Rev 6 / 7 Study – View #1 – 1st 6 Seals, the 144,000, Great Multitude

View #1 – Summary Chart – Church Age, Great Tribulation, the Last Day (Judgment / Salvation)

The 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse – General Notes

6:1-2         The First Seal – The Rider (Christ) on the First Horse (White)

6:3-4         The Second Seal – the Rider (Satan) on the Second Horse (Red)

6:5-6         The Third Seal – the Rider on the Third Horse (Black) – Lack of Word of God (Famine)

6:7-8         The Fourth Seal – the Rider on the Fourth Horse (Pale) – Death / Hades (Satan’s Kingdom) Assault on God’s Kingdom during Great Tribulation

6:9-11       The Fifth Seal – the Martyrs under the Altar – Those who are put to death during the Great Tribulation

6:12-17          The Sixth Seal – Heavenly Signs / Judgment (Last) Day

7:1-8 – 144,000 Sealed – the Guarantee for all Christians

Rev 7:9-17 – The Great Multitude from the Great Tribulation

View #1 – Summary Chart – Church Age, Great Tribulation, the Last Day (Judgment / Salvation)

Event	Verses	Short Title	Description
Church Age	6:1-2	1st Seal	White Horse – Rider w/ bow conquering
Church Age	6:3-4	2nd Seal	Red Horse – remove peace, kill, great sword
Church Age	6:5-6	3rd Seal	Black Horse – pair of balances – wheat and barley, do not harm oil or wine
Church Age	7:1-8	Sealing of 144,000	Do not hurt (i.e., prior to Great Tribulation) the earth sea or trees – seal 12,000 from 12 tribes
Great Tribulation	6:7-8	4th Seal	Pale Horse – Death and Hell, power over the fourth part of earth – kill w/ sword, hunger, death and beasts
Great Tribulation	6:9-11	5th Seal	Souls under altar slain for Word of God, testimony, cried for judgment, white robes, rest for a ‘little season’
Great Tribulation	7:9-17	Great Multitude	They who have come out of the Great Tribulation and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb
The Last Day	6:12-17	6th Seal	Great earthquake, sun black, moon as blood, stars fell, heaven departed as a scroll, every mountain and isle moved, all people call for rocks to fall to hide from the wrath of God

The 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse – General Notes

Lamb opens the seals

• See notes on Rev 5:1-7:
  • Jesus Christ is worthy to open Scripture to God’s people since He is worthy, He is God, He send the Holy Spirit to indwell His people
  • Seals represent the guarantee that God’s Word is faithful, but God’s Word is a mytery to those who are not His people, but opened to His people

Four

• See notes on Rev 4:6 – the universal extent of locationbs, people, judgment, time, etc.
• The 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse represents the universal spiritual battle during the church age and great Tribulation – see Zech 6:1-8

Horses

• Horses are for battle – Pr 21:31, Ps 20:7, Ps 76:6, Ps 147:10, Zech 9:10, Zech 10:3-5, Zech 12:4, Zech 14:15-20, Rev 9:7-9, Rev 19:11, Eze 26:7-9, Jer 50:42, Is 31:, Deut 20:1, 1 Sam 8:11, 1 Sam 13:5, 1 Ki 1:5, 2 Sam 10:18
• Pharaoh’s horses – Ex 14:9, Ex 14:23, Ex 15:1
• Great strength – Ps 33:17
• 4 chariots – 4 spirits of God (Zech 6:1-8)

Four Beasts

• Actual highest order created beings, always associated with God’s throne and display beautiful spiritual attributes of the God – see notes on Rev 4:6-9

Come and See

• Come – God’s irresistible call to His people – Mat 11:28, Isa 45:22-25, Isa 53:2-3, Isa 55:1-3; Joh 6:37, John 6:39, John 6:65, Joh 7:37; Rev 22:17
• God’s plan / sovereignty – see notes on Rev 4:2-3
• See – spiritual understanding is given by God, symbolized by the 4 living creatures (cherubim) – see Eph 1:18,Mat 13:10-16, for example , also see notes on Rev 4:6-9 concerning spiritual eyes

6:1-2          The First Seal – The Rider (Christ) on the First Horse (White)

And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see.

(Rev 6:1)

And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.

(Rev 6:2)

Noise of Thunder

• Noise (literally – voice, Greek: phone)
• Voice of God is like thunder – 1 Sam 7:10, Re 11:13, Is 29:1-6, Rev 14:2, Rev 19:6, Ps 18:13, Ex 19:16, Ex 20:18, Ex 9:23-34, 1 Sam 7:10, Ps 104:7, Ps 77:18 (God’s voice in judgment – see notes on Rev 4:5)

White Horse

• White represents – clean / no sin / holiness – see Rev 1:14-15 notes
• White represents holiness – Ps 51:7, Dan 12:10, Dan 11:35, Dan 9:7, Is 1:18, 2 Chr 5:12, Ecc 9:8, Song 5:10, Rev 7:14, Rev 7:9-13, Rev 1:14, Rev 2:7, Rev 3:5, Rev 3:18, Rev 19:8, Rev 19:11, Rev 19:14
• White horses – Zech 6:1-8, Zech 1:8
• Horse – see above – spiritual battle

He who sat on the horse (horseman) had a bow

• Jesus Christ on a white Horse – Rev 19:11
• Ps 45:3-6 with Heb 1:8-9 (rider with a bow is Christ)
• Bow – Hos 2:18, Hos 7:16, 2 Ki 6:22, Ps 45:5, Is 5:28, 7:24, Ps 7:12, etc.
• Arrows (judgment of God) – see Ps 38:1-4, Lam 3:12-13, Ps 64:7, Ps 7:13, Is 5:28, Jer 50:9, Job 6:14, Deut 32:23, Deut 32:42

Crown given to Him

• Kings wear crowns – 2 Sam 1:10, 2 Sam 12:30, 2 Ki 11:12, 1 Chr 20:12, 2 Chr 23:11, Est 1:11
• Christ is the victor over Satan – Mat 12:22-29, Heb 2:14, etc.
• Crown – points to kingship / sovereignty (Rev 14:14, Rev 19:12, Mat 27:29, Mk 15:17, John 19:2, John 19:5) – see notes on Rev 2:10, Rev 3:11, Rev 4:4, Rev 4:10
• Jesus Christ as King of kings – 1 Tim 6:15, Rev 7:14, Rev 19:16

Went forth conquering and to conquer

• Conquering – present tense – continual action of people being saved and overcoming during Church Age
• To conquer – battle during the church age against sin (spiritual warfare)
• Overcome
  • Literally, to prevail / victory (33 occurrences – Greek: nikao – G3528, G3529, G3534)
    • 1 Cor 15:54-57, Mat 12:20, Luk 11:22; Joh 16:33; Rom 3:4; Rom 12:21; 1Jn 2:13; 1Jn 2:14; 1Jn 4:4; 1Jn 5:4; 1Jn 5:5; Rev 2:7; Rev 2:11; Rev 2:17; Rev 2:26; Rev 3:5; Rev 3:12; Rev 3:21; Rev 5:5; Rev 6:2; Rev 11:7; Rev 12:11; Rev 13:7; Rev 15:2; Rev 17:14; Rev 21:7
    • Rom 8:37 – more than conquerors
  • Christ defeated Satan on cross – Heb 2:14
  • A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory. (Mat 12:20)
  • But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1Co 15:57)
  • For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? (1Jn 5:4-5)
  • And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. (Rev 12:11)
  • These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful. (Rev 17:14)
  • Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. (1Jn 4:4)
  • I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. (1 Jn 2:13-14)
  • If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub. And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges. But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you. When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils. (Luk 11:18-22, see also Mat 12:22-29)
  • Bruised on head/subjection under feet – Heb 1:13, Heb 2:8-15, Heb 10:13, Acts 2:34=35, Mk 16:19, Mat 11:27, Mat 22:44, Mat 26:64, Mat 28:18, Ps 8:6, 110:1, Eph 1:22, 1 Cor 15:24-27, Rev 13:3, Rev 13:12-14
  • Satan bound – Rev 20:1-3, Mat 12:22-29
  • Satan no longer has access to Heaven/cast out – John 12:31, Lk 10:18, Rev 12:7-12
  • Satan Judged – John 16:11w/ John 12:31
  • Satan rendered powerless at the cross – Heb 2:14, 1 John 3:8
  • More than conquerors – Ro 8:37

6:3-4          The Second Seal – the Rider (Satan) on the Second Horse (Red)

And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see.

(Rev 6:3)

And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.

(Rev 6:4)

Red Horse

• Red – Greek: purrhos (G4450, literally – red like fire) – 2 occurrences – Rev 6:4, Rev 12:3 (the color of Satan, the Dragon)
  • Also, G4449 – to redden – 2 occurrences – the sky is red – Mat 16:2-3
  • Mat 25:41 – everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels (fire from Greek: pur – G4442)
• Red – identified with Satan – Rev 12:3, Rev 12:12, Is 63:2-3, Nah 2:3 (blood/killing/Satan)
• Red horses – Zech 1:8, Zech 6:1-8
• Shield of mighty men made red – Nahum 2;3
• Jesus Christ’s garments red – Is 63:2
• Sins are red – Is 1:18
• Do not look at wine when it is red – Pr 23:31
• The cup of the Lord – its wine is red – Ps 75:8
• Water red as blood (Moab) – 2 Ki 3:22
• Red heifer – Num 19:2
• Rams skins dyed red – Ex 39:34, Ex 36:19, Ex 35:23, Ex 35:7, Ex 26:14, Ex 25:5
• Esau – red all over – Gen 25:25 (Edom)
• Esau asks for red pottage – Gen 25:30
• Red – sign of leprosy – Lev 13:19, Lev 13:24, Lev 13:42-49, Lev 14:37
• Ruddy – David – 1 Sam 16:12, 1 Sam 17:42
• The Beloved – Song 5:10
• Nazirites – Lam 4:7

Take peace from the earth

• Peace – salvation Ro 5:1, Is 9:6, Mk 5:34, Rom 5:10, acts 10:36, Rom 1:7, Rom 10:15, Rom 14:17, Rom 15:13, Rom 15:33; Job 21:21; Psa 85:8-10, Psa 122:6; Isa 27:5, Isa 32:17, Isa 54:13, Isa 55:12, Isa 57:19-21; Zec 6:13; Luk 2:14, Luk 10:5-6; Luk 19:38, Luk 19:42; Joh 14:27, Joh 16:33; Act 10:36; 2Co 5:18-20; Eph 2:14-17; Col 1:20, Col 3:15; 1Th 5:23; 2Th 3:16; Heb 13:20; Jas 2:23
• Satan is deceiver – 2 Cor 11:13-14, Rev 12:9, Rev 19:20, Rev 20:3, Rev 20:8-10, 1 Tim 2:14, 2 Thess 2:10
• Many turn back to Satan – 1 Tom 5:15, Php 3:18-19; 2Ti 1:15, 2Ti 2:18, 2Ti 4:10; 2Pe 2:2, 2Pe 2:20-22, 2Pe 3:16; 1Jn 2:19; Jud 1:4-5; Rev 12:9

Men should slay one another

• Slay (G4969) – sphazo (G4969 – sphagion)
  • Violent slaying of beasts for sacrifice – Acts 7:42
  • Lamb slain – Rev 5:6, Rev 5:9, Rev 5:12, Rev 13:8
  • Babylon has slain those on earth – Rev 18:24
  • Red Horse slays – Rev 6:4
  • Antichrist wounded – Rev 13:3
  • Souls under the altar – Rev 6:9
• Battle of the kingdoms – spiritual battle, not physical – Mat 10:34-36, Lk 12:51-53
• Satan pursues the woman in the wilderness – Rev 12:7-17
• Biting and devouring in the church – Gal 5:15, Gal 5:26; 1 Cor 1:11, 1 Cor 3:3-4, 1 Cor 4:6-8, 1 Cor 11:16-19, 2Sa 2:26-27; Isa 9:20-21, Isa 11:5-9, Isa 11:13; 1Co 3:3, 1Co 6:6-8; 2Co 11:20; 2Co 12:20; Jas 3:14-18, Jas 4:1-3, 1 Pet 2:1, Eph 4:31-32
• Killing by words / tongue – Mat 5:21-22, Pr 11:9, Ro 3:13-15, Jer 9:3, 18:18, Ps 140:3, Ro 3:13, James 3:8, Pr 18:21, Ps 52:4, Ps 57:4, Ps 59:7, Ps 64:3, Ps 120:2, Rev 2:10
• Weapons are not of the flesh, but spiritual (not a political battle) – Eph 6:11-12, Phil 3:20, Mat 24:7, Is 42:6-7, Eph 2:6, 1 Pet 2:5-11,20ff, Mat 16:15-19, Lk 2:14, Hos 1:7, 2 Tim 2:4, 2 Cor 10:3f, Eph 2:19, Mk 8:31-33, 1 Pet 1:1, Rev 1:6, Heb 13:14, Col 1:13, John 18:36-37, Col 3:1-4, Lk 12:14, Mat 10:34, 2 Tim 2:16, Mk 12:17, Ps 73:25, Zech 9:9, Lk 22:36, Ro 12:1-2, Lk 12:13ff, Mat 5:38f, 1 Cor 6:1-8, Hos 8:9, 7:11, Ro 13
• Fight the good fight – 1 Tim 1:18, 1 Tim 6:12, 2 Tim 4:7, 1 Cor 9:25, Phil 1:30
• Soldier – 2 Tim 2:4, 1 Cor 9:7
• War – spirit versus the flesh – Gal 5:17, Ro 8:5-11, 2 Cor 10:3, 1 Tim 1:18
• Fleshly s wage war against the soul – 1 Pet 2:11, James 4:1, Ro 7:23
• Christians die daily – Mat 24:9, 2 Cor 1:9, 2 Cor 4:10-12, 2 Cor 6:9, 2 Cor 7:3, Ro 8:35-39, James 5:6, 1 John 3:15, 1 Cor 4:9, 1 Cor 15:31, Mat 5:21-22, Hab 1:2-4, James 2:9-11, Ps 94:1-7, 44:22, Rev 6:9, Mk 8:35
• Old Testament ‘violence’ – persecution of the righteous – Hab 1:2,9, Ob 10, Pr 16:29, Joel 3:19, Gen 27:41, Ez 25:12, Amos 1:11, Jer 20:8, Ps 11:5, Mat 24:9
  • Innocent blood – 2 Ki 24:4, Jer 22:17
• Christians Have Been Crucified w/ Christ – Gal 2:20, Gal 5:24, Gal 6:14, Ro 6:2, Ro 6:6

Giving unto him a Great sword

• God allows the conflict – Eze 30:24-25, Job 1:6-12, Job 2:1-10
• Word of God is a Great Sword – Heb 4:12, Is 49:2, Ps 45:3, Ps 149:6, Pr 5:4, Is 11:4, Acts 2:37, Acts 5:33, Eph 6:17, Rev 1:16, Rev 2:16, Rev 19:15, Rev 19:2
• Sword of the wicked
  • Ps 17:13, Eze 30:24-25, Ps 55:3 with Ps 55:21, Ps 28:3, Ps 57:4, Ps 64:3, Pr 5:3-4, Pr 12:18
  • Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me … The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords. (Psa 55:3,21)
• Christians are living sacrifices – Ro 12:1-2, 1 Pet 2:5, Heb 13:15

6:5-6          The Third Seal – the Rider on the Third Horse (Black) – Lack of Word of God (Famine)

And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.

(Rev 6:5)

And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.

(Rev 6:6)

Black horse

• Black (Gr: melas, 3 occurrences) – opposite of white (Mat 5:36, white or black hair)
• Rev 6:5 – black horse; Rev 6:12 – sun became back as sackcloth of hair
  • Black related to darkness, loss of sun (Rev 6:12)
• Old Testament black horse – Zech 6:2, Zech 6:6 (Heb: H7858, schachor)
  • Hair black as a raven – Song 5:11
  • Black, but comely – Song 1:5
  • Black hair – Lev 13:31, Lev 13:37
• Darkness
  • Hell – blackness of darkness – Jude 13 (see also Pr 7:9, 2 Pet 2:17)
  • Light is Jesus, Gospel, Christians – John 1:1-5, John 3:16-20, John 8:12, John 9:3-5, John 12:35-36, John 12:46, Is 45:7, 2 Cor 4:4-6, Col 1:12, Ps 74:16, 2 Pet 1:19, 2 Tim 1:10, Ps 43:3, Is 8:20, Phil 2:15
  • Darkness associated with hell – Jude 6,13, 2Pet 2:17, Mat 8:12, Mat 22:13, Mat 25:30
  • Unbelievers in darkness – Col 1:13, 2 Cor 6:14, Ro 13:12-14, Eph 4:17-20, Eph 5:8-14, 1 Thess 5:4-8, 1 John 1:5-7, 1 Pet 2:9-10, Ro 1:21, Ro 2:19,
  • Dominion of Satan – Acts 26:18, Col 1:13, Eph 6:12

Pair of scales in his hand

• Pair of scales (Gr: zugos, 5 occurrences – refer to a yoke)
  • Take Christ’s yoke – Mat 11:29-30
  • Yoke of keeping the law – Acts 15:10, Gal 5:1
  • Servants are under a yoke – 1 Tim 6:1
  • Eze 4:9-16 – scarcity of wheat and barley (eaten by measure)
• Scales often refer to deceptive practices – Hos 12:7, Pr 11:1, Lev 19:35-36, Amos 8:5, Micah 6:11, Pr 20:23
• Scales of judgment – Dan 5:27, Is 40:12-15, Ps 62:9, Pr 16:11
• Hand – see notes on 1:16 (hand represents the will – God allows this judgment)

Voice in center of 4 living creatures

• Voice heard since God allows this judgment (e.g., Job 1-2)

Measure of Wheat for a penny, 3 Measures of Barley for a Penny

• Penny (Gr: denarion, G1220 – 16 occurrences)
  • A days wage – Mat 20:2, Mat 20:9-10, Mat 20:13
  • Points to famine / food expensive – Rev 6:6
  • Tax money (tribute) – Caesar’s image – Mat 22:19, Mk 12:15, Lk 20:24
  • Unforgiving servant forgiven 10,000 talents but would not forgive 100 denarion – Mat 18:28
  • Ointment cost 300 denarion – Mk 14:5, John 12:5
  • 2 debtors, one owed 500 and the other 50 denarion – Lk 7:41
  • Good Samaritan gave 2 denarion to care for the injured – Lk 10:35
  • Feeding of the 5000 – need 200 denarion to feed them – Mk 6:37, John 6:7 (see also Mat 14:21)
    • Therefore, 1 denarion should feed 25 men (as well as women and children – Mat 14:21
  • Measure – Greek: choinix (only New Testament occurrence in Rev 6:6)
    • Choinix – about 1 quart – food for an adult male for a day
  • New Testament wheat – G4621 (Greek: sitos) – 14 occurrences
    • Wheat and chaff / tares – Mat 3:12, Mat 13:25, Mat 13:29-30, Lk 3:17
    • Seed produces wheat – Christians – Mk 4:38
    • Unjust steward collected 80 versus 100 measures – Lk 16:7
    • Satan desires to sift Peter – Lk 22:31
    • Jesus as a corn of wheat in ground, produces much fruit – John 12:24
    • Lightened ship by casting out the wheat – Acts 27:38
    • Christian dead body, but God will give a renewed body – 1 Cor 15:37
    • Rev 6:6 – 1 measure of wheat for a denarius
    • Merchandise of Babylon – Rev 18:13
    • Jacob heard there was wheat (corn) in Egypt – Acts 7:12 (H7668 – Gen 42:1-2. Gen 42:19, Gen 42:26, Gen 43:2, Gen 44;2, Gen 47:14, Amos 8:5, Neh 10:31)
  • Old Testament Wheat (H2406, Heb: chittah – 30 occurrences)
    • H2406 key occurrences
      • Wheat harvest tied to Pentecost (firstfruits) – Ex 34:22
      • Promised land – Deut 8:8
      • Offering for priests – Ex 29:2
      • Barley harvest and wheat harvest – Ruth 2:23
      • Wheat harvest – Gen 30:14, 1 Sam 6:13, 1 Sam 12:17
      • Thistles contrasted with wheat – Job 31:40
      • Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress – Jud 6:11
      • Samson in the wheat harvest – Jud 15:1
      • Solomon gives Hiram 20,000 measures of wheat for food each year – 1 Ki 5:11, 2 Chr 2:10, 2 Chr 2:15
      • Children of Ammon give 10,000 measures of wheat and barley – 2 Chr 27:5
      • Israel should have been fed with finest of the wheat – Ps 81:16
      • Makes peace and fills them with the finest of wheat – Ps 147:14
      • His belly is like a heap of wheat – Song 7:2
      • Cast wheat and barley in the appointed places – Is 28:25
      • Sow whet but reap thorns because of the anger of the Lord – Jer 12:13
      • Treasures of wheat and barley – Jer 41:8
      • Bread made out of wheat and barley – Eze 4:9
      • Offer the sixth part of an ephah of an homer of wheat (same for barley) – Eze 45:13
      • Harvest of wheat and barley is perished – Joel 1:11
    • Barley – Old Testament – H8184
      • Exo 9:31; Lev 27:16; Num 5:15; Deu 8:8; Jdg 7:13; Rth 1:22; Rth 2:17; Rth 2:23; Rth 3:2; Rth 3:15; Rth 3:17; 2Sa 14:30; 2Sa 17:28; 2Sa 21:9; 1Ki 4:28; 2Ki 4:42; 2Ki 7:1; 2Ki 7:16; 2Ki 7:18; 1Ch 11:13; 2Ch 2:10; 2Ch 2:15; 2Ch 27:5; Job 31:40; Isa 28:25; Jer 41:8; Eze 4:9; Eze 4:12; Eze 13:19; Eze 45:13; Hos 3:2; Joe 1:11.
      • Lev 27:17 – Homer of barley seed worth 50 shekels
      • Num 5:15 – Offering for an adulterous wife is 1/10 of an ephah of barley
      • Ruth 2:17 – Ruth gleaned an ephah of barley
      • Ruth 3:15 / Ruth 3:17 – Boaz gives Ruth 6 measures of barley
      • 2 Ki 4:42 – 20 loaves (lechem) of barley
      • 2 Ki 7:1, 2 Ki 7:16, 2 Ki 7:18 – 2 measures (H5429) of barley for a shekel (famine)
      • 2 Chr 2:10 – Hiram’s fellers to receive 20,000 measures (HJ3734) of barley
      • 2 Chr 27:5 – Tribute from Ammon – 10,000 measures (H3734) of barley
      • Eze 45:13 – offering is 1/6 part of an ephah of a homer of barley (ephah is 1/10 of a homer – Eze 45:11) – both wheat and barley were valued the same
      • Hos 3:2 – Bought adulteress wife for 15 of silver, a homer of barley and half homer of barley
    • Barley – New Testament – G2915 / G2916 (krithe, krithnos)
      • 3 occurrences – Rev 6:7, John 6:9, John 6:13 (feeding of the 5000) – 5 barley loaves – valued at 200 denarion to feed them – Mk 6:37, John 6:7 – took up 12 baskets
      • Rev 6:6: 3 measures of barley is 1 denari
    • Words for Grain (components of bread):
    • H1715 –  increase (grain – 40 occ. )
      • Ps 78:24 – manna is the corn from heaven
    • H2591 – Chaldee of H2406 (wheat) – 2 occ. – Ezra 6:9, Ezra 7:22
    • H7383 – ground grain (grits) – 2 occ.
    • H1250 – winnowed grain Heb: bar – 14 occ.
    • H7641 – a branch of grain – 19 occ.
    • H7668 – kernels (or cut-up) – grain – 7 occ.
    • H7054 – stalk of grain – 10 occ.
    • Bread made out of wheat and barley – Eze 4:9
      • Wheat and Barley together – 8:8; Ruth 2:23; 2Sa. 17:28; 2Ch. 2:10, 2 Chr 2:15; 2 Chr 27:5; Job 31:40; Isa. 28:25; Jer. 41:8; Eze. 4:9; Eze 45:13; Joel 1:11; Rev. 6:6.
    • Word of God (Ps 81:16, 147:14-15)

Bread – Wheat and Barley are componets

• Bread (lechem H3889) made of wheat and barley – Eze 4:9, or just wheat – Exo 29:2
• Barley (H8184) bread (lechem – H3889) – 2 Ki 4:42, Eze 4:9, Jud 7:13, Eze 13:19
• Bread (H3889) made of grain (H1715) – 2 Ki 18:32, Isa 36:17
• Bread = Jesus as the Word of God – Amos 8:11, Deut 8:3, Mat 4:4, John 6:41-63
• See Ez 36:29 – multiply bread
• Grain is the word of God – Jer 23:28
• Points to famine – 2 Ki 7:1,18, 8:1, Amos 8:11

Famine

• Famine in the New Testament (G3042, limos – 12 occurrences)
• Famine in the Great Tribulation (New Testament) – Mat 24:7-8, Mk 13:8, Lk 4:25, Lk 21;11, Mk 13:8, Acts 7:11, Rev 6:8, Rev 18:8
• Famine in the Old Testament:
  • H7456 (raeb, to hunger – 32 occurrences) – 1Sa 2:5, 2Sa 17:29, 2Ki 7:12, Job 5:5, Job 22:7, Job 24:10, Psa 50:12, Psa 107:5, Psa 107:9, Psa 107:36, Psa 146:7, Pro 6:30, Pro 25:21, Pro 27:7, Isa 8:21 (2), Isa 9:20, Isa 29:8, Isa 32:6, Isa 44:12, Isa 58:7, Isa 58:10, Isa 65:13, Eze 18:7, Eze 18:16, Deu 8:3, Psa 34:10, Pro 19:15, Isa 49:10, Jer 42:14, Pro 10:3, Gen 41:55
  • H7459 (reabom – famine – 3 occurrences – Gen 42:19, Gen 42:33, Ps 37:19)
  • H7457 (raeb, hungry – 19 occurrences) – Exo 16:3, Deu 28:48, Deu 32:24, Neh 9:15, Jer 38:9, Lam 2:19, Lam 4:9, Eze 34:29, Job 18:12
  • H7458 (raab, famine – 101 occurrences) – Gen 12:10 (2), Gen 26:1 (2), Gen 41:27, Gen 41:30-31 (3), Gen 41:36 (2), Gen 41:50, Gen 41:56-57 (3), Gen 42:5, Gen 43:1, Gen 45:6, Gen 45:11, Gen 47:4, Gen 47:13 (2), Gen 47:20, Rth 1:1, 2Sa 21:1, 2Sa 24:13, 1Ki 8:37, 1Ki 18:2, 2Ki 6:25, 2Ki 7:4, 2Ki 8:1, 2Ki 25:3, 1Ch 21:12, 2Ch 20:9, 2Ch 32:11, Job 5:20, Psa 33:19, Psa 105:16, Isa 14:30, Isa 51:19, Jer 5:12, Jer 11:22, Jer 14:12-13 (2), Jer 14:15-16 (3), Jer 14:18, Jer 15:2 (2), Jer 16:4, Jer 18:21, Jer 21:7, Jer 24:9-10 (2), Jer 27:8, Jer 27:13, Jer 29:17-18 (2), Jer 32:24, Jer 32:36, Jer 34:17, Jer 38:2, Jer 42:16-17 (2), Jer 42:22, Jer 44:12-13 (3), Jer 44:18, Jer 44:27, Jer 52:6, Lam 5:10, Eze 5:12, Eze 5:16-17 (3), Eze 6:11-12 (2), Eze 12:15-16 (3), Eze 14:13, Eze 14:21, Eze 36:29-30 (2), Amo 8:11 (2), Gen 41:54 (2), 2Ki 4:38, 2Ch 6:28, Neh 5:3, Isa 5:13
  • Famines in the Bible
    • Abraham in Canaan – Gen 12:10
    • Isaac in Canaan – Gen 26:1
    • Joseph in Canaan and Egypt – Gen 41:27-57, Ps 105:16, Acts 7:11, etc.
    • Israel in wilderness – Ps 107:5-98, Ps 77:3, Ex 16:3, Ps 78:24-29, Neh 9:15
    • Elimelech in Bethlehem- Ruth 1:1-2
    • David in Canaan – 2 Sam 21:1
    • Elijah in Canaan – 1 Ki 18:2, Lk 4:25
    • Elisha in Samaria – 2 Ki 6:25, 2 Ki 7:4
    • Elisha in Gilgal – 2 Ki 4:38
    • Elisha – 7 year famine – 2 Ki 8:1
    • Siege of Jerusalem – 2 Ki 25:3, Jer 52:6, Lam 2:19, Lam 4:9, Jer 5:2, etc., etc.
    • Hezekiah in Jerusalem – 2 Chr 32:11
    • Jerusalem – Neh 5:3
    • Judgment on Philistia – Is 14:30
    • Judgment – Is 51:19, Mat 24:7, Mk 13:8, Lk 21:11, Rev 18:8, Zeph 2:11, Deut 28:48, Deut 32:24
    • Days of Claudius – Acts 11:28
  • In famine, we are redeemed and hunger no more – Job 5:20, Ps 146:7, Rev 7:16, Is 65:13
  • Blessed are they who hunger and thirst – Mat 5:6, Lk 6:21-25
  • God’s people are sustained in famine – Ps 33:19, Ps 37:19, John 6:35, Eze 34:29, Pr 10:3
  • Those who Forsake God Shall Hunger in Famine – Is 8:21, Job 18;12, Is 9:20, Is 44:12, Is 65:13, Is 29:8, Is 14:30
• Symbolic meaning – Famine for hearing the Word of God – Amos 8:11-12, Is 5:13, Pr 18:20-21, Pr 24:13-14, Pr 10:3, Mat 4:4, Lk 4:4, Deut 8:3, Is 30:20-21, Is 58;7, Is 58:10, Is 55:2-3, Is 55:10-11, Ps 34:10, Ps 50:12, Pr 19:15, Is 49:10, Job 5:20, Ps 33:19, Ps 37:19, Ps 107:36, Ps 146:7, Pr 25:21, Pr 27:7, Job 22:7, Job 24:10, Is 32:6, Eze 18:7, Eze 18:16, Ps 33:18-20, Lev 26:26
• False Prophecy
  • Mat 7:15, 2 Cor 11:12‑15, Deut 13:5, 18:22, 2 Thess 2:9, Jer 23,Rev 13:5-6, Is 9:15, Jer 2:8, 5:31, 14:14, 23:16, Mat 7:15, 24:11, Mk 13:22, Ez 13:2, 22:28, Hos 9:7, Micah 3:5, Zeph 3:4, Zech 13:3, Mat 24:24
  • does not say the same thing as Christ – 1 John 4:1-6
  • Scatters – John 10:12, Mat 12:30, Lk 11:23, Ez 34:5,15
  • Heb: sheqer (false prophecy)
  • Prophets lie – 1 Ki 22:22-23, 2 Chr 18:21-22, Jer 7:4-8, Jer 29:23
  • see also – Ps 31:18, Ps 109:2, Ps 119:29, Ps 119:163, Ps 120:2, Pr 6:17, Pr 10:18, Pr 12:19-22, Pr 17:7, Pr 21:6, Pr 26:28
• False Teaching
  • Teaching for gain ‑ Phil 1:15‑17, Lk 20:3‑8, Mk 11:27‑33, Mat 21:23‑27, Herodians (Mat 22:16, Mk 3:2, 12:13), Jude, Korah (Num 16), Eph 4:14, Ro 16:17‑18, Gen 3:4‑5, 1 John 4:1‑6, Mat 23:1‑12, 2 Cor 11:12‑15, Mat 23:27‑28, Phil 2:21, Mk 12:38‑40, 2 Tim 3:13
  • Financial gain ‑ Phil 3:17‑19, 1 Tim 6:3‑5, Baal (Num 22‑25), 2 Cor 2:17, Ro 16:17‑18, Mat 23:14, Titus 1:10‑16, 2 Chr 24:5‑7, 1 Chr 6:28, etc
  • Crept into church unawares – Jude 4, Gal 2:4, 2 Cor 11:3‑15, Mat 13:25, Acts 15:24, Eph 4:14, 2 Tim 3:6, 2 Pet 2:1‑2, etc
• False teaching – adding to and / or removing from Word of God
  • See False Prophets above
  • Add to these things ‑ Rev 22:18,  Deut 4:2, 12:32, Pr 30:6,  John 15:15
  • God repeats passages ‑ emphasizes no more revelation ‑ 1 Chr 16 and Ps 105, Ps 18 and 2 Sam 22
  • Take away words of the book ‑ Deut 4:2, 12:32, Pr 30:6, 2 Tim 3:15‑17, Rev 22:18‑19, Acts 20:27
• How is the Word of God Added to:
  • Tongues ‑ That which is used to speak ‑ Acts 1:19, 2:18, 21:40
    • Lord will destroy tongues ‑ Is 11:15
    • Tongues will rot in mouths ‑ Zech 14:12 (see also Pr 10:31, Ps 55:9)
    • Tongues are an instrument of death ‑ see 6:3‑4, Jer 9:3, 19:18, Ps 140:3, 52:4, 57:4, 64:3, 120:2, Pr 18:21, James 3:8, Ro 3:13, etc
  • Visions/Dreams/Signs and Wonders/Myths (Mysticism)
    • Verses to consider: Col 2:18‑19, 2 Tim 4:3‑4, 2 Cor 11:3‑15, Mat 7:15‑23, 24:24, Mk 13:22, Rev 13, Rev 2:2, 16:13‑14, 19 :20,  1 Tim 1:3‑4, 2 Tim 2:16‑20, 23, 2 Thess 2:9, Titus 1:10‑16, 2 Cor 11:4, Deut 13
    • Pharisees ask for a sign ‑ Mat 16:1‑4, Mk 8:11‑21, No sign given ‑ Mat 12:38‑40, Lk 11:29‑32
    • Apostolic signs and wonders ‑ 2 Cor 12:12, Heb 2:4, 6:5, Ro 15:19, Acts2:19,22,43,4:30,5:12, 6:8,7:36, 14:3,15:12, Dan 4:2, 6:27,1 Cor 12:10 gifts, Mk 16:20
  • Philosophy / Wisdom
    • Speaking from self ‑ John 7:15‑19, Ez 13:2, Num 12:1‑2
    • Sufficiency of Scripture‑ Col 2:6‑10, Mk 6:42, 8:8
    • Other verses: Col 2:8‑10, 2 Cor 1:12, John 3:10, 1 Cor 3:10‑21, Mark 6:42, 8:8, 1 Corinthians 1:19‑25, 2:1‑5, Ecc 12:12, Psalm 119:24, Isaiah 28:29, Romans 1:21‑23, 1 Timothy 6:20,2 Timothy 2:14‑18, Hosea 5:13, 7:11, 8:9, Gen 3:5, 2 Cor 11:3,5 Eph 5:6, Acts 17:18, 32, 2 Timothy 3:13, 2 Corinthians 10:5
  • Legalism ‑ i.e. misunderstands words, types, figures of Bible resulting in adding commands not intended by the Word of God
    • Verses to consider: Colossians 2:11‑17, Col 2:20‑23, 1 Timothy 1:6‑7, 1 Timothy 4:1‑4, 1 Tim 6:3‑5, 2 Timothy 2:14‑18, Titus 1:10‑16, 3:9‑11, Hebrews 13:9, Luke 11:46, 51, Galatians 4:8‑5:15, Eph 2:15, Romans 14, 1 Cor 8, 10:23‑33, Matthew 12:7, 2 Timothy 2:23, James 4:11‑12, Romans 7:4‑6, Matthew 7:1‑13, 15:1‑20, Luke 11:52, Gal 5:18,23, Matthew 23:1‑4, 16‑28
    • Pharisees: Sabbath issues ‑ Mat 12:1‑8, Mk 2:23‑28, Lk 6:1‑5, wash hands ‑ Mat 15:1‑11, Mk 7:1‑23
  • How the Truth of the Word of God is Removed From:
    • False Teaching (perversion of doctrine) ‑ Rev 2:2,9, Jude 4:8, 10‑11, 16, 18‑19, 1 John 2:18‑27, 2 Peter 2, Acts 13:6‑12, Neh 6:10‑14, Titus 1:10‑16, 2 Corinthians 11:5‑15, 1 John 2:18‑20
      • Peace, when there is no peace ‑ Eze 13:10, Jer 6:14, 8:11, 14:13
      • Deny resurrection ‑ Sadducees (Acts 23:6‑8, see also Acts 4:1, 5:17, Mat 22:23‑33, Mark 12:18‑27, Luke 20:27‑38 Matthew 16:1‑6), 1 Timothy 1:19‑20, 2 Timothy 2:14‑18
      • Doctrine of Christ and His coming errors ‑ 2 Cor 11:3‑15, Mat 4:26, 2 John‑11, 1 John 2:18‑27, 4:1‑6, 2 Peter 3:16‑17, Romans 16:17‑18, 1 Timothy 1:3‑4, 1 Pet 5:8, 2 Thess 2:1‑2
      • Works gospel ‑ Gal 1:6‑9, 5:4‑10, Phil 3:13, 1 Tim 1:19‑20,2 Cor 11:4, etc
      • Antinomianism ‑ 1 Tim 6:3‑5, 2 Tim 3:1‑9, Jude 3‑4, 2 Thess 2:11‑12
      • No Private interpretation ‑ 2 Pet 1:20‑21, 1 Cor 2:13, Ps 119:160, Ecc 7:27, Is 28:9‑13
      • Pervert /twist /alter the Word of God – 2 Pet 3:16, Gal 1:7, 2 Cor 2:17
    • Challenging the Authority of Jesus (Bible) ‑ Mk 11:27‑12:10, John 5:43
      • Satan challenges God’s Word ‑ Gen 3:4‑5
      • Chief Priests / Elders questioned His authority ‑ Mat 21:23‑46, Mk 11:27‑33, Lk 20:1‑8
      • Slander against Jesus ‑ Mat 12:24‑32, Lk 11:14‑15
      • Pharisees and Herodians tried to trap Him – Mat 22:15‑22 (taxes to Caesar)
      • Greatest commandment ‑ Mat 22:34‑40, Mk 12:28‑31, Lk 10:25‑37
    • Not accepting truth of Bible ‑ 3 John 9
      • Sum of the Word is Truth ‑ Ps 119:160, Ps 139:17-18
    • Not teaching the whole counsel of God ‑ Acts 20:27‑31, Rev 22:18‑20, 2 Tim 4:3
  • Lies (Gr: pseudo, means false)
    • Pr 19:5‑9, Is 9:15, John 8:44, 2 Thess 2:9, 1 Tim 4:2, 1 John 2:22
    • Rev 21:8, 1 John 2:22 (denies Jesus), 1 John 4:20 (hates brother), 1 John 5:10 (not believing God), Ro 1:25, 2 Thess 2:11, 1 John 2:21,27 (Opposite of God’s truth), John 8:44 (Devil is a liar), Every man (Ro 3:4)
    • Characteristic of unsaved – Rev 21:27, Rev 22:14-15
    • False brethren – 2 Cor 11:26, Gal 2:4
    • False apostle – 2 Cor 11:13
    • False christs – Mat 24:24, Mk 13:22
    • False teachers – 2 Pet 2:1
    • False word – 1 Tim 4:2
    • False witness – Mat 19:18, Mk 10:19, Mk 14:56-57, Lk 18:20, Ro 13:9, Mt 26:60, 1 Cor 15:15, Mat 15:19
    • False prophets – Nat 7:15, Mat 24:11, Mat 24:24, Mk 13:22, Lk 6:26, Acts 13:6, 2 Pet 2:1, 1 John 4:1, Rev 16:13, Rev 19:20, Rev 20:10
  • Pharisees / scribes / lawyers knew the Old Testament, but were blind
    • Mat 23:2-3, Mat 23:15-18, John 5:37-39, John 5:46, John 7:52, Lk 10:25-29, Ro 3:1-2Acts 17:11, Lk 16:29-31, Mk 12:10, Mat 22:29, Ro 11:1-2, Ro 2:18, Ro 9:4, Is 8:20, 2 Tim 3:15-17, Heb 5:12
    • All Christians are enlightened to spiritual truth – 1 Cor 2:14‑15 ‑Mat 13:10‑16, 1 Cor 2:6‑16, 1 John 4:6, 2 Cor 3:12‑4:4, Heb 10:16, Jer 31:33‑34, 2 John 1‑2, Col 3:9‑10, John 10:3, 2 Tim 1:7, John 2:26‑27, Ps 19:7‑8, 25:12‑14, 32:8, Luke 11:33‑36, Phil 3:15, Mk 5:15, 2 Thess 2:11, John 8:47, 18:37
  • True Christians are a small minority of all people who exist – Mat 7:13-14, Mat 7:21-23

Hurt not the Oil and the Wine

• Hurt – Gr: adikeo (to be unjust or to wrong someone)
  • In Revelation – Rev 2:11, Rev 6:6, Rev 9:2-4, Rev 9:10, Rev 9:19, Rev 11:5, Rev 22:11
• Oil – portrait of the Holy Spirit (substance which makes the fire burn
  • See 7 lamps of fire (7 spirits of God) – see notes on Rev 1:4, Rev 3:1, Rev 5:6
  • Christians are anointed with the Holy Spirit – 1 John 2:20, 1 John 2:26-27 w/ John 14:26, John 15:26, 2 Cor 1:21-22, 2 Thess 2:7
  • Holy Spirit – that which makes the lamp burn – Mat 25:3-8, Ex 25:6, Ex 35:8, Ex 35:14-15, Ex 35:28-38
• Wine – (Gr: G3631, oinos, 33 occurrences) – type of the sacrifice by blood of Christ (wrath of God on Christ for His people’s sins)
  • Lk 10:33-34 – injured man – Good Samaritan pours in oil and wine to provide healing
  • Babylon’s merchandise – Rev 18:13
  • Babylon’s wine of the wrath of her fornication – Rev 18:2-3, Rev 14:8
  • God’s wrath – cup of wine – Rev 14:10, Rev 16:19, Rev 19:15, Joel 3:17, Is 63:3, Lam 1:15, Ps 75:8, Is 49:26, Is 51:17, Is 51:21-22, etc.
  • Jesus on cross offered wine mixed with myrrh – Mk 15:22-23
  • New wine into new bottles – Mat 9:17, Lk 5:37-38
  • Jesus miracle of turning water into wine – John 2:3, John 2:9-10, John 4:46
  • Cup – Blood of Christ in communion supper – 1 Cor 11:17-34, Mat 26:26-28, Mk 14:22-24, Lk 22:17-20) – red represents wine (blood) – Gen 49:12, Ps 75:8, Pr 23:31, Is 27:2
• Acts 2:13 – full of new wine (G1098) – people thought they were drunk / intoxicated (Acts 2:15)
• Oil and wine in combination – the response to what God sows – Hos 2:20-23:
  • And the earth shall hear the corn, and the wine, and the oil; and they shall hear Jezreel. And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God. (Hos 2:22-23, quoted in Rom 9:25-26, 1 Pet 2:9-10)
  • Lk 10:33-34 – injured man – Good Samaritan pours in oil and wine to provide healing

6:7-8          The Fourth Seal – the Rider on the Fourth Horse (Pale) – Death / Hades (Satan’s Kingdom) Assault on God’s Kingdom during Great Tribulation

And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.

(Rev 6:7)

And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.

(Rev 6:8)

Why this pale horse represents events in the Great Tribulation

• Power over the fourth part of earth (symbol for God’s people)
• Parallel passage to Luke 21:8-24, Mat 24:4-29, Mk 13:5-24 in the Olivet Discourse (involves Great Tribulation)
  • For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes … (Mat 24:7)
  • And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles … (Luk 21:24)
  • Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake (Mat 24:9)
  • Beasts
    • Satan = Gen 3:1, Rev 12:3-4
    • Antichrist – Rev 13:2, Little Horn (Dan 7 and 8)
    • False Prophet – Rev 13:11-18
    • Satan’s ministers in the church – Mat 7:15, Lk 10:3
  • 4 judgments equivalent to those in Eze 14 regarding events that happen in the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem (which typifies the Great Tribulation)
  • Horse represents war – Antichrist makes war with the saints during Great Tribulation – e.g., Rev 13:7, Rev 11:7, Rev 12:17; Dan 7:21, Dan 7:25, Dan 8:11, Dan 8:24-25, Dan 9:26, Dan 11:32-39, Dan 12:1
  • 5^th seal Rev 6:9-11 – Great Tribulation martyrs

The Number 4

• 4^th seal, 4^th beast, power over the 4^th of the earth, 4 judgments
• 4 – the number of universal extent – see notes on Rev 4:6

‘The’ 4^th part of the earth

• Definite article ‘the’ (G3588), which indicates the 4^th part (not the 1^st, not the 2^nd, not the 3^rd)
  • Not ‘a’ 4^th part either
• ‘Part’ is added by the translators – 4^th part is G5067 (i.e., ‘fourth’)
• Earth (G1093, Gr: ge, 252 occurrences – refers to the land which is where people reside) – no direct references elsewhere to a ‘4^th part’
• Land points to ‘promised land’ – Ro 4:13, Eze 34:13, Eze 36:24, Eze 37:21, Is 43:5‑6, Heb 11:9, Heb 11:13‑16, Gen 12:1-7, Gen 13:14-15, Gen 17:8, Jer 27:5, Num 14:8, Mat 28:18, Mat 3:17, Ps 37:29, Heb 3:6-Heb 4:10, etc
  • Ultimate inheritance is new heavens, new earth (i.e. all the land) ‑ Ro 4:13, Rev 21:1‑2, 2 Pet 3:13, Is 66:17,22, Ro 8:21, Gen 13:14‑15, 17:8, Jer 27:5, etc
  • Earth is cursed – Gen 3:17-19, Jer 12:4, Ro 8:18‑25, Hos 4:3, Gen 7:21‑22, Gen 19:24‑25, Eze 12:29, Deut 20:16, 1 Sam 15, Jonah 4:11
  • Adam and Eve driven out of the Garden of Eden – Gen 3:23-24
• Four ‘lands’ symbolic of where the seed of the Word of God lands
  • The Parable passages: Mat 13:24-30, Mat 13:36-43, Mk 4:3-9, Mk 4:13-20, Lk 8:4-8, Lk 8:11-15
  • Soil (land) = hearts – Lk 8:12, Lk 8:15, Mat 13:18, Mk 4:14
  • Ground (literally, lands (G1093)) – Mk 4:5, Mk 4:8, Mk 4:20, Lk 8:8, Lk 8:15, Mat 13:5, Mat 13:8, Mat 13:23
  • The 4^th soil (land) is the hearts of God’s Elect – Mat 13:8, Mat 13;23, Mk 4:8, Mk 4:20, Lk 8:8, Lk 8:15
• The fourth of Israel to be as the dust of the earth – Num 23:10
  • Dust refers to God’s people of faith – Gen 3:16, Gen 28:14, 2 Chr 1:9, Rev 7:9
• The 4^th generation – Gen. 15:16; Exo. 20:5; Exo 34:7; Num. 14:18; Deu. 5:9; 2Ki. 10:30; 2 Ki 15:12
  • Points to the universal extent of a family or people
• Great Tribulation – this generation will not pass away until all things are complete – Mat 24:34, Lk 21:32 (Parable of the Fig Tree)

Pale (ashen) – ‘green’ grass – points to humans that are subject to the inevitability of death

• Gr: chloros (green) – points to inevitable death (man’s brevity on earth)
  • Mk 6:39, Rev 8:7, Rev 9:4 – all refer to ‘green’ grass
    • Green grass – that which dies – all flesh, death is inevitable – man’s brevity/vanity – Is 40:6-8, Is 51:12, James 1:10-11, Ps 90:5-6, Ps 103:15-16, 1 Pet 1:24
    • Where the saved are – Mk 6:39, Is 44:1-4
    • God’s common grace – Ps 104:14, 147:8
    • Wicked wither / judgment – Is 37:27, Is 15:6, Ps 37:2, Ps 92:7, Ps 102:4, Ps 102:11, Ps 129:6, Deut 29:23, 1 Pet 1:24, James 1:10-11
    • Where the Gospel lands – Pr 19:12, 2 Ki 19:26
  • Old Testament (H3418, 6 occurrences, Heb: yereq)
    • Gen 1:30 – every green herb for food
    • Gen 9:3 – even as green herb is given for food, so now all that moves on earth
    • Ex 10:15 – locusts ate all green herbs
    • Ps 37:2 – evildoers will wither as the green herb
    • Is 15:6 – Judgment on Moab – no green thing
    • Num 22:4 – Israel to lick up all the grass of Moab

Horse

• see notes at beginning of Chapter 6

Name is Death and Hades followed – refers to Satan’s kingdom (unsaved people)

• Greek words
  • Death (G2288) – thanatos, 119 occurrences (see also related words – G2286, G2287, G2289 – 13 occurrences)
  • Dead, as in end of life (G5053) – teleutao, 12 occurrences (see also G5054, teleute – 1 occurrence)
  • Dead (G3498) – nekros – 132 occurrences, G3500 – nekrosis, 2 occurrences, G3499 – nekroo, 3 occurrences
  • To die away (G599) – apothnaceko, 111 occurrences
  • To die (G2348) – thnesko, 12 occurrences and G2349 – thnetos, 6 occurrences – the mortal body
  • To kill (G615) – apokteino – 75 occurrences
  • Slay (G4969) – sphazo (G4969 – sphagion)
    • Violent slaying of beasts for sacrifice – Acts 7:42
    • Lamb slain – Rev 5:6, Rev 5:9, Rev 5:12, Rev 13:8
    • Babylon has slain those on earth – Rev 18:24
    • Red Horse slays – Rev 6:4
    • Antichrist wounded – Rev 13:3
    • Souls under the altar – Rev 6:9
  • Devil (Satan) has power over death – Heb 2:14-15
  • Antichrist – death wound healed – Rev 13:3, Rev 13:12
  • Tongue full of deadly poison – James 3:8
  • Death during the Great Tribulation – Mk 13:12, Lk 21:16
  • Christians killed all day long – Ro 8:36; in deaths often – 2 Cor 11:23
  • Christians – dying but not killed – 2 Cor 6:9
  • Christians have the sentence of death – 2 Cor 1:9-10
  • Christians always delivered to death – 2 Cor 4:11-12
  • Dead to the law by the body of Christ – Ro 7:4
  • If you live after the flesh you shall die, if you mortify the flesh through the Spirit, you shall live – Ro 8:13
  • Sins result in death – Ro 6:21-23, Ro 1:32
  • Death is swallowed up in victory – 1 Cor 15:54
  • The sting of death is sin – 1 Cor 15:56
  • Sin brings forth death – James 1:15
  • Last enemy to be destroyed in death – 1 Cor 15:26
  • By man (Adam) comes death – 1 Cor 15:21, Ro 5:12-21 (see Gen 3)
  • To be carnally minded is death – Ro 8:6
  • Law of sin and death – Ro 8:2
  • Jesus Christ abolished death – 2 Tim 1:10
  • Christians have passed from death to life – 1 John 3:14
  • Jesus Christ has the keys to death and hell – Rev 1:18

… and Hell (Hades) followed him

• Hades follows death, which results from sin
  • O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. (1Co 15:55-56)
  • Grave – (Gr: hades) – same word as ‘hell’
• Hades (New Testament) same as Sheol (Old Testament)
  • Place where unsaved abide until Judgment Day
  • Parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man – Lk 16:19-31
  • Christians ae with the Lord Jesus Christ – Phil 1:21-23, 2 Cor 5:8
• Christians do not go to Hell (hades) – Phil 1:23-25, 2 Cor 5:6-8, 1 Thess 5:9-10, John 17:24
• The result of death for the unsaved
  • And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. (Mat 11:23)
  • And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.  (Mat 16:18)
  • And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell. (Luk 10:15)
  • And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.  (Luk 16:23)
  • Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. (Act 2:27)
  • He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. (Act 2:31)
  • O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? (1Co 15:55)
  • I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.  (Rev 1:18)
  • And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth. (Rev 6:8)
  • And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. (Rev 20:13)
  • And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. (Rev 20:14)
  • Hades – not eternal hell (i.e. grave/death – Mat 11:23, 16:18, Acts 2:27-31, etc)

Death (G2288) and Hell (G86 – hades) in Combination:

• O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?  (1Co 15:55)
• I am he that liveth, and was  dead;  and,  behold,  I am  alive  for evermore,  Amen;  and  have  the  keys  of hell  and  of death.  (Rev 1:18)
• And I looked,  and  behold  a pale  horse:  and  his  name  that sat  on  him  was Death,  and  Hell  followed  with    And  power  was given  unto them  over  the  fourth part  of the  earth,  to kill  with  sword,  and  with  hunger,  and  with  death,  and  with  the  beasts  of the  earth. (Rev 6:8)
• And the  sea  gave up  the  dead  which were in  it;  and  death  and  hell  delivered up  the  dead  which were in  them:  and  they were judged  every man  according  to their (Rev 20:13)
• And death  and  hell  were cast  into  the  lake  of fire.  This  is  the  second   (Rev 20:14)

Killing part of the Great Tribulation

• Rev 6:7-8, Rev 6:9-11, Rev 9:13-21, Rev 11:7-10, Rev 13:7-8, Rev 13:15, Rev 17:6, Rev 18:24, Mat 24:9, Mk 13:9, Lk 21:12

To Kill – see notes on 6:3-4, men slayed one another, now 4th horsemen slays

• Slay (G4969) – sphazo (G4969 – sphagion)
  • Violent slaying of beasts for sacrifice – Acts 7:42
  • Lamb slain – Rev 5:6, Rev 5:9, Rev 5:12, Rev 13:8
  • Babylon has slain those on earth – Rev 18:24
  • Red Horse slays – Rev 6:4
  • Antichrist wounded – Rev 13:3
  • Souls under the altar – Rev 6:9
• Satan’s kingdom working in the church – 2 Thess 2

The four judgments

• see Ezekiel 14 – God’s 4 sore judgments on Judah (type of Great Tribulation)

• Similar to God’s judgment on Jerusalem (a type of the tribulation), see also Mat 24 concerning deception, lack of truth, spiritual sickness, scattering

Sword

• Battle – see Rev 6:3-4 notes
• Sword (Eze 14:17, see also Jer 15:2-3, Eze 5:12, 5:17, Eze 21:3-4, 9-15, Eze 29:8, Lev 26:25, Jer 25:9, etc.)
  • Slain for Word of God and Testimony – Rev 6:9-11, Rev 7:9-17, Rev 11:7-10, Rev 18:24
  • Represents spiritual warfare (e.g., Rev 13:7, 13:15, Eph 6:17, 2 Cor 10:3-5)
  • Satan uses the Bible – Mat 4:6
  • Bible is sword of the Spirit (Eph 6:17) but God only reveals spiritual truth to His people (1 Cor 2:10, Mat 13:10-17) through the Holy Spirit (John 14:16)
  • Killing by words / tongue ‑ 1 John 3:15, Mat 5:21‑22, Pr 11:9, Ro 3:13‑15, Jer 9:3, 18:18, Ps 140:3, Ro 3:13, James 3:8, Pr 18:21, Ps 52:4, 57:4, 59:7, 64:3, 120:2
  • Swords equated with words – Pr 5:1-8, Pr 12:18, Pr 30:14, Ps 17:13, Ps 55:21. Ps 57:4, Ps 59:7, Ps 64:3, Ps 149:6, Heb 4:12, Eph 6:17, Ro 3:13, Rev 1:16, Rev 2:12, Rev 2:16, Rev 19:15, Rev 19:21, Is 11;4, Is 49:2

• • Christians die daily – Mat 24:9, 2 Cor 1:9, 4:10-12, 6:9,7:3, Ro 8:35-39, James 5:6, 1 John 3:15, 1 Cor 4:9, 15:31, Mat 5:21-22, Hab 1:2-4, James 2:9-11, Ps 94:1-7, Ps 44:22, Rev 6:9, Mk 8:35
  • Christians are living sacrifices – Rev 6:9-11, Ro 12:1-2, Ro 6:13, Ro 6:16, Ro 6:19, Heb 10:22, 1 Pet 2:5, Phil 4:18, Ro 15:16, 2 Tim 4:6, Phil 2:17, John 16:2
  • Spiritual battle, not physical – Rev 6:3-4, Eph 6:11-12, 2 Tim 2:4, Col 1:13, 1 Pet 2:11, James 4:1
  • Sword between members of one’s own family – Mat 10:34-36, Lk 12:51-53
  • Afflicted, killed, and hated ‑ Mat 24:9, Mk 13:9, Lk 21:12
  • Slain for Word of God and testimony – Rev 6:9-11, Rev 7:9-17, 11:7-10
  • Beast has war with saints – Rev 13:8, 6:3-4

• Offended, betrayed, and hated ‑ Mat 24:10, Mk 13:12‑13, Lk 21:16‑19

Hunger – lack of the word of God

• Gr: limos, literally ‘famine’ – see notes on Rev 6:5-6
• Symbolic meaning – Famine for hearing the Word of God – Amos 8:11-12, Is 5:13, Pr 18:20-21, Pr 24:13-14, Pr 10:3, Mat 4:4, Lk 4:4, Deut 8:3, Is 30:20-21, Is 58;7, Is 58:10, Is 55:2-3, Is 55:10-11, Ps 34:10, Ps 50:12, Pr 19:15, Is 49:10, Job 5:20, Ps 33:19, Ps 37:19, Ps 107:36, Ps 146:7, Pr 25:21, Pr 27:7, Job 22:7, Job 24:10, Is 32:6, Eze 18:7, Eze 18:16, Ps 33:18-20, Lev 26:26
• Lack of truth (Amos 8:11)
  • Christ is Bread of Life – John 6:35,48,51,63
  • Live by Word of God, not be bread alone – Mat 4:4, John 1:1
• False Teaching during the Great Tribulation

• • And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. (Rev 20:3)
  • Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish …  (2Th 2:9-10)
  • … false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders … if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.  (Mat 24:24)
  • And his [little horn] power shall be mighty … And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many … (Dan 8:24-25)

Death

• Spiritually dead – Eph 2:1,5, John 5:24
• Greek word for Death (G2288) – thanatos, 119 occurrences (see also related words – G2286, G2287, G2289 – 13 occurrences)
  • Tongue full of deadly poison – James 3:8
  • Death during the Great Tribulation – Mk 13:12, Lk 21:16
  • Christians killed all day long – Ro 8:36; in deaths often – 2 Cor 11:23
  • Christians – dying but not killed – 2 Cor 6:9
  • Christians have the sentence of death – 2 Cor 1:9-10
  • Christians always delivered to death – 2 Cor 4:11-12
  • If you live after the flesh you shall die, if you mortify the flesh through the Spirit, you shall live – Ro 8:13
  • Sins result in death – Ro 6:21-23, Ro 1:32
  • Sin reigns unto death – Ro 5:21
  • Death is swallowed up in victory – 1 Cor 15:54
  • The sting of death is sin – 1 Cor 15:56
  • Sin brings forth death – James 1:15
  • By man (Adam) comes death – 1 Cor 15:21, Ro 5:12-21 (see Gen 3)
  • To be carnally minded is death – Ro 8:6
  • Law of sin and death – Ro 8:2
  • Jesus Christ abolished death – 2 Tim 1:10
  • The devil has power over death – Heb 2:14-15
  • Christians have passed from death to life – 1 John 3:14
• Death results from sin – 1 Cor 15:21, Ro 5:12-21, Gen 2:17, Gen 3:1-6, Ro 8:13, Ro 6:21-23, Ro 1:32, 1 Cor 15:56, James 1:15, Ro 8:2
• Spiritual sickness (James 5:15-16, Ps 77:10, Ez 34:4,16, Pr 13:12, 1 Cor 11:26-30, Jer 31:8, 3:22, Ps 41:4, Ps 103:1-4, 1 Pet 2:24, John 9:39, 12:40, Is 35:5-6, 53:3-5, Acts 28:27, Mal 4:2)
• Based on Ezekiel 14 (4 sore judgments) – death is related to ‘pestilence’ which symbolically means spiritual death by sin:
• Need salvation from Pestilence
  • Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
    (Psa 91:3)
  • Sickness represents spiritual sickness of sin – Mat 8:17, Eze 34:4, Ps 102:4, Pr 13:12, Ps 38:2-3, Is 1:4-6, Jer 8:22, Jer 30:12, Is 53:4-5, 1 Tim 1:10, 2 Tim 1:13, 4:3, Titus 1:9,13, 2:1-2, 1 Cor 11:26-30, Jer 31:8, Ps 41:4, Ps 103:1-4, 1 Pet 2:24, John 9:39, 12:40, Is 35:5-6, Acts 28:7, Mal 4:2)
  • Spiritual Healing
    • Healing is Salvation ‑ Jer 31:8, John 9:39, 12:40, Is 35:5‑6, 53:3‑5, Acts 28:27, Mal 4:2, Ps 107:20, 19:22, Jer 8:22, Ps 30:2, 33:6, Job 5:18, Ex 23:25
    • Healing of the nations ‑ Ps 147:3, Is 6:10, 57:18‑19, Jer 17:14, Mal 4:2, Hos 14:4, Ez 47:8‑11, Rev 22:2
    • Healed from sickness of iniquity ‑ Is 57:19
    • Heals bruise / wound of sin ‑ Is 30:6, Jer 30:14‑17, Micah 1:9, Nah 3:19, Deut 32:39, Is 53:5
    • Heal unfaithfulness ‑ Jer 3:22
    • Heal soul from sin ‑ Ps 41:4
    • Heal iniquity, Heal diseases ‑ Ps 103:1‑4
    • Healed from transgression ‑ Is 53:5, 1 Pet 2:24
    • Heal from disease ‑ Ex 15:26
    • Heal brokenhearted ‑ Ps 147:3

Wild Beasts

• Gr: therion (G2342, G2341) – 47 occurrences (usually a dangerous created animal)
  • Paul fought with at Ephesus (1 Cor 15:32), Snake / viper (Acts 28:4-5) that Paul shook off into the fire, the antichrist (Rev 11:7, 13:1-4, 11-18, Rev 14:9, Rev 16:2, 10-13, Rev 19:19-20, Rev 20:4, Rev 20:10), in wilderness at temptation of Christ (Mk 12:13), Peter’s sheet (Acts 10:12, 11:6), Cretans (Titus 1:12), Cherubim / living creature (Rev 6:7-8)
• Beasts (H2423) of Daniel Chapters 7 and 8
• A symbol of Satan and his ministers (antichrist, unsaved teachers / shepherds) who try to lead the flock astray
• Evil Beasts (Eze 14:15, see also Eze 5:16-17, Lev 26:22, 1 Ki 20:36 (lion), 2 Ki 17:25, Jer 15:3, Eze 34:5, Hos 2:12, Ez 29:5, 33:26‑29, Jer 7:33, )
  • Spiritually represents the ministers of Satan – e.g., Rev 13:1-10, 17:6, Titus 1:12, Acts 28:4,
  • John 10:12 (wolf among sheep either catches them or scatters them)
  • 1 Pet 5:8 (lion), Is 35:9 (lion as a ravenous beast)
  • Eze 34:5 (no shepherd, beast present – see also Jer 23:1-2)
  • Rev 13:14-15, 20:4 (image of the beast)
  • Rev 13:16-18, 20:4 (mark of the beast)
  • Satan as the serpent (Gen 3:1), etc.
• Scattering (disunity) – Ez 14:15-16, Hos 2:12
  • Wild beasts – removal of security and rest – type of false prophets – Jer 23:1-2
  • Like sheep without a shepherd – Mk 6:34, Mat 9:36, John 10
  • Unity important – John 17:21-23, 13:34-35, Ro 15:5-6, Col 2:2, 1 Cor 1:10, Phil 2:2
  • How men will know you are of God – John 13:34

6:9-11        The Fifth Seal – the Martyrs under the Altar – Those who are put to death during the Great Tribulation

And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:

(Rev 6:9)

And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?

(Rev 6:10)

And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

(Rev 6:11)

Why the 5^th seal represents events in the Great Tribulation

• Parallel passage to Rev 7:9-17 which discusses the Great Tribulation persecuted saints
• They must rest for a ‘little season’ which is a parallel passage to the little season of Satan’s loosing (Rev 20:3)

Under the altar

• Altar (Gr: thusiastērion, G2379, 23 occurrence, 7 are in Revelation) – points to a place of sacrifice / shedding of blood
  • Greek word related to ‘sacrifices’ – G2378, G2380
  • The cross of Christ (where He was sacrificed): Christians have an altar, where those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat – Heb 13:10
• Altar in Revelation
  • Rev 6:9 – souls of Christians who were slain under the altar (of sacrifice, not altar of incense)
  • Rev 8:3, Rev 8:5 – Golden altar(incense) before the throne where the prayers of the saints are offered (see Rev 5:8)
  • Rev 9:13 – voice from the golden altar before the throne saying to loose angels bound at Euphrates
  • Rev 11:1 – measure the temple of God, the altar and those who worship there
  • Rev 14:18 – angel came out from the altar commanded to reap with sickle
  • Rev 16:7 – angel out of the altar – true and righteous are God’s judgments
  • Altar of Incense – Ex 30:1-10, Ex 30:34-38, Exo 30:7-8, Exo 30:10, Exo 37:25-28, Exo 40:5; Lev 4:7, Lev 4:18; 1Ki 6:20; 2Ch 26:16; Rev 8:3
• Rev 5:8 – Golden bowls full of incense – prayers (Ps 141:2, Is 1:13, Is 60:6, Num 16:6-7, Rev 8:3-5,)
• Golden – great value of prayer (see notes on Rev 1:12-13, Rev 1:20, Rev 4:4, Rev 5:8, see also James 5:16, etc. )
• The prayer of the righteous is effective – James 5:16, Gen 18:23-32, Gen 19:29, Gen 20:7, Gen 20:17, Gen 32:28; Exo 9:28-29, Exo 9:33, Exo 17:11, Exo 32:10-14; Num 11:2, Num 14:13-20, Num 21:7-9; Deu 9:18-20; Jos 10:12; 1Sa 12:18; 1Ki 13:6, 1Ki 17:18-24; 2Ki 4:33-35, 2Ki 19:15-20, 2Ki 20:2-5; 2Ch 14:11-12; 2Ch 32:20-22; Job 42:8; Psa 10:17-18, Psa 34:15, Psa 145:18-19; Pro 15:8, Pro 15:29; Pro 28:9; Jer 15:1, Jer 29:12-13, Jer 33:3; Dan 2:18-23, Dan 9:20-22; Hos 12:3-4; Mat 7:7-11, Mat 21:22; Luk 11:11-13, Luk 18:1-8; Joh 9:31; Act 4:24-31, Act 12:5-11; 1Jn 3:22
• God does not hear the prayer of the wicked (John 9:31, Ps 66:18-19, 1 Pet 3:12, Is 58:9, Pr 1:28-29, etc.).
• The Greek word used for odors is the same root used for ‘incense’ in Rev. 5:8, 8:3-4, Lk 1:9-11 and Heb 9:4.
• In Heb 9:4, the odors are from the golden censer used in the tabernacle.
• In Rev 5:8, the odors before God are defined as the prayer of the saints (see also Ps 141:2 and Rev 8:4).
• Altar in Rev 6:9 – Believers are spiritual sacrifices – Rev 8:3, 9:13, Rev 14:18, Lev 4:7, John 16:2, Phil 2:17, 2 Tim 4:6, Ro 12:1-2, Rom 15:16, 1 Pet 2:5, Phil 4:18, Eph 3:2, Heb 13:15-16 (believers are sacrifices)
  • By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. (Heb 13:15)
• Under the altar
• Where blood poured out as an offering – Ex 29:12, Lev 4:7, Lev 4:18, Lev 4:25, Lev 4:30, Lev 4:34, Lev 5:9, Lev 9:9
• Gen 4:10 – Abel’s blood cried from the ground – see also Heb 11:4
• Christians are ‘poured out’ in service – Ps 42:4, Ps 62:8, Lam 2:17,
• Christians crucified with Christ – Gal 2:20, Gal 5:24, Gal 6:14, Col 2:11-14, Ro 6:4-6,

Souls

• All people have a body, soul and spirit – 1 Thess 5:23, Heb 4:12, 1 Cor 15:44-45
• Spirits leave body at physical death – Ecc 12:5-7, Ecc 3:19-21, Lk 8:49-55, James 2:26, Acts 7:59-60
• Souls leave body at physical death – Gen 35:18-19, 1 Ki 17:21-23, Lk 12;20, Acts 5:5, Acts 5:10
• Souls of unsaved go to hades (NT) / ‘sheol’ (OT) – Lk 16:19-31, Ps 9:17, Ps 16:10, Acts 2:27
• Souls / spirits of God’s people go to be with Christ – Phil 1:23-25, 2 Cor 5:6-8, 1 Thess 5:9-10

Souls of those who had been slain

• Spiritually slain – see notes on Rev 6:3-4, Rev 6:7-8
• Souls – (disembodied spirits), prior to resurrection of the body (1 Cor 15)
• Christians die daily – Mat 24:9, 2 Cor 1:9, 2 Cor 4:10-12, 6:9,7:3, Ro 8:35-39, James 5:6, 1 John 3:15, 1 Cor 4:9, 15:31, Mat 5:21-22, Hab 1:2-4, James 2:9-11, Ps 94:1-7, 44:22, Rev 6:9, Mk 8:35
• Lose life for Christ – Lk 9:24, Mat 10:39, Mk 8:35

Because of the Word of God and of the testimony which they maintained

• Slain for Word of God and Testimony – Rev 1:9 (John on Isle of Patmos), Rev 6:9-11, Rev 7:9-17, Rev 11:7-10, Rev 18:24

• True believers will not deny Christ – Mat 10:32-33, 2 Tim 2:11-13, Lk 9:26, Mk 8:38, Lk 12:8, Mat 5:10-12, 10:24-38, 32-39, etc.
• All believers are witnesses ‑ Gr: marturion ‑ 2 Cor 1:12, 2 Thess 1:10, 2 Tyim 1:8, 1 Tim 6:13, Heb 11:4, 1 John 1:2, John 1:7‑15, Is 43:10‑12, 44:8, etc
• Persecutions
  • For the Word / Gospel – Mk 4:17, Mat 11:6, Mat 13:21, Mat 24:9-10; 1Co 10:12-13; Gal 6:12; 1Th 3:3-5; 2Ti 4:16; Heb 10:29; Rev 2:10, Rev 2:13
  • 2 Tim 1:8, Ti 2:3, 2Ti 2:11-12, 2Ti 4:5; Rom 8:17-18, Rom 8:36; 1Co 4:9-13; 2Co 11:23-27; Php 3:10; Col 1:24; 1Th 3:4; 1Pe 4:13-15; Rev 1:9, Rev 12:11
  • By those in the church – Mat 5:10-12, Mat 10:23, Mat 23:34, Lk 11:49, Lk 21:12, John 5:16, John 15:20, John 16:2, Acts 7:52, Acts 9:4-5, Acts 22:7-8, Acts 26:14-15, 22:4, 26:11, 1 Cor 15:9, Gal 1:13,23, Phil 3:9, Acts 8:1, Gal 4:29, Rev 12:13, 1 Thess 2:15 w/Acts 17:5,13 (also 2 Thess 1:4), Acts 13:42-50, Gal 5:11, Gal 6:12, 2 Tim 3:11-12, 13:50, 14:2,19
  • Stephen stoned for the Word of God – Acts 7:57-60
  • Cannot keep us from Christ – Ro 8:35
  • Takes pleasure in – 2 Cor 12:10
  • Persecution because of the Word – Mat 13:21, Mk 4:17
  • Receive children and lands and persecution – Mk 10:30
  • But not forsaken – 2 Cor 4:9
  • Bless them that persecute- Ro 12:14
  • Pray for those who persecute you – Mat 5:44

Judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth

• Judge – Gr: G2919, Krino – 114 occurrences
  • Judgment involved with everlasting Gospel ‑ Ro 2:16, Rev 14:7
  • Judgment Day ‑ Mat 10:15, 11:22‑24, 12:36,42, Mat 10:26, Lk 11:31‑32, Lk 20:47, Lk 13:24‑30, Mat 7:21‑28, John 5:21, 1 Cor 3:12‑17, 4:5, 5:5, 1 Cor 1:27‑29, Acts 17:31, Acts 24:15, Ro 2:16, 14:10‑12, 2 Cor 5:1‑10, Phil 4:3, 1 Thess 5:23, 2 Thess 2:1‑12, 2 Tim 3:9, 2 Tim 4:1,8, Heb 9:27‑28, 12:25‑29, 13:4, James 5:1‑9, 1 Pet 1:17, 4:5‑7,17, 1 John 4:17, Jude 15, Rev 6:10, 11:18, 16:5, 18:8, 19:2, 19:11, 20:12‑13
• Avenge – G1556, ekdikeo (6 occurrences), G1557, ekdikesis (9 occurrences) – Luk 18:3; Luk 18:5; Luk 18:8; Rom 12:19; 2Co 10:6; Rev 6:10; Rev 19:2, Luk 18:7; Luk 21:22; Act 7:24; Rom 12:19; 2Co 7:11; 2Th 1:8; Heb 10:30; 1Pe 2:14
• Blood – Life (soul) is in the blood – Gen 9:4, Lev 17:10-14, Deut 12:23
  • Believers are living sacrifices – Ro 12:1-2, 1 Pet 2:5, Heb 13:15
• Parallel passages on a call to vengeance:
  • Matthew 23:13 – But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
  • Matthew 26:23–24 – And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me. The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born.
  • 1 Corinthians 16:22 – If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha.
  • Galatians 1:8–9– But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
  • Galatians 5:12 – I would they were even cut off which trouble you.
  • 2 Timothy 4:14 – Alexander the Coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works
  • Revelation 6:10 – And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
• Imprecatory Psalms
  • Major Imprecatory Psalms – Ps 69, Ps 109
  • Other imprecatory Psalms – Ps 5, Ps 6, Ps 11, Ps 12, Ps 35, Ps 37, Ps 40, Ps 52, Ps 54, Ps 56, Ps 58, Ps 79, Ps 83, Ps 137, Ps 139, and Ps 143

White robe – see Rev 3:4-5, Rev 7:9, Rev 7:13, Rev 19:8, Rev 19:14 notes

• Robe of Christ’s righteousness – see notes on Rev 1:13, Gal 3:27, Is 61:10
• White represents – clean / no sin / holiness – see Rev 1:14-15 notes
• White represents holiness – Dan 12:10, Dan 11:35, Dan 9:7, Is 1:18, 2 Chr 5:12, Ecc 9:8, Song 5:10, Rev 7:14, Rev 7:9-13, Rev 1:14, Rev 2:7, Rev 3:5, Rev 3:18, Rev 19:8, Rev 19:11, Rev 19:14

Rest for a ‘little season’

• Rest – salvation (Heb 3:16-19, Heb 4:1-11, Mat 11:28, Ps 95:11, Jer 6:16, Is 28:12, Is 30:15, Is 32:17-18, Is 11:10, Dan 12:13)
• Little season (Greek: Little = mikros (G3398); season = chronos (literally time, G5550))
  • Points to the Great Tribulation (short time when Satan is loosed – Rev 20:3 – exact phrase as Rev 6:11)
  • See also days ‘shortened’ during the Great Tribulation – Mat 24:22, Mk 13:20
  • Generation will not pass away until all things accomplished – Mat 24:34, Mk 13:30-31, Lk 21:32-33
  • Last half of 70^th week of Daniel prophecy (Dan 9:24-27)
  • 5 months – Rev 9:5, Rev 9:10
  • 2 Witnesses – 3 ½ days not buried – Rev 11:7-10
  • Beast continued for 42 months – Rev 13:5
  • The 3 and ½ Chart:
    • 3 ½ days: Dan 9:27, Rev 11:9-11 – great tribulation
    • 3 ½ times:  Dan 7:25, Dan 12:7 – great tribulation
    • 42 months: Rev 13:5 – great – tribulation
  • For a while – patience of God – 2 Pet 3:9, Ex 34:6, Num 14:18, Ps 78:38, Ps 86:15, Ps 145:8, Ro 15:5, Nah 1:3
  • The Lord tarries – Mat 25:5, Mat 24:48, Hab 2:3, Lk 12:45, Heb 10:36-37, 2 Pet 3:4-9, Eze 12:22, Eze 12:27

Fellowservants and Brethren – other Christians not yet ‘killed’ during the Great Tribulation

• Fellowservant – G4889, sundoulos – Mat 18:28-33, Col 4:7, Mat 24:49, Rev 6:11, Rev 19:10, Rev 22:9
• Brethren – all Christians are brethren
  • Used 346 times in New Testament (G80, adelphos)
• All must bear the cross of Christ – Lk 9:23, Mat 10:38, Mat 16:24, Mk 8:34, Lk 17:33, John 12:25)

6:12-17     The Sixth Seal – Heavenly Signs / Judgment (Last) Day

And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;

(Rev 6:12)

And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.

(Rev 6:13)

And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.

(Rev 6:14)

Great earthquake

• Earthquake – Gr: seismos (G4578 – 14 occurrences, G4579 (seio) – 5 occurrences) – Earthquakes point to God’s judgment
• Freeing of Paul from Philippian jail – Acts 16:26
• Earthquake caused a tempest on the sea (which Jesus calmed) – Mat 8:24
• Great Tribulation – Mat 24:7, Mk 13:8, Lk 21:11
• The Last Day (Judgment day) – Rev 16:18 (the Greatest earthquake), Rev 11:13, Rev 11:19, Rev 6:12
• The announcement of the 7 trumpets (church age, Great Tribulation and the Last Day_ – Rev 8:5
• Rolling of tombstone away of Jesus’ grace – Mat 28:2
• People shook when angel appeared to them at tomb – Mat 28:4
• God will shake the earth and heaven – Heb 12:26
• Jerusalem was moved when Jesus came – Mat 21:10
• Earth quaked when Jesus Christ was put to death – Mat 27:51
• Stars fell from heaven as a fig tree shaken – Rev 6:13
• G4531 (Gr: saleuo – 15 occurrences – to shake)
• God’s voice shook the earth – Heb 12:26
• Things shaken removed, but those things remain which cannot be shaken – Heb 12:27 (Ex 19:18)
• House could not be shaken – Lk 6:48
• Will not be moved, because of God – Acts 2:25
• Do not be shaken in mind – 2 Thess 2:2
• Philippian prison shaken – Acts 16:26
• Powers of heaven to be shaken – Lk 21:25, Mat 24:29, Acts 13:25
• After prayer, place shaken – Acts 4:31

• Old Testament – Earth shaken – 1 Sam 14:15, 1 Ki 19:11-12, Amos 1:1
  • Mt Sinai – Ex 19:18
• Judgment Day – Is 29:6, Joel 2:10, Nah 1:5, Zech 14:5, Eze 38:19-20, Joel 3:16, Hag 2:6-7, Hag 2:21-22
• Whole creation groans – Ro 8:18-22
• Whole creation fell due to Adam’s Sin – Hos 4:3, Gen 7:21-22, 19:24-25, Ex 12:29, Deut 20:16, 1 Sam 15, Jonah 4:11, Gen 3:17, Jer 12:4
• Christians cannot be shaken / moved – Heb 12:26-28, Lk 6:48, 1 Cor 15:58, Rth 1:18; Psa 55:22, Psa 78:8, Psa 78:37, Psa 112:6; Col 1:23, Col 2:5; 1Th 3:3; Heb 3:14; 2Pe 3:17-18
  • G1476 – Gr: hedraios (lit: sedentary – steadfast, settled, grounded) – 1 Cor 15:58, 1 Cor 7:37, Col 1:23
  • G949 / G950 / G951 – Gr: bebaios (lit: stable – firm, confirmed, established) – Rom 4:16, 2Co 1:7, Heb 2:2, Heb 3:6, Heb 3:14, Heb 6:19, Heb 9:17, 2Pe 1:10, 2Pe 1:19, Mar 16:20, Rom 15:8, 1Co 1:6, 1Co 1:8, 2Co 1:21, Col 2:7, Heb 2:3, Heb 13:9, Php 1:7, Heb 6:16
  • G4731 / G4732 / G4733 – Gr: stereo (lit: stiff – establish, solid, confirm sure) – 2Ti 2:19, Heb 5:12, Heb 5:14, 1Pe 5:9, Act 3:7, Act 3:16, Act 16:5, Col 2:5

Sun became black as sackcloth made of hair

• Sun, moon and starts together in Scripture – That which brings light into darkness (for signs and seasons) ‑ Gen 1:14‑18, Ps 74:16, Ps 136:7‑9, Zech 14:6, Ps 19:1‑2, Ps 50:6, Ps 8:1, Acts 2:20, Joel 2:10, Joel 3:15, Mat 24:29-30, Mk 13:24-26, Lk 21:25-26, Ps 148:3 (all praise to God), Is 13:10, Gen 37:9‑10, Rev 12:1-3, Amos 5:20, Amos 8:9, Ecc 12:2, Zeph 1:15, Acts 2:20 – part of Judgment Day
  • Immediately after tribulation – Mat 24:29, Mk 13:24, Lk 21:25
  • Second coming – Joel 2:10, Joel 2:31, Joel 3:15, Acts 2:20, Rev 16:8, Rev 8:12, Jer 4:23-28, Eze 32:7-8, Is 13:10, Is 24:23, Is 60:19-20, Zech 14:6 (Judgment Day)
  • Sackcloth – mourning – Gen 37:34, 2Sa 3:31, 2Sa 21:10, 1Ki 20:31, 1Ki 20:32, 1Ki 21:27, 2Ki 6:30, 2Ki 19:1, 2Ki 19:2, 1Ch 21:16, Neh 9:1, Est 4:1, Est 4:2, Est 4:3, Est 4:4, Job 16:15, Psa 30:11, Psa 35:13, Psa 69:11, Isa 3:24, Isa 15:3, Isa 20:2, Isa 22:12, Isa 32:11, Isa 37:1, Isa 37:2, Isa 50:3, Isa 58:5, Jer 4:8, Jer 6:26, Jer 48:37, Jer 49:3, Lam 2:10, Eze 7:18, Eze 27:31, Dan 9:3, Joe 1:8, Joe 1:13, Amo 8:10, Jon 3:5, Jon 3:6, Jon 3:8, Mat 11:21, Luk 10:13, Rev 6:12, Rev 11:3, John 3:5-8, Rev 18:8.
  • John the Baptist (prophet) dressed in camel’s hair (mourning for sins of people, preached repentance) – Mat 3:1-4, Mat 11:8, 2 Ki 1:8, Zech 13l4, Mal 4:5, Mk 1:6, Lk 1:17, Rev 11:3
  • Hair given as a glory for women, but has turned to mourning – 1 Cor 11:14-15 (see Absalom – 2 Sam 14:25-26, Nazirite vow – Num 6)
  • Sun represents Christ as Light of the Gospel – Mal 4:2, 2 Pet 1:19, Rev 2:28, Rev 22:16, Mat 2:2, Mat 4:16, Num 24:7, Eph 5:14, Lk 1:78, Is 9:1-2, Is 59:8, Ps 19:4-5
  • Sun dark at 1^st coming of Christ – Lk 23:45
  • Light of the Gospel is completed (Judgment Day has arrived) – 2 Cor 4:6, 2 Tim 1:10, 1 Pet 2:9, Ps 43:3, Is 8:20, John 1:4, John 1:9, John 3:19, John 8:12, John 9:5, John 12:36, John 12:46, etc.
  • Jesus as the sun shining – Mal 4:2, 2 Pet 1:19, Rev 1:16, Rev 2:28, Rev 10:1, Rev 22:16, Mat 2:2, Mat 4:16, Num 24:17, Eph 5:14, Lk 1:78, Is 9:1‑2, Is 30:26, Is 59:8
  • Transfiguration – Mk 9:2-5, Mat 17:1-4, Lk 9:28-33 (shined as the sun)
  • Christ as rising of the sun ‑ 2 Sam 23:1‑4, Rev 7:2‑3, Is 60:1‑2, Num 24:17, Mal 4:2 (when Christ rose from the dead
  • Darkness is Judgment Day – Zeph 1:15, Amos 5:18-20

Moon became like blood

• Moon’s light Altered – Judgment Day
  • Like blood – Acts 2:20, Joel 2:31
  • Blood – Taking of life – Heb 9:7-25, Gen 9:4-6, Ex 30:10, Rev 14:20, Rev 16:3-6, Acts 20:26, Is 34:3-7, Is 59:3-7, Ps 79:10, Ps 94:21, Ps 105:29
  • Blood is required due to sin – Heb 9:17-22, Lev 4:20, Lev 4:26, Lev 4:35, Lev 5:10, Lev 5:12, Lev 5:18, Lev 6:7, Lev 17:11
  • Blood of Christ ‑ Heb 9:13‑14, Heb 9:18‑24, Heb 12:24, Rev 1:5, Rev 7:14, 1 Pet 1:2
  • Life is in the blood ‑ Lev 17:11,14, Gen 9:4, Heb 9:22 (seeRev 1:5 )
  • Blood from heaven (from Christ) ‑ Heb 9:7‑25, Heb 13:11‑12,20, Eph 1:7,2:13, Col 1:14,20
  • Cleansed by blood ‑ Rev 7:14, 22:14, Heb 9:14
  • Sprinkled with His blood ‑ 1Pet 1:2, Heb 10:22, 12:24, 9:19
  • Blood of Christ sanctifies ‑ Heb 13:12
  • Law requires blood for atonement – … and without shedding of blood is no remission. (Heb 9:22)
  • But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. (Gal 3:22)
  • … sin is the transgression of the law. (1Jn 3:4)
  • Blood – Life (soul) is in the blood (e.g., Lev 17:17)
  • People to be judged by the Word of God
  • He that rejects me, and receives not my words, has one that judges him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. (Joh 12:48)
  • Redeemed by blood ‑ 1 Pet 1:17‑19, Rev 5:9, Col 1:14, John 6:48‑58, Eph 1:7, Heb 9:22
  • No light / dark – Mat 24:29, Mk 13:24, Is 60:19-20, Is 24:23, Is 13:10, Eze 32:7, Joel 2:10, Joel 3:15, Job 25:5, Ecc 12:2, Rev 21:23 (no need for the moon or sun)
  • Signs – Lk 21:25
  • Dwindle – Zech 14:6
  • 1/3 of moon struck – Rev 8:12
  • Brighter – Is 30:26
• Sun, moon, stars given as timekeers ‑ Gen 1:14‑19, Ps 104:19, Ps 74:16‑17
• Moon – a type of Old Covenant (veiled symbolism of the Gospel) – Gen 37:9-10, Rev 12:1, Job 25:5
  • Moon governed festivals / months – moon has no brightness in itself – it is a picture of types and figures which reflect spiritual truth
  • New moons related to law of God (symbols) – Col 2:16
  • Moon under the feet of the woman – Rev 12:1
  • New Jerusalem has no need of the sun or moon – Rev 21:23
  • Moon has its type of glory – 1 Cor 15:41
  • Lunatic (G4583) – Mat 4:23-24, Mat 17:15
  • Moon appointed for seasons – Ps 104:19
  • Month (H2320 Heb: chodesh – 279 occurrences) – based on revolution of the moon – indicated when festivals occurred
  • Moon (Heb: H3394 / H3393, H3391, Heb: yareach) – 41 occurrences
  • Moon rules by night – Ps 136:7-9, Gen 1:14-18, Jer 31:35
  • Moon reflects light of sun – Christians are light in a dark world (Mat 5:14, Eph 5:8-14, Lk 11:34-36, Lk 16:8, John 12:36, 1 Thess 5:5, Col 1:12-13, Phil 2:15)
  • People to be judged by the Words of Christ / Law of God – John 12:48, Rev 19:11-13, 2 Thess 1:8, Ro 2:12-27, Rom 2:16, Rom 3:19-20, Rom 4:15, Rom 7:7-11, Rom 8:3; Deu 27:26; 2Co 3:7-9; Gal 2:16-19; Gal 3:10, Gal 3:22; Jas 2:10; Rev 20:12-15
  • Joseph’s dream – sun, moon and 11 stars bowed to him – Gen 37:9
  • Worship of sun, moon and stars – Deut 4:19, Deut 17:3, 2 Ki 23:5, Jer 8:2
  • Sun and moon stood still – Josh 10:12-13, Hab 3:11
  • God’s work of creation – Ps 8:3, Gen 1:14-16
  • God feared as long as the moon exists – Ps 72:5
  • Abundance of peace as long as the moon shines – Ps 72:7
  • Moon a faithful witness – Ps 89:37
  • Moon praises God – Ps 148:3
  • Will not be smitten by the moon – Ps 121:6
  • Sun by day, moon by night – Gen 1:16, Ps 121:6, Ps 136:9, Jer 31:35

Stars of heavens fell unto the earth – no more need for messengers / light (Judgment Day has arrived)

• Heaven – Gr: ouranos (289 occurrences) – 3 heavens (Heb 12:1-5)
• Mat 24:29, Mk 13:25, Joel 2:10, Joel 3:15, Eze 32:7-8, Is 34:4
• Angels (messengers) symbolized by stars – Rev 1:16, Rev 1:20, Rev 12:4
• Word of God comes by angels – Gen 16:7-11, Num 22:35, 2 Sam 14:17, 1 Ki 13:18, 1 Chr 21;12, Gen 21:7, Gen 22:11, Gen 48:16, Luke 1:11-38, Luke 2:9-13, Mat 28:2-5, Heb 2:2, Rev 1:1, Rev 22:6, Rev 22:16, etc.
• Angels (stars) on Judgment Day
• Angels come with Christ on Judgment day for those who are ashamed of Christ – Mk 8:38, Lk 9:26
• Angels are the reapers – Parable of Wheat and Tares – Mat 13:39, Mat 13:41
• Angels are the reapers – Parable of the Dragnet – Mat 13:49
• Angels come on Judgment day – those who do not follow Christ – Mat 16:27
• Angels, at the sound of the trumpet, gather the elect – Mat 24:31, Mk 13:27
• Angels do not know the end day – Mat 24:36, Mk 13:32
• Son of man comes with angels for Judgment to divide the sheep and the goats – Mat 25:31
• Angel smote Herod for receiving glory – Acts 12:23
• The Lord comes with ten thousands of his saints, To execute judgment upon all … Jude 1:14-15
• Old Testament Hebrew word for ‘star’ (H35567, kokab) occurs more than 35 times.
• Relevant occurrences of star in the Old Testament either refer to creation (Gen 1:16, Job 9:7, Ps 8:3, Ps 136:9, Jer 31:35), worshiping the stars (Deut 4:19), the onset of nighttime (Neh 4:21), the falling or loss of stars on judgment day (Job 3:9, Ecc 12:2, Is 13:10, Ez 32:7, Joel 2:10, 3:15 ), the elevated nature of God being over the stars (Job 22:12, 25:5) and those who serve the occult (Is 47:13).
• The offspring that will come from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (represents Christians in Gal 3:16, 29, Ro 4:13-16, etc) – Gen 15:5, 22:17, 26:4, Ex 32:13, Deut 1:10, Deut 10:22, Deut 28:62, 1 Chr 27:23, Neh 9:23
• The 12 sons of Israel (represents the church of God) – Gen 37:9
• Jesus Christ as the Star of Jacob in Balaam’s parable – Num 24:15-17
• Those who fought against Sisera in the Song of Deborah and Barak – Jud 5:20
• The sons of God (morning stars, i.e., angels) singing – Job 38:7
• Entities that God calls by name – Ps 147:4
• Those who are to praise God – Ps 148:3
• Those who Satan will be exalted over (i.e., bad angels) – Is 14:13 (see Is 14:12 – Lucifer, which literally means ‘brightness’ is the son of the morning)
• Those who the ‘little horn’ cast to the ground and stomped on (angels)  – Dan 8:10-12
• Believers (i.e., those wise people who turn people to righteousness) – Dan 12:1-3
• An idol – Amos 5:26
• Where a proud person (Edom) exalts himself above – Ob 1:4 (similar to Is 14:13)
• Merchants of Nineveh – Nah 3:16
• New Testament Greek word for ‘star’ (G792, aster) occurs 24 times (with 14 of these occurrences in Revelation).
  • Relevant occurrences of star in the New Testament refer to the falling of stars on judgment day (Rev Mat 24:29, Mk 13:25, Rev 6:13) and the star Wormwood (Rev 8:10-12), which both hold symbolic meanings.
• Jesus Christ – His star – Mat 2:2 ( see also Mat 2:7, 9-10 and Gal 4:14)
• The resurrected bodies of believers – 1 Cor 15:41 (2 occurrences)
• The false teachers crept into the church – Jude 13
• The angels of the 7 churches (Rev 1:16, 1:20, 3:1) (4 occurrences)
• The angel with the power to open the bottomless pit (Rev 9:1, see also Rev 20:1)
• Woman with crown of 12 stars (represents the church of God) – Rev 12:1
• Dragon cast 1/3 of stars of heaven to the earth (represents fallen angels) – Rev 12:4
• Jesus, the bright and morning Star (Rev 22:16, Rev 2:28, see also Num 24:17, Mat 2:2, Lk 1:78, 2 Pet 1:19)

Fig tree casts her untimely fruit when she is shaken of a mighty wind

• Parallel passage – Is 34:4-5 – points to God’s Judgment (mighty angels) on those who are not the elect (Edom)
  • Esau not elect – Ro 9:13-16
• Fig tree – H8384 teen 39 occurrences – Nah 3:12 key verse
• First ripe figs (H1061) shaken fall into eater – Nah 3:12
• Adam and Eve – Fig leaves used as a covering – Gen 3:7 – man’s work for salvation (covering)
• Figs brought from the promised land – Num 13:23
• No figs in the wilderness – Num 20:5
• Promised land – Deut 8:8
• Fig tree – good fruit / sweetness – Jud 9:10-11
• Judah / Israel dwell safely under fig tree – 1 Ki 4:25, Micah 4:4, Zech 3:10
• Eat from own fig tree – 2 Ki 18:31, Is 36:16
• Lump of figs on the boil – 2 Ki 20:7, Isa 38:21
• Figs brought in on Sabbath – Neh 13:15
• Egyptian fig trees smitten – Ps 105:33
• He who keeps fig tree, eats its fruit – so is he that waits on his master shall be honored – Pr 27:18
• Fig tree puts forth her green figs – Song 2:13
• Host of heaven dissolved / rolled as a scroll as a fig falls from the fig tree – Is 34:4
• Judgment on Judah – enemies eat fig trees – Jer 5:17
• Lord consumes figs on fig tree – Jer 8:13
• 2 Baskets of Figs – good (first ripe) and bad (rotten); good are those taken captivity and bad are those who remain in the city – Jer 24:1-10
• Judgment by sword, famine and pestilence – becomes vile figs – Jer 29:17
• Lord destroys fig trees of Israel – Hos 2:12, Amos 4:9
• Fathers of Israel as first ripe figs – Hos 9:10
• Barked fig tree / languishes – Judgment / joy is withered away – Joel 1:7
• Fig tree bears fruit – type of people of God – Joel 2:22
• Fig tree – a blessing in eternity – Hag 2:19
• Fig tree fails – Judgment Day – Hab 3:17
• Fig tree – G4808, Gr: suke, 16 occurrences
• Fruitless fig tree parable – Mat 21:19-21, Mk 11:13, Mk 11:20-21, Lk 13:6-7
• Fig tree with tender branch and leaves indicates Last Day / Kingdom of God is near – Mat 24:32, Mk 13:28, Lk 21:29-30
• Jesus saw Nathanael under a fig tree – John 1:48-50
• Fig tree is known by its fruit – James 3:12
• Fig tree casts its untimely figs – Judgment Day – Rev 6:13
• Untimely Fruit – Gr: olunthos (G3653) – only occurrence in New Testament
• Firstripe figs (H1061) shaken fall into eater – Nah 3:12
• H1061 (Gr: bikkur) – first fruits (Not yet ripe) – 18 occurrences
  • Feast of firstfruits – Ex 23:16, Ex 23:19
  • Pentecost firstfruits – Ex 34:22, Ex 34:26, Lev 23:17, Lev 23:20, Num 28:26
  • Grain offering – Lev 2:14
  • Other firstfruit laws – Num 13:20, Num 18:13, Neh 10:35, Neh 13:31, Eze 44:30
  • The man of God receives firstfruits – 2 Ki 4:42
  • Sin to eat the firstfruit too early – Is 28:4
  • Judgment – firstfruits of figs fall into mouth of eater when shaken – Nah 3:12
• Mighty wind
• Mighty – Gr: megas
• ‘Mighty wind’ – Acts 2:2 (Holy Spirit), Ex 10:19, Is 11:15 (judgment day)
• ‘Great wind’ – Rev 6:13, Jonah 1:4, 1 Ki 19:11, Job 1:19, Mk 4:37, John 6:18
• ‘Strong wind’ – 1 Ki 19:11, Ex 10:19, Ex 14:21, Job 18:2
• From where the elect are gathered ‑ Mat 24:31, Mk 13:27
• 4 winds ‑ that which scatters ‑ Jer 49:36, Rev 7:1, Eze 37:9, Dan 7:2, Dan 8:8
• That which scatters ‑ Jer 18:17, Jer 49:32, Jer 49:36, Eze 5:9‑12
• Chaff dispersed ‑ Job 21:18, Is 17:13, Ps 83:13,35:5,18:42,1:4, Is 29:5, 41:15‑16
• Judgement divides the chaff and the wheat ‑ Mat 7:25‑27, Mat 13:24‑30, 34‑43
• Judgment ‑ Jer 4:11‑12, Ps 11:6, Eze 13:13, Rev 7:1‑2, Job 21:18, Job 30:15, Ps 1:4, Ps 11:6, Ps 18:15, Ps 35:5, Ps 68:2, Ps 873:13, Pr 1:27, Is 11:15, Is 17:13, Is 24:20, Is 28:2, Is 41:16, Is 57:13, Is 64:6, Jer 13:24, Jer 18:17, Jer 22:22, Jer 30:23, Eze 1:4, Eze 13:11, Eze 13:13, Eze 17:10, Eze 19:12, Eze 27:26, Dan 2:35, Hos 4:19, Hos 8:7, Hos 13:15
• Divides the sea ‑ Ex 14:21, Ex 15:10
• Stirs up sea ‑ at judgment day ‑ ‑ removes false peace, draws people into hell ‑ Is 57:20‑21, Jonah 1:4, Ps 107:23‑26, Eze 13:10‑14, Ps 93:3‑4, Mk 4:37‑41, Mat 8:26‑27, Rev 7:2
• Whirlwind – judgment of God – 2Ki 2:1; 2Ki 2:11; Job 37:9; Job 38:1; Job 40:6; Psa 58:9; Pro 1:27; Pro 10:25; Isa 5:28; Isa 17:13; Isa 40:24; Isa 41:16; Isa 66:15; Jer 4:13; Jer 23:19; Jer 25:32; Jer 30:23; Eze 1:4; Dan 11:40; Hos 8:7; Hos 13:3; Amo 1:14; Nah 1:3; Hab 3:14; Zec 7:14.

Heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together

• Scroll – Gr: biblion (word used for the Word of God) – book closed / no more Gospel
  • G975 (Greek: biblion, smaller scroll or book, 32 occurrences) – points to a book or section of the Bible
    • Book of Isaiah – Luk 4:17 (2), Luk 4:20
    • Book of John – Joh 20:30
    • Works of Jesus – all the books in the world could not contain – John 21:25
    • Book of the law (e.g., Leviticus / Deuteronomy) – Gal 3:10, Heb 9:19, Heb 10:7
    • Book of revelation – Rev 1:11, Rev 5:1-5 (5), Rev 5:7-9 (3), Rev 22:7, Rev 22:9-10 (2), Rev 22:18-19
    • Book of Life – Rev 21:27, Rev 20:12
    • Book of works of people – Rev 20:12
    • Paul’s books – 2Ti 4:13
    • Book of divorcement – Mk 10:4, Mat 19:7
    • Sky rolled up as a scroll – Rev 6:14 (Is 34:4)
  • Heavens rolled together as a scroll – Is 34:4
  • The heavens shall perish – Ps 102:25-26, Heb 1:10-13, 2 Pet 3:10-13, Is 51:6, Rev 20:11, Rev 21:1, Rev 21:5, Is 66:22, Is 65:17-19, Mat 24:35
    • No more witness of the creation (General revelation – Ps 19:1, Ro 10:18, Ps 8:3, Ro 1:19-20, Ps 105:7, Ps 148:3-4, Is 40:22, Jer 10:12, Acts 14:17, Acts 17:24-28)

Every Mountain and island were moved out of their places  (see Rev 16:20)

• Mountains represents kingdoms / cities – Dan 2:35 with Dan 2:44, Rev 17:9‑10, Is 2:2, Is 13:4, Rev 6:14‑16, Micah 4:1‑8 (especially verse 8), Zech 4:7, Is 2:14, Is 2:2, etc.
• Judgment on the mountains – Is 54:10, Rev 16:20, Is 2:12-17, Jer 3:23, Jer 4:23-26, Hab 3:6-10
  • Mountains melt at second coming ‑ Micah 1:4, Ps 97:5, Nah 1:5
  • Babylon ‑ a destroying kingdom ‑ Jer 51:25, burning ‑ Rev 8:8, Rev 51:25
  • Moved mountain ‑ judgment day ‑ Rev 16:20, Is 2:12‑17,  Is 54:10, Is 64:3, Jer 3:23, Jer 4:23‑26, Hab 3:6-10, Nah 1:5, Eze 38:10
  • Move mountain by faith ‑ Mat 17:20, Mat 21:21, Mk 11:23, Lk 3:5, 23:30, 1Cor 13:2
• God’s kingdom ‑ Ex 19:23, Is 11:19, Ps 43:3, Is 24:23,27:13, 56:7, 66:20, Is 2:1‑4, Micah 4:1‑3, Is 30:29, 65:11,25, Heb 12:22, Dan 2:35,
  • God’s mountain chief of mountains ‑ Ps 68:16, Is 2:1‑5, Micah 4:1
• Islands – see notes on Rev 1:9
• Parallel passage – Rev 16:20
• A place of wild beasts (Job 22:30, Is 13:22, Is 34:14, Jer 50:39)
• Desolate (Is 13:22). An island is also a place that has no salvation and is under judgment (Jer 47:4, Is 20:6, Is 23:2, Is 23:6, Is 41:1, Is 59:18, Is 42:15).
• Is 42:4-15 – a place where Christians wait expectantly for the Lord (symbol of the place where believers are in this earth awaiting the Last Day)
• The Gospel goes forth to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8, Ro 10:18, Ps 105:7, Ps 19:4).
• Place where God’s people are waiting for deliverance from Him (see also Is 11:11, Is 60:9, Job 22:30, Jer 31:10, Is 42:4, Is 49:1, Is 51:5, Is 66:19, Jer 31:10, Zeph 2:11).
• It is also a place of praise for those who wait patiently (Ps 97:1, Is 42:10).

And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;

(Rev 6:15)

And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:

(Rev 6:16)

For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

(Rev 6:17)

Kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man

• Parallel passages – Rev 19:18-21, Isa 10:25-27, Isa 14:1-2, Isa 25:10-12, Isa 34:2-17; Psa 76:12, Psa 149:6-9; Joel 3:9-17, Joel 3:19; Hag 2:21-22; Zec 14:12-19; Rev 17:14, Rev 18:9
• Those who have received the mark of the beast – Rev 13:16
• Kings of the earth – worldly leaders
  • Kings of the earth to be punished – Is 24:21, Rev 19:18
• Great men – includes religious leaders – See Rev 18:23
  • ‘Great men’ in the Bible – 2 Ki 5:1 (Naaman), Dan 2:38 (Daniel), 2 Sam 7:9 (David)
• Rich men – business leaders – Luke 12:13-21
• Chief captains – government / military leaders – Rev 19:18
• Mighty men – powerful leaders (politics / entertainment, etc.) – Rev 19:18
• Every bondman – working class (for others) – Rev 19:18
• Every free man – working class (for self) – Rev 19:18

Hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains 

• Parallel passages: Is 2:10-21, Is 24:21, Hos 10:8, Mal 3:2, Lk 23:30, Rev 19:18
• Adam and Eve – fear of God’s wrath – Gen 3:8-10
  • People are not hid from God – Heb 4:13, Jer 23:24, Ex 3:6, Job 22:14, Job 31:33, Job 34:22, Psa 139:1-12, Pro 15:3, Amo 9:2-3, Jon 1:3, Jon 1:9-10, Rom 2:15
• Fear of God’s wrath (man’s vain attempt to work to hide himself from danger) – Lk 23:30, Is 2:10, Is 2:19, Is 28:17, Ps 90:11, Job 31:23, Job 37:22-24, Jer 10:10, Rev 6:15‑16, Jer 49:10, Hos 10:8 (mountains), Rev 6:16, Is 2:10‑21 (caves, clefts, holes), Mal 3:2, Josh 10:16-28 (5 kings in a cave), Micah 7:17 (like worms)
• Fear of God’s face – no man can see God and live – Ex 33:20, Rev 6:15-16, Hab 1:13, John 1:18, John 6:46, Col 1:15, 1 Tim 6:16, 1 John 4:12
• Those who have no fear of God – Pr 1:29, Ro 3:18, Mal 3:5, Ecc 8:13, Ex 9:30, Ps 55:19, Is 57:11, Jer 44:10, Lk 23:40, Gen 20:11, Ps 36:1, Deut 25:18, 2 Ki 17:25, Jer 5:24, Jer 2:19, Job 15:4, Jer 3:8, Lk 18:2-4, Hos 10:3, Job 6:14, Job 22:4
• God’s people fear God – Rev 19:5, Pr 8:13, Pr 16:6, Pr 23:17
• Christians are hidden with Christ – Col 3:3, Mk 4:26-29, Is 55:9-13, 1 Cor 2:11, Lk 6:43-44, Rev 2:17 (hidden manna)
  • God is our hiding place – Ps 32:7, Ps 119:114
  • Mankind seeks death to avoid wrath of God – Rev 6:16, 2Sa 1:9, Job 3:20-22, Job 7:15-16, Isa 2:19, Jer 8:3, Hos 10:8, Joh 4:8-9, Luk 23:30, Rev 9:6, Jonah 4:3, 1 Ki 19:4, Jer 20:14-18
  • No hope – Eph 2:12, 1 Thess 4:13, Eze 37:11,
• Den (literally, cave – G4693, Gr: spelaion – 6 occurrences)
  • Den of thieves – Mat 21:13, Mk 11:17, Luke 19:46 (see Jer 7:11 below)
  • Lazarus’ tomb was a cave – John 11:38
  • Where the faithful wandered – Heb 11:38
  • Where the unsaved hide from God at Judgment – Rev 6:15
  • Old Testament (Heb: mearah, H4631, 39 occurrences):
    • Place of the buried dead – Gen 49:29-32 (Joseph), Gen 23:19-20 (Sarah), Gen 25:9 (Abraham), cave of Machpelah (Gen 23:9-11, Gen 23:17-20, Gen 25:9, Gen 49:29-32, Gen 50:13 – see also Lazarus (John 11:38)
    • Where faithful dwell in time of trial – Heb 11:38, Ps 57:1, Ps 142:1, Judges 6:2
    • 100 prophets were hid – 1 Ki 18:4, 1 Ki 18:13
    • Killing of 5 kings by Joshua – Josh 10:16-28
    • Den of thieves – Jer 7:11
    • Where those who are hiding die of pestilence – Eze 33:27
    • Lot dwelled after Sodom and Gomorrah destroyed – Gen 19:30
    • Where Israel hid from enemies – Judges 6:2, 1 Sam 13:6
    • David hid in a cave – 1 Sam 22:1, 2 Sam 23:13, 1 Chr 11:15, Ps 57:1, Ps 142:1
    • Saul in a cave, found by David – 1 Sam 24:3-10
    • Elijah hid in a cave – 1 Ki 19:9-13
    • Judgment Day – Is 2:19, Is 32:14
  • Rocks (Gr: petra, Heb: tsur)
    • Jesus tomb covered with a rock – Mat 27:60, Mk 15:46
    • Ex 33:22 – God hid himself by putting Moses in a cleft in the rock and covering him
    • Deut 32:31, Deut 32:37 – where are their gods, the rock in who they trusted
    • 1 Sam 2:2 – there is no rock like our Rock
    • Job 14:18, Job 18:4, Job 24:8 – Judgment day – mountains falling and the rock is removed out of its place
    • The Lord is the rock of our salvation – Ps 31:2, Deu 32:15, 2Sa 22:3, 2Sa 22:47, Psa 18:2, Psa 18:46, Psa 62:2, Psa 62:6, Psa 62:7, Psa 89:26, Psa 95:1, Isa 17:10

And said to the mountains and the rocks, Fall on us and hide us from the face on Him who sits on the throne

• Man’s erroneous belief that he can be safe in hell / hide from God’s wrath
• Fear of Judgment – Lk 21:26, All men have a knowledge of sin (General revelation – Ps 19, Ro 1:19-20, Ps 105:7, Acts 14:17,17:24-28)
  • Mankind seeks death to avoid wrath of God – Rev 9:6, Rev 6:16, Pr 8:36, Pr 21:6, 2Sa 1:9, Job 3:20-22, Job 7:15-16, Isa 2:19, Jer 8:3, Hos 10:8, Joh 4:8-9, Luk 23:30, Rev 9:6, Jonah 4:3, 1 Ki 19:4, Jer 20:14-18
  • Unsaved have a conscience – 1 Tim 1:9, 4:2, Titus 1:15, Ro 1:19-20
  • The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge – Pr 1:7, Job 28:28, Ps 111:10, Pr 9:10, 15:33, Ecc 12:13, Ecc 3:14, Ecc 5:7, Ecc 7:18, Ecc 8:12, Col 3:22, Phil 2:12, 2 Cor 5:11
  • Fear the Lord – Lev 25:17, Exo 9:30, Deu 6:2, Deu 6:13, Deu 6:24, Deu 10:12, Deu 10:20, Deu 14:23, Deu 17:19, Deu 31:12, Deu 31:13, Jos 4:24, Jos 24:14, 1Sa 12:14, 1Sa 12:24, 1Ki 18:12, 2Ki 4:1, 2Ki 17:28, Psa 15:4, Psa 22:23, Psa 33:8, Psa 34:9, Psa 115:11, Psa 115:13, Psa 118:4, Psa 135:20, Pro 3:7, Jer 5:24, Jer 26:19, Hos 3:5, Jon 1:9.
  • Let all the earth fear the Lord – Ps 33:8
  • Every knee shall bow, every tongue confess – Phil 2:10. Is 45:23, Ro 14:11
  • Due to signs, men now fear God (no faith)
  • God’s presence – no man can see God and live (Hab 1:13, John 1:18, Ex 33:20, John 6:46, Col 1:15, 1 Tim 6:16, 1 John 4:12)
  • God and Christ seen together in Judgment on the throne – see notes on Rev 4
  • Salvation from he who sits on the throne and the Lamb – Rev 7:10
  • Lamb in the midst of the throne – Rev 5:6, Rev 7:17
  • ‘He who sits on the throne and the Lamb’ in combination – Rev 5:13, Rev 6:16, Rev 7:9, Rev 7:10, Rev 22:1, Rev 22:3 (lamb on the throne)

Wrath of the Lamb, great day of wrath has come

• See notes on Rev 1:10
• God’s wrath – points to Judgment Day – Eph 5:6, Ro 5:9, Col 3:6, Nah 1:1-8, Rev 11:18, Jer 10:10, 1 Thess 1:10, 1 Thess 5:9, 1 Thess 2:16, Mk 3:5, Lev 16:14, Mat 3:7

Who is able to stand?

• No one in their own strength – Mal 3:2
• All guilty / depraved – Ro 3:9-23, 5:12, Jer 13:23, 17:9, Is 53:6, 64:6, Ecc 9:3, Ps 14:1-3, 16:2, Gen  8:21, Col 1:21
• God can make His people stand – Ro 14:4
• God establishes His people – Ro 16:25, Ps 17:5, Ps 37:17, Gr: sterizo: 2 Pet 1:12, 3:17, Ro 1:11, 1 Thess 3:2, Acts 16:5, Lk 9:51 – to remain focused on Christ
• God keeps His people from falling – Jude 24
• To stand – opposite of spiritually lame
  • Man at Pool of Bethseda (John 5:1-9)
  • Paralytic (Mat 9:2-8, Mk 2:3-12, Lk 5:18-26)
  • Man with dropsy (Lk 14:1-6)
  • Man with withered hand (Mat 12:9-13, Mk 3:1-5, Lk 6:6-10)
  • Centurion’s servant (Mat 8:5-13, Lk 7:1-10)
  • Crippled woman (Lk 13:10-17)
  • Man at Lystra (Acts 14:8-11)
  • Man at gate called beautiful (Acts 3:1-11)
  • Aeneas (Acts 9:32-35)
• Run – Is 40:3, 1 Cor 9:24, Heb 12:1
• Walk – 1 Th 4:1, Eph 5:2,8, Col 1:10, Gal 5:16, Ro 6:4
• Stand – Eph 6:12-16, Ps 1:5, Ro 14:4, Phil 4:1, Ps 76:7, Nah 1:6, Mal 3:2, Lk 21:36
• Leap – Is 35:6, Lk 1:41-44,6:23
• Hold – Song 3:4, 2 Th 2;15, 1 Th 5:21, Heb 3:6, 10:23, 1 Tim 1:19, 3:9, 2 Ti 1:13

7:1-8 – 144,000 Sealed – the Guarantee for all Christians

And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. (Rev 7:1)

 

And after these things

• Rev 7 is an interlude between the 6^th and 7^th seal
• Rev 7 recapitulates salvation during the Church Age (Rev 7:1-8) and the Great Tribulation (Rev 7:9-17)

I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.

• Points to impending Judgment Day on earth
• 4 is number of universal extent – see notes on Rev 4:5-9
• 4 corners ‑ the outermost areas ‑ Rev 7:1, Acts 10:11, Acts 11:5, Is 11:12, Eze 7:2
  • Pending judgment on the earth is universal and complete
  • Does not assume world is flat – see Job 26:7, Is 40:22
  • The end comes on the 4 corners of the earth – Eze 7:2
• 4 winds – can represent both salvation to people from all areas of the earth and judgment on the earth – 9 occurrences – Jer 49:36; Eze 37:9; Dan 7:2; Dan 8:8; Dan 11:4; Zec. 2:6; Mat 24:31; Mark 13:27; Rev 7:1. Other verses on wind:
  • See notes on 6:13 (144,000 sealed before judgment day described in Rev 6:12-17)
  • Wind symbolic of work of God in salvation and judgment – John 3:8
  • Scatter – Jer 18:17, Jer 49:32-36, Eze 5:9-12
  • Gather elect – Mat 24:31, Mk 13:27
  • Chaff dispersed – Job 21:18, Is 17:13, Ps 83:13, Ps 35:5, Ps 18:42, Ps 1:4, Is 29:5, Is 41:15-16
  • Judgment divides the chaff and the wheat – Mat 7:25-27, Mat 13:24-30, 34-43
  • Cleanse in Judgment – Jer 4:11-12
  • Divides the sea – Ex 14:21, Ex15:10
  • Stirs up sea – at judgment day – – removes false peace, draws people into hell – Is 57:20-21, Jonah 1:4, Ps 107:23-26, Eze 13:10-14, Ps 93:3-4, Mk 4:37-41, Mat 8:26-27
  • Trees will wither – Eze 17:10, Eze 19:12, Jonah 4:8 (dry up fruit)
  • See also the wind’s effect on the fig tree in Rev 6:13
  • Earth and sea in the Olivet Discourse – 21:25
• Holding back
  • God’s restraint and patience – 2 Pet 3:9, 2 Th 2:7 (see also notes on Rev 2:18-29 and Rev 6:9-11)

And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. (Rev 7:2-3)

 

And I saw another angel ascending from the east

• Angels in Revelation
  • Revelation signified by and angel of Jesus Christ – Rev 1:1, Rev 22:6, Rev 22:8, Rev 22:16
  • The angels to the 7 churches – Rev 1:20, Rev 2:1, Rev 2:8, Rev 2:12, Rev 2:18, Rev 3:1, Rev 3:7, Rev 3:14
  • The Fathers angels (many around throne) – Rev 3:5, Rev 5:11, Rev 7:11, Rev 14:10
  • Strong angel pronounces the Lamb is worthy to open the Book – Rev 5:2
  • 4 angels at 4 corners of earth, holding back the four winds – Rev 7:1
  • Angel ascending from the east with the seal of God – Rev 7:2
  • 7 angels with 7 trumpets – Rev 8:2, Rev 8:6-12, Rev 9:1, Rev 9:13-14, Rev 11:15
  • Angel with golden censer at golden altar of prayers – Rev 8:3-5
  • Angel flying through the midst of heaven with a loud voice – Rev 8:13
  • Angel of the bottomless pit (Abaddon / Apollyon) – Rev 9:11
  • Four angels bound in the Euphrates to slay 1/3 of men – Rev 9:14-15
  • Mighty angel with 7 thunders – Rev 10:1, Rev 10:5-10
  • Angel commands John to measure the temple of God – Rev 11:1
  • Michael and his angels fought against the dragon and his angels – Rev 12:7-9
  • 3 angels with everlasting gospel, announcement of Babylon’s fall, and warning of the wrath of God – Rev 14:6-10
  • Angel calls for the time to reap the earth – Rev 14:15
  • Angel with a sharp sickle – Rev 14:17-19
  • Angel with power over fire commands angel to reap the earth – Rev 14:18
  • 7 angels with 7 last plagues (bowls of wrath) and the announcement of Babylon’s doom – Rev 15:1, Rev 15:6-8, Rev 16:1-17, Rev 17:1., Rev 17:7, Rev 21:9 (shows the Bride of Christ)
  • Angel that lights the earth with glory – Rev 18:1
  • Mighty angel with a great millstone – Rev 18:21
  • Angel standing in the sun – announces supper of the great God – Rev 19:17
  • Angel comes down from heaven to bind Satan – Rev 20:1
  • 12 angels at the 12 gates of New Jerusalem – Rev 21:12
  • Measure of a man , that is of an angel – Rev 21:17
• Points to the bringing of the Gospel – see notes on angels as messengers of the Gospel – Rev 1:16
• Ascending from the east – points to the rising of the sun
  • Ascend (Gr: anabaino – literally, to go up)
  • East (Gr: anatole helios – rising of the sun)
    • Only other occurrence of ‘anatole helios’ is Rev 16:12 – kings of the east being gathered for Armageddon
    • Gr: Anatole – 10 occurrences (east) Mat 2:1; Mat 2:2; Mat 2:9; Mat 8:11; Mat 24:27; Luk 13:29; Rev 7:2; Rev 16:12; Rev 21:13
  • Christ ‑ Mal 4:2, 2 Pet 1:19, Rev 1:16, Rev 2:28, Rev 10:1, Rev 22:16, Mat 2:2, Mat 4:16, Num 24:17, Eph 5:14, Lk 1:78, Is 9:1‑2, Is 30:26, Is 59:8
  • Christ as rising of the sun ‑ 2 Sam 23:1‑4, Rev 7:2‑3, Is 60:1‑2, Num 24:17, Mal 4:2
  • When Christ rose from the dead – Mat 28:1, Mk 16:1-2, Lk 24:1, John 20:1-10

 

… having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.

• The living God
  • Living (G2198, Gr: zao, literally life) – points to the source of life and salvation
  • Eternal ‑ salvation ‑ Mat 7:14, Mat 18:8‑9, Mat 19:17, Mat 19:29, Mat 25:46, Mk 10:17, Mk 10:30, Lk 18:18, John 3:15‑16, John 3:36, John 4:14, John 4:36, John 5:24‑29, John 5:39‑40, John 6:27, John 6:40, John 6:47, John 6:51‑54, Rev 7:17, John 14:6, 1 Th 1:9
  • Jesus is life ‑ John 1:4, John 6:35, John 6:48, John 11:25, John 14:6, 2 Cor 2:16, 1 John 1:1
  • Bible ‑ words of eternal life ‑ John 6:63, John 6:68
• Hurt not the earth, sea, nor trees until …
  • See related verses on ‘hurt’ – Rev 8:7-9, Rev 9:4
  • Gr: adikeo
    • G1349 – dike – literally, justice, righteousness
    • G91(adikeo) – 27 occurrences – literally, wrong, unjust, hurt
    • G92 (adikema) – 3 occurrences – evil, iniquity, wrong
    • G93 (adikia) – 25 occurrences – unrighteousness, iniquity
    • G94 (adikos) – 12 occurrences – unjust, unrighteous
    • G95 (adikos) – 1 occurrence – wrongfully
  • Creation suffers due to man’s sin – Ro 8:20-22, Gen 3:17-19, Gen 5:29, Gen 6:13, Is 24:5-6, Jer 12:4, Jer 12:11, Jer 14:5-6, Hos 4:3, Joel 1:18
    • God will judge (destroy) those who destroy the earth – Rev 11:18
  • God is patient, wishes none of His people to perish – 2 Pet 3:9, 2 Pet 3:15, Ex 34:6, Ps 86:15, Is 30:18, Ro 9:22, 1 Tim 1:16, 1 Pet 3:2, Ro 2:4-5, Jonah 4:2
• Trees
  • New Testament (denderon, G1186 – 26 occurrences)
    • People (whether saved or not) – Mk 8:24
    • Good fruit or bad fruit – Mat 3:10. Mat 7:17-19, Mat 12:33, Lk 3:9, Lk 6:43-44, Jude 12
    • Kingdom of God (mustard seed) – Mat 13:32, Lk 13:19
    • Jesus’ triumphal entry – branches of trees – Mat 21:8, Mk 11:8
    • Fig tree – Lk 21:29
    • Wind blow and hurt trees – Rev 7:1, Rev 7:3
    • Third part of trees burned up – Rev 8:7
    • Hurt not trees – Rev 9:4
  • Old Testament
    • God’s people – Ps 1:1, Ps 52:8, Ps 92:12, Pr 11:30, Is 1:30, Is 61:3, Jer 11:16, Jer 17:8, Jer 11:19, Zech 4:3, Zech 4:11, Rev 11:4
    • Wicked people – Job 15:33, Job 24;20, Ps 37:35-36, Ps 52:5
    • Wisdom – Pr 3:18
    • Nations / kingdoms – Jud 9:8-15, Eze 17:24, Eze 31:1-18, Dan 4:10-14, Dan 4:20-26, Hos 14:6-8, Zech 11:1-2, Lk 23:31, Ro 11:24
  • Sealed
  • See Notes on Rev 5:1
  • Seal represents a guarantee (certainty) – Mat 27:66, Neh 9:38
    • King Ahasuerus seals decrees with the king’s ring – Est 3:12, Est 8:8, Est 8:10
    • No man can reverse – Est 8:8
    • Books are sealed until the end time – Dan 12:4, Dan 12:9
  • Seal on a letter – guarantee that the letters will not be read except by the addressee
    • Jezebel sealed letters with a seal to elders / nobles – 1 Ki 21:8
    • Learned one cannot read books that are sealed – Is 29:11
  • Christians are sealed – John 3:33, John 6:27, Ro 15:28, Ro 4:11, 1 Cor 9:2, 2 Tim 2:19, Rev 7:2-8
    • With Holy Spirit as the earnest (downpayment) – Eph 4:30, 2 Cor 1:22, Eph 1:13-14, John 3:33
    • Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction – Job 33:16
    • End (seal up) sin and seal prophecy and vision – Dan 9:24
    • Seal of living God to the 144,000 on their foreheads (Rev 7:2-8, Rev 9:4)
    • Transgressions sealed up in a bag – Job 14:17
    • 12 patriarchs were engraved in High Priest’s breastplate stones by signet – Ex 28:11, Ex 28:21
  • Foreheads
  • Where God’s seal is – Rev 7:3, Rev 9:4, Rev 13:16, Rev 14:1, Rev 14:9, Rev 17:5, Rev 20:4, Rev 22:4
  • Ezekiel’s forehead made like flint – Ez 3:8-9
  • Saved marked – Ez 9:4-6
  • Where phylacteries were – see Rev 13:16, Deut 6:8, Deut 11:18, Ex 13:9, Ex 13:16, Mat 23:5
  • Aaron’s forehead – ‘Holy to the Lord’ – Ex 28:38
  • Satan numbers his too (Rev 13:18)
  • Unsaved – minds are at enmity w/ God – 1 Tim 6:5, 2 Tim 3:8, Col 1:21, 2 Cor 3:14-4:6
  • Saved have the mind of Christ – 1 Cor 2:16, Heb 8:10 (see Heb 10:16-17, Jer 31:34), 2 Cor 3:3, Col 3:9-10, 2 Cor 1:21-22, 2 Tim 1:7. 2 Pet 3:1, Ro 8:5
  • Saved must strive to keep their minds on Christ – Eph 5:18, Mat 22:37 (w/ Deut 6:4-5, Lk 10:27, Mk 12:30), 1 Pet 2:2, 1 Thess 2:13, Eph 1:15-19, Eph 4:13, Eph 4:23, 2 Pet 1:5-8, 2 Pet 3:18, Phil 1:9-11, Phil 2:5, Phil 4:7-8, Col 1:9-11, Col 2:3, Col 3:2, James 3:13, 1 Pet 1:13, Ro 12:2
  • Satan’s also has a mark on his people – Represents that Satan influences the mind of unsaved – held in captive to sin – 2 Tim 2:24-26, but mankind willingly submit themselves to servitude since people like sin (Ro 39-23, Jer 17:9, etc). Because people are sinful, their minds are at enmity with God (Ro 8:1-9, 1 Tim 6:5, 2 Tim 3:8, Col 1:21, 2 Cor 3:14-4:6, James 4:4). People are children of Satan – 1 John 3:8-10, Mat 13:38, John 8:44)
  • Bondservants
  • see notes on Rev 1:1
  • All Christians are servants of God
  • Prior to salvation, all are servants of Satan – 2 Tim 2:24, 2 Pet 2:19) and sin (Ro 6:6, John 6:17-18, Gal 4:3-11, etc.)
  • At salvation, Christians become slaves of righteousness – Ro 6:15-23, James 1:1, Eph 6:5-6, 1 Pet 2:16
  • God’s willing slaves – Col 3:23-24, 2 Cor 4:5, but also friends of Christ – John 15:15
  • Mat 8:6, Mat 8:8, Mat 8:9, Mat 8:13, Mat 10:24, Mat 10:25, Mat 12:18, Mat 13:27, Mat 13:28, Mat 14:2, Mat 18:23, Mat 18:26, Mat 18:27, Mat 18:28, Mat 18:29, Mat 18:31, Mat 18:32, Mat 18:33, Mat 20:27, Mat 21:34, Mat 21:35, Mat 21:36, Mat 22:3, Mat 22:4, Mat 22:6, Mat 22:8, Mat 22:10, Mat 22:13, Mat 23:11, Mat 24:45, Mat 24:46, Mat 24:48, Mat 24:49, Mat 24:50, Mat 25:14, Mat 25:19, Mat 25:21, Mat 25:23, Mat 25:26, Mat 25:30, Mat 26:51, Mat 26:58, Mar 1:20, Mar 9:35, Mar 10:44, Mar 12:2, Mar 12:4, Mar 13:34, Mar 14:47, Mar 14:54, Mar 14:65, Luk 1:54, Luk 1:69, Luk 2:29, Luk 7:2, Luk 7:3, Luk 7:7, Luk 7:8, Luk 7:10, Luk 12:37, Luk 12:38, Luk 12:43, Luk 12:45, Luk 12:46, Luk 12:47, Luk 14:17, Luk 14:21, Luk 14:22, Luk 14:23, Luk 15:17, Luk 15:19, Luk 15:22, Luk 15:26, Luk 16:13, Luk 17:7, Luk 17:9, Luk 17:10, Luk 19:13, Luk 19:15, Luk 19:17, Luk 19:22, Luk 20:10, Luk 20:11, Luk 22:50, Joh 2:5, Joh 2:9, Joh 4:51, Joh 8:34, Joh 8:35, Joh 12:26, Joh 13:16, Joh 15:15, Joh 15:20, Joh 18:10, Joh 18:18, Joh 18:26, Joh 18:36, Act 2:18, Act 4:25, Act 4:29, Act 10:7, Act 16:17, Rom 1:1, Rom 6:16, Rom 6:17, Rom 6:18, Rom 6:19, Rom 6:20, Rom 6:22, Rom 14:4, Rom 16:1, Rom 16:27, 1Co 7:21, 1Co 7:22, 1Co 7:23, 1Co 9:19, 2Co 4:5, Gal 1:10, Gal 4:1, Gal 4:7, Eph 6:5, Eph 6:6, Php 1:1, Php 2:7, Col 1:7, Col 3:22, Col 4:1, Col 4:7, Col 4:12, 1Ti 6:1, 2Ti 2:24, Tit 1:1, Tit 2:9, Phm 1:16, Phm 1:25, Heb 3:5, Jas 1:1, 1Pe 2:16, 1Pe 2:18, 2Pe 1:1, 2Pe 2:19, Jud 1:1, Rev 1:1, Rev 2:20, Rev 6:11, Rev 7:3, Rev 10:7, Rev 11:18, Rev 15:3, Rev 19:2, Rev 19:5, Rev 19:10, Rev 22:3, Rev 22:6, Rev 22:9.

 

And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. (Rev 7:4)

Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand.  (Rev 7:5)

Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand.  (Rev 7:6)

Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand.  (Rev 7:7)

Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand.  (Rev 7:8)

144,000 of all the tribes of the children of Israel

• Each tribe had same amount
  • God is not a respecter of persons ‑ Acts 10:34-38, Deut 10:17, 2 Chr 19:7, Ro 2:11, Gal 2:6, Eph 6:9, Col 3:25, 1 Pet 1:17
• See notes on Rev 4:6-9 concerning the numbers 12 and 24
• 144,000 in Rev 14:1-5 – points to totality of God’s people
• 12,000
• God’s organization for spiritual battle
• see 1000 and 12
• New Jerusalem square – 12,000 furlongs – length, breadth and height all the same – Rev 21:16
• Rev 7:5-8 – 12 tribes of Israel each have 12,000 members for a total of 144,000
• 12,000 men of Ai fell in one day – Josh 8:25
• 12,000 valiant men sent to smite Jabesh-gilead – Judges 21:10
• 12,000 footmen – 2 Sam 10:6
• 12,000 men to pursue David – 2 Sam 17:1
• Solomon’s 12,000 horsemen – 1 Ki 4:26, 1 Ki 10:26, 2 Chr 1:14, 2 Chr 9:25
• Symbolic meaning of 1000
• Complete fullness
• see Rev 20:1-3, Rev 7:1-8, Ps 50:10, Ps 105:8, Ps 119:72, 2 Pet 3:8, Rev 20:1-8, Ps 84:10, Ps 90:4, Ps 91:7, Ecc 6:6, Ecc 7:28, 1 Sam 18:7, Deut 1:11, Deut 5:10, Deut 7:9
• Rev 20:1-3 – lived and reigned a 1000 years (symbolic of the church age)
• Symbolic Meaning of 12 – Represents the government of the work of the church of God as a pillar for sending forth truth
  • See notes on Rev 4:4
  • 12 Patriarchs / 12 tribes of Old Testament Israel, which was the church in the wilderness (Acts 7:38)
  • 12 Tribes of Israel – Acts 7:8-9, Gen 49:28, Ex 24:4, Ex 24:21, 39:14, Num 1:44
  • 12 Apostles – Mat 10:1-5, Acts 1, 6:2, 1 Cor 15:5-6, Lk 6:13, Mk 3:14
  • 12 disciples / apostles of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God for New Testament Christian church
  • 12 pillars connected to the writing of the Word of God by Moses – Ex 24:4
  • Israel is a type of the church (God’s People) – church in the wilderness – Acts 7:38
  • 12 Tribes (designation of which tribes varied, but the number 12 was always maintained) – Rev 7 with Num 1, 2 and 10, Gen 29:31 – Gen 30:24, Gen 35:16-19, Gen 49, etc.
  • 12 points to leadership
    • 12 princes leaders of tribes of Israel – Num 1:2-16, Num 1:44
    • 12 leaders of each tribe to search out the land – Deut 1:23, Num 13:3-13
    • Disciples to sit on 12 thrones of glory judging the 12 tribes of Israel – Lk 22:30, Mat 19:28
  • 12 to not serve tables, will not leave the Word of God (establishment of deacons) – Acts 6:2
    • Jacob begat the 12 patriarchs – Acts 7:8
    • 24 Elders – (see Rev 4:4, Rev 4:10, Rev 5:8, Rev 5:14, Rev 7:11, Rev 19:4)
  • 12 points to two sixes (work of the church in witnessing to the world)
    • 2 – points to witnessing the Gospel to the world
    • 6 – points to work
    • Jesus sent disciples out two by two (therefore, 6 groups of 2) – Mat 10:5, Mk 6:7
    • 6 wagons of offerings with 12 oxen – Num 7:3
    • Showbread (symbol for bread of life, word of God) arranged in two rows of six cakes – Lev 24:5

Rev 14:1-5:

And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads.  (Rev 14:1)

And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: (Rev 14:2)

And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.  (Rev 14:3)

These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.  (Rev 14:4)

And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.  (Rev 14:5)

• 144,000 are God’s people redeemed from the earth – Rev 14:3
  • agorazo –   to use or acquire at the market place (Rev 5:9, Rev 14:3-4, 2 Pet 2:1, 1 Cor 6:20, 1 Cor 7:23)
  • ekagorazo –   go to the market and buy out of the market (Gal 3:13, Gal 4:5)
  • lutroo –  pay for a slave (Titus 2:14, 1 Pet 1:18, Heb 9:12, Heb 9:15, Col 1:14, Eph 1:7, 1 Cor 1:30, Ro 3:24, Ro 8:23, Lk 2:38)
  • Slavery to Sin – Ro 6:6, Ro 6:17-18, Gal 4:3-11, Gal 4:21-31,Gal  5:1, Titus 3:1, 1 John 5:19, John 8:34, John 8:44, 2 Tim 2:25-26).
• 144,000 are virgins – Rev 14:4
  • Christians are spiritual ‘virgins’ waiting for the bridegroom – Mat 25:1-10
  • Christians espoused to Christ as a chaste virgin – 2 Cor 11:2
  • Not a spiritual adulterer/whoremonger – Jer 3:2‑9, Jer 29:23, Eze 16:20‑36, Eze 23:7‑43, Hos 1:2, Hos 2:2‑3, Hos 4:13‑14, see Rev 2:22
  • Not a spiritual fornicator – Eze 16:15, Eze 16:29, see Rev 2:14, Rev 2:20‑21, Rev 9:21
• Follows the Lamb
  • All Christians are disciples – John 8:31-32, Mat 6:19-21, Mat 8:21-22, Mat 9:9, Mat 12:30, Mat 16:24-27, Mat 20:29-34, Mat 24:27, Mat 28:19-20, John 8:12, John 8:30-32, John 6:48-58, John 9:27, John 10:3-5. John 10:26-28, John 12:24-26, Luke 9:23-26, Luk 9:57-62, Luk 11:23, luk 14:25-27, Luk 18:35-43 Mk 8:34-38, Mk 10:51-52, 1 Pet 2:21, Rev 14:4, 1 John 2:19, Acts 6:1, Acts 6:7, Acts 14:20, Acts 14:28, Acts 15:10, Acts 19:1, Ps 1:1-4, Ps 111:2, Ps 143:5
  • Wherever He goes – Will not forsake Christ (faithful in good times and in bad) – 2 Tim 2:11-13, Mat 10:32-33, Lk 9:26, Mk 8:38, Lk 12:8
• Firstfruits – Christians are firstfruits
  • Feast of firstfruits – Lev 23:9-14, Ex 34:26, 23:19 (16^th day of Nissan)
  • Picture of resurrection of Christ and Christians – 1 Cor 15:20-23, 1 Cor 16:15, Ro 8:23, Ro 16:5, James 1:18
• Mouth has no guile
  • Guile (gr: dolos – guile, deceit, subtlety)
  • False teachers are not Christians – 2 Cor 4:2, 1 Pet 2:1, 1 Pet 2:22, 1 Pet 3:10, Ro 3:13, 2 Cor 11:3, Mk 7:22, Ro 1:29, John 1:47, Mal 2:6, Zeph 3:13, Ps 32:2
  • Christians will not teach repetitive, significant false doctrine – 2 Cor 11:13-15, Jude 4, Jude 19-20, 1 Tim 6:3-5, Gal 1:6-9, 1 Tim 4:1-3, 2 John 7-11, 1 John 4:1-3, 2 Cor 11:12-15, 2 Tim 2:16-21, Acts 8:9-25, Mk 9:42, Mat 18:6, Lk 17:2
• Without fault / blameless
  • All Christians are seen as righteous – Heb 9:14, 1 Pet 1:19, Jude 24, etc.

Israel includes both pre-cross and post-cross people (Old Testament and New Testament)

• Salvation to Gentiles promised in OT:
  • Is 11:10 (w/ Ro 15:12), Is 27:9 (w/ Ro 11;27), Is 28:16 (w/ Ro 10:11), Is 41:8-9, Is 42:1-6 (w/ Ro 15:12, Mat 12:21, Lk 2:32, Acts 13:47), Is 45:14, Is 45:22-24, Is 49:6, Is 49:12, Is 49:23, Is 51:4, Is 51:52, Is 54:3, Is 55:5, Is 56:6-7 (w/ Mk 11:17), Is 56:8, Is 57:19 (w/ Eph 2:17),  Is 59:19-21 (w/ Ro 11:26), Is 60:1-16, Is 61:5-9, Is 62:2, Is 65:1 (w/ Ro 10:20), Is 66:12-19,  Ps 19:4 (w/ Ro 10:18), Ruth, Gen 38 (Tamar), Joshua 2,6 (Rahab, Heb 11:31), 2 Sam 22:50 (w/ Ro 15:9), Ps 18:49 (w/ Ro 15:9), Deut 32:43 (w/ Ro 15;10), Ps 117:1 (w/ Ro 15:11), Joel 2:32 (w/ Ro 10:13), Deut 32:31 (w/ Ro 10:19), Ps 98:3 (w/ Acts 28:28), Ps 22:27, Ps 2:8, Ps 82:8, Ps 67:7, Ps 33:8, Mal 1:11 (w/ Is 66:18-19), Hos 1:10, Hos 2:23 (w/ 1 Pet 2:10, Ro 9:25-26), Gen 12, 17, 18, 22 (w/ Ro 4:11-17, Gal 3:8,26-29), Jer 3:17, Jer 4:2,  Deut 29:15 (w/ Ro 9:6), Ps 46:10, Ps 47:8, Ps 59:5, Ps 79:10, Ps 80:8, Ps 96:3, Ps 96:10, Ps 102:15, Ps 110:6, Ps 126:2
• The New Testament Church is Israel
  • Ro 2:28-29, Ro 4:16, Ro 9:6-8, Ro 11:26, Ro 12:1, Ro 9:26 (w/ Hos 1:10), Rev 3:9, Rev 3:12, Rev 21:2,10 1 Pet 2:5-6, 1 Pet 2:10 (w/ Hos 1:10, Hos 2:23), Heb 3:7-4:11, Mat 19:27-28, Gal 2:15, Gal 3:7, Gal 3:16, Gal 3:28-29, Gal 4:26, Gal 6:16, 1 Cor 10:1, 1 Cor 10:18, Eph 2:11-22, Heb 8:10, Heb 10:16-17, Heb 12:22, Jer 31:34, 2 Pet 3:2 (w/ 2 Pet 1:19-21), Acts 5:31, Acts 7:52, Heb 2:12, Ps 22:22-23 (w/ Heb 2:12), Jude 5, John 11:52, Rev 21:12-15, James 1:1, Lk 6:26, Mat 15:24, Lk 1:33,54, Col 3:11, Gen 22:17, 2 Cor 6:16 (w/ Ez 37:15-28), Mat 10:6, Ez 34:11, Ps 78:52 (w/ John 10), Hos 11:1, Is 44:1-5, Amos 5:1, Amos 8:2, Mat 21:18-22, Mk 11:12-14
• Salvation to Gentiles proclaimed in NT:
  • Ro 2:9-16, Ro 9:24-30, Ro 3:28-30, Ro 4:11-17, Ro 15:8-13, Acts 26:23, Acts 28:28, Acts 2:27-31 with Joel 2:28-32, Is 35, Ez 39), Eph 2:18-22, Eph 3, Acts 10-11 (esp Acts 10:34-36, acts 11:17-18), Mk 7:24-30, Mat 15:21-28, Gal 3:6-9, Gal 3:26-29, John 4, Lk 2:32, John 3:16, John 10:16, Acts 14:16, Acts 17:30, Lk 13:28
• 12 tribes
• Reuben
• Gad
• Asher
• Nephtali
• Manasseh
• Simeon
• Levi
• Issachar
• Zebulon
• Joseph
• Benjamin
• Missing Tribes – Dan and Ephraim
• Joseph had 2 sons (Ephraim and Manasseh) – Gen 46:20, Gen 48:1, Gen 48:5, Gen 48:13, Gen 48:14, Gen 48:17, Gen 48:20, Gen 50:23, Num 1:10, Num 26:28, Deu 33:17, Deu 34:2, Jos 14:4, Jos 16:4, Jos 17:17

Dan (large tribe that could not conquer the promised land and resorted to idolatry in the Northern outpost city of Dan)

• 5^th son of Jacob – Gen 30:1-6 – (Bilhah, maid to Rachel – Bilhah’s only other child – Naphtali (Gen 35:25))
• Dan – literally, means to judge (God judged and heard the voice of Rachel) – Gen 30:6
• Gen 14:14 – Abram’s servants (318) pursed the captors of Lot unto Dan
• 2^nd largest tribe in wilderness after Judah – Num 1:38-39 (Judah – Num 1:26-27)
• Lead tribe of the Northern 3 tribes of Dan, Asher, Naphtali – Num 2:25-32
  • Dan was the rearward tribe when Israel went on the move – Num 10:25
• Dan – 1 Ki 12:29-30, 2 Ki 10:29, Amos 8:14 (golden calves)
• Samson, the judge from the tribe of Dan – Judges 13:2
  • Spirit of the Lord moved on Samson in Zorah and Eshtaol – Jud 13:25
• Might men of David included 28,600 Danites expert in war – 1 Chr 12:35
• Jacob’s prophecy of Dan – he will judge (rule) his people, be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path – Gen 49:17
• Dan as a lion’s whelp – Deut 33:22
• Aholiab – one of the lead makers of the tabernacle and its articles – Ex 31:6, Ex 35:34, Ex 38:23 (see larger context Ex 31:1-11, Ex 35:30-35)
• Son of woman of Dan (father Egyptian) blasphemed the name of the Lord and cursed brought to Moses – Lev 24:10-16
• One of the 6 tribes that stood on Mt. Ebal to curse – Deut 27:13 (Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, Naphtali)
• Moses viewed the promised land from Mt. Nebo – could see the land of Gilead unto Dan – Deut 34:1
• Josh 19:40-48 – Intended inheritance for Dan (7^th lot) – Josh 19:40-48 (west of Jerusalem to coast, just north of Phillistines) – cities include the coast of their inheritance which was Zorah, and Eshtaol, and Irshemesh, and Shaalabbin, and Ajalon, and Jethlah, and Elon, and Thimnathah, and Ekron, and Eltekeh, and Gibbethon, and Baalath, and Jehud, and Beneberak, and Gathrimmon, and Mejarkon, and Rakkon, with the border before Japho.
  • Dan gave 4 cities to the Kohathites (of Levi) – Eltekeh, Gibbethon, Aijalon, Gathrimmon (Josh 21:5, Josh 21:23)
  • Children of Dan forced into the mountains by Amorites – Jud 1:34
  • The coast was too small; therefore, they conquered Laish and renamed it Dan (northern city aff Naphtali – Josh 19:47
  • Dan sent 5 spies (men of valor from Zorah and Eshtaol) to spy out the land and at Mt. Ephraim they came to the house of Micah – Jud 18:2-6
  • Danites sought inheritance since they could not conquer their land – Jud 18:1
    • 600 men of war (Danites) search for a new land – Jud 18:16
    • 600 men stopped in house of Micah, took priest and idols and conquered Laish and renamed it Dan – Judges 18:16, Judges 18:22-30
  • Song of Deborah – Dan remained in ships – Jud 5:17
  • Dan (tribe of Dan) to Beersheba (tribe of Judah) represents the Northern and Southern extremities of Israel – Jud 20:1, 1 Sam 3:20, 2 Sam 3:10, 2 Ki 17:11, 2 Sam 24:2, 2 Sam 24:15, 1 Ki 4:25, 1 Chr 21:2, 2 Chr 30:5, Amos 8:14
  • 2 golden calves (idols) set up in Dan (city) and Bethel (Ephraim) – 1 Ki 12:29-30, 2 Ki 10:29
  • Based on King Asa (Judah), Behhadad of Syria smote Dan – 1 Ki 15:20, 2 Chr 16:4
  • Son of a woman of Dan (father of Tyre) skill and cunning for work of Solomon’s temple – 2 Chr 2:14
  • Judgment of the Lord – mention of Dan and Mt. Ephraim as well as Jerusalem – Jer 4:14-15
  • Impending judgment of God using Babylon (snorting of horses from Dan, the judge) – Jer 8:16
  • Inheritance for Dan – Eze 48:1-2
  • Gate of the city for Dan – Eze 48:32
  • Apostasy – swear by the sin of Samaria and say, ‘thy god’, O Dan lives, manner of Beersheba lives, but they will fall – Amos 8:14

Dan and Ephraim in Combination

• Judgment of the Lord – mention of Dan and Mt. Ephraim as well as Jerusalem – Jer 4:14-15
• Dan sent 5 spies (men of valor from Zorah and Eshtaol) to spy out the land and at Mt. Ephraim they came to the house of Micah – Jud 18:2-6
• 2 golden calves (idols) set up in Dan (city) and Bethel (Ephraim) – 1 Ki 12:25-30, 2 Ki 10:29, Judges 17-18 (Micah’s idol in Ephraim stolen by Dan)

Ephraim (symbolic of apostasy of God’s people – e.g., Shiloh and Bethel)

• Younger of 2 sons of Joseph – Manasseh and Ephraim (Gen 46:20, 48:1-5)
  • Mother was Asenth, the daughter of the Egyptian, Potiphera – Gen 46:20
  • Ephraim – literally, doubly fruitful
• Ephraim set before (birthright) Manasseh by Israel (Jacob) – Gen 48:17-20
• Ephraim not chosen – Ps 78:67 (see Ps 78:60 – Shiloh)
• Ephraim became symbolic of Northern 10 tribes of Israel – Is 11:13, Is 17:3, Is 28:1-3, Eze 37:16-19, Hos 4:17, 5:3-14, 9:3-16, 10:6-11, etc.
• Ephraim strength of head, Judah is lawgiver – Ps 60:7, Ps 108:8
• Ephraim turned back in the day of battle – Ps 78:9
• Ephraim not chosen by God – Ps 78:67
• Ephraim confederate with Syria – Jer 7:1-17
• Pride and drunkenness of Ephraim – Is 28:1-3
• Hope for salvation for Ephraim – Jer 31:6-20, Eze 37:16-19
• Sins of Ephraim: joined to idols (Hos 4:17, Hos 14:1), Played Harlot (Hos 5:3, Hos 6:10, Hos 8:9), stumbled in iniquity (Hos 5:5, Hos 7:1, Hos 8:11, Hos 13:12), followed the commands of men (Hos 5:11, went to Assyria for help (Hos 5:13, Hos 7:11, Hos 9:3), mixed with heathen nations (Hos 7:8), gave children for slaughter (Hos 9:13), no fruit (Hos 9:16), received shame (Hos 10:6), lies (Hos 11:12), thinks they are rich (Hos 12:8), exalted himself (Hos 13:1-2)
• Head of Ephraim is Samaria (of Manasseh) – Is 7:9
• Ephraim was lead tribe on the west side of the congregation in the wilderness over Mannasseh and Benjamin – Num 2:18-24
• Ephraim territory was just west of Dan and North of Benjamin – Josh 16:5-10 (Taanathshiloh), 1 Chr 7:28-29
• Ephraim (and Manasseh) not content with size of inheritance and pursed larger (Josh 17:14-18)
• Ephraim 3^rd smallest tribe in wilderness after Manasseh and Benjamin – Num 1:32-37
• One of the gates of Jerusalem (on north side) – 2 Ki 14:13, 2 Chr 25:23

Shiloh and Bethel, the notable cities of Ephraim

• Shiloh
• Shiloh (literally, tranquil / peace) – a type of Jesus Christ (tribe of Judah) – Gen 49:10
• Shiloh was the house of God before Jerusalem – Jud 18:31, Josh 18:1, 1 Sam 1:24, 1 Sam 3:2
  • Hannah brings Samuel to house of the Lord at Shiloh – 1 Sam 1:24
  • Whole congregation of Israel met at Shiloh to set up the tabernacle – Josh 18:1
• Joshua cast lots at the door of the tabernacle for the division of the promised land – Josh 18:8-10, Josh 19:51
• Cities of Levites appointed cities at Shiloh – Josh 21:2
• Reuben, Gad and ½ Tribe of Manasseh depart Shiloh for their land east of the Jordan – Josh 22:9
• Israel assemble at Shiloh to challenge 2 ½ tribes since they built an altar at Jordan River – Josh 22:12
• 400 virgins for tribe of Benjamin brought to Shiloh – Jud 21:12
• Daughters of Shiloh who danced out of vineyards for Benjamin – Jud 21:21
• Yearly feast of the Lord (north of Bethel, east of highway from Bethel to Shechem, south of Lebonah – Jud 21:19
• Elkanah (father of Samuel) worshiped / sacrificed yearly at Shiloh – 1 Sam 1:3, 1 Sam 1:9
• Hannah offered Samuel to serve under Eli – 1 Sam 1:24
• Sons of Eli corrupt in Shiloh – 1 Sam 2:12-14
• Shiloh was where Israel was in apostasy under Eli, Hophni, Phinehas – 1 Sam 2:11-36
• Lord appeared in Shiloh to Samuel – 1 Sam 3:21
• Ark taken into battlefield against Philistines, ark taken, Eli’s sons killed – 1 Sam 4:1-11
• Eli dies in Shiloh due to ark taken – 1 Sam 4:12-18
• Ark moved out of Shiloh – 1 Sam 4:3-4, 1 Ki 2:27
  • Micah’s idol at Dan while the house of the Lord was at Shiloh – Jud 18:31
• Ahiah, descendent of Eli at Shiloh at the time of Saul – 1 Sam 14:3
• 1 Ki 2:27 removed Abiathar from being priest to fulfill Word of God concerning Eli – 1 Ki 2:27 (see 1 Sam 2:30-36)
• Shiloh became a curse – Jer 7:12-15, Jer 26:6-9 (Shiloh represents all Ephraim)
• Ahijoah the Shilonite speaks to Jeroboam (prophecy of garment rent into 12 pieces, 10 to Jeroboam) – 1 Ki 11:29-39, 1 Ki 12:15
• Ahijah’s prophecy to Jeroboam’s wife that child will die and Jeroboam will experience evil – 1 Ki 14:1-18, 1 Ki 15:29, 2 Chr 10:15
• Written in the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite – 2 Chr 9:29
• God forsakes his tent in Shiloh – Ps 78:58-64 (see 1 Sam 4)
• God’s name set at first in Shiloh but it left due to wickedness of people (example for Judah) – Jer 7:12-16, Jer 26:6-9
• Men from Shechem, Shiloh and Samaria with offerings to the house of the Lord killed by Ishmael – Jer 41:5-7
• Bethel
  • Bethel (literally, ‘house of God’)
  • Abraham moves just east of Bethel, sets up an altar, called upon the name of the Lord – Gen 12:8, Gen 13:3
  • Jacob’s dream ladder ascending to heaven, calls the place Bethel (originally called Luz) – Gen 28:19 (overall context is Gen 28:10-22)
  • In a dream, angel of God says that God is of Bethel and tells Jacob to go back to the land of his fathers – Gen 31:13, Hos 12:4
  • God tells Jacob to go to Bethel to dwell, make an altar to God – Gen 35:1-7
  • Calls the place Elbethel (H416, literally God of Bethel, only occurrence of H416) – Gen 35:7
  • Deborah, Rebekkah’s nurse dies and buried under an oak in Bethel – Gen 35:8
  • God speaks with Jacob (blesses him and names him Israel) – Gen 35:10-16
  • Joshua at Ai (east side of Bethel) – view the country, war with people of Ai and Bethel, other battles near Bethel – Josh 7:2, Josh 8:9, Josh 8:12-17, Josh 12:9, Josh 12:16
  • Lot of land = children of Joseph includes Bethel – Josh 16:2
  • Bethel and Luz separated – Josh 16:2, but again combined – Josh 18:13
  • Bethel bordered on Benjamin’s inheritance – Josh 18:13 (see Judges 1:22-26)
  • Bethel originally assigned to Benjamin – Josh 18:22
  • Joseph (Ephraim) given Bethel by the Lord (new Luz built) – Jud 1:22-26, 1 Chr 7:28
  • Deborah dwelled under palm tree near Bethel in Mt. Ephraim – children of Israel came to her for judgment – Jud 4:5
  • Shiloh (yearly feast) north of Bethel – Jud 21:19
  • Samuel’s yearly circuit – Bethel, Gilgal and Mizpeh, judged Israel – 1 Sam 7:16
  • Where people went to sacrifice / worship – 1 Sam 10:3
  • Saul’s men stationed in Bethel – 1 Sam 13:2
  • David sent spoils to Bethel – 1 Sam 30:27
  • Jeroboam’s golden calves / sacrifice / offering / 8^th month, 15^th day – Bethel and Dan – 1 Ki 12:29-33, 2 Ki 10:29 (Jehu did not depart from them)
  • Man of God from Judah came to Bethel / prophesies of Josiah / Jeroboam by the altar / Hand withered – 1 Ki 13:10
  • Old prophet in Bethel and the man of God’s disobedience – 1 Ki 13:11-34
  • Hiel the Bethelite built Jericho / sons died based on Joshua’s prophecy – 1 Ki 16:34
  • Elijah and Elisha go to Bethel / old prophets prophesy of Elijah’s death and Elijah taken to heaven – 2 Ki 2:2-3
  • Elisha on way to Bethel – children mock his bld head – 2 Ki 2:23
  • Israel conquered, priest from Samaria went to Bethel to teach new occupants to fear the Lord – 2 Ki 17:28
  • Josiah cleanses Bethel / altar / high places removed / man of God and prophets ashes returned – 2 Ki 23:4, 2 Ki 23:15-19
  • Abijah pursued Jeroboam too Bethel – 2 Chr 13:19
  • Ezra / Nehemiah numbered men of Bethel – Ezr 2:28, Neh 7:32, Neh 11:31
  • Israel ashamed of Bethel, their confidence – Jer 48:13
  • Bethel shall do to Ephraim due to great wickedness – Hos 10:15
  • God will visit the altars of Bethel, horns to be cut off – Amos 3:14
  • Transgression / sacrifice at Bethel – Amos 4:4
  • Seek not Bethel – Bethel shall come to nought – Amos 5:5
  • Fire not quenched in Bethel – Amos 5:6
  • Amaziah, priest of Bethel sent to Jeroboam about not being able to bear the words of Amos / told not to prophesy – Amos 7:10, Amos 7:13
• Levi not to gain and inheritance (priests) – Josh 13:14,33
• Not numbered, priests – Num 1:19, 3:6,15, 8:6-26, etc
• Priests of Old Covenant (Heb 8:6-13)

Rev 7:9-17 – The Great Multitude from the Great Tribulation

After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;

(Rev 7:9)

And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.

(Rev 7:10)

And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,

(Rev 7:11)

Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.

(Rev 7:12)

Great multitude which no man could number

• Great – (Greek: polos, literally, many) – G4183 – 365 occurrences
• Multitude – (Greek: ochlos – literally, group of people) – G3793 – 176 occurrence
  • Often used of those who followed Jesus – Mat 4:25, 12:15, 13:2, etc.
• General reference to many are God’s people – Gen 49:10, Psa 2:8, Psa 22:27, Psa 72:7-11, Psa 76:4, Psa 77:2, Psa 98:3, Psa 110:2-3, Psa 117:1-2, Isa 2:2-3, Isa 49:6-8, Isa 60:1-14, Jer 3:17, Jer 16:19, Zec 2:11, Zec 8:20-23, Rom 15:9-12, Rev 5:11, Rev 11:15

• Which no man could number – refers to Christians are hidden with Christ
  • Abraham’s descendants (God’s people) – Gen 13:16, Gen 17:4, Ro 4:16, Ro 4:23-25, Gal 3:6-29
    • Sand of the sea – Heb 11:12, Hos 1:10, Gen 22:17, Gen 32:12, 2 Sa 17:11, 1 Ki 4:20, Isa 10:22, Is 48:19, Jer 33:22, Rom 9:27, Rev 20:8.
    • Innumerable multitude – Lk 12:1
  • David punished for numbering Israel – 2 Sam 24
  • Christians are hid with Christ – Col 3:3, 1 Pet 3:4, Rev 2:17, 1 John 3:1, Mat 13:33-34, Mat 13:24-30 with Mat 13:36-43
  • Creation waits for the revealing of God’s people – Ro 8:18-20
• Of all nations, kindreds, peoples and tongue – see Rev 5:9, Rev 7:1-8 notes
• God is not a respecter of persons – Acts 10:34-38, Deut 10:17, 2 Chr 19:7, Ro 2:11, Gal 2:6, Eph 6:9, Col 3:25, 1 Pet 1:17
• Saves those from all nations – see notes on Rev 5:6, Rev 7:9, Rev 10:11, Rev 11:9, Rev 14:6, Rev 17:15
  • Tribe (kindred) – This Greek word (phule) points to those of kin (blood relationship, race), for example ‘tribe of Israel’ – Luk 2:36, Act 13:21, Rom 11:1, Phi 3:5, Heb 7:13-14 (2), Rev 7:5-8 (13), Mat 19:28, Luk 22:30 (2), Jam 1:1, Rev 7:4, Rev 21:12, Rev 1:7, Rev 11:9 (2), Rev 13:7, Rev 5:9, Rev 14:6
  • Tongues – This Greek word (glossa) refers to one’s spoken language (Acts 1:19, 2:3-4, 11, 26, Rev 5:9, etc).
  • Peoples (Gr: laos) – This represents a group that is connected by one cause or purpose. An important example is that all true Christians from whatever background, creed, language, culture, race, etc. become one people as Christians (Rev 21:3, Heb 8:10, 2 Cor 6:18, Hos 1:10, 2:23, 1 Pet 2:10, Ro 9:25, Mat 1:231, Ro 8:29, etc.). A people could also be a group of individuals that rally behind a political figure, a society that is governed by a ruler, a social cause or any other reason by which they are unified.
  • Nations – The Greek word for nations is ‘ethnos’, which means a group of people who have a common ethnic (or cultural) background. This word is used extensively to refer to ‘gentiles’, which were those who were outside of the commonwealth of Israel (Eph 2:11-12).  This word should not be used in the context of people who live in a particular country unless the people of the country are all of the same ethnicity.

Stand before the throne and the Lamb

• Stand (opposite of lame) – see notes on Rev 6:17, Eph 6:12-16, Ps 1:5, Ro 14:4, Phil 4:1

White robe – see Rev 1:13, Rev 3:4-5, Rev 3:18, Rev 6:11, Rev 7:9, Rev 7:13, Rev 19:8, Rev 19:14 notes

• Robe of Christ’s righteousness – see notes on Rev 1:13, Gal 3:27, Is 61:10
• White represents – clean / no sin / holiness – see Rev 1:14-15 notes
• White represents holiness – Dan 12:10, Dan 11:35, Dan 9:7, Is 1:18, 2 Chr 5:12, Ecc 9:8, Song 5:10, Rev 7:14, Rev 7:9-13, Rev 1:14, Rev 2:7, Rev 3:5, Rev 3:18, Rev 19:8, Rev 19:11, Rev 19:14
• Not naked (symbol of not being saved) – Gen 3:6-11, Rev 3:17-18, Lam 1:8, Is 47:2-3, Is 61:10, Gal 3:27

Palm branches in their hands

• Palm (Gr: phoinix (G5404), 2 occurrences) – Rev 7:9 and John 12:13 (Jesus’ triumphal entry – Palms)
  • Also G5403 Phoinike (Acts 11:19, Acts 15:3, Acts 21:19 – Phenice) and G5405 (Phoinix) Phenice – Acts 27:42
  • Palm (Heb: tamar (H8558) – Exo 15:27, Lev 23:40, Num 33:9, Deu 34:3, Jdg 1:16, Jdg 3:13, 2Ch 28:15, Neh 8:15, Psa 92:12, Son 7:7-8 (2), Joe 1:12 – see also H8559, H8560, H8561
    • Feast of Tabernacles – Lev 23:40
    • Lev 23:33‑44, Zech 14:16, Deut 16:13, Ex 23:16, Ex 34:22, Ex 39:43, Deut 8:7‑18, Deut 31:10‑13, Neh 8
    • Picture of the eternal state after the harvest ‑ Zech 14:16‑21, Deut 16:13‑15, Ezra 3:4, Rev 21:3, Mat 17:4
    • God tabernacles with men ‑ Rev 7:15, 21:3, also linked to transfiguration ‑ Mat 17:4
  • Palms represent righteousness – Ps 92:12-13
  • Palms and the triumphal entry of Christ – Mat 21:8, John 12:13, Mk 11:8
  • Jericho – city of Palms – Deut 34:3, Judges 1:16, Judges 3:13, 2 Chr 28:15
  • Hands – the will of a person – see notes on Rev 1:16, Rev 6:5

7:10

Loud voice – importance of the Word of God – see notes on Rev 1:10, Rev 5:2, Rev 6:10

Salvation to God and the Lamb

• Those who are saved know the source of their salvation
• God alone is source of salvation – Acts 4:12, John 14:6, 1 Tim 2:4-6
• Belongs to God – Ps 3:8, Rev 19:1
• Author of salvation – Rev 12:10, Heb 2:10
• God is Savior ‑ Acts 2:21, Jude 25 w/ Ps 106:21, Hos 13:4, Is 45:5,21, Is 43:3, Is 43:11‑13, Is 41:4, 48:12
• Jesus is Savior ‑ Acts 4:12, 5:31, 13:23, Eph 5:23, Phil 3:20, 2 Tim 1:10, Titus 1:4, 2:13, 3:6, 2 Pet 1:11,2:20, 3:2,18, 1 John 4:14, Lk 2:11, John 4:42, Ro 10:9
• Our Savior ‑ Jehovah is Savior ‑ Is 43:3,11, Is 45:15,21, Is 49:26, Is 60:16, Is 63:8
• Savior ‑ Jer 14:8
• Only Savior ‑ Hos 13:4, Is 43:11, Acts 4:12

On throne

• Refers to kingship and judgment (see notes on Rev 1:4, Rev 3:21, Rev 4:1-2, etc)

Lamb

• Jesus Christ as the sacrifice offered for sins – see notes on Rev 5:6-8

7:11

Angels around throne, elders, amd four living creatures

• Angels are different than Cherubim – see notes on Rev 4:6-8
• Angels are messengers – angels are ministering spirits – Heb 1:14 (see notes on Rev 1:1, Rev 5:11-12)

Fell on faces and worshiped God

• His creation worships Him – see notes on Rev 4:10

7:12

7 Praises to God

• 7 – see notes on 4:11, 5:12,14 etc
• Amen (Gr: amen (G281) 152 occurrences in NT from the Hebrew (H543) – 30 occurrences)
  • Literally – verily, truly (trustworthy) – God is truth (John 14:6, John 1:14, John 1:17, John 8:32, 1 John 5:6, 1 John 5:20, Rev 19:11, etc. – see notes on Rev 1:5, Rev 3:7, Rev 3:14, Rev 5:14)
  • NT – only used as ‘verily’ and ‘amen’ in KJV
  • ‘Verily I say unto you’ – Jesus used this expression 68 times – Mat 5:18, Mat 6:2, Mat 6:5, Mat 6:16, Mat 8:10, Mat 10:15, Mat 10:23, Mat 10:42, Mat 11:11, Mat 13:17, Mat 16:28, Mat 17:20, Mat 18:3, Mat 18:13, Mat 18:18, Mat 19:23, Mat 19:28, Mat 21:21, Mat 21:31, Mat 23:36, Mat 24:2, Mat 24:34, Mat 24:47, Mat 25:12, Mat 25:40, Mat 25:45, Mat 26:13, Mat 26:21, Mar 3:28, Mar 6:11, Mar 8:12, Mar 9:1, Mar 9:41, Mar 10:15, Mar 10:29, Mar 11:23, Mar 12:43, Mar 13:30, Mar 14:9, Mar 14:18, Mar 14:25, Luk 4:24, Luk 11:51, Luk 12:37, Luk 13:35, Luk 18:17, Luk 18:29, Luk 21:32, Joh 1:51, Joh 5:19, Joh 5:24, Joh 5:25, Joh 6:26, Joh 6:32, Joh 6:47, Joh 6:53, Joh 8:34, Joh 8:51, Joh 8:58, Joh 10:1, Joh 10:7, Joh 12:24, Joh 13:16, Joh 13:20, Joh 13:21, Joh 14:12, Joh 16:20, Joh 16:23.
    • The 25 occurrences in John is verily, verily
  • All the world could not contain all the things Jesus did – John 21:25
  • OT – 12 occurrences concerning the curses for disobedience – Deu 27:15, Deu 27:16, Deu 27:17, Deu 27:18, Deu 27:19, Deu 27:20, Deu 27:21, Deu 27:22, Deu 27:23, Deu 27:24, Deu 27:25, Deu 27:26.
  • Is 65:16 – the God of truth
  • Amen, Amen – agreement with God’s truth – Neh 8:6, Ps 41:13, Ps 72:19, Ps 89:52, Num 5:22
  • Ps 106:48 – Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting …
  • The Lord perform His words – Jer 28:6, Jer 11:5
  • Congregation agrees with God’s words – Neh 5:13, 1 Chr 16:36
  • Blessed and Amen together – 1 Chr 16:36, Neh 8:6, Ps 41:13, Ps 72:19, Ps 89:52, Ps 106:48, Ro 1:25, Ro 9:5
• Blessing
  • NT – Gr: eulogia, literally ‘good word’, which points to the highest spiritual good – see G2127, G2128, G2129 – total of 68 occurrences
  • OT – Heb: barak (H1288), to kneel, 330 occurrences
  • Different than the Greek word ‘makarios’, G3107, 50 occurrences, which refers to being ‘well off’ (e.g., 1 Cor 7:40, beatitudes of Mat 5:3-11)
  • Blessing – the highest spiritual good – salvation
    • Opposite of cursing (therefore, highest spiritual good) – Gen 12:3; Gen  27:12; Gen  27:29; Num 22:6; Num  22:12; Num 23:11; Num 23:25; Num 24:9; Num  24:10; Deu  11:26; Deu  11:29; Deu  23:5; Deu  29:19; Deu  30:1; Deu  30:19; Jos  8:34; Jdg  17:2; Neh  13:2; Psa  37:22; Psa  62:4; Psa  109:17; Psa  109:28; Pro  3:33; Pro  11:26; Pro  27:14; Pro  30:11; Jer  20:14; Zec  8:13; Mal  2:2; Mat  5:44; Luk  6:28; Rom 12:14; Jas 3:9; Jas  3:10.
    • Blessings and cursing – Deut 27-28
  • God is blessed because He redeems His people – Lk 1:68
  • Jesus is the Son of the Blessed – Mk 14:61, 2 Cor 11:31, Eph 1:3, 1 Pet 1:3
  • God, the Creator is blessed forever – Ro 1:25, Ro 9:5, 2 Cor 1:3, Rev 7:12
  • Blessed is He who comes in the name of God (Jesus) – Mat 21:9, Mat 23:39, Mk 11:9-10, Lk 13:35, Lk 19:38, John 12:13
  • Jesus blesses the bread (symbol for word of God) – Mat 14:19, Mk 6:41, Mat 26:26, Mk 8:7, Mk 14:22, Lk 9:16, Lk 24:30
  • Jesus blesses His people – Lk 24:50-51, Mat 25:34, Mk 10:16, Lk 1:28, Lk 1:42, Lk 2:28, Heb 7:1, Acts 3:26, Heb 6:14
    • Those of faith blessed with faithful Abraham – Gal 3:9, Gal 3:14, Heb 6:14
    • Blessed with spiritual blessings in heavenly places – Eph 1:3
    • The blessing of the Gospel of Christ – Ro 15:29, Heb 6:7
    • Sow the gospel – 2 Cor 9:5-6
    • Melchizedek blesses Abraham – Heb 7:1, Heb 7:6-7
    • Patriarchs bless their sons – Heb 11:20-21
    • Communion cup I a blessing (symbolic of salvation) – 1 Cor 10:16
    • Esau rejected the blessing – Heb 12:17
  • How we bless God – Reverence (Ps 135:19‑21), Serve (Ps 134:1), Prayer (Ps 28:6, Ps 184:2) , Obey (Ps 103:20‑22) , Praise (Ps 34:1‑2, Ps 115:18, Ps 145:1‑2, Ps 145:21), Worship (1 Chr 29:20, Lk 24:53, Lk 1:64)
  • Bless them that persecute and curse you – Mat 5:44, Lk 6:28, Ro 12:14, 1 Cor 4:12, James 3:9-10, 1 Pet 3:9
  • False blessing (fair speeches) meant to deceive – Ro 16:18
  • Blessing be to the Lamb of God – Rev 5:12-13
• Glory
  • Gr: doxa (G1391, 168 occurrences), also glorified (G1392), 62 occurrences
  • Literally – to be made very apparent
  • Due to who He is ‑ Ro 11:36, Lk 2;14, Ro 1:23, 2 Cor 1:20, Is 6:3, Ex 33:18‑22, etc. – see Rev 4:8‑9
  • Christians are hid with Christ – Col 3:3, 1 Pet 3:4, Rev 2:17, 1 John 3:1, Mat 13:33-34, Mat 13:24-30 with Mat 13:36-43
  • Transfiguration – 2 Pet 1:17, Mat 17:1-6, Mk 9:2-7, Lk 9:28-36
    • Christians are being transformed – 2 Cor 3:18, Ro 12:2
  • Source: From Nave’s topical Bible:
  • Glorifying God Commanded – 1Ch 16:28, Psa 22:23, Isa 42:12
  • Due to Him – 1Ch 16:29
    • For His holiness – Psa 99:9, Rev 15:4
    • For His mercy and truth – Psa 115:1, Rom 15:9
    • For His faithfulness and truth – Isa 25:1
    • For His wondrous works – Mat 15:31, Act 4:21
    • For His judgments – Isa 25:3, Eze 28:22, Rev 14:7
    • For His deliverances – Psa 50:15
    • For His grace to others – Act 11:18, 2Co 9:13, Gal 1:24
  • Accomplished by:
    • Relying on His promises – Rom 4:20
    • Praising Him – Psa 50:23
    • Doing all to glorify Him – 1Co 10:31
    • Dying for Him – Joh 21:19
    • Suffering for Christ – 1Pe 4:14, 1Pe 4:16
    • Glorifying Christ – Act 19:17, 2Th 1:12
    • Bringing forth fruits of righteousness – Joh 15:8, Phi 1:11
    • Patience in affliction – Isa 24:15
    • Faithfulness – 1Pe 4:11
  • Required in body and spirit – 1Co 6:20
  • Shall be universal – Psa 86:9, Rev 5:13
  • Saints:
    • Should resolve on – Psa 69:30, Psa 118:28
    • Unite in – Psa 34:3, Rom 15:6
    • Persevere in – Psa 86:12
  • All the blessings of God are designed to lead to – Isa 60:21, Isa 61:3
  • The holy example of the saints may lead others to – Mat 5:16, 1Pe 2:12
  • All, by nature, fail in – Rom 3:23
  • The wicked averse to – Dan 5:23, Rom 1:21
  • Punishment for not- Dan 5:23, Dan 5:30, Mal 2:2, Act 12:23, Rom 1:21
  • Heavenly hosts engaged in – Rev 4:11
  • Exemplified by:
    • David – Psa 57:5, The multitude – Mat 9:8, Mat 15:31, The virgin Mary – Luk 1:46, The angels – Luk 2:14, The shepherds – Luk 2:20, Jesus – Joh 17:4, The man sick of the palsy – Luk 5:25, The woman with infirmity – Luk 13:13, The leper whom Jesus healed – Luk 17:15, The blind man – Luk 18:43, The centurion – Luk 23:47, The church at Jerusalem- Act 11:18, The Gentiles at Antioch – Act 13:48, Abraham – Rom 4:20, Paul – Rom 11:36
  • Glory
    • God is, to His people – Psa 3:3, Zec 2:5
    • Christ is, to His people – Isa 60:1, Luk 2:32
    • The gospel ordained to be, to saints – 1Co 2:7
    • Of the gospel exceeds that of the law – 2Co 3:9-10
    • The joy of saints is full of – 1Pe 1:8
    • Is given by God – Psa 84:11
    • Is given by Christ – Joh 17:22
    • Is the work of the Holy Ghost (changed into the same image, from glory to glory)- 2Co 3:18
  • Eternal glory:
    • Procured by the death of Christ – Heb 2:10
    • Accompanies salvation by Christ – 2Ti 2:10
    • Inherited by saints – 1Sa 2:8, Psa 73:24, Pro 3:35, Col 3:4, 1Pe 5:10
    • Saints called to – 2Th 2:14, 1Pe 5:10
    • Saints prepared unto – Rom 9:23
    • Enhanced by afflictions – 2Co 4:17
    • Present afflictions not worthy to be compared with – Rom 8:18
    • Of the church shall be rich and abundant – Isa 60:11-13
    • The bodies of saints shall be raised in – 1Co 15:43, Phi 3:21
    • Saints shall be, of their ministers – 1Th 2:19-20
    • Afflictions of ministers are, to saints – Eph 3:13
  • Temporal glory:
    • Is given by God – Dan 2:37
    • Passes away – 1Pe 1:24
    • The devil tries to seduce by – Mat 4:8
    • Of hypocrites turned to shame – Hos 4:7
    • Seek not, from man – Mat 6:2, 1Th 2:6
    • Of the wicked is in their shame – Phi 3:19
    • Ends in destruction – Isa 5:14
  • Glory Of God:
    • Exhibited in Christ – Joh 1:14, 2Co 4:6, Heb 1:3
  • Glory Exhibited in:
    • His name – Deu 28:58, Neh 9:5
    • His majesty – Job 37:22, Psa 93:1, Psa 104:1, Psa 145:5, Psa 145:12, Isa 2:10
    • His power – Exo 15:1, Exo 15:6, Rom 6:4
    • His works – Psa 19:1, Psa 111:3
    • His holiness – Exo 15:11
    • Described as Great – Psa 138:5
    • Eternal – Psa 104:31
    • Rich – Eph 3:16
    • Highly exalted – Psa 8:1, Psa 113:4
  • Exhibited to:
    • Moses – Exo 34:5-7, Exo 33:18-23
    • Stephen – Act 7:55
    • His church – Deu 5:24, Psa 102:16
  • Enlightens the church – Isa 60:1-2, Rev 21:11, Rev 21:23
  • Saints desire to behold – Psa 63:2, Psa 90:16
  • God is jealous of – Isa 42:8
  • The earth is full of – Isa 6:3
  • The knowledge of, shall fill the earth – Hab 2:14
  • Those who do not glorify God – Ro 1:21, Rev 14:7, Rev 15:4, Ps 86:9
  • Wisdom (Gr: sophia)
    • Wisdom is defined as the right (well) use of knowledge – Pr 15:2
    • Wisdom intimately connected with the Word of God – Job 28, Pr 1:2,7, Pr 2:2‑10, Pr 3:13, Pr 3:19, Pr 4:4‑11, 1 Chr 22:12, 1 Cor 1:17‑2:13, 2 Cor 1:12, Eph 1:8, Eph 1:17, Eph 3:10, Col 1:9, Col 1:28, Col 2:3, Col 2:23, Col 3:16, James 1:5, James 3:15‑17, 2 Pet 3:15, Rev 13:18
    • Wisdom in Christ ‑ Col 2:3
    • Christ is wisdom ‑ 1 Cor 1:24, 1 Cor 1:30, Lk 11:49
    • Wise God ‑ Ps 104:24, Pr 3:19, Pr 8:22‑36, John 1:1‑3, 1 Cor 1:24‑30, Heb 1:3, Dan 2:20, Ro 11:33
    • Not by man’s wisdom – Jer 4:22, Col 2:8, Ro 1:22, Is 29:14, James 3:15, 2 Cor 1:12-13, Col 2:23, 1 Cor 1:19, 1 Cor 2:6, 1 Cor 3:18-20 (foolishness), Ro 1:21-22, Acts 17:18, Col 2:8, Gal 1:11, 1 Cor 1-2, Job 5:13, 1 Cor 2:6, Is 29:14-16, Is 44:25
  • Thanksgiving (Gr: eucharista)
    • Neh 12:8, Neh 12:46; Psa 50:14, Psa 95:2, Psa 100:4, Ps 105:1-5, Ps 106:1, Ps 107:1-2, Ps 107:22, Psa 107:22, Psa 116:17, Ps 118:1, Psa 147:7; Isa 51:3; Jer 33:9, Jer 33:11; Jon 2:9; 2Co 4:15, 2Co 9:11-12; Col 2:7, Col 3:17, Col 4:2, Col 1:12, Phil 4:6
    • In everything, give thanks – 1 Thess 5:16-18, Eph 5:20, Col 3:15, Col 2:7
    • Not thankful to God – Ro 1:21, Lk 17:11-18, 2 Tim 3:2,
  • Honor (Gr: time (G5092, see also G5091, G5093, G5094), literally to ‘value’)
    • A Son honors his father ‑ a command ‑ Ex 20:12, Eph 6:2, Mat 15:4‑6
    • What we should do to our heavenly Father – 1 Tim 1:17, 1 Tim 6:16, Heb 2:7‑9, Heb 3:3, Rev 5:12‑13, Rev 4:11, Rev 19:1, Rev 4:8‑9
    • What Christ did to His father ‑ see Rev 4:9, Rev 5:12‑13, John 8:49, Heb 5:8‑9, John 6:38, John 14:31
    • Hope in this life only is to be pitied – 1 Cor 15:19
    • Dishonor (Gr: atimazo, G818, G819, G820, G821) – 18 occurrences
      • Christ dishonored – John 8:49
      • Unsaved dishonor their bodies – Ro 1:24-26
      • Dishonor the poor – James 2:6
      • God dishonored by breaking the law – Ro 2:23
      • God’s prophets / people treated shamefully – Lk 20:11, Acts 5:41, 2 Cor 6:8, 2 Cor 11:21, 1 Cor 4:10, Mk 12:4
      • Prophet not without honor except in his own land – Mat 13:57, Mk 6:4
      • One vessel for honor, another for dishonor – Ro 9:21, 2 Tim 2:20, 1 Cor 12:23
      • Christians die in dishonor – 1 Cor 15:43
      • Man with long hair – 1 Cor 11:14
    • Value the world / Love of this world condemned – Eph 2:2, 1 John 2:15-17, Col 3:1-2, 1 Tim 6:10, John 15:19, Ro 12:2, Mat 6:24, Lk 16:13, James 4:4
  • Power (Gr: dunamis – points to explosive, supernatural source of ability, often as salvation, work of the Holy Spirit)
    • Gr: dunamis ‑ 1 Pet 3:22, Rev 7:12, Ro 8:38, 2 Thess 2:9, Eph 6:12, 1 Cor 15:24, Eph 1:21, 3:10, Lk 10:19
    • Christ comes in power – Mat 24:29-30, Mk 13:26, Lk 21:27
    • Christs sits at the right hand of God’s power – Mat 22:69, Mat 26:64, Mk 14:62
    • Jesus as the sun that shines in its strength (power) – Rev 1:16
    • Disciples to wait in Jerusalem to receive power of God (Holy Spirit) – Lk 24:49, Acts 1:8
    • Christians are kept by the power of God through faith ‑ 1 Pet 1:5
    • Power of Christ resides in Christians – 2 Cor 12:9
    • Work of faith in power – 2 Thess 1:11
    • Given to us all things pertaining to salvation ‑ 2 Pet 1:3
    • Christians raised in power – 1 Cor 15:43
    • Having a form of godliness, by denying its power – 2 Tim 3:5
    • Hope through the power of the Holy Spirit – Ro 15:13
    • Paul, by the power of the Spirit of God – Ro 15:19
    • Christians given the Spirit of power 2 Tim 1:7-8
    • Christians to be raised by the power of God – 1 Cor 6:14, 1 Cor 15:43
    • God’s creation shows His power – Ro 1:20
    • Power of the Lord Jesus Christ – 1 Cor 5:4
    • Jesus anointed with power – Acts 10:38
    • Peaching of Word of God – Ro 1:16 (Gospel is the power of God), 1 Cor 1:18, 1 Cor 1:24, 1 Cor 2:4‑5, 1 Cor 4:19‑20, 1 Cor 5:4, etc
    • Power of the word of Christ – Heb 1:3
    • Perseverance ‑ 2 Cor 12:9, 2 Cor 13:4
    • Translated as ‘miracles’ – Act 2:22, Act 8:13, Act 19:11, 1Co 12:10, 1Co 12:28-29 (2), Gal 3:5, Heb 2:4
    • Dragon (Satan) gives the beast his power – Rev 13:2, 2 Thess 2:9
    • Christ puts down all other power – 1 Cor 15:24
  • Might (Gr: ischus- G2478 / ischuros- G2479, to have strength) – 38 occurrences
    • Hebrew: H1368, gibbor – 159 occurrences
      • Deu 10:17, Psa 24:8, Ps 78:65, Is 42:13, Jer 20:11, Jer 32:18, Zeph 3:17
    • Hebrew: H7706, almighty (El shadday)
      • God Almighty – Gen 17:1, Gen 28:3, Gen 35:11, Gen 43:14, Gen 48:3, Gen 49:25, Exo 6:3, Num 24:4, Num 24:16, Job 5:17, Job 6:4, Job 8:3,5, Job 11:7, Job 13:3, Job 15:25, Job 22:17, Job 22:26, Job 23:16, Job 27:2, Job 27:10-13, Job 31:2, Job 33:4, Job 34:10-12, Job 35:13, Job 40:2, Eze 10:5
    • God’s mighty power – Eph 1:19, 2 Thess 1:9, Eph 6:10, Rev 5:12, Rev 7:12, 1 Cor 10:22, Rev 18:8
    • Jesus Christ is mighty – Mat 3:11, Mk 1:7, Lk 3:16, Lk 11:22
    • Satan as the strong man – Mat 12:29, Mk 3:27, Lk 11:21-22
    • Wind – Mat 14:30
    • Prodigal son – mighty famine – Lk 15:14
    • The weakness of God, stronger than men – 1 Cor 1:25
    • Weak things confound the mighty – 1 Cor 1:27
    • Christians strong – 1 Cor 4:10
    • Paul’s letters powerful – 2 Cor 10:10
    • Christ offered strong crying to His Father – Heb 5:7
    • Strong consolation – Heb 6:18
    • Faithful valiant in the fight – Heb 11:34
    • Young men are strong – 1 John 2:14
    • Strong angels – Rev 5:2, Rev 10:1, Rev 18:21, Rev 18:2
    • Mighty city Babylon – Rev 18:10
    • Mighty thunder – Rev 19:6
    • Supper of God – eat flesh of mighty men – Rev 19:18
    • Love the Lord God with all your might – Mk 12:30, Mk 12:33, Lk 10:27
    • Be strong in the power of His might – Eph 6:10
    • Minister with the ability God gives – 1 Pet 4:11
    • Angels are greater in power – 2 Pet 2:11
    • Weak – opposite of mighty (based on 1 Cor 1:25, 1 Cor 1:27, 1 Cor 4:10)
      • G769 (astheneia), G770 (astheneo), G771 (asthenema), G772 (asthenes) – total 86 occurrences, literally – weak, sick
      • A physical sickness / infirmity / disease – Mat 8:17, Mat 10:8, Lk 5:15, Lk 8:2, Acts 28:9, John 11:4, Mk 6:56, Lk 4:40, Lk 7:10, Lk 9:2, Lk 10:9, John 4:46, John 6:2, John 11:1-3, Lk 11:6, Acts 4:9, Acts 5:15-16, Acts 9:37, Acts 19:12, Phil 2:26-27, 2 Tim 4:20, John 5:3, John 5:7, James 5:14-15 (save the sick – uses kamno –spiritual sickness)
      • Not knowing what to pray for – Ro 8:26
      • Paul gloried in his infirmities – 2 Cor 11:30, 2 Cor 12:5, 2 Cor 12:9-10 (thorn in the flesh)
      • Symbolic, I was sick and you visited me – Mat 25:36, Mat 25:39, Mat 25:43-44
      • Brother made sick by causing him to stumble – Ro 14:21, Ro 15:1, 1 Cor 8:7, 1 Cor 8:10
      • When we were without strength, Christ died for us – Ro 5:6
      • Wife, as the weaker vessel – 1 Pet 3:7
      • Turn again to the weak and beggarly elements – Gal 4:9
      • Support the weak – 1 Thess 5:14
      • Spirit is ready, but flesh is weak – Mk 14:38
      • The weakness of God is mightier than man – 1 Cor 1:25
      • God choses the weak things to shame the mighty – 1 Cor 1:27
      • We are weak, but you are mighty – 1 Cor 4:10
      • Some members of the body are feeble (spiritual) – 1 Cor 12:22
      • Use a little wine for infirmities – 1 Tim 5:23
      • Infirmities – Jesus tempted in all points – Heb 4:15
      • The weakness of the commandment (flesh) – Heb 7:18
      • Paul with Corinthians in weakness – 1 Cor 2:3
      • Body sown in weakness, raised in glory – 1 Cor 15:43
      • Jesus crucified through weakness, weak in Christ – 2 Cor 13:4
      • Out of weakness, made strong – Heb 11:34
      • Support the weak, better to give than receive – Acts 20:35
      • Abraham not weak in faith – Ro 4:19
      • Law was weak through the flesh – Ro 8:3
      • Weak in the faith, cannot eat all things – Ro 14:1-2
      • Brother made weak due to our freedom – Ro 14:21, 1 Cor 8:8-12
      • To the weak, Paul became weak to win them to Christ – 1 Cor 9:22
      • Take Lord’s supper unworthily, many weak, sick and sleep – 1 Cor 11:30
      • Paul’s bodily presence is weak – 2 Cor 10:10
      • Paul suffered reproach as being weak – 2 Cor 11:21, 2 Cor 11:29
      • Paul takes pleasure in … for when I am weak, then I am strong – 2 Cor 12:10
      • Christ speaking in me … is not weak – 2 Cor 13:3-4
      • Paul is weak, but Corinthians strong – 2 Cor 13:9

And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?

(Rev 7:13)

And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

(Rev 7:14)

7:13

The elder’s Question

Elders  –  see notes on  Rev 4:4 (represents entirety of God’s people)

4 Methods of teaching:

1. Ask questions – Mat 16:13-16)
2. Answer questions – John 13:36-37, John 14:5-8, John 14:22, John 16:19)
3. Lecture -. Mat 5-7 (sermom on the mount)
4. Example – (John 13, 1 Tim 4:12, Titus 2:7, 1 Pet 5:3

7:14

Came out of Great Tribulation

• Great – Gr: megas, G3173
• Tribulation – Gr: thlipsis, G2347
• 4 occurrences of G3173 and G2347 – Mat 24:21, Acts 7:11, Rev 2:22, Rev 7:14
  • Mk 13:19 – great affliction (G2347) such as there never was
• Mat 24:21 (Great Tribulation) same as Lk 21:23 – Great (G3173) distress (G318)
• Great Tribulation in Revelation
  • Rev 6:7-11, Rev 7:9-17 (5^th and 6^th seals, Great multitude)
  • Rev 8:13, Rev 9:1-21 (2 woes, 5^th and 6^th trumpets)
  • Rev 11:7-11a – 2 witnesses dead for 3 ½ days
  • Rev 13:1-18 – The leopard Beast with 7 head and 10 horns
  • Rev 17:1-19:2 – Babylon, the harlot church
  • Rev 20:3b, Rev 20:7-9a – The losing of Satan for a ‘little season’
• Great Tribulation in the Olivet Discourse
  • Mat 24:4-36, Mk 13:5-33, Lk 21:8-33 (see also Lk 17:22-32, Lk 19:43-44)
• Other Great Tribulation passages in the New Testament
  • Will faith still be found at the return of Christ – Lk 18:7-8
  • Actions of the disciples until the return of Christ – John 21:7-8
  • The Gospel goes forth until the return of Christ – Mat 10:23
  • Thief in the night – Mat 24:42-44, 1 Thess 3:13, 1 Thess 5:1-4
  • Faithful versus evil serant – Mat 24:45-51, Lk 12:42-48
  • Servants given authority – Mk 13:32-37, Lk 12:35-40
  • Parable of the cares of this life – Lk 21:34-36
  • Parable of the 10 virgins – Mat 25:1-13
  • Parable of the Talents – Mat 25:14-30
  • Parable of the Sheep and the goats – Mat 25:31-46
  • Parable of the 10 minas – Lk 19:11-27
  • Famine in the Land – Acts 7:11
  • The Shipwreck – Acts 27:29-44
  • Man od Sin / Son of Perdition – 2 Thess 1:5-10, 2 Thess 2:1-12
  • Not forsaking gathering together – Heb 10:25
  • Latter rain – James 5:7-9
  • Elijah’s prayer for rain (3 ½ years) – James 5:17-18
  • The antichrist – 1 John 2:18, I John 4:3
  • Times of Noah and Lot – 2 Pet 2:4-9, Jude 7
  • Scoffers / Flood / Thief in the end time – 2 Pet 3:3-6, 2 Pet 3:10-13
  • Message of Enoch – Jude 14-16
• Great Tribulation – no time like it – Mat 24:21, Mk 13:19, Dan 12:1, Jer 30:7, Eze 5:9, Dan 9:12, Joel 1:2, Joel 2:2, Lam 1:12, Lam 2:13
• Old Testament Great Tribulation Types and references
  • Days of Noah – Gen 6-9
  • Days of Lot – Gen 19
  • Consequences of Disobedience – Lev 26:14-39, Deut 28:15-68
  • Psalms 52 (Doeg the Edomite and Psalm 137 (days in Babylon)
  • Babylonian 70-year captivity of Judah – 2 Ki 25, 2 Chr 36, passages from Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Minor prophets: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Micah, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zecharia
  • Daniel passages – chapters 1,2,3,7,8,9,11,12

Washed their robes

• Robe – see notes on 6:11, 3:18
• Washed – see Rev 1:5, John 9:7-15, John 13:5-14, Heb 10:22
• Washing of regeneration – Titus 3:5
• Washing of water by Word of God – Eph 5:26
• Soiled garments – Zech 3:3-5, Rev 22:14, see notes on Rev 3:4, Jude 23

Blood of the Lamb

• Blood – Where the life is – see notes on Rev 1:5, Rev 5:9
• Washed in the blood – Rev 22:14, Heb 9:14
• Soiled garments – Zech 3:3-5, Is 64:6, Rev 3:4, Jude 23
• Lamb – see notes on Rev 5:6

White – see notes on Rev 7:9, Rev 6:11, Rev 4:4, Rev 3:18, Rev 3:4-5, Rev 1:14

Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.

(Rev 7:15)

They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.

(Rev 7:16)

For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

(Rev 7:17)

7:15

Before the throne (location of Holy Spirit, God’s People and Prayer altar):

• And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. (Rev 4:5)
• And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. (Rev 4:6)
• The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying … (Rev 4:10)
• After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands … And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God … Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. (Rev 7:7,9,11,15)
• And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. (Rev 8:3)
• And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth … And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God. (Rev 14:3,5)

Serve Him night and day

• see notes on Rev 4:8, Is 62:6-7

Temple

• Gr: naos (G3485)
• Related to building of the house of God ‑ Zech 1:16, 2:1‑2, 1 Chr 29, 2 Sam 8:2, Hab 3:6, Rev 21:15‑17, Is 40:12, 65:7, Deut 21:2, Num 35:5
• Church is a temple ‑ 2 Thess 2:4, 1 Cor 3:16‑17, 2 Cor 6:16, Eph 2:21
• Temple equals house ‑ Lk 11:51
• The True Tabernacle ‑ Heb 8:2, 9:11,24 (kingdom of God)
• Church equals house ‑ John 14:2, 2 John 10, 1 Cor 16:15‑19, 2 Tim 2:20, Eph 2:19, Heb 3:6, 1 Pet 2:5, 4:17, Ro 16:5
• God does not dwell in physical temples ‑ Acts 7:48, 17:24
• God’s church of all time – see notes on Rev 3:12

He that sits on the throne will dwell with them forever

• Spread His tabernacle over them – Lev 26:11, Eze 37:27, John 14:1-3, 1:14, Rev 2:3
• God will dwell with His people – Rev 21:3-4, Rev 22:3, Exo 29:45, 1Ki 6:1, 1Ch 23:25, Psa 68:16-18, Isa 4:5-6, Joh 1:14, 1Co 3:16, 2Co 6:16
• Spread skirt over = salvation – Eze 16:8, Ruth 3:9
• Spread wings over = salvation – Ruth 1:16,2:12, Ps 17:8, Ps 36:7, Ps 57:1, Ps 61:4, Ps 63:7, Ps 91:4, Mat 23:37, Deut 32:11
• Tents of the righteous – Ps 118:15
• Tabernacle – Ps 43:3, Ps 46:4, Ps 84:12, Ps 132:7, Eze 37:27, Rev 21:3, Rev 7:15, Heb 8:2-5, Heb 9:2-11, Heb 13:10, Rev 13:6, Rev 15:5, Acts 7:46, Ps 5:1, Ps 61:4
• God dwells – Rev 21:3, Lev 26:11-12, 1 Ki 8:27, 2 Chr 6:18, Is 12:6, Eze 43:7, John 1:14, John 14:23, 2 Cor 6:16

7:16

Quote is from Is 49:10 (see Is 49:1-3)

Hunger and thirst – 2 Cor 11:27, 1 Cor 4:11, subject to physical body/persecution

• Jesus – Mat 4:2, Mat 12:1-3, Mat 25:35-44
• Rev 7:16, 2 Cor 11:27, 1 Cor 4:11
• Hunger and thirst for righteousness – Rev 7:16, 2 Cor 11:27, 1 Cor 4:11, Mat 5:6, Lk 6:21, Eze 34:29, Is 55:1, Jer 2:11‑13, John 4:13-14
• Spiritual hunger and thirst for God – Psa 42:1-2, Psa 63:1-2, Psa 84:2, Psa 107:9, Amo 8:11-13, Luk 1:53, Luk 6:21, Luk 6:25, Joh 6:27
• For righteousness – Psa 4:6-7, Psa 17:15, Psa 63:5, Psa 65:4, Psa 145:19, Son 5:1, Isa 25:6, Isa 41:17, Isa 44:3, Isa 49:9-10, Isa 55:1-3, Isa 65:13, Isa 66:11, Joh 4:14, Joh 6:48-58, Joh 7:37, Rev 7:16
• Eternity ‑ no hunger Rev 7:16, Jer 49:10, Is 33:16
• Righteousness – palm branches – see above – Rev 7:10
• All Christians will suffer / be persecuted – John 16:33, Ps 34:19, Ps 84:5-7, John 15:18-20, 16:33, Ro 8:17, 2 Tim 2:12, 3:12, Mat 10:24-28, 32-33, 20:23, 16:24-27, Phil 1:29, 1 Pet 2:20-21, Mk 8:34-38, Lk 9:23-    26, Heb 11:35-37, Gal 4:29, 1 John 3:13, 1 Thess 3:3, Mat 14:30, 2 Thess 1:5, 1 Thess 3:2-3

… neither shall the sun light on them

• Light (G4098: pipto / peto – literally – to fall) – judgment
• Where works are done under – Ecc 1:14, Ecc 2:17-22, Ecc 5:18, Ecc 8:9, Ecc 8:17
• Sun will not smite ‑ trials under the sun, Rev 16:9, Ps 121:6, Jon 4:8 (trial), Is 49:10, Mk 4:6, Mk 4:17, Mat 13:6 (trial), Mat 20:12 ‑ workers in the vineyard
• Oppression ‑ Ecc 4:1
• Evil work ‑ Ecc 4:3, 5:13, 6:1
• Vanity ‑ Ecc 4:7

… nor any heat

• Gr: 2738 (kauma – 2 occurrences, heat) – Rev 7:16, Rev 16:9 (men scorched with heat)
  • Origin from G2545 (kaio – 12 occurrences, to set on fire)
  • G2739 (kaumatizo – 4 occurrences, scorch) – Mk 4:6 (2), Rev 16:8-9
  • G2740 (kausis – 1 occurrence, burned) – Heb 6:8
  • G2741 (kausoo – 2 occurrences, heat) – 2 Pet 3:10, 2 Pet 3:12
  • G2742 (kauson – 3 occurrences, glare from burning) – Mat 20:12, Lk 12:55, James 1:11
  • G2743 (kauteriazo – 1 occurrence, seared) – 1 Tim 4:2
• Heat – Jer 17:8 – that which makes dry/withered
• Heat – Is 25:4, Is 4:5-6

7:17

Lamb – see notes on Rev 5:6

Midst of throne

• Midst (literally, middle)
• Midst of throne
  • Rev 4:6 – the 4 beasts (cherubim)
  • Lamb stood in the midst of the throne – Rev 5:6, Rev 7:17
  • Jesus is God – John 1 :1, etc.
  • Jesus is King of kings, Lord of lords – Rev 17:14, Rev 19:16, see notes on Rev 1:5
• All authority given to Christ (see notes on Rev 1:14-15 concerning subjection, see also 1 Cor 15:24, 1 Pet 3:22)
• All things are for Him – Col 1:16-18, Ro 11:36, 1 Cor 8:6

Feed them

• Feed (Gr: G4165, poimaino, literally – to care for them as a shepherd)
• Psa 22:26, Psa 23:1-2, Psa 23:5, Psa 28:9, Psa 36:8, Son 1:7-8, Isa 25:6, Isa 40:11, Isa 49:9, Eze 34:23, Mic 5:4, Mic 7:14, Mat 2:6, Joh 10:11, Joh 10:14, Joh 21:15-17, Act 20:28, 1Pe 5:2-4
• Note usage of Lamb and Shepherd in same verse – both Christ – 1 Pet 5:4

Lead the into fountains of waters

• Initial salvation on earth – Is 55:1, Is 49:10, John 4:14, Jer 2:11-3, Jer 17:13, Ps 46:4, Job 20:17
• Full effect of salvation – Rev 21:6, Rev 22:1-2, Psa 36:7-9, Isa 12:3, Isa 30:25, Isa 35:6-7, Jer 31:9, Joh 4:11, Joh 4:14, Joh 7:37-38, Is 66:12-13

God shall will wipe all tears from their eyes

• Is 25:8, Mat 5:4, Rev 21:4, Mk 9:24, Lk 7:38-44, Is 35:10, Is 49:10, Is 60:20, Acts 20:19, Acts 20:31, 2 Cor 2:4, 2 Tim 1:4, Heb 5:7, Heb 12:17, Is 30:19, Is 65:19-20
• No more sorrow, death or tears – Rev 21:4
• Jeremiah, the weeping prophet – Jer 9:1, Jer 9:18, Jer 13:17, Jer 14:17, Jer 31:16
• Sow in tears, reap in joy – Ps 126:5-6