Bible Study

BOOK OF REVELATION UNCOVERED: Chapter 7

by: Dr. Dean Crosby

[Editor's Note: For this study, the author uses easy to understand Contemporary English Version (CEV) of Bible that has been created by the American Bible Society. His insights are given in capital letters. This include explanations and historical background information for the words you have just read in order to make the startling predictions made in this important and fascinating book comprehensible. Occasionally make changes will be made in the CEV words if a variance is detected from the meaning found in the King James Bible.]

REVELATION 7

1-2 After this I saw four angels. Each one was standing on one of the earth's four corners. (THE WHOLE WORLD.) The angels held back the four winds, so that no wind would blow on the earth or on the sea or on any trees. These angels had also been given the power to harm (AS A PUNISHMENT FOR SIN) the earth and the sea.

Then I saw another angel come up from where the sun rises in the east, and he was ready to put the seal of the living God on people. (THIS IS THOUGHT TO REFER TO SELECTING THEM FOR SALVATION) He shouted to the four angels, 3 "Don't harm the earth or the sea or any tree! Wait until I have marked the foreheads of the servants of our God." 4 Then I heard how many people had been marked on the forehead. There were one hundred forty-four thousand, and they came from every tribe of Israel. (THIS WILL OCCUR AFTER THE CHRISTIAN RAPTURE) 5 12,000 from Judah, 12,000 from Reuben, 12, 000 from Gad, 612, 000 from Asher, 12, 000 from Naphtali, 12, 000 from Manasseh, 712,000 from Simeon, 12,000 from Levi, 12,000 from Issachar, 8. 12,000 from Zebulun, 12,000 from Joseph, and 12,000 from Benjamin.

9 After this, I saw a large crowd with more people than could be counted. (THESE WERE THE CHRISTIANS WHO WERE MURDERED DURING THE TRIBULATION BECAUSE OF THEIR FAITH ) They were from every race, tribe, nation, and language, and they stood before the throne and before the Lamb. (JESUS) They wore white robes and held palm branches (THESE WERE USED TO DISPLAY THE EMOTION OF JOY IN THE OLD TESTAMENT) in their hands, 10 as they shouted, "Our God, who sits upon the throne, has the power to save His people, and so does the Lamb." 11 The angels who stood around the throne knelt in front of it with their faces to the ground. The elders and the four living creatures knelt there with them. Then they all worshiped God 12 and said, "Amen! Praise, glory, wisdom, thanks, honor, power, and strength belong to our God forever and ever! Amen!"

13 One of the elders asked me, "Do you know who these people are that are dressed in white robes? Do you know where they come from?" 14 " Sir," I answered, "you must know." Then he told me: "These are the ones who have gone through the great suffering. (THE TRIBULATION BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT CHOSEN FOR THE RAPTURE) They have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb (WORSHIPED JESUS BECAUSE OF HIS SACRIFICE FOR THEM ON THE CROSS) and have made them white. (THEY BECAME HOLY DUE TO THEIR BELIEF) 15 And so they stand before the throne of God and worship Him in His temple day and night."

(THIS BOOK REPEATEDLY GIVES DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF HOW POWERFULLY GOD AND JESUS ARE WORSHIPED IN HEAVEN WHICH MAKE IT VERY OBVIOUS THAT MOST CHRISTIANS WHO SPEND FAR MORE TIME WORSHIPING SPORTS ON THE SABBATH DAY, THE DAY THAT WE ARE COMMANDED TO KEEP HOLY, THAN THEY SPEND WORSHIPING GOD THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE WEEK, WILL FIND HEAVEN A VERY UNPLEASANT AND EMOTIONALLY UNCOMFORTABLE PLACE TO LIVE SHOULD THEY EVER GET THERE.)

"The One (GOD) who sits on the throne will dwell among them. (THIS IMPLIES THAT GOD WILL PROTECT THEM) 16 They will never hunger or thirst again, and they will not be troubled by the sun or any scorching heat. (THE CLIMATE IN HEAVEN IS FREE OF WEATHER EXTREMES ) 17 The Lamb (JESUS) in the center of the throne will feed (SPIRITUALLY ENRICH) them. He will lead them to streams of life-giving water, (THIS REFERS TO THE HOLY SPIRIT) and God will wipe all tears from their eyes." (GOD WILL REMOVE GRIEF FROM THOSE IN HEAVEN)

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