Apocalypse 7: celestial visions 1. A pause:
As was the case in Chapter 4 and 5, after the Lord has directed the apostle John to go to the seven churches and before he starts open the first six seals of Judgement, Chapter 7 opens a pause during which we leave the earth to find ourselves transported into heavenly visions that are relevant to the people of God.
Impressed by the description of the scourges that afflict the world as a trial, we can soon leave us to think that it occupies the main theme and purpose of Revelation. This is another reality in mind, the latter much more positive than the first! For if the trial is necessary, as a process to bring the kingdom of God, the ultimate goal in the revelation que donne l’Apocalypse n’est pas le jugement, mais la rédemption, non la destruction du premier ciel et de la première terre contaminés par le péché, mais l’établissement final du tabernacle de Dieu au milieu de Son peuple : Apoc 21,1 à 4 .
Deux lignes parallèles courent simultanément tout au long de la révélation jusqu’à leur séparation totale et définitive. La 1ère ligne fait état de la situation du monde, cette partie de l’humanité rebelle qui reste séparée de Dieu. On y voit la trace de plus en plus marquée de la révolte des hommes contre Dieu, révolte qui atteint culminate in the admiration of the animal by the whole world and his submission to his authority: Rev. 13.4. It's a line marked by misfortune and the manifestation of more severe wrath of God. The second line, the one that interests us most, is the situation of the people of God, certainly plunged down here in suffering and tribulation, but comforted, restored, healed over finally glorified in God's presence, and with him. The alternation of visions which we are exposed in the book therefore has a dual purpose: that we realize that live simultaneously lost and elected in that time when each will occur for the great denouement
After the first 6 seals vision of Judgement: Ch 6, and before the opening of the 7th: Ch 8, a pause is ordered by God for before the four winds of destruction come upon the earth: cf 7.2 Dan, a spiritual operation of marking and identifying elected from among the Jewish people takes place.
2. 1st vision: the 144 000 Jews marked with the seal of God
After church, nations, the cosmic elements, to Israel is that in the revelation he has received, John brings us to focus our attention. For Israel, despite his disobedience to God, which reached its maximum point in the rejection of Christ, is because of the appeal which has been the object and the faithfulness of God, the object of His grace and His election. The Apostle Paul, Apostle of the Gentiles, is completely clear about this:
a. It has never been in the mind of God to reject a final Israel Rom 11.1 . Those in Christendom, have been believe that Israel, since the death of Christ, totally ousted the plan of God, are wrong (the Catholic Church and Lutheran, Jehovah's Witnesses, for example ...)
b. The proof is that Paul, a Christian, is of Jewish origin: Rom 11.1-2 and, if the Church embraces believers of all nations, its root is Jewish Rom 11.17-18
c. Israel is at present a paradox: because of his fathers, he is loved by God because of his rejection of Christ, he is his enemy Rom 11.28
d. This paradoxical situation, which was the heyday of the Church, is tentative. Comes a time when the enmity between God of Israel will, after the time when God's grace is available to nations, Emergence: from 11.25 to 27 Rom
e. Purpose of the renewed blessing of God, Israel will be what it always should have been from the outset: the source of divine blessing of the first world Genesis 12.1-3; Rom 11.15
f. All these are due only a single cause: the gifts and the irrevocable nature of God's grace: Rom 11.29 to 32
These are the beginnings of this movement for reinstatement of Israel as an actor and bearer of God's blessing and witness of Christ we are set here. The Church of Jesus Christ no longer of this world, is handed over to Israel so that, at the time of trial and the apostasy at all, the testimony of God and Jesus continues to be heard world.
Who are the 144,000 Jews marked here on the front of the seal of God ? Much ink has flowed to try to decipher their identity, and whether or not it should be interpreted literally the vision of John, we're not going to add, but we simply raising the details given by Apostle about them:
a. they are equally the representatives of the twelve tribes of Israel: Revelation 7.5 to 8. Given the attention to detail that shows John in the list of tribes, there is a priori no reason to think that we should not take this the number reported in the letter. It is not in the habit of the Word of God to call numbers to indicate the amounts of figurative way: eg Numb from 31.3 to 6, 1 Kings 19:18; Acts 2.41
Note that List of last names of two tribes are not mentioned: Ephraim, represented by Joseph, and Dan. Some commentators believe that this omission is related to the entrance of idolatry in Israel during the reign of Jeroboam, 1 Kings 12.28 to 30. The absence of the names of two tribes faulty at the time that it would mean a new Israel, purified from all idolatry, which we would have to do in recent times.
b. They are marked on the forehead with the seal of God, probably the seal of the Spirit: Ephesians 1.13; 2 Cor 1.22 , property mark before there comes the moment when the beast imposes his own on the world : 13.16 to 17 Rev. and proof of their belonging to the family of God as a son: John 6.27. They will form the human force on earth resistance to the divine power of the antichrist.
c. They are the spiritual elite of Christ, men inhabited by a spirit of purity and truth impeccable : Rev. 14.4 , disciples made and perfect.
While the days of his incarnation, Christ had twelve disciples accompanied by weak, sinful, prone to error and ignorance, from among His people, they will be here twelve thousand of each tribe, filled with His Spirit and His power to proclaim and celebrate His praises his virtues: 1 Peter 2.9 !
3. Second vision: the innumerable multitude gathered before the throne: v 9-17
After describing the Jewish elite of Christ, the second vision takes us back to the throne of God before which is gathered from a multitude of the redeemed of all peoples and all nations of the world. Who are they? One of the elders who asked the question to John himself will provide the answer: they are, he says, all the martyrs who are killed at the time of great distress (or tribulation).
The two successive visions that John received here are complementary. While the Antichrist will crack, it shall be, under the impact of the testimony and the preaching of 144,000, millions of people worldwide will be converted. Although they do not enjoy a long history of freedom of religion and faith that we enjoy today in some countries. Soon, they will be arrested, tried and executed, when they will not fall without trial under the blows of police of the antichrist.
While we have so much trouble to win one soul to Christ, sometimes, the impact of the Gospel will be unprecedented. So will the power of the Word of God as it was with Jonah, the Jewish prophet Christ as seen by a sign: Mat 12.39 in his time. As Jonah was in disobedience, the testimony he gave to God, cons his will not bore little fruit: only a few sailors were convinced and believed: Jonas 1.16. This time of the prophet's life reflects the state of Israel today. Everything else will be there when the Prophet, in response to the call of God, will obey: thousands of repentant Nineveh escape while the trial was imminent fall upon them: Jonah 3 . It is the image of what will happen when the elite of Israel will begin to call people everywhere to repentance and faith in Christ before the day of wrath!
This time will be time to harvest all the people of God, a time when the seed sown by the Church and remained buried rise suddenly to the astonishment of the world, at which time the tree of God roots and branches will bear fruit: cf Rom 11.15 to 16. Certain that this prophetic vision motivates us today, even without seeing the fruits, to move forward, faithful to the call from God.
Several factors, identified by Jean characterize the status and activity of the martyrs from the great distress
a. They are a great multitude came from all peoples and all nations. Finally, after all missionary efforts, the goal set by Christ to the disciples before His departure is reached: Matthew 28:19-20. Note that if the Church has received the mandate of Christ, Israel, somehow, has received the first by Abraham: Genesis 12.1-3 . Because this is the case, it is in God's logic that it is also he who perform last.
b. They are held immediately before the throne and the Lamb without fear going through the trial. They are the full benefit of the salvation brought by Christ: John 5:24 .
c. They are clothed in white robes, not by virtue of their own qualities, but because of the purifying effect of the blood of the Lamb: 14 v . Remember that, although it corresponds to the highest price of loyalty, be a martyr of Christ confers no saving virtue. If the martyrs are clothed in white robes, their purity that comes from Him alone and nobody else!
d. They have palm branches in their hands, symbol of victory and peace: Leviticus 23.40
e. They celebrate God and the Lamb for the salvation of which they were subjected: v 10, and worship Him continually: v 15
f. They are forever subject to the protection, care and consolation to them in the Lamb: v 16 and 17. It is enjoyable for anyone to go through the martyr, but a better resurrection is after: 11.35 Hebrews.
Let our praise to join with the angels, elders and all living beings that are in heaven for God and the Lamb!
I am coming soon!
