1. Seventh Seal and the 144,000

2. Who can stand? Chapter 7 answers this vital question
Shows what appears to be two groups of people:
-144,000
-Great multitude from every nation

3. Angels holding back the winds..
Rev. 7:1 – there are angels holding back some “winds”
Winds – from the seven seals we understand that these are natural disasters, wars, etc.

4. From blowing on the land, sea or tree
These are obviously symbolic figures:
Land – non-densely populated region
Sea – multitudes of people – Rev. 17:15
Tree – people of God (Psalms 1:3, 52:8, 92:12)

5. Until the Servants of God Have a “Seal”
Pun: Jesus is opening the “seals” while “seals” are being put on His servants
Angel puts it on the forehead of the servants of God

6. What is this Seal?
What were the reason that God sent the first six seals?
People didn’t obey God’s laws or commandments – didn’t even know the Bible

7. Sealed Servants Servants of God sealed
Sealing signifies ownership, authenticity
Eze. 9 God’s people are marked, saved from destruction- those that lament sin
Eph. 1: God’s people sealed with Holy Spirit
John 16:13 Holy Spirit guides you into all truth
God’s people stand firm in the final crisis

8. What is this Seal? Seal – Law of God Forehead – the mind and character
Jeremiah 31:33 – a new covenant – “I will write My law in their minds and on their hearts.

9. What is this Seal?
What started to be preached about the time of the sixth seal? (1833)
Sabbath of the Bible
Christ’s ministry in the sanctuary
Judgment of God
State of the dead
Second coming

10. 144,000
Symbolic number
Historians say that even at the time of Christ there were no “pure” tribesmen in Israel

11. 144,000 12 = disciples, tribes of Israel 1,000 = multitude
12 x 12 x 1,000 = multitude of true disciples of Christ
Maybe, people that actively spread the gospel from all churches and religions

12. Great Multitude No one could number this group – very big
From everywhere
White robes, palm branches
Thankful for salvation to the Lamb and to God
Rev. 7:10

13. Two Groups? 144,000 = great multitude
Literary device – “hear” then “see”
Rev. 1:10-13 – hears loud voice as trumpet, then sees Jesus
Rev. 5 – hears that Lion has overcome, then sees the Lamb
Rev. 17 – hears of “great prostitute” then sees “woman on scarlet beast”
Rev. 21 – hears of “bride, wife of the Lamb”, sees “holy city of Jerusalem”

14. Where did these groups come from?
7:13,14 – Came through “great tribulation” – Daniel 12:1-4
Washed their robes and made them white with the blood of the Lamb

15. The Lamb
The Lamb will take care of them forever – no more crying and troubles
Will drink living water
Rev. 7:15-17

16. The Seventh Seal Silence in Heaven for half an hour Prophetic time
7.5 days
Second coming
God, Jesus and angels left

17. Seals – Why was only the Lamb able to open them?
7 reasons
1. Christ is our mediator (I Tim. 2:5)
Rev. 1:1 – Revelation is a book which God gave to Jesus Christ to show us

18. Seals – Why was only the Lamb able to open them?
2. The Lamb sees the future
5:6 – has “seven eyes”
1:8,19 – Jesus is revealing to John the future
Only God can reveal the future – Isaiah 45:21, Dan. 2:27

19. Seals – Why was only the Lamb able to open them?
3. The Lamb has “seven horns” – Rev. 5:6
All authority in Heaven and earth has been given to Jesus (Matt. 28:18)

20. Seals – Why was only the Lamb able to open them?
4. The Lamb has suffered – Rev. 5:6
He was slain – Isaiah 53
Nobody can relate to the suffering in the seals like Jesus – Matt. 27:46

21. Seals – Why was only the Lamb able to open them?
5. The Lamb has conquered! Rev. 5:5
Heb. 2:14 – he conquered the devil, who had the power of death
“It is finished!” – John 19:30

22. Seals – Why was only the Lamb able to open them?
6. Jesus’ death redeemed people’s sins – Rev. 5:9,10
Jesus paid the price for salvation – Heb. 9:11-28
Only Jesus could make us into a new kingdom of priests

23. Seals – Why was only the Lamb able to open them?
7. Jesus is our Passover Lamb – I Cor. 5:7
Before we could become kings and priests – we needed to be delivered from our Egypt of sin

24. God is in Control
Again we see that because of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross – He is the Ruler of mankind and history that He revealed in the 7 seals