A Daily Walk

John Randall: Have you been sealed by the Spirit? Have you been washed by the blood of Jesus? Have you turned from your sin? Have you repented of your sin? Have you asked Christ to be your Savior? Do you believe that Jesus died on the cross for your sin and rose again from the dead on the third day and offers you salvation and eternal life? Do you believe that? Have you accepted that? Has it affected your life? That is the question this morning. If you're not ready for heaven, you need to get ready for heaven. You don't know how long you're going to have.

Guest (Male): Great to be with you. Welcome again to A Daily Walk, where you never have to walk alone. Find your place in Revelation Chapter 7, as we’ll join Pastor John Randall there in a second. In this chapter, we find two groups of people. The first are 144,000 Jews that will be saved during the tribulation period. The second are the tribulation saints, people that will come to faith in Jesus during the tribulation and will be martyred for their faith. Let's hear more about these two groups now.

John Randall: The second thing to consider about the identity of the 144,000, not only are they Jews, but look at their tribal affiliation. In verses four through eight, you'll notice all the names of the tribes that are mentioned here. The 12 tribes of Israel, also known as Jacob, before God changed his name to Israel. These are Jacob's sons, his 12 sons: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, and Benjamin.

When the 12 tribes inherited the promised land, the tribe of Levi didn't receive a territory for themselves. Instead, they became priests and they had several cities scattered throughout Israel where they lived and ministered among God's people. Joseph's tribe was divided into two. While Joseph was there in Egypt, Joseph had two sons: Ephraim and Manasseh. Jacob adopted those sons, making them part of Israel and essentially giving Joseph a double portion for his faithfulness.

Within the Bible, it's estimated that there are some 29 times that the tribes of Israel are listed, and it's interesting to point out the differences when you compare the various listings. You'll notice, for example, that although Reuben was the firstborn of Jacob, Judah is listed first here in Revelation. Why is that? Perhaps because Jesus came from the tribe of Judah. He's the Lion of the tribe of Judah. The Messiah came from Judah, thus Judah is placed at the forefront.

In verse six, you'll see that the tribe of Manasseh is mentioned, but Ephraim is omitted. But then in verse eight, you have the tribe of Joseph mentioned. Ephraim and Manasseh were the sons of Joseph. There's no real explanation as to why there's a substitution. Perhaps it's because Ephraim, if you go back to the Old Testament, was one of the tribes that went into idolatry. You'll also notice there's no mention of the tribe of Dan. Why is that?

Perhaps it is because in Judges chapter 18 and First Kings chapter 12, the tribe of Dan set up a golden calf to worship instead of God. However, in the kingdom age, in the millennial reign of Christ, the 12 tribes are mentioned again in Ezekiel chapter 48, and guess who's mentioned first? Dan. Why? God's grace. I don't know, but these are the tribes of Israel. That's what we know for sure.

Some have pointed out that due to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD, the tribal records were lost and so the Jews have no way of knowing what tribe they come from. But God knows what tribe they come from. He's not wondering what tribe they are. He knows, and he's going to mark them. They'll be made aware of it. The 144,000 are protected and triumphant through the tribulation period.

When you come to Revelation 14, we'll see this group again standing on Mount Zion with Jesus. Revelation 14 tells us this group is marked by integrity and faithfulness, and they're going to be evangelizing during this time. With all the clear scriptural evidence that presents itself, the 144,000 we can confidently say are Jews: 12,000 out of the 12 tribes. There isn't a Gentile among them. They are specifically chosen Jewish believers and they are protectively sealed throughout the tribulation as a sign. There's no confusion about this.

One final point on the Jewish people. There seems to be, even in some Christian circles, some kind of an anti-Semitic attitude, which is inexcusable. Think about it what God has done with this group of people and the blessing that we have received because of it. They were the ones to whom the Scriptures were given. Almost every author, minus a few, were Jewish. They meticulously preserved Scripture, and the Dead Sea Scrolls proved it.

Our Lord and Savior came from the Jewish nation. The first disciples were also Jewish and took the gospel throughout the known world. It was part of the plan of God that we, most of us as Gentiles, would be grafted in. So the identity, if I may say it again, they're Jews. 144,000. That's the first group. But now you approach the second half of the chapter and we're introduced to another group. Not only will there be Jews saved and come to faith in the tribulation period, but there's also many Gentiles who will also come to faith in Christ during this time period.

Are you with me? Should we keep going? All right, let's go then. Verse nine: "After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, tongues, standing before the throne of the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, 'Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb!'"

John now sees a second vision. The first vision is on earth, the second vision is in heaven. The first vision concerns the sons of Israel, but the second vision concerns a multitude that no one could number, out of every nation, tribe, and people, and they were standing before the throne, clothed in white robes and they were waving palm branches. Who are these people that John sees? First of all, we know that they aren't the church proper that has been raptured and is already there in heaven. Nor are they the 144,000 Jews that have been sealed.

This group right here would be classified as tribulation saints: men and women who came to faith during the tribulation period and then were martyred for their faith and died in some of the devastating wrath that was poured out upon the earth. They are standing, it says in verse nine, before the throne of God, clothed in white robes. When it says they are clothed in white robes, it speaks of the righteousness of Christ that they are clothed in.

That is the only righteousness that is acceptable to God. The Bible says that all our righteousness is as filthy rags. All our good works, all our efforts to be good people will never earn a place in heaven. We couldn't be good enough to attain to the righteousness of Christ, but you don't have to attain it, you have to receive it. Jesus died so that you could receive his righteousness. Jesus Christ died on the cross in our place for our sin so that we could have his righteousness imparted to us.

When we stand before the Father, we will be received because we are clothed in the righteousness of Christ. Friend, I ask you a very searching question this morning: have you been clothed in the righteousness of Christ? Or when you stand before God, will you stand there in your own righteousness? The only righteousness that God accepts is the righteousness of his Son, and it can be imparted to you even today.

Notice also their instruments of worship. They're clothed in white, but their instruments of worship are palm branches. It reminds us of the Lord's triumphal entry there into Jerusalem during Palm Sunday. Historically and biblically, palm branches were waved in celebration of victory. Then notice their confession. They say, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb." That's where salvation comes from.

There isn't any other religion, there isn't any other name whereby you can be saved except through Jesus Christ. The only way to be saved from hell is through Jesus. Without Jesus as your Savior, you'll never see heaven. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, and no one comes to the Father except through him. Buddhism, Hinduism, atheism, humanism, relativism, any other ism, it can't save you. Only Christ.

Notice as they're standing there, waving palm branches and declaring their praise, verse 11: "All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and they all fall on their faces before the throne and they worshiped God, saying: 'Amen! Blessing and honor and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever. Amen.'" This scene is similar to what we read back in Revelation chapter five. The worship that includes this innumerable group of people with the four living creatures that are the angels and the elders.

There's a seven-fold blessing pronounced of praise and adoration: blessing, glory, wisdom, thanksgiving, honor, power, and might around the throne of God. Then we discover the identity of this incalculable group clothed in white who are worshiping and waving palm branches. Who are they? Look at verse 13: "Then one of the elders said to me, 'Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?' And I said to him, 'Sir, you know.'"

John's asked the question from one of the elders. Do you know who these guys are? John said, "Nope." He didn't recognize them. He didn't know who they were. John had to be told who this group of people were. Who were they? Pay close attention, folks, this is really important because some people will look at this passage and say that the church is going to be raptured mid-tribulation and they use this particular passage as a proof text. But it'll be very clear when you follow along.

Look at what verse 14 says: "So he said to me, 'These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.'" These are those who came out of the tribulation. You may recall last week in chapter six and verse nine, when the fifth seal was opened, we saw those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. We pointed out that those believers were martyred for their faith in Christ during the first part of the tribulation period.

They were crying out to the Lord, "How long until you avenge their blood upon those who dwell on the earth?" And the Lord responded, Revelation chapter six, verse 11: "Then a white robe was given to each of them, and it was said that they should rest a little while longer until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who would be killed just as they were was completed." In other words, they were the first martyrs and the Lord says, "Listen, there's more." When is it going to be avenged? Don't worry, eventually it will, but there's more that are going to die for their faith during the tribulation period.

The martyrs in chapter six were told that more would join them in the future, which implies that in chapter seven verse nine, this is who we're talking about. These are more martyrs that are dying for their faith. I want you to see here a significant difference. It's important to recognize a difference between this group of martyred tribulation saints in comparison to the church that has been raptured. They are two separate groups. How do you know?

The phrase in verse 14, "the ones who come out of the tribulation," translates from the Greek verb meaning a prolonged process. In other words, this group keeps growing as people keep dying. It is a prolonged process of them coming out of the tribulation period, meaning the rapture of the church is not in view in this verse because the rapture is a single, instantaneous, and sudden event, not a prolonged process as described here. These are two separate events.

This is a prolonged process. Somebody dies one week, somebody dies later, somebody dies—that's not talking about the rapture. This is talking about people dying for their faith in a prolonged process until it ends. The elder's description of these believers having come out of the tribulation clearly distinguishes them from any other group of redeemed people in history. These are those who came out. It's the same phrase that's used in Revelation 3:10, where it says, "I will keep you from the hour of trial."

Do you see the difference? These come out of the hour of trial. Revelation 3:10 says to the faithful church of Philadelphia, "I will keep you from the hour of trial." Two separate groups completely. Look at the contrast. Revelation 3:10, "I will keep you from"—the church was kept from the great tribulation before it happened. But the martyrs, they came out of the great tribulation. Listen, the church that we saw earlier sits around the throne. The martyrs stand before the throne.

The church is wearing a crown; the martyrs' crowns are not mentioned at this time. The church has harps, we read, and bowls of prayers which praise to the Lord. The martyrs, they have palm branches. It's two separate groups: those who have been raptured and those who have been martyred. This is clear biblical evidence that this is a separate group altogether of those who get saved during the tribulation period. Perhaps some of your friends or loved ones who never believed in Jesus will come to know Christ during this particular time.

I hope they come to know him before, because if you can't stand for God now, you're going to have a real difficult time standing for him then. Today is the day of salvation. But notice in verse 14, their robes—they washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Interesting, isn't it? That metaphor, that picture. Seems like a paradox. Naturally, you don't make something clean by washing it in blood. But the Bible tells us in Isaiah chapter 1, verse 18: "Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool."

The Lord said through his prophet Isaiah to the people, "Listen, come, let's talk about this. Your sin is dark, your sin is heavy, the bondage you're in, you can't get out of. Come, let's reason together. Let me offer you forgiveness, let me take that guilt away, let me forgive your sins, let me offer you the hope of heaven. Come and be reasonable." The Lord's extending an invitation. In Revelation chapter 1, verse 5, you remember it says, "to him who loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood."

Your sins, my sins are washed away through the blood of Christ. There is no other way to have your sin atoned for. Romans chapter 5, verse 9, the apostle Paul writes, "Much more then, having been justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him." Colossians 1:20 says, "and by him to reconcile all things to himself, by him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of his cross." Ephesians 2:13 tells us, "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Jesus Christ."

It's the blood, friend. It's the blood of Christ. Nothing else can atone for my sins. Nothing but the blood of Jesus. That is the only thing. But not only were these washed by the blood of Christ, but they were also rewarded. It says in verse 15, "Therefore," or in light of this, "they are before the throne of God, and they serve him day and night in his temple. And he who sits on the throne will dwell among them. They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat."

Listen, they were experiencing the sun striking them. They were thirsting, they were hungering, they were in the midst of the tribulation. But because they died for their faith and they did not turn their back on Christ, they did not take the mark as the Bible says, when they died, they were ushered into the presence of the Lord. And now they have the opportunity, first of all, of being with the Lord. Because they've been washed, because they've been made clean, they have the privilege of being before the throne of God, not separated from him because of their sin, but near him because of his grace.

Friend, are you going to be around the throne of God? Are you going to be there? Do you know beyond the shadow of a doubt that you're going to be in the presence of the Lord? This is where they were. But notice they also not only were they around the throne, but it says they served the Lord. A privilege of worshiping him, but serving him. What a joy. And it says that the Lord dwelt among them. Literally, I love this, it literally means he spread his tent over them. Covered them.

God will be with them in their midst. And he provides for them. There's no more hunger, no more thirst, no more pain, and no more tears. And then it tells us here what a beautiful picture this is. He will shepherd them. The Lion, who is also the Lamb, is now the Shepherd. And he's caring for these people. He's loving these people. Jesus is the good shepherd, the Bible tells us. In fact, the Bible also tells us he is the great shepherd of the sheep.

This is what they will experience. Those who are sealed, the 144,000 evangelists roaming the earth preaching the gospel, protected, delivered during the tribulation period. Then there is another group, an innumerable group of people who will eventually come to faith in Christ. They miss the rapture, they miss the opportunity, but they'll have to die for their faith. But they eventually will also be saved and be forgiven and washed and stand before the throne, worshiping the Lamb.

My friend, let me ask you the question today: have you been sealed by the Spirit? Have you been washed by the blood of Jesus? And by that I mean have you turned from your sin? Have you repented of your sin? Have you asked Christ to be your Savior? Do you believe that Jesus died on the cross for your sin and rose again from the dead on the third day and offers you salvation and eternal life? Do you believe that? Have you accepted that? Has it affected your life? That is the question this morning. If you're not ready for heaven, you need to get ready for heaven.

You don't know how long you're going to have. Some of you know this week we buried my 93-year-old grandmother. Praise the Lord, she went home to be with Jesus. She's reunited with loved ones. But when we carried her body to the gravesite, all around her were other relatives of mine. I saw epitaph after epitaph with the name Randall all around. From my grandfather to my great-grandfather, to my aunts, my uncles, great-aunts, great-uncles who've already passed on. It was a reality check.

What are you living for? Are you prepared? Because one day somebody's going to put you in the ground. But if you know Christ as your Savior, to be absent from this body is to be present with the Lord. The hope of heaven. What joy, what consolation, what comfort to know today that when you take your last breath here on earth, you take your first breath in heaven. When you say goodbye to those here, you'll say hello to Jesus. Are you ready? Are you prepared? You can be today.

And I want to give you that opportunity, friend. Listen, what we just read, you do not want to be part of this. You want to be taken from before the hour of tribulation coming upon the earth. You want to be taken before, not after. So today, before we close, I'm going to give you that opportunity like we've given to so many people right here in this parking lot to respond to Christ, to turn from your sin, to be saved, to be forgiven, to have your guilt taken away, to have the hope of heaven.

If you do not have that, today is your day. Don't let another day go by. For others of you, you've walked away from the Lord, and somehow somebody invited you to church here today and you're back. You're here. You're sitting out there, but you know you need to get right with the Lord. The Lord says return more than he says turn in the Bible to his people. And if you need to return, now's the time. Today is the day. Don't put it off. Get right with God now. Don't wait any longer. Turn from that sin that's destroying you, taking you away from the Lord, and turn and follow Jesus. God loves you. He's calling you. Would you pray with me now?

Heavenly Father, we thank you this morning for the promises found in your word. We thank you that you are who you say you are. That you are the Lion of the tribe of Judah, you are the redeemer, the savior, the Lord. You died and rose again and you offer salvation to anyone, no matter what they've done, no matter what sin they've committed, no matter how far away they've been or are at this moment.

Lord, you are the good shepherd that draws people to yourself. So I'm praying now, Lord, that you would bring people to Jesus. Even if it's just one person, God, bring somebody today from hell to heaven. Lord, help them to transfer their eternal address today. And so Lord, we ask this. And Lord, those that are watching online that maybe they've been far from you and they're just staying at home or they're in a different place, Lord, I pray you convict them of sin and draw them even right now that it'd come through the screen into their living room or wherever they're at. Lord, you would convict them of sin and they would turn to Christ for salvation today. Lord, we ask these things in Jesus' name. Amen.

Guest (Male): Well, we hope you prayed along with Pastor John Randall here on A Daily Walk. If so, we'd like to know, and we want to help you get your new life in Christ off to a great start. You can call us at 877-242-0828 or email us at adailywalk@gmail.com. We've been in the book of Revelation today, just part of our through the Bible journey. You can listen to the study again at adailywalk.org or oneplace.com. It's also available through the Calvary South OC app.

Second Chronicles 7:14 says, "If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land." That beautiful verse served as the inspiration of a book we'd like to send your way called *If My People: A Prayer Guide for Our Nation*. Written by Jack Countryman, this will no doubt stir your heart and mind as you read seven noteworthy prayers from past presidents.

They were inspired during some of our country's darkest days. This prayer guide not only reminds the reader that in God we still trust, but also brings some measure of hope for our country, just when we need it. You can order that today online at adailywalk.org or call us at 877-242-0828. The cost is just eight dollars, and anything given above that amount will help us deliver God's word on stations like this one all across the great USA and around the world. Again, call 877-242-0828 or donate online at adailywalk.org. There's more to come in Pastor John Randall's study of Revelation. Set aside another half hour to join us tomorrow for A Daily Walk, where you never have to walk alone. This program is made possible through your generosity and brought to you by Calvary South OC.