Revelation – The Sealed Saved – 15

It has been a while since we’ve been in Revelation. We took a break for the Summer and started off the school looking at Acts 2 and what the early church devoted themselves to. Now, it’s time to hop right back into Revelation where we left off.

The first series we did had to do with the seven churches. It was more like some of the epistles of the New Testament than what we really think of when we think of Revelation. This second series, though, is where we start getting into the end times, apocalyptic things that you are accustomed to when you think of Revelation.

If you remember back to Revelation 4 and 5, we see John weep because no one is found worthy to open the scroll and to break its seals. And the scroll represents the flow of history…where history is heading. But then John has reason to weep no more, because Jesus, the Lamb who was slain, is worthy. And what we see in Revelation 6 is the opening of the first six seals. And what flows from this history unfolding is God’s judgment poured out on earth in such horrifying ways that the world has never seen before. And the last line before our chapter for today is, “for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?” (6:17).

It is amidst this desperation that chapter 7 starts.

Revelation 7:1-17

Some say what we’re reading is between the 6th and the 7th seals. Others say it is another recounting of what is happening amidst the 6 seals being opened. When this is happening doesn’t matter as much as what is happening. Here is what we see right off the bat.

Those who are saved are sealed and protected by the Lamb. (1-4)

This is further biblical proof of what we as Southern Baptists and those who hold to Reformed theology refer to as perseverance of the saints. Those who are saved persevere to the end. They don’t just persevere, but they are protected. Their faith is protected. They won’t fall away and be deceived. And they are protected from God’s just wrath.

What we see in this passage is the angels are ready to execute God’s judgment on the earth, but God says, “Wait.” I want you to think how much of a relief those words would be right before you are about to be punished for something. We all deserve judgment, and say there is a firing squad about to execute you, you are blindfolded, and you hear the countdown. “Ready! Aim!” But before you hear, “Fire!” You hear a different word…“Wait!” How much of a relief would that be?! Amidst righteous judgment on the earth, God says, “Wait!” for the sake of sealing those who are saved.

God shows mercy amidst his wrath. (3)

The Old Testament, where we think God seems most vengeful, describes God like this:

6“The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, 7keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.” (Exodus 34:6-7)

And it’s not just in the Old Testament. It is now with the gospel for you. Romans 6:23 shows God’s mercy amidst his wrath. “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” And it is also in the future as we see from this passage. God cannot cease to be who he is, and even amidst his just wrath, he is merciful and gracious.

God seals those who belong to him. (4)

What do you think this seal is? Or this sign? How would you mark someone as belonging to you? Who has ever seen Toy Story? How does Andy mark his toys as belonging to him? He writes his name on them.

Later in Revelation 14:1, we see what this seal is: “Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads.”

All those who belong to Jesus are sealed by Jesus. They are secure