REVELATION LESSON 19

    Last lesson, we touched on the 144,000 being 12,000 from each of
the tribes of Israel. There was no mention of Dan or Ephraim, but it
included the priestly tribe of Levi.  Even though Levi inherited no
land on the earth, his tribe would certainly be represented in heaven.
Joseph and Manasseh were mentioned. Dan was not mentioned because of
his idolatry. We also saw in V-9, the great multitude of believers in
Christ who were wearing white robes of righteousness standing around
the throne of God.

    We will pick up this lesson in Revelation 7:10 "And cried with a
loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the
throne, and unto the Lamb."

    We cannot take credit for our salvation.  Our salvation is a free
gift through grace. Jesus deserves all the credit.  He purchased our
salvation with His precious blood. We must praise and worship Jesus
for He alone deserves all the credit.  Of course, the triune God
(Elohim) sits on the throne.

    Revelation 7:11 "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,"

    This is another view of the throne area.  Of course, Elohim God is
on the center throne. Jesus is sitting at the right hand of the
Father. The four living beings are very near the throne. The twenty-
four elders , representative of all Christendom, are very near, as
well. The angels encircle the throne.  All must fall before the throne
of God in total adoration and worship.

    Revelation 7:12 "Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom,
and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, [be] unto our God
for ever and ever. Amen."

    The "...Amen..." is saying, so be it, to the praise and worship of
Almighty God. This blessing here is seven fold.  Spiritually complete
blessings are spoken here in this heavenly setting.

    Revelation 7:13 "And one of the elders answered, saying unto me,
What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came
they?"

    This elder is certainly representative of the church.  He must
already know who these are. He probably asks this question to teach
those who do not understand who these are.

    Those which were "...arrayed in white robes..." cannot be the same
people as those sealed in their forehead.  Those sealed in their
forehead would have no reason to be sealed, if they would be
immediately transported to heaven. There are no winds of terror in
heaven. There would be no purpose in putting the mark on them for
heaven. This is certainly another group.
    They have been taken out of the great tribulation on the earth.
The seven years are broken up into two 3 1/2 year periods.  I believe
the first 3 1/2 years are actually tribulation, and the last 3 1/2
years are the Wrath of God.

    Christians will know tribulation, but will be saved from the wrath
to come. I Thessalonians 1:10 "And to wait for his Son from heaven,
whom he raised from the dead, [even] Jesus, which delivered us from
the wrath to come."

    I really believe this rapture, or catching away of the Church,
occurs middle way of the seven years.  We read in Daniel 12:1 "And at
that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for
the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such
as never was since there was a nation [even] to that same time: and at
that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found
written in the book." Daniel 12:2 "And many of them that sleep in the
dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to
shame [and] everlasting contempt." Daniel 12:3 "And they that be wise
shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn
many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever."  Daniel 12:4
"But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, [even] to
the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be
increased."

    You see there is no question that this we read in Daniel is the
same time as what we have been reading in Revelation.  In Daniel 12:9,
"And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and
sealed till the time of the end."

    If we read the rest of chapter 12, we will find that blessed is he
 that waiteth and cometh to the 1335 day.  Figuring a 365 day year,
 that is just over 3 1/2 years. Of course, the year might not be 365
 days. Is this just coincidence, or is 3 1/2 years the point at which
 the blessed of God will be carried away into heaven to protect them
 while the wrath is occuring on earth? God is the same in the Old
 Testament as He is in the New Testament. It appears to me that the
 most important thing in our life, even more than eating and sleeping,
 is making sure that our names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.

    Revelation 7:14 "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."

    You see, he definitely already knew who they were.  This was just
emphasizing a lesson to be learned.  This white is such a bright white
that, I believe, it even glistens as the Shekinah Glory of God.  Here
again, white stands for righteousness. We are righteous because we
have taken on Jesus' righteousness. Notice also, that they were not
saved from tribulation, but in it.

    Revelation 7:15 "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."

    We, Christians, are before the throne because we decided to follow
 Jesus, to accept His salvation, to be washed in His blood, and to
 believe in the resurrection. We are to be His servants and to dwell
 with Him forever. It speaks of "...day and night..." here, but there
 is no night in heaven with Jesus. We are in the presence of the
 Light, and there is just one eternal day with Him.

    We read in Ephesians 5:27 "That he might present it to himself a
glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but
that it should be holy and without blemish."

    Revelation 21-3 speaks of this very thing, "And I heard a great
voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God [is] with
men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and
God himself shall be with them, [and be] their God."
    How much more wonderful could it be?

    Revelation 7:16 "They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any
more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat."

    If we read in Isaiah 49:10 we will read, "They shall not hunger
nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that
hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall
he guide them."

    Both of these remind us of the 23rd Psalm.  Jesus is the Shepherd.
He sees to the needs of His flock.

    Jesus is the Light, and there will be no need for the sun or the
moon. There will be a presence of Light.

    Revelation 7:17 "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."

    This is surely heaven where there is eternal peace and joy.  Here
again, we see Jesus as the Shepherd of His sheep, providing for all
our needs, and making us blissfully happy. We had tears on earth, not
in heaven.

    John 10:11 tells us for sure who He is, "I am the good shepherd:
the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep."

    I sing a song called "There Is A River"; this reminds me of that.
No sorrow, no mourning forever more.

    Additional scriptures to read and study: 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12,
Psalms 23.

    Memorize Isaiah 49:10, St.  John 10:11, and Ephesians 5:27.


                      REVELATION QUESTIONS 19


1.  When they cried with a loud voice, what did they say in V-10?
2.  Who deserves all the credit for our salvation?
3.  The angels, elders, and beasts did what when they worshipped God?
4.  The twenty-four elders represent whom?
5.  The seven fold blessings in V-12 are what?
6.  Why did the elders ask who were the ones dressed in white robes?
7.  Why would it not be necessary to be sealed in heaven?
8.  Seven years of tribulation are broken up into what?
9.  Jesus delivers us from the -------- to come?
10. In Daniel chapter 12, what do we read?
11. Who shall be delivered?
12. Many of them who sleep in the dust shall --------.
13. What is the brightness of the Christians compared to?
14. Daniel was told to go his way, the words were closed up until
    when?
15. What is more important to us than eating and sleeping?
16. What were these white robes washed in?
17. How do we become righteous?
18. What do we Christians do, day and night in the temple?
19. We read in Ephesians 5:27, that Jesus will present unto Himself a
    church that is in what condition?
20. Where will the tabernacle of God be?
21. In Isaiah 49:10, what is it describing?
22. Who shall feed us?
23. In John 10:11, we see Jesus as what?
24. Write Isaiah 49:10.
25. Write St. John 10:11.
26. Write Ephesians 5:27.
27. Is your name written in the Lamb's book of life?