TRIAL AND PERSECUTION. CHAPTER S 4-7. (JOHN 16:33) BACK TO FIRST COMING OF CHRIST Chapter s 4 - 7 begin with the First Coming and deal with the church being persecuted and tested in the world. Jesus says: "But be brave! I have defeated the world!" (John 16:33). Chapter 4 relates to God and Creati... [ Continue Reading ]
AFTER THIS I SAW FOUR ANGELS. Two events are presented in this chapter: the sealing of God's people [symbolic of ownership; protection; genuineness]; and the gathering of God's people in the Eternal World. Chapter six ends with Judgment ready to begin. As chapter seven opens, four angels (symbolic o... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I SAW ANOTHER ANGEL. This angel has the seal of the living God [which shows he is acting on God's instructions]. He puts into effect a "hold" on Judgment until all God's people are sealed. A "seal" identifies ownership; protects against tampering; certifies genuineness. One who is a Christian is... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I WAS TOLD THE NUMBER. John does not _see_ the number, he hears it! 144,000. Numbers have symbolic meanings [this was especially true with the ancient peoples]. This number (_144,000)_ is formed by multiplying _3_ (the Trinity) by _4_ (the total Creation, because the redeemed come from the "four... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE WERE 12,000. Exactly 12,000 are sealed from 12 tribes to make 144,000. This cannot be the Jews (in the flesh). (1) The Ten Tribes had disappeared in Assyria and lost their identity. (2) Judah and Benjamin had lost their national existence and all the records destroyed, in the siege and destruc... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THERE WAS A GREAT CROWD. This time John _sees_ the Church Triumphant [God's people in Eternity] as they live forever in the presence of God and his Throne. Notice that the Redeemed in Eternity area Great Crowd, so many of them that they cannot be counted! THE WORK OF CHRIST IS NOT A FAILURE I Th... [ Continue Reading ]
OUR SALVATION. They shout their praise to God and to the Lamb. Note they look to GOD AND CHRIST as the source of their salvation.... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL THE ANGELS. The chorus of heaven and Creation joins in the song of the Redeemed, as they praise God and the Lamb (_compare_ Revelation 5:11).... [ Continue Reading ]
ONE OF THE ELDERS ASKED ME. He asks this to focus John's attention on the great crowd of people.... [ Continue Reading ]
I DON'T KNOW, SIR. YOU DO. John's answer shows that he is eager to know the answer.... [ Continue Reading ]
THESE ARE THE PEOPLE. The words of the elder form the close to this section [_Chapter s 4-7_]. Remember the central idea of this section is: _"Jehovah reigns; let the peoples tremble!"_ The theme of this section is: _the church being persecuted and tested in the world._ What the elder says is the _i... [ Continue Reading ]