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Unprecedented Revival in the Time of Wrath

The question is often asked, “Will anyone be saved during the time of tribulation?”           

 

Our passage today decisively answers that question, “YES!”

Read Rev. 7:1-17    Unprecedented Revival in the Time of Wrath            Let’s Pray!

 

An Interlude in the Unfolding Wrath of God                                    V. 1-3

Instead of going directly to the next series of judgments though, chapter seven starts with an angel from the east telling other angels to hold off on the coming judgments momentarily while he completes his mission! 

There are 67 occurrences of angels in Revelation, an average of 3 occurrences per chapter, one every six verses!

Here we see four angels standing at the four “corners” of the world. The word for corners is the same word we would get quarters from; Think of the four quadrants, or points on the compass: North, South, East, and West.  

God raises up 144,000 special Jews!                                       V. 4-8

The names of the tribes of Israel are NEVER used to describe anything non-Jewish. They are always used to describe the specific son of Jacob referred to, or that Jewish tribe, that tribe’s descendants, or the land allotted to that tribe. 

Five things we know about the 144,000 from Revelation:

 

1.        They live during the time of the tribulation.

2.        They are Jews!

3.        Sometime in the tribulation they give their lives to their Messiah Jesus!

4.        They are sealed!   

 

I believe the data indicates they are doubly sealed:

 

Sealed with the seal of salvation like believers now…

 

“In Him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation- in Him when you believed- were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit. He is the down payment of our inheritance…”         -Eph. 1:13-14

Sealed from some kind of harm during the tribulation!

5.        They are pure!

The probable mission of the 144,000 is to spread the gospel worldwide during the tribulation!

Unprecedented harvest of souls from the tribulation                  V. 9-17

The interesting exchange he has with the elder in verses 13-14 make clear this group are those who specifically have come out of this time of great tribulation! 

Perhaps the fact they are sealed from harm will keep the witnesses from death; we’re not sure about that, but if they are, it will make would be persecutors even more upset with them!  When they can’t kill them, they’ll kill many of those who are converted listening to their message.

If the worst thing that could happen to you happens on earth, martyrdom, you get special recognition in Heaven! 

God is in control; Jesus is your shepherd; Heaven is your reward!  Even during the worst times of trouble God can be glorified in your life – let Him!