As these texts verify,
this group is not the redeemed of all the ages, but are resurrected last-day
saints who have gotten the victory over the beast (Antichrist), over his
image (idol), his mark and name. They showed great "patience," would not
"shrink back" in the midst of trial and persecution (James
5:7-11; Hebrews 10:35-38),
and are willing to die as martyrs if need be. The end-time calls for
patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints, because
captivity and death is promised to come (Revelation
13:9-10). Those who obey God's Commandments and remain faithful
to Jesus are called upon for "patient endurance" throughout Revelation (14:12).
6. What does the great
multitude hold in their hands (Revelation
7:9b)?
The saints hold palm
branches in their hands in praise to God.
7. When were palm branches
to be used in celebration by God's people (Leviticus
23:33-35, 39-40)?
Sukkot (the Feast of
Booths or Tabernacles) comes five days after the Day of Atonement each year,
God's people wave palm branches before God. In Jerusalem, the children of
Israel celebrated Messiah's coming with palm branches, shouting "hosanna,"
meaning, "save" (Matthew 21:8-9; John 12:13)--a quote directly from Psalms 118 and a song sung on the Feast
of Tabernacles, emphasizing ultimate deliverance. However, at the end of
time, a great multitude of all nations, along with the angels, elders and
four living creatures, will be gather in Heaven on the great prophetic Feast
of Tabernacles, and will celebrate salvation praises of victory before both
Father and Son. All Heaven will praise God with a sevenfold doxology,
"praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength to
our God forever and ever," Revelation 7:12.
Sukkot is the last of
the "fall feasts" and takes place over seven days in Israel and eight days
outside the land. The eight days, specifically the eighth day, are symbolic
of eternity. The time cycle for the earth is 6,000 years, followed by the
1,000-year Sabbath-rest of the earth, which is then followed by the "Olam
Haba" --the "eighth day" of eternity that brings a new heaven and new earth.
The 144,000 of all
Israel, on the other hand, will sing the song of Psalms 118 on earth in the
midst of the "time of Jacob's trouble" (Jeremiah
30:7-11) while their enemies surround them. For God must
scatter, chasten and correct them in the midst of the Great Tribulation, but
will not allow their deaths (Psalms 118:18).
God seals them for protection against the prevailing winds of strife.
The prophet Isaiah (4:1-6)
tells of this prophetic Feast of Tabernacle celebration and the 144,000 "in
that day" of the Lord. In this passage Messiah is fittingly named the
(palm) "BRANCH of the LORD" along with the 144,000, the "survivors in
Israel--those who are left (behind) in Zion," who are alive and "remain in
Jerusalem" to endure the 40 days--the Time of Jacob's Trouble. At this time
"The Lord will wash away the filth of the women in Zion; He will cleanse the
bloodstains [of the prophets and saints--Revelation
18:20, 24] from Jerusalem [the great city] by a spirit of
judgment and a spirit of fire ["consumed by fire," Revelation 18:8]. Then the Lord will
create over all of Mount Zion and those assembled there ... a canopy
[tabernacle]. It will be a shelter and shade from the heat of the day, and
a refuge and hiding place from the storm and rain."
It is written, "The
Lord is my Shepherd, I shall lack nothing. He makes me to lie down in green
pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul. He guides
me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Even though I walk through
the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in
the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will
dwell in the house of the Lord forever," Psalms
23.
8. Revelation 7:13-14
tells how one of the elders asked the seer, John, "Who are they [the great
multitude of all nations], and where did they come from?" John responded,
"Sir, you know." What did the elder say?
The great multitude
"have come out of the great tribulation"; or, as the original may read,
"have escaped from within the great tribulation." They have been raised to
life (Revelation 3:10-11; 15:1-2) and stand before God, before the
seven angels are sent out with God's final wrath. They have endured with
patience and overcome, so that they have earned the right to escape all
those things that are coming upon the earth (Romans
5:9). "At that time Michael ... will arise" in protection of His
people (12:1-3), and He will descend
and with the voice of the Archangel and loud trumpet, these dead in Christ
are raised first ". The 144,000 "who are alive and left behind" will a
short time later "be caught up" with the great multitude whom "God will
bring with Him ... in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. And so we
will be with the Lord forever," (1 Thessalonians
4:13-18).
The great multitude
have "washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." The
person, Jesus, has "washed us from our sins by his own blood, " (Revelation
1:5 K.J.V). David cried out, "Wash away all my iniquity and
cleanse me from my sin," Psalms 51:2.
Humanly speaking, to wash with blood would not clean, but spiritually
speaking this is the only way to enter Heaven's Temple of God.
Paul asked the
church, "Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of
God? Do not be deceived" (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)
into thinking that one can wallow in sin and take in the kingdom. Paul
continues, "But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in
the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God," (v.
11).
The Word proclaims,
'"Come now, let us reason together," says the Lord. "Though your sins are
like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as
crimson, they shall be like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you will
eat the best from the land; but if you resist and rebel, you will be
devoured by the sword." For the mouth of the Lord has spoken."'
9. In Revelation 7:15-17
the great multitude is promised a special position of service, which they
will hold in God's throne room. What is it?
This faithful group
will serve God day and night in His Temple, and God will spread his tent
[canopy] of protection over them forever. Although they were kept from food
and shelter and endured hunger, thirst and scorching heat because they would
not accept the mark of the beast, God promises His eternal shepherding and
care. Springs of living water will be theirs and God will wipe away all
tears of sorrow.
In Biblical times,
during the week of the Feast of Tabernacles, there was a ritual performed
daily connected with the sacrificial ceremony. This was called nisukh ha-mayim--the
liberation of water. The procession and celebration itself was called
simhat beit has-sho'eivah--"the rejoicing at the place of the
water-drawing."
Many believe that
Jesus was born on this feast day, which would account for all the rooms
being filled in Bethlehem during this festival. As it is written, "the Word
became flesh and dwelt [literally "tabernacled" (K.J.V)] among us," John 1:14. Later, Jesus was baptized on
the Feast of Tabernacles and immediately went into the wilderness for forty
days, lacking food and water, and was then tempted by the Devil. The watery
immersion at Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles) gave birth to Yeshua's earthly
ministry, which would eventually lead to Calvary, exactly three and one-half
years later, at Passover.
Please kindly report any non-working links, grammar goofs or misspellings to the
email link below. Thank you!
Focus On The Prophecies Ministry 5815 S.W. 29th Street Topeka, Ks
66614
