Slides for this study

Last week we looked at the seal of God and the introduction to chapter 7.

• It is answering the question from Revelation 6:17 – who shall be able to stand.
• Who are those that are able to stand? Those that receive the seal of God.
• What was the seal of God?
  • It was the seal of God’s law.
  • Specifically, it was referring to the seal of the Sabbath.
  • The very day that God set as a sign to show that He is our God, that He is the One that sanctifies us.
  • The Sabbath is going to be a great issue and conflict at the end of time.
  • We also saw that the seal of God was connected with God’s Holy Spirit. It is God’s Spirit that will seal us at the end of time. He is the One that will give us the victory, the desire to change, the power to keep the Sabbath holy.
• The Holy Spirit is the One that will give us the power to spread the gospel to the whole world. It will help us to fill the world with God’s glory. Without which, Christ can never come back again for a second time.

Now we come back to Revelation 7 and it is about to specify who will be sealed.

 

Revelation 7:4
And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.

This is not referring literally to the children of Israel.

• This is referring to spiritual Israel. The 12 tribes of Israel do not exist today.
• Who is spiritual Israel? It is the born-again Christian. The true Christian in the heart.
• So who shall be able to stand? It is the 144,000.
• This is the group that will be able to stand through the wrath of God, and when Christ appears for a second time.

Is this a literal or a spiritual number?

• It doesn’t matter.
• It can be spiritual, and it can be literal.
• Understanding this point will not help us to be ready to stand at the end of time.
• However something that’s clear to see – it is a small number compared to how many people that are living in the world today.
• I think that’s very clear to see today. There are very few faithful Christian’s today. Many are not ready for Jesus to come.
• It is a solemn statement that I make to the church, that not one in twenty whose names are registered upon the church books are prepared to close their earthly history, and would be as verily without God and without hope in the world as the common sinner. They are professedly serving God, but they are more earnestly serving mammon. This half-and-half work is a constant denying of Christ, rather than a confessing of Christ. So many have brought into the church their own unsubdued spirit, unrefined; their spiritual taste is perverted by their own immoral, debasing corruptions, symbolizing the world in spirit, in heart, in purpose, confirming themselves in lustful practices, and are full of deception through and through in their professed Christian life. Living as sinners, claiming to be Christians! Those who claim to be Christians and will confess Christ should come out from among them and touch not the unclean thing, and be separate…. ChS 41.1
• Not one in twenty has a realization of what rapid strides we are making toward the great crisis in our history…. There is no time for vanity, for trifling, for engaging the mind in unimportant matters. Mar 253.2
• There is not one in twenty who knows the beauty, the real essence, of Christ’s ministry… 1MCP 185.3
• I saw that there is not one in twenty who knows what experimental religion is. 1T 496.1
• Is it a wonder that the 144,000 is a small number? Literal or spiritual, it’s small.
• Mind you, this is not the only group that will be saved into heaven. The later part of this chapter will make it clear in a minute.

Who makes up this number, the 144,000?

• Revelation 7:5-8
  5 Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand.
  Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand.
  Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand.
  6 Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand.
  Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand.
  Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand.
  7 Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand.
  Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand.
  Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand.
  8 Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand.
  Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand.
  Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand.
• The number 12 is prominent here.
  • 12,000 from the 12 tribes of Israel.

What is the significance of 12 in the Bible?

• 12 tribes of Israel.
• 12 disciples.
• 12 apostles.
• 12 gates in God’s city.
• 12 foundations.
• 12 stones on the priest’s breastplate.
• And now we see 12 spiritual tribes.
• The number 12 is associated with church government.

The tribes are not always listed in a consistent order. And there are differences between the listing of the tribes throughout scripture.

• Here is the order that we see in Revelation.

12 Tribes of Israel

Judah Reuben Gad Asher Naphtali Manasses Simeon Levi Issachar Zabulon Joseph Benjamin

There are actually 2 tribes missing in where it differs from the Old Testament.

• The 12 brothers of who it was named after originally.
• It did not contain Manasses. Who is Manasses? One of the sons of Joseph. The other son was Ephraim.
  • Ephraim was included as one of the 12 tribes at the beginning but then is now missing here.
• One of the 12 brothers from Jacob’s son is missing too. That is Dan.
• Why is Dan and Ephraim missing?

 

Dan:

• Dan means judge, strive, contend.
• Daniel is God is my judge. But this is just Dan.
• Genesis 49:17
  Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward.
  • Dan is known for biting the heel of the horse so that the rider will fall back.
  • He is known for back biting.
• Psalms 15:1-3
  1 LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? 2 He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. 3 He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.
  • Those who do not backbite will be able to stand in God’s holy hill.
• What does it mean to backbite?

• • In Psalms 15 the meaning is slander, tale-bearer, to go out as an explorer, to spy.
  • Sounds like a person who is a busy body, spying on people and then telling other people.
  • You know what that is called in our day? GOSSIP!
• What is the characteristic of the 144,000 in Revelation 14?
  • Revelation 14:5
    And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.
  • Their mouth does not backbite!
• We need to be careful what we talk about, who we talk about.
• Make sure you check the other side of the story before you believe anything.
• If you’re going to hear something, verify it with the other person.
• The problem is we like to feel important that someone else is confiding in us. But most times, it is gossip. It is the work of the devil.
• God’s people will have pure tongues.
• Coincidentally, do you know that we can break the Sabbath by what we say?
  • Isaiah 58:13
    If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words.
• God’s people will have pure speech just like Christ.
• When Peter denied Christ, he did it by swearing and cursing. He had been with Christ for over 3 years that his speech had become pure. But to prove he didn’t know Christ, he intentionally chose how he spoke.

 

How about Ephraim?

• Why is Ephraim not part of this list of 12 tribes in Revelation?
• What happened to him?
• Hosea 4:17
  Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone.
  • What idol did he literally chase after and worship in the Old Testament? We don’t know. But there is a significant spiritual application in the book of Revelation.
• The greatest idol that we will find in Revelation is found in Revelation 13.
• Revelation 13:15
  And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
  • The image of the beast is associated with the mark of the beast.
  • We will study into this in great detail when we get to Revelation 13.
• But take note – if you worship the image of the beast, you will receive the mark of the beast. You will be lost.
• The mark of the beast is a salvational issue at the end of time.
• The whole world will be thrown into this conflict and everyone will have to decide whether they want to receive the mark of the beast or the seal of God.

 

What is the meaning of the names of the 12 tribes that we see here in Revelation 7?

12 Tribes of Israel
Judah	Praise God
Reuben	A son
Gad	A company of sons, redeemed
Asher	Blessed/happy
Naphtali	Wrestling with God in prayer
Manasses	Forgetting self and the past
Simeon	Hearing God’s word
Levi	Joined to God
Issachar	Reward
Zabulon	Dwelling with
Joseph	Jehovah has added
Benjamin	Son of the right hand

These names contribute to the spiritual characteristics of the 144,000.

• For example, we need to learn to praise God.
• We need to learn to wrestle with God in prayer and to hear God’s word.

We will read a little more about the 144,000 in this chapter and more in Revelation 14. But this is what we know so far. Let’s continue.

 

Revelation 7:9-10
9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; 10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.

John’s attention is now directed away from the 144,000 to a different group.

“a great multitude, which no man could number”

• Who is the great multitude?
• It obviously cannot be the 144,000 because that is an exact and specific number.
• But the great multitude cannot be numbered.

“of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues”

• They are all the redeemed host throughout all ages of earth’s history.
• They are standing before the throne of God and before the Lamb.
• And they are crying – Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.
• They are the result of the sacrifice of the Lamb that was slain that we saw in Revelation 5.

How do we know that this is the redeemed host?

• They are clothed with white robes and they have palms in their

White robes:

• Revelation 6:11
  And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
  • This group in the fifth seal were killed during the dark ages and we know that they are definitely part of the redeemed.
• Revelation 3:4
  Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.
  • The church of Sardis is after the dark ages of the church of Thyatira.
• Revelation 3:18
  I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear…
  • Referring to those that lived in Laodicea that heeded the counsel of the True Witness and bought the white robe experience.
• So the great multitude span all of human history. Those that have been victorious.

Palms in their hands:

• John 12:13
  Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.
  • This was when Jesus was riding into Jerusalem on a donkey. It was the animal used when a king was about to be anointed.
  • Everyone thought that Jesus was about to be crowned king. It was a song of victory, a song of rejoicing.
• The great multitude have palm branches in their hands because their King is victorious already.
• We also see palm branches used in another situation. It was the feast of tabernacles – the very last of the seven feasts that the Jews celebrated every year.
  • Leviticus 23:40
    And ye shall take you on the first day the boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and ye shall rejoice before the LORD your God seven days.
  • It was related to a time of rejoicing. Why?
  • Leviticus 23:43
    That your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.
  • It was a reminder of God’s deliverance for them from Egyptian bondage and slavery.
  • It will be a reminder for us about the deliverance that God has given us from sin and the bondage of Satan.
• The great multitude has gotten that victory over the world and sin and Satan.
• It was nature’s emblem of victory.

 

Revelation 7:11-12
11 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, 12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.

It is not only the great multitude that is rejoicing and praising God.

• All the angels, the elders, the four beasts – they also fall down and worship God as well.
• We see a similar phrase at the beginning of the seals mentioned.
• Revelation 5:12-13
  12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. 13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.
• It was in reference to the worthiness of the Lamb.
• And here in Revelation they are saying it again because it is the Lamb that has redeemed them and saved them.

 

GC88, p665.1
And beyond is the “great multitude, which no man could number…” [REV. 7:9.] Their warfare is ended, their victory won. They have run the race and reached the prize. The palm branch in their hands is a symbol of their triumph, the white robe an emblem of the spotless righteousness of Christ which now is theirs.

 

Revelation 7:13-14
13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? 14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

John’s mind is now directed back to the 144,000. It is no longer referring to the great multitude. How do we know?

• In verse four, John didn’t see the 144,000, he only heard the number.
• Revelation 7:4
  And I heard the number of them which were sealed…
  • John actually have not seen the 144,000 yet.
  • The first group that he actually saw with his own eyes was the great multitude.
• Therefore, as he casts his eyes on this group who are also robed in white, he is prompted to ask the question as to who they are.
• He already knows who the great multitude is (who are also robed in white) because the previous verses already spent time in describing them. So it would not make sense for John to be asking that question in relation to the great multitude since they have already been described to him.

Notice that this group also has white robes. And on top of that they come out of great tribulation.

• The fifth seal prophesied also of such things.
• Revelation 6:11
  And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
  • It is only fitting that if their brethren would be killed as they were, those brethren would also receive white robes just like theirs as well.
• So we see the fulfillment of that verse to a certain extent here in what we are reading now in Revelation 7.

The 144,000 will go through great tribulation. Many will seek to kill them but they will come out of it.

• It would not be correct to conclude that the great multitude have come out of great tribulation, even though it is true that Jesus promised His followers that those who follow Him would have tribulation.
• The church of Thyatira, which points us to the dark ages says this:
  • Revelation 2:22
    Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.
  • The 1260 years of persecution was referred to as a great tribulation. And yes it was. Many were killed for the faith that they held.
• However, the great tribulation here in Revelation 7 cannot be referring to that time for a number of reasons.
  • These people are beyond that time. This time frame is just a short time before the second coming.
  • Also, they came out of great tribulation meaning that they survived it. But hardly any survived the 1260 years of persecution. There were many martyrs.
• What is this great tribulation?
  • Matthew 24:21-22
    21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.
  • This is the time of tribulation that the 144,000 will go through.
• Daniel also prophesy’s of it as well.
• Daniel 12:1
  And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
  • Very similar to what we see in the context of the sixth seal.
  • The great tribulation is referring to the time when Michael shall stand up. This is when probation closes.
  • Remember, He sat down in heaven as our high priest. But when He stands up, He is done with all the intercession. Probation will close. No more forgiveness of sins.
  • You will need to go back to study Daniel to understand the significance of Michael standing up.
  • And right after this, the seven last plagues, the wrath of God, will be poured out.
• The 144,000 will come out of great tribulation. This means that they will not die the first death. Though they will be tried, and wicked men and demons will be hot on their tails, they will not see death.
  • Just like Enoch who was brought up to heaven.
  • And Elijah who was whisked to heaven in a fiery chariot.
  • Their lives will be preserved by God.
• This is why this 144,000 sing a special song that only they can sing because no one else has ever experienced what they have gone through before.
  • Revelation 14:3
    And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.
• They stand as a special group in their experience.
  • Revelation 15:2
    And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.
  • They have victory over the beast and his image and his mark.
  • This is truly the end time events that are yet to come for us.

 

Revelation 7:15-17
15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. 16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. 17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

The 144,000 will occupy a special place in the kingdom of Heaven.

• It is because they will have gone through the final conflict in which man has never been through before.
• They will be close to God’s throne.
• Revelation 14:1
  And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads.
• They will delight to serve God day and night.
• The service that they render to Go in His temple, the scriptures are silent. No doubt it is not in relation to sin because the night has already passed. They will serve God for a higher purpose.

 

How can we be ready for final sealing today?

In the light of the fearful conflict that is about to come on the earth, what can we do today to prepare?

Not all who profess to keep the Sabbath will be sealed. There are many even among those who teach the truth to others who will not receive the seal of God in their foreheads. They had the light of truth, they knew their Master’s will, they understood every point of our faith, but they had not corresponding works. These who were so familiar with prophecy and the treasures of divine wisdom should have acted their faith. They should have commanded their households after them, that by a well-ordered family they might present to the world the influence of the truth upon the human heart. 5T 213.2

 

However high any minister may have stood in the favor of God, if he neglects to follow out the light given him of God, if he refuses to be taught as a little child, he will go into darkness and satanic delusions and will lead others in the same path. 5T 214.1

 

God has shown me that at the very time that the signs of the times are being fulfilled around us, when we hear, as it were, the tread of the hosts of heaven fulfilling their mission, men of intelligence, men in responsible positions, will be putting rotten timbers in their character building—material which is consumable in the day of God… They will lose heaven and an eternity of bliss on account of them. TM 446.3

 

Trials are God’s method for purifying us for the final sealing:

Heaven will be cheap enough, if we obtain it through suffering. We must deny self all along the way, die to self daily, let Jesus alone appear, and keep His glory continually in view. I saw that those who of late have embraced the truth would have to know what it is to suffer for Christ’s sake, that they would have trials to pass through that would be keen and cutting, in order that they may be purified and fitted through suffering to receive the seal of the living God, pass through the time of trouble, see the King in His beauty, and dwell in the presence of God and of pure, holy angels. EW 67.1

 

We will go through trials. But preparation for the future is done today.

• The seal of God is the Sabbath.
• We need to Holy Spirit to help us to keep the Sabbath otherwise we will utterly fail.

Courage, fortitude, faith, and implicit trust in God’s power to save do not come in a moment. These heavenly graces are acquired by the experience of years. By a life of holy endeavor and firm adherence to the right the children of God were sealing their destiny… 5T 213.1

 

And so we come to the end of the 7 seals.

• The 144,000 are the highlight of the seals. The 6^th seal, given the most important information.
• The group of people that will live at the end of time, our time.
• How important it is to prepare.
• How important that each day we are asking God to help us to be faithful to Him for that day. May God help us all.