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Lesson 7

 

WHO  IS  ABLE  TO  STAND  THE  LAMB'S  WRATH?

 

 

I. COMPLIMENTARY TEXTS

      1. Jeremiah 49:34-37 - The 4 winds are pictures of judgment against God's enemies.

      2. Ephesians 1:13; 4:30 - Being sealed shows ownership, promises and future blessings from God.

      3. James 1:1 - God’s people were described as “twelve tribes” by James referring to Jewish Christians outside Palestine.

      4. John 12:13-15 - Palm branches are pictures of triumph and joy!

 

II. MAIN THEME Revelation 7 - This chapter answers the question of 6:17.  The people sealed by God can stand in

   the face of the Lamb's wrath.  In fact, not only will they stand, they will be taken into the very presence of God, to

   be cared for by God!

      1. TEXTUAL DISCUSSION OF REVELATION 7, and related passages from Revelation.

            A. The first vision - :1-8, "After this I saw..." - :1.

                  1.) God's messengers, angels, hold back or delay the judgment - :1-3; 9:14-15.

                  2.) The delay is so the bondservants of God can be sealed - :3-8

                        a. Sealing usually shows ownership, relationship, authority over, and protection in Revelation - :3-4; 9:4;

                           13:16-17; 14:1; etc.

                           b. The sealed are the servants of God - :3; 1:1; 22:3-5.

                  3.) The sealed are the 144,000, or "12 tribes", of the servants of God that the letter was written to - :3-4; 1:1.

                  4.) The change from the first vision to the second vision, :9-17 involves changes in:

                        a. Time - "After these things I looked..." - :9.

                        b. Number of people - "144,000" compared to a great multitude which no one could count" - :4, :9.

                        c. Place - "earth" compared with "standing before the throne" - :1-3, :9.

                        d. Appearance of those involved - no description compared with "clothed in white robes, and palm branches

                           in their hands;" :1-8 compared with  :9-17.

            B. The second vision, "After these things I looked, and behold..." a great contrast to the judgment scene

                of 6:12-17 - 7:9-17.

                  1.) A great multitude crying "Salvation (not judgment) to our God..." :10-12; 19:1-5.

                  2.) Loud voices praising, not fearing God - :10f.

                  3.) The people serving, not fleeing from God - :15; 22:3.

                  4.) God and the Lamb blessing the saints, not judging - :15-17; 21:3-7.

   2. Related topics with text from other books of the Bible.

            A.  144,000 sealed of the tribes of the children of Israel - Rev 7:4

                  1.)  Christians are sealed with the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of our inheritance - Eph 1:13-14; 4:30; 2 Cor 1:22;

                       Rev 7:3.

                  2.)  The first Christians were children of Israel - Matt 15:24; Luke 2:34; Acts 2:36

                  3.)  The apostles of Jesus were all Israelites - Matt 10:1-7

                  4.)  Samaria heard the gospel firm Philip after the persecution at Jerusalem -Acts 8:1-6

                  5.)  Peter received a vision teaching him that the Gentiles are acceptable to God - Acts 10:11-17, 28-37

                  6.)  Paul talks about how  most of the Israelites had rejected Jesus Christ and that the Gentiles had been grafted in,

                        with the hardening of the Israelites to last until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in -Romans chapter 11

                  7.)  Therefore the 144,000 (the complete 12 times 12 times 1000) probably refers to the first fruit of the gospel,

                        those who were converted to Christ out of the Israelites.  James 1:1 refers to Israelite Christians who lived

                        outside of Palestine - James 1:19; 2:1, 7, 21.

          B.  The great multitude that no one could count out of all nations, tribes, peoples and tongues who are clothed in white

               robes are Christians from all nations - Rev 7:9, 14;  Acts 13:48-49; 15:16-17; 28:28; Romans 15:12; Ephesians 3:6-11.

          C.  The four winds picturing God’s judgment show that His judgment is complete throughout the earth; there is no one that

               will escape His judgment - Jeremiah 49:34-37; Mark 13:37; Rev 7:1

         D.  There is joy among God’s people at the triumph of the Lamb and His saints - Rev 7:9; John 12:13-15

 

 IV.  PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

   1. Persecution comes from people, and may even lead to death - 6:11.

   2. Judgment comes from God, and leads to torment, even eternal torment -6:12-17; 20:11-15.

   3. God will identify and mark His people, protecting them from judgment, not from persecution - Rev 6-7; Acts 5:41; 9:16;

      Romans 8:17; Phil 1:29; 2 Tim 3:12; 2 Cor 1:4-7; Rom 8:1.

   4. The Lamb and God will cleanse, shepherd, guide and wipe away every tear, so don't quit - keep

      trusting - 7:14-17; 21:21:3-7; Eph 1:12-14.

   5. Remember, the resurrection proves God can give life to those who die on His behalf, and judges those who won't

      repent - Acts 17:30-31; 1 Cor 15:20-28, 51-58.

 

  V. MEMORY VERSE -  Revelation 7:3

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