CHAPTER 7
OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER
SUMMARY
Between the sixth and seventh seals, there is an interlude in which John sees two visions. They may be designed to answer the question raised at the end of the previous chapter: "For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?" (6:17) Yes, who WILL be able to stand? In the first vision John sees four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the winds from blowing on the earth, sea, or on any tree. An angel arises from the east having the seal of the living God, who cries out to the other four angels not to harm the earth, etc., until the servants of God have been sealed on their foreheads. John then hears the number of those who are sealed. They are 144,000 of all the tribes of the children of Israel, with 12,000 from each tribe. Of interest is the fact that Ephraim and Dan are not mentioned, while Levi and Joseph are counted as tribes.
The second vision reveals a large innumerable multitude of all nations standing before the throne and the Lamb. Clothed with white robes and palm branches in their hands, they cry out "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!" They are joined in their praise by angels, the elders, and four living creatures. John is then told by one of the elders that those arrayed in white robes have come out of the great tribulation, with their robes washed and made white in the blood of the Lamb. Before the throne of God, they serve Him day and night in His temple. Future blessings are then described: God will dwell among them, they shall be free from hunger, thirst, and the heat of the sun. The Lamb will shepherd them and lead them to fountains of living waters, and God will wipe all tears from their eyes (9-17).
What do the two visions represent? I believe the 144,000 sealed on earth are the church, the redeemed on earth, 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes of Israel. While they may be on the earth when God's judgment and wrath is outpoured, they are sealed and thereby spared from God's wrath (cf. Ezek 9:1-11). This does not mean they will not suffer tribulation, for while they may escape God's wrath they may still face the efforts of Satan (12:17; 13:7ff). But the second vision provides hope for all others who also must pass through "the great tribulation". Provided they have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb, they are assured that they will serve God in His temple in "the intermediate state" (between death and the resurrection). They are also promised future blessings in "the eternal state" (after the resurrection and judgment, cf. 7:16-17 with 21:1-4). Thus the great multitude in heaven represents believers saved during the tribulation, i.e., the redeemed in heaven. It is the church militant and then triumphant that will be able to stand in the day of God's wrath!
OUTLINE
I. THE 144,000 SEALED ON EARTH (1-8)
A. THE ANGELS RESTRAINED (1-3)
B. THE 144,000 SEALED (4-8)
II. THE GREAT MULTITUDE IN HEAVEN (9-17)
A. JOHN SEES A GREAT MULTITUDE (9-12)
B. THE GREAT MULTITUDE IDENTIFIED (13-17)
REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER
1) What are the main points of this chapter?
2) What does John see next? (1)
3) What did an angel ascending from the east cry out? (2-3)
4) Who and how many were sealed? (4)l
5) After the 144,000 are sealed, what does John see next? (9-10)
6) Who else joins in with praise to God? (11-12) - Angels, the elders, the four living creatures
7) Who does the elder identify as the great multitude? (13-14)
8) What future blessings are they promised to receive? (15-17)
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