Satan is angry at Christians. God is angry at sinners. Tribulation is ramping up. Judgement Day is coming. It’s getting bad out there. Finally, at the end of Revelation 6, the question is bellowed forth, “Who can endure the wars, famines, pestilences, epidemics, and persecutions? Who can endure the great tribulation? Who can stand?”
Revelation 7 answers the question:
Revelation 7 After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, that no wind might blow on earth or sea or against any tree. Then I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, with the seal of the living God, and he called with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm earth and sea, saying, “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.” And I heard the number of the sealed, 144,000, sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel … After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.” Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. “Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
Four angels have been given power to harm earth and sea. In their hands are four winds of destruction. There they are awaiting the command of God to release God’s holy judgment upon the forces of evil.
At this point, another angel comes over the horizon. He comes with the seal of the living God. He also comes with loud instructions. God’s angelic terminators are not to let loose — not yet. Servants of God had to be sealed, marked, or tattooed on their foreheads. This has happed before, in Ezekiel 9:4-6, as God was marking those who were not to be destroyed.
Who were these ones to be marked?
There are 144,000 from the various tribes of Israel.*
Then, all of a sudden, there are far more than 144,000. It is like God starts with the Jews and then adds the Gentiles. Those marked are “a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages.
It is one family, nation, people, kingdom, army, priesthood, or church choir. There they are, surrounded by angels, elders, and living creatures, all clothed in white robes, all holding palm branches, all crying out hosannas, all enjoying God’s blessing, glory, wisdom, thanksgiving, honor, power, and might, all standing before the throne and the Lamb. They are enjoying a Thanksgiving like never before.
At this point in John’s vision, an elder asks him, “Who are these clothed in white robes? From where have they come?”
Being the humble learner, the Apostle John does not venture an answer. He replies, “Sir you know.
John and his readers are instructed. These joy-filled people are those who:
- Have been sealed by God and his angels.
- Have found their robes washed in the blood of the Lamb.
- Have found their robes made brilliantly white.
- Have experienced the great tribulation promised to all disciples by Jesus. **Not raptured out of it.
- Have endured the great tribulation.
- Have been granted access to the kingdom, palace, temple, and throne of God.
- Have found great delight in serving God night and day.
- Have been sheltered, shaded, protected, and refreshed by God’s presence.
- Have all their needs met by God; they hunger and thirst no more.
- Have the Lamb as their Good Shepherd.
- Have no more sorrows, cares, or fears; God has wiped every tear from their eyes.
Christian friends, how ought this vision sweeten our Thanksgiving weekend?
Let’s enjoy rest and relaxation. God is the one who ordained the work-rest rhythm. He instituted many days of festive thanksgiving for his Old Covenant people. It is good to slow down, smell the roses, and recharge.
Let’s enjoy family and friends. It is fantastic to be reunited with those dear to us.
Let’s enjoy food and drink. It is a blessing given us by the Lord. Let’s eat, drink, and be merry as we glorify the God who grants us more than we deserve.
Let’s enjoy parades, football, and shopping. I think God smiles when his people celebrate, compete, and seek to be generous gift-givers.
Let’s enjoy the United States of America. What a country this has been! God grace has truly shined upon us. Not everyone experiences the same freedoms we do. A day seems to be coming when we will not enjoy such freedoms. But for today, in the year 2023, we can still worship our God, speak our mind, disciple our children, and material prosper. Let’s not take this for granted. Sing with me, “God bless the U.S.A.”
More than anything, let’s enjoy God’s glorifying, blessing, honoring, and giving thanks for God’s wisdom, power, and might — especially in saving us from our earned and his promised damnation. Salvation belongs to our God, and he has given it to us. Sure, great tribulation lies about and ahead for us, but there is no condemnation for us who are in Christ Jesus. We are the sheep of his pasture. We are his people. We are his bride. We are the apple of his eye. We are clean. We are holy. We are his. We are sealed, and we are standing, and nothing external or internal can ever change this fantastic reality.
Let’s give great thanks to God today.
Let’s do it again on Sunday.
*Numbers are symbolic in the Revelation. In this chapter, the listing of tribes is not normative. It is out of order. Dan and Ephraim are excluded. One thing is sure, her are believing children of Father Abraham in contrast to those who make up the “Synagogue of Satan.”
** This is the picture of the church as presented by the Apostle John. In Revelation 6, the Lamb of God is preaching a sermon and it has seven seals or points. His first point presents the Crowned Knight on the white horse who has already conquered and yet marches on. With the sword of the Gospel he wages war and wins the hearts and minds of many. However, points two through six are not so easy to digest. Natural disaster, economic depression, governmental injustice and war fall upon all. Christians are included and specifically targeted for persecution. All is bad; then comes the really horrible news. In the sixth seal or point, John uses prophetic or apocalyptic language that presents the world as coming to an end. Everything is disrupted. All is lost. There is a crescendo of damage. Divine dystopia has arrive. Those who do not know and love God, they hide and beg not to see his face. Suicide is a far better alternative. Spiritual victory has already been assured by the cross-work of Jesus Christ. Temporal victory is on the horizon as the church of Christ marches on winning souls and changing the landscape. So powerful is the church that the gates of hell cannot prevail. However, as the church marches on and waits for the king to return and put an end to unrighteousness, the church suffers terribly. Yes, the church is like a mustard seed; it will grow to become a mighty tree. However, as it grows and thrives, it will be divinely tried and tested while being satanically tempted and terrorized.
Unfathomable Grace 