E-pistle for November 30, 2012
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E-pistle
FreeWay Foundation November 30, 2012
The sealed servants of our god
(Revelation 7:1-17)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: on the participants in this chapter
1. Four angels holding the four winds of the earth, and another angel giving
orders to them, vv. 1-3.
2. Israelites: 144,000 . . . 12,000 from each tribe. (Note: "Joseph" probably means
Joseph's half-tribe of Ephraim, along with the other listed half-tribe of Joseph:
Manasseh; but the tribe of Dan is not listed). Vv. 4-8.
3. The great multitude . . . of all nations, vv. 9-10.
4. Angels, elders, and living creatures who appeared earlier in God's throne room,
vv. 11-12, Revelation 5:11.
II. Meditation: on what these participants signify
1. The four angels, given orders by another angel, signify the forces of nature which
come to a silent halt while God accomplishes His eternal purposes. (Even the sun
and time stood stile to allow God to accomplish His purposes in Joshua 10:12-14).
2. A small remnant of the entire nation of Israel (from the millions who have lived over
the centuries) will be saved through faith in the Messiah, Jesus. The 144,000 is a
number (12x12x1,000) representing God's full group of His chosen people of faith
who have accepted Christ.
3. The great multitude . . . of all nations includes all non-Jewish (Gentiles) who have
believed in Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
4. The angels, elders, and living creatures (again as in Revelation 5) are seen worshipping
around God's throne.
III. Revelation: on all who make up the congregation of the redeemed
1. They are clothed with robes, washed in the blood of the Lamb, vv. 9, 14.
2. They express praise to God not only vocally, but also by waving palm branches,
vv. 9-10, 15.
3. They are blessed by God: no hunger or thirst . . . no tears, vv. 16-17.
4. They daily serve in God's temple, in personal communion with their God (the Lamb)
who dwells with them and provides them living water.
IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Through repentance and faith, receive Christ's robe of righteousness to cover all my sins.
2. Continually praise and worship God with all my soul and spirit.
3. Count the many blessings I receive from the Lord, by His grace.
4. Enjoy sweet communion and fellowship with Jesus, as I serve Him daily.
Opening the seventh seal (part One)
(Revelation 8:1-13)
Sr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: on the events connected with the seventh seal
1. When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was a pause in silent awe over what
was about to happen, v. 1.
2. The seven angels who stood before God were given seven trumpets . . . to proclaim
a loud, clear message, v. 2.
3. Another angel, holding a golden censer, came and stood at the altar to burn incense
to God, vv. 3-4.
4. This angel filled the censer with fire and threw it to the earth, causing noises,
thundering, lightnings, and an earthquake, v. 5.
II. Meditation: on four of the seven angels with trumpets
1. The first angel sounded a trumpet and the earth was hit with hail, fire, and blood
(death), killing much of the plant life, vv. 6-7.
2. The second angel sounded a trumpet, heralding an asteroid hitting the ocean, killing
marine life and sinking ships, vv. 8-9.
3. The third angel sounded a trumpet and a great star fell from heaven burning like a
Torch (meteor), drying up the rivers and springs and making the water undrinkable,
vv. 10-11. Clearly this "star" named "Wormwood" refers to Satan or Lucifer who was
cast down from heaven, Isaiah 14:12-15; Luke 10:18.
4. The fourth angel sounded a trumpet and the sun, moon, and stars were darkened, v 12.
III. Revelation: on the meaning of these events
"Woe to the in habitants of the earth," v. 13 . . . because God's judgment and punishment
is coming, in addition to these happenings predicted:
1. Fire – killing plant life on earth.
2. Asteroid – killing marine life and sinking ships.
3. Meteor – drying up waters, killing persons.
4. Darkness (nuclear winter?) – covering heavenly bodies.
IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Stand in awe and worshipful silence before the throne of the Almighty God of the universe.
2. recognize that I also (like the angels) have a God-given message to trumpet . . . that judgment
is coming and that Jesus saves!
3. Engage in intercessory prayer (incense, v. 4) for the lost world on the threshold of destruction
and doom.
4. Realize that, although the calamities mentioned could be pictures of a nuclear war, ultimately
it is God, not man, who controls the "how" and "when" of the end of the world.
"Perhaps wisdom is to be found in people who have suffered greatly but have surmounted it."
--Louis Jolyon West
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