The Book Of Revelation

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< > Chapter Six The last few years of this Age. Rev.4v1 to 20v3 The 144,000 Israelites and the victorious Christians. Rev.7v1-17 Jesus reveals to us two things that will happen at the resurrection on the last day, the great day of the wrath of the Lamb. The faithful Old Testament saints will be raised from the dead, as well as Christians. Some Israelites never enjoyed the promise of an earthly kingdom while they were alive, and it caused them great sorrow, God promised them a kingdom in the Millennium, at the resurrection. Ezek.37v1-14. The seventh chapter of Revelation is dealing with two groups of people, one group from the Old Covenant of Law, the other group from the New Covenant of Grace, that come before God at the resurrection on the last day. The sealing of these Israelites in Rev.7v1-8., cannot be protection against the trials of the great tribulation, for they are sealed after the great tribulation is ended. It is a seal of ownership and approval for a select company of Old Testament Israelites who have proved their right to rule in the Millennial kingdom. The number of 144,000 is no more symbolic than “the great multitude which no man can number.” It is the Old Testament counterpart of Rev.14v1-5., which speaks of the Christian overcomers who will rule with Christ. God seals the 144,000 of Rev.14v1-5., not to protect them, but to show that they have overcome and won the right to rule with Christ. Rev.3v12. 14v4. 17v14. God promised the faithful Old Testament saints that they would rule in the Millennium, and here we see the faithful Old Testament saints who will rule with the faithful Christians in the Millennium. The names of God's great ones of the Old Testament, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Elijah, Samuel, David, and so many more spring to mind. Ps.89v35-37. These faithful Old Testament saints must be included in the Millennial kingdom, if God is to fulfil His promises to the children of Abraham and Jacob. We certainly know from Gal.3v28,29. 5v6. and 1Cor.12v13., that in this present age of grace, no special privileges are given to Israelites. In this age of grace, the Church out of every nation, including Jewish Christians. is looked upon as God’s elect, and sealed by the Holy Spirit. Gal.6v16. Eph.1v11-14. Titus.2v14. Phil.3v2-10. Judah stands first in the list, though fourth in order of birth; perhaps this was due to the fact that Christ was born of this tribe, or that Judah assumed the leadership after the sin and failure of Reuben. The tribe of Dan is omitted altogether, the Hebrews say it was reduced to one family, the family of Hussim, which perished in the wars before the time of Ezra. The name of Ephraim is also omitted and Joseph is substituted in its place. Ephraim and Dan were the most idolatrous of the twelve tribes and so they lost their right to rule in the Millennium. Judges.17 and 18. Hosea. 4v17. How essential it is for parents to set a godly example. The holding of the four winds by the four angels whose work it is to hurt the earth, sea and trees, shows the perfect order which events on the last day will take place, between the dead being raised at the seventh trumpet, and the destruction of the wicked, there is the marshalling and sealing of the resurrected saints, who are to rule in the Millennium. This will not take the Almighty and His angelic hosts very long to accomplish, they could do it in a matter of minutes, certainly well within the half hour of the silence of the seventh seal spoken of in Rev.8v1. Jer.49v36. Dan.7v2. 11v4. John sees an innumerable multitude of Christians who have come through the great tribulation with a triumphant faith, they are worshipping before the throne in Heaven, and giving God all the glory for their victory. The people who say that there will be no Christians in the great tribulation must “take away” this part of the Revelation. Rev.22v19. To hear many people speak you would not think that God was able to look after His children in the great tribulation, but where sin abounds, grace does much more abound. In Rev.7v14. “great tribulation,” should read, “the tribulation, the great one,” “tes thlipseos tes megales.” It is an emphatic phrase which calls attention to the adjective “great,” rather than the noun “tribulation,” the same construction occurs in the references to “ the city, the great one,” “tes poleos tes megales,” in Rev.11v8. 14v8. 16v19. 17v18. 18v10,16,18,19,21. This “great tribulation,” is not the “much tribulation” spoken of in Acts.14v22., which all Christians can expect, it is the terrible time of world-wide distress which Jesus warned us about in Mt.24v15-21.. Dan.12v1. Jer.30v7. Mk.13v14,19,24. It is essential to remember that the great tribulation is not the result of God pouring out His wrath on the wicked. The Bible makes it quite clear that it is the direct result of the restraining hand of God being taken off the powers of darkness, and the consequent evil activities of Satan and Antichrist. Mt.24v15,21. 2Thes.2v7-12. Rev.12v7-12. The judgements of God are poured out on the earth, but they only fall on the wicked, God's people will be preserved from them as they have always been. Rev.9v4. Numb.11v1-3,33. 16v49. Ezek.9v4-6. Rev.16v2,10. In Rev.7v9-17. God reveals the victory over evil that an innumerable number Christians will experience who are in the great tribulation. This vision will inspire them to be steadfast in those evil days, they know that if they are faithful, they will be waving palms before the throne in glory. It is a wonderful comfort to know that the grace of God, and the blood of Christ, can give every Christian on earth who desires it, complete victory over the world, the flesh, the Devil, and the great tribulation. Rev.7v10,14. Those who suffer with Him are glorified with Him, and God wipes every tear from their eyes, their precious Saviour shepherds (“poimanei,” the future active indicative of “pomaino,” to shepherd”), and leads and guides them for ever. Rev.7v17. Rom.8v17,18. 2Cor.4v17,18. < >
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Chapter Six

The last few years of this Age. Rev.4v1 to 20v3

The 144,000 Israelites and the victorious Christians. Rev.7v1-17

Jesus reveals to us two things that will happen at the resurrection on the last day, the great day of the wrath of the Lamb. The faithful Old Testament saints will be raised from the dead, as well as Christians. Some Israelites never enjoyed the promise of an earthly kingdom while they were alive, and it caused them great sorrow, God promised them a kingdom in the Millennium, at the resurrection. Ezek.37v1-14. The seventh chapter of Revelation is dealing with two groups of people, one group from the Old Covenant of Law, the other group from the New Covenant of Grace, that come before God at the resurrection on the last day.

The sealing of these Israelites in Rev.7v1-8., cannot be protection against the trials of the great tribulation, for they are sealed after the great tribulation is ended. It is a seal of ownership and approval for a select company of Old Testament Israelites who have proved their right to rule in the Millennial kingdom. The number of 144,000 is no more symbolic than “the great multitude which no man can number.” It is the Old Testament counterpart of Rev.14v1-5., which speaks of the Christian overcomers who will rule with Christ. God seals the 144,000 of Rev.14v1-5., not to protect them, but to show that they have overcome and won the right to rule with Christ. Rev.3v12. 14v4. 17v14. God promised the faithful Old Testament saints that they would rule in the Millennium, and here we see the faithful Old Testament saints who will rule with the faithful Christians in the Millennium. The names of God's great ones of the Old Testament, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Elijah, Samuel, David, and so many more spring to mind. Ps.89v35-37. These faithful Old Testament saints must be included in the Millennial kingdom, if God is to fulfil His promises to the children of Abraham and Jacob. We certainly know from Gal.3v28,29. 5v6. and 1Cor.12v13., that in this present age of grace, no special privileges are given to Israelites. In this age of grace, the Church out of every nation, including Jewish Christians. is looked upon as God’s elect, and sealed by the Holy Spirit. Gal.6v16. Eph.1v11-14. Titus.2v14. Phil.3v2-10.

Judah stands first in the list, though fourth in order of birth; perhaps this was due to the fact that Christ was born of this tribe, or that Judah assumed the leadership after the sin and failure of Reuben. The tribe of Dan is omitted altogether, the Hebrews say it was reduced to one family, the family of Hussim, which perished in the wars before the time of Ezra. The name of Ephraim is also omitted and Joseph is substituted in its place. Ephraim and Dan were the most idolatrous of the twelve tribes and so they lost their right to rule in the Millennium. Judges.17 and 18. Hosea. 4v17. How essential it is for parents to set a godly example. The holding of the four winds by the four angels whose work it is to hurt the earth, sea and trees, shows the perfect order which events on the last day will take place, between the dead being raised at the seventh trumpet, and the destruction of the wicked, there is the marshalling and sealing of the resurrected saints, who are to rule in the Millennium. This will not take the Almighty and His angelic hosts very long to accomplish, they could do it in a matter of minutes, certainly well within the half hour of the silence of the seventh seal spoken of in Rev.8v1. Jer.49v36. Dan.7v2. 11v4.

John sees an innumerable multitude of Christians who have come through the great tribulation with a triumphant faith, they are worshipping before the throne in Heaven, and giving God all the glory for their victory. The people who say that there will be no Christians in the great tribulation must “take away” this part of the Revelation. Rev.22v19. To hear many people speak you would not think that God was able to look after His children in the great tribulation, but where sin abounds, grace does much more abound. In Rev.7v14. “great tribulation,” should read, “the tribulation, the great one,” “tes thlipseos tes megales.” It is an emphatic phrase which calls attention to the adjective “great,” rather than the noun “tribulation,” the same construction occurs in the references to “ the city, the great one,” “tes poleos tes megales,” in Rev.11v8. 14v8. 16v19. 17v18. 18v10,16,18,19,21. This “great tribulation,” is not the “much tribulation” spoken of in Acts.14v22., which all Christians can expect, it is the terrible time of world-wide distress which Jesus warned us about in Mt.24v15-21.. Dan.12v1. Jer.30v7. Mk.13v14,19,24.

It is essential to remember that the great tribulation is not the result of God pouring out His wrath on the wicked. The Bible makes it quite clear that it is the direct result of the restraining hand of God being taken off the powers of darkness, and the consequent evil activities of Satan and Antichrist. Mt.24v15,21. 2Thes.2v7-12. Rev.12v7-12. The judgements of God are poured out on the earth, but they only fall on the wicked, God's people will be preserved from them as they have always been. Rev.9v4. Numb.11v1-3,33. 16v49. Ezek.9v4-6. Rev.16v2,10. In Rev.7v9-17. God reveals the victory over evil that an innumerable number Christians will experience who are in the great tribulation. This vision will inspire them to be steadfast in those evil days, they know that if they are faithful, they will be waving palms before the throne in glory. It is a wonderful comfort to know that the grace of God, and the blood of Christ, can give every Christian on earth who desires it, complete victory over the world, the flesh, the Devil, and the great tribulation. Rev.7v10,14. Those who suffer with Him are glorified with Him, and God wipes every tear from their eyes, their precious Saviour shepherds (“poimanei,” the future active indicative of “pomaino,” to shepherd”), and leads and guides them for ever. Rev.7v17. Rom.8v17,18. 2Cor.4v17,18.

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