During Nate (8 yrs) and Ryker’s (5 yrs) Christmas vacation with us (Pop and GG) in the Texas Hill Country this year, they both had horseback riding lessons. Nate had his first golf lesson as well.

This post is a little longer than normal but an important one. Don’t miss it!

Revelation 7

This chapter serves as a parenthesis between the chronology of the opening of the seals. Specifically, it is inserted here between the opening of the sixth seal (in chapter 6) and the opening of the seventh seal (in chapter 8).

First, chapter 7 gives further context to what is happening in heaven while the tribulation is taking place on earth. Secondly, it answers the question posed at the end of chapter 6  which was ‘who can stand during the tribulation’ or more specific ‘can anyone be saved during the tribulation?’. Remember, the tribulation begins when the church, those who are saved and alive, at the rapture are snatched up to be with the Lord in heaven. The church in heaven is represented by the 24 elders worshipping around the throne (seen in chapter 4 and following). So, chapter 7 provides an answer that yes indeed, some of those who were unsaved at the time of the rapture will have their eyes opened and be saved during the tribulation.

The 144,000

Chapter 7 opens with the Lord instructing the Angels to hold back the winds of the full wrath of the tribulation until those who are to be saved during the tribulation are sealed in Him. There are two defined groups that are saved. First are 144,000 Jews. 12,000 from each of the twelve tribes. Secondly, are those who are saved during the tribulation from all nations.  They will suffer and be martyred for their faith. Regarding the Jewish converts, we all know that the Jews, from a national standpoint, have had their eyes closed by God and as such, reject Jesus as Messiah. But the prophets write about a time when God opens their eyes and softens their hearts. Specifically, Isaiah 53 comes to mind.

True Enlightenment

Consider yourself, for a moment, to be a Jew (in the tribulation) who hears of the strange occurrence of Christians disappearing or being snatched away and is drawn by the Spirit of God to read the gospels. As a Jew whose eyes are being opened to receive Jesus as the Messiah, you might say in your enlightenment (as it says in Isaiah 53):
“Surely our griefs He Himself bore,
And our sorrows He carried;
Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten of God, and afflicted.
But He was pierced through for our transgressions,
He was crushed for our iniquities;
The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him,
And by His scourging we are healed.
All of us like sheep have gone astray,
Each of us has turned to his own way;
But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all
To fall on Him.”

 

This prophecy from Isaiah 53 are words of enlightenment, realization and awareness.  Praise God, there will be a revival within the Jewish nation.

Don’t forget the other nations

The other group identified as being saved during the tribulation are a great multitude from all nations. It indicates that many of these suffered martyrdoms and perhaps died from many of the disasters associated with the broken seals. They suffered greatly during the tribulation but now they are clothed in white and Jesus has erased their suffering and wiped their tears.

Some final thoughts for today
Reading Revelation takes us out of our daily lives and lifts us up to view the unfolding of GOD’S plan from a 10,000 foot view. One does not want to let one more moment go by without ensuring they are saved right now. But for those of us who are saved, it may seem that this doesn’t apply to us.  But it does expand our view of God, His attributes and His plan. Reflecting upon the wrath of God is disconcerting. Reflecting upon His allowance of suffering and martyrdom of His followers is hard to grasp. To be honest, we are addicted to thinking about ourselves and our personal situations 99% of the time. Even when we do think of others, we do it within our own personal context. We tend to interpret God from our vantage point. Revelation rips apart our self-absorption and reveals a God that is much bigger than our own making. It reveals His plan that involves wrath and suffering but the outcome is His Ultimate GLORY. In the end, all that matters is the GLORY OF GOD. Our greatest joy is that we would be there in heaven to see it and will happily bow to Him and cast our crowns upon His feet. Amen!