Scripture: Ezekiel 9

C.I.: “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation”

Last Sunday… Revelation. – Theme is to comfort & encourage 1st Century believers who are being persecuted.
Today – God will speak to us words of assurance – as we face the trials of this life!

I. The Victorious People of God (Chapter 7)

A. The Identity of the 144,000 (vs. 1-8)

1. The 144,000 are those who have received the seal of God.
a. (vs. 1-3), “After this I saw 4 angels standing at the 4 corners of the earth, holding back the 4 winds of the earth, so that no wind should blow on the earth or the sea or on any tree…”
1) The purpose of a seal was to show ownership – (review Ezk. 9 – seal showed ownership).
2) The seal of God = Eph. 1:13; Acts 5:31; Acts 2:37-38 – (Sealed: listen, believe, obey…).

b. God’s angels will be used by Him – when the earth will be destroyed.
1) (Matt. 13:41-42), “The Son of Man will send forth His angels – and they will gather out of
His kingdom all stumbling blocks & those who commit lawlessness, and will cast them….”
2) (II Thess. 1:7-8), “…Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels….”
3) Assurance: Earth will not be destroyed until all those who would be saved – ARE SAVED

c. That we might fully understand this – God tells us who these saved are.
1) (v. 4), “And I heard the number of those who were sealed, 144,000 sealed from every tribe…
2) Last week saw that 12 and multiples of 12 in Revelation – are used to signify God’s people!
3) Not to be understood literally: a. Not all tribes of Judah mentioned (e.g. tribe of Dan isn’t), b. (14:4), “These are the ones who have not defiled themselves w/women, they have kept themselves chaste.” (Are only Jewish male virgins going to heaven?!)
4) We can identify them -“…every tribe of Israel” cf. Rom. 2:28-29; 9:6-8; Gal. 3:26-29.
5) So, God knows those who are His – and persecution & tribulation doesn’t change that!

B. The Vision of the Great Multitude (vs. 9-17)

1. The scene before the throne of God – is given to encourage the believers who were still on the earth.
a. (v. 9), “After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes[not just tribes of Israel] and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes with palm branches in their hands.”
1) Not a literal 144,000 – but a “great multitude” in heaven – before the throne of God.
2) Reason they are there is because God’s people obeyed Great Commission (Mk. 16:15-16)!
3) “Palm Branches” = Feast of Tabernacles (Lev. 23:40), “Now on the 1st day you shall take for yourselves palm branches and shall rejoice before the Lord for 7 days.”
4) Symbolic purpose of this feast: It was given to remind Jews of God’s provision for them in the wilderness after He gave them victory over their oppressor – Egypt. (Same in heaven!)
b. (vs. 10-12), “And they cry out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Salvation to our God who sits on the
throne, and to the Lamb.’ – And all the angels were standing around the throne and the elders
and the 4 living creatures; and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshipped God,
saying, ‘Amen, blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and
might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen.’”
1) What these believers offered to God – was what Emperor Worship said to give to Caesar!
2) Brethren, persecution does not arise against believers because we are opposed to what is evil
– but because we are completely dedicated to that which is right and good!!!
3) The 1st Century Xns faced trials & tribulations – because of their commitment to Jesus!

c. (vs. 13-14), “One of the elders answered and said to me, ‘These who are clothed in white robes,
who are they, and from where have they come?’ – And I said to him, ‘My lord, you know.’ – And
he said to me, ‘These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed
their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.’” 2 QUESTIONS…
1) “FROM WHERE HAVE THEY COME?”
a) Futurists make dire claims about a great, future, 7year period of tribulation!
b) The “Tribulation” was present in 1st Century (Rev. 1:9; 2:9-10, 2:22)!!!
c) Jesus warned & encouraged us of this – (Jn. 16:33), “In the world you have T…!”
2) “WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE?”
a) (Cf. Rom. 5:9; Eph. 1:7; I Pt. 1:18-19), “Having been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from…” – “In Him we have redemption thru His blood” – “Knowing that we were not redeemed with perishable things like silver & gold from our futile…
b) The question for us, is, “In what do we place our faith & how does our life show it?”
3) The only safe way through life’s tribulations – is not to blend in – but to stand out in faith!
b) (3:15-16), “I know your deeds that you are neither hot nor cold; I wish that you were hot or cold. – So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot or cold, - I will spit…!”
you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; and they will…”
c) Compared that to Xns martyred – (6:9-11), “And I saw under the altar the souls of
those who hade been slain because of the word of God & the testimony they had….”

2. The life of faith now prepares us for an eternity in the service of our Lord!
a. (v. 15), “For this reason [i.e., blood of the Lamb], they are before the throne of God; and they serve Him day and night in His temple”
1) No floating on clouds, no strumming on harps as we float along – but serving our Lord!
2) One of the most important lessons of this life – finds its completion in the next – SERICE!
3) (Matt. 20:26-28; Gal. 5:13), “Whoever wishes to be great…” “thru love serve one another.

b. (vs. 16-17), “He who sits on the throne shall spread His tabernacle over them. They shall hunger
no more, neither thirst anymore; neither shall the sun beat down on them, nor any heat; for the
Lamb in the center of the throne shall be their Shepherd, and shall guide them to springs of the
water of life; and God shall wipe every tear from their eyes.”
1) What an encouraging statement for these Xns who were facing severe persecution (us too!).
2) These thoughts come from Isa. 49:10-13; 25:8 – where God promises comfort to His people (when they return from Assyrian & Babylonian captivity).
3) Won’t it be great to get home – for there will be no tears for the victorious redeemed of God!