Reflection on Revelation 7

After the frightening opening of the first six seals , Revelation chapter 6 ends with the question of those who tried in vain to hide from God and the Lamb, "For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?" Chapter 7 answers this question. This chapter is a interlude between the sixth and seventh seal to comfort God's own people, to assure them that they are protected and hiden by God,  will be safe, and can stand firm in His presence.

At the beginning of this chapter, John saw four powerful angels who were told to hold back the winds of punishment that awaited to blow destruction from every direction. The winds are at God's disposal to excute His orders. Now the winds were told by an angel to pause, "Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the forehead of the servants of our God." God marks His own to protect them from the catastrophes still to be unleashed. Those without marks will be judged. But here the focus is on the security of the faithful. The winds delay the devastation until God's own people are safe. The angel from east brings "the seal of the living God " to protect God's people, to stamp them with God's authority, ownership and divine purposes.

God's righteousness demands a full and final judgment on earth in the future. Even in wrath, God demonstrates His great mercy. If you are His child through faith in His Son, you will never receive the judgment you deserve. All of God's judgment on your sin has fallen on His Son. Therefore, God's promise to you is "there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."(Romans8:1) If you are not sure if you are saved or not, but you want to be saved, confess your sin, ask Jesus' blood to cover your sin, because " now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation."(2 Corin 6:2) 

Then John "heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all tribes of Israel." Whether literal or symbolic, the number 144,000 is a picture of completeness. 

After this, the scene shifts from earth to heaven's throne room.  John saw "a great multitude that no one could count,  from every nation, tribe, people, and languages, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands" This immense, diverse assembly displays the greatness of God's promise to Abraham, through this one man, "all people on earth" are blessed. God united all nations and languages that have been divided. His Son redeemed people from every culture. Those redeemed ones know that they have not won their own victory. So they cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb." The Lamb who was slain has triumphed over sin and death! He brings the blessings of salvation to all who call on Him.

The loud cry of praise of the redeemed causes all heaven to join in worship. Their anthem begins with "Amen", which means " Let it be so!" They echo with the praise offered by the redeemed, and they claim "Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever." These qualities exalt the invincible Redeemer and assure the security of His people. The heavenly choir pauses with "Amen!" Every type of service to God must be rooted in worship, the most essential service of all. God made man to worship and glorify Him. Do you begin to realize that worship is connected to your flourishing as a person?

God sealed His protection on His people, but He does not say His people will not suffer. In fact , Jesus promised the opposite, " in this world you will have trouble." (John16:33) No wonder the great multitude are the ones "who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." The fact this multitude cannot be counted suggests it includes all who loved God through all tribulation in the world. We love God not because we can, but because He first loved us and enabled us to love Him back. The precious blood of the Lamb removed the filth of our sin and the stain of our treacherous rebellion against God. Now God welcome us with great promises, 

"and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them. 

Never again will they hunger;

never again will they thrist.

The sun will not beat upon them,

nor any scorching heat.

For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd;

he will lead them to springs of living water.

And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

Those precious promises are so gracious, so comforting! Our God will be with us, be our Shepherd, lead us to the living spring, wipe away every trace of sadness. Grief on earth will be absorbed by grace in heaven. What a beautiful picture of our future! Our greatest security is in our loving Father's protective care. We can trust Him to provide what we need for our eternal good and His glory. He did not guarantee a trouble free life on earth, He promised an eternal one!