Fall on Your Face

685.  "Fall on Your Face"        
February 5, 2013
Revelation 7-Part 9
They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: "Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever, Amen!" Revelation 7:12 NIV

LET IT GLOW

Have you ever fallen flat on your face? I shared previously about the time I was pushing an outside light into the ground and it broke, causing me to fall on my face onto the concrete rock porch. There have been a few other times that this has happened. It is a humiliating experience. I wonder, will we all join the angels, elders, and four beasts as they fall on their faces to worship God? Maybe we should be practicing our worship on our face now.

According to MacArthur, the seventh chapter forms a parenthesis between the sixth and seventh seal and answers the question posed at the end of chapter 6-Who can withstand God's wrath?
Two distinct groups will survive the divine fury:

1. the 144,000 Jewish evangelists on earth (verses 1-8), and
2. their converts in heaven (verses 9-17).

This group of redeemed Jews will be instrumental in the salvation of many Jews and Gentiles during the Tribulation (verse 9-17). they will be the firstfruits of a new redeemed Israel (verse 4). At last, Israel will be the witness nation she refused to be in the Old Testament.
God will seal 12,000 from each of the Twelve Tribes, by God's sovereign election, thus promising His protection while they accomplish their mission.
Of the tribes, Dan is left out and Ephraim is replaces Joseph. Ephraim and Manasseh were Joseph's two sons. Dan may have been omitted because it was one of the first of the tribes to go into idolatry (1 Kings 12:28-29). Be assured, God has His reasons.
These 144,000 Hebrews will serve as faithful, courageous, and diligent witnesses for Christ during the darkest period of the earth's history. It is encouraging to know that God will call to Himself numerous believers in Jesus (verse 9). (Swindoll)

LET IT GROW

John has a conversation with an elder, discussing who the people were, which were clothed in white robes. They are the ones who came through the tribulation, have washed their robes white in the blood of the Lamb.
The tribulation believers who, because of their conversion in Christ, will suffer earthly affliction disaster, tears, pain, anguish, grief, sorrow, and tragedy. They will understand what Paul meant in Romans 8:18, For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
Their eternal glory is described in 7:15-17:

• They are before God's throne.
• They serve in God's temple day and night.
• God grants them His favor and protection.
• They no longer hunger or thirst.
• The elements can no longer harm them.
• Christ will shepherd and nourish them.
• God will relieve all their sorrows.

These martyrs will believe in Jesus as Savior and Messiah during the tribulation. They will be divided into two groups. The remnant of physical Israel sealed for protection and called to testify concerning Christ (verse 1-8) and the masses of Gentiles who believe in Christ and suffer persecution and martyrdom for their faith. God is always faithful to keep His promises. We learn that when we suffer, God never fails to reward those who remain faithful to the end. He will wipe away all tears.

Such promises!

LET IT GO

Fall on my face to worship the Almighty God.

Trust God's plans to be best.

If called to be a martyr for Christ, be faithful to the call.