Revelation: New Creation in Jesus (04) - Great Tribulation
Note: children check each of these boxes [?] as Pastor Gregg preaches.
[ ] INTRODUCTION
[ ] THE BIBLE READING - Rev. 7:4–17 - one hundred and forty-four thousand sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel: 5 from the tribe of Judah, twelve thousand were sealed, from the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand, from the tribe of Gad twelve thousand, . . . 9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; 10 and they cry out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” . . . “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 “For this reason, 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 spread His tabernacle over them. 16 “They will hunger no longer, nor thirst anymore; nor will the sun beat down on them, nor any heat; 17 for the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the water of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes.”
[ ] ABOUT THE BOOK OF REVELATION
[ ] Fulfillment of the Book’s Events
[ ] Outline: Vision, 7 Letters, Throne, Judgments, Beast(s) & Harlot, Kingdom, New Creation
[ ] Seven Seals: By ch. 7 the 6th Seal is Broken (Rev. 6:12, 8:1)
[ ] SALVATION OF THE 12 TRIBES (vv 7:4-8)
[ ] The Sealing of the Tribes (Ex. 28, Ezek. 9:4)
[ ] The Order of the Tribes (Num. 1:20ff, 26:5ff)
[ ] The Salvation of the Remnant (Jer. 31:7, Zech. 8:11, Rom. 9:27, 11:5)
[ ] SALVATION OF A MULTITUDE FROM ALL NATIONS (vv 7:9-17)
[ ] The Identity of the Multitude (v9, 14)
[ ] The Worship of the Multitude (v10)
[ ] The Blessedness of the Multitude (v15-17)
TWO MAJOR LESSONS
1 - Protection through tribulation
A clay pot sitting in the sun will always be a clay pot. It has to go through the white heat of the furnace to become porcelain. Mildred Witte Struven,
2 - The growth and expansion of the kingdom. While much of the book of Revelation describes horrific judgments, still at every turn, we find the salvation of multitudes during the worst times of trial and tribulation. If indeed this time of Great Tribulation was prior to 70 AD, then this represents an exceedingly difficult time and yet during this time multitudes “have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” and now are worshipers before the throne. Despite judgments and the fall of nations and men, the goal of redemption and salvation will be accomplished. Jesus is Lord and so “the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea” (Is. 11:9). Thus, we should expect the general and universal advancement of the kingdom by means of the gospel with a final consummation of this victory at His coming when even death will be utterly and completely abolished. Therefore we are to make the nations His disciples (Mt. 28:19-20). We pray and work (ora et labora) with the confidence that all His enemies shall be subdued. “The kingdom of this world, has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ and He shall reign forever.” (Rev. 11:15)