BaptistWay Bible Series for July 3: Beware the damage complacency can do_62705
Posted: 6/20/05
BaptistWay Bible Series for July 3
Beware the damage complacency can do
• Revelation 7
By Wayne Smith
First Baptist Church, Lamesa
Last week, we studied the breaking of six of the seven seals which secured God’s scroll—a complete history of his plan of judgment for the world. As each of the first four seals was broken, a horseman appeared and pictured the death and destruction of society that would occur following the war to come. The fifth seal called for justice for the martyred saints who were dying even as John received the Revelation. The breaking of the sixth seal presented an unmistakable sign of the end—a great earthquake with destruction and disruption of the natural order of the universe.
This lesson will examine the first interlude—a pause in the narration of judgment following the chaos pictured by the opening of the sixth seal and preceding the opening of the seventh seal.
The first interlude interrupts the prophecy of God’s final judgment to bring a message of reassurance to the suffering Christians. Even though the Romans were persecuting Christians unmercifully, they were to remain confident. They had the promise of heaven awaiting them, and they could renew their strength because their future was secure. They would not be spared further agony on earth, but they are assured ultimate victory.
The command to withhold judgment (Revelation 7:1-8)
After viewing the chaotic scene that followed the opening of the sixth seal, John saw four angels poised to destroy the earth. Another angel, carrying the seal of God, called out not to harm the earth until 144,000 “servants of our God” (12,000 from each of the 12 tribes of Israel) are sealed for salvation. The 144,000 symbolically represent all Christians, both Jew and Gentile. All those who have followed Christ now are sealed as belonging to God and are assured their place among the great multitude depicted in the next passage.
The great multitude in heaven (Revelation 7:9-12)
After the sealing, John sees a great multitude of people, representing people of every nation standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. All were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches—emblems of purity and victory. They cried out that salvation belongs to God and to the Lamb. All the angels standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures fell down on their faces before the throne and worshipped God.
The identity of the multitude in white robes (Revelation 7:13-17)
One of the elders asked John who the multitude was and where they had come from. He answered his own question when John replied to him: “Sir, you know.” The elder identified the multitude as those who came out of the great tribulation. They had been saved through the atoning death of Jesus. They had been delivered to heaven where they served and praised God continually. Never again will they suffer pain. The Lamb, presented symbolically as a shepherd, has led them through his atoning death into the presence of God.
The vivid imagery of the Revelation to John sometimes over-powers the message of assurance and hope contained in it. The awesome judgment directed against the world is reserved for those who have opposed God, rejected Christ and persecuted Christians. The joys of heaven are reserved for those who have received Christ. No amount of human suffering can take away that promise.
The image of an eternal omnipotent God in total control of the world and of history was desperately needed by the suffering first-century Christians. They needed the assurance that God was aware of their condition. Not only would he strengthen them to withstand and endure, he already had provided for their future. The testimony of their lives had secured their future. By following Christ, their part in carrying out God’s plan had been realized.
Application
We in America do not fear physical harm for being identified as Christian. This freedom from persecution may give us a complacent attitude. We may think the absence of organized resistance such as the Romans enforced means there is no opposition to Christians and Christianity.
First-century Christians were not complacent. They knew that spreading the gospel was urgent, and they worked at it regardless of the opposition. They certainly did not welcome the abuse they received, but they persevered in spite of it. The need to spread the gospel outweighed the fear of persecution.
The opposition we face in America is much more subtle than that employed by the Romans. The opposition we face is apathy—the attitude that simply refuses to recognize the urgent need for Christian witness. There is no overt physical danger to be feared from apathy. Apathy gives a false sense of security. If one simply refuses to accept responsibility, there is no accountability.
Our challenge is to develop the same sense of purpose in our lives that the early Christians had. They existed as Christians in the midst of the turmoil of persecution not by withdrawing and hiding but by openly confessing Christ and living out their testimonies.
Discussion question
• How can I develop a sense of urgency about my Christian witness?