Saturday, December 16, 2006
Revelation 7 ~ David McCary
Revelation 7
Worshipping Who He Is
Vs. 1-3
After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth to prevent any wind from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree. Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea: "Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God."
“Winds of the earth”
Tessares anemos (violent wind, tempest)
Ephesians 1:13-14
And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory.
This mark of the seal is given to God’s people at the moment of salvation.
God has a plan to complete before the destruction comes
Vs. 4-8
Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel. From the tribe of Judah 12,000 were sealed, from the tribe of Reuben 12,000, from the tribe of Gad 12,000, from the tribe of Asher 12,000, from the tribe of Naphtali 12,000, from the tribe of Manasseh 12,000, from the tribe of Simeon 12,000, from the tribe of Levi 12,000, from the tribe of Issachar 12,000, from the tribe of Zebulun 12,000, from the tribe of Joseph 12,000, from the tribe of Benjamin 12,000.
Romans 11:25-29
I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: "The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob. And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins."
As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies on your account; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, for God's gifts and his call are irrevocable.
· There is more description of the roll these 144,000 play later in Revelation
· We’re not even going to look at it.
· The question is: Why does God show John the 144,000 here – and tell their story later?
I Think: This is the fullness of the church – both Jew and Gentile
All those chosen by God
· If most of us were of Jewish decent, we would camp here
· We’re not – so we’re going to move onto where we are in the passage
· What’s the point of this portion for us?
God’s plan must be complete – All Scripture Must Be Fulfilled … before the end will come.
Vs. 9-10
After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb."
After the sealing of all of God’s people there will be a great multitude in heaven
From every nation, tribe, people and language
What are they doing?
Waiving palm branches.
Sound familiar?
Mark 11: 7-10
When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, "Hosanna! "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! "Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!" "Hosanna in the highest!"
Debunking the Sunday-school myth
What were they really saying?
“Hosanna” – Be propitious
“Propitious” - favorably inclined; disposed to bestow favors or forgive
“Hosanna” – Save Us!
Read it again
What are they really doing here?
“Coming kingdom, Save us”…
They are telling Jesus what to do.
They are telling Jesus what kind of savior they want Him to be.
They are telling Him what kind of God they expect Him to be.
They are worshiping the God of their invention.
What happened when Jesus didn’t establish a kingdom on earth like they expected Him to?
They crucified Him.
Do you ever do this?
God as the big piñata in the sky, and prayer the proverbial whacking stick you use to get the goodies to fall out of heaven?
Does Jesus live up to your expectations of Him?
If not…
Perhaps you need to change your expectations?
They were looking for the fulfillment of their plan…not the fulfillment of God’s plan.
Back to Revelation
Now what do they cry with the palm branches in their hands?
Vs. 10
And they cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb."
They look for the fulfillment of God’s plan – it has become their plan because it is His.
Vs. 11-12
All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: "Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!"
Amen – I agree!
The angels and the elders look for the fulfillment of God’s plan.
They worship the God that is – not a God of their own invention.
His plan is their plan – HIS PLAN IS OUR PLAN!
Amen!
Vs. 13-14
Then one of the elders asked me, "These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?"
I answered, "Sir, you know."
And he said, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
· Great tribulation: Loaded phrase
o “Tribulation” – thlipsis
§ 45 times
John 16:33
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
(King James Version)
NIV says, “trouble”
The church has been in tribulation since the advent of Christ.
“I have overcome the world” - Share the Gospel.
Vs. 15-17
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 spread his tent over them. Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
Break it down
“Therefore” – “Because of this” (Because they have been made righteous, washed in the blood of the Lamb)
· “Spread His tent over them” – skenoo (skay-no-o) “to fix one's tabernacle, have one's tabernacle, abide (or live) in a tabernacle (or tent), tabernacle; to dwell”
John 1:14
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. (same word, skenoo)
o Jesus came and dwelt with us (a limited time)
o In the end God will dwell with us (present tense, eternal)
· “Hunger, thirst, scorching heat” – the physical results of the Fall on our lives.
· “Living water” –
Jeremiah 2:13
"My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.
· Who is the “spring of living water”?
o God Himself.
· The Lamb, Jesus, will lead His people to God.
Two gods here:
1) God Himself – the spring of living water
2) Broken cisterns that cannot hold water
What God are you worshiping?
The one you invent offers you nothing.
The One who lives offers you the fulfillment of His plan.
And what does the fulfillment of God’s plan look like for you and I?
“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
· I’m so tired of crying
· Aren’t you?
· So is everyone you know. Those that know Christ today – and those that do not.
Worship the God that is – not a god you create according to your desires.
Live in the hope of the fulfillment of His plan.
If you are worshiping a god of your own invention, you are worshipping a god that does not exist.
How can you introduce the world around you to a god that isn’t real?
1 Peter 3:15
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.
The world outside these doors is aching for the love of Christ.
May He fill your heart with their sorrow.
Live in hope.
And share the reason.
1 Peter 4:10-11 (don’t post on screen)
And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.
Worshipping Who He Is
Vs. 1-3
After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth to prevent any wind from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree. Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea: "Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God."
“Winds of the earth”
Tessares anemos (violent wind, tempest)
Ephesians 1:13-14
And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory.
This mark of the seal is given to God’s people at the moment of salvation.
God has a plan to complete before the destruction comes
Vs. 4-8
Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel. From the tribe of Judah 12,000 were sealed, from the tribe of Reuben 12,000, from the tribe of Gad 12,000, from the tribe of Asher 12,000, from the tribe of Naphtali 12,000, from the tribe of Manasseh 12,000, from the tribe of Simeon 12,000, from the tribe of Levi 12,000, from the tribe of Issachar 12,000, from the tribe of Zebulun 12,000, from the tribe of Joseph 12,000, from the tribe of Benjamin 12,000.
Romans 11:25-29
I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: "The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob. And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins."
As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies on your account; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, for God's gifts and his call are irrevocable.
· There is more description of the roll these 144,000 play later in Revelation
· We’re not even going to look at it.
· The question is: Why does God show John the 144,000 here – and tell their story later?
I Think: This is the fullness of the church – both Jew and Gentile
All those chosen by God
· If most of us were of Jewish decent, we would camp here
· We’re not – so we’re going to move onto where we are in the passage
· What’s the point of this portion for us?
God’s plan must be complete – All Scripture Must Be Fulfilled … before the end will come.
Vs. 9-10
After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb."
After the sealing of all of God’s people there will be a great multitude in heaven
From every nation, tribe, people and language
What are they doing?
Waiving palm branches.
Sound familiar?
Mark 11: 7-10
When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, "Hosanna! "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! "Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!" "Hosanna in the highest!"
Debunking the Sunday-school myth
What were they really saying?
“Hosanna” – Be propitious
“Propitious” - favorably inclined; disposed to bestow favors or forgive
“Hosanna” – Save Us!
Read it again
What are they really doing here?
“Coming kingdom, Save us”…
They are telling Jesus what to do.
They are telling Jesus what kind of savior they want Him to be.
They are telling Him what kind of God they expect Him to be.
They are worshiping the God of their invention.
What happened when Jesus didn’t establish a kingdom on earth like they expected Him to?
They crucified Him.
Do you ever do this?
God as the big piñata in the sky, and prayer the proverbial whacking stick you use to get the goodies to fall out of heaven?
Does Jesus live up to your expectations of Him?
If not…
Perhaps you need to change your expectations?
They were looking for the fulfillment of their plan…not the fulfillment of God’s plan.
Back to Revelation
Now what do they cry with the palm branches in their hands?
Vs. 10
And they cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb."
They look for the fulfillment of God’s plan – it has become their plan because it is His.
Vs. 11-12
All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: "Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!"
Amen – I agree!
The angels and the elders look for the fulfillment of God’s plan.
They worship the God that is – not a God of their own invention.
His plan is their plan – HIS PLAN IS OUR PLAN!
Amen!
Vs. 13-14
Then one of the elders asked me, "These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?"
I answered, "Sir, you know."
And he said, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
· Great tribulation: Loaded phrase
o “Tribulation” – thlipsis
§ 45 times
John 16:33
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
(King James Version)
NIV says, “trouble”
The church has been in tribulation since the advent of Christ.
“I have overcome the world” - Share the Gospel.
Vs. 15-17
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 spread his tent over them. Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
Break it down
“Therefore” – “Because of this” (Because they have been made righteous, washed in the blood of the Lamb)
· “Spread His tent over them” – skenoo (skay-no-o) “to fix one's tabernacle, have one's tabernacle, abide (or live) in a tabernacle (or tent), tabernacle; to dwell”
John 1:14
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. (same word, skenoo)
o Jesus came and dwelt with us (a limited time)
o In the end God will dwell with us (present tense, eternal)
· “Hunger, thirst, scorching heat” – the physical results of the Fall on our lives.
· “Living water” –
Jeremiah 2:13
"My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.
· Who is the “spring of living water”?
o God Himself.
· The Lamb, Jesus, will lead His people to God.
Two gods here:
1) God Himself – the spring of living water
2) Broken cisterns that cannot hold water
What God are you worshiping?
The one you invent offers you nothing.
The One who lives offers you the fulfillment of His plan.
And what does the fulfillment of God’s plan look like for you and I?
“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
· I’m so tired of crying
· Aren’t you?
· So is everyone you know. Those that know Christ today – and those that do not.
Worship the God that is – not a god you create according to your desires.
Live in the hope of the fulfillment of His plan.
If you are worshiping a god of your own invention, you are worshipping a god that does not exist.
How can you introduce the world around you to a god that isn’t real?
1 Peter 3:15
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.
The world outside these doors is aching for the love of Christ.
May He fill your heart with their sorrow.
Live in hope.
And share the reason.
1 Peter 4:10-11 (don’t post on screen)
And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.
