We have covered the three sets of Judgements; the Seals, Trumpets and Bowls. However, there are several more visions that John receives. These extra visions are sometimes called “Interludes” because  they break the flow and sequence of the 21 judgements. These extra visions come at just the right time to give us much needed break from the judgements and to shed some light on the situation that we might otherwise miss. They can add a different perspective and insight for us. 

The first two extra visions that John receives are two different groups of people. The 144,000 and the Great Multitude of people seen standing before the throne of God in Heaven. What a perfect place for God to place these particular two visions. Right after the 5th Seal of the Martyrs under the altar, crying out to God, and after the 6th Seal which is a earthquake that shakes the whole earth. These two visions come just before the Trumpet judgements begin. So, it is a very heavy moment. 

We are introduced to this first group at the beginning of chapter 7. But first notice the last words of chapter 6. A question is asked and we are  left hanging.  “For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can withstand it?”. Mankind is wondering if anyone can survive what is about to come and that is a good question. They understand the gravity of the coming days.

Thankfully, the answer is found in chapter 7. The first group that will be able to withstand the Tribulation is the 144,000. 

Who Are The 144,00?

Well, thankfully we are told exactly who they are. This is one group that we do not have to wonder or guess about. They are Abrahams descendants. There are 12,000 from each of the 12 Tribes of Israel. And to be sure we don’t get confused, he lists the names of the Tribes for us. The list has a couple of things of interest, but we will talk about that in another lesson for another day. What we need to know for sure is that the 144,000 are Jewish people. And be assured that God knows exactly which Tribe each of them belong, even if they don’t. There are no lost Tribes. 

What else do we know about them? They are called “First Fruits” so they are the first to come to faith in Jesus as the Messiah from the nation of Israel. They will go out into all the world and be Evangelists, spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the nations. Isn’t that amazing? 2,000 years of blindness to Jesus being the Messiah and here they are boldly going into all the world telling the Good News!

During this time of tribulation and devastation and during this time of martyrdom of Christians, they will be in danger too. So, God has them “sealed”. They will be protected from any harm because he has them on a great mission. He has them on the Great Commission. Oh, did you notice where they are sealed? On the forehead for everyone to see! They will be powerful and effective witnesses. Many Jews will come to faith in God because of them. How do we know? Because, they are called “First Fruits”,  which means that they are a small sampling, the first gathering of the larger harvest to come.

Will they survive? Can they survive these terrible seven years? If you turn to chapter 14 of Revelation you will find the answer. Yes! They are seen standing with Jesus on Mt Zion, singing a new song. They are called virgins, undefiled, blameless, pure. Simply meaning that did not fall for the lies of Satan or any deception. They did not worship the Antichrist or false idols. They were completely blameless in their faith to the very end. They had a mission from God to accomplish and they completed it as pure and holy servants of God. 

What a powerful testimony! Oh, to be called blameless, pure and undefiled!

THE GREAT MULTITUDE (Rev 7)

This group is introduced to us after the Sealing of the 144,000.

Who Are They?

We are told that they are Saints who have come out of the Tribulation. They are often referred to as “Tribulation Saints”. These are a multitude of people who are saved during the Tribulation. And the beautiful thing is that they come from every tribe, nation, people, language. Can you imagine seeing all the different nationalities, sizes, and colors of people? How did John know that they came from different counties and nations? Perhaps, John was able to see the individual and distinct look, or perhaps he heard the different languages. Maybe before they received their robes of white, perhaps he got a glimpse of all the various style of clothing and headwear that represents each of the different countries. We can’t be sure, but somehow John recognized all the different nationalities of across the globe, most likely of which he had never seen.  What a beautiful sight! The Great Commission to go and tell the world, given to the disciples, John is now able to realize that it was carried out to completion.

I bet his eyes were as big as saucers as he just shook his head in shear amazement!

These Saints were both Jew and Gentile from around the world. The Gospel had reached the four corners of the earth and the number was so great that it could not be counted. Wow! This might be the greatest revival ever! And can you believe that it will take place in the middle of the worst time that ever will come upon the earth? 

Let me ask you a question? Is discomfort, pain, heartache, troubles, and even persecution worth going through if multitudes come to know the Lord as their Savior? If your child were to come to know the Lord? We are told in the New Testament that the disciples were willing to suffer and that they even considered it an honor. I’m not sure how many of us could say that, if we were honest. We complain about the most trivial things that don’t matter a hill of beans. (My French fries were cold when I went through the drive-through window at McDonalds.) Seriously? We can get so bent out of shape over the smallest things, can’t we? We could be thankful that we are blessed to have food everyday. Makes you think, doesn’t it?

So, how do you think might be one of the ways that the Gospel will be spread to all the nations during this time? Could it be as a result of the 144,000, Jews on a mission? I believe that there are probably a number of ways that the Gospel will be spread, but the 144,000 seems to have a HUGE impact. Especially for the Jews!

This multitude is another answer to the earlier question, “Who can withstand?”. Who? A Great Multitude can, that’s who! They may have lost their lives on earth but the reward of Heaven is so much better! They are able to stand and worship before the throne of God. I bet every single person in that Multitude would tell you that whatever they went through on this earth was totally worth it! It is worth it because Heaven is worth it! Being with Jesus is worth it! “To live is Christ, to die is gain.”

What a wonderful relief and joy for John to see this innumerable gathering of believers at this very moment. After the releasing of the Seals and just before the Trumpets are blown. At the very beginning of Jacob’s Trouble, as it is often called.  When the wrath of God is about to be poured out upon the earth with great devastation. During the time of the most severe testing which will ever come upon the earth.

God did not want John to go too far or too deep into the heaviness of the judgements during this period of time. He wanted to give him the vision of the hope. A vision of the end results! A vision of a great celebration! I’m sure John would think back to the words of comfort spoken by Jesus, “Don’t let your heart be troubled.” God is so good. He didn’t want John to only focus on the bad when there is much more good. The blessing in the midst of this terrible time of suffering is the fact that many will be saved!  What a hallelujah! Everything that God does has a very specific purpose. All his works are for our good. A good lesson for us to focus on God’s blessings not on the temporal things around us.

“OVERCOMERS”

Remember when we talked about the seven letters to the seven churches in chapters 3 and 4?  The church was told over and over again to be an Overcomer. Stay strong and persevere to the very end. Just look at these beautiful verses about those who are Overcomers:

• Rev 3:12 “I will write on him a new name”
• Rev 21:3 “They will live in constant protection & presence”
• Rev 21:6 “They will never again be hungry or thirst”
• Rev 7:16-17 “I will wipe every tear from their eye.”
• James 1:12 “They will receive the Crown of Life”
• Rev 3:5 “Clothed in white garments”

HOW DID THEY OVERCOME?

“By the Blood of the Lamb and the word of their Testimony. They did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death” (Rev 12:11)

WHAT A BEAUTIFUL TESTIMONY!

Many will be saved during the Tribulation just because of the word of a Testimony. Have you ever thought about how powerful that a Testimony can be? It is a powerful thing! And everyone of us have a Testimony. You have one and I have one. Your Testimony is not like anyone else’s. Your Testimony may be able the only one that can relate to someone.  Your life, your words, your actions, your heart, your attitude, your giving, your love… all of that is part of your powerful Testimony and it can make a difference in someone’s life. These Overcomers in the Revelation 12:11 “did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death“. They got it!  They understood that there is nothing greater in this life than to live life boldly for Christ. Next time you feel the calling or urging of God to talk to someone about the Gospel, I pray that you will go boldly and proclaim what God has done in your life. It may just lead to another member of Saints that stand in the presence of God some day.

I pray that my own “Testimony” would be that strong no matter what I go through. I pray that I will remain steadfast and bold for the glory of God to the very end!