REVELATION 7
Seal Six, The Gathering of the Redeemed

Before God is willing to begin pouring forth His wrath on the wicked, the 144,000 of Israel must be sealed in their foreheads (verses 1-8), and then the entire Church, which includes the 144,000, must be raptured (verses 9-17). It has been almost universally assumed that the 144,000 are sealed and then left behind in the Tribulation and/or Wrath of God while the rest of the Church is raptured. The Bible never says that, and there are no Christians left behind for either event. Nobody goes anywhere until after the Tribulation, so no one can be considered left behind. Any that are left behind after the Tribulation are left behind because they have rejected Jesus as Lord. The 144,000 will flee Jerusalem to the mountain wilderness after they see the Abomination of Desolation enter the temple right before the Tribulation begins. They are hidden in the wilderness for three-andone- half years during the whole time of the Great Tribulation. At the end of that time, they will be given a special mark and raptured with the rest of the saints. The special mark is placed on the foreheads of the 144,000 during the sixth seal as a transition takes place from the Tribulation of Satan to the Wrath of God.

The 144,000 are born-again Jews,which means they are Christians. They are not left behind during God’s wrath to hide from the face of God. They are a part of the Church, and as such, they possess the same promise of deliverance from the wrath to come as the rest of theChurch. Revelation 12:14 tells us that the reason they are in the wilderness is because God is caring for and protecting them from the fury and wrath of Satan and his Antichrist during the Great Tribulation, not from the Wrath of God. The perception has been that they are sealed before they are cared for in the wilderness, but the exact opposite is true. They are protected for three-and-one-half years in the wilderness, and then they are sealed right before they are raptured.

Revelation 12:14

And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.

Revelation 7:1

And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.

The four winds these angels are holding back should be considered in both a literal and a figurative sense. To have all the winds cease blowing across the whole face of the earth at the same time that the sun, the moon and the stars stop giving their light only adds one more dimension to the final sign of the coming of Jesus Christ for His Church and the end of the world. In a figurative sense, the restraining of the winds also means that all things that could cause further harm will be held in check until after the Rapture has occurred. In the following verses, 12,000 individuals from each of the tribes of Israel are sealed in their foreheads just prior to the Rapture—for a total of 144,000. Revelation 14:1-5 is the only other place that the 144,000 are mentioned, and they are once again shown before the Throne of God with the beasts and elders and being described as the firstfruits of the earth unto God. Jesus’ top priority when He comes to take His church will be to collect the 144,000 of Israel and deliver them into the presence of their Maker, then He will concentrate on the rest of His Church.

Revelation 7:2-8

2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,

3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.

4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.

5 Of the tribe of Judah were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand.

6 Of the tribe of Asher were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Naphtali were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasseh were sealed twelve thousand.

7 Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand.

8 Of the tribe of Zebulun were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand.

The 144,000 are the only ones who are sealed in this chapter. This is a very significant event that sets them apart from other believers, but it is not so they can be left on the earth during God’s wrath. They are sealed and set apart according to the calling and election of God. The sealing of the 144,000 is no different than the calling of the twelve disciples at the very beginning. God has special plans for these Jewish saints that we are not fully aware of at this time, but we do know He has said He will yet choose Israel and that the last will be first. The 144,000 will be leaders in the kingdom that Jesus Christ will establish on this earth when He returns a second time at Armageddon.

THE RAPTURE

Before reading the next passage, call to remembrance Revelation 6:9-11 where the slain saints under the fifth seal were waiting for their brethren that should be slain as they were. The sixth seal reveals that the wait is over. In these next several verses, among the multitudes that are shown in heaven are those very saints along with every other saint who has ever lived.Verse 14 declares that they have come out of Great Tribulation and are now worshiping God before His Throne.

Revelation 7:9-14

9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;

10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.

11 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,

12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God forever and ever. Amen.

13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?

14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of Great Tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

The sixth seal revealed to us that the time of God’s wrath had arrived in Revelation 6:16-17. Chapter 7, verses 1-13 describe events that make up the Rapture, and verse 14 shows us that all of this happens after the Great Tribulation is complete. In the next four chapters the Wrath of God will be revealed through the seven trumpets. The sealing of the 144,000 is completed in chapter 7, verse 8, and then immediately in verse 9 we see all the redeemed of God in heaven all at one time. There is absolutely nothing to suggest that the 144,000 are not a part of this gathering. In fact, verse 14 explains that “These are they that came out of great tribulation.” This would include the 144,000 that God protects in the wilderness during the Tribulation from the wrath of Satan. There isn’t even a hint of delay between the last of the Jews being sealed and all of the saints congregating together in heaven. The 144,000 are not going to be left out of the festivities described above; they will be the first to arrive!

The actual word “tribulation” is used 22 times in the King James Version of the Bible. In the Old Testament the Hebrew word translated as “tribulation” (in only a few cases) was used a total of 102 times, but it was also translated as anguish, adversaries, enemies, foes, troubles, distresses, afflictions, narrow pit, strait, narrow place, sorrows, distress and tribulation. In the New Testament the Greek word for “tribulation” was used 43 times and was translated into the same words as in the Old Testament with the addition of the word “burdens.” The phrase “great tribulation” is only used three times in the Bible—Matthew 24:21, Revelation 2:22, and Revelation 7:14. In addition, Deuteronomy 4:30, Daniel 12:1,Mark 13:19 and Matthew 24:29 are the only other places that refer to the Great tribulation. It is evident by the following scriptures that tribulation is something the Church and individual believers—and even nonbelievers—will experience on an ongoing basis. God promises to help, comfort and get us through our tribulations; He never promises that He will cause us to avoid them altogether. On the other hand, He does promise that we will avoid His wrath if we endure and hold fast to our faith, right up to the end.

Words that describe God’s wrath—such as wrath, vengeance, repay, recompense and fury—are used over three hundred times in the Bible referring to God’s angry judgments, particularly His final judgment of the end-times. As we read these verses about tribulation, we can see that they have nothing to do with God’s wrath or judgment.

Matthew 13:21

Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the Word, by and by he is offended.

The verse above is referring to Jesus’ parable of the sower sowing the seed. In Mark 4:15, we learn that Satan comes immediately to steal the Word out of an individual’s hearts after it has been planted there. The verse below is God’s promise to be with us and to aid us as we go through tribulations that plague our lives.

John 16:33

These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

This next verse by itself is not proof that we go through the Great Tribulation, but it should completely decapitate the false belief that God wouldn’t ever allow anything bad to happen to any of His “little lambs.” Think of all the tribulation the Church has suffered throughout the ages to this very day we live in—more so in certain places on the planet than in others—and then think of the Great Tribulation as the final episode of Christians suffering in service to their Lord. It may be helpful, also, to think about the fact that the Church is being raptured here under this sixth seal, and the Wrath of God is coming up under the seventh seal. That is where the rivers of blood and the locust with scorpion tails and all of the other unimaginable tortures occur as a part of God’s wrath against sinners. The Great Tribulation is just a greater degree of what we see going on around the world all the time, but because Satan and the Antichrist are allowed by God to give it all they have, people all around the world will either be afflicted all at one time, or they will be a part of those causing the affliction. Satan will attempt to take as many down with him as he can as he sees his days drawing to an end, and God will continue to build His church even as He is purging it for a spotless Rapture. Acts 14:22 below is Paul’s admonition to the church at Lystra after he was stoned and left for dead. Afterwards God raised him up to continue what he had set out to accomplish: “He stood up and went on his way.”

Acts 14:22

Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

The rest of these verses are self-explanatory. Each one reaffirms the fact that tribulation is just a fact of life, particularly for those who stand up for righteousness. The Great Tribulation is nothing more than a particular time of great affliction at the end of the world, which will involve the Antichrist.

Romans

And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

Romans 8:35

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

Romans 12:12

Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

2 Corinthians 7:4

Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.

1 Thessalonians 3:4

For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.

Revelation 1:9

I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the Word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Revelation 2:9

I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.

None of the Scriptures we just read promise us a blissful troublefree existence during this life. The Bible never claims that we will bypass all troubles, tribulations and persecutions—quite to the contrary. It is not so much a promise that we are going to be attacked for our faith, persecuted for our testimony and pummeled for the Word of God we possess, but rather we are repeatedly forewarned that the devil is going to attempt to discredit and hurt us in every way possible. The Great Tribulation is just his way of telling us how special we are to God. Satan hates us with every putrid wisp of his spiritual being. He wants us destroyed, or at the very least, he wants us to give in to the persecution that comes against us and join up with his team of persecutors.

Some of the definitions of wrath are fierceness, indignation, violent passion, abhorrence, anger, punishment, vengeance and wrath. Having a tough time in our tribulations is a far cry from having God’s fierce wrath being poured out on us as punishment. Thank God He has said He will deliver us from the wrath to come. One of the scriptures that was originally inspired—using the Greek word for tribulation but translated as afflictions, and ties in so well with the study of the end-times—is found in 2 Corinthians.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

17 For our light affliction (or tribulation), which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

The following paraphrase is given to make these verses even more meaningful to us as the time of Great Tribulation draws ever closer.

“For which cause we should not faint; for even though our outward

man perishes a little bit each day, and could be destroyed through various

means at any given moment, God continues to renew our inward

man on a daily basis. For the light and insignificant tribulations which

we suffer will last for only a small moment in eternity (even during the

Great Tribulation), but if we endure spiritually through those tribulations

with our hearts firmly committed to God, it will gain for us a far

more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, blessings and great reward;

while we look not at the things which we see all around us that could

cause us to doubt and even fear, but we look at and focus on the things

which are not seen with our natural senses, but with the eyes of our spirits

or deep inside our hearts, which things we can only see by faith in

God’s Word: for the things which we behold with our natural senses are

temporal and subject to change, and will perish with use, even our own

bodies; but the things which are not seen and are invisible to our natural

eyes are eternal and spiritual and will last forever and never

change.”

Now back to those who came out of Great Tribulation. Remember, we are still looking at the sixth seal of the Book of Revelation and we will soon open the seventh seal, which deals exclusively with the Wrath of God. John is told here by one of the 24 elders assembled before the Throne of God that the rest of the great multitude assembled before the Throne is made up of those who have come out of great tribulation.He didn’t say they came out of the Great Tribulation but out of great tribulation, nonetheless. Every person who lives a life of righteousness on this earth suffers a certain amount of great tribulation. Jesus was persecuted constantly as He went around doing good works and healing those who were oppressed of the devil. The lawyers and priests were constantly on His trail trying to catch Him in His words or trying to find some fault in Him. Satan tempted Him in the wilderness; His enemies tried to throw Him off cliffs, and they even hired one of His own men to betray Him. He was in the midst of great tribulation on multiple occasions during His life, and God kept delivering Him—right up to the time He delivered Him to the cross.We all suffer great tribulation in our lives from time to time as Satan works feverishly in the background trying to ruin our lives and the lives of our friends and loved ones. If we stand firm in faith, God delivers, but if we falter and let our faith slip, Satan wins one more skirmish in the battle between life and death, good and evil. Those who are living at the end of days will collectively suffer more tribulation on a worldwide basis than has ever been suffered before. That’s the difference between great tribulation and the Great Tribulation.

Revelation 7:14-17

14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of Great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple: and He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.

16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.

17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

The reward for serving God faithfully in this life is that we get to serve Him faithfully in the life to come.We get to approach Him on His throne and worship and adore Him. That’s a far cry better than having the flames of eternal damnation licking away at our resurrected spiritual bodies. Jesus tells us that the worms that will eat away at the damned never die. He also tells us about the rich man who died and asked Abraham to send the beggar Lazarus to dip his finger in water so that he might touch it to his tongue to quench just the tiniest portion of his thirst (see Luke 16:19-31).Another aspect of the reward for those who don’t give in to sin, but rather endure to the end, is that they will be fed, their thirst will be quenched and they will never have to worry about sunburn or heatstroke any more. That’s right, that’s what we just read in verse 16 above. But that’s not all. Verse 17 declares that God is going to wipe away the tears of our tribulations—no more pain, no more agony and no more temptations—just the joy of living the life we were created to live.

One more reward of enduring to the end is that we will become like Him when He appears.We have already discussed the fact that we will all, both living and dead, be physically changed into the physical likeness of Jesus when He appears in the clouds. First John reminds us that He will actually appear, that it is not some kind of vision, trance or spiritual hallucination that we are to look for in the clouds. Jesus does appear twice at the end of the world, but we only need to look for Him once when He comes to rescue us. The second time we will be with Him as we return together to reign over all of those who are fortunate enough to survive the Wrath of God.

1 John 3:2

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as he is.

Think about it!

­Are the 144,000 redeemed by the blood of the Lamb?

­Are we told that they will be left behind?

­Does God exclude any nations, kindreds, people or tongues from the group that is gathered before His throne in this chapter?

~Selah~Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west; I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth; EVEN EVERY ONE THAT IS CALLED BY MY NAME: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him. Isaiah 43:5-7

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