Revelation Chapter 7 Verses 9 – 10

 Can you imagine, just for a moment, the emotion of John right here?

Remember who he is. He is the disciple of Jesus. The one who was

with Him on earth, at the cross, at the tomb…, and now he sees this!? I

am going to move on with teaching these verses but that thought

deserves more consideration! This must have been some moment for

him!

 And this moment is rich with substance. First, in heaven, in the

presence of God, we see unity among differences. I really love this

one. People from all nations, tribes, pedigrees and languages… And

before I go into this, notice that John says they all say the same

thing…, which means there may very well be possibly a heavenly

language. Notice, people of all tongues and yet John hears the same

thing from all of them. Just an observation.

 Perhaps the more solid observation is that folks of all types and none

of it matters as they all individually serve the Lord! I’m not

preaching equality of all people and/or peace amongst the nations,

those topics are too easy, they are obvious…, and honestly, they are

flawed. I’m saying that if we would both, you and I, just serve the

Lord, then there would be unity.

 It only takes one to make peace, and that’s true, but it takes two to

bring about unity. If there is going to be unity, both have to bring it.

Jesus brought the righteousness and the calling. I brought the sin and

the responding. And in the receiving of Jesus Christ, in saying yes to

Him and accepting Him as Savior, believing on Him, in that, we

communed, we came together He and I and yes, through His blood

there was peace.

 Romans 5:1 says, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have

peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Peace with my

Creator came through the forgiveness of sin I received when I

accepted Jesus. But unity, connection, a scene like this comes when I

surrender my will to His. Peace comes with salvation; unity comes

with agreement. The peace I have with God through Jesus is

locked in…, but unity and communion with God is disrupted by

continual sin…

 Real unity happens as two people stand before the Lord and

surrender to Him. Just like this scene. Jesus said in John 6:38, “For I

have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but t will of Him

who sent Me.” His purpose revealed. Now, if that is my purpose, if I

make that my purpose and agree with Jesus/Perfection, the inevitable

then happens…, closeness, unity between myself and the Lord! This

echo’s all the way back to my original design and this is what satisfies

the heart!

 It’s the same process with people. No matter our differences or what

has happened or how you or I have offended each other, if we have

unity of purpose, if both of us want to serve the Lord, and that

becomes the priority, then peace enters, love abounds, sin is defeated

and God is glorified. The Spirit surges and love comes forth. Joy,

peace, kindness, goodness, gentleness and self-control. All of this

personified in this scene…

 Now let me take this one step, one massive step, more intrigueing.

This fellowship with God, breaking it and keeping us from it, is one of

the original blueprints of the enemy making us suffer. Genesis 11:1

says, “Now the whole earth had one language and one speech.” There

was perfect unity amongst all peoples. All peoples were one…but

what happened was that each person then took on the pride of life, to

make a name for themselves… Genesis 11:4, “And they said, “Come,

let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens;

let us make a name for ourselves (individually).” Every sort of

disunity, wars, fights and argument between two people is simply this.

Each of the two seek for themselves.

 Genesis 11:7, God responds in love, “Come, let us go down and there

confuse their language, that they may not understand one another’s

speech.” Why? So that they don’t all kill each other… Now that

they are looking out for themselves and not each other…their words

are becoming weapons. Proverbs 15:1 says, “A soft word turns away

wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”

 Now, check out the reversal of this in the Gospel. The enemy seeks to

divide, the love and unity of God seeks to bring together… Acts

Chapter 2… It says in Acts 2:1, “When the Day of Pentecost had fully

come, they were all with one accord in one place.” There is unity

there… Verses 2 – 12. The reunification. When, why? On the Day of

Pentecost and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Here in Revelation 7,

we see the final correction of Genesis 11 and the fulfillment in heaven

of the earthly scene in Acts Chapter 2.

 What sin broke, in them, in us, in the world, perhaps even in your life

or relationship, remember this God can and His will is to restore. To

return peace, to bring unity…look at what they all say, “Salvation

belongs to OUR God!” There is a claiming there. A responsibility

taken… and a recognition of God ultimately. That is where peace and

unity dwell.

 One more thing…the palm branches… Palm branches are a symbol of

victory. Jesus was walking into what we call “Passion Week” in

which He would be betrayed, forsaken, shamed and crucified, and as

He rode into the city, they spread palm branches in His path… He

knew this was ahead… God often does things in your life, allows

things in your life, so that greater things can yet be to come. Jesus

knew about the Revelation 7 scene…He knew that was coming…so

He endured… Hope and trust that where you are now is not where

God is leading you…, there is a victory ahead if you stay the course!

Revelation Chapter 7 Verses 11 – 12

 I love this! A great multitude cry out and sing only a song that

mankind can sing! And heaven responds with, “Amen!” I just think

that’s incredible! Think about it! A sermon is preached, a bit of

counsel is given, a worship song is sung, and heaven looks at ya and

says, “Amen!” How amazing is that!! “On earth as it is in heaven,”

ON DISPLAY!

Revelation Chapter 7 Verses 13 – 14a

 “Sir?” Really? I think this verse was translated after a long day and

the translator was tired. The term “sir” is a shortened version of the

word, “Caesar,” and was used to show respect… Some say it comes

from the middle ages, “sire,” or even the old French, “sieur,” but

Caesar predates them all. At any rate, terrible translation. This is the

word in the Greek, “kyrios,” and it is used for the Holy Spirit or even

to describe the Lord Himself…

 Take this as a perfect template for whenever you get a question

directly from the throne room of God. God ever say to you, “What do

you think? What do you think you should do?” He does to me often.

And usually what do I do? I lay out my thoughts and rationale. HA!

And God laughs. John does it better. “You tell me….”

 It is wise to be as willing (or more) to listen to God as we are to make

requests of Him. So important to speak to God. To pray, to pour out

your heart and cares before Him because He cares for you, but

listening… Romans 10:17 says, “So faith comes from hearing, and

hearing by the Word of God!” It’s so important, critically essential,

that you listen to God in your life! Proverbs 8:32-34, “Now therefore,

listen to me, my children, for blessed are those who keep my ways.

Hear instruction and be wise, and do not disdain it. Blessed is the man

who listens to me.” This is the perfect response from John… He could

have guessed, HA! But the response…, “You tell me!”

Revelation Chapter 7 Verse 14

 So, we now know who these are that are unified and crying out with a

loud voice…they are a great multitude that have died for their faith

during the Great Tribulation. That tells us that the rapture and/or

perhaps the great hardship on earth and/or perhaps the 144,000

servants of God will cause a massive revival and many will come to

faith.

Revelation Chapter 7 Verse 15

 This does make a case to say that the Tribulation Saints are given a

specific honor in eternity. The responsibility or job given to them is to

be before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His

temple…

Revelation Chapter 7 Verse 16

 Again, coming out of the Great Tribulation, these are the things

experienced by the people on earth that don’t take the mark. They

hunger and they thirst as we will find out later that not taking the mark

essentially means you are not able to buy food for yourself or your

family. And the world in upheaval as all men are struck by whatever

has happened to the sun…

Revelation Chapter 7 Verse 17

 These are wonderful promises and blessings and benefits… All of

these secured for you at the cross and a direct window into God’s heart

for you… that God will dwell among them…the implication is that He

will never in any way depart, and in all ways they will find rest and

satisfaction, no more hunger, no more thirst, no more elemental or

circumstantial discomfort, He will walk through it all with you

…won’t strike them and won’t even heat them up…

 Under the leadership and provision of the Lord, living fountains of

water and even when tears come… no scolding, no berating, no

blaming, no criticizing…that’s not His way, He loves you…even

when its hard, He will wipe away every tear. He will commune with

you… Living fountains of water…

 My part and your part, to go beyond peace with God into communion,

unity and closeness with God, bring the response. “Therefore, they are

before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night…”