The Revelation - A Book With 7 Seals ?
/ Ewald Frank
Langue: anglais
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8. Chapter 7 - The sealed from the Jews
- Foreword
- Chapter 1 - Introduction, The Day of the Lord, Origin and significance of the prophetic word
- Chapter 2 - The seven messages of the resurrected Lord, First message, Keep the first love
- Chapter 3 - The fifth message, The Reformation Age, Strengthening the weak in faith
- Chapter 4 - A glimpse into heaven
- Chapter 5 - The mysterious book with the seven seals
- Chapter 6 - The opening of the seals, The unveiling of the power of the antichrist, A general view
- Chapter 7 - The sealed from the Jews
- Chapter 8 - The seventh seal, The silence in heaven, Mercy seat becomes judgement seat, Introduction to the seven trumpet judgements, The first four trumpets
- Chapter 9 - The incomparable torment, The fifth trumpet the first woe
- Chapter 10 - An intermediate vision The open book, The Lord as the Angel of the covenant
- Chapter 11 - The second intermediate vision, The measuring of the temple and the ministry of the two witnesses
- Chapter 12 - The woman clothed with the sun, Christ and His Own, Satan the red dragon and his followers
- Chapter 13 - The visions of Daniel in review of and in connection with the Revelation
- Chapter 14 - The Lamb and the sealed 144,000
- Chapter 15 - The seven bowl judgements and the multitude at the crystal sea
- Chapter 16 - The seven bowls of wrath, The final judgements of Gods indignation
- Chapter 17 - The woman riding on the beast
- Chapter 18 - The destruction of the great Babylon
- Chapter 19 - The rejoicing in heaven over the destruction of Babylon, The marriage of the Lamb
- Chapter 20 - Binding of Satan, Completion of the first resurrection by the martyrs, The Millennial Kingdom
- Chapter 21 - Announcing of the new heaven and the new earth, The glory of the New Jerusalem, The terrible fate of the lost
- Chapter 22 - The river of life and the trees of life, The paradise-like condition during the Millennial Reign
- Appendix - The 70 weeks of Daniel and the current events with Israel in the light of Bible prophecy
The seventh chapter is very easily understood. In the first part we find the sealing of the 144,000 from the twelve tribes of Israel; in the second part we see the great number from all nations who are to go through the great tribulation. The four judgement angels who hold the four winds can only come forth during the sixth trumpet (9: 14-15).
"And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree." (7: 1).
Winds in prophecy speak of devastation and destruction. Thus we find it confirmed in prophetic scriptures (Zech. 6: 5).
In the following verses we are shown the sealing of the 144,000 from the twelve tribes. They are sealed with the Seal of God in their forehead. Those belonging to the true Church are sealed by the Holy Spirit which is the Seal of God. Eph. 1: 13 and 4: 30 and of course different places show that the Holy Spirit is the Seal of God. As the Spirit of God descended on the Son of God (Mt. 3: 16 a. o.), "… for him hath God the Father sealed" (Jn. 6: 27b), so does the same Holy Spirit come upon all sons and daughters of God in whom He is well-pleased (Acts 2: 38-39; Rom. 8: 11+23; 2 Cor. 1: 21-22 a. o.).
In the case of the 144,000, this great experience is shown symbolically by the coming of the angel from the east having the Seal of God. The Prophet Ezekiel saw that those who sigh and cry for all the abominations taking place in the Holy City were sealed (Ezek. 9: 1-6). From the description of Ezekiel and also from this chapter in Revelation, we see very clearly that the sealing takes place first. Only after this the judgement angels will perform their commission.
"And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God; and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,
Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads." (Rev. 7: 2-3).
The prophetic scripture has mentioned about people having the mark of the beast in their foreheads and on the right hand, and here we are told about the servants of our God being also sealed on their foreheads. Both, the mark of the beast and the Seal of God are not visible to the natural eye. Neither can the number 666 (13: 18) nor the woman with the golden cup with all her blasphemous names and the inscription "Babylon the Great", riding on a beast in the desert be seen with the natural eye. Here we are stepping on revelation ground. Spiritual matters need to be supernaturally understood (1 Cor. 2: 13-15). The Lord knows His Own (2 Tim. 2: 19) and His Own know Him (Jn. 10: 14).
The Scripture dealing with the 144,000 must not be explained as referring to some kind of an elite group from the Church, or any religious organisation. This passage must be left and believed as it is written, "And I heard the number of them which were sealed; and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.
Of the tribe of Judah were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand.
Of the tribe of Asher were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Naphtali were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasseh were sealed twelve thousand.
Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand.
Of the tribe of Zebulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand." (7: 4-8).
Those twelve tribes are mentioned by their names. Therefore, any error should be excluded. It cannot be put more clearly. The teaching known as "British Israel" about the ten tribes being lost among the nations is not true. It is totally against the Scripture which testify that all twelve tribes will be there at the time of the sealing.
The multitude coming out of the great tribulation
From verse 9 John deals with the great number from all nations.
"After this I beheld and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and peoples, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands,
And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God who sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.
And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four living creatures, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,
Saying, Amen! Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen." (7: 9-12).
Those who overcome are taken up into Glory before the great tribulation. They experience the promise of sitting with the Lord on the throne in comparison with the great number who appear before the throne. "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne." (3: 21). The believers who are left behind and who remain faithful during this great tribulation will go into the Millennial Reign and appear before the throne.
This great number will serve the Lord God in His temple but not reign with Him.
"And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, Who are these who are arrayed in white robes? And from where did they come?
And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they who came out of the great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple; and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.
They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.
For the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters; and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes." (7: 13-17).
The terminology used in the wording "by day and by night" speaks very clearly of the fact that this matter deals with the span of time during the Millennial Reign and not with eternity which does not know day or night, yesterday or tomorrow. This great number which serves the Lord in His temple on earth are the Redeemed out of the tribulation which were not ready to be part of the Bride Church who is identical with the New Jerusalem and will dwell therein (Rev. 21: 9-10). The New Jerusalem being the city of God has no temple: "And I saw no temple in it; for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it; for the glory of God did light it, and the Lamb is the lamp of it." (Rev. 21: 22-23).
This great number is made up of believers who were saved and redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb. By grace they were given white robes, but they were not ready to be taken up in the Rapture. The tribulation does not save and clean, they were saved and cleansed before going into the tribulation; they missed the Rapture because they lacked the oil of the Spirit. Redemption is for all who are reconciled with God only through the shed Blood of the Lamb of God regardless of what group the individual belongs. Good works and tribulation have not given salvation or eternal life to anyone as yet. Only in Jesus Christ has God established the New Testament Covenant through the shed blood on the cross of Calvary. Whoever believes and experiences a personal reconciliation with God receives eternal life.