16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”
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When someone comes against you, ask, “Do you know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?” Those words worked for me!
Psalm 150
1 Praise the Lord!
Praise God in His sanctuary;
Praise Him in His mighty expanse.
2 Praise Him for His mighty deeds;
Praise Him according to His excellent greatness.
3 Praise Him with trumpet sound;
Praise Him with harp and lyre.
4 Praise Him with timbrel and dancing;
Praise Him with stringed instruments and pipe.
5 Praise Him with loud cymbals;
Praise Him with resounding cymbals.
6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord!1
Hezekiah Walker New Video “Every Praise”
Hezekiah Walker
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Ephesians 6:12 – New American Standard Bible
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.”
Click on the image and see the text. Click on the arrow and see the video; details follow.
I. Introduction.
A. The opening video tells about the seven trumpets, which are judgments that commence after the casting of the censer in Revelation 8:5. Video information relates to all seven of the trumpet judgments, but in this article we will discuss only the first four trumpet judgments. It will be when Christ opens the seventh seal in Rev 8:1, that all seven trumpet judgments are opened by seven angels. Likewise, it will be when the seventh trumpet angel is sounded in Rev 11:15, that the seven bowl judgments are poured out by seven angels, which is described in Rev 15:1-21. In this study, we find three woes (Rev 8:13, 9:12, 11:14, 12:12). Each woe warns of coming judgment (BKC, [8:13] see below, IV). It is important to know that the events that are shown in this video do not relate to born again believers in Christ, whom will not be on earth at the time of the Tribulation, but will be present in Heaven with God.
B. Just as the flood of Noah’s time was not identified as being the wrath of God, it is clear that God’s wrath was upon those who dwelt upon the earth [Gen 6:13; 7:17-23), “Then God said to Noah, “The end of all flesh has come before Me; for the earth is filled with violence because of them; and behold, I am about to destroy them with the earth]. It is also clear that God’s judgment on “those who dwell on the earth,” (Rev 3:10), will also be “God’s wrath,” (Rev 6:1-19-21). Through the flood, God’s covenant with Abraham was made, who was the descendant of Noah’s son, Shem. (Gen 12:1-3). The covenant blood line of Abraham flows through the blood line of the Jews, through “Israel’s/Jacob’s” son, Judah [Gen 29:35]. It was through Judah’s bloodline that Christ came to be Israel’s Messiah, and the Savior of the World (Isaiah 7:14; Luke 3:30). Through the judgments of the Tribulation, God will draw Israel (Jews) to faith in Christ for salvation (Matthew 23:39; Zechariah 12:9-10) but, they must believe in Christ as Messiah (John 3:16), or face the consequences of their unbelief (John 3:3; John 3:18; Rev 20:15).
C. The severity of God’s judgments is shown in the Seal Judgments where one-fourth of mankind will be killed (Rev 7:8). One-third more of remaining mankind will be killed in the Trumpet Judgments (Rev 9:18). It is important to know that only those who do not know Christ as Lord and Savior will be left behind from the rapture of the church (John 14:2,3,6), and will come under God’s Tribulation judgments . The church is the bride of Christ (2 Cor 11:2), whose spirit is as righteous as the Spirit of Christ (2 Cor 5:21), and dwells within the Spirit of Christ (2 Cor 5:17). The Spirit of Christ dwells within the spirit of each born again believer in Christ (Col 1:27); and will be given eternal rewards by Christ (2 Cor 5:10). The risen Christ will escort His raptured bride to the marriage of the Lamb (Rev 19:7-8), and to the Presence of God in Heaven where the bride will remain until Christ and His bride return to earth at the end of the Tribulation for the Battle of Armageddon (Rev 19:14; 19:11-21). No groom, especially Christ, will beat up His bride on the way to the wedding altar. The born again believers in Christ will be removed from the earth at the time of the rapture, so that God can deal with unbelieving Jews, to draw them to saving faith in Christ. There is nothing about the Judgments of the Tribulation than can make any believer of the bride of Christ more holy. But, Jews who call on Christ in belief during the Tribulation will be as spiritually righteous as are the raptured believers in Christ.
II. Translation Considerations. “The New American Standard Bible (NASB) translation was chosen for this, and other studies, because of two main reasons. First, the NASB capitalizes the first letter of pronouns that relate to God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit); not all Bible translations show that same respect for God. Second, the NASB has a history of correctness in translation.”
III. Text: Revelation 8:1-13.
The Seventh Seal—the Trumpets
1 When the Lamb broke the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. 2 And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.
3 Another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a golden censer; and much incense was given to him, so that he might add it to the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar which was before the throne. 4 And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel’s hand. 5 Then the angel took the censer and filled it with the fire of the altar, and threw it to the earth; and there followed peals of thunder and sounds and flashes of lightning and an earthquake.
6 And the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound them.
7 The first sounded, and there came hail and fire, mixed with blood, and they were thrown to the earth; and a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.
8 The second angel sounded, and something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea; and a third of the sea became blood, 9 and a third of the creatures which were in the sea and had life, died; and a third of the ships were destroyed.
10 The third angel sounded, and a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of waters. 11 The name of the star is called Wormwood; and a third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the waters, because they were made bitter.
12 The fourth angel sounded, and a third of the sun and a third of the moon and a third of the stars were struck, so that a third of them would be darkened and the day would not shine for a third of it, and the night in the same way.
13 Then I looked, and I heard an eagle flying in mid-heaven, saying with a loud voice, “Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!”
IV. Comments of Theologians. BKC=The Bible Knowledge Commentary. MSB=MacArthur Study Bible; NAC = New American Commentary; NKJV= New King James Study Bible; RRC=Ryrie Commentary; RSB=Ryrie Study Bible; SRN=Scofield Reference Notes; WRC= Walvoord Commentary);
A. RSB
1. 8:1 “broke the seventh seal.” With the breaking of the 7th seal comes the 2nd series of judgments-the 7 trumpets. Apparently the judgments announced by the trumpets follow chronologically those of the other seals.
2. 8:4 The “prayers” likely petition God to judge evil and to inaugurate His kingdom quickly. A token judgment follows (v 5).
3. 8:7 Though the implications are staggering, there is no reason not to understand this and the other judgments plainly.
4. 8:8-9 The impact of this judgment on the world economy is beyond imagination.
5. 8:11 “Wormwood.” Many species of wormwood (a woody herb) grow in Palestine, and all have a strong, bitter (but not poisonous) taste, which causes the plant to be used as a symbol of bitterness, sorrow, and calamity. This plague will make a third part of the fresh water supply of the earth unfit for human consumption.
6. 8:12 This could mean that the 24-hour cycle of day and night will be shortened to 16 hours or that the power of the sun, moon, and stars will be reduced by one third.
B. NKJV
1. 8:1 The seventh seal on the scroll (5:1) is opened, finally allowing it to be unrolled. Silence in heaven for about half an hour seems to mark a brief but significant break between the unsealing of the scroll (6:1–8:1) and the trumpet judgments (8:6–11:19). This silence is broken only by a heavenly offering and “the prayers of all the saints” (vv. 3, 4). It is, however, the eerie silence before the storm as all of heaven awaits the coming judgment.
2. 8:2 The judgments of the seven trumpets unfold in a pattern parallel to the unsealing of the seven-sealed scroll (6:1-8:1). This has led some to conclude that both describe the same time period from different angles, but greatly increased severity of the trumpet judgments makes this unlikely. The sounding of a trumpet had more than one significance in the OT. It was used to gather the Lord’s people (see Num. 10:7, 8), to assemble the Lord’s army (see Num. 10:9), to announce a new king (see 1 Kin. 1:34–39), and to proclaim the Year of Jubilee (see Lev. 25:9). In this context, the sounding of trumpets indicates a declaration of war.
3. 8:7 When the first angel sounds the trumpet, a storm of hail, fire, and blood breaks forth. This incredible blend of destruction and horror sounds like a combination of the imagery of the first (see Ex. 7:19, 20) and seventh (see Ex. 9:22–25) plagues of God upon Egypt. A third here could be figurative for widespread, but not yet complete, destruction.
4. 8:8, 9 A great mountain burning suggests a massive island volcano erupting explosively over a far-flung section of ocean waters. The description of the effects on the sea, however, indicates that this is much more than windblown pollution from volcanic ash. The sea becoming blood and the creatures in the sea dying are like an extension of the first plague on the Egyptians, the turning of the waters of the Nile River into blood (see Ex. 7:17–21).
5. 8:10 “Star” here translates the same term used for the angelic star in 9:1 and for Christ as “the Bright and Morning Star” in 22:16. But the precise meaning of each word must be carefully interpreted in its context. Here the star seems to be a huge asteroid that falls from heaven to earth, burning like a torch as it enters the atmosphere. The star could fall on a third of the rivers and … springs by disintegrating as it passes through the earth’s atmosphere. It is also possible that the pollution of the headwaters of a number of the world’s major rivers and underground water sources could rapidly spread to a third of the planet’s waters.
6. 8:11 Wormwood is a plant found in the Middle East, known for its bitter taste. Here and elsewhere (see Lam. 3:19) the term is figurative for bitterness. Normally wormwood is not poisonous, but the plague of the third trumpet involves effects far more potent than the taste of this bitter plant: many men die from the water. Rapid pollution of a third of the world’s drinking water would set off a chaotic crisis.
7. 8:12 Reference to darkening the sun, moon, and stars is reminiscent of the ninth plague upon Egypt (see Ex. 10:21, 22), and of the heavenly disturbances involved in Christ’s description of His second coming (see Matt. 24:29, 30). It is also similar to the phenomena of the sixth seal (6:12). A third of the day did not shine could mean that the sun, moon, and stars will not be seen for several hours of the normal cycle of day and night. But probably what is meant is that the intensity of light during the day and night is reduced by a third because of cosmic and atmospheric disturbances (vv. 7, 8, 10).
8. 8:13 Woe, woe, woe refers to the impact of the three remaining … trumpet judgments on the unbelieving inhabitants of the earth. The first woe is the fifth trumpet (9:12); the second woe is the sixth trumpet (11:14). The third woe is said to be “coming quickly” and may be the same as the seventh trumpet (11:15–19), although that is not stated. If not, the final woe may be focused on Babylon, the great harlot, because of the climactic use of “woe” (translated alas in 18:10, 16, 19).
V. Consider.
A. There is a teaching that concludes that the events of the Book of Revelation took place at the time of the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in 70 A.D. But, no such records show that one-fourth of the world’s population have been killed, as is stated in Rev 7:8. Neither has there been another world killing of one-third of the world’s population, as is stated in Rev 9:18. The events of the Book of Revelation’s judgments, and the Battle of Armageddon (Rev 19:17-21), have not yet happened. The events of Revelation, Chapters 6-22, are yet to happen. All of the nations of the world have not been gathered against Jerusalem (Zech 12:3;14:2-3). All of the nations of the world have not been destroyed by Christ (Zech 12:9). Christ has not yet ascended from Heaven and stood on the Mount of Olives (Zech 14:4), with the result of Him being King over all the earth (Zech 14:9). All of the nations of the Earth have not gone to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles (Zech 14:16). No great armies from the orient have attacked Israel while crossing over a dried up Euphrates River. But, consider China of today, who has a military of 2,035,000 active duty personnel and 510,000 reserve personnel.
B. The events of the judgments of God in the Tribulation show that God will be in control of every seal, trumpet and bowl judgment. It is not by happenstance, or by Satan’s actions, that any judgment will take place. In this 8th chapter of Revelation, we see the preciseness of God’s hand in the judgments. There are four angels sounding four trumpets, which release four trumpet judgments. 8:7: 1/3 of the earth will be burned up, and 1/3 of the trees burned, and all of the green grass burned up. 8:8: 1/3 of the sea will become blood. 8:19: 1/3 of the creatures in the sea will die; and 1/3 of the ships will be destroyed. 8:10: a great star from heaven will fall on 1/3 of the rivers and on the springs and waters. 8:11: 1/3 of the waters will become bitter, and many will die. 8:12: 1/3 of the sun and moon and stars will become darkened (This could mean that the 24-hour cycle of day and night will be shortened to 16 or that the power of the sun, moon, and stars will be reduced by 1/3…RSB).
C. At this time in world history, there are many people who teach that we (the world) are in the Tribulation, due to current world conditions. But, as we can see from the statistics of the Russian Revolution, of a hundred years ago, our present world conditions are minuscule in relation to those which were present in Russia. Undoubtedly, there were those in the Russian Orthodox Church who may have thought that they were in the Tribulation. In today’s world, the difficulties that we are facing are nowhere near the level of atrocities that the Russian people had during their five years of revolution.
1. The Russian Civil War was a multi-party civil war in the former Russian Empire immediately after the two Russian Revolutions of 1917. There were an estimated 7,000,000–12,000,000 casualties during the war, mostly civilians (November 7, 1917 – June 16, 1923). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Civil_War
2. The Russian Orthodox Church (Russian: Русская Православная Церковь) is traditionally said to have been founded by Andrew the Apostle, who is thought to have visited Scythia and Greek colonies along the northern coast of the Black Sea. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Russian_Orthodox_Church
D. It is because of such lack of proper Biblical teaching that believers in Christ must study eschatology, in context, and realize that the tribulation relates to unbelieving Israel and has no bearing on born again believers in Christ. A study of Matthew 24, out of context, will not provide an understanding of the “yet to come” judgments of God on “those who dwell on the earth” (Rev 3:10). The Old Testament scriptures can not be omitted from a teaching of the end times, which is yet to come. Consider Joel 2:2.
1. “A day of darkness and gloom, A day of clouds and thick darkness. As the dawn is spread over the mountains, So there is a great and mighty people; There has never been anything like it, Nor will there be again after it, To the years of many generations” (Joel 2:2).
2. RSB note: Re: Joel 2:1-11. The locust army is regarded as a foretaste of an invading army in the “day of the Lord,” i.e., in the tribulation period.
3. The invading army of Joel 2:1-11 relates to an attack on Israel, as we have discussed in V.A., above. The books of Old Testament prophecy relate to God’s Word that was given to Jewish prophets, which were given to Jews, about Jewish things. Gentiles will be blessed through Jews (Gen 12:1-3).
4. Based on prophetic scripture, we are not in the Tribulation. Those in the Tribulation will have a fearful view of Christ, “And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn,” (Matt 24:29). Believers in Christ are not told to look for, or prepare for the antichrist, or anything of the Tribulation. Believers in Christ are told to be “looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus” (Titus 2:13), “who rescues us from the wrath to come” (1 Thes 1:10).
VI. Additional information on Rev 8:1-13 can be found in a sermon of Dr. Andy Woods (Th.M., J.D., Ph.D.).
A. See YouTube: Revelation Episode 27. Creator and Judge. Revelation 8:1-13
B. Dr. Andy Woods has a law degree from Whittier College and a PhD in Bible Exposition from Dallas Theological Seminary. He was a Full-Professor of Bible and Theology at the College Biblical Studies in Houston, TX (2009-2016). He is currently the President of Chafer Theological Seminary and Pastor of Sugar Land Bible Church. Andy also speaks on a variety of topics at Christian Conferences worldwide. Credentials of Dr. Woods can be found on my Equipping Site Page, “About Sources.” I encourage everyone to purchase Andy’s book, “The Coming Kingdom (Andrew M. Woods). Andy’s teachings provide provide a great deal of understanding of the Bible.
Click on the image and see the text. Click on the arrow and see the video; details follow.
I. Introduction.
A. The opening video is about the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles. The importance of things of “Jewishness” will be discussed in this article, as they relate to the time period that immediately follows the Tribulation. The information that is provided in this article is very important to an understanding of the “end times study.” Credentials of the video speakers can be found in I.M. The conclusion to this article has good scriptural information on the current situation of our country, and of the world.
B. In this article there we are still in the pause between the sixth and seventh seal judgments of the Tribulation. In End Times 10, we saw the sealing of 144,000 Jews, who were left behind from the rapture of the church (1 Cor 15:50-54); God will seal these chosen Jews for salvation, service, and personal protection. These Jews will serve as missionaries to the whole world during the tribulation until Christ comes from Heaven with His raptured saints and angels at the Battle of Armageddon (Matt 24:14; 29-31; Zech 14:5; Rev 19:11-21). In this article we will see “a Great multitude,” which will include mainly Gentiles. Because there will be more than 144,000 Jews that will be left behind from the Rapture, and will not be of those that were sealed in Rev 7:4, the Great Multitude will also include Jews. At this time in history, Jews are returning to Israel from all over the world, but in a state of unbelief (in Christ). It will not be until the Battle of Armageddon that these unbelieving Jews (whom will be left behind from the rapture) will call on the Name of Christ “to save them (from annihilation;” Matt 24:22-23; Zech 12:10). (The elect of Matt 24 are Jews, Deu 14:2).
C. It is common-place among non-Jewish teachers to remove the “Jewishness” from the period of time that immediately follows the Tribulation; all too often, the word that is used to identify that time period is “the millennium.” However, the correct name is not “millennium,” but “Kingdom,” or Kingdom Age. Millennium relates to the length of time of the Kingdom age, which will be one thousand years (Rev 20:1-7).
D. In Exodus 19:5-6, God promised the Jews that they would be a Kingdom of priests and a holy nation. It will be at the event of Zech 14:10, that the Jews will accept the offer of being a Kingdom “to God.” In 2 Sam 7:8-16, God describes the government of the Kingdom, which is called the Davidic Kingdom. In Isaiah 2:1-4, God describes the conditions of the Kingdom.
E. The gospel (good news) of the Kingdom (Matt 24:14) is that of, the Abrahamic Covenant (Rev 12:1-3) and of the Davdic Covenant (2 Sam 7:8-16). It was the gospel of the Kingdom that was the subject of the preaching of John the Baptist (Matt 3:2), of Christ (Matt 4:17), of the disciples (Matt 10:7), and of the seventy (Luke 10:1,11). The gospel of the “death, burial and resurrection of Christ” (1 Cor 15:1-8) will also be included in the preaching of the 144,000 Jews; this is because our Lord will be “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS (Rev 19:16), and will teach and rule and reign from Jerusalem (Isa 2:1-4) for one thousand years (Rev 20:4), which will be for the duration of the Kingdom Age.
F. In Matt 3:2, John the Baptist tells the Jews that “the Kingdom of Heaven” is at hand, which meant that Israel was being offered the Kingdom at that time; but the Jews would have to accept Christ as Messiah in order for them to receive the Kingdom. In Matt 4:17, Christ repeated the challenge of Matt 3:2, and He went on teach about the Kingdom (expounding on Isa 2:1-4). The prophecy of Isa 7:14, with its fulfillment in Matt 1:23, that Christ is “God with you,” was the factor of acceptance for Israel to enter the Kingdom (“the Kingdom of heaven is at hand”). “Repent” has a lexicon meaning of: 3340. metanoeó. Transliteration: metanoeó. Definition: to change one’s mind or purpose. Usage: I repent, change my mind, change the inner man (particularly with reference to acceptance of the will of God), repent.
G. Because national Israel did not accept Christ as Messiah, Christ removed the promise of the Kingdom from them, ” Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people, producing the fruit of it” (Matt 21:43). If he kingdom of God has been taken from them….the kingdom of God is the sphere of true faith in God …The Lord is saying to these Jews that, because they had rejected Him, they could not enter the kingdom of God, for “except a man be born again, he can not see the Kingdom of God (John 3:3). From whom was the kingdom of God taken? It seems clear the “you” refers to the generation to whom the Lord was speaking. To whom would the kingdom be given? By application, “the nation bringing forth the fruits thereof,” may mean any generation which will turn to Christ; but in its strict interpretation it refers to the nation Israel when she shall turn to the Lord and be saved before entering the millennial kingdom. (Things To Come, pp 90-91, J. Dwight Pentecost).
H. The Shepherd in 7:16-17 tells the truth of the Shepherd in the twenty-third Psalm, where He will be the Shepherd. The 23rd Psalm is often used for hospital visits and graveside sermons. But, as we see in today’s life, there are many problems of life that will not go away. However, in the Kingdom Age, every verse of the 23rd Psalm will be fulfilled through the Messiah, Christ. The Jews are the direct object of the psalm, but the peacefulness of the Kingdom age will affect saved Gentiles too.
I. The temple in 7:15 will be the millennial Temple that is promised in Ezekiel 37:26-28, and seen in Ezekiel 40-48. In Ezekiel 10:1, the Glory of God is seen by Ezekiel departing the Temple. In Ezekiel 43:4, the Glory of the Lord is seen entering back into the Temple. It was prior to the destruction of Jerusalem, and the Temple, in 586 B.C., that Ezekiel had the prophetic vision of the Glory of God departing the Temple. There has been a lot of discussion about a temple being built in Jerusalem, but this “news headline temple” will only be a structure; it will not have the Glory of God dwelling within the temple. The tribulation temple is written in Rev 11:1-2, 13:14-15, and will be built under the authority of the antichrist (Daniel 9:27; 12:11-12), prior to the beginning of the last 3 1/2 years of the Tribulation. The white horse of Rev 6:2 represents the antichrist and is shown in the opening of the tribulation; he goes about deceiving those of whom will be left behind from the rapture, “in a stealth manner” (1 Thes 5:3). The antichrist will enter the tribulation temple and present himself as God (2 Thes 2:4) during the first half of the Tribulation.
J. The tabernacle in 7:15 relates to the Feast of Tabernacles, where God “tabernacled” with the Jews during the forty-years of their wilderness experience. During the wandering of the Jews, God provided all of their needs. During the upcoming Kingdom Age, God will also tabernacle with saved Jews through Messiah/Christ.
K. Prophecy tells of the blessings that God has made for the Jews, and will provide for all of their needs during the Kingdom age. Isaiah 2:1-4 provides a quick look at the peaceful conditions of the Kingdom age. Zech 8:12-13 tells of the blessings that God will provide for the Jews. Zech 10:1-2 and Ezek 34:26 are often sung from Christian songbooks, “Showers of Blessing,” but the verses relate to the blessings that God will provide for saved Jews during the Kingdom age.
L. Jewish festivals will also be observed during the Kingdom age, by Jew and Gentile saved people.
a. Feast of Tabernacles/Booths. Zech 14:16 “Then it will come about that any who are left of all the nations that went against Jerusalem will go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to celebrate the Feast of Booths. 17 And it will be that whichever of the families of the earth does not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, there will be no rain on them.” Feast of Tabernacles historical background can be found in Lev. 23:33–36; Num. 29:12–38; Deut. 16:13–17. “The nations that went against Jerusalem” (Zech 14:16) relates to Gentiles who came to saving faith in Christ before Christ ended the Battle of Armageddon (Rev 19:11-21).
b. In addition to the Feast of Tabernacles, two other feasts will be celebrated in the Millennium, i.e., 1) Feast of the New Year (Ezek. 45:18–20) and 2) Passover (Ezek. 45:21–25) (MAC).
M. The opening video shows a discussion on the Feast Of Tabernacles. An article that I wrote on this particular feast can provide important information on the subject of this article. The key speakers of the opening video of this article,, and of the first and second videos in the article are Avner Boskey, Michael Brown, and Michael Rydelnik. The credentials of Brown and Rydelnik can be found in my Equipping Site Page, About Sources: https://equippingblog.wordpress.com/about-sources/
The article that I wrote on the Feast of Tabernacles can be seen by clicking on the following link: https://equippingblog.wordpress.com/2019/10/11/israel-feast-of-tabernacles-god-tabernacles-with-his-people/
II. Translation Considerations. “The New American Standard Bible (NASB) translation was chosen for this, and other studies, because of two main reasons. First, the NASB capitalizes the first letter of pronouns that relate to God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit); not all Bible translations show that same respect for God. Second, the NASB has a history of correctness in translation.”
III. Text: Revelation 7:9-17.
9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; 10 and they cry out with a loud voice, saying,
“Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” 11 And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures; and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying,
“Amen, blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen.”
13 Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “These who are clothed in the white robes, who are they, and where have they come from?” 14 I said to him, “My lord, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 For this reason, they are before the throne of God; and they serve Him day and night in His temple; and He who sits on the throne will spread His tabernacle over them. 16 They will hunger no longer, nor thirst anymore; nor will the sun beat down on them, nor any heat; 17 for the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the water of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes.”
IV. Comments of Theologians. MSB=MacArthur Study Bible; NAC = New American Commentary; NKJV= New King James Study Bible; RSB=Ryrie Study Bible; WRC= Walvoord Commentary); SRN=Scofield Reference Notes.
A. RSB
1. 7.9 “a great multitude.” This multitude is composed of many racial and geographic groups who will be redeemed during the Tribulation (v 14). In these difficult days, many will find Christ as Savior.
B. NKJV
1. 7.9-10 “The great multitude,” in addition to praising God and the Lamb for providing salvation. Palm branches were typically waved by crowds at victory celebrations (see John 12:13).
2. 7.14 This vast multitude has come out of the great tribulation, referring to “the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world” (3:10). In view of the great loss of life during this time period, martyrdom is most likely the means of their escape. Tribulation was already being experienced by the church in John’s day (see 2:10; Acts 14:22). However, the great tribulation, predicted in Dan. 12:1, will be of an intensity “such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be” (Matt. 24:21).
3. 7.15 Temple actually refers to the inner sanctuary of the temple rather than the outer courts (11:19).
4. 7.17 (This) recalls Ps. 23. The Lord who is the Shepherd in Ps. 23:1 is equated here with the Lamb. Both King David and the great multitude (v. 9) will “dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (Ps. 23:6), with Christ as their shepherd. (my note: The 23rd Psalm is a picture of the kingdom age of the millennium.)
C. MAC
1. 7.1-7.17. 144,000 Jewish evangelists on earth (vv. 1–8) and 2) their converts in heaven (vv. 9–17).
2. 7:9 “a great multitude.” While the tribulation period will be a time of judgment, it will also be a time of unprecedented redemption (cf. v. 14; 6:9–11; 20:4; Is. 11:10; Matt. 24:14). all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues. All the earth’s people groups. white robes. See note on 3:4. palm branches. In ancient times, they were associated with celebrations, including the Feast of Tabernacles (Lev. 23:40; Neh. 8:17; John 12:13).
3. 7:10 “Salvation belongs to our God.” Salvation is the theme of their worship, and they recognize that it comes solely from Him.
4. 7:13 white robes. See note on 3:4. The white garments of all the redeemed (cf. 6:11; 7:9, 13; 19:8, 14) speak of holiness and purity. Such white robes are reserved for Christ (Matt. 17:2; Mark 9:3), holy angels (Matt. 28:3; Mark 16:5), and the glorified church (19:8, 14). In the ancient world, white robes were commonly worn at festivals and celebrations.
5. 7:14 the great tribulation. See notes on 3:10; 6:1, 9, 12. These people didn’t go with the raptured church, since they were not yet saved. During the 7-year period they will be saved, martyred. Though it is a time of unparalleled judgment, it is also a time of unparalleled grace in salvation (cf. Matt. 24:12–14). washed their robes. Cf. 19:8. Salvation’s cleansing is in view (see Titus 2:11–14). blood of the Lamb. This refers to the atoning sacrifice of Christ (cf. 1:5; 5:9; Rom. 3:24, 25; 5:9).
6. 7.15 “His temple.” This refers to the heavenly throne of God (see note on 11:19). During the Millennium there will also be a temple on earth—a special holy place where God dwells in a partially restored, but still fallen, universe (see Ezek. 40–48). In the final, eternal state with its new heavens and earth, there is no temple; God Himself, who will fill all, will be its temple (21:22).
7. 7:17 “shepherd.” In a beautiful mix of images, the Lamb has always been the Shepherd (Ps. 23; John 10:14ff.; Heb. 13:20).
D. SRN
1. 7.14a The great tribulation is the period of unexampled trouble predicted in the passages cited under that head from Psalms 2:5 to Revelation 7:14 and described in Revelation 11-18. Involving in a measure the whole earth Revelation 3:10 it is yet distinctly “the time of Jacob’s trouble” Jeremiah 30:7 and its vortex Jerusalem and the Holy Land. It involves the people of God who will have returned to Palestine in unbelief. Its duration is three and a half years, or the last half of the seventieth week of Daniel. (See Scofield “Daniel 9:24”). Revelation 11:2; Revelation 11:3.
2. 7.14b The great tribulation will be, however, a period of salvation. An election out of Israel is seen as sealed for God Revelation 7:4-8 and, with an innumerable multitude of Gentiles Revelation 7:9 are said to have come “out of the great tribulation” Revelation 7:14. The great tribulation is immediately followed by the return of Christ in glory, and the events associated therewith Matthew 24:29; Matthew 24:30.
E. NAC
1. 7.9 Verses 1-8 show the sealing of the 144,000 from the 12 tribes of Israel; the remainder of the chapter focuses on those who come from beyond the Jewish community and are yet included as the beneficiaries of the grace of God. In vv 9-12, the focus is on those who come from beyond the Jewish community and are yet included as the beneficiaries. John sees this multitude standing before the throne, in front of the Lamb, wearing white robes and holding palm branches. The white robes are understood to be imputed righteousness or holiness. Some have suggested that those white robes represent glorified bodies. The palm branches indicate a festive season of joy and victory, and were often a part of the Feast of Tabernacles. When the Lord made His triumphal entry into the city of Jerusalem, palm leaves were strewn in the way before Him, as well as waved over Him as He rode into the city.
2. 7.10 The text proceeds to describe God in two ways; first, God is the one who sits on the throne; and second, as the Lamb.
3. 7.11-12. “all the angels that surround the throne, the elders, and the four living creatures. Here, the angels who are standing around the throne are clearly distinguished from the elders, and perhaps even from the four living creatures. The elders are not angels. The four living creatures quality as angels, though distinct from those standing around the throne. All of these are moved to the worship of God.
4. 7.13-14. The verse does not say how “the great company of Gentiles” exactly have made their exit from the great tribulation. The assumption of martyrdom might be appropriate but is not necessary in every case. The robes represent the spiritual attire of these tribulation saints, but they have been made white through washing in the blood of the lamb. (Mine: some will be martyred, and some will die from other causes.)
5. 7.15-17. Those who have come out of the tribulation find themselves before the throne of God and serve Him day and night in the temple.
V. Conclusion.
A. The Tribulation is shown in Chapters six through nineteen in the Book of Revelation. There are many people who are teaching that, either, the Tribulation is an allegory, or is with us now. I have shown in many scriptures that neither of those considerations are true. More common now is the teaching that we are in the Tribulation now. Such teachers take Matthew 24 out of context, by not connecting it to the Old Testament prophecies that show that the Tribulation relates to Israel, and that the signing of a peace treaty between the antichrist and the Jews will bring in the Tribulation.
B. In view of the current lawlessness that is spreading out through much of the USA and the world, what can we say about its Biblical application? First of all, there is no Biblical prophecy that puts us in the Tribulation. There is, however, a verse of scripture that has applied to many times in world history, and was spoken to Christians by the Apostle Paul, and has no bearing on the Tribulation: “But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come” (2 Tim 3:1). Concerning the fall, and the resulting curse, Gen 19:1-25 tells of the sin that gripped the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah being “exceedingly grave” (Gen 18:20). The Civil War of the USA had 618,222 deaths. The Spanish Flu of 1918 affected 500 million people, and killed 100 million of them. In World War I there were 20 million deaths and 21 million wounded. World War II was the deadliest military conflict in history. An estimated total of 70–85 million people perished, which was about 3% of the 1940 world population. During the Korean War, nearly 5 million people died. In 1978 an estimated 1,353,000 total deaths in North and South Vietnam occurred during the period 1965–1974. The situation that we are experiencing now, as severe as it is, is another product of the fall of Adam and Eve (Gen 3:14-19). It is not sin or catastrophy that will cause God to rapture His people out of this world. But, it will be when a predetermined number of people come to saving faith in Christ, which is called “the fullness of the Gentiles” (Rom 11:25, “For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.”) As I have written on the timing of the Tribulation, it will follow the rapture of the church, after Israel and the antichrist enter into a peace treaty; such an event has not yet happened; but, it will happen. The “difficult times” that we are experiencing in the world now are miniscule, in relation to the seven years of God’s Tribulation judgments, which will escalate in severity until the Battle of Armageddon occurs; this spiritual battle is won by Christ, being followed by His raptured saints, all whom are coming to earth from Heaven (Rev 19:11-21, Zech 14:1-5).
VI. Additional information on Rev 7:9-17 can be found in a sermon of Dr. Andy Woods (Th.M., J.D., Ph.D.).
A. See YouTube: Revelation Ep. 26 So Great a Salvation. Rev.7:9-17
B. Dr. Andy Woods has a law degree from Whittier College and a PhD in Bible Exposition from Dallas Theological Seminary. He was a Full-Professor of Bible and Theology at the College Biblical Studies in Houston, TX (2009-2016). He is currently the President of Chafer Theological Seminary and Pastor of Sugar Land Bible Church. Andy also speaks on a variety of topics at Christian Conferences worldwide. Credentials of Dr. Woods can be found on my Equipping Site Page, “About Sources.” I encourage everyone to purchase Andy’s book, “The Coming Kingdom (Andrew M. Woods). Andy’s teachings provide provide a great deal of understanding of the Bible.
VII. Video Details Of This Article.
A. Messianic Jewish Reflections on the Feast of Tabernacles
Eternity 