4-The People of God

Decoding the Apocalypse

Pastor Mike Cooke

Revelation Chapter 7

1.There is a seal on the forehead of every follower of Christ. (1-3)

  • “Go throughout the city of Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of those who grieve and lament over all the detestable things that are done in it.” (Ezek 9:3-4)
  • And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. (Eph 4:30)

2.Not one of God’s people will be missing. (4-8)

“I heard”

  • The promise is not in the details of the numbers
  • Judah is at the top of the list
  • Dan is missing
  • Manasseh is included as well as Joseph
  • Ephraim is missing
  • Levi is included even though they did not have a portion
  • Three common theories on the 144,000
  • God’s promises to Israel have been replaced by the church.
  • God’s has two parallel promises for the Jews and the Church.
  • God’s promise to Israel has been expanded to include all people.
  • Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation. Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule—to the Israel of God. (Gal 6:15-16)
  • For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham’s children.(Rom 9:6-7)
  • Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in, and in this way all Israel will be saved. (Rom 11:25-26)

3.Not one nation, tribe, people or language will be excluded. (9-12)

“I saw”

  • The deliverance of the Lord is not limited by ethnicity

Grk (sotería) rescue, deliverance, safety

  • Éthnos—ethnicity, nation
  • Phulé—race, tribe, branch
  • Laós—people, community
  • Glóssa—tongue, language
  • Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1 Pet 2:10)

4.They will be rescued out of their tribulation. (13-17)

  • “At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered.” (Dan 12:1)
  • “For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again. If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.” (Matt 24:21-22)

5.Everyone who follows Christ will be vindicated in the end.

  • They will be as white as snow

“Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” (Isa 1:18)

  • They will never hunger or thirst

They will neither hunger nor thirst,nor will the desert heat or the sun beat down on them.He who has compassion on them will guide themand lead them beside springs of water. (Isa 49:10)

  • He will wipe away every tear

The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tearsfrom all faces;he will remove his people’s disgracefrom all the earth. (Isa 25:8)