The Preview of the Saved

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The Hundred and Forty Four Thousand
["Click here for Revelation 7:1-8"]

After the six seals were opened, John saw 4 Angels standing at the 4 corners of the earth. (Refer to the graft of God's Timetable.) This symbolizes the end of the Tribulation and the start of the Millennium. The Angels are holding back the "four winds" of the earth. These winds represent the corruption within the church. These winds blow contrary to each other doing much harm to the church. The wind is symbolic of apostasy because the Devil is called the prince of the power of the air. In Eph. 4 Paul writes concerning one of the gifts of Christ is that we might not any longer be carried about by every wind of doctrine.
Notice this about these winds:

They blow only on the surface of the earth. The heavens are clear and free of them.
They are restrained by the ministry of Angels, at this time, for a thousand years. God permits the spirit of discord and trouble to remain only for a period of time before He steps in.
The restraint is only until His chosen ones are "sealed". Notice this about the "sealing" of the saved:

The work is done by an Angel other than the four. While some Angels are busy restraining the Devil, others are busy sealing the saved.
The seal is placed upon their foreheads. Set apart for mercy and safety.
Notice the number. 144,000 Jews were saved. 12,000 from each tribe. Close examination of the list will reveal that the "half tribe" of Manasseh and the tribe of Joseph are the same tribe. (Ephraim and Manasseh made up the tribe of Joseph.) Therefore one tribe is missing and that is the tribe of Dan. Why the tribe of Dan? Perhaps it was because that tribe was largely addicted to idol worship.

Who were the 144,000 Jews? Some believe they were the selected number spared at the destruction of Jerusalem about 70 AD. Others believe that this number represents symbolically the number, chosen of God, among the Jews, the "remnant" saved by Grace.

The Great Multitude
["Click here for Revelation 7:9-17"]

Notice who else was saved. "A great multitude which no one could number from every nation on the earth." We should not get "hung up" on these numbers but rather gather these truths from this account:

God will have a greater harvest from the Gentiles than He will from the Jews.
The Lord knows who are His and will seal them and keep them safe and present them "faultless", clothed in the white robes of the righteousness of Christ.

Notice this crowd was standing before the Creator God and the Mediator Christ and they were singing songs about salvation. The Father devised the plan and the Son purchased it and we who are saved by it must phrase both openly and before the Throne of Grace.
Notice that the Angels also worship God. Those that surround the 24 Elders that surround the throne, fall on their faces and worship God. These perfect sinless creatures set the example for us imperfect sinful creatures by their respect and reverence before God. Also they witness by their "Amen" to what the multitudes said.
Then one of the Elders asked John, "Who are the people clothed in white robes and where did they come from?" John answered, "Sir, you know who they are." Perhaps John did not know, so who were these people? They are the ones that will come out of the great Tribulation. They are those who will not take the "mark of the beast" and will be martyred for the sake of the Lord.
The last verses of Chapter 7 are written as a poem describing what our state in Heaven will be. Note: We will be free from all want, have continued happiness, be free from sickness and pain and experience no sorrow. Therefore, there will be no more need for tears for God will wipe away all those things that make us sad. We have here described a day of great joy. the reward of the faithful, those who have put their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

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