Before the Lord breaks the final seal, which reveals seven more events called the Seven Trumpets, an interlude takes place. John sees four angels holding back the wind and another angel telling them to hold back the wrath of God until they had sealed 144,000 Jewish servants of God. In the 14th chapter these 144,000 are called "the firstfruits to God and the Lamb'' (Re 14.4). John then sees a multitude (clothed in white robes) so great no one can count them. They are from every nation and tongue and are standing before the Throne and the Lamb crying out, "Salvation to our God who sits on the Throne and to the Lamb." The 144,000 who are sealed, and thus protected from the wrath of the age by God, are serving the Lord on earth. This great multitude, however, is in Heaven and one of the 24 elders reveals this countless multitude are those who came out of the great tribulation and sealed their testimony with their own blood (i.e. the martyrs revealed when the fifth seal was broken).
It is thisbefore the Lord breaks the final seal, which reveals seven more events called the Seven Trumpets, an interlude takes place. John sees four angels holding back the wind and another angel telling them to hold back the wrath of God until they had sealed 144,000 Jewish servants of God. In the 14th chapter these 144,000 are called "the firstfruits to God and the Lamb'' (Re 14.4). John then sees a multitude (clothed in white robes) so great no one can count them. They are from every nation and tongue and are standing before the Throne and the Lamb crying out, "Salvation to our God who sits on the Throne and to the Lamb." interlude, described in Chapter 7, that is today's lesson . |
