things which must shortly come to pass

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FOR THE TIME IS AT HAND A 52-Week Study of the Book of Revelation

DR. RON BAITY Sunday, July 21, 2013

Week 11

THINGS WHICH MUST SHORTLY COME TO PASS A STUDY OF REVELATION—PART 11 Chapter 7 of the Book of Revelation is an interlude. In between the opening of the 6th and 7th seal a halt is called in the ongoing action.

I.

A BRIEF REVIEW OF CHAPTER 6 A. The Kinsman Redeemer begins opening the seven seals. 1. 1st seal—White horse rider—Anti-Christ; peaceful conquest. 2. 2nd seal—Red horse rider—representing blood out of civil unrest. 3. 3rd seal—Black horse rider—civil unrest leads to famine in the land. 4. 4th seal—Pale horse rider—Results of war and famine leads to death. 5. 5th seal—Martyrs in Heaven out of the Tribulation are seen. 6. 6th seal—Day of God’s Wrath is poured out on earth. B. The elements of God’s creation are now unleashed against humanity. C. Judgment after judgment has crashed down on planet earth.

II.

A PARENTHESIS IS SEEN (REVELATION 7) A. A pause is now put in place between the 6th and 7th seal. B. Special messengers are dispatched. 1. Four Angels are dispatched a. Their purpose is to hold back the destruction yet to come on the earth. (Revelation 7:1) b. Their purpose is to see that the earth, sea and trees are not hurt. (7:3) c. “Holding”—The winds were struggling to break lose. (7:1) 2. A fifth Angel is dispatched (7:2) a. He has a message to the four angels. (7:3) b. Hold back the judgment until the Jews are sealed. (7:3) c. His seal is from the Living God (7:2; In contrast to false seal of anti-Christ)

III.

THE SEALING OF THE 144,000 (REVELATION 7:4-8) A. It is obvious they have been saved because they are called servants. 7:3 B. Commendable truths are spoken about them. 1. They had moral purity. (Revelation 14:4) 2. They stood without fault before the throne of God. (Revelation14:5) C. The Twelve Tribes are yet in the program of God. (Revelation 7:4-8) 1. A truth to be acknowledged:

FOR THE TIME IS AT HAND A 52-Week Study of the Book of Revelation

DR. RON BAITY Sunday, July 21, 2013

Week 11

a. b. c. d. e. f.

God originally called the Jews to be His witnesses. (Isaiah 43:10) His covenant promises still abides with them. God promised to them a dispersion. God promised to them a re-gathering. Since 1948, God has been re-gathering the Jews back to Israel as a nation. The mobilized armies of the earth will not be able to touch those sealed servants. g. Come Hell or high-water, they are sealed and secure. h. When they finally arrive in Heaven, 144,000 are present (Revelation 14:1) 2. The Twelve Tribes are identified. (Revelation 7:6-8) a. Since the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70, the genealogies have been lost. b. However, God knows where the descendants of each tribe reside. c. Romans 9-11 testifies that God is not through with Israel: a. Romans 9—The Jew past b. Romans 10—The Jew present c. Romans 11—The Jew future

IV.

WILL PEOPLE BE SAVED DURING THE TRIBULATION? A. This is a question often asked. 1. The Jews who denied Jesus as Messiah now proclaim Him as Messiah. 2. From them will come the greatest missionary force the world has ever known. B. Numbers will be saved! (“No man could number”, Revelation 7:9) C. Different nationalities will be saved! (Revelation 7:9) 1. People from every nation. (V.9) 2. Kindreds will be saved. (V.9) 3. Different kinds of people will be saved. (V.9) 4. Different languages of the world will be represented in Heaven. (V.9) D. Their nature will be revealed. (Revelation 7:9) 1. “Clothed in white robes”—They are virtuous (V.9) 2. “Palms in their hands”—They are victorious. (7:9—Triumphant entry) E. Their testimony is heard in Heaven before the throne. (Revelation 7:10) 1. It was a testimony of Grace (7:10) a. They were thankful for their salvation. (7:10) b. They had paid the price of martyrdom—but remained thankful to be saved. c. They are now eternally saved from the enemy because of their association with the Lamb. 2. It was a testimony for God’s Government (7:10) a. Their time on earth had been painful. b. Some had cried; “How long O lord,” (6:10) c. At times it probably seemed as if the anti-Christ was winning. d. Now they see the Lamb. (7:10) e. He sits on His throne—The Government of Heaven has the final say. (V.10)

FOR THE TIME IS AT HAND A 52-Week Study of the Book of Revelation

DR. RON BAITY Sunday, July 21, 2013

Week 11

f. Their God (and ours) is a Personal God. (V.10: “our”)

V.

A FALLOUT OF PRAISE TO OUR GOD ERUPTS BECAUSE OF THE PRAISE OF THE MARTYRED REDEEMED. (Revelation 7:11, 12) A. Notice those who are praising. (7:11, 12) 1. Tribulation saints (7:9, 10) 2. Angels—Innumerable (5:11; 7:11) 3. Elders (7:11) 4. Four Beasts (7:11) B. Notice the doxology of praise (7:12) 1. It begins and ends with “Amen.” (7:12: “Let it be so”) 2. Blessing: (7:12) a. Comes from the word “eulogy.” b. The word means Adoration. c. To extol. 3. Glory (7:12) a. Glory is due Him because of who He is! b. He is the God of Glory. c. He does glorious things in rescuing his people and bringing them to Heaven. 4. Wisdom (7:12) a. He is the embodiment of wisdom b. If we lack wisdom we are told to ask Him for wisdom. (James 1:5) 5. Thanksgiving (7:12) a. Gratitude b. Thanksgiving is to be given in our prayers now (Philippians 4:6) 6. Honor (7:12) a. Value b. Esteem 7. Power (7:12) a. Miraculous power b. The word we get our word “dynamite” from 8. Might (7:12) a. Ability b. Strength C. Notice the length of praise. (7:12) 1. On earth praise may be temporary. 2. There is no shortage of real praise in Heaven. 3. Praise in Heaven is not momentary. 4. Praise in Heaven is eternal (7:12: “For ever and ever”) D. Notice the quality of praise—When they see God their praise is: (7:12) 1. Natural. 2. Unrehearsed. 3. It has to happen! 4. They cannot contain themselves!

FOR THE TIME IS AT HAND A 52-Week Study of the Book of Revelation

DR. RON BAITY Sunday, July 21, 2013

Week 11

5. They cannot stand on the sidelines! 6. They cannot resist the opportunity to join in!

VI.

THE QUESTION AND ANSWER TIME (REVELATION 7:13, 14) A. The question: 1. Who are these? (7:13) 2. Where did they come from? (7:13) B. The answer: 1. They are related to the Lamb (7:14; Red blood equals white robes) 2. They came out of great Tribulation (7:14) 3. It is possible to go to Heaven but not without the Blood of Jesus even in the Tribulation. 4. The Blood of the Lamb furnishes the theme song of Heaven.

VII.

THE POSITION OF THOSE IN HEAVEN (REVELATION 7:15) A. They are in: 1. The innermost court. (7:15) 2. The holiest place of the sanctuary. (7:15) 3. The front row seats of Heaven. (7:15) 4. “Shall dwell among them” (7:15) a. The phrase means, “shall spread His tent over them” (7:15) b. They are wrapped around with a sense of God’s Presence (7:15) B. The duration of their stay. (7:15) 1. “Day and night” (7:15) 2. This is a phrase describing eternality.

VIII.

THE PROMISE FOR THOSE IN HEAVEN (REVELATION 7:15-17) A. B. C. D.

IX.

The Lamb shall dwell among them. (7:15) They hungered on earth but no more. (7:16) They had thirst on earth but no more. (7:16) The sun became a curse during the tribulation but no more. (7:16)

SOME CLOSING DESCRIPTIONS OF OUR SAVOUR (REVELATION 7:17) A. He is the lamb which bought us. (7:17) 1. They sing about His redemption (Revelation 5:9) 2. He washed us in His Own Blood. (Revelation 1:5) B. He is the Shepherd which leads us. (Revelation 7:17; “And shall lead them”) 1. As the shepherds lead their flock to water, so He leads us eternally. (7:17) 2. The Shepherd draws close enough to wipe away our tears. (7:17)