Marking the Servants of God (Revelation 7) Week 14: Marking the Servants of God (Revelation 7)

Revelation 6:16-17 16 They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17 For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”

Wait! “Do not harm until…”

OT picture of Methuselah Oldest living man ever (age 969) Enoch fathered Methuselah Methuselah became father of Lamech at age 187 Lamech became father of Noah at age 182, Methuselah was age 369

OT picture of Methuselah (Gen. 7) Noah was 600 years old when the floodwaters came. Methuselah at age 969 died Methuselah meant “when he dies” or "when he is dead, it shall be sent" because when he died, God would destroy the earth with water

2 Peter 3:3-9 3 Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4 They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” 5 But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water.

2 Peter 3:3-9 6 By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. 7 By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. 8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.

2 Peter 3:3-9 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

Seal on the foreheads Ownership Protection

Ephesians 1:13-14 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

Seal on the foreheads Ownership Protection In Rev. 14:1 we read again of the servants of God who are sealed, it says that “the name of the Lamb and His Father’s name” were written on their foreheads

Who are these servants? John heard their number 144,000 Rev.- numbers represent ideas In Rev. 21, the new Jerusalem has 12 gates with the names of the 12 tribes written on them and 12 foundations, with the names of the 12 apostles of the Lamb written on them. The wall is 144 cubits in height

Who are these servants? 12 x 12= 144- The completed number of God's servants from OT and NT Not just a certain group, but the whole church of God 144 is multiplied by 1000 1000 is 10 x 10 x 10- a perfect cube

Who are these servants? 10 is the number of trial-this is that company that have been perfected through trial (vs. 14 “These are they who come out of the great tribulation”) 144,000 is giving an idea, not an actual number 12 tribes of natural Israel ?

Who are these servants? Language used in Revelation 5:9- “With your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.” In chapter 14; same 144,000- We are told that they are those who have been purchased out of the earth…those who follow the Lamb wherever He goes

Who are these servants? John saw multitude no one could count Every nation, tribe, people, and language What he hears beforehand is a foreshadow, what he sees afterwards is the reality! Lion/Lamb

Who are these servants? Those who have “Come out of the great tribulation” “Great tribulation” is referring to either: a seven-year period (Daniel 9) or all the tribulations God’s people go through that tempt them to forsake Jesus

No matter what happens to the church in this world, her eternal well-being is never in question!