Jewish Outcomers from the Great Tribulation
Revelation 7:1-8; Revelation 14:1-5
INTRODUCTORY WORDS
There are some people who see but one Rapture. For our part we see several.
1. There is the Rapture of the Body of Christ. This may take place at any time, but of course that time must be God's time. To us it is any time, to God it is at a definite moment, which He, in His omniscience, has already set.
2. There is a Rapture of the outcomers of the Great Tribulation. This will be discussed as we proceed with the sermon.
3. We believe that there will be a Rapture of the one hundred and forty-four thousand.
The Bible speaks of two general statements. Enoch, Elijah, Christ, and the Church, were all taken out, and up. On the other hand Noah was carried through the flood.
We cannot but believe that the rapture of Enoch and of Elijah, typically, set forth the Rapture of the Church, and likewise, the Rapture of other groups, which may go up during the Tribulation period to meet the Lord. The Rapture of Christ, likewise, anticipates the Rapture of the Church.
When we say that there will doubtless be more than one Rapture, we do not mean that in the Rapture of the Church, which is His Body, all of the truly regenerate will not be taken up. We do, however, mean that after the Rapture of the Church, and under the ministry of the two witnesses and of many others, there will be other groups saved.
Neither are we dogmatic that the great multitude who are the outcomers from the Great Tribulation are raptured. We believe they are. Of this we are certain, God will take care of His own.
The Rapture of saints need not stagger our confidence in God. He is able to work all things after the counsel of His will. He who caught Enoch and Elijah up, is able to catch us up. He who went up from the mount of Olives, is able to receive us unto Himself.
I. THE OMNIPOTENT GOD CHECKING THE ELEMENTS (Revelation 7:1-3)
There was a terrific judgment that befell the earth as the seals of the "book" were broken. We now are carried back by the Spirit to what we may call a parenthesis, which may be placed somewhere in the midst of the opening of the seals. It may come, and we rather think it does come between the opening of the fourth seal, and the fifth seal.
One thing is plain, the judgments of God are then upon the earth. In those judgments the winds of the earth, as well as the earthquakes and other natural forces have their part.
As the winds are about to work their havoc and fulfil their judgments, suddenly four angels make their appearance. They are standing on the four corners of the earth, and are holding the four winds, that they should not blow upon the earth.
Another angel is seen having the seal of the Living God. He cries, "Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads."
In a moment we will be observing the "sealing" of the Lord's servants. Now we wish only to observe one salient thing.
The winds and the elements are subject to God. All things operate under the fiat of God. The God who made laws, can easily cause them, for the time, to be inoperative. The Creator is greater than His creation.
Let not the vagaries of evolution deceive the children of God. God is Creator, and He is back of every law that governs His creation, God did not create, and then desert a marvelous and most intricate, and yet helpless creation.
We come back to our first contention the fact that the angels of God held the winds in their control in this there is nothing beyond the power of our faith to grasp.
II. THE SEALING OF THE ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-FOUR THOUSAND (Revelation 7:3-4)
1. Where are the ten lost tribes? We have heard many discussions as to the present-day identity of the ten lost tribes. Much of this, to us, seems speculative. This much we know, the twelve tribes are kept under the eye of an all-powerful God. The Jews may have swallowed up many of the ten tribes. However, we believe that all of Israel is not held in the two and one-half tribes which we commonly know as "the Jews," or the "Hebrews."
James addressed an Epistle to "The Twelve Tribes scattered abroad." Centuries have past since then. Now we are suddenly brought face to face, in our study, with the sealing of one hundred and forty-four thousand, from all the tribes of Israel. After this comprehensive statement, in order that no doubt may becloud us, the Spirit specifies the tribes by name, and speaks of the sealing of twelve thousand from each tribe.
This is no small matter. In it is tied up the fulfilment of more than one Old Testament prophecy pledge. Take, for example, the prophecy of Ezekiel. Under inspiration he wrote: "Behold, I will take the Children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, * * and I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king over them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all."
Here in Revelation 7:1-17 we are brought face to face with the beginning of God's fulfilment of this pledge. After centuries and centuries have past, and after the ten tribes have been lost to human eye; suddenly all twelve tribes are thrown back on the pages of Scripture in the throes of the last anguish, the Day of Jacob's trouble.
2. Who kept the Children of Israel intact? We have all read the story of Jonah swallowed, but undigested. That was, indeed, a notable miracle; and its fact, caused Nineveh to repent at the preaching of the "vomited up" Prophet. Here, however, is a miracle that a thousand times outclasses Jonah.
God's chosen race has been swallowed of the nations, but undigested; they have been cast into the furnace of affliction, but not destroyed. They have been cast in the den of lions, where authorities and powers have all conspired against them, and yet they have come forth unscathed. God's election preserves him.
3. What is the destiny of Israel? The same God who has kept Israel during the centuries will not now allow them to be utterly consumed. Israel's greatest sorrow lies just around the next shore line. The antichrist, during the Tribulation, will throw out great floods of antagonism to drown her. He will seek to annihilate her from the earth, however, beyond the Tribulation we will yet see Israel in national power and glory, restored to her land. Her sorrows and tribulations will prove no more than God's method to bring her to repentance. God will not fail His people. He will not cast His unfulfilled promises to the wind. Israel shall yet dwell under one King, as twelve tribes, in their own land. God will surely bring back His own from every nation under Heaven, whither He hath driven them, and they shall inherit their possessions.
III. THE SEALING OF THE ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-FOUR THOUSAND CONTINUED (Revelation 7:3-4)
1. The personnel of the one hundred and forty and four thousand. They are Hebrews; of this we are certain. They are Hebrews from twelve, and not from two and one half tribes. They are covenant people, we know. They are a people chosen of God, and precious. They have, however, been a sinful and rebellious people; but are now the servants of their God.
2. The cause and purpose of the sealing. The angel with the seal of God cried with a loud voice, saying. "Hurt not the earth, * * till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads."
There is, in the period of Tribulation, which we are now considering, other groups who are sealed they are sealed by the antichrist. They bear his mark in their foreheads and in their hands. This mark of the antichrist is a sign of their allegiance to the antichrist. They who bear his mark, are they who worship his image, and operate under the number of his name.
Here, then, is another "marked" group. They are marked because they are "servants of God." They are marked of God, because they have refused the mark of the beast. They are marked because they are called of God to special service.
3. The significance of the sealing. It seems to us that some mighty movements of the God of all grace will parallel the wonders and signs wrought by the antichrist during the Tribulation.
When the Church is raptured, and prophecy begins to unfold, many of Israel will awaken to the verity of Scripture. Remember, also, that God's two witnesses will not witness in vain. Are these one hundred and forty-four thousand not traceable to their testimony? Besides, angel warnings will constantly be given from the skies.
It does not, therefore, seem to us a thing incredible that the hundred and forty-four thousand of Israel are called, "the servants of our God."
4. The reason for their name "The servants of God." They are servants, because they serve. We cannot but feel that they will become the heralders of the Gospel of the Kingdom, even as Christ, in speaking of the signs of His Coming, and of the ending of the age, said, "This Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come" (Matthew 24:14).
Remember the verse just quoted does not refer to the Church preaching the Gospel of grace, and then shall the Rapture come. This preaching leads up to the end of the Tribulation, not to the end of the Church age.
Perhaps these very one hundred and forty-four thousand will be saved Jews, who will, with the fervor of an Apostle Paul, carry the Gospel to thousands; acclaiming the Advent of the Messiah.
AN ILLUSTRATION
"The Wailing Wall is the only portion of the old Temple to which the Jews have access. They assemble there every Friday afternoon, sometimes in hundreds, and there they kiss the stones and flood them with tears, manifesting the love and zeal expressed by the Psalmist, 'For Thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favour the dust thereof" (Psalms 102:14). While the Jews thus display their religious fervor the Arabs mock and ridicule from the wall above, which is ever calculated to provoke revolt. The Jews thrust their hands into the crevices of the sacred stones, and put in slips of paper on which are written prayers to Jehovah. They also pray with their mouths in the crevices that their prayers might rise from holy ground. At stated times the leaders read from the Prophecy of Isaiah (Isaiah 64:9-12): 'Be not wroth very sore. O Lord, neither remember iniquity for ever * * Thy holy cities are a wilderness, Zion is a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation. Our holy and our beautiful House, where our fathers praise Thee, is burned with fire: and all our pleasant things are laid waste. Wilt Thou refrain Thyself for these things, O Lord? wilt Thou hold Thy peace, and afflict us very sore?'
"Then at about four o'clock in the afternoon the Rabbins Litany is said. A Rabbi cries: 'For the place that is destroyed,' and the people wail the response; 'We sit in solitude and mourn,' and so on
"'For the walls that arc overthrown'
"'We sit in solitude and mourn';
"'For the majesty that is departed'
"'We sit in solitude and mourn':
"'May the Kingdom soon return to Zion'
"'Comfort those who mourn over Jerusalem.'"
Thank God the Jews are yet under the eye of God. He will save them in due time.