09.17 Revelation 7:9-17 THE TRIBULATION SAINTS
Revelation 7:9-17 THE TRIBULATION SAINTS
Intro: Ill. The 144,000. I praise the Lord that there will still be people saved during tribulation times! This is good news. Here is a number totaling more than one man could count! These verses give us the opportunity to look at what awaits those who come out of tribulation. It also affords us the privilege of getting a little sneak preview into the goings on of glory. I don’t know about you, but I tend to get a little bit homesick evey now and then. This is God’s way of pulling the curtain aside and letting us look into the things that will happen when we finally get home. Let’s notice some facts about this great multitude.
I. Revelation 7:9-12 THEIR DESCRIPTION (Includes the souls under the altar! Revelation 6:16)
A. They are Gentiles - God dealt with the Jew in verses 1-9, now He turns to the gentiles. Acts 1:16 - Thank God, He loves the gentile. Romans 1:16 B. Standing - Not the church - Ill. Revelation 4:4 (Ill. 1 Thessalonians 1:10) C. White Robes - Virtue, purity, (Ill. Revelation 3:5, sardis) (Ill. 1 John 1:7; Isaiah 1:18) D. Palms - Victory, (Ill. Israel - John 12:13) (Ill. Victory over trib. And devil!)
Ill. Satan and Antichrist’s worse punishment turns out to be these saints’s greatest blessing!
E. Praises - These saints lift their voices together and praise the Lord for His saving work! Ill. What a worthy theme! Ill. We ought to be about the same business - Luke 10:20! (Ill. The OT Feast of Tabernacles - All Nations praising God together! When we are redeemed by God and are with Him, we have reason to praise - Hebrews 13:5)
F. Angels - Say Amen, add seven additional blessings, like that so good, they say Amen again! (Ill. Angels are not known to sing! But, they are known to praise - Ill. They have seen praise - Luke 15:7, Ill They never praise God for salvation! This is a human privilege!) II. Revelation 7:13-14 THEIR DELIVERANCE (Ill. Elder and John) A. Came OUT OF tribulation! Saved as a result of the witness of the 144,000!
B. Saved by the blood - Ill. Slaughterhouse religion! The Blood is THE ONLY WAY TO GOD! Hebrews 9:22; 1 Peter 1:18-19; Revelation 1:5; 1 John 1:7 Ill. Salvation!
III. Revelation 7:15-17 THEIR DESTINY A. Revelation 7:15 Service - They will serve God continually. Service never ends, here or there.
B. Revelation 7:16 Blessings:
1. No hunger - Ill. Famine, Revelation 6:5-6 2. No Thirst - Ill. Water to blood - Revelation 8:8, Revelation 8:11 3. No Sunburn - Ill. Sun - Revelation 16:8-9 C. Revelation 7:17 Joy 1. Jesus Himself will feed them. 2. Will give them plenty and they shall never want! 3. God will wipe their tears away, Ill death of saints, Il. All they saw. One day God will extend his grace in a personal way! (Ill. Us too - Revelation 21:4)