These events that we're reading about in chapter seven and might be bored with. are not going to bore those living through it. They're going to depend on these scripture verses. They're gonna take these verses to unbelievers and show them. This is scripture.
And if it's right with all of the prophecy about the Jewish people and the Gentiles and the destruction, It's also right about the salvation. the cross of Christ and everything about his life. You're listening to Cross Reference Radio with our pastor and teacher, Rick Gaston. Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel, Mechanicsville. Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the book of Revelation.
Please stay with us after today's message to hear more information about cross-reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching. And now here's Pastor Rick with part two of his study called Millions Saved in Revelation chapter 7. Here we are trottling along in the Revelation, and there's a whole chapter right here in the middle dedicated to saying. If it weren't for this great tribulation period, these millions of people would not be saved. But God is going to save.
millions of people in the midst of this horror. And it will be their choice to either believe him or not. And so in Ezekiel 9, talking about God making a distinction and very interested in his people in the midst of judgment. In Ezekiel 9 we read, And Yahweh said to him, to the angel. Go through the midst of the city.
through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over the abominations that are done within it.
So God is saying, I've shown you the abominations happening. In Ezekiel 7 and 8. And now, judgment in chapter 9. And yet, the whole time I've been paying attention to who is mine. Who, in the midst of all of this craziness, are interested or have the heart of God?
And these lessons, they need to be told. They need to be shared. With unbelievers, when we say, listen, God's going to judge the world, but understand, He's looking to make a distinction. Between those who would like to be an ally with him versus those who are determined to resist him. Verse four And I heard the number of those who were sealed, 144,000 of all the tribes of the children of Israel, were sealed.
We have every reason to take that number literally. There's no reason.
Well, let's spiritualize it. You know, 144 divided by 12, there's no need. I don't know of a need. I can take it just like it is. I believe there's going to be 144,000 Jewish converts.
that will be used to convert Gentiles and Jews alike. There are four groups of believers represented in this chapter. When we get to verse 11, we'll find the Old Testament and New Testament Jews represented by an elder. We covered that in chapter 4. The elders, the 24 elders, represent the Old Testament, New Testament believers.
These 144,000 Tribulation Jewish converts, and then the Gentile converts, they also are represented in this chapter. The church is spared the tribulation, raptured. The 144,000 passed through unharmed. But all the others, all the other converts are martyred. If they were believers before, they would have been raptured.
But they're not raptured. because they became believers after the rapture. 144,000, a literal number. And it's doctrinally dangerous to spiritualize that number.
So what what is it you know, where's all this going? Why do some commentators find it difficult to accept that these are Jewish converts? And there are. There are commentators reluctant to say, well, these are ethnic Jews. When their very tribes are going to be listed.
Well, that's stuff that I have to put up with, and I've gotten it out by sharing it with you. They're saved. When I mention saved because of the rapture, the rapture triggers investigation into prophecy. When the church is taken out of the way, it's not like, okay, that's it. Nothing more to happen here.
And they're not going to be magically saved. We don't believe in magic like that. The rapture triggers investigation into New Testament prophecy. Matthew 24, 14. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.
And Matthew 24 is an end time verse. They're not saved and sealed to hang out. but to reach multitudes of people.
so significant that God names the very tribes they will come from. Of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed, clearly Jewish converts. Jeremiah says this in Jeremiah 29, he says, In the latter days you will consider it. Jeremiah 30, verse 24. And then the next chapter, At the same time, says Yahweh, I will be the God of all the families of the earth.
And they shall be my people.
So, way back in the Old Testament, there are these pockets of promise. About end-time events concerning the Jewish people. And now, John is catching us up to these things. And when we're gone, there will be people reading the scriptures. looking at the prophecies and realizing This is incredible.
What we're living through is what the Bible calls the Great Tribulation Period. And they're going to say, Jesus is indeed Lord. You're going to be the greatest awakening perhaps ever. Explicitly said to be ethnic Jewish. And the Gentiles in a different group explicitly stated.
Verse 5: Of the tribe of Judah, 12,000 were sealed. Of the tribe of Reuben, 12,000 were sealed. Of the tribe of Gad, 12,000 were sealed.
Well, Judah, the tribe from which Messiah comes, named first. And this numbering that follows is like what we read in the book of Numbers of the Jews for war. But there are two tribes missing: Dan and Ephraim. And it's remarkable why only. Why are these two left out?
Now, the commentators, as often they do, some of them, they just like to judge right away.
Well, they must have done something wrong. Let's go get them, boys. You know, Dan worshipped idols, and Ephraim, yeah, they all did. I don't think that's enough, and here's why. In Ezekiel 48, when God talks about the millennial kingdom, Dan and Ephraim are mentioned.
In fact, Dan is mentioned first. Amongst the tribes, the tribes are listed.
So if it was punishment, it would show up elsewhere. I don't believe it's punishment. And you might have noticed how often I refer to Ezekiel the prophet as we've been going through the revelation. because he has a lot to say about not only Jerusalem in his day and the Jews in the time that he lived outside of Israel, but also about what's coming in the end and the millennial kingdom.
So because of this mention by Ezekiel, of these two tribes being in union with The Messiah. I don't believe These tribes are left out because of punishment. But here's my scenario. Since the destruction of the second Jewish temple, remember Solomon's temple was first, that was destroyed by the Babylonians. The rubber bell comes back, they build the second temple.
In 70 AD, the Romans destroyed that one.
Well, when the Romans destroyed that second Jewish temple, Lost were the records that identified which tribe each Jew belonged to.
So since that time, a Jew has no way of telling you I'm from the tribe of Judah or Reuben or Gad or any other tribe.
Well, the Jewish temple is, the third Jewish temple is going to be rebuilt. And For it to function according to Scripture, they've got to identify who are the Levites and who are the sons of Aaron.
So, we got some hurdles to cover here. How are we going to get these things done unless we spiritualize everything? We don't have to spiritualize everything. These prophecies, I believe, are going to be literally fulfilled with all the ancient archaeological sites in Israel, and many of them still untouched. I believe they will discover ancient graves with tribal markings, and they will be able to do the DNA work to begin to once again identify What Jews came from which tribes?
Genealogists will make their identifications And I also believe they will be stopped before they get to the tribes of Dan and Ephraim. Because there's going to be a whole bunch of stuff going on during this period of time. That's my scenario. When that happens, it will be an enormous confirmation. To those living interested in what the Bible says, they'll turn to this chapter and they'll say, it's just like the Scripture says.
All the tribes are named except Dan and Ephraim, and we're living at a time watching this happen, which will add to. in their thinking. The veracity of God's word, the trustworthiness of God's word. And so Antichrist entering into a covenant with the Jewish people will likely be a big part. Of building their third temple.
We know he's going to defile it, and Jesus warned when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet.
Well, standing in the temple where he doesn't belong.
Well, what temple? There's been two of them, there's none right now. There has to be a third one for that prophecy to come true. When Paul says this in 2 Thessalonians. about Antichrist, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
Well, what temple? It doesn't exist right now. Yeah, there's a temple Mount Faithful in Israel that are putting all the articles together. They have great anticipation of their temple. They have to find out where it goes.
When we get to chapter 11, we'll start covering some of that.
So my point to sum up everything I've been saying. Is that these events that we're reading about in chapter 7 and might be bored with? Are not going to bore those living through it. They're going to depend on these scripture verses. They're going to take these verses to unbelievers and show them.
This is scripture. And if it's right with all of the prophecy about the Jewish people and the Gentiles and the destruction. It's also right about the salvation through the cross of Christ and everything about his life. They're going to preach the gospel too. They're not just going to be: look at the prophecy, it applies to us right now.
They're going to preach that we're sinners, we need a savior. We need to verbalize our confession of faith. And so that's my take on how things are going to work out. Just like it says here, word for word, without having to spiritualize any of it.
Now we can skip verses 6 through 8 because they just repeat the tribal names. And add no more information. Though again, living through it, if you're a Jew and you've been identified as you belong to the tribe of Asher and you see that here listed, you're going to say, This is amazing. For 2,000 years, we haven't known where we've come from. And now we do, and it has a critical point.
and watching millions of Hindus and Muslims and other people Just realize The Bible is right. and all the other ones are wrong. In verse 9, after these things I looked and behold, a great multitude which no one could number. of all nations, tribes, peoples, And tongues standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes and with palm branches in their hands.
So the scene shifts now. away from the 144,000 Jews. And yes, the cults They hijacked the verse. We have the 140, you know, the Jehovah's Witnesses, that's all heresy. The 144,000 have not been identified yet, so you just need to throw that in real quick.
So the scene shifts. to the Gentile converts. At this point, we know that because verse 14 will just explicitly tell us that. Of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, millions of them. In chapter 5, we read about the same thing, but Those people who were right with God from Adam to the rapture.
This group. Is those Gentiles after the rapture. who get saved. converts benefiting from centuries of work. through the church in preserving the scriptures.
And the testimony. And they're going to be reading commentaries. They're going to be working hard. Life will become all about getting right with God. For those End time believers.
Standing before the throne, and before the Lamb.
So we're seeing the end of it. typical of Revelation not to follow order. But to give us scenes and have us put the pieces of the puzzle together. they're standing before the throne. Previously in chapter six There were elements of these martyrs crying out for justice.
Well, we've moved on past that. And John is saying, yep, they received their justice, they're in. This is where they're going to end up in heaven. And he's going to have to point out one more time that they were not martyred because they were guilty. They were martyred because they were innocent.
The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin. Thus, when it says that they were clothed with white robes with palm branches in their hands, those are elements. of their innocence And their cleansing through Christ. Because when trouble befalls us, how quickly?
Sometimes, do we think we must be being punished for something? God is getting me for something. And in their case, He's making it clear. that they are not punished. By him.
It is the enemy that is bringing this about. Verse 10. And crying out with a loud voice, saying, Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb. In verse 11, all the angels stood around the throne, and the elders and the four living creatures. and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God.
But here's another point to think about. A lot of these people coming to Christ at this time are going to be illiterate people, people of all classes, people who just don't have the ability to. Read and write and learn as would be more ideal. They're going to be relying on evidence. That they can see with their eyes, and someone to come along and tell them what they're looking at.
and then press them to to make a decision based on what they're going through. assuring them that this is what God had made known to man thousands of years before it ever happened.
Well now in verses 10 and 11, the Lamb is included as co-equal with the Father. And uh We see the angels just as is their custom almost. Their ambition is to worship the Lord. the unfallen angels, they're always eager without hesitation to follow orders and to worship God. If we are offered salvation in Christ, then there must be an opposite condition.
I've said it before. If God says, I offer you salvation, there must be condemnation. As an alternative to that, and make your choice. And it will be quite amazing that So many people are going to say, No, I get this, I repent. Verse 12, and this is what they were saying.
Amen. Blessings and glory and wisdom, thanksgiving, and honor, and power and might. Be to our God forever and ever. Amen. The twice-repeated amen is always emphatic and it's exciting.
This is somewhat of a chant. applauding God. God is not to blame for the evil that is done to his people. And they recognize that, and that's why this happens here. In the midst of saying, these are come out of the tribulation period.
That the Great Tribulation period They're still grateful for their salvation. That's what is paramount. God is blameless. Verse 13. Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, Who are these arrayed in white robes?
And where did they come from?
So there's the elder representing, as we covered in chapter four, the Pre-rapture believers, and he asked John the question. The Greek word for elders here, Presbyteros is only applied to humans, not to angels. And so this is a representative of the church. And he engages John. John at this time himself is exiled to Patmos.
as a religious prisoner. There could have been those in those days that would have said, Well, he must be guilty of something. for Rome to to exile him. He must be a criminal. And of course, God vindicates John over that.
Just as tho as the end time martyrs will be vindicated also. They are really victors, and hell has thrown everything at them, and yet there they stand before the throne of God. We just can't wait to get past this life and be in glory with Christ, but yet there's so much work to be done. Verse 14, and I said to him, Sir, you know, So he said to me, These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation. and wash their robes, and made them white, in the blood of the lamb.
Under the horrific conditions of the end times, They still recognised the work of Christ on the cross. John does not recognize them because they're not part of the church. They're the post-church converts. If you read through Revelation 6 through 18, I mean just open it up and read straight through. I don't know about you, but it becomes a little overwhelming.
Like, boy, I'm getting weary of all this judgment upon judgment upon judgment. and yet to remember The millions of converts coming out of it, who otherwise would not have been converted. Or there would have been no reason to take the church out the way. The church could have stayed behind and got these people saved. But it maxed out the church maxed out her ability.
Not to blame the church at all, verse 15. And when I say the church, of course, that means the universal church in the context I'm using it. 15 says, Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple. And he who sits on the throne. will dwell among them, I think it's beneficial for us.
To remind ourselves, especially when we're down in the faith, you know, those times where we just things aren't working out the way we had hoped. Maybe we can't put our finger on it. Why are you cast down, my soul? Why are you cast down? As the psalmist asked, I can't put my finger on it.
But those are seasons to fall back on scripture, not fall away from scripture. Those are the times that we plow forward by faith. I'm going to trust you, Lord. I don't like the situation. I don't like my mood.
I don't have a good outlook at this point. But I know what you expect me to do, and I'm going to let that be. Sufficient. to keep doing what I'm supposed to do. Otherwise, the alternative is We drop out, and once you learn to start giving up on the Lord, it becomes easier.
It's better to be afraid to take that first step. And just trust no matter what, because well, when I say no matter what, not blindly, but because of all the things we've heard and we know to be true, we cling to them. And therefore, verse 15 again They are before the the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple. And he who sits on the throne will dwell among them.
Well, if you read this through carnal eyes, you can say that looks like a boring existence. But it's presented to say it's going to be a glorious existence. And it's going to be something that is so spectacular. How do you put it into words? Night here is symbolic because we're told in chapter 22 there is no night in heaven.
And so the idea is that it's. without interruption. Noticeably, they are seen. Glorifying the Lord, but not as the bride of Christ. That's the church.
Verse 16. They shall neither hunger any more, nor thirst any more. The sun shall not strike them, nor any heat arrived. You know how you'd use the GPS now and you go somewhere and it tells you arrived. And when it's right, sometimes, you know, it's just...
Imagine when you get to heaven and it says arrived. That's what we're looking at. All sorrow has been banished from their lives. Verse 17. For the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them.
And lead them to living fountains of water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.
So John makes sure that this gets into this section. of these millions of converts going through this. Again, it is the Antichrist, his administration. all over the planet. In agreement.
Against Christians, against anybody who follows Christ. We're seeing in the time we live. Where where is this lock step? woke stuff coming from. It's like there's somebody on top saying, make sure you don't give an inch to science, to truth, to fact, to anything.
You stick by. the perversity of the wokeness. And you just say they're all on one page, all those who are following that. line of thinking. They're all on one page.
How do they get there?
Well, that's the way it's going to be during the Great Tribulation. The world will be at the rebuilt tower of Babel. They will speak the same language. Have the same zeal for Antichrist and the same hatred for Jesus Christ. And they will take it out on anybody they can who dares to name Christ as Lord.
And that's what John is telling us. The 17th verse: The Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them. Again, the lamb becomes the shepherd. The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures.
Leads me beside the still waters. One of my favorite parts. He restores my soul. Which he will do if you don't. turn tail and run.
And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes, he says here. And so we close with Psalm 23 verse 6, And I will dwell in the house of the Lord. Forever. Mm. Uh This has been Cross-Reference Radio with Pastor Rick Gaston.
This program is a radio outreach of Calvary Chapel, Mechanicsville, in Mechanicsville, Virginia. Pastor Rick has been teaching through the book of Revelation, but if you're interested in learning about a different book of the Bible, we have hundreds of past episodes available to listen to on demand. Just visit us online at crossreferenceradio.com and you'll find an archive of Pastor Rick's past teachings. While you're there, you can also find links to follow our program on your favorite podcast app, as well as links to get connected with us on Facebook and YouTube. There's also an interviews tab where you can learn more about Pastor Rick's heart for ministry.
Well, we hope you'll join us next time here on Cross Reference Radio. Hello.
