter 12 come after the contents of chapter 11. However, chapter 11 speaks of the final judgment, and chapter 12 speaks of the birth of Christ!
At the end of Revelation 6 the question is asked “for the great day of their (God and the Lamb) wrath has come, and who is able to stand? The answer comes to us in chapter 7. There we are told who will be able to stand in the day of God’s wrath.
In Revelation 7, we have two visions. The first is a vision of something that takes place on earth. The second vision is of something that takes place in heaven.
So, today, let’s take a look at these two different visions. We won’t have enough time to work our way through the entire chapter, but my goal is to work through the first 10 verses of this chapter.
1. The Vision of the People of God Sealed on Earth (7:1-8)
7:1-3.
Here we find 4 angels dispatched to bring destruction on earth in form of violent winds (hurricanes, tornadoes). These four angels were standing on the four corners of the earth – one on the North, one on the South, one on the East, and one on the West corner. These four angels are temporarily holding back the four winds from blowing on the earth, sea, tree, or people. Why are they holding back the winds? Because another angel who has the seal of the living God cried out with a loud voice to these four angels and commanded them not to turn loose of the winds until God’s bond-servants have been sealed on their foreheads.
We have something similar in Ezek.9:1-6. In that vision, Ezekiel hears God command His executioners to draw near. Six men appeared with his shattering weapon in his hand. Among these six men was another man clothed in linen with a writing case. God commanded this man with the writing case to go through the city of Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations which were being committed in the city. Then God told the executions to go through the city and slay every person who did not have this mark on his forehead.
Well here in Revelation 7 we have something very similar. The devastating winds would not be turned loose on the world until the bond-servants of God were sealed on their foreheads.
What is this seal all about?
It was a Seal of protection. All those with this seal would not be destroyed by the four great winds about to be turned loose on the world. In other words, those with this seal would not face the wrath of God.
It was a Mark of Ownership. It was a label of identification. Rev.14:1, “Then I looked, and behold, the Lamb was standing on Mount Zion, and with Him 144,000, having His name and the name of His Father written on their foreheads. There we are told more about this seal. The seal is the name of God and the Lamb. The name of God is this mark, this brand. This mark is kind of like the mark ranchers put on their cattle so that there is never a question of who each steer belongs to. God has put His name on these people to identify them as His.
I don’t think this mark is visible. We should not think of a physical mark. In fact, we read of a seal somewhere else in Bible, don’t we?
Eph.1:13-14 “In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation – having also believed; you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise”
Eph. 4:30 “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption”
2Cor.1:21-22, “Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.”
The Holy Spirit is the seal! The indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit is the mark that a person belongs to God. Those who have this seal will not experience God’s wrath. It doesn’t mean they won’t face persecution. They will face the devil’s wrath, but not God’s!
7:4-8
Verse 4 mentions “those who were sealed”. That verb is in the perfect tense, which indicates a past action with ongoing results. It stresses permanence. Once God seals you, He will never unseal you!
Who are these people who are sealed? 144,000 – 12,000 from every tribe of Israel. We have all been taught to think of these people as Jews who will be saved during the last 7 years of earth’s history. I think we should rethink that view.
- They are called the bond-servants of our God (7:4).
In Rev. 1:1 the bond-servants of God are members of the NT Church that received this book.
In Rev. 11:18 the bond-servants of God are linked with the prophets, saints and those who fear God’s name. Again, they are part of the church.
In Rev. 19:2, the bond-servants of God include the martyrs who died for Christ.
In Rev. 19:5 the bond-servants of God include all those who worship God in heaven.
In Rev. 22:3 the bond-servants of God include all those who will serve God in the age to come. Therefore the phrase “bond-servants of God” is not limited to Israelites. It is a title describing all of God’s people throughout time, Jew and Gentile. It describes you if you are a Christian! And that’s exactly what we would expect, because this seal represents the seal of the Holy Spirit which is given to every Christian. Therefore, my conclusion is that these 144,000 who are sealed represent the Church, not Israel.
- They Were Purchased: 14:1-5. Note verse 3 “purchased from the earth.” Verse 4 says “they have been purchased from among men as first fruits to God and to the Lamb.” Is there some other place in the book of Revelation where we read about people being purchased for God? Yes! Last Sunday we saw it. Revelation 5:9 says “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.” So, these are redeemed sinners from every tribe and nation on the planet, not just Jews. If we took Revelation 14:5 literally, we would have to restrict this group to male virgin Jews. There would be no women or children among them.
3) There are 12,000 from 12 different tribes of Israel. Why if this doesn’t represent ethnic Israelites? Revelation frequently uses numbers symbolically, especially 7 & 12.
- The number 7 is found 55 times in Revelation! There are 7 churches, lampstands, stars, spirits, horns, eyes, seals, trumpets, angels, peals of thunder, heads, plagues, golden bowls full of the wrath of God, and kings.
- There are 12 gates which represent the 12 tribes of Israel – 21:12
- There are 12 foundation stones on which the names of the 12 apostles are written – 21:14.
- In New Jerusalem we have the Tree of Life, bearing 12 kinds of fruit – 22:2
- God’s throne is surrounded by 24 thrones and 24 elders (12+12);
- The wall of the city is 144 cubits thick – 21:17
- City is a cube – 12,000 stadia (21:16).
The Numbers used here are a little too Perfect: notice there were exactly 12,000 from each tribe. Not 11,974 from Reuben, and 13,472 from Judah. No, these numbers are meant to represent something.
So, what might 144,000 represent? One 12 to represent God’s people under the Old Testament. Another 12 to represent God’s people under the New Testament. 12x12x1,000 High powers of 10 used in Rev. to signify great quantities of people. 144,000 is the symbolic way of saying this is ALL the people of God from Old and New Testaments. Why does John use images of Israel to represent all the redeemed? Why called it the “New Jerusalem” instead of the “New Church”? Because all God’s elect from Genesis to Revelation are Israel. They are the true people of God. They are His chosen people.
Summary: what is this vision intended to teach us? That when God pours out His wrath and judgments on the world, His people will be protected by His seal. They have already been delivered from the wrath to come. Devil often seeks to mimic God. For example, in Revelation13 we read of the mark of the beast. Without this mark, a person can’t buy or sell. Without it he can’t survive, but will face the devil’s wrath. What is this mark? It is the name of the beast -13:17. Are you starting to connect the dots?
All will worship the beast who have his name on their forehead. All will worship Jesus who have His name on their forehead. (13:7-8).
Just as God’s mark is invisible, so too, the mark of the beast is invisible. This mark of ownership is displayed by the way a person thinks. If a man is sealed by the Holy Spirit, he loves God with all of his mind. If a man is owned by the devil, his mind will be conformed to this world.
Everyone in world right now has a mark – either they have the devil’s mark and will face God’s wrath, or they have God’s mark and will face the devil’s wrath. Whose mark do you have? Whose wrath do you want to face?
2. The Vision of the People of God Worshiping in Heaven (7:9-10)
Who is this great multitude which no one could count? 7:9. I believe it is the same group that John has just got done describing in 7:4-8. They are just being seen from a different perspective. Why do I believe this? In Revelation 5:2 when the strong angel asks, “who is worthy to open the book and break its seals?” one of elders tells John “Behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah”. John hears that answer. But when he turns to look at this Lion, he sees a Lamb. Same person, just seen from a different perspective. Same here. John hears that there are 144,000 who are sealed (7:4). When he looks, he sees great multitude which no one could count. I believe we are seeing the same group of redeemed sinners in two different settings. First, we see them on the earth, sealed, and protected from God’s judgment. Then we see them in heaven, worshiping the Lamb.
What do we learn about them in 7:9?
- A great multitude: yes, many enter the wide gate and only a few enter narrow gate. But when add up all those in the history of the world who enter narrow gate there are so many you can’t count them!
- From every nation: every tribe, tongue…
- Standing: not sitting on thrones. Standing because have job to do. Proclaim the excellencies of One who has called them out of darkness into marvelous light. Stand to worship, and serve God. In chapters 4 and 5, these elders fall down before the throne. Here they stand to worship God in triumph and victory.
- Clothed in White Robes: white is color of purity. That’s why bride dresses in white. But how did these worshipers become pure before this All-holy God? The blood of Christ – 7:14; 1Jn.1:7. Isaiah 1:18, “Come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord, Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow.” These white robes signify our absolute spotless righteousness given to us as a free gift through the work of Jesus Christ.
5) Holding Palm branches: in ancient times, when a great victory had been won, the people would greet the returning soldiers by waving palm branches. In about 160 B.C. the Syrian army under leadership of Antiochus Epiphanes took over city of Jerusalem, invaded temple, killed a pig on the altar and desecrated it in a most abominable way. The Jewish temple became a place of idol worship. It remained like that for 3 ½ years. Then, in one of greatest moments of Jewish history, the Syrians were driven out by military prowess of a band of soldiers led by Judas Maccabeas (Judas the Hammer). They recovered and cleansed their temple of all the defilements. The Jews celebrated this victory with great joy. 1 Maccabees 13:51, “Jews rejoiced with thanksgiving and with branches of palm trees, and with harps and cymbals, and hymns and songs because there was destroyed a great enemy out of Israel.”
About 200 years later Jesus appeared as the king of the Jews. He was the new Judas Maccabbeas. He entered the same city of Jerusalem. As He did so, the people likewise waved palm branches. They cried, “Hosanna” which means “Save Now”. Jesus got off his donkey, went straight to temple, and cleansed it from every defilement. Five days later, the same crowd screamed for His blood. But this was not defeat. This was the very means by which Christ would accomplish the salvation they cried out for. It was His blood that cleanses the Temple of God forever (church). In Revelation 7, John is seeing the great crowd again. Remember, he was there as Jesus rode into Jerusalem amid the waving of palm branches! The church has been cleansed from every defilement, by His blood. Those worshipers in heaven are holding palm branches to signify that their victory over their enemies has been won by this great Champion. The difference is that those in heaven are not like the fickle crowd that cried “Crucify Him” less than a weak later. These heavenly worshipers will never change their minds and turn away from the Lamb. “They cry out” is in the present tense which denotes ongoing, continual activity. They keep on crying out, forever and ever.
- Salvation to our God and the Lamb: This is what they are declaring. The Jewish crowd cried “Save now!” This crowd has a slightly different cry. It is not save now, because He has already accomplished their salvation. They cry “Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” They are not crying that God should be saved – He is not lost and has no need for salvation. They are declaring that God and the Lamb are the Ones who have secured their eternal salvation. They are declaring that our salvation is not the result of what we have done! Salvation is the glorious work of God. These worshipers are extolling God for His salvation.
No one in heaven is boasting about what they have done. None are boasting in the right use of their free will, or their wise decision, or their faith or their repentance. All are glorying in God and what He has done. They are boasting in Him. They are glorying that God is the author and the finisher of salvation.
Conclusion
Let’s worship now as we will then! Let’s boast that our salvation is ALL of God! It is ALL of grace! He deserves the credit and the glory! He purified our filthy robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. He destroyed our enemies. He kept us by His grace amidst all of our trials, suffering, and persecutions. All glory is due to Him, and Him alone!
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