CHAPTER
SEVEN In
chapter 7 we are no
longer dealing with the awful judgments that are being poured out upon
this old
sinful world, but rather with some of our Lord’s own people who are to
be
protected, and, I believe, used of the Lord during this terrible time.
Certainly
we today need protection in these awful times in which we live. Danger
lurks
all about us, even in our own homes. And the Christian who goes out on
the
streets and highways where danger flies at an awful speed should always
be
careful to place his, or her safety and well-being in the hands of Him
who
alone is able to protect. But this protection should be sought only on
the
grounds that we may be used of Him, and to His glory. This applies to
the
father and the mother, the son and the daughter as well as to the
preacher and
the teacher. May we not be afflicted with the damaging idea that in
order for
us to do anything to our Lord’s glory it must be some kind of church
work. “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or
whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” I Corinthians
10:31.
The
dangers, both physical and spiritual, that will be confronting
to 144,000 sealed Jews are so great and so terrible that we, the poor
finite
creatures that we are, cannot comprehend them. Neither do we comprehend
the spiritual
dangers that assail us and our children today. These dangers are so real and so numerous. And no longer
do we have to go to an apostate church in order to be exposed to all
the devil’s
doctrines. They come into our homes today as Christ came into the house
where
His disciples were with the doors closed. With all their good features
the
television and the radio have become the greatest curse of the century
to our
children, and to their parents. Many people who would not dare be seen
going in
a movie will spend hours looking at their favorite programs most of
which are
the same identical filth they would see in the movie. The time was when
parents
had some chance of keeping their children away from heretical preaching
and
vulgar movies, but that time has gone. The time has come when the God
fearing
parent’s only recourse is the Lord of glory who is still able to
protect us.
Now,
may we turn our attention to the Scriptures before us. In
times past I held to the view that the 144,000 will be sealed at the
beginning
of the seven years of tribulation, but verse 1 of this
chapter seems to refute that idea. Here we read “After
these things I saw …” “These
things” here can only mean the
opening of the first six seals in chapter 6
which as we saw in verse 15 has run
the people into the dens and the rocks, crying not for mercy, but to be
hid. It
would appear that with the casting down to the earth of old Satan and
his
angels in 12:9 the real tribulation begins. In verse 14 of chapter 12 I see reason to believe
that this takes place in the middle of
the seven years. So, it may well be that the sealing of the 144,000
takes place
just before old Satan in all his fury is cast down.
John
saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth.
There have been people who refused to believe that the earth is round
because
of this statement. This, however, is symbolic language. It simply means
that
the four angels are in commanding positions around the earth. They are
holding
the four winds. If we turn to Daniel 7:2 we find that Daniel
saw these
four winds striving upon the great sea. The “sea” in
Scripture speaks of chaotic conditions among the
multitudes, peoples, nations, and tongues, Revelation 17:15. As
a result
of the four winds striving upon the great sea we see the four terrible
beasts
which represent the four great Gentile world powers coming into view.
Then in Revelation
13:1 John saw the first “beast rise
up out of the sea”. This simply means that this beastly man comes
into
power as a result of chaotic conditions among the people of the earth.
In Daniel
11:21 we see that this beast comes in peaceably and obtains the
kingdom by
flattery, and how people do like to be flattered in our day. So we
might say
these four winds indicate providential agencies working upon the minds
of the
people. The fifth angel is seen coming up out of the east. He bears the
seal of
the living God, and he tells the four angels to hold back the four
winds until
the servants of God, the 144,000 have been sealed. This “seal”
(Greek SPHRAGIZO)
means an emblem of ownership and security. In the days of the open
range out
west each cattleman had his brand, or seal which he put upon his cattle
in
order that everyone might know they were his. This brand meant that
these
cattle were under the protection of their owner. So in the case of the
144,000.
This seal is to show to all that these people belong to the living God.
We
would not be dogmatic as to what this seal is to be, but it appears to
me that
it is the name of their owner written in, or on their foreheads, Revelation
14:1.
There
is so much heretical teaching in the world today as to who
these 144,000 are. You have, no doubt, seen people who were trying to
be one of
the 144,000 when they were no more a Jew than a swamp rabbit is a
sheep. Of
course I am familiar with the fact that Herbert Armstrong and his
deluded
followers have found the lost ten tribes of the Jews. According to
their great
discovery we English speaking people are those ten lost tribes. Herbert
is
quite a detective (in his own egotistic imagination). I am persuaded
that no
one should go to any trouble to refute such stuff as that, because no
one in
his sound mind would fall for it. And a person who does not have a
sound mind
would be unable to profit by a refutation of it. Here we see 12,000
from each
of the twelve tribes, and it is interesting to note the difference here
as to
the names of the tribes. By checking the names here with that in Numbers 1 you will find that Dan and
Ephraim are left out and the names of Joseph and Levi have taken their
places.
In Deuteronomy 29:18-20 we learn that the person or tribe that
goes
after other gods, and serves them shall have their name blotted out.
And in 1
Kings 12:28-29 we find that Jeroboam made two calves of gold for
the people
to worship. One of them he put in Dan, the other in Bethel. Dan was a
city in
the extreme northern part of the country which had been built by the
Danites
after they had conquered this territory. Bethel was originally in the
land assigned
to Benjamin, but by the time of Jeroboam it had become a part of
Ephraim’s
territory. So we see Dan and Ephraim furnishing a place for the idol
gods which
Jeroboam set up. As a result of this, no doubt, we see their names left
out of
this list. Another striking thing about this list is the fact that
Judah is
mentioned first even though Reuben was the eldest son. Here we see
God’s
sovereign grace on display. If you examine Judah’s moral character in Genesis
38:1-5, 15-16
you will have to admit that
only the sovereign grace of God could put him first. But since our Lord
was to
be “the Lion of the tribe of Juda”
God put Juda first and then Reuben the first born. But, in the coming
day when
the tribes are assigned their portion of the land during the thousand
year
reign of our Lord, Dan is mentioned first, Ezekiel 48:1, and in
verse 5 we see Ephraim getting his portion.
The grace of our God is something we shall never be able to fathom in
this
life.
When
I see the awful mess that some of our great Bible scholars
have made in their attempt to interpret the Scripture before us, I am
forced to
fall prostrate before our Lord and say, “Who am I to try such a task?”
When I
see these great men of God setting forth so many different and varied
thoughts
on this great host of people before us, I am made to see just how
fallible - how
prone to err we mortal creatures are. All whom I have read after are
agreed
that there is to be a great host of people saved during some part of
the great
tribulation, that is, all those who believe the Bible. But beyond that
point
all is confusion among them.
One
dearly beloved brother from whom I have received many precious
thoughts on the book of Revelation says this great host is in heaven.
One
reason he gives for this view is that the angels in verse 11
would have absolutely no place if the scene were earthly. He
gives Hebrews 2:5 as his proof of this statement. But, when I
turn to Hebrews
2:5 I find this Scripture simply saying that the angels will not be
ruling
over that world. To be sure that world, that is, the millennial world,
will be
in subjection to Him who is “Lord of lords
and King of kings”. But no where do I find any reason to believe
that the
angels will not be present in that day. On the other hand, I find ample
reason
to believe they will be present, and on the job for which they were
created.
They were created to serve and praise Him who created them. In Matthew
16:27
our Lord says He will come in the glory of His Father with His angels.
In Matthew
13:41 the Son of man is to send His angels to gather out all that
is
offensive to Him. And in Matthew 24:31 we see Him sending His
angels to
gather His elect from the four winds. Don’t tell me our Lord won’t have
His
ministering servants at His beck and call when He comes to reign over
this
earth. Another reason, and that very dogmatically, for his believing
this is a
heavenly scene is stated in the form of a question. He says, “If you
make 7:9-17 millennial, what
disposition do you make of this great company
after the brief 1,000 years?” Whom does this brother think our Lord
will reign
over during the millennial reign? Does he think the King of kings will
just
reign over the rocks and the rills, the mountains and the hills? And
who am I
that he should ask me what I am going to do with this great company at
the end
of the 1,000 years? If I did not believe that there will be saved
people living
on this earth during that time, I doubt that I could look forward to
reigning
with Christ with such great anticipation.
Still
another great Bible scholar proves, to his satisfaction,
that this is a heavenly scene by saying, “Gentiles could not serve in
an
earthly Jewish Temple”. But, when I look at the Scripture before us, I
fail to
find any Jewish Temple. I do see in verse 15
where this great host is to “serve Him
day and night in His temple.” If we look upon this as an earthly
scene we
do not have to explain away the expression “day and night”,
neither do we have to ignore the palms, or rather
palm branches, in their hands, nor the fact that our Lord feeds them. I
know of
no Scripture that teaches that saints in their glorified bodies will
have to be
fed. I readily admit that the presence of the elders and the four
beasts
(living creatures) about the throne in verse 11 would
indicate that this throne is the Father’s throne in
heaven. But, can anyone give Scriptural reasons for denying that the
throne in
verse 9 is on the earth and the one
in verse 11 is in heaven? Will there
not be very close connection between these two thrones during that
time? Let no
one think for one moment that those two thrones will be isolated from
each
other during that 1,000 years. If there is rejoicing in heaven over one
person
who repents, Luke 15:7, can we not expect joy in heaven in that
day at
the sight of this innumerable host?
We
find in verses 13-14 that John did not
recognize this
great host of saints. He was familiar with the Old Testament saints and
with
the church age saints, but here was a group he had not come in contact
with
before. He is told that these are the ones who “came out of
great tribulation”. In 3:10 we see that the church
age saints are to be kept from the
great tribulation. The word “from”
here is from EK. This same word EK is
properly translated “out of” here in 7:14. So
we see
the church age saints are to be kept out of the great tribulation. We
notice
that they have on white robes which have been made white in the blood
of the
Lamb. These saints, like all the rest, can only be saved by means of
the shed
blood of Jesus Christ. God has never had but one way of saving sinners,
and
that is through the shed blood of His Son.
In
verse 15 we are told that “He that sitteth on
the throne shall dwell among them.” If
this host of saints were in heaven, would they not be dwelling with God
rather
than God dwelling with them? In verse 16
these saints are to hunger no more because in verse 17
“the Lamb which is
in the midst of the throne shall feed them.” Is not feeding
the
saints peculiar to earthly saints who are still in the flesh? The fact
that
this multitude of saints have palm branches in their hand, that they
serve God
day and night and that the Lord is to dwell among them and feed them is
conclusive proof to this little Bible teacher that these are earthly
saints in
the flesh just as you and I are today.
It
is to be granted, however, that the latter part of verse 16
might lead some to believe these
saints are in heaven. But a close study of this phrase should clear up
any
doubts. In Isaiah 49:10 we read, “They shall
not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite
them.” And in Psalms 121:6 God says, “The sun shall not smite them by day, nor the
moon by night.” The context of these Scriptures reveal that
the Jews
are not to suffer from sun strokes, and the context also reveals that
this is
to take place at the same time we have before us in Revelation 7:16,
that is, the millennium. Our authorized version says in verse 16
“Neither shall the sun light upon them.”
This word “light” comes from PIPTO
which means to strike or to
smite, and it is so translated in other versions. Had the Holy Spirit
meant to
say the sun will not shine on them He would have used either EPIPHAINO or LAMPO. So, the Scripture
before us does not mean the sun will not
shine upon this great multitude, but that they will not suffer from
excessive
heat.
All
this reminds us of the conditions that prevailed on the earth
before the flood. The fossil remains of both plants and animals found
in all
parts of the earth are conclusive proof that a temperate climate
existed from
pole to pole in that time. These fossils tell us that plants and
animals that
can live only in temperate climates were once found in abundance around
the
poles. Admiral Bird and his men discovered a whole mountain of coal at
the South
Pole. Where there is that much coal, there had to be a world of
vegetation
there at some time prior to that. It takes a lot of vegetation to make
just a
little coal. Then there are animals that can only live in a warm
climate that
have been found in the far north that froze so rapidly when that change
in
climate came about that their internal organs are still intact. This
terrible
change must have come about at the time of the flood. So, would it be
some kind
of monstrosity if I were to suggest that it would be a little thing for
our
mighty God, the El Shaddai to just tilt this old world back to its
original
position, and thereby give it pleasant weather from pole to pole with
neither
excessive heat, nor excessive cold anywhere? After all this old earth
will be a
wonderful place on which to live in more ways than one, when our Lord
comes to
judge the earth.
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