SEALED IN GOD AND CHRIST (7 OF 18)
Scripture: Revelation 7:1-17
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Sealed in God and Christ (7 of 18)
Series: Revelation
Patrick Edwards
Revelation 7:1-17
Introduction
Hearing the groans and cries of His people in bondage in Egypt, God calls Moses to be His mouthpiece to Pharaoh to go and tell the king to let His people go. When Pharaoh refused God reveals His intentions to send signs and plagues to Egypt in order that both Egypt and Israel will know who God really is. In other words, in these plagues we see God reveal His character, particularly His identification with the oppressed, as well as His power and sovereignty over all creation.
But God also spares His people mostly from the harm of the plagues. At least beginning with the fourth plague we read that God afflicts only the Egyptians. He warns them at times, telling them they don't have to suffer if they would but just listen to Him. But most refuse and suffer His judgment rather than repent. We see this mercy and protection of His people most with the tenth plague, when God makes a way for the firstborn sons of Israel to be spared from death through the sacrifice of the Passover Lamb.
You see, last time in Revelation 6 we saw the outpouring of God's wrath on the earth because of the sin and wickedness of humanity. In part, this wickedness included the martyrdom of Christians throughout history, resulting in the saints asking God, 'How long until you avenge our blood?' When the sixth seal was broken and the wrath of God again poured out, the peoples of the earth asked, ''Who is able to stand?'' Chapter seven now answers.
We find that just as God spared His redeemed from many of the plagues in Egypt, He continues to do so throughout history. But it's important, as we'll note, exactly what that protection means and entails and what it does not. And that's really the theme and important lesson of Revelation 7. Just like chapter six this passage doesn't give us a full explanation of why God allows evil or why He even allows His children to suffer. But it do ...
Series: Revelation
Patrick Edwards
Revelation 7:1-17
Introduction
Hearing the groans and cries of His people in bondage in Egypt, God calls Moses to be His mouthpiece to Pharaoh to go and tell the king to let His people go. When Pharaoh refused God reveals His intentions to send signs and plagues to Egypt in order that both Egypt and Israel will know who God really is. In other words, in these plagues we see God reveal His character, particularly His identification with the oppressed, as well as His power and sovereignty over all creation.
But God also spares His people mostly from the harm of the plagues. At least beginning with the fourth plague we read that God afflicts only the Egyptians. He warns them at times, telling them they don't have to suffer if they would but just listen to Him. But most refuse and suffer His judgment rather than repent. We see this mercy and protection of His people most with the tenth plague, when God makes a way for the firstborn sons of Israel to be spared from death through the sacrifice of the Passover Lamb.
You see, last time in Revelation 6 we saw the outpouring of God's wrath on the earth because of the sin and wickedness of humanity. In part, this wickedness included the martyrdom of Christians throughout history, resulting in the saints asking God, 'How long until you avenge our blood?' When the sixth seal was broken and the wrath of God again poured out, the peoples of the earth asked, ''Who is able to stand?'' Chapter seven now answers.
We find that just as God spared His redeemed from many of the plagues in Egypt, He continues to do so throughout history. But it's important, as we'll note, exactly what that protection means and entails and what it does not. And that's really the theme and important lesson of Revelation 7. Just like chapter six this passage doesn't give us a full explanation of why God allows evil or why He even allows His children to suffer. But it do ...
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