The Tribulation Saints

Temple Baptist Church - 12-6-2020

Revelation 7:9-17

 

A.  In these last days of Laodicea, we find little interest concerning the things of God but in and outside of the local church.  People are too earthly minded to be of any heavenly good.  People who profess to be born again have little interest in faithfulness or service. 

 

2 Timothy 3:1-5  This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.  (2)  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,  (3)  Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,  (4)  Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;  (5)  Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

 

Revelation 3:15-17  I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.  (16)  So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.  (17)  Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

 

B.  People who are lost are either atheistic or care nothing about salvation.  Truly, few there be that find it!  To find something, you must put forth an effort to look for it.

 

Matthew 7:13-15  Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:  (14)  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.  (15)  Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

 

C.  In verse 9, we find the result of Great Revival during Jacob’s Trouble.  “After these things” refers to the sealing of the 144,000 who may have been the ones who shared the gospel with these saved.  A Great Revival during Great Tribulation!  It has always been that way.  Persecution always caused personal soul searching and a turning to God.

 

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.

 

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.

 

Habakkuk 3:2  O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy.

 

D.  Though it cost them their lives, in verse 9 we see a number that cannot be numbered will come to Christ during Jacob’s Trouble.  All nations, Jews and Gentiles, all kindreds and people, and every tongues or language.  Here we find true obedience to God’s command of missions.

 

Matthew 28:19  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

 

Mark 16:15  And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

 

Acts 1:8  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

 

E.  Here in verse 9, they stand before the throne of God.  Martyrs for the Word of God and the Testimony of Jesus Christ.  Here we find the end of martyrdom for Christ is exceeding joy!  It is so much better to die for Christ than to live on this earth.

 

1 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.

 

Jude 24-25  Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,  (25)  To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

 

F.  Chapter 8 begins with the word “And” and the opening of the Seventh Seal of God’s Wrath.  While these who have died for the Word of God and the Testimony of Christ are rejoicing, the wrath of God begins to fall once again on the earth.

 

G.  Here in verse 9, they stand righteous (white robes) before the throne of God.

 

Revelation 1:5  And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

 

Revelation 7:13-14  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.

 

H.  In verses 10-12, we find these Tribulation Martyrs, along with angels, the elders, and four beasts falling on their faces before the Lord worshipping God.  There will be no indictment of God in heaven as He does all things well.

 

1.  The martyred saints are worshipping because of their great salvation in Christ alone.

 

Ephesians 2:8-9  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  (9)  Not of works, lest any man should boast.

 

2.  The angels, elders, and four beasts “Amen” the worship of salvation with a 7 fold blessing to God.  “Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever.”

 

Revelation 19:1  And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God:

 

J.  In verse 13, one of the elders “answered” and spoke to John.  This implies that John had asked the elder the question about who this multitude was, and John answered, “Thou knowest,” indicating that John did not know for sure but the elder did know because he answered the question.  The Holy spirit wants us to know that heaven will be filled with these precious martyred saints along with our loved ones who have gone on before us.

 

Genesis 25:8  Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people.

 

1 Thessalonians 4:17-18  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.  (18)  Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

 

K.  In verse 14, we find that salvation in the Tribulation Period is consistent with the salvation of all men who went before.

 

1.  The Act of Cleansing – “and have washed their robes”

 

2.  The Agent of Cleansing – “and made them white in the blood of the Lamb”

 

L.  In verse 15, the Tribulation Saints who have been martyred remain in the presence of the Lord and He dwells among them.  Not just us dwelling before the Lord but the Lord dwelling among us.  We are in Him and He dwells within us!  Oh, what joy, what delight!

 

a.  The First Mention of “for ever”- Genesis 3:22  And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:

 

b.  The Last Mention of ‘for ever” - Revelation 22:3-5  And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:  (4)  And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.  (5)  And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

 

c.  “For ever and ever” are one word in the Greek, “aiōn” meaning perpetuity or not ending.

 

M.  In verse 16, we find eternal supply and comfort: no hunger, no thirst, no discomfort, no cares as the Lord will not only take care of us, as a Shepherd who leads us beside the still waters of eternity, He will also remove all sorrow and wipe all tears from our eyes.

 

Revelation 21:3-4  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.  (4)  And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.