The Security of the Redeemed
12/5/25 Bible Thought (Revelation 7)
The Christian can endure any hardship with their eyes set on their eternal goal.
Yesterday, we saw that Revelation 6 ended with a powerful question, “Who can stand?”
In light of the coming wrath of God and of the Lamb, who stands a chance? God sees all. He knows all. No one can hide, and He is just. It’s utterly hopeless.
That is, until we factor in those who have been redeemed.
This is what we see in today’s chapter. Apart from the wrath-bearing sacrifice of Jesus Christ none can stand—yet, through that sacrifice we are secure.
A Look at Revelation 7
In Revelation 7 there is judgment on the horizon, yet it is restrained until a time of sealing has taken place (Rev. 7:3).
Now this does not entail a removal but a marking that denotes ownership. It is a sign that, “the Lord knows those who are his” (2 Tim. 2:19).
This sealing is in direct contrast to the mark of the beast (see Rev. 13:16) and signifies God’s ownership of His people. At the end of the day, every earth-dweller either belongs to God or to Satan and this is made clear in these passages.
John hears that a total of 144,000 servants of God amongst Israel are sealed in response to the angel’s call. Now, interpreters differ on the significance of this number and also as to whether or not this is referring to ethnic Israel or the church.
It seems that the number 144,000 isn’t to be taken literally but is a symbol of completeness.[1] Likewise, it would make sense for this number to refer to the whole people of God, both the Jews with Gentiles grafted in (see Rom. 11:11-24). Perhaps the number’s significance stems from the number of the tribes of Israel (12) and the number of apostles (12) being multiplied resulting in 144.
This in mind, we see a picture of two companies of people in Revelation 7 that are in one sense, one in the same. They are God’s redeemed.
The first group is those who are sealed, protected from the wrath of God here on the earth. The second group is those who are, “the ones coming out of the great tribulation” (Rev. 7:14).
In the understanding of scholar, Craig Blomberg, it wouldn’t make any sense to say you are “coming out” of something unless you were first in it.[2]
It appears then that this chapter showcases a before and after.
There are those who are sealed, protected from the wrath of God on the earth. This is just as Israel was once spared from the plagues upon Egypt while still being in Egypt (see Exodus chapters 7-12). The second multitude is those who have died, probably in tribulation (see Rev. 13:7), and are now in glory.
Hope-filled Conclusions
While opinions vary on many of these matters what we should all be encouraged with today is that heavenly picture we see at the end of the chapter.
No matter what happens down here on the earth, and no matter what one believes regarding the millennium, the tribulation, or Revelation as a whole, these things are clear:
Those who have been washed white in the blood of the Lamb (Rev. 7:14) will be before the throne of God forever (Rev. 7:15).
We will be sheltered in His presence (Rev. 7:15).
There will be no more suffering, and we will be shepherded by the Lamb (Rev. 7:17a).
Climaxing this, God will wipe every tear from our eyes (Rev. 7:17b). There will be no more sorrow—for eternity.
The bliss of eternal life with God is a picture we must keep in mind as we survey the catastrophes taking place upon the earth. Whether they are the sufferings of today, or the suffering of a particular period of tribulation, they all fade in comparison to an eternal weight of glory (2 Cor. 4:17).
So then, let us keep our eyes set on that joy that is before us as Jesus once did (Heb. 12:2). With our eyes fixed on our future hope, eternal blessedness, and perpetual peace we can persevere on the earth, no matter what difficulties may come our way.
Challenge for Today:
Do I ever find myself feeling hopeless based upon what is happening here on the earth?
If we have our eyes fixed on the natural horizon it can seem hopeless, but with our eyes fixed on that heavenly horizon there is always hope.
[1] Robert H. Mounce, The Book of Revelation, The New International Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1997), 158.
[2] Craig L Blomberg & Sung Wook Chung, A Case for Historic Premillennialism, (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2009), 76-77.