Revelation 7

Revelation 7 and the Rapture

The Rapture – Background

• 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

–      The Lord Himself will come from heaven

–      Those who died previously will come with Him and will receive their resurrection bodies.

–      We will be caught up together with them “in the clouds” and will receive our resurrection bodies

–      We shall meet the Lord

–      We shall always be with the Lord.

• 1 Corinthians 15:51-52

–      We shall be changed in the twinkling of an eye

–      We receive our resurrection bodies

• John 14:1-3

–      Jesus Himself will come to take us to be with Him

• 2 Corinthians 5:10 / Romans 14:10

–      We will stand before the judgment seat of Christ to receive rewards (1 Cor. 3:10-15; Rev. 7:9-17)

Revelation 7:1-3

• We have established that believers have already been “raptured”
• The four angels are about to unleash the winds of destruction
• The angel with the seal comes from the east (Genesis 3:24; 4:16)
• The great tribulation is paused until the servants can be sealed.

Revelation 7:4-8

• John is seeing people on earth (7:1)
• These are Jews being sealed.
• 12 000 is symbolic of a very great number
• Note: Judah first / Dan missing
• The 144 000 are an army of Jewish witnesses who will spread the gospel under God’s miraculous protection during the Great Tribulation.

Revelation 7:9-17

7:9, 13-14: Who is this crowd?

–      This crowd is not on earth but in heaven (“before me”)

–      These have come out of or “away from” the Great Tribulation. (v.14)

–      They are cleansed of their sins (Is. 1:18; 1 Cor. 6:11; 1 John 1:9)

–      They are washed by His blood (1 John 1:7; Rom. 3:25; 5:9; 1 Peter 1:19; Colossians 1:20; Hebrews 9:14)

7: 9-10: What were they doing?

–      They were gathered together

–      They were in the Lord’s presence

–      They were celebrating royal victory (John 12:13)

–      They were worshipping God for salvation (v.10)

7: 11-12: Who was with them?

–      The angels

–      The elders

–      The 4 living creatures

• They were “before the throne”
• Their worship triggered angelic worship!

7: 15-17 What is their eternity?

–      The presence of the Lord

–      Worshipping constantly

–      The glory of the Lord (Ex. 24:16-18; 2 Chr. 7:1-3)

–      Perfect comfort (Is. 49:10; Matt. 5:6; John 6:35)

–      Personal care by Jesus

Summary

• The earth is left with a perfect number of witnesses to make salvation possible during the Tribulation.
• The believers have already begun their eternal blessing.