Seventh Seal and the 144 000 Who can

Seventh Seal and the 144, 000

Who can stand? • Chapter 7 answers this vital question • Shows what appears to be two groups of people: -144, 000 -Great multitude from every nation

Angels holding back the winds. . • Rev. 7: 1 – there angels holding back some “winds” • Winds – from the seven seals we understand that these are natural disasters, wars, etc.

From blowing on the land, sea or tree • These are obviously symbolic figures: • Land – non-densely populated region • Sea – multitudes of people – Rev. 17: 15 • Tree – people of God (Psalms 1: 3, 52: 8, 92: 12)

Until the Servants of God Have a “Seal” • Pun: Jesus is opening the “seals” while “seals” are being put on His servants • Angel puts it on the forehead of the servants of God

What is this Seal? • What were the reason that God sent the first six seals? • People didn’t obey God’s laws or commandments – didn’t even know the Bible

Sealed Servants • Servants of God sealed – Sealing signifies ownership, authenticity – Eze. 9 God’s people are marked, saved from destruction- those that lament sin – Eph. 1: 13 -14 God’s people sealed with Holy Spirit • John 16: 13 Holy Spirit guides you into all truth – God’s people stand firm in the final crisis

What is this Seal? • Seal – Law of God • Forehead – the mind and character • Jeremiah 31: 33 – a new covenant – “I will write My law in their minds and on their hearts.

What is this Seal? • What started to be preached about the time of the sixth seal? (1833) • Sabbath of the Bible • Christ’s ministry in the sanctuary • Judgment of God • State of the dead • Second coming

144, 000 • Symbolic number • Historians say that even at the time of Christ there were no “pure” tribesmen in Israel

144, 000 • 12 = disciples, tribes of Israel • 1, 000 = multitude • 12 x 1, 000 = multitude of true disciples of Christ • Maybe, people that actively spread the gospel from all churches and religions

Great Multitude • No one could number this group – very big • From everywhere • White robes, palm branches • Thankful for salvation to the Lamb and to God • Rev. 7: 10

Two Groups? • 144, 000 = great multitude • Literary device – “hear” then “see” • Rev. 1: 10 -13 – hears loud voice as trumpet, then sees Jesus • Rev. 5 – hears that Lion has overcome, then sees the Lamb • Rev. 17 – hears of “great prostitute” then sees “woman on scarlet beast” • Rev. 21 – hears of “bride, wife of the Lamb”, sees “holy city of Jerusalem”

Where did these groups come from? • 7: 13, 14 – Came through “great tribulation” – Daniel 12: 1 -4 • Washed their robes and made them white with the blood of the Lamb

The Lamb • The Lamb will take care of them forever – no more crying and troubles • Will drink living water • Rev. 7: 15 -17

The Seventh Seal • Silence in Heaven for half an hour • Prophetic time • 7. 5 days • Second coming • God, Jesus and angels left

Seals – Why was only the Lamb able to open them? • 7 reasons • 1. Christ is our mediator (I Tim. 2: 5) • Rev. 1: 1 – Revelation is a book which God gave to Jesus Christ to show us

Seals – Why was only the Lamb able to open them? • 2. The Lamb sees the future • 5: 6 – has “seven eyes” • 1: 8, 19 – Jesus is revealing to John the future • Only God can reveal the future – Isaiah 45: 21, Dan. 2: 27

Seals – Why was only the Lamb able to open them? • 3. The Lamb has “seven horns” – Rev. 5: 6 • All authority in Heaven and earth has been given to Jesus (Matt. 28: 18)

Seals – Why was only the Lamb able to open them? • 4. The Lamb has suffered – Rev. 5: 6 • He was slain – Isaiah 53 • Nobody can relate to the suffering in the seals like Jesus – Matt. 27: 46

Seals – Why was only the Lamb able to open them? • 5. The Lamb has conquered! Rev. 5: 5 • Heb. 2: 14 – he conquered the devil, who had the power of death • “It is finished!” – John 19: 30

Seals – Why was only the Lamb able to open them? • 6. Jesus’ death redeemed people’s sins – Rev. 5: 9, 10 • Jesus paid the price for salvation – Heb. 9: 11 -28 • Only Jesus could make us into a new kingdom of priests

Seals – Why was only the Lamb able to open them? • 7. Jesus is our Passover Lamb – I Cor. 5: 7 • Before we could become kings and priests – we needed to be delivered from our Egypt of sin

God is in Control • Again we see that because of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross – He is the Ruler of mankind and history that He revealed in the 7 seals