God Almighty is both able and willing to punish sin. There is a day appointed wherein God will destroy his enemies and avenge his own elect. Both the time of judgment and the instruments of destruction are already prepared. This day of Divine vengeance and retribution is what John saw in the opening of the sixth seal. "I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains, And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?" (6:12-17)
In that dreadful day, the earth will rise and fall like the waves of the sea, as an indication of God's power and anger. The light of the sun will become darkness. The moon will become the color of blood. The stars of heaven will fall to the earth. What John saw was a symbolic picture of the terror of God's judgment! In the last day, there will be a thorough destruction of the heavens and the earth, and God shall make all things new (II Pet. 3:10-14). In that day the terror of God's wrath and justice will seize this godless world with sudden fear. This terror-stricken world will flee, but there will be no place of refuge. They will scream in agony for death. But there will be no merciful annihilation. The door of grace will be forever closed! The mocker, the scoffer, the infidel, the unbeliever will be crushed beneath the rod of Divine wrath. The Lamb of God will destroy his enemies! Let every unbelieving rebel tremble. Judgment is coming. God is ready to pour out his terrible wrath upon his enemies. Once the trumpets of judgment begin to sound, the day of mercy will be over.
The door of grace is set before you in the gospel. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." Knock, and the door will open. Seek, and you shall find. Ask, and it shall be given unto you. But if you refuse the gracious bidding of Christ, and harden your heart against him, he will fall upon you in the day of his wrath! Then you will pray; but your prayer will be too late (Matt. 21:41-44).
God is ready, able, and willing to execute judgment upon the ungodly? Why then, does it not come? The answer to that question is found in verse three of chapter seven. There the commandment is given, "Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads."
Proposition:The Only Reason Why God Withholds The Execution Of His Judgment Upon This World Is That He Might Save All His Elect, According To His Own Purpose Of Grace In Christ.
Divisions:The subject of this seventh chapter of Revelation is, "Salvation To Our God!" Long ago the prophet Jonah proclaimed, "Salvation is of the Lord!" All God's saints upon the earth learn the sweet words of David's song, "The salvation of the righteous is of the Lord." And we love to proclaim it. And when all the elect stand before God's throne, we will proclaim as never before, "Salvation to our God, which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb." In these seventeen verses, John teaches us four facts about the salvation of God's elect:
1. God Preserves The World To Save His Elect In The World (vv. 1-3).
2. All Of God's Elect Shall Be Saved To The Praise Of The Glory Of His Grace (vv. 4-12).
3. All God's Elect Shall Be Saved By Faith In The Lord Jesus Christ (vv. 13-14).
4. The Salvation of God's Elect Shall Be A Perfect, Complete, Eternal Salvation (vv. 15-17).
I. God Preserves The World To Save His Elect In The World (vv. 1-3).
God's benevolence, patience, and longsuffering upon the unbelieving men and women of this world is an unquestionable fact. He caused the sunshine and the rain to fall upon both the righteous and the wicked (Matt. 5:45). "The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works." (Ps. 145:9). But these temporal mercies are no indication of God's favor (Ps. 92:5-7). Far from it! God has set them in slippery places. Their feet shall slide in due season (Ps. 73:18:20; Duet. 32:35).
A. God Has Already Prepared The Instruments By Which He Shall Ease Himself Of His Adversaries And Destroy All His Enemies (vv. 1-2).
The angels of destruction are armed with the winds of woe, and ready to execute judgment. These four angels control the instruments of destruction throughout the whole earth, North, South, East, and West. They are prepared for their work of hurting the earth. But suddenly, John sees another angel ascending from the east. He cries with a loud voice to the four angels of judgment; and commands them to withhold their judgment.
1. This Angel, ascending up out of the East is the Lord Jesus Christ, the Angel of the Covenant.
Who, but the Angel, the Messenger of the Covenant, could have the seal of the covenant? Who but Christ, who holds his people in his hands and keeps them by the power of his grace, could seal his servants? He is the Day Spring from on high, the Sun of Righteousness, who arose from the East, from Judah and Zion. When he arose to seal his people, he brought light, life, salvation and joy to us. There is healing beneath his wings! (Ps. 14:7; Mal. 4:2).
2. Christ has the Seal of the Covenant, which is the Spirit of God.
As circumcision was the physical sign and seal of God's covenant with Abraham, the Holy Spirit, given to God's elect in regeneration, is the seal of the covenant of grace (Eph. 1:13-14; 4:30).
3. And Christ, as the Angel and Mediator of the covenant, has all power and authority over all things. (John 17:2).
The only thing holding back the judgment of God from the earth is the Mediatorial work of Christ.
B. Christ, Our Mediator, The Angel Of The Covenant, Preserves The World From Destruction In order To Accomplish The Salvation Of God's Elect – (v. 3).The patience, longsuffering, and forbearance of God toward this world is for the salvation of God's elect (II Pet. 3:9, 15).
NOTE: The only thing that kept God from destroying the world when Adam sinned was the salvation of his elect, covenant people.
As God set a seal upon the houses of the Israelites, when the destroying angel passed through Egypt (Ex. 12:23). Christ has set a seal upon his people in this world. As Aaron wore a signet upon his forehead, which read, "Holiness To The Lord." (Ex. 28:38), Christ has set a sanctifying seal upon all his people.
The point is this: If you are a believer, if you are a child of God, the seal of God is upon your forehead. Though judgment will surely come, you have nothing to fear. The woes of this book are against the wicked, persecuting world. No punishment from God will fall upon you! The Lord laid your iniquities on Christ, your Substitute. (Isa. 53:6). Christ, by his death on the cross, has redeemed you from the curse of the law (Gal. 3:13). "There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 8:1). And even the terrible judgments that shall fall upon this earth will be for your eternal, spiritual good (Rom. 8:28).
This sealing is one of the most precious things, under heaven. The seal of God protects us, preserves us, and keeps us. It is the mark of God's ownership upon us. It certifies that we are his. And God's seal cannot be broken! Well might we pray, "Set me as a seal upon thy heart" (Song 8:6).
1. God the Father has sealed us by his Decree Of Election. It is that decree that preserves, protects, and sanctifies us unto the time of our calling (Jude 1).
2. God the Son has sealed us with his own precious blood. He bought us, redeemed us, and sealed us as his own, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
3. And God the Holy Spirit has sealed us, in regeneration, certifying that we are indeed the sons of God (Rom 8:16).
Christ Jesus upholds all things by the word of his power so that he might save his elect by the word of his grace. And when he has saved all his elect, then judgment will fall upon his enemies.
II. The second thing we are taught by this vision is the fact that All Of God's Elect Shall Be Saved To The Praise Of The Glory Of His Grace (vv. 4-12).
"And I heard the number of them that were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel." The opinions and speculations of men about who these 144,000 people are are many, imaginary, and ridiculous. The number, of course, like the rest of the vision is symbolical. It is a definite number used to describe an indefinite multitude. How do we discover who thy are? The answer is simple and easy to find. We simply look to the context. These 144,000 represent all of God's sealed ones throughout the whole earth (vv. 3-4). They are not a specific number of either Jews or Gentiles who shall be saved. They are all God's elect, Jews and Gentiles, the whole Israel of God, the great multitude which no man could number of all nations, kindred, peoples, and tongues, which shall be saved (v. 9). The twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve thousand out of each tribe represents spiritual Israel, the whole body of God's elect. "And so all Israel (all God's elect scattered throughout the whole earth) shall be saved." (Rom. 11:26).
NOTE: To suggest, are many do, that Jews, because they are Jews, of Abraham's physical seed, shall obtain God's mercy and grace is to fly in the face of Holy Scripture. We are told plainly that God's mercy is a heritage of pure, free grace in Christ, and not a matter of physical heritage (John 1:12-13; Rom. 9:8).
God has chosen a specific number of people whom he has determined to save. Without question, God's grace, love, and mercy is limited. Only the elect will be saved (Rom. 9:11-24). All the blessings of grace are given to the elect (Eph. 1:3-6). And God has effectually secured the salvation of all his elect (II Tim. 1:9). Salvation comes only to those who were marked out as the objects of God's grace in eternal, electing love. Salvation is not universal, either in its design or in its accomplishment. Yet, though the number of God's elect is limited, the elect make up a vast multitude, which no man can number!
B. God's Elect, And Only God's Elect, Were Redeemed By The Blood Of Christ (14:3-4).
These 144,000 were redeemed from the earth and from among men. Christ did not die for all men. He died for and redeemed his elect from among all men. To say that Christ died for all is to say that he died in vain for some, for some perish. Such blasphemy we cannot endure! Christ is an effectual Redeemer. He is not a failure!
C. God's Elect Are Known In This World By Their Conversion (14:4)."These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth." Christ's sheep follow him (John 10:3-4, 27-28). Election is known by conversion (I Thess. 1:4-10). In time, all who were chosen of God and redeemed by Christ are effectually converted by the irresistible grace and power of the Holy Spirit (Ps. 65:4; 11:3).
D. God's Elect Are All Sealed In Grace, Preserved And Kept By God The Holy Spirit (7:3-4).
All God's saints are sealed and kept secure. Not one of the chosen shall ever perish. God knows how to keep his own. And keep them he will. "They shall never perish!" Let the winds blow; they cannot harm God's sealed ones. Let the judgments come; they cannot hurt God's elect!
E. And All Of God's Elect, The Whole Hundred And Forty-Four Thousand, Shall Be Saved, To The Praise Of The Glory Of His Grace! (vv. 9-12).
"The foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his!" (II Tim. 2:19). John saw them all, the whole, great innumerable multitude, standing before the throne of God, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, holding palm branches in their hands. What God purposed, he shall bring to pass.
1. Look at their Position – They "stood before the throne." They have fellowship with, render service to, and share the honor of the Lamb himself! They are "accepted in the Beloved!"
2. Look at their Attire – "Clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands!' Those flowing robes indicate festivity and blessedness. They are robes of perfect righteousness and pure holiness, the garments of salvation. They are the robes of Christ's imputed righteousness! The palms are banners of victory and triumph!
3. Look at their Praise – "Salvation to our God, which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb!" In heaven, the saints all sing of free, sovereign grace, through Christ the Lamb. They say, "Our salvation is the work of God, the One sitting upon the throne, even the Lamb!"
4. Look at the Joyful Praise They Inspire Among The Angels (vv. 11-17).
The angels of God gather around this redeemed multitude; and seeing them as the monuments and trophies of God's grace, they fall down and ascribe all praise and glory and honor to God. They even give thanks to God for revealing his glory in such great salvation!
III. Learn this also: not only will all God's elect be saved, All God's Elect Shall Be Saved By Faith In Christ (vv. 13-14).
Election is unto salvation. But it is not salvation. Redemption guarantees salvation. But it is not salvation. Salvation comes to sinners only by faith in Christ. This faith is as much a work of grace and the gift of God as election and redemption (Col. 2:12; Eph. 2:8). And it is just as necessary! Without personal faith in Christ you cannot be saved.
One of the elders, one who knew by experience the meaning of salvation, asked John two questions. "What are these which are arrayed in white robes? And whence came they?" He did not ask these questions so that John might inform him. He knew the answer. He wanted to focus John's attention on that countless multitude. He wanted John to have this amazing miracle fixed in his heart – All these people were once sinners, but now they stand before God righteous and holy, robed in Christ's perfect righteousness!
In verse 14 we are told two things about all who enter the kingdom of God.
A. They All Come Out Of Great Tribulation."We must through much tribulation enter the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22). The City Beautiful sits at the top of the Hill of Difficulty; The path to heaven is a rough path, often troublesome and painful. This great tribulation refers to all the trials, temptations, and persecutions of God's elect in this world. We must go through great tribulation. But we will go through. God's grace is sufficient! Only he that endureth to the end shall be saved. But all God's elect shall endure!
B. All Who Enter Heaven At Last Exercise Faith In Christ.
They have "washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." (I John 1:7,8; Heb. 9:14). In other words, they have placed their trust in the blood of Christ. The precious blood of Christ's atonement has cleansed them of all the guilt and pollution of sin. by faith in the blood of Christ they have obtained perfect righteousness. Have you washed yourself, have you bathed your soul in the blood of Christ? There is no other way of cleansing! You must trust the merits of the crucified Savior, or you cannot be saved. "There is a fountain!"
IV. Here is the fourth thing John teaches us in this chapter – The Salvation Of God's Elect Shall be A Perfect, Complete, Eternal Salvation (vv. 15-17).
"Therefore," because they have placed all confidence and hope in Christ's Atoning Blood, "Are they before the throne." There they worship God and serve him in spontaneous, glad, unceasing devotion of the heart. And these redeemed ones in glory enjoy sweet, full, intimate communion and fellowship with God through Christ. This is the essence of heaven's glory and bliss.
A. In Heaven, We Shall Be In The Immediate, Eternal Presence Of Our God And Savior – (v. 15).
B. IN Heaven, Everything We Want, Need, And Desire Shall Be Supplied With Unlimited Fulness – (v. 16).
C. In Heaven, We Shall Be Completely Delivered From All Sin, Sorrow, Hardship, And Care – (v. 17).
"One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek often; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple…As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness" (Ps. 27:4; 17:15).
Application:This is our God, and this is our Savior. "Salvation to our God!" Our salvation is entirely the work of God. Our salvation renders praise entirely to God. And our salvation is entirely in God. "Salvation is of the Lord!"
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