Note: I will not be discussing the rapture just because it usually it a "hot" topic among many believers. Honestly, I haven't decided yet what my viewpoint is on the rapture - I am either pre-tribulation or post-tribulation. I have read a couple of books and thought I had it all figured but later on I would begin to question it. At this point it doesn't matter when Jesus returns - I hang on the promise that He is returning. When? I don't know but I am striving to be ready whenever He does. I have listed a couple of books at the end of today's post if you want to read more about the rapture.
If you need to a refresher course in what we discussed last time you can read it here. Chapter 7 steps away from the seven seals for moment to give us a glimpse at two groups of people: the 144,000 and the great multitude. John begins the chapter by telling us he saw "Four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth to prevent any wind from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree." (Revelation 7:1) another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. (Revelation 7:2)
The angel proceeds to give instruction to the four angels telling them to hold off harming the trees, land and the sea until the seal of God is placed on the foreheads of God's servants. There is a lot of debate on who the 144,000. Who are they? Some will tell you that they are Jews and others will tell you they are Gentiles. I am not a scholar but it seems pretty simple to me that they are Jews. John said:
...144,000 from all the tribes of Israel.
From the tribe of Judah 12,000 were sealed,
from the tribe of Reuben 12,000,
from the tribe of Gad 12,000,
from the tribe of Asher 12,000,
from the tribe of Naphtali 12,000,
from the tribe of Manasseh 12,000,
from the tribe of Simeon 12,000,
from the tribe of Levi 12,000,
from the tribe of Issachar 12,000,
from the tribe of Zebulun 12,000,
from the tribe of Joseph 12,000,
from the tribe of Benjamin 12,000. (Revelation 7:4-8)
I believe if he was referring to Gentile Christians he would have said it differently. In my opinion those who say these are Gentile Christians believe that we have replaced Israel as God's chosen people. I do not find that in the word. Charles Guizik says in his commentary on the book of Revelaton about the use of Israel: "Israel is a term never specifically applied to the church in the New Testament, and never by any Christian until 160 A.D." (Enduring Word)
Can you believe this number refers to Gentile Christians and not Jews...sure - but most importantly can we back up what we believe with scripture. If not then it is either not true or not something the Lord has revealed to us and if that is the case we need to tread lightly. I would prefer to say I am not sure then make a bunch of claims that are not true. I would encourage you to read the passage and take it for what it says and study it for yourself.
Back to the list - you will notice the tribe of Dan is left out and there are a two theories on why (but I am sure you could probably find a dozen): 1.) Some believe that Dan is the tribe of the antichrist and this is taken from Jeremiah 8:16 and therefore wouldn't be listed; 2.) Dan is the tribe that introduced Israel to idolatry. (Genesis 49:17; Judges 18:30) The tribe of Ephraim is also replaced by the tribe of Joseph. This seems to be a big deal to some because Ephraim and Manasseh replaced Joseph (see Gen. 48:5) but I didn't find any solid information on why. I will let you study this on your own...
I believe the 144,000 are Jews. They are saved out of the tribulation by the seal of God and their faith in the Messiah.
I am going to post the rest of the chapter & then share my thoughts:
Revelation 7:9-17 After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb." 11 All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying: "Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!" 13 Then one of the elders asked me, "These in white robes-- who are they, and where did they come from?" 14 I answered, "Sir, you know." And he said, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore, "they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them. 16 Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. 17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
The scene changes again to a huge multitude who have come out of the great tribulation and they are dressed in white - they have been made pure by the blood of the Lamb. Doesn't that make you want to jump and and shout: "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb....Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!"
They will be tried by the fires of persecution, they will be strengthened by the heat of the flames, they will be purified and the Lord has a place for them in His kingdom. I believe we can find comfort in those words. You may be a pre-trib, post-trib, mid-trib or pan-trib (it will all pan out in the end) but either way we face trials, we face tribulation, we have brothers and sisters in other countries who are persecuted for their faith and one day we may have to endure the same BUT we can have courage and not fear; hope not despair; life not death; freedom not bondage - the Lamb who was slain has overcome and we can be overcomers with Him. 1 John 5:4-5 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world-- our faith. 5 Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
God has so many promises in His word for us - cling to them, memorize them, share them and hold on to them with all you have and believe the Lord will deliver you. It may not be the way you think or desire but one day - praise His name - we will be delivered. We may have to go through the persecution or even the tribulation but God has promised us a home in heaven. He told us ahead of time we would have to suffer (John 16:33; I Cor. 4:9; 2 Tim. 3:12; Phil. 3:10) I want to walk the walk now...not wait for the fires to surround me. Let us persevere in our walk with Christ and make the most of each day we have on this earth - to live our lives in a way that is pleasing to Him and light to a lost and dying world. Have a blessed week my brothers and sisters in Christ!
Here are the two books I mentioned:
 | Three Views on the Rapture By Gleason L. Archer, Jr., ed. / Zondervan Scripturally speaking, the Rapture seems, in regard to its timing, to be more closely linked to the Tribulation than to any other event. Since it will occur at the parousia of Christ (second coming), the question really becomes whether Christ will come back before, during, or after the Tribulation. It is with this in mind that the authors of Three Views on the Rapture joined together to offer their explanations for the three major timeframes for the Rapture, as it is related to the Tribulation. All three authors are members of the Evangelical Free Church of America, and all three teach at the denomination's seminary, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. As they state in the preface, "All three of us are wholeheartedly devoted to upholding the clear truths of Scripture but we do not believe that the relative time of the Rapture is one of these 'clear truths'." Thus, the radically divergent views offered in this book. The format of this book is very fair, and quite open. Each author states their respective position, and the others are given opportunity to respond. Thus, the reader is presented with a much broader picture of each position than a simple statement of the position might give. All three authors are premillennialists (they believe that the parousia of Christ will inaugurate the millennium), but the divergence in their views shows, in a good way, that premillennialists are not all homogenous in their beliefs. Richard Reiter begins the book with a short history of the development of each position regarding the timing of the Rapture. Paul D. Feinberg then offers his arguments for a pretribulation rapture. Gleason L. Archer presents us with the arguments for a midtribulation rapture (often called mid-week, in reference to the seventy weeks spoken of in the book of Daniel), and Douglas J. Moo gives us the arguments for a posttribulation rapture. Each is able to show respect for the others' arguments without comprimising their own. And if that was all Three Views on the Rapture offered (a true spirit of respectful ecumenism), it would be worth purchasing. But it offers so much more, because the combination of three voices on each position gives a much clearer, and more cogent view, which aids greatly in understanding. This book belongs in any theological library. |
 | The Blessed Hope By George Eldon Ladd / Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. Premillennialism. Postmillennialism. Amillennialism. Pretribulationism. Posttribulationism. Midtribulationism. The list could go on. And unfortunately, most of the items on this list have already caused division and/or separation in the body of Christ. These items have become defining beliefs for some in evangelical Christianity, with the effect of disagreement being church splits. And that, in the eyes of George Eldon Ladd, is both dangerous and wrong. Ladd reminds us that the focus, for all Christians, should be on the return of Christ, and our unity with Him, not on the specific timing of that return. This book is Ladd's concise and informative study on the second coming of Christ, or the parousia. His focus is not on the timing of the return, though he does discuss pertinent time issues. His focus is on the unity that Christ's return should foster in all Christians. Ladd comes from the premillennialist camp, believing that Christ will come to earth and, with His church, inaugurate the millennium, after which Satan and all his followers will be thrown in the lake of fire. He seeks, however, to clarify a distinction between premillennialism and pretribulationism. While pretribulationists are all premillennialists, not all premillennialists are pretribulationists (many often assume the two beliefs to be identical). The two beliefs are different, and Ladd argues that the difference, which involves timing, is important, but not crucial. In fact, he states that the Bible doesn't explicitly support the timing of either view. Ladd does feel, however, that the biblical support for pretribulationism is somewhat weak. Many assume that a premillennial view requires one to also be a pretribulationist. Ladd takes us on a tour of Scripture to show us why that is not true. He finds little support in the Bible for a pretribulation return of Christ (and a secret, pretribulation rapture). He affirms the faith of pretribulationists, and their desire for the return of Christ, but shows how the passages which talk about the return of Christ (and the rapture) seem to indicate that believers will go through the tribulation, thus negating the possibility of a pretribulation rapture. Ladd reminds us over and over that it "is the Lord who is the object of our [future] hope; and whether His coming be near or far, the glorious fact of His person and the certainty of our union with Him is the ground and incentive for our holy walk." All Christians need to unify in their support for Christ's return, regardless of the timing of that return. For Christ truly is our Blessed Hope. |
