Revelation 6 and 7

Revelation Chapters 6:9-17 thru Chapter 7

A QUICK REVIEW FROM LAST WEEK:

There are 3 groups of judgment called SEALS, TRUMPETS and BOWLS (or vials).

            > There are 7 SEAL judgments and the 7th Seal bursts into the TRUMPET judgments.

            > There are 7 TRUMPET judgments; the 7th Trumpet burst into the BOWL judgments.

            > This will finish the out-pouring of The Time of Wrath of God at 7 years, thirty days.

What are the 3 divisions of “The Time of Wrath”?

            > The Time of MAN’S Wrath.

                        It comes during the first half (3 ½ years) of the 70th week of Daniel.

                        It starts in Chapter 6 as the first 6 Seals are opened.

            > The Time of SATAN’S Wrath.

                        It comes during the last half (3 ½ years) of the 70th week of Daniel.

                        It starts as the first 6 trumpets under the 7th Seal are blown. Chapters 8 & 9.

            > The Time of GOD’S Direct Wrath.

                        It comes during the 30 days following the 70th week of Daniel.

                        It starts as the 7 Bowls under the 7th Trumpet are poured out.

                                    Chapters 11:15-19; Chapters 15 & 16. 

We looked at the symbolism of the “the 4 horsemen of the Apocalypse”.

            > The rider of the white horse. (6:1-2) Judgment thru “deception.” 1st Seal

            > The rider of the red horse. (6:3-4) Judgment thru “warfare.” 2nd Seal

            > The rider of the black horse. (6:5-6) Judgment thru “famine.” 3rd Seal

            > The rider of the pale (pale green) horse. (6:7-8) Judgment thru “plagues. ”4th Seal

            > The rider is the same. (The beast, the Antichrist.)

Last week we looked at the opening of the first 4 Seals (Chapter 6:1-8)

            > The “beast” comes conquering at first thru diplomacy, but later military power.

            > 3 judgments of warfare, famine and pestilences destroy ¼ of the population.

            > As each Seal is opened, a portion of what is written is seen by John looking down.

            > These Seals, Trumpets and Bowls happen in a time-lapse sequence of years.

            > We are reading it as rapid-fire events but it is much slower than that.

            > We are not sure how long Jesus took to show John these events.

Picking up where we left off last week: Chapter 6: 9-17

Fifth Seal: The Cry of the Martyrs

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. 10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” 11 Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed. 

The opening of the fifth seal tells us something has happened on earth.

            John sees under the altar, the souls of many people:

                        > Who were left on earth after the rapture and repented and turned to God.

                        > They perished thru martyrdom during the rise to power of “the beast”                                           during the period of the first four seals.

                        > They were not delivered from death but they will be delivered by death.

                        > There will be more converts that will die so the souls must wait for a time.

I need to pause here and say that the opening of the sixth Seal:

            > closes the “Time of Man’s Wrath”.

            > introduces us to the “Time of Satan’s Wrath”

            > The 6 catastrophic events (6:12-14) that happen after opening of the sixth Seal:

                        > A great earthquake.

                        > The appearance of the sun is black.

                        > The appearance of the moon is red.

                        > The falling of the stars as meteor showers.

                        > The changing of the appearance of the second heaven.

                        > The moving of the mountains and islands.

                        > These seem catastrophic to us but they are small to what is yet coming!

Sixth Seal: Cosmic Disturbances

12 I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. 13 And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. 14 Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. 15 And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, 16 and said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17 For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”

So, what are the different reactions of the lost sinners left on earth?

            > From this point forward, there will be NO people calling themselves “atheist”.

            > They ALL will acknowledge God and His Wrath.

            > They ALL will be terrified and fall in panic and try to hide and escape God.

            > They ALL will beg that they be killed by something so that they do not face God.

When we begin Chapter 7, we must look at as an interlude (a pause for explanation).

            There are 2 visions:

                        > 7:1-8 The vision of the sealing of the 144,000.

                        > 7: 9-17 The vision of the great multitude.

 Chapter 7:1-17

The Sealed of Israel

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.

A Multitude from the Great Tribulation

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.”

This interlude is a pause before the storm:

            > Millions will harden their heart and perish.

            > But millions will repent, turn to God and be saved.

                        > Of this group, 144,000 Israelites that are converted are sealed from death.

                        > These 144,000 will lead millions to repent during the Great Tribulation.

            > In the first vision, John sees God seal these witnesses with protection for service.

                        > They are sealed after the opening of the first six Seals but before the 7th.

            > In the second vision, John sees the newly saved great multitude as they:

                        > Worship God and the Lamb thru praise, declarations and rejoicing.

                        > Serve God both day and night before His throne.

                        > Enjoy God’s presence in their midst.

                        > Accept God’s care:

                                    > No more hunger– The Lamb feeds them.

                                    > No more thirst– The Lamb leads them into living fountains of water.

                                    > No more heat or discomfort– The Lamb protects them.

                                    > No more tears– God wipes them away and replaces them