Christ Sealing His Priests in Israel. (Rev. 7)
We have just looked at the overview of the tribulation, but before any judgments begin, the Lord Jesus has some important tasks. He sends four angels to hold back the winds of the earth. This would make for a very eerie stillness, a calm before the storm of judgments.
` After these things I saw 4 angels standing at the four cor
When the final Great Federation comes to power in the Middle of the tribulation it will demand allegiance to it. Many will follow, thinking this is the way to peace, however many others will not obey but turn to God. Some of these will be martyred.
5. Martyrs – Under the Altar.
`When He opened the fifth seal,
I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God
3. The European Union – Market Economy.
`When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say,
“Come and see,” And I looked, and behold, a black horse,
and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand.
And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying,
“A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts
The Federations being brought to Judgment.
As the Lord removes the seals on the scroll we see the four different confederacies that are vying for world domination. Each are under a `strong delusion,` because they would not receive the truth.
1. British Empire - Conquering.
`Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals,
and I heard one of the four living creatures saying, with a vo
Christ Opening the Scroll. (Rev. 6)
When Christ takes the scroll, only He is worthy to open and read what is written. This is symbolic of Him receiving the authority over the earth and bringing the judgments that
had been sealed up by God.
` Is this not laid up in store with Me, sealed up....?
Vengeance is Mine, and recompense;`
Worship.
Finally there is a great anthem of praise and worship for what the Lord has done through His ministries, (King, sacrifice, man and deity, represented by the `living creatures.) The Body of Christ prostrate in honour and worship before the Lord.
`Now when He had taken the scroll,
the four living creatures and the 24 Elders fell down before the Lamb,
Christ Fulfills the Legal Credentials.
We know that the Father gave Christ the authority to execute the judgments. However to do this Christ needed to fulfil the legal requirements to be ruler over the kings of the earth. Israel was promised that they would be the ruling nation over the other nations of the world.
Thus Christ had to come from Israel and from the ruling house of David. Christ fulfilled these requirements and then prevailed against the enemy. He is worthy t
Christ Receiving the Judgment Scroll.
Before us now is a pictorial drama to help us understand this awesome event. God the Father is a Spirit, and has `set up` this visible throne for His Son. The throne is on the Father`s authority and He is shown giving the Judgment orders to His Son to execute.
So let`s look in detail as this `drama` unfolds.
Firstly we see the judgment scroll in the right hand of the Father. These judgments have been sealed since Daniel was told
Worship.
The `living creatures,` representing the Lord`s work bring honour to His Holy name. They are the four ministries of Christ (King, sacrifice, man and God) that are functioning continually by the Holy Spirit, with all wisdom & knowledge, displaying God`s holiness
`And the four living creatures, each having six wings,
were full of eyes around
Next we are shown the power and authority to bring about these judgments as part of the covenant of the restoration of all things.
The 7 fold Spirit.
`And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne,
Which are the seven spirits of God.`
(Rev. 4: 5)
Immediately we see that the
The Body of Christ will be involved in this restoration of all things for they will be with the Lord on His own throne.
`To him who overcomes,
I will grant to sit with Me on My throne,
(Rev. 3: 21)
The 24 Elders.
These 24 Elders are representative of the wh
Christ on His Own Throne.
Let us now look closer at the One on this throne -the High Priest and King. The gem stones are given to reveal more understanding to us.
The Gem Stones.
`And he who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius in appearance;...`
(Rev. 4: 3)
The Jasper gem stone was the last on the High Priest`s breastplate. It stood for t
A Throne Set in Heaven.
Now we know that the Godhead rules over all, and that no one can approach them, as they dwell in unapproachable light. They are Spirit.
`who alone has immortality,
dwelling in unapproachable light,
whom no one has seen or can see,...`
Christ on the Father`s Throne.
When the Lord ascended to glory after His resurrection, He went to the Father`s throne. This is above the created order.
`when he (Christ) had purged our sins,
sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,...`
(Heb. 1: 3)
There He sat at the Father
CHRIST THE HEIR OF ALL THINGS.
Overview.
In the next chapters of Revelation. (5 - 7) we are ushered in to behold the most astounding celebration in all of God`s great kingdom. Christ moves from the Father`s throne to His own throne as the Sovereign King and Heir of all things. He is described and displayed in all perfection of His wondrous person and vocation, exercising His Sovereign authority and His hereditary right.
Previously Lucifer was a King and a Priest in t
Christ`s Kings. (Sit on Christ`s New Throne. Rev.3: 21)
`To him who overcomes,
I will grant to sit with Me on My throne
as I also overcame and sat down with My Father
on His throne.`
(Rev. 3: 21)
These are the overcomer
Ruling over 3 Realms. (Name of God, Name of the City of God, the New Jerusalem and Christ`s New Name. Rev.3: 12)
`He who overcomes, .....
I will write on him the name of my God,
and the name of the city of my God, th
Christ`s Holy Priests. (Pillar in God`s Temple. Rev.3: 12)
`He who overcomes,
I will make a pillar in the temple of my God,
and he shall go out no more.`
(Rev. 3: 12)
The Temple was Israel`s storehouse of national treas
Christ the Judge. (Name in Book of Life. Rev.3: 5)
`He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments,
and I will not blot out his name from the book of life,
but will confess his name before my Father and before His angels.`
(Rev. 3: 5)
Christ Appearing for Israel and the Nations. (Power over the Nations. Rev.2: 26 & 27)
The Lord`s coming for the Body of Christ is as the `Morning Star.` However when He comes to deliver Israel and bring judgment upon the nations He is described as `the Sun of Righteousness.`
`For behold the day is coming, burning like an oven,
and all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble.
Christ Appearing for the Body of Christ. (The Morning Star. Rev. 2: 28)
`I will give him the morning star.` (Rev. 2: 28)
The morning star is the herald of the coming day. It is seen only by the `watchers,` or the early risers.
In the spiritual heavens, Christ is also the Bright and Morning Star.
`I am the bright and Morning Star.` (Rev. 22: 16)
He is the One whom we eagerly await. We look to H
Christ Likeness and Function. (The White Stone with our New Name. Rev.2: 17)
`To him who overcomes ...
I will give him a white stone,
and on the stone a new name written
which no one knows except him who receives it. `
Christ`s Character. (The Hidden Manna. Rev.2: 17)
`To him who overcomes i will give some of the hidden manna to eat.` (Rev. 2: 17)
`Jesus said,
“ I am the bread of life.
Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead.....
Christ`s Authority. (The Crown of Life. Rev. 2: 10)
This crown represents the authority to rule and reign with Christ. We are called of Christ to be King Priests, and then empowered with His authority. Each overcomer will also be given specific authority and responsibility for specific areas of service. These are represented by other `crowns,` which we will receive in relation to our obedience to the Holy Spirit.
Crowns – Gk. `stepho,`
