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| Order Of Worship (Liturgy) *Song of Adoration: Hymnal #65C:1-4 “Praise Waits for Thee in Zion” Song of Confession: Hymnal #119E “Teach Me, O Lord, Your Way of Truth” *Song of Preparation: Hymnal #473 "By the Sea of Crystal” Scripture Passage: Revelation 7 Message: The Church Protected *Song of Response: Hymnal #408:1,3,5,7 “For All the Saints” *Doxology: Hymnal #9B:1 “Wholehearted Thanksgiving” |
Dear Congregation of the Lord Jesus Christ,
Thunderstorms can be scary for little children. They might want to snuggle up in mom and dad’s bed. War is scary for everyone involved. People pray for peace. But nothing compares to the great judgment of God. This is the context surrounding Revelation 7 this morning.
In our study of Revelation, we are in the first cycle of 7’s. Each covers the period of Christ’s ascension and his second coming. In this section, we have an intro to the throne room of God in Rev. 4. John is given this vision. Read 4:1. Then we are introduced to the scroll and the Lamb. The scroll has 7 seals and none can be read unless someone is able to open the seals one by one. The Lamb that was slain is found worthy. Rev. 5:6. He is worshipped as the lion of the tribe of Judah, and the Lamb that has been slain. In chapter 6, the 7 seals are opened one by one. Each of the seals is a judgement. Think of them like the plagues upon the Egyptians. None of the Egyptians was spared God’s judgement. But, like the Egyptians, these seals being open, do not lead to repentance, but to a hardening of the wicked. The first four seals are judgements carried out by the 4 horsemen, language taken from Zechariah 1:8. They build and then after the 6th seal, before the final seal of judgment, we have our text, which is an interlude. Revelation 7 answers the question that was asked at the end of chapter 6, “who can stand?” Is anyone going to make it through these judgements? The answer is going to be, “Yes, the church will stand.” She will not fall on the day of God’s wrath, for her protector is none other than the judge and the wrath that was deserving upon all people has been poured out on the Lamb for the church. It is a glorious message of comfort. Our theme is We are protected as the church from the judgment of God.
- The Church Militant (v. 1-8)
- The Church Triumphant (v. 9-17)
- The Church Militant
We can tell that this is an interlude from the opening words, “after this I saw.” John sees 4 angels holding back the four corners (or winds) of the earth. Think of this like N, S, E, and W. The seals being opened were impacting the whole earth and now the angels are holding back. If they let go, the final judgment will be consummated. As they are doing this, a fifth angel comes in verse 2. This could be a reference to another one God’s messengers, but a likely reference is to the Lord Jesus Christ, taking on now not the form of a Lamb, but of an angel. This is likely the case because he had the seal of the living God and he has authority over the other angels. The term angel can be used somewhat loosely in Revelation (in ch. 1 it referred to the pastors of the 7 churches). What this angel says is to not harm the world until the servants of God have a seal on their foreheads.
What this means is a delay of judgement. All of those marked with the seal of God will be preserved. Now, we have heard about two kinds of seals already this morning. The 7 seals are each opened to bring judgement, but now a seal is put on the elect to protect them. Well, what is a seal? In the ancient world, a seal was made from wax or clay and then a signet ring or some other device was pressed onto it indicating security, identification, and confirmation. Dr. Joel Beeke says of this, God is saying, “When I seal my own, they are not to be tampered with, for I protect and secure them.”
Let’s think a bit deeper about this security, identity, and confirmation of a seal. When God seals his people, they have the comfort of his protection and security. This is important because are subject to all kinds of trials in this life. Death comes to our doors and claims our loved ones. We struggle with relationships, we have trouble making ends meet, we deal with anxiety, and sickness, etc. What this security provides is the knowledge that nothing in this world will destroy the believer, they are sealed. We will even be able to bear our temptations (I Cor. 10:13).
There is also the reality of identification with sealing. We belong to God. II Cor. 1:21-22 (read). John 6:27 (read). If we are God’s children, do you not think your father will take care of you. Twice in the gospels we see God identify Christ as “my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” This was so that people would believe in Jesus and listen to him. The sealing of God upon his people is not a secret tattoo hidden under their shirt, it is on their foreheads. That is important. It means others can see it and we always be reminded of it. With this sealing comes the calling of the Christian life, the baptism form makes that clear when God places his seal upon us.
In the Old Testament, God’s people lived among pagans, like today. The 10th plague was the killing of the firstborn. Israel had use a seal as well. Instead of a lock, this seal was the blood of a lamb. If they painted their doorposts with the blood, the destroyer would pass by. They were protected by the blood. So it is with the blood of Christ. Not the doorposts of your home, but the doorposts of your heart. Even though God provided the way of sealing, his people had a responsibility in it. Are you sealed with the blood of the Lamb? Do you believe that Jesus is your Savior? Sealing is an identity.
The last part of sealing is that it is a confirmation. It proves something isn’t counterfeit. It is a guarantee, a down-payment, a security in glory. (Eph. 1:13-14). So, then the next question we need to answer is who are sealed?
Verse 4 mentions 144,000. From verses 5-8 we see that there is 12,000 from each of the tribes. Some have taken this to mean that there are only going to be 144,000 people. Some wrong say this is the church that is raptured. Rather, what the 144,000 refers to is the who church that is still on the earth, the church militant, the church that is fighting. This includes Jews and Gentiles, the same types of people that the addresses to the 7 churches in ch. 2-3 were referring to.
Why 144,000? This is a symbolic number. 12 is a number of completeness or fullness. You take 12, representing the Old Testament church (12 tribes), 12 representing the NT (12 apostles) multiply them you get 144 times 10 times 10 times 10. This is a reference to the whole entirety of the church. All of the elect are sealed. Those who believe, those who have not yet believed, even, in election, those not yet born.
Another reason we know that this isn’t literal Israel, as some have claimed, is because the list of the tribes has a couple discrepancies. An ordinary list of the tribes, for example in Gen. 49, lists Reuben first…he is the oldest and the oldest is always listed first. But here, Judah is listed first. Why? Because the head of the church, Jesus Christ comes from Judah, even promised in Gen. 49. We see also the inclusion of two tribes who didn’t get land, Joseph and Levi. Why are they included? On top of that, who is missing? Two tribes are missing, Dan and Ephraim. Why? In the Old Testament, it was at Dan and Bethel that places of false worship were set up. They performed idolatry in those places. So, as Romans 9 makes clear, not all Israel is of Israel. This church is not ethnic, it is made up of believers who spiritually are united to Christ.
So, the 144,000 are the church. The rest of the chapter is also going to talk about a great multitude of believers? Who are they compared to the 144,000? They are the same people, looked at from a different angle. The emphasis in the first half is that these are those who are sealed in the midst of ongoing judgment. Nevertheless, they are still in the battle. So, for the original readers this would have been a tremendous comfort. They were being persecuted, maligned, mistreated, etc. But no matter what, they could know that they were sealed unto the day of Christ’s return. The mark of God had been placed upon them. The same is true for us. God does not forget his children.
- Church Triumphant
We continue the same vision but there is a transition in verse 9 which can be seen with the words, “After this.” We are going to be seeing the same church from a different angle. The likely difference is that the church in verses 9-17 is already glorified.
Whereas the 144,000 are numbered likely an army for battle, now the church is numberless. Read vs. 9. It is a celebration. Palm branches are being waved before the throne of God and before the Lamb. People from all tribes and languages are gathered into one. Any division that existed on the earth is non-existent. Similar to Acts 2 and Pentecost, the division caused by language is removed.
We see palm branches in their hands which symbolize victory and celebration.
These worshippers are robed in white robes according to verse 9. In verse 14, we see what that means. They are washed in the blood of the lamb. Their robes are not stained red with blood, but the picture of white symbolizes purity. They are purified in the Lamb.
At the very center of all of this is the presence of God and the Lamb. They are the ones who are worshipped and glorified.
Nevertheless, the blessings upon the saint is also an important factor. Notice a few things about this.
First, these saints have come out of the great tribulation. Some believe that is a reference to the time just before Christ returns, maybe a 7 year period. But, the whole time between the first and second coming of Christ is tribulation. The point is that they have won. Think about that. They might have been greatly mistreated in life. They might have been martyred for their faith…but they won. They don’t have to fight anymore. Their next meal is the marriage supper of the Lamb.
Second, recognize, that this would have been a comfort to first century Christians like it is for us. The intermediate state is glorious. It is paradise. And though the church waits for Christ’s second coming, the intermediate state is a place of joy, bliss, sinlessness, worship, and fellowship. In that state, the blessings listed in verses 15-17 are received (read). When we are on our deathbed, this is the vision we should see with the eye of faith. Verse 15 shows that we will be able to serve again.
Third, notice the role of the Lamb. Back in Psalm 23 we read that the Lord is our Shepherd. Then in John 10 Jesus says, “I am the Good Shepherd.” Now, in fulfillment in Revelation 7 we see the Lamb as the shepherd. Don’t miss the irony in that. How can the Lamb be the shepherd. He was always the Shepherd. In his love, he became the sacrificial Lamb. He took on our flesh and dwelt among us. I watched some of Charlie Kirk’s funeral last week and what stood out to me was how often the gospel was spoken of and explained. Charlie’s mentor (Frank Turek) explained even what substitutionary atonement was. You don’t even hear that in most churches anymore. It was a tremendous testimony. Remember the end of the whole story: Jesus wins. He took on our flesh to die in our place. He was exalted to the throne as the Lamb that was slain and was worthy to open the scroll. To be on the side of the good shepherd ensures that you belong to him in life and in death.
One thing is certain for the church pictured in these verses. Their warfare now is over. They are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
Revelation 7 is a vision of the church in the midst of the tribulation of the present evil age. It has been this way for the last two millennia. This will continue until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. Be encouraged, the Lamb is on the throne. Amen.
* As a matter of courtesy please advise Rev. Steven Swets, if you plan to use this sermon in a worship service. Thank-you.
(c) Copyright 2025, Rev. Steven Swets
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