Questions or comments?
An Introduction to the Tribulation:
The tribulation is a time of intense suffering on the earth, often thought to be seven years long.
Why seven years:
Daniel 9 speaks of 70 weeks, often considered to be 70 seven-year periods (rather than seven days) for a total of 490 years. Some view the last of these weeks (the seventieth “week”) to be the tribulation.
Numbers in Revelation that seem to make up two 3.5 year periods (we’ll get to those in the coming weeks).
Different views hold that the tribulation may be unfolding throughout church history (Historicist), has already happened (Preterist), or is figurative (Amillennial)
What about the rapture?
The Rapture refers to the time when Jesus will miraculously rescue believers from the earth and take them to heaven.
Different views on the timing of the Rapture:
1. Pre-tribulation – The Church is raptured before the tribulation.
2. Mid-tribulation – The Church is raptured midway through the tribulation.
3. Post-tribulation – The Church is raptured at the end of the tribulation.
Verse 1 – Four Angels, Four Corners, Four Winds
First, regarding the four corners, this verse does not imply the earth is a flat rectangle. Rather, it refers to every part of the earth. You could also think of this as North, South, East, and West.
Regarding the four angels and the four winds, we’re not sure exactly what this means.
Are these angels demonic angels? Are these winds something more than what we know as wind? Perhaps something like spirits.
The Old Testament speaks of winds as spirits.
Listen to Zechariah 6:5 – The angel told me, “These are the four spirits of heaven going out after presenting themselves to the Lord of the whole earth.”
(“spirits” is also translated as “winds”)
When verse 1 says “so that no wind could blow”, perhaps that means destruction in general rather than powerful wind.
Verse 2 – Angel with seal of the Living God
The angel in verse 2 is certainly no evil angel. He bears the seal of the living God.
This seal does not necessarily mean that he bears a mark of a seal, but rather that he possesses a seal by which to seal the 144,000.
It certainly could be that he bears the seal and he possesses a seal to mark others.
Verse 4 – Who are the 144,000?
On Sunday, I mentioned that the 144,000 could be literal groups of 12,000 from certain tribes of Israel or they could represent certain groups of people.
Tribes?
If it’s the literal tribes of Israel, what of Dan and Ephraim? Why is Jospeh (sort of) represented twice? Levi is included here, though on other lists, he is often left off of the land inheritances.
Some say Dan may have been left off because of its idolatry, though all of the Israelites had issues at time.
Representative?
A number of Jews, though not as specific as the list suggests.
It could be a representative number in the sense of twelve times twelve, times 1,000.
Believers who are killed during the tribulation.
Believers over all time.
Cults who claim the number?
Jehovah’s Witnesses (though they currently have about 8.5 million and have had 20 million throughout history)
Certain early Adventist groups
Certain Messianic sects
Verse 9 – Who are the vast multitude?
Verses 13-14 address that.
Are these the same group that are mentioned in Revelation 6 as being under the altar? They seem very similar, though there’s no definitive proof either way.
They are connected by . . .
(1) the white robes
(2) being before the presence of God
(3) coming out of suffering (maybe)
What does it mean to come out of the great tribulation?
This could refer to rapture, or it could refer to deliverance from suffering.
The CSB does a great job with the Greek translation when it says “coming out of.”
At first reading, it seemed to me it meant “coming out of” after suffering. However, it doesn’t say that.
Coupled with Chapter 6, there may be an implication of suffering. However, this could refer to deliverance after suffering or deliverance before suffering.
Verse 17 – What are the springs of the waters of life?
What does a spring imply? (never-ending supply)
Tree of life is mentioned in Revelation 2:7.
Crown of life is mentioned in Revelation 2:10.
The book of life is mentioned in Revelation 3:5.
“Life” in all these contexts refers to eternal life found in Jesus.
John 14:6 – “Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Questions/Comments?
