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Showing posts with the label Sealed Servants

Standing Before The Lamb

One of the twenty-four “elders” interprets the vision of the innumerable saints that stand before the Lamb and the throne  - Revelation 7:13-17.  We have reached the point where the two questions have been answered - How long must the martyrs wait for vindication, and “ who is able to stand ” before the “ wrath of the Lamb ” and he “ who sits on the throne .” Having been sealed, numbered, and assembled, John now sees all the saints “ standing ” before Jesus and his Father in victorious worship.

Innumerable Saints

John next sees an innumerable multitude of men from every nation standing before the Lamb and the Throne  – Revelation 7:9-12.  The saints are “ sealed ” before the unleashing of the “ four winds of the earth ,” then they are assembled for the sojourn to the Promised Land and John “ hears ” their “ number ,” 144,000 “ males ” from the “ twelve tribes of Israel .” Next, he “ sees ” the assembly of the saints as it arrives at its destination, a multitude so vast that “ no man could number them .”

Numbering the Saints

The 144,000 males from the tribes of Israel are numbered and assembled for the journey to the city of New Jerusalem  – Revelation 7:4-8.  The “ servants of God ” have been “ sealed ” against the onslaught of the “ four winds of the earth ,” but now they must be “ numbered ” to ensure that no member of the covenant community is lost in the coming “ tribulation .” The full complement of “ witnesses ” must be assembled to witness the “ day of the wrath of the Lamb. ”

Sealing the Saints

The saints must be “sealed” before the onslaught of the “four winds of the earth”  –  Revelation 7:1-3 .  Before the first four seals and their “ riders ” are unleashed, the “ servants of God ” must be prepared to persevere through the coming trials represented by the first six seal openings. And their “ sealing ” will enable them to “ stand ” before the “ Lamb ” and the “ throne ” on the coming “ day of the wrath of the Lamb ” when the “ sixth seal ” is opened.

144,000 Priests on Zion

The 144,000 males on Mount Zion comprise the first fruit of the final harvest, the priestly company that follows the Lamb  – Revelation 14:1-5.  Previously, John saw the 144,000 “ males ” from the tribes of Israel encamped in the wilderness. Now, they appear together on “ Mount Zion ” as a priestly company, the “ first fruits ” of the greater harvest to come. They stand with the “ Lamb ” in contrast to the “ inhabitants of the earth ” who bow and give total allegiance to the “ Beast from the Sea .”

Innumerable Servants of God

Next, John sees the sealed servants of God as an innumerable multitude from all nations standing before the Lamb .  In chapter 7, the “ servants of God ” are sealed, then portrayed with two different images - The “ twelve tribes of Israel ” assembled for travel, and the “ innumerable multitude standing ” before the “ Lamb .” The imagery is drawn from the story of ancient Israel in the wilderness sojourning from Egypt to the Promised Land.

Number of the Sealed

SYNOPSIS  -  144,000 males from the tribes of Israel are numbered and assembled for the journey to the Promised Land  –  Revelation 7:4-8 .  The “ sealing of God’s servants ” follows a literary pattern set in the fifth chapter with the introduction of the “ lion of the tribe of Judah ,” the “ slain Lamb .” What John “ sees ” interprets what he first “ hears .” In the next two paragraphs, first, he “ hears ” the “ number ” of the “ sealed servants ,” 144,000 males from the “ twelve tribes of Israel ,” then he “ sees ” an assembly of men and women from every nation far too numerous to count.