2. What makes you feel significant?
The Interlude:
What makes you feel significant?
Text: Rev. 6:9-17

3. “Revelation forces the reader to realize what really matters, the earthly or the heavenly. God protects the vital part, the soul, but allows intense suffering in this world.”
Grant Osborne, Revelation
* See Romans 1

4. Sealing of 144,000 Four Angels and Four Winds = Complete coverage
The Interlude:
Sealing of 144,000
Four Angels and Four Winds = Complete coverage
Angel Ascending = Restraint
No Harm until Servants Sealed
“Heard” the number…
Four Angels, Four Corners, Four Winds
Showing complete coverage of the earth, not earth is flat!
Winds = destruction in apocalyptic visions
Blow on Earth, Sea, Trees – clue to timing!
8:7,8 – judgments affect the earth & trees, sea
This interlude is happening before God’s wrathful judgments are poured out
Angel Ascending
With rising sun = idiom for “from the East” – emphasizes kingdom blessings
Allusion to protection
With the seal of the Living God = like a signet ring
Sign of ownership and thus protection
Loud voice = angel with authority over other angels
Other angels – “Who had been given” divine passive – God’s sovereignty
No harm until Servants are sealed
Winds not restricted from people, but creation.
Speaks of God’s protection from His wrath, but not from persecutions
Until – God’s timing
Restraint = God’s sovereignty over timing.
God’s people to be protected from the judgments
“Heard”
So far – John saw angels, now hears number.
144,000 = 12x12x1000
Included – Manasseh, Joseph
Excluded – Dan – most likely due to idolatry (Judges 18)
Number is the significance = vast multitude of completeness
Most likely = represents all of believers, a vast, and complete group
Church included with Jewish tribes has NT precedence
Gal. 3:27,28; 6:16; Rom. 2:28,29; 1 Peter 2:9
Same group we see in 9-17

5. Great Multitude Great multitude = all of redeemed
The Interlude:
Great Multitude
Great multitude = all of redeemed
Surrounding Angels and host worship
“Who are these” = Redeemed
Picture of worship
Great Multitude
John – Looks and Beholds
Not just heard, but sees!
Similar to 5:5,6 – Hears lion, sees lamb – Lion is Lamb
Sees what the 144,000 represents
Every nation, every tribe = all of redeemed
Standing = answer to 6:17!
Clothed in White = purification/glorification
Palm Branches – Triumphant entry picture
“Salvation belongs to our God…”
Salvation to uttermost
Credit to God – not them
Surrounding Angels and creatures
Their worship is response of redemption – Luke 15:10; 1 Peter 1:12
Fell on their faces – prostrate position – show of reverence
Amens – Preface and conclusion – in greek = not a blessing, but THE blessing
Who are these?
Rhetorical question – emphasis is explanation of a vision
From the great tribulation – timing.
Tribulation – most likely from the point of Christ’s ascension until 2nd Coming.
John 16:33; Acts 14:22
Otherwise, it pictures only those saved in a 7 year period – doesn’t fit
Worship
Three parts:
Presence and Service before God (v.15)
Removal of all suffering (v.16,17)
Actions of the Lamb on their behalf (v17)
Most likely a forward vision picturing all of the redeemed

6. “When we stand before the great white throne with the living creatures, elders, and angels surrounding it and see all the angels of heaven rejoicing with us and praising God for what he has done for us, it will be a scene beyond anything we can imagine. How can anyone read this passage without a sense of worship and overwhelming awe? How can any Christian meditate on it without reaffirming his or her commitment to put the Lord first in everything? Can any earthly achievement begin to compare with this scene? Those who sacrifice everything and compromise their ethics to walk corridors of power in Washington or in corporate headquarters around the world need to look at this passage again. Is it worth it to gain the whole world and lose your own soul”
Grant Osborne, Revelation

7. Significance comes through God’s seal; Significant Savior, Significant Salvation.
Takeaway Thought.

8. Romans 8:31-39
Takeaway Thought.