Sermon Tone Analysis

Psalm 45:1–3 (ESV)

1 My heart overflows with a pleasing theme; I address my verses to the king; my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe. 2 You are the most handsome of the sons of men; grace is poured upon your lips; therefore God has blessed you forever. 3 Gird your sword on your thigh, O mighty one, in your splendour and majesty!

Revelation 7:1–17 (ESV)

1 After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, that no wind might blow on earth or sea or against any tree.

2 Then I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, with the seal of the living God, and he called with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm earth and sea, 3 saying, “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.”

4 And I heard the number of the sealed, 144,000, sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel:

5 12,000 from the tribe of Judah were sealed,

12,000 from the tribe of Reuben,

12,000 from the tribe of Gad,

6 12,000 from the tribe of Asher,

12,000 from the tribe of Naphtali,

12,000 from the tribe of Manasseh,

7 12,000 from the tribe of Simeon,

12,000 from the tribe of Levi,

12,000 from the tribe of Issachar,

8 12,000 from the tribe of Zebulun,

12,000 from the tribe of Joseph,

12,000 from the tribe of Benjamin were sealed.

9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 11 And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshipped God, 12 saying, “Amen!

Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honour and power and might be to our God forever and ever!

Amen.” 13 Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?”

14 I said to him, “Sir, you know.”

And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation.

They

have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

15 “Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence.

16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat.

17 For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

Introduction

In this chapter we are given an insight of what it is like and will be like in heaven.

It is truly an amazing prospect for every true believer.

It begins with the 144,000 which is a symbolic representation of all the redeemed.

Young people compare what you see in Genesis 29:31-30:24 and Genesis 35:16-18.

What does this teach?

From verse 9-17 it opens up with a clearer picture of the glory of Heaven.

Today we look at v9-14

The Multitude v9-10

Eternal Worship v11-12

Clothed in White Robes v13-14

Slide

1.

The Multitude v9-10

Slide

a. Numberless v9a

The sequence of words nation, tribe, people, and language occurs seven times in various orders in Revelation (5:9; 7:9; 10:11; 11:9; 13:7; 14:6; 17:15; Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001).

Exposition of the Book of Revelation (Vol.

20, p. 254).

Baker Book House.

Revelation 5:9 (ESV)

9 And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation,

In this picture, all the saints stand before the throne of God and the Lamb, namely, before their Creator and Redeemer.

Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001).

Exposition of the Book of Revelation (Vol.

20, p. 254).

Baker Book House.

Race - Act17 26 “26 And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place,”

b.

Before the Throne v9b

Revelation 7:9 (ESV)

9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands,

They are in the throne room of heaven with God in the midst and the lamb that was slain.

c.

Dressed in White v9c

Revelation 7:9 (ESV)

9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands,

Sardis professed to be alive but are dead

The saints are holding palm branches in their hands as a sign of victory.

Of the four evangelists only John notes that at Jesus’ triumphal entry on Palm Sunday the people took palm branches to welcome him.

The phrase palm branches occurs twice in the New Testament, here and in John 12:13 (see also Lev. 23:40; 1 Macc.

13:51; 2 Macc.

10:7).

The victory belongs to Jesus Christ, who conquered Satan, death, and the grave; joy belongs to the saints who celebrate this victory.26

They are eternally thankful for the redemption Christ obtained for them.

d.

Praising v10

The redeemed are standing before the throne and before the Lamb.

God who is seated on the throne planned the work of saving his people and commissioned his Son to initiate, execute, and complete it.

With their song they express praise and thanks to God and the Lamb, who died, rose from the grave, and ascended to heaven to take his place at the right hand of God.

They sing a song of victory which resembles the “Hosanna” (Lord, grant help) the people sang when Jesus came to Jerusalem (Matt.

21:9).

Whereas the people surrounding Jesus at his triumphal entry were asking for salvation, the saints in heaven praise him for answering this request.

Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001).

Exposition of the Book of Revelation (Vol.

20, pp.

254–255).

Baker Book House.

Slide

2. Eternal Worship v11-12

Slide

a. Angels, Elders and Living Creatures v11a

Revelation 7:11 (ESV)

11 And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshipped God,

i. Angels

Hebrews 1:13–14 (ESV)

13 And to which of the angels has he ever said, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”?

14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?

ii.

Elders

Around the central throne John sees twenty-four thrones, and upon these thrones twenty-four elders, probably representing the entire Church of the old and the new dispensation.

Think of the twelve patriarchs and the twelve apostles.

(Cf.

Rev. 21:12–14.)

Hendriksen, W. (1967).

More than Conquerors: An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation (p.