REVELATION ’S SEAL OF GOD GOD’S SEAL OF PROTECTION • Q. 1) Let’s read Revelation 7:1-3. Notice that a mighty angel has commanded that the final winds of war and destruction not unleash their fury upon the earth and sea until something very important has been completed. What is that important something? –“Hurt not the earth…till we have SEALED the SERVANTS of GOD in their FOREHEADS.” Chapter 6:14-17 • Chapter 6 closed with news of a terrible destruction that would come upon the earth…”sky vanishes like a scroll…mountains and islands moved out of their place…the great day of their wrath has come…” Chapter 7 • John sees 4 angels holding back the four winds • These 4 winds are winds of destruction – verse 2 “power to harm” verse 3 “Do not harm…” 144,000 revealed • Before the winds do their destruction, the destruction that was shown in chapter 6:14 – 17, the command is given (7:2) to seal those who are the servants of God. • Now the servants of God who are dead will not be harmed by the winds • Only the living servants of God will not be harmed by the winds • This group are the ones who are sealed. 144,000 revealed • So the 144,000 must be this group who are sealed, that is LIVING servants of God. Lessons from chapter 7 verse 4 • 1. John does not see the 144,000, but hears the number. • 2. sealed in Greek is ‘sphragizw’ and is only used in connection with God. Mark ‘charagmai’ is used in connection with the beast. • 3. The sealed come from all the tribes of Israel. Is the number literal? • • • • 12 is a perfect number like 7 144 = 12 x 12 So it is a perfect square 12 is also the number of God’s kingdom – A. 12 stones = 12 tribes – Ex 28:15 – B. 12 apostles – C. 12 gates into new Jerusalem – D. 12 foundations of new Jerusalem – E. Dimensions were multiples of 12 (144 cubits; in length -12,000; Rev 21:16,17) Is the number literal? • Thousand was the largest number of the time. • So we have a perfect number, multiplied by a perfect number creating a perfect square, and then multiplied by a 1,000 the largest number of the day. • The 144,000 is divided into 12,000 from each tribe – a list of tribes that are not the same as that found elsewhere (Judah listed first and Dan omitted.) • Romans 9 teaches us about a true Israel that are not born of Abraham. Conclusion • Inference; - • a perfect (meaning complete) group of people from every place [NO-ONE omitted] which is large. • Vs 9 speaks about ‘after this’ John saw a great multitude no one could number. In comparison to the 144,000 who were redeemed from the earth alive and did not see death, the redeemed of all the ages, i.e. those who at the destruction of the world, when Jesus came you get a large number no-one could number. What of verse 9? • Vs 9 speaks about ‘after this’ John saw a great multitude no one could number. • In comparison to the 144,000 who were redeemed from the earth alive and did not see death, the redeemed of all the ages, • i.e. those who at the destruction of the world, who had died and are now resurrected when Jesus comes, these are the large number no-one could count. GOD’S SEAL OF PROTECTION • Q. 2) How widely will the serious messages of Revelation, including the truth about God’s seal, sign, or mark, be presented? –Revelation 14:6 –“To every NATION and KINDRED and TONGUE and PEOPLE.” GOD’S SEAL OF PROTECTION • Q. 3) What is a seal? How is it sometimes used in a figurative manner? –Romans 4:11 –Ephesians 1:13; 4:30 –“A SEAL of Righteousness of the faith…” –Grieve not the HOLY SPIRITof God whereby you are SEALED.” GOD’S SEAL OF PROTECTION • Q. 4) What three things does a government seal contain? GOD’S SEAL OF PROTECTION • Q. 5) What is God’s seal in His Holy Law, the Ten Commandments? –Exodus 20 : 8-11 –“The SEVENTH day is the SABBATH of LORD thy God …For in six days the Lord MADE heaven and earth.” GOD’S SEAL OF PROTECTION • Q. 6) Revelation is clear; we worship God because He is our CREATOR, Revelation 4:10,11 and REDEEMER, Revelation 5:9 . What has God provided for His people as a sign, seal, or mark of His CREATING and REDEEMING power? –Exodus 31:16,17; Ezekiel 20:12 –THE SABBATH GOD’S SEAL OF PROTECTION • Q. 7) Where does the great angel of Revelation 7 say this sign or seal of God will be placed on a person? –Revelation 7:3 –“In their FOREHEADS.” GOD’S HOLY SABBATH • Q. 8) When did God make the Sabbath? –Genesis 2:1 - 4 –“When…the Lord God made the EARTH and the HEAVENS.” GOD’S HOLY SABBATH • Q. 9) From what did God make the Sabbath? –Exodus 20:10 –“The seventh DAY is the Sabbath.” GOD’S HOLY SABBATH • Q. 10) What three things did God do at creation that made the Seventh day special? –Genesis 2:2,3 –“And He RESTED on the seventh day... and God BLESSED the seventh day and SANCTIFIED it.” GOD’S HOLY SABBATH • Q. 11) When God blesses something, for how long is it blessed? –1 Chronicles 17:27 –“You blessed, O Lord, and it shall be blessed FOREVER.” GOD’S HOLY SABBATH • Q. 12) For whom did God make the Sabbath? – Mark 2:27,28 –“The Sabbath was made for MAN.” GOD’S HOLY SABBATH • Q. 13) Read the Sabbath commandment, Exodus 20:8-11. What specific command is given regarding the Sabbath? –“REMEMBER the SABBATH day to KEEP it holy.” THE NEW TESTAMENT SABBATH • Q. 14) Have the ten commandments, which mandate Sabbath-keeping, ever been repealed? – Luke 16:17 –“It is easier for HEAVEN and earth to PASS than for one TITTLE of the LAW to FAIL.” THE NEW TESTAMENT SABBATH • Q. 15) Which day did Jesus and Paul keep holy? – Luke 4:16; Acts 17:2 –THE SABBATH DAY THE NEW TESTAMENT SABBATH • Q. 16) How should it affect me, personally, to learn that Jesus kept the Sabbath? – 1 Peter 2:21 –Christ is my example. I should FOLLOW His steps. THE NEW TESTAMENT SABBATH • Q. 17) Did Christian Gentiles keep the Sabbath? – Acts 13:42 –YES THE NEW TESTAMENT SABBATH • Q. 18) What did Jesus say that let us know that He did not plan to change the Sabbath at the time of His resurrection? –Matthew 24:20 –Jesus said they should pray that they would not have to flee in winter or on the SABBATH when Jerusalem fell. GOD’S PEOPLE IDENTIFIED • Q. 19) How does Revelation refer to the people who will be saved in God’s Kingdom? –Revelation 14:12; 12:17 –As the people who “KEEP the COMMANDMENTS.” GOD’S PEOPLE IDENTIFIED • Q. 20) Why is breaking God’s commandments or law, so serious? –1John 3:4 –Because breaking God’s law is SIN and the wages of sin is DEATH. Romans 6:23 GOD’S PEOPLE IDENTIFIED • Q. 21) In Isaiah 58:1 God says “cry aloud” and show “my people” their sin. What sin is He specifically referring to in verse 13? –He said, they were trampling upon His SABBATH. GOD’S PEOPLE IDENTIFIED • Q. 22) What day will the saints keep in the new earth? –Isaiah 66:22,23 –SABBATH GOD’S PEOPLE IDENTIFIED • Q. 23) What should be my motivation for obedience to God’s commands? –John 14:15 –Love of THE LORD GOD’S PEOPLE IDENTIFIED • Q. 24) How does Revelation show that a special message about Sabbath sign or seal will go to the world just before Jesus comes? –Revelation 14:6,7,12,14 –“Worship HIM that MADE HEAVEN and EARTH” … “they that KEEP the COMMANDMENTS of God, and the FAITH of Jesus.” GOD’S PEOPLE IDENTIFIED • Q. 25) What does God say, in the ten commandments that I must do to demonstrate that I worship the creator? –Exodus 20:8 - 11 –“REMEMBER the SABBATH day to KEEP it HOLY … FOR in six days the LORD MADE HEAVEN and EARTH.” GOD’S PEOPLE IDENTIFIED • Q. 26) Why should Sabbathkeeping be especially exciting to a follower of the Lord Jesus? –Mark 2:28 –Because the Sabbath is the LORD’S day. Will you begin to share this special day with Jesus? Lesson Ten – Quiz • Choose one or more • 1. The messages of Revelation are for – A. Every nation (everybody). – B. All our relatives – C. A select few • 2. God is not allowing the final winds of war to blow until – A. Everybody loves everybody – B. Servants of God are sealed – C. All mankind accepts Christ Lesson Ten – Quiz • Continued… • 3. At creation, God did these special things to the Seventh day. – A. Declared it a holiday – B. Blessed it – C. Sanctified it • 4. Which groups were Sabbathkeepers? – A. Jesus and His disciples – B Caesar and the Roman soldiers – C. Paul and the Christian Gentiles Lesson Ten – Quiz • Continued… • 5. What is the Biblically recommended motive for obedience to God’s great moral law (ten commandments)? –A. Love –B. Grace –C. Peace Lesson Ten – Quiz • Choose one or more • 1. The messages of Revelation are for – A. Every nation (everybody). – B. All our relatives – C. A select few A&B • 2. God is not allowing the final winds of war to blow until – A. Everybody loves everybody – B. Servants of God are sealed – C. All mankind accepts Christ B Lesson Ten – Quiz • Continued… • 3. At creation, God did these special things to the Seventh day. – A. Declared it a holiday – B. Blessed it – C. Sanctified it B&C • 4. Which groups were Sabbathkeepers? A&C – A. Jesus and His disciples – B Caesar and the Roman soldiers – C. Paul and the Christian Gentiles Lesson Ten – Quiz • Continued… • 5. What is the Biblically recommended motive for obedience to God’s great moral law (ten commandments)? –A. Love –B. Grace –C. Peace A