The seventh chapter of Revelation shows us that God’s plan
of salvation is accomplished in both the Jews and Gentiles. It is a holy moment
in time wherein there is great stillness on the earth (no wind), followed by
silence in heaven when the 7th seal is opened (Rev 8:1). You can almost feel God
savoring the moment of intimacy with His people, a calm oasis in a turbulent
sea of calamity. It is similar to the seventh day of creation wherein God
rested and appreciated what he had created.
The 6 seals are full of action, followed by a period of rest and true
worship.
The “seal” upon the foreheads of God’s people signifies protection, therefore these people will not be harmed. They have found that true salvation is directly from God and His keeping power brought them through the great tribulation successfully. It is only our Lord who could turn the hardship of the great tribulation into a place of redemption and intimacy with Him.
The purposes of God concerning salvation are accomplished on the earth, and all heaven praises God. The angels in heaven receive the multitude that is washed in the blood of the Lamb, saying “amen!” to their salvation.
What we see next illustrates Gods purposes in having a people for Himself; He wants to be spiritually wed to them. The following verses show us the Lord’s provision, protection and relationship with Him;
“They are before the throne of God and serve Him day and night in His temple.” (vs 15a) We are His temple (1 Cor 6:19). Those who honor the Lord in their bodies are sanctified, washed by His blood, bought with a price. There is a place within us where the presence of God sits on a throne, our decision-making “seat”. God intends for this union of His Spirit with ours to be on-going.
“And He who sits on the throne will spread His tent over them.” (vs 15b) The word for the corner of a tent or garment is the same as the word for “wing”. This action of placing someone under His “wing” or garment symbolizes God’s protection and promises betrothal, as when Ruth asked Boaz to “spread the corner of your garment over me, since you are a kinsman-redeemer.” (Ruth 3:9). The Lord also used this phrase when receiving Israel as a nation unto Himself (Ez 16:8). Here we see that God’s intentions go beyond redeeming us from a life of sin; He wants to be intimately involved in our lives, and we in His. It is a relationship symbolized by the marriage of a Bride and Groom.
“Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat.” (vs 16) God’s intimate relationship with his Bride includes provision, and protection. The scorching heat of the sun is a punishment for those who wander, and hunger is the result of an unproductive life. These things occur in the lives of the lost, but those who are redeemed will have God’s purpose in their lives, and bear fruit (Jn 15:8).
“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.” (vs 17). Jesus told the woman at the well that He had the “living water” (Jn 4:10 – 14). This water wells up to eternal life, and therefore is not consumed and passed out through the body; it is alive, just as His Word is alive (Heb 4:12). The living water nourishes the spirit of Man so that he worships God in Spirit and Truth. You might say that God gives us the living water so that we would become the kind of people He is looking for. That is why salvation is from God; no man can do the redemptive work in Man that would cause his heart to desire intimacy with his Savior.
When Jesus talked about being our Shepherd (Jn 10:1-15) He said that we, His sheep, would “listen to My voice” (vs 27) and follow Him. When Jesus sent the Holy Spirit into men, they began to hear the Lord for themselves. He therefore established a personal role in each believer’s lives that nurtures and guides them.
The promise to wipe every tear from our eyes has occurred in the Old Testament and later in Revelation, in the setting of the New Heaven and Earth; the New Jerusalem (Is 65:19 & Rev 21:4). Though we separate the events of our lives here on earth from the events that will take place afterwards, the Lord sees these events on a continuum. He is showing us that the ultimate place His purposes will take us to is this new heavens and earth, where the things that caused pain for us will no longer exist, for “the old order of things has passed away.” (Rev 21:4).
The “seal” upon the foreheads of God’s people signifies protection, therefore these people will not be harmed. They have found that true salvation is directly from God and His keeping power brought them through the great tribulation successfully. It is only our Lord who could turn the hardship of the great tribulation into a place of redemption and intimacy with Him.
The purposes of God concerning salvation are accomplished on the earth, and all heaven praises God. The angels in heaven receive the multitude that is washed in the blood of the Lamb, saying “amen!” to their salvation.
What we see next illustrates Gods purposes in having a people for Himself; He wants to be spiritually wed to them. The following verses show us the Lord’s provision, protection and relationship with Him;
“They are before the throne of God and serve Him day and night in His temple.” (vs 15a) We are His temple (1 Cor 6:19). Those who honor the Lord in their bodies are sanctified, washed by His blood, bought with a price. There is a place within us where the presence of God sits on a throne, our decision-making “seat”. God intends for this union of His Spirit with ours to be on-going.
“And He who sits on the throne will spread His tent over them.” (vs 15b) The word for the corner of a tent or garment is the same as the word for “wing”. This action of placing someone under His “wing” or garment symbolizes God’s protection and promises betrothal, as when Ruth asked Boaz to “spread the corner of your garment over me, since you are a kinsman-redeemer.” (Ruth 3:9). The Lord also used this phrase when receiving Israel as a nation unto Himself (Ez 16:8). Here we see that God’s intentions go beyond redeeming us from a life of sin; He wants to be intimately involved in our lives, and we in His. It is a relationship symbolized by the marriage of a Bride and Groom.
“Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat.” (vs 16) God’s intimate relationship with his Bride includes provision, and protection. The scorching heat of the sun is a punishment for those who wander, and hunger is the result of an unproductive life. These things occur in the lives of the lost, but those who are redeemed will have God’s purpose in their lives, and bear fruit (Jn 15:8).
“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.” (vs 17). Jesus told the woman at the well that He had the “living water” (Jn 4:10 – 14). This water wells up to eternal life, and therefore is not consumed and passed out through the body; it is alive, just as His Word is alive (Heb 4:12). The living water nourishes the spirit of Man so that he worships God in Spirit and Truth. You might say that God gives us the living water so that we would become the kind of people He is looking for. That is why salvation is from God; no man can do the redemptive work in Man that would cause his heart to desire intimacy with his Savior.
When Jesus talked about being our Shepherd (Jn 10:1-15) He said that we, His sheep, would “listen to My voice” (vs 27) and follow Him. When Jesus sent the Holy Spirit into men, they began to hear the Lord for themselves. He therefore established a personal role in each believer’s lives that nurtures and guides them.
The promise to wipe every tear from our eyes has occurred in the Old Testament and later in Revelation, in the setting of the New Heaven and Earth; the New Jerusalem (Is 65:19 & Rev 21:4). Though we separate the events of our lives here on earth from the events that will take place afterwards, the Lord sees these events on a continuum. He is showing us that the ultimate place His purposes will take us to is this new heavens and earth, where the things that caused pain for us will no longer exist, for “the old order of things has passed away.” (Rev 21:4).
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