Revelation 7
November Memory Verse: "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with them, and they with me." Revelation 3:20 (NIV)
Revelation 7
The book of Revelation has a motif that occurs throughout its chapters. What John hears is immediately contrasted/fulfilled by what he sees. We see this in Revelation chapter four when John hears of the Lion of Judah and then sees a slain lamb standing. That same motif happens here in chapter seven. The four riders are pouring out God’s judgment on the Earth, and the people cry out “who will be able to survive?” Suddenly they take a military census (like what we see in Numbers 1). The total number is 144,000 Israelites, but what John sees is a multi-ethnic crowd too numerous to count who have been washed in the blood of the lamb. Who will survive the wrath of the Lamb (6:17)? The people of God - no longer just the nation of Israel, but people from every nation, tribe, and tongue who have been washed in the blood of the lamb (7:14-15).
So how does this impact your walk with the Lord today?
First, those who belong to God are not removed from tribulation. Those who were marked with the seal of God are the same people who were “coming out of the great tribulation.” They endured God’s judgment on sin. We live in a world riddled with war, famine, disease, and death. Turn on the news for ten minutes and you can witness plenty of examples. Why doesn’t God remove us from this? I don’t fully know the answer to that question, but I do know that Christ suffered and died so that we might be saved. Maybe God hasn’t called us out of suffering and trials so that we might be a witness to those who don’t yet believe.
Secondly, those who belong to God overcome tribulation. God delivers and rescues his people. I don’t mean that you will always be healed or delivered from every obstacle in life, but that Christ is holding fast to you through it all, and he will not let you perish. When tribulations come, he is with you, sustaining you. Psalm 40 says, “troubles surround me too many to count! They pile up so high I can’t see my way out. They are more numerous than the hairs on my head. I have lost all my courage.” Have you ever felt this way? If you belong to God, then be reminded that the same Jesus who suffered and died for you also rose to life in victory. And you are united with him in his resurrection! Verse 17 encourages us further - we will not only overcome tribulation, but God will protect us, shepherd us, and wipe away all our tears.
Lastly, if you’re reading this and you know that you don’t truly follow Jesus, and your heart doesn’t worship him, then let this passage be a warning. The kings, rulers, and leaders in chapter six who cried out, “who will be able to survive,” did not overcome that tribulation. They perished. ONLY those whose lives were washed by the blood of the lamb were saved by God. Turn to Christ in faith and experience his eternal love and grace.
By: Joe Weaver
Revelation 7
The book of Revelation has a motif that occurs throughout its chapters. What John hears is immediately contrasted/fulfilled by what he sees. We see this in Revelation chapter four when John hears of the Lion of Judah and then sees a slain lamb standing. That same motif happens here in chapter seven. The four riders are pouring out God’s judgment on the Earth, and the people cry out “who will be able to survive?” Suddenly they take a military census (like what we see in Numbers 1). The total number is 144,000 Israelites, but what John sees is a multi-ethnic crowd too numerous to count who have been washed in the blood of the lamb. Who will survive the wrath of the Lamb (6:17)? The people of God - no longer just the nation of Israel, but people from every nation, tribe, and tongue who have been washed in the blood of the lamb (7:14-15).
So how does this impact your walk with the Lord today?
First, those who belong to God are not removed from tribulation. Those who were marked with the seal of God are the same people who were “coming out of the great tribulation.” They endured God’s judgment on sin. We live in a world riddled with war, famine, disease, and death. Turn on the news for ten minutes and you can witness plenty of examples. Why doesn’t God remove us from this? I don’t fully know the answer to that question, but I do know that Christ suffered and died so that we might be saved. Maybe God hasn’t called us out of suffering and trials so that we might be a witness to those who don’t yet believe.
Secondly, those who belong to God overcome tribulation. God delivers and rescues his people. I don’t mean that you will always be healed or delivered from every obstacle in life, but that Christ is holding fast to you through it all, and he will not let you perish. When tribulations come, he is with you, sustaining you. Psalm 40 says, “troubles surround me too many to count! They pile up so high I can’t see my way out. They are more numerous than the hairs on my head. I have lost all my courage.” Have you ever felt this way? If you belong to God, then be reminded that the same Jesus who suffered and died for you also rose to life in victory. And you are united with him in his resurrection! Verse 17 encourages us further - we will not only overcome tribulation, but God will protect us, shepherd us, and wipe away all our tears.
Lastly, if you’re reading this and you know that you don’t truly follow Jesus, and your heart doesn’t worship him, then let this passage be a warning. The kings, rulers, and leaders in chapter six who cried out, “who will be able to survive,” did not overcome that tribulation. They perished. ONLY those whose lives were washed by the blood of the lamb were saved by God. Turn to Christ in faith and experience his eternal love and grace.
By: Joe Weaver
1 Comment
The is a time of tribulation that is revealed in the book of Daniel, Jeremiah and mother OT books as well as many NT books (to numerous to listen here). The tribulation mentioned is also said to be a time of trouble(Jacobs trouble) to be exact. The 7 year tribulation period that we read about in the scripture is also a time of God's wrath as mentioned. In book of Daniel the angel Gabriel is sent to Daniel togive a complete explanation of this vision, Daniel 9. Also Daniel is show why the jewish nation must have 70 weeks of years or 490 years of cleansing. For understanding and comfort, read and study God's Word about the troublesome times a head. There are many scriptures for understanding differences between persecution, trials and God's wrath. Romans 5:8-9, 1:18, 1 Thes 4:13-18, 1Thes 5:9, 1 Thes 1:10, 1 Thes 413-18, 1Thes 5, 2 This 2 and many more. The book of Revelation is what they word itself means, to reveal, to show what is to come and to show that God's NT church will be taken out and not subject to God's wrath. I will state it now that I am a firm believer that God dies not place Has wrath on His bride and that we will be resurrected or changed before the 70th week of Daniel begins
and meet our Savior in the air to be with our Lord forever looking down from heaven. Comfort comes despite the persecutions and trials we are seeing today.