Revelation 7:9-17
The Tribulations Saints – part 2
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Introduction
√ Last week we began our study of chapter 7 with two questions…
"For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?" - Rev. 6:17
And…
"Will anyone be saved during the Tribulation?"
…chapter 7 answers both those questions by introducing us to two groups of saints who come out of the Great Tribulation…
The 144,000 – we looked at last week
The Great Multitude – our study this morning
Both groups will be able to stand in the Day of God’s Wrath, and those who will be saved during the Tribulation.
This is a very important chapter to understand as almost every cult has twisted it to accommodate their peculiar doctrines. However, you’ll see as we go through it that John’s vision is clear and the careful student of God’s Word will be able to comprehend it.
Ex. Quick check of the internet reveals a plethora of false doctrines!
“The 3rd Testament” – believes the 144,000 are the enlighten and that Jesus has already returned!
World Wide Church of God believes the 144,000 is the Church
David Jay Jordan has concluded that only 144,000 will be saved!
All these groups make the same errors…
They spiritualize text that is clearly meant to be understood as literal.
They falsely claim to posses “special” knowledge, or have “keys” which unlock the hidden meaning of the Bible.
Both are at the heart of Gnosticism and are contrary to the Truth taught by Jesus and fought against by His apostles in their New Testament letters (Jude, Peter, & John).
Ap. God spoke so that people could understand!
That we might understand Him, that we might come to know Him, and that we might please Him.
Don’t be fooled by scripture twisters!
A Great Multitude (Vs. 9-12)
Rev 7:9 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,
Rev 7:10 and crying out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!"
Rev 7:11 And 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,
Rev 7:12 saying: "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen."
√ The Great Multitude – another group
Note that this second group John sees is different than the first group of 144,000....
1st group vs. 2nd group
Numbered Innumerable
Children of Israel Every nation, tribe, people, tongue
On earth In heaven
The contrast between the two groups is important to note because there are some folks who miss these distinctions and wrongly conclude that there is only one group mentioned in this chapter.
However, I’d suggest that the language of the text makes it clear that there are two different groups here.
The question then is…
Who are they?
…that’s exactly what one of the elders asks John!
The Identity of the Great Multitude (vs. 13-14)
Rev 7:13 Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, "Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?"
Rev 7:14 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.
√ Tribulation saints
John's not even sure who they are and can't answer this question when one of the elders asked him!
But, we're not left to wonder as the answer is given in vs. 14 where the elder tells John that this group of saints…
“These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation” – vs. 14
That is…
These are the Tribulation saints - those who come to faith in Christ after the Rapture of the Church.
Many believe that they will be saved through the witness of the 144,000 (Matt. 24:14) and through the ministry of the Two Witnesses (Rev. 11).
Others have suggested that many will come to faith in Jesus because of the witness of faithful Christians who shared the gospel before the rapture.
Regardless of who leads them to salvation, please note that an innumerable group of people will be saved during the Tribulation!
Answers our 2nd question…
"Will anyone be saved during the Tribulation?"
…the answer, yes!
But that brings up an interesting theological question…
√ How are they saved?
Some have wondered how people can be saved during the Tribulation since the Holy Spirit is removed to allow the Antichrist (2 Thess. 2:7)??
That is; if the Holy Spirit is removed - so that the Antichrist can be revealed - how will people come to a saving knowledge of Christ since it is the Holy Spirit Who convicts people of sin?
The answer; people will be saved in the same way people were saved before Pentecost - by faith in God, specifically in Jesus Christ the promised Messiah.
The difference between the time before & after the Rapture of the Church…
…is in the ministry of the Holy Spirit during the Tribulation vs. during the Age of Grace.
At Pentecost He was given to indwell the Church with power to be a witness of Jesus (Acts 1:8)
At the rapture His ministry in the Church is completed so He is removed in the sense that His active ministry through the Church is no longer present on earth.
But, He is still able to minister on earth in the lives of individuals during the Tribulation and bring them to salvation - He is God after all and therefore omnipresent.
So, while the Holy Spirit’s presence in the Church is no longer active during the Tribulation…
…He is none the less still ministering to Mankind.
Ex. Jesus’ ministry then and now
He ministers to people in a different way today than He did when He walked in Judea.
Yet, He is still present and active in the lives of people today.
Jesus said…
Mat 28:20 "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
Though Jesus is no longer ministering in a physical-material body that we can see and touch…
…He is none the less present in the world today and lives in the heart of each believer.
√ Martyrs
The next thing we note concerning this group of saints is that it would appear that many will lose their lives because of their faith…
…note that we find them in heaven before the end of the Tribulation period!
Probably as a result of their refusal to worship the Antichrist.
Rev. 13:15 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.
Reminds us that the cost to follow Jesus during the dark days of the rule of Antichrist will be great. May I encourage you that if you haven’t yet received Christ as Savior to do so now…
…before the Tribulation!
√ The family of God
One final note concerning the identity of this group…
Rev 7:9 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,
John tells us that these people are not limited to the “children of Israel” as was the 144,000…
…rather, this great multitude comes from every people group on the planet!
“a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues”
Two things ought to catch our attention…
1) The size of this group of saints - "no one could number" - reveals that many people will be saved during the Tribulation even though Satan has his man running the world.
Perhaps the greatest harvest in the history of the world!
2) The gospel of Christ is a "world-wide" gospel. It isn't a message only for the Jew, nor the Gentile, the white man or the black – God’s kingdom is open to any who would trust in Chris!
Ap. Beware of exclusive “Gospels”
Whenever you find someone preaching a so-called Gospel message that is only for white people, or any group – you can be sure that it is a false Gospel.
The activity of the Great Multitude (vs. 15-17)
Rev 7:15 "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.
Rev 7:16 "They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat;
Rev 7:17 "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."
And…
Rev 7:10 and crying out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!"
Rev 7:11 And 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,
Rev 7:12 saying: "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen."
In the closing verses of chapter 7, John tells us what this Great Multitude of saints is doing in heaven.
√ They serve God (vs. 15)
Significant as it reveals that heaven is not just a place of rest from earthly toils…
…but also of privileged service.
Thus, we find the Tribulation saints serving God in a place of honor and privilege before the Throne of God.
Ap. Those who serve well on earth will be rewarded with a ministry in eternity!
√ They worship God (vs. 10 & 11)
Seems like everyone in heaven is worshiping the Lord! Note that along with this Great Multitude we’re told that the…
Elders
Angels
4 living creatures
…are all worshipping the Father and the Son!
Can you blame them?! The saints have been…
Redeemed from their sins
Given the righteousness of Christ
Given eternal life
Granted access to God and His throne
Comforted from all their troubles on earth
And not a one of them (or us) deserves any of it! God did it all for us as a demonstration of His perfect love.
√ They live with God (vs. 15)
Rev 7:15 "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.
The saints are blessed to live in the very presence of Almighty God! They are no longer separated from God by the veil of this world…
…rather, they privileged to see Him with their own eyes and hear Him with their own ears!
As John tells us in his 1st Epistle…
1John 3:2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
This promise is not just for the Tribulation Saints, but to all who trust in Jesus.
√ They are blessed by God (vs. 16-17)
Rev 7:16 "They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat;
Rev 7:17 "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."
That is, for all that they suffered on earth as a result of their faith in Jesus, He will wash even the memory away. For He will bless them with the provision of heaven.
Where they suffered for…
Lack of water - drink Living Water
Lack of food - eat Bread of Life
Exposure to sun - bask in His glory
Being pursued - they’ll be led by Jesus
Tears were their portion - He will dry their eyes
The saints of God will enjoy all of the blessings of heaven!
Close
√ Chapter 7 reveals the answers to two important questions...
1) "Who will stand in the Day of His wrath" – the answer…
…those who have trusted in Jesus for their righteousness.
2) "Will anyone be saved during the Tribulation" - the answer…
…yes, many people from every part of the planet will come to faith in Jesus.
Ap. Chose Jesus today! Don't wait!
God desires a relationship with you today and for eternity! The World and the Devil can’t offer anything to compare with God’s love and the blessings He has for us now…
…and in heaven.