So Who Can Stand?

Last Sunday morning, Bro. Ronnie guided us through Revelation 6 and the utter terror on the earth that will occur during the great tribulation as God judges those who had and were rejecting the gospel and the offer of salvation in Jesus Christ extended to them. 

 

You saw that through the opening of six of seven seals of judgment.  The seventh seal will start Revelation 8.

 

At the end of Revelation 6, verse seventeen asks a question, “Who is able to stand?”  At that time, who will be able to stand or survive God’s wrath and judgement? 

 

Today, we move to Revelation 7.  This chapter is what is called an interlude or a parenthesis or another scene that will happen ALMOST simultaneously with Revelation 6. 

 

Simply put, the title of this morning’s sermon is “So Who Can Stand?”  The answer is also simple: The Sealed of Israel on the Earth and the Saved from the Tribulation in Heaven.

 

Please allow me to give just a few more introductory comments before we turn our attention to today’s text.  First, I believe the Universal Church will be raptured, and that will occur in between Revelation 3 and 4.  In that even, the Lord will take all of the living believers at that time to heaven to be with Him for eternity.  It hasn’t happened yet, but it will unexpectedly.

 

Second, the earthly tribulation will come next, and we know from the Old Testament, specifically Daniel, that the earthly tribulation will last seven years.  It even appears that the seven years will be divided into two halves designating the first three and half years and then the second three and a half years.  However, remember, the Universal Church will have been raptured to heaven.

 

Third, I would say that Revelation 6 covers all seven years of the tribulation and introduces God’s judgment that will manifest itself in seals then trumpets and then bowls in the weeks to come.

 

Now, who can stand?

 

 

1. The Sealed of Israel on the Earth, Revelation 7:1-8

1 After these things I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, on the sea, or on any tree. 2 Then 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 granted to harm the earth and the sea, 3 saying, “Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.” 4 And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed: 5 of the tribe of Judah twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand were sealed; 6 of the tribe of Asher twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand were sealed; 7 of the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Levi twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand were sealed; 8 of the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand were sealed.

 

After six major and significant earthly judgments from God in chapter six, the opening verses of chapter seven show God’s mercy as the judgments are temporarily suspended.  Remember, there is still a seventh judgment to come.

 

Verse one says that John will see four angels at the four corners of the earth.  They are holding back the winds of the earth.  This is a very calm and peaceful scene. 

 

A fifth angel emerges in verse two.  He has the seal of the living God.  This is evidence that God Himself is behind this suspension of judgment which goes to show us that in fact, God is in control of all things.

 

This fifth angel then commands the other angels to cease from their judgments until they have sealed God’s servants. I believe these servants mentioned at the end of verse three are Jewish Christians. 

 

To be a servant of God is to be saved.  Evidently, these Jews will recognize Jesus as their Promised Messiah during the tribulation period.  According to Revelation 14:1, they will be sealed on their foreheads. 

 

1 Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father’s name written on their foreheads.

 

However, we cannot determine from this verse if this seal is visible to humans.  It may only be visible to God and His angels, but it certainly is in contrast with the mark of the beast.

 

In verse four, John says those that will be sealed will number 144,000.  Do I believe this number should be taken literally?  I do, but I’m not dogmatic about it because I know that sometimes John uses numbers figuratively or symbolically like he did in 7:1.  I know that there are not four literal corners of the earth. 

 

Please remember, these Jews were not raptured, and we know and believe that just because you are a Jew does NOT mean you are saved.  No one is saved apart from a personal and saving relationship with Jesus Christ.  These Jews entered the tribulation after the Universal Church was raptured, and they were saved. 

 

How were they saved if the Universal Church will be raptured?  Bibles won’t be raptured.  Evangelism Tracts won’t be raptured.  YouTube and Facebook and podcasts won’t be raptured. 

 

What does their sealing involve?  I believe it involves a spiritual salvation but also a physical salvation.  When God seals these 144,000 Jews, He will save them, and then He will physically protect them through the remainder of the tribulation. 

 

It will be like He did for the nation of Israel in the Old Testament.  He will physically protect them until Jesus comes again to the earth. 

 

What will they be doing after they are saved?  Some have said these will be Jewish evangelists.  This text doesn’t specifically say, but considering what they will know at this time…that Jesus is about to return and there will be no second chances, that is probably a safe bet.

 

Now, there are a host of questions regarding this listing of the 144,000 in verses five through eight.  Unfortunately, I only have one answer. 

 

First, many have asked why Dan is not mentioned in this tribal list.  No one can say for sure. 

 

Second, many have asked why Manasseh is mentioned but not Ephraim.  Weren’t they both sons of Joseph?  Yes, but no one can say for sure why Ephraim was not included. 

 

Third, many have asked why Judah is listed first and not the first-born Reuben.  I can confidently answer that Judah is listed first because Jesus is from the tribe of Judah.

 

Again, personally, I believe these sealed of Israel on the earth who will be able to stand or survive God’s judgment through the tribulation are a literal 144,000.  That means a literal 143,999 plus 1 Jewish brothers and sisters in Christ. 

 

 

2. Those Martyred Saints, 7:9-17.

9 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, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 11 All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying: “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever.  Amen.”  13 Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?”  14 And I said to him, “Sir, you know.”  So he said to me, “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. 15 Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. 16 They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; 17 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.”

 

I believe that verse nine is now another vision for John and another scene in this chapter.  Therefore, I don’t believe that John heard about one group of believers on earth in verses 1-8 and saw the same group of believers in heaven in verses 9-17. 

 

In verse 9, John sees a great multitude of people.  They are very diverse.  This group is multiethnic, multicultural, and multilingual.  They are from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues.   Because of the specificity of the Jews in verses five through eight, it stands to reason that most of these are Gentiles.

 

John sees them standing before the throne and before Jesus.  They are clothed in white robes, and they are worshipping with palm branches in their hands.  They are crying out, “Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”  They are worshipping both God the Father and Jesus, His Son.

 

Also around the throne in this scene are angels and the elders representing the raptured Church and the four living creatures representing all of creation.  They all are also worshipping as they will prostrate themselves before God and Jesus and the throne. 

 

They will be saying and singing the contents of verse twelve.  BTW Amen means so let it be, you can count on this, or this is true. 

 

As we move to verse thirteen, it becomes clear who this multitude is.  One of the elders will ask John for clarity.  John defers his answer. 

 

The elder then identifies this group as Christian martyrs whose lives were taken during the tribulation.  Again, there will be those saved during the tribulation.  However, these individuals will have been martyred for their faith in Christ. 

 

Actually, this is the same group we saw last week below the alter.  They are now around the throne.  See Revelation 6:9.

 

9 When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held.

 

These devoted brothers and sisters who will have given their physical lives for the name of Jesus and the furtherance of the gospel will be wearing white robes that have been washed in the blood of the Lamb. 

 

In heaven, God will protect them and comfort them unlike what they experienced on earth.  They will no longer be starved or burned or in pain.  For them, heaven will be relief and no more physical pain.

 

They will be able to stand or survive God’s judgement and wrath.

 

 

Conclusion

So what do take away this morning from Revelation 7? 

 

First, God is in control.  Go back to verses 1-3.  Who was in charge of the angels and is in charge of all things?  God is. 

 

Nothing that happened in 2020 caught God by surprise, and nothing that will happen in 2021 will either.  God is in complete control of all things.

 

Does that mean God causes evil?  It does not.  God allows evil to exist as a byproduct of giving us a choice to worship Him.  He causes good, and He allows evil.  Regardless, He is in control.

 

Second, heave is real, but it might be different than what you have in mind.  It won’t only be white.  It won’t only be American.  It won’t only be Baptist.  It is going to be different than you might think.  It will be every tribe and tongue from the four corners of the earth. 

 

Heaven will also be more than you can imagine.  Think about the greatest experience you can conceive.  Maybe it is an indefinite, all expense paid vacation in Hawaii.  Maybe it is a fourteen point buck taken at twenty five yards.  Maybe it is an eighteen hole round of seventy two at your favorite course.  Maybe it is your favorite team winning a championship.  Regardless, heaven will be different, and it will be more.  It will be drinking from the living fountains of waters never to thirst again. 

 

Finally, will you be able to stand God’s judgement?  Are you a servant of God?  That’s how 144,000 are described in verse 3. 

 

Do you believe that only way to be saved is through Jesus?  In verse 10, this great multitude will say that salvation belongs only to God and the Lamb, His Son, Jesus Christ. 

 

Do you know that you cannot earn salvation on your own merit?  Implied in verse 14 is that our spiritual garments are filthy rags and are in desperate need of being washed in the blood of the Lamb. 

 

If you aren’t ready to stand or survive the judgment of God today, I invite you to be saved.