Bethel Baptist Church of Tillamook, OR
October 11, 2026
  • All Hail The Power Of Jesus' Name
  • Nothing But The Blood
  • Jesus Paid It All

  • 1. A New Vision: Jewish bond-servants sealed for service, 7:1-8.

    vs. 1 - “After this” points to what follows as a new vision.
    “four angels” are God’s agents and are different than the four living creatures and the 24 elders.
    “four corners” are compass points: Isaiah 11:12
    Isaiah 11:12 NASB95
    And He will lift up a standard for the nations And assemble the banished ones of Israel, And will gather the dispersed of Judah From the four corners of the earth.
    “four winds” probably represent God’s judgment coming upon the world: Hosea 13:15
    Hosea 13:15 NASB95
    Though he flourishes among the reeds, An east wind will come, The wind of the Lord coming up from the wilderness; And his fountain will become dry And his spring will be dried up; It will plunder his treasury of every precious article.
    … specifically those judgments to follow in the remainder of the tribulation: Ezekiel 9:4-8
    Ezekiel 9:4–8 NASB95
    The Lord said to him, “Go through the midst of the city, even through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations which are being committed in its midst.” But to the others He said in my hearing, “Go through the city after him and strike; do not let your eye have pity and do not spare. “Utterly slay old men, young men, maidens, little children, and women, but do not touch any man on whom is the mark; and you shall start from My sanctuary.” So they started with the elders who were before the temple. And He said to them, “Defile the temple and fill the courts with the slain. Go out!” Thus they went out and struck down the people in the city. As they were striking the people and I alone was left, I fell on my face and cried out saying, “Alas, Lord God! Are You destroying the whole remnant of Israel by pouring out Your wrath on Jerusalem?”
    Context in our text tells us that these angels were not to harm the earth and the sea just yet, 7:2-3.
    v. 2 - Another angel ascends “from the rising of the sun,” i. e. from the east: the scriptures indicate the east as the place from where divine salvation often comes, Gen. 2:8
    Genesis 2:8 NASB95
    The Lord God planted a garden toward the east, in Eden; and there He placed the man whom He had formed.
    Ezekiel 43:2 NASB95
    and behold, the glory of the God of Israel was coming from the way of the east. And His voice was like the sound of many waters; and the earth shone with His glory.
    “having the seal of the living God.” The seal indicates ownership, authentication, protection leading to final salvation: Eph. 1:14
    Ephesians 1:14 NASB95
    who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.
    Ephesians 4:30 NASB95
    Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
    The phrase “living God” adds solemnity and vitality to the seal.
    vs. 3 - The command “Do not harm the earth ...” indicates that this is an event transpiring on earth.
    “the bond-servants of our God...” These are believers in Jesus Christ … who are Jews! (context: vs. 4-8)
    “… they, like Saul [the apostle Paul], will be set apart to be God’s messengers to the Gentiles.’ — Pentecost, Thy Kingdom Come, p. 252.
    “on their foreheads” - this suggests that this is a visible seal.
    vs. 4 - seals offer protection from divine judgment in the Tribulation, but probably not from harm that others would inflict upon them, Rev. 13:7
    Revelation 13:7 NASB95
    It was also given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them, and authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him.
    Revelation 13:15 NASB95
    And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed.
    Revelation 20:4 NASB95
    Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
    The calamities of the last half of the tribulation are far more severe. Antichrist will imitate the seal given by God by marking his followers, Rev. 14:9
    Revelation 14:9 NASB95
    Then another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand,
    Revelation 14:11 NASB95
    “And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.”
    “Every tribe of the sons of Israel” indicates the nation of Israel, not the church, is in view here.
    There are 19 listings of Jacob’s sons in the OT; this one is unique.
    Observations:
    v. 5 - Judah is listed first; this tribe would lead the other tribes, and Messiah would come through his descendents, Gen 49:10
    Genesis 49:10 NASB95
    “The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes, And to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.
    v. 6 - Manasseh is mentioned, possible because of their faithfulness compared to the tribe of Ephraim’s unfaithfulness as recorded in OT history.
    v. 7 - Levi is seen on equal footing with the other tribes.
    v. 8 - Joseph represents Ephraim, who had been head of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, and who commited apostasy under Jeroboam I. Yet Ephraim will be given land in the Millennial Kingdom.
    The tribe of Dan is absent. We do not know why. It is possible it is because that tribe was the first to introduce idolatry in Israel, Judges 18:30
    Judges 18:30 NASB95
    The sons of Dan set up for themselves the graven image; and Jonathan, the son of Gershom, the son of Manasseh, he and his sons were priests to the tribe of the Danites until the day of the captivity of the land.
    Others have believed that Antichrist or the false prophet will come from Dan.
    However, to maintain the symmetry of twelve, one tribe had to be left out of the list, since Joseph had two sons who received his double portion, making 13 tribes. Levi was left out of the listings, being set apart to the LORD, as seen in Moses’ tribal blessings in Deuteronomy 33. However, in Ezekiel 47-48 the tribe of Simeon is left out.
    There is nothing sinister about Dan being left out; the tribe of Dan will receive an equal portion of land in the Millennial Kingdom, Ezekiel 48:1-2
    Ezekiel 48:1–2 NASB95
    “Now these are the names of the tribes: from the northern extremity, beside the way of Hethlon to Lebo-hamath, as far as Hazar-enan at the border of Damascus, toward the north beside Hamath, running from east to west, Dan, one portion. “Beside the border of Dan, from the east side to the west side, Asher, one portion.
    These are the physical descendents of Jacob, contrary to what Jehovah Witnesses, Seventh Day Adventists. and others teach.
    Question: What is the Holy Spirit’s relationship to these believers?
    Will the Spirit baptize them? Perhaps He will not, since the baptizing work of the Spirit joins believers to the body of Christ, the church, 1 Cor. 12:13
    1 Corinthians 12:13 NASB95
    For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
    Will He permanently indwell them? Probably He will; Spirit indwelling occurs in the same instant as regeneration, Rom. 8:9
    Romans 8:9 NASB95
    However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.

    2. Another Vision: The Results of Faithful Service, 7:9-12.

    v. 9 - “After these things” points to another vision, which follows the events of vs. 1-8.
    John sees “a great multitude,” which appears to be the same as the those referred to in cp. 6:9-11, but now joining the angels and elders in the throne room of God. John is describing an event transpiring in Heaven.
    These are both Gentile and Jewish believers. This second group are seen as victorious, secure, and at home in heaven
    They have been removed from the earthly scene of the wrath and are in no need of a protective sealing.
    “clothed in white robes,” symbolic of righteousness and purity.
    “palm branches,” symbolic of victory and joy.
    During this first half of the tribulation, a vast throng has turned to God and now passed into His immediate presence through death, cf. Rev. 6:8
    Revelation 6:8 NASB95
    I looked, and behold, an ashen horse; and he who sat on it had the name Death; and Hades was following with him. Authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by the wild beasts of the earth.
    v. 10 - This great multitude is seen worshipping and serving God in heaven before the Millennial Kingdom.
    “Salvation” here is the physical deliverance from the Tribulation scene. It is attributed to God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb.
    v. 11 - All those in the throne room now fall on their faces before the throne and worshipped God.
    v. 12 - There follows here a seven-fold ascription to God affirming His worthiness to be worshipped. It begins and ends with “Amen” - which is a term underlying the truthfulness of what is said.
    “blessing” - what God deserves because of what He will do for these people.
    “glory” - for His good reputation, specifically for delivering these people.
    “wisdom” - His infinite knowledge displayed in His plan for deliverance.
    “thanksgiving” - expression of gratitude for this favor God has rendered.
    “honor” - the esteem God deserves because He planned and provided this salvation.
    “power” - God’s omnipotence enabling Him to overcome all obstacles.
    “might” - His inherent power enabling Him to deliver this great multitude from all their enemies.

    3. A Conversation of Clarification and Promise, 7:13-17.

    vs. 13 - This is the beginning of a dialogue between one of the 24 elders and John, between a character in the vision and the one receiving the vision. Examples are Amos 7:8
    Amos 7:8 NASB95
    The Lord said to me, “What do you see, Amos?” And I said, “A plumb line.” Then the Lord said, “Behold I am about to put a plumb line In the midst of My people Israel. I will spare them no longer.
    Amos 8:2 NASB95
    He said, “What do you see, Amos?” And I said, “A basket of summer fruit.” Then the Lord said to me, “The end has come for My people Israel. I will spare them no longer.
    The format is question, response, clarification. The elder asks a question that may have been on John’s mind.
    v. 14 - John’s response leads to the elder’s clarification:
    “These are ones who come (from Gk. erchomenoi, a present participle indicating an ongoing departure) out of (from Gk. ek) the Great Tribulation;” that is, before the last three 1/2 years.
    “washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” is a figure of speech for salvation.
    “in (Gk. en) the blood of the Lamb” has instrumental force here, emphasizing that it is Christ’s blood is what makes their robes white, “blood” being a metaphor for violent death.
    v. 15 - these believers will be in the presence of God because they have believed in Jesus Christ and will have died in the first half of the Tribulation.
    They serve Him in His heavenly temple day and night.
    God Himself “will spread His tabernacle over them.” this indicates both protection and shared fellowship. It is an OT picture of God dwelling among His people and protecting them. Exodus 13:21-22
    Exodus 13:21–22 NASB95
    The Lord was going before them in a pillar of cloud by day to lead them on the way, and in a pillar of fire by night to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.
    Leviticus 26:11–12 NASB95
    ‘Moreover, I will make My dwelling among you, and My soul will not reject you. ‘I will also walk among you and be your God, and you shall be My people.
    v. 16 - They will no longer experience hardships and the discomforts of their earthly existence, Isaiah 49:10
    Isaiah 49:10 NASB95
    “They will not hunger or thirst, Nor will the scorching heat or sun strike them down; For He who has compassion on them will lead them And will guide them to springs of water.
    John 4:14 NASB95
    but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”
    John 6:35 NASB95
    Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.
    There are seven promises in these last two verses:
    No more hunger
    No more thirst
    No sun beating down on them
    No excessive heat
    v. 17 - The Lamb will be their shepherd, refreshing and protecting them, Isa 40:11
    Isaiah 40:11 NASB95
    Like a shepherd He will tend His flock, In His arm He will gather the lambs And carry them in His bosom; He will gently lead the nursing ewes.
    The Lamb will lead them to God, who is Fountain of life, Psalm 35:10
    Psalm 35:10 NASB95
    All my bones will say, “Lord, who is like You, Who delivers the afflicted from him who is too strong for him, And the afflicted and the needy from him who robs him?”
    John 4:14 NASB95
    but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”
    God will wipe away their shed tears because of their sufferings, Isa 25:8
    Isaiah 25:8 NASB95
    He will swallow up death for all time, And the Lord God will wipe tears away from all faces, And He will remove the reproach of His people from all the earth; For the Lord has spoken.
    Remember that these are promised for us today and are meant to encourage us to be faithful through what God allows in our path as we await the return of our Savior, Rev. 21:1-5
    Revelation 21:1–5 NASB95
    Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.”
    So be it, Amen.

      • Isaiah 11:12NASB95

      • Hosea 13:15NASB95

      • Ezekiel 9:4–8NASB95

      • Genesis 2:8NASB95

      • Ezekiel 43:2NASB95

      • Ephesians 1:14NASB95

      • Ephesians 4:30NASB95

      • Revelation 13:7NASB95

      • Revelation 13:15NASB95

      • Revelation 20:4NASB95

      • Revelation 14:9NASB95

      • Revelation 14:11NASB95

      • Genesis 49:10NASB95

      • Judges 18:30NASB95

      • Ezekiel 48:1–2NASB95

      • 1 Corinthians 12:13NASB95

      • Romans 8:9NASB95

      • Revelation 6:8NASB95

      • Amos 7:8NASB95

      • Amos 8:2NASB95

      • Exodus 13:21–22NASB95

      • Leviticus 26:11–12NASB95

      • Isaiah 49:10NASB95

      • John 4:14NASB95

      • John 6:35NASB95

      • Isaiah 40:11NASB95

      • Psalm 35:10NASB95

      • John 4:14NASB95

      • Isaiah 25:8NASB95

      • Revelation 21:1–5NASB95

  • Are You Washed In The Blood
Bethel Baptist Church of Tillamook, OR
revrlcasper@gmail.com
(503) 842-5598
https://bbc-tillamook.faithlifesites.com
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