O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave? ♪ Make every blessing true ♪ ♪ When ruin shakes to nature's grain ♪ ♪ Its promises just have the same ♪ Give her a season of grace, Of love and mercy firm, More than the blackboard frames On earth can grasp or learn. Who's sacred deep without a shore, Who shall my wonders yet restore? Here where our feet shall fall, His mercy we shall see, grace to restore us all, and pardon full and free. We with delight shall God behold, ♪ And she prescored to her scions all ♪ ♪ And let redordance fly ♪ ♪ And love shall bid us die ♪ We shall our souls defend, and vanquish every foe. And in this battle, we shall appear, sufficient strength to bear us through. Before we turn to the Word of God, I'd just like to draw your attention to these leaflets, hot off the press, which I've received today for the 4th Jude Conference. The conference is an online conference, but also it's in the flesh, in person. It's being held at Providence Chapel Bedford, but it's not organized by Providence Chapel Bedford. Our hosts, it's organised really by a group of pastors, and I'm one of them, and the subject this coming January, 21st of January, which is a Saturday, is Restoring Our Affection for the Local Church. Perhaps I could just say a little bit about the title. There is an increasing ambivalence among some Christians to the local church. I can stay at home, I can tune in online, I can surf the internet and hear all sorts of good preaching and messages. I don't need the local church, some may say. But that is to misunderstand the New Testament program which the Lord has established. The local church is vital, our loyalty to it, our membership of it. is vital if we would know the blessing of God in our days. And if you take one of these leaflets, there's several on the table, you'll see that there are a number of lectures that are going to be delivered, God willing, that day, which I hope will be instructive to us all. Well, let's turn to the word of God, to the book of the Revelation, chapter seven, I'm going to take as my text, verse 14. But really I want to look at the teaching of this whole chapter. The subject this evening is the idyllic prospect of the people of God. Verse 14, and I said, let's read verse 13 as well. One of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes, and whence or from where came they? 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. Chapter 6 revealed something of the character of the era in which we have been called to live. There would be the extension of the gospel, persecution, injustice, poverty, war, pestilence, famine, catastrophe. It would be a time in which The Lord's people cry unto the Lord, but are exhorted to wait for God's time. And that chapter concluded with the opening of the sixth seal of God's decrees, his appointed purposes for time. And it revealed the solemn end of the world. The language of verses 12 to 17 in chapter 6, as I commented I think last week, is not necessarily to be taken literally. Perhaps some of it will be literal, God knows. But it is to convey in language which we can relate to the awful doom of all that die outside of Jesus Christ. Rather like the doom of those who, in the days of Noah, were outside of the ark, when there were upheavals and floods. What despair, what anguish, what surprise, what horror must have filled the minds and hearts of those who've realized for the first time the reality of their perishing condition. The end of that chapter speaks of the wrath of the Lamb. It depicts, and this theme will be returned to by John throughout this book, It depicts the Redeemer's final triumph over his enemies and over the enemies of his people. All those who have rejected him or resisted him will be filled with an awful sense of horror at the wrath of the Lamb. But the saints, as we shall see from chapter seven, are completely protected and preserved from the judgments of God. In fact, when we come to chapter eight and the seventh seal is opened, John will then see seven angels having the seven trumpets of God. Now if you imagine walking down the corridor, and every time you open a door, there's a room, and that room teaches you something. And you open six doors, and they each teach you something. The seals, in a sense, are like the doors down a corridor. But then when the seventh seal is broken, at the beginning of chapter eight, we're not going to look at this today, When the door is opened into the next scene, John actually reaches another corridor and seven more doors appear before him. The seven trumpets will unfold further detail about the era of the New Testament church. What will it be like to live in this era? What is God doing? What are his purposes? And we shall see that those seven trumpets, as they sound, represent not the day of judgment, but many judgments that the Lord has appointed will take place during the days in which we live. And by days, I mean from the first to the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. And so on either side of chapter seven, we have pictures of judgment. We have the great day of judgment in chapter, at the end of chapter six, the day of the Lamb's wrath. Chapter eight, takes us right back to the beginning of the era again and unfolds a fresh layer or a fresh color picture of the truth and the reality. But it's all a warning of the reality of God's hand in judging the people of the earth for their sin. But chapter seven focuses upon the people of God, the saints. and how they are completely protected from the judgments of God. It doesn't mean that the Lord's people will never die in an earthquake or never suffer the consequences of a plague or a pandemic. But as Cowper or Watts put it once, it will only be the hand, the instrument that brings us home to glory. These things, they may destroy the body, but the souls of the saints will be wonderfully preserved from the wrath of the Lamb and all the hand of God's judgment whenever it may fall upon society. So this chapter, it speaks at the beginning of the sealing of the servants of God. Look at verse three. Here are four mighty angels holding back the four winds, the winds there, not speaking of gentle breezes, but destructive winds that will unleash the judgments of God. But before those angels, and remember this is figurative, are permitted to unleash the woes which they have been assigned. We read verse three, hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. And we noted last week that these seals speak of ownership. of protection and of authenticity. The seal on the foreheads of the servants of God was the seal of the Father. We read that at the beginning of chapter 14, the name of the Father in their foreheads. In other words, they belong to Him. They are under his seal of protection. Don't tamper with these things that belong to me. They are a seal of genuineness. But John sees here, or he hears rather, verse four, the number of them which were sealed. And there were sealed 140 and 4,000. of all the tribes of the children of Israel. I want to dwell a bit of time on this number, 144,000, because particularly in our day, the Jehovah's Witnesses have made so much of this number, concluding that it should be taken literally, and that it is the literal number of a special group of people reserved for the Lord. Well, it is the number of a special group of people, but not to be taken literally, as I want to show you from this book. Well, what is this number? It's 12 times 12. We've already noted that 12 is significant in this symbolic book of scripture. A thousand. 10 times 10 times 10. It represents a perfect cube, something that is complete. But before we try and piece together these pieces of the jigsaw, we need to look at two other passages, other than the one that's here in chapter seven. If we go to chapter 21, first of all, then we come across this same number again. I'm going to read from verse nine in chapter 21. There came unto me one of the seven angels, which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, come hither, and I will show thee the bride. The Lamb's Wife. We can be left in no doubt who that Bride is. The Lamb is Christ, the Bride is the Church. Few would argue with that statement. Verse 10, He carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and He showed me that great city. the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God. Jerusalem. It's another name for the church of Jesus Christ. Not physical Jerusalem in Palestine, but the name, the city of God. Few would argue that this is a description of the church. Verse 11, having the glory of God, and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, a diamond probably, clear as crystal. Then we read, verse 12, that this city had a wall great and high, and had 12 gates, and at the gates 12 angels. And the names written thereon, which are the names of the 12 tribes of the children of Israel. So we know that this city represents the church, the genuine people of God. We know that it has 12 gates, symbolically, but those gates bear the names of the 12 tribes of Israel. Then we read verse 14 the wall of the city had 12 foundations and in them the names of the 12 apostles of the lamb so here is a city that depicts the church And it represents the 12 tribes, the 12 apostles. And then we read verse 16. The city lieth four square, the length as large as the breadth. And he measured the city with a reed, 12,000 furlongs. 12 times 12, 144. Then he measured the wall thereof. And we can see this is not a literal city by the height of the walls. He measured the wall 144 cubits. So you can see, it goes on to refer to the detail of the foundations and so on. But here this number 144, it speaks of the 12 tribes multiplied by the 12 apostles. A thousand. And we get this same number that is represented or referred to in chapter seven. If we turn back to chapter 14, we read a few verses at the beginning of that chapter. And again, we have the same number. I looked, and lo, a Lamb stood on the Mount Zion, and with Him an hundred forty and four thousand, having His Father's name written in their foreheads. And I heard... Can we shut that door out? Is it open? And I heard a voice from heaven, and the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder, and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps. And they sung, as it were, a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders, and no man could learn that song but the 144,000. which were redeemed from the earth. And so we learn here that these are the redeemed, the saved. Then verse four begins to describe their purity. It tells us they are the first fruits unto God. In other words, those that belong to him. In the Old Testament, the first fruits, they were of the whole harvest, that part that was dedicated to the Lord. And then verse five, in their mouth was found no guile. They are without fault before the throne of God. And so when you put together these three passages, If we are to interpret scripture correctly, the old adage is you compare scripture with scripture. The Holy Spirit, who is the author of the whole scripture, we establish his mind when we allow light from one passage to illuminate our understanding of another passage. And so when we come back to chapter seven, We already know by comparing with those other passages that this number represents the whole redeemed people of God. Here in verse four, they are regarded, referred to as all the tribes of the children of Israel. There is a sense in which even New Testament believers we are part of the Israel of God. Then we have these verses that speak of 12,000 that were sealed out of each of the tribes. That ought to confirm to us that this is a figurative passage. Can we really conceive that all of the tribes had exactly the same number redeemed from each of them even though Judah was a much larger tribe numerically and there are two tribes that are not named here amongst the twelve because Joseph is referred to as a tribe But Ephraim is not there. And Dan, neither, is listed amongst these 12. And so we have to understand that it's a figurative number. But it represents the whole redeemed Church of Jesus Christ, Old Testament and New Testament. And perhaps The detail here conveys to us the fact that all of God's chosen will finally be saved. Not one will be left out. It's a perfect, complete number in the annals of God and in the Lamb's Book of Life. Then in verse nine, if we can resume our study of this chapter, chapter seven, verse nine, after this, I beheld, and lo, look, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, kindreds, people, and tongues, stood before the throne and before the Lamb. Did you notice in verse four, John only heard the number. He didn't see the crowd. But now he sees the crowd. From God's perspective, it is a complete body of elect people. From John's perspective, or from man's perspective, it is a great multitude. No man could number God's redeemed. This is one and the same body of people. From God's perspective, they can be counted. From man's perspective, John just sees a vast multitude. But then, what is so encouraging for us is to see this description of them. They are from all nations, white robes, suggests purity, righteousness, palms in their hands. Well, we know from Matthew chapter 21, Palm Sunday, as some people call it, they are symbolic of salvation. They have palms in their hands. They rejoice in the salvation which God has accomplished on their behalf. They cry with a loud voice of joy, of victory, of praise, of exaltation, salvation to our God, which sitteth upon the throne and unto the Lamb. The angels join with the saints to praise God for his saving purposes. This chapter, remember, is between two passages that speak of judgment. But the saints are remarkably protected and preserved. They are saved. Look at this, at verse 11 and verse 12 particularly. This host cry unto the Lord, saying, Amen. Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be unto our God forever and ever. In the original, all of the attributes in this verse have a definite article. In other words, the literal phrase would be the blessing, the glory, the wisdom, and so on, belong unto our God forever and ever. I suggest to you that these attributes here are linked to the song of salvation. Those that sing the praises of God here recognize that all these attributes of God, His honour, particularly His wisdom and power, they are all most wonderfully displayed in His work of salvation. We see His wisdom and power and Godhead in creation, says Romans chapter 1. But this verse here is saying to us that when we get to glory, Our eyes will review the salvation which God has secured and blessed us with. And we will recognize that it wonderfully displays his wisdom and power and Godhead far beyond that which is displayed in creation. And that will be the theme of heaven. Look at verse 13. One of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? And whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. In other words, I would like to know. Please tell me. And he said to me, Clearly speaking with the authority of heaven, these are they which came out of great tribulation and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the lamb. John's attention is drawn to the character of the individuals that make up this host. And we have this wonderful description that flows from this verse 13 right to the end of the chapter. But how are we to understand it? What is the purpose, the thrust of the Lord in conveying this picture to our minds? as the end of chapter 6, the language, the description is designed to convey to our minds the awful doom of those who are unsaved at the return of Christ. These verses and the language, the picture which they convey to our minds in earthly language, such that we can relate to it, is designed to convey to us the wonderful, almost idyllic bliss that is reserved for the people of God. There is a great sense that everything here is designed to move our hearts to wonder. So let's look at the words. Firstly, in verse 14, these are they, which came out of great tribulation. This is the first description of the people of God. They were in great tribulation. Probably the tribulation here, and the word tribulation, it means pressure, and the sorrow that pressure brings. Great tribulation because it takes into account all of the miseries of the first five seals, the inequality, the persecution, the famines, the wars, and all the sorrows and grief that those things bring. But the people of God are brought out of that great tribulation. This is the first thing that at least here, is said about those who are the Lord's, who are sealed, who are his servants, who belong to him. They are those who have come out of great tribulation. Are we in tribulation? If we're not, then we will experience it. In this life, the apostles taught the early church Antioch, it is through much tribulation that we must enter into the kingdom. We will know hardship, disappointment, pain, suffering, the hostility of the world, the buffeting of Satan, the weakening of our bodies. All of these things are part and parcel of the Christian's lot in this life. We must expect But this verse is a comfort. These are they that came out of great tribulation. You imagine those early New Testament believers, Roman slaves with merciless masters, those who were persecuted by the trade guilds because they wouldn't bow. to the Roman deities. It was hard being a Christian in the first century. But John is given this glimpse of heaven to assure these and to assure us. He goes on. They have washed their robes. Once their robes were defiled. Once they appeared before God stained with all the sins of an old life, all the corruption of their nature. They were no better than others. But they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. You have to take this literally, because if you washed your robe in blood, it wouldn't be white. But in a spiritual sense, It's when we come by faith and we abandon all trust in ourselves and trust wholly in the finished work, the death, the crucifixion, the atonement of Christ, that God imputes to us his perfect righteousness and we become white before God. because we have the righteousness, the purity of Jesus Christ. Have you? Have you come knowing that you are defiled in the sight of God, stained by the sins, even heart sins, pride, selfishness, coldness toward the Lord, ingratitude, but you know that Christ can save you. And so you've come and trusted in him. That's what this phrase means, to wash their robes. Verse 15, therefore are they before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple. Therefore, because of their saving faith, only such as have come to Christ and by faith trusted his redeeming blood shall stand before God on that last great day. They stand before the throne of God and serve him day and night continually in his temple. It's a picture of intimate fellowship with God. I want to stop there because what a dramatic contrast these final verses represent in comparison to the final verses in the previous chapter. There we saw the lost crying for the mountains to cover them. So fearful such was their dread of the wrath of the Lamb. But those who have come to him in life and trusted their soul to him, they shall stand before him without fear in intimate fellowship, knowing that he is their God and that they have been received and welcomed into his presence. They are before the throne of God without fear. And he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. The word dwell there is the tabernacle word. To lodge in their midst just as the old tabernacle had the presence of God upon it in the midst of the tribes of Israel in the wilderness. God will come and dwell in the midst of his people. In other words, he will show himself at one with them, and he will confer upon them his light, and his smile, and his countenance, and his favour. And therefore, what follows is obvious. They shall hunger no more. Hunger Here it speaks of more than simply physical hunger. It means to be fully satisfied. Remember King David said, I shall be satisfied when I awake in thy likeness. Those who are the redeemed, who are sealed as the servants of God, shall in that final hour be found in the presence of God without any need, without any unfulfilled desire. They shall be without hunger, without thirst, fully satisfied. It's an idyllic state. Look at verse 17, for the lamb which is in the midst of them, the midst of the throne, shall feed them, literally shall shepherd them. Hendrickson says, it's strange to think of a lamb being the shepherd. And yet in the purposes of God, that's the appropriate description here. It speaks of being without stress, does it not? Tribulation is stress. But to be in a situation where there's no hunger, no thirst, no hate, it speaks of having no lack, no hardship, no trial, without stress. Everyone in this world knows stress, particularly Christians. but that world which is reserved for the people of God is a world where there is no stress whatsoever. It is a state of complete satisfaction. The Lamb shall lead them unto living fountains of waters. God is the source, the fountain of life. Life not simply in terms of existence, but life in terms of pure enjoyment, complete satisfaction. And lastly, freedom from fear, complete ease. If we are to be led by the Lamb, shepherded into his very presence, Every tear wiped from their eyes. It speaks of freedom from fear. This is perfect bliss. The phrase at the end of this chapter, wipe away all tears from their eyes. Literally, it's to wipe all tears out of their eyes. Completely, so thoroughly. Not a tear left. It's dramatic language. Well, we must draw to a conclusion. Here are two chapters, they couldn't be more contrasting. One that speaks of terrible doom and anguish, horror. One that speaks of idyllic bliss, perfect enjoyment, full satisfaction. Where will we spend eternity when the woes of Judgment fall upon this world. And they may in our lifetime. They will in our lifetime. Not necessarily that great final act of judgment, but the lesser warning judgments of God, they fall continually. But where is our comfort? Where is our hope? Have we come and washed our robes? Made them white? in the blood of the Lamb, trusted our souls to the only Saviour? If so, then this is the prospect sat before us. I did want to say, must be very brief, we see here at the end of this chapter that the great activity of the people of God in that world which is yet to come is worship. They will be in the temple day and night, and they shall serve him, literally worship him. Worship is the ultimate end of redemption. But worship to our mind, we think, well, I struggled to concentrate for an hour on a Wednesday. The idea of continual worship, I couldn't see that as without stress. But this is worship, which is so pure, so sublime, that it will be our greatest joy to serve God, to worship God day and night. It is worship that will be offered when we are freed from all the impediments of a sinful world, a fallen nature, such that worship will be the most enjoyable and the most exhilarating experience, to worship Him, to see Him and then to fall before Him and to ascribe to Him all the attributes divine, knowing that they have conspired to redeem us. from that world that is glimpsed in chapter six. That will be the ultimate bliss of the people of God in heaven. May the Lord bless his word to us. We close with him 641. 641, who are these arrayed in white, brighter than the noonday sun, home called of the sons of light, now before the eternal throne. 641. ♪ Whose broad stripes and bright stars ♪ ♪ Through the perilous fight ♪ They fell to their master dying, Suffered in his righteous cause. In the blood of Christ the lamb, they have bought as white as snow. O'er the conquerors at last did they find their triumphs o'er? They have o'er ♪ Sufferings past ♪ ♪ Honor rest and trust the Lord ♪ ♪ He that on the throne doth reign ♪ ♪ There forevermore shall feed ♪ ♪ Where the tree of life's sustain ♪ ♪ Turn the living mountain green ♪ ♪ He shall all their griefs wither ♪ ♪ He shall all their woes satisfy ♪ God himself, the God of love, there shall abide, come every night. And now may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God our Heavenly Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit rest upon us each, now and evermore. Amen. I love you too. Thank you. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Thank you. And there's no phone. How do you enjoy it? What did you get? I mean, it doesn't stop it from sounding like a jet. It's very loud.