Please turn in your Bibles this evening to Revelation chapter 7 as we continue our study through the Word of God. As we saw last time, chapter 7 is a break in the cataclysmic judgments that are being poured out upon the earth and its inhabitants by God. In this chapter John fills in some of the details of what will take place during the tribulation period. It is kind of a breather after seeing all that is coming upon the earth dwellers.
And, as I said last time, this chapter flows from what is said in Revelation 6:17 as the inhabitants of the earth call for the rocks and the mountains to “ . . . ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!’” And their cry is, “For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?” Revelation 6:16-17.
Thus, chapter 7 describes two groups of people who are able to stand before a holy and righteous God – those who have been washed of their sins by the blood of Jesus. You see, as you ask Jesus to be your Lord and Savior, you are instantaneously cleansed of your sins and as Paul said, “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” II Corinthians 5:21.
This first group we looked at last time and they were the 144,000 Jewish Witnesses or evangelists for Christ. And John tells us specifically that these represent 12,000 from each of the twelve tribes of Israel who will be saved during the Tribulation Period and they will be sealed by God to protect them from the winds of judgment that will be blowing across the land. Once they are sealed, then these winds of judgment are unleashed! And we will see the winds of judgment unleashed as we get to Revelation chapter 8.
Tonight we are going to be looking at the second group of people who are saved during the Tribulation Period but they are not sealed for protection like the 144,000 will be. In fact, as we are going to see, this second group who can stand before God are some of the fruit of these 144,000 Jewish Witnesses. So with that said, let’s begin reading in Revelation chapter 7, starting in verse 9 and see what the Lord has for us this evening.
VERSES 9-10
After John saw the four angels holding back the winds of judgment from blowing across this world until the 144,000 Jewish Witnesses for Christ were sealed, he now sees this innumerable multitude in heaven standing before the throne of God and before the Lamb. In fact, as John sees this multitude he is taken back, he is shocked or startled by what he sees before him.
Now, who is this multitude? First of all they are not the 144,000! How do I know that? Several reasons and the most obvious is that this group is innumerable and the 144,000 are 144,000! I know, pretty simplistic, but very true! Also, this group is in heaven and not on the earth. They come from all walks of life, from nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues and thus, they are not just Jewish! They are obviously not sealed for protection because they are in heaven and have come out of the Tribulation Period – thus; they were martyred for their faith!
Remember what Jesus said in Matthew 24:14, “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” As we are going to see, I believe these martyred Tribulation Saints are some of the fruit that is born from these Jewish Witnesses. These are the saints who were under the alter in Revelation chapter 6 who are now standing before the throne of God, and I believe the reason they are now standing is given to us in Revelation 6:11, “Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.”
I want you to also notice that they are wearing white robes, and the Greek word that John uses for “white” is LEUKOS and it speaks of a shinning brilliance, a dazzling white, as pure and white as the fresh snow. Now, in saying that please understand that they were not saved by their good works, which are like filthy rags before God but by the blood of Christ that has been applied to their lives by faith! In Revelation 3:5 we read in the letter that Jesus wrote to the church in Sardis, “He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.” How do we become overcomers? John tells us in I John 5:4-5, “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world — our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” There is no other way except through Christ and His finished work on the cross of Calvary for us! And notice that even though this group of people has come from many cultures, many backgrounds, the message that saved them is always the same. It is Jesus Christ!
The Palm branches represent the victory that God has given to them through Jesus. I wonder how often we take our salvation for granted? These saints did not, for they knew the cost of serving the Lord. In Revelation 20:4 we are told of what happens to many of these dear saints of God, “And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.”
May we realize what it cost our Lord to give us this salvation, this everlasting life with Him. And as we do, may we serve Him no matter the cost! May we truly come before God every day, not only to lay our requests at His feet, but to praise Him and thank Him for being our God. Paul tells us in Hebrews 4:16, “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
VERSES 11-12
Once again we see heaven filled with the worship of God. You see, if you really believe what you are singing about, then you will sing it loud and strong. You will sing it with feeling and emotion as we see here in heaven. Now, let me ask you this, why don’t we see the worship of God amongst His people here on earth as we do in heaven? I think at times we become so busy, so preoccupied that we miss the majesty of God and the blessings He has bestowed upon us. Think about what God has done for each of us, and, most importantly, He saved us from our sins even when we were still in rebellion against Him!
Now I know it is hard to imagine a godly person losing sight of the majesty of God, of who He is, but it does happen and for many reasons. Let me give you one example of a godly man and you will see what I mean. Isaiah was a prophet to both Israel in the north and Judah in the south. His ministry spanned four kings in Judah and lasted at least forty years.
His ministry began towards the end of king Uzziah’s reign, and king Uzziah was a godly king, a good king who ruled the people in the Southern Kingdom of Judah. What is interesting to me is what Isaiah tells us in Isaiah chapter 6, beginning in verse 1, “In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one cried to another and said: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!’ And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke.” Isaiah 6:1-4.
Why did Isaiah see the Lord in the year that king Uzziah died? I believe his focus was on king Uzziah instead of focusing on the Lord. That can be a dangerous thing to do even if the person is a godly man or woman, for the best of men are men at best and the same goes for women. Also, his relationship with the Lord was through Uzziah, at least that is what it seems.
Folks, I do know what Paul said in I Corinthians 11:1, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.” So then, why is this wrong? First of all, when I first was saved I did follow after my pastor as he followed after the Lord because I was just growing, learning. And pastor Phil NEVER told me to focus on him but as I watched him, he always pointed me back to the Lord. Then came a point when I looked to the Lord, I matured in the faith. Not that we can’t learn from each other, but we need to see the Lord!
Do you know what happens as we see the Lord? Isaiah tells us in chapter 6, verse 5, “So I said: ‘Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The LORD of hosts.’” You see, we will see ourselves as we really are, sinners, but the Lord does not leave us there. Look at the next verse in Isaiah where we are told, “Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth with it, and said: ‘Behold, this has touched your lips; Your iniquity is taken away, And your sin purged.’ ” Isaiah 6:6-7.
Once you have seen the Lord, once the Lord has touched you, then comes the ministry. Again, in Isaiah chapter 6 we are told, “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: ‘Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?’ Then I said, ‘Here am I! Send me.’” Isaiah 6:8. Do you see that? God is looking for someone to represent Him and all we need to do is to step forward and walk by faith!
Now, what does that have to do with worship? Everything, you see, our live are a living sacrifice unto Him and as we see the Lord, as the Lord touches us, as we walk by faith, it is our spiritual worship unto Him. Folks, if worship is the occupation of heaven then it should be our focus here on earth!
Here we see the angelic beings worship the Lord – myriads of angels. We see the elders who represent the Church worship the Lord – an innumerable number of saints. We see the four living creatures worship the Lord. And as this group worships the Lord they fall on their faces in honor of Him. You see, worship is the occupation of those in heaven and it is not just with words or song, but with action!
Now why are they worshiping the Lord here in Revelation chapter 7? Because of what we just read in verses 9-10, “After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’”
God’s grace, His mercy, His love extends even in the midst of divine judgment! And, as we are going to see, this innumerable number of martyred saints come out of the tribulation period! In Luke chapter 15, beginning in verse 4 we see why all of heaven is rejoicing, because it is something that is even happening today. Listen carefully, we are told, “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.” Luke 15:4-7. You see, all heaven breaks forth with praise when a sinner becomes a saint, and look at the numbers that come to the Lord during the Tribulation Period!
VERSES 13-14
This seems a little strange. Why did the elder ask John who these people were if he already knew? John needed to know this information and, according to Dr. Robert Thomas, “ . . . the dialogue format used from time to time convey an explanation of a vision.” You see, this information not only needed to be reveled to us, but to John.
Obviously John is not sure and thus, this can’t be the church. In fact, as we have seen, the church is taken out before the Tribulation Period begins. We call it the Rapture. And if this is the church here in Revelation chapter 7, why would John or the elder have to distinguish this group from the rest of the church? He wouldn’t! And once again we don’t have to guess who these people are for the elder tells us, “ . . . ‘These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.’” Revelation 7:14b. In fact, this verse can be translated from the Greek in this manner, “These are those who came out of the tribulation, the great one.” It is as Jesus said in Matthew 24:21, “For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.”
In the ancient Greek grammar of this passage, “the” is emphatic or definite and thus, this multitude comes out of THE Great Tribulation or the majority comes from that last 3½-year period of time. Does that mean no one will be martyred for their faith in the first 3 ½ years? No, but like I said, the majority will be martyred for their faith during the last half of the 7 year Tribulation Period as the Antichrist unleashes his fury on those who refuse to bow down to him.
Some people have a hard time with seeing people saved out of the Tribulation Period, but that obviously is not the case. Others say that those who have heard the truth and rejected it before the Tribulation Period starts, can not be saved during the Tribulation Period and they use II Thessalonians 2:11-12 as their Scriptural reference. In those verses we are told, “And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”
I don’t believe that is what Paul is saying. Let me ask you this, how many times did you hear the Gospel before you received it? I bet for the vast majority of you it was more than just once! Paul is saying that there comes a point were you keep rejecting the truth of God and your heart gets harder and harder until you reach that point of no return and then you CAN’T be saved! But folks, God is gracious and merciful and I am so thankful for that and I bet you are too!
And please understand, this is not just what I feel, there is Scriptural support for this. Not only do we see Pharaoh harden his heart over and over again in Exodus but we also see the Jewish religious leaders of Jesus’ day harden their hearts to the truth of God so much so that the Bible says that they could not believe! Jesus said in Matthew 12:31-32, “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.” One of the things the Holy Spirit does is to draw people to Jesus and if you reject the work of the Holy Spirit, receiving Jesus as Lord and Savior, you will die in your sins! That is the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.
Then, in John 12:37-41 we are told, “But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him, that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke: ‘Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?’ Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again: ‘He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, Lest they should see with their eyes, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.’ These things Isaiah said when he saw His glory and spoke of Him.”
You see, they saw Jesus heal the sick, open the eyes of the blind, cleanse the leaper, make the deaf to hear and the mute to speak, He raised the dead. He did all these things and more, He fulfilled what the Old Testament prophets said that the Messiah would do and yet they hardened their hearts over and over again, not wanting to believe and they reached the point of no return for their salvation. God gave them opportunity after opportunity and they refused to see so God gave them what they wanted and they were spiritually blind to the things of God and “Therefore they could not believe.”
Also, please understand how their robes were washed as white as snow, it was through the blood of the Lamb! Paul put it this way in Hebrews 9:14, “how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” Now I do realize it is hard to imagine being cleansed by blood, but it is the shed blood of Christ that cleanses us because it was the payment for our sins. And it is this blood applied to our lives by faith that we then receive the cleansing. Isaiah put it this way in Isaiah 1:18, “‘Come now, and let us reason together,’ Says the LORD, ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.’”
Again, it is not their martyrdom that saves them or anything else except the shed blood of Christ applied to their lives by faith and the same is true for us! Spurgeon put it like this: “They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Not one of them became white through his tears of repentance, not one through the shedding of the blood of bulls or goats. They all wanted a vicarious sacrifice, and for none of them was any sacrifice effectual, except the death of Jesus Christ the Lord. They washed their robes nowhere but in the blood of the Lamb.” I think that is very clear and if it isn’t , then heed the words of Jesus who said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6.
VERSES 15-17
These dear saints of God who suffered much affliction for their faith on the earth are now before God and serving Him. No longer will they hunger because the Bread of Life, Jesus Christ will meet their needs. No longer will they thirst because the Fountain of Living Water, Jesus Christ will satisfy their needs. No longer will they face any physical affliction because the strong tower, Jesus will watch over them and protect them, they can find shelter under His wings. You see, those days are over and now they are in the presence of the Lord! It is as David said in Psalm 27:4, “One thing I have desired of the LORD, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD, And to inquire in His temple.” That is truly the ultimate; it doesn’t get any better than that!
In this verse John speaks of those who come out of this Great Tribulation Period, that God will dwell among them. The word “dwell” is the Greek word SKENOO, (skay-no’-o), which we read of in John 1:14, which says, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”
God dwelt among us, He became flesh and we saw Him face-to-face, is what John is saying. Interestingly enough, the Jews connected the word SKENOO (dwell) to the word SHEKINAH, which spoke of the glory of God being present. They of course were not the same word and yet the Jews used it that way.
As Solomon dedicated the temple and prayed in II Chronicles chapter 7, we read beginning in verse 1, “When Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the temple. And the priests could not enter the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD’S house. When all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the LORD on the temple, they bowed their faces to the ground on the pavement, and worshiped and praised the LORD, saying: ‘For He is good, for His mercy endures forever.’” II Chronicles 7:1-3.
The glory of the Lord, the Shekinah glory spoke of His presence. When the Lord filled the tabernacle it was seen as a fire by night and a cloud by day as they traveled in the wilderness. (See Exodus 24:16-18 and 40:34-38). When God dwelt among them they saw His glory - and His presence was among them when He became flesh and dwelt with them. And it is out of this we read in verses 16 and 17 of Revelation chapter 7, “They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
When we get to heaven will we be sorrowful, sad, shed tears over the wasted opportunities we had in this life? Absolutely not! Yes, we might not receive the rewards that we could have, but John tells us that God will wipe away every tear! What about all the pain and suffering we endured in this life, will that affect us in heaven? Think of these Tribulation Saints and John tells us that God will take away those tears from them, the past pain, hurts will be gone. Walvoord puts it like this, “The point is that the grief and tears of the past, speaking of their trials in tribulation, will be over when they get to heaven . . . God will wipe away all tears resulting from their suffering on earth.”
What about our loved family and friends who have rejected Jesus and will enter into eternity apart from Him, will there be sorrow over that? Again, absolutely not, because I believe God will put the past away, we will know each other in heaven but we will not remember the lost loved ones. If we did, then there would be much sadness in heaven, but there is great joy in heaven and every tear will be wiped away! In Isaiah 25:8-9 we are told, “He will swallow up death forever, And the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces; The rebuke of His people He will take away from all the earth; For the LORD has spoken. And it will be said in that day: ‘Behold, this is our God; We have waited for Him, and He will save us. This is the LORD; We have waited for Him; We will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.’” And to make this very clear, we are told in Revelation 21:4, “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
Here in Revelation chapter 7 we have seen 2 groups of people. Those 144,000 Jewish witnesses who were sealed by God for protection and share the love of Christ during the Tribulation Period, and thus, they are here on the earth. And this innumerable group of Tribulation Saints who have been martyred for their faith in Jesus Christ during the Tribulation Period and are seen in heaven before the throne of God, serving Him and being watched over by the Great Shepherd, Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God!
As I begin to close this evening, let me leave you with these words from John MacArthur. Words to help us not lose perspective in the days we are living in. He wrote:
In this age when Christianity is under siege on all sides, seemingly losing its grip on divine truth and apparently headed for defeat, it is comforting to be reassured of the ultimate triumph of God’s saving grace. In the midst of an even worse situation in the future before Christ’s return, God will redeem His people. That thought should bring present-day believers great comfort, and motivate all to praise God for the greatness of His redemptive plan. And ultimately, in the eternal state, all these promises will come true for all believers.
- John MacArthur
Folks, if you are struggling in this area, losing hope, never forget that God is still in control, He is our keeper. The Psalmist said in Psalm 121 these encouraging words of comfort and hope in dark times, “I will lift up my eyes to the hills — From whence comes my help? My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel Shall neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is your keeper; The LORD is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, Nor the moon by night. The LORD shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in From this time forth, and even forevermore.” Psalm 121:1-8. May we not forget that because He is watching over us forevermore!