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YES INDEED, JESUS CHRIST IS COMING BACK,
24 June 2012, Sunday,
The bible says Jesus Christ is coming back. The question is when but He is coming back.
One day the master Jesus will come back. No matter the situation He will come back, it may either be a good or bad situation, He will come back. Whether you forget it, or ignore it, He is coming back. He has never lied. He said “I am going to my Father but I will come back and take you so that you can stay where I am.”
The question is “When He comes back, where will He find you?” backslidden, inside the house of God or on leave from the church?
Revelation 6:17 “17 For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?"” Rev 6:17, NKJV.
OTHER VERSION: “17 The terrible day of their anger is here, and who can stand up against it?"” Rev 6:17, GNT.
The bible says the terrible day is here. When we talk about terrible we mean something serious, anger, wrath.
When John speaks of the terrible day it means that day, shall be terrible. On that day there shall be problems. Even if Jesus was used to laughing, He won’t be laughing on that day.
If you are used to mock Him, that day you won’t do it. If you used to ignore Him that day you won't do it, because it is a terrible day. There will be no laughter, no joy, no peace, because it is the day of the revenge.
Jesus will be coming to revenge. Now, those who claim to be Christians are you prepared for the terrible day? When we talk about bitterness we talk about pain inside. Inner pain makes the body to react as the body responds to the pain coming from inside. If the spirit is in pain it provokes the body to react.
Now He resembles like a lamb. Even when He was slaughtered He looked like a lamb. He knew He was not dying for Himself. He knew that “If these people cannot acknowledge my death, I am going to revenge. I am going to be slaughtered for their sins and if they don’t do anything, I am going to revenge.”
He knows that that day is coming and on that day He will be given authority to fight with those who fight with Him.
We are going to read from the book of Rev 7:1-14.
The book of revelation needs to be read carefully, it is the book that tells us what will happen. In this book John is telling us what he saw. He is telling us the reality of what will happen.
The devil doesn’t want you to know about the terrible day. The devil wants you to relax and forget the future, be ignorant of the terrible day that is coming.
That is why Jesus said some of you will say “We prophesied and preached in your name and I will tell them I don’t know you!”. You can’t play with Jesus. Remember the painful death He died for us? He allowed Himself to be nailed to the cross. He never insulted anyone, including those who were killing Him; He never uttered a single word. What I know is that when He was dying He said “God forgive them for they know not what they do.”
How on earth can you forgive the one who is busy nailing you to the cross? But Jesus forgave them. God wants us to do the same. Why? If Jesus did it, and we are really serving Him, even if it painful, let us try and let’s do our best.
I am concerned, should Jesus Christ come for the terrible day and find you with the problem of not forgiving others. He will say to you “Do you know your sins? How many are they?” He will ask us about our sins. How many sins have we committed? If He counts them for you and He compares your sins with the brother you say you can’t forgive, then what? Jesus preached forgiveness. Even on Calvary He preached forgiveness, “God they don’t know what they do, but forgive them”. But we stand in church and say “This one I can forgive Him.”
Should the terrible day come and find you in your unforgiveness, you have wasted your time in your Christianity and with all your fastings and praying.
The terrible day is coming! Maybe you have built yourself a small heaven, the terrible day is coming. It will find you in your small heaven. The bible calls it the “terrible day”, the bible never say the “good day”. We can never write our own bible. Verse 17 says the terrible day is coming.
1 Corinthians 3:13 “13 each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is.” 1 Cor 3:13, NKJV.
Listen to the word of God, Paul says that on this day, the terrible day, every works of each individual will be exposed and unfortunately, it will be exposed on the terrible day. Think about it “a terrible day, exposure of your sins, when all your sins are brought to light, unfortunately on the terrible day.” In other words there shall be no mercy. If the day is already declared to be a terrible day, it means, there is no chance to ask for forgiveness. No chance. Why? That day has been declared and nobody can change that day. The good part you can use today to ask forgiveness from heaven but not on that day.
The terrible day is a terrible day and will be bringing bad things. It has been declared to be a terrible day. On that day only wrath will be at work; revenge and wrath!
On that day all the witches and wizards will be exposed in front of everybody. Do you think God is happy about the people who are being tormented by the witches and wizards? No, He is taking a record of all these people and what they are doing.
According to Paul the word of God says everything will be brought to light. Even those who are bewitching you at night will be shown, including the teaspoon they are using at night to fly to and fro their destinations. All the works shall be tested by fire. All the works, not some but all. All works shall be tested by fire. Including those hidden things, that is why you are given the opportunity to confess them and bring them to light before the day of terror.
It will be unfortunate, if the day of terror finds you hiding something in you. Even if your record is clean in terms of going to church, faithful tithing, offering nicely, giving to other people, you are nullifying everything because of that hidden thing. That very secret that you can’t even tell your husband or wife. Release it, and you must do it now as we don’t know when the terrible day will come. Maybe you know! But if you don’t know then you are walking on a time bomb that can explode at any given moment.
What is in your heart that you can’t even share with other people? You can find a husband and wife with secrets in their hearts. Sometimes we are surprised when one partner dies and is buried shabbily whereas the husband has hidden a lot of money in investments. I hear these things everyday when I counsel people.
One business man was buried without a tombstone and later we discovered he had 20 million rands and the wife never knew of it. When the wife now wanted to erect the tombstone people were already gone; Because of secrets. Some people will faint when the terrible day comes.
When this terrible day comes, especially for husband and wives, these things are going to be revealed; the one partner will see the secrets of the other partner and will faint.
Even the young people, that day will bring all your secrets out. You will stand in front of everybody with your pastor near you and Jesus says “Look at this film”. If it was during the day, He will call the night, “Night re-play the film”, if it is during the day, he will say “Day re-play the film.” It means those witches and wizards will be exposed and it won't be dark on the film, everything will be clear for all to see. The night knows people’s secrets, it was there. Even something you do behind closed doors. You can’t mock God. People even hide from the Lord.
Have you seen small children playing hide and seek, You will see one of them saying “I am hiding” but the head is out. Even if you are a soldier and you want to check something by seeing it, your head must first come out. In other words you can’t hide. You are hiding but you want to see, then you must lift the head for the eyes to see.
The day of terror within coming.
Rev 7:1-7 “After these things I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, on the sea, or on any tree. 2 Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, 3 saying,"Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads." 4 And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed: 5 of the tribe of Judah twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand were sealed; 6 of the tribe of Asher twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand were sealed; 7 of the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Levi twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand were sealed; 8 of the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand were sealed. A Multitude from the Great Tribulation 9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, saying,"Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!" 11 All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying: "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen." 13 Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, "Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?" 14 And I said to him, "Sir, you know." So he said to me,"These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” Rev 7:1-7, NKJV.
I was laughing when this scripture was read. This is the book of revelation, the book that tells what will happen. The bible says “after this I saw four angels.” There are certain numbers that God uses much, four, seven and twelve. God uses them mightily.
John says after I saw four angels, the earth has four corners. In creation there are four wings that will come from each corner. There are four angels. These 4 angels are the guards of the earth. 7 is the number of completion. God created everything and completed it on the 7th day.
12 is a prophetic number. He used the twelve tribes. Even Jesus when He nominated the disciples he used the same principle of twelve. That is why in each of the tribes; only 12,000 were recognised to see heaven.
If you multiply the twelve thousand you will get 144,00 from the nation of the Israelites. Why? The children of Israelites are the ones who know God but they rejected Him even when they had seen the miracles.
The four angles were assigned to stop the four winds not to blow upon the earth. You can see the power of the order. Verse 2, says I saw another angel coming from the East, having the mark of the living God. I want to dwell on the mark. If you are a child of God and you don’t have the mark of God on you what will happen to you when Christ comes back? When Jesus Christ comes back on the terrible day He will see the mark of the Lord on you.
In verse He says please don’t do anything before we put the mark of the Lord so that when the angel of death comes.
Rev 7:3 “"Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads."” NKJV. We must first put a mark on the foreheads of the Christians. If you are a Christian allow yourself to be marked of the Lord.
Do you know a mark? Say you buy a cow from me, that cow will be marked, with my mark. If you then don’t change the mark, and leave my mark as it is what will happen? In other words after 2 months I can go to the police and tell them you have stolen my cow. The police will ask you “When you bought the cow, did it have a mark?” “Yes it had” “Why did you not put your own mark?” When you say “I forgot” the police will say, “You have stolen the cow!”
A lot of people are coming to Christ with the mark of the devil and want to be recognised as Christians. The devil will go to God and say, “This is my mark, where is yours?” and He will say to God “This one is mine.” A lot of people are being claimed by the devil whilst in church because of the powerful marks he has put on you.
The devil will end up saying to Jesus Christ “No, last night this person was flying with my teaspoon.” and he will say “Call the night to testify”. Jesus Christ will have nothing to say. The devil will then say “Call the day to testify what happened on Sunday” and it will show you worshipping God on Sunday in church. Can you mock God? The devil will say “Jesus speak, This one is ours”.
Do you have a mark?
Rev 7:4 “4 And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed:” Rev 7:4, NKJV.
This was pathetic. I don’t know if since this revelation these people are repenting so that the number can increase or is it now reducing? Do you mean out of the Israelites, only 144,000 will go the heaven? This means that billions and billions of people will go to hell.
This means that when this number was recorded, it doesn’t mean the Israelites were not worshipping God but this is the number recognised by Jesus Christ. Most of the people are in church today but they are worshiping God not Jesus. They believe in God but not the one God sent, Jesus.
The same can happen to you, you can believe in God but not Jesus but Jesus says no one can come the Father, except by me, This number is pathetic. John 14:6 “6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6, NKJV.
When Isaiah prophesied that the son of Man is coming through the loins of Joseph they said, “Don’t tell us about Joseph the carpenter”. If you believe in God but not Jesus you are waiting your time and are going to hell.
In John 14: Christ says “I am the way the truth the and the life, because I died for everybody not only for Christians”. John says he died for all the sins.
John 3:16 says “16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16, .NKJV.
This qualifies Him to judge everyone. The Jews will stand before the throne on the terrible day.
Rev 7:9 “9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands,” NKJV.
The terrible vision is in verse 9. Will you be part of this celebration when verse 9 is no longer talking about the twelve tribes of Israelites it is including the Gentiles, the Zulu, Venda, Shangaan, Swazi, Afrikaans, Shona, Ndebele, etc. All shall stand before the throne.
The response was of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. It means even “you” were there standing before the throne. I can see the master looking at all the people, searching for the mark, “Where is the mark?”
Rev 7:10 “10 and crying out with a loud voice, saying,"Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!"” Rev 7:10, NKJV.
In other words those multitudes have the mark otherwise they can’t worship Him if they don’t know Him. The bible says they started to worship. If you don’t have the mark, you can’t worship Him, you will be ashamed.
1 Cor 3:13-15 “13 each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.” NKJV.
A person who has survived fire will have burn marks. Even if you can find yourself in the multitudes, the burn mark will be there and the bible says you won't receive the crown but you will be saved.
The bible says all works will be tested by fire. I don’t know the format to be used or maybe God will say “Jump over this fire!” and your sins will make you heavy and fall into the fire and then Jesus will say “Through mercy let that one live!” but by then you will have been burnt and you will be smelling. All those before the throne will be given a crown and you will not be given a crown and that is where the shame will come and you will be saying “You are holy”, in shame.
The bible is telling us in advance. Look at those given the crown.
Rev 7:12 “12 saying: "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen."” Rev 7:12, NKJV.
This is for those with the mark.
The Jews forgot about the Gentiles. That is why they even wrote some laws to say these Gentiles are sinners. This turned the Jews into sinners because Jesus came to save the Gentiles. That is why they can’t recognise this merciful God who saved even the Gentiles. The problem they don’t believe Him is that He came even for the Gentiles. If He had come only for them, they would have believed and accepted Him as Lord and Saviour. Now in revelation they are surprised, “Where is this multitude coming from, they are not from the twelve tribes.”
Listen to the answer Rev 7:14 “14 And I said to him, "Sir, you know." So he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” NKJV.
In this life you are in great testing, and this great testing and pain is acknowledged in heaven. So if you can prevail against them, then this prophecy is talking about you. If you stand then the prophecy is talking about you.
There are a lot of people who are suffering every day, you look good but you are being tormented. Fight and sustain, you will prevail. "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Make sure these troubles find you covered in the blood of Jesus; find you worshipping God, and then you will have washed in His blood. Don’t let these tribulations seduce you away from Jesus. Jesus is watching and He sees what they are doing to you and He says “These people and their terrible spirits, the terrible day will come and they will pay for what they have done to my child.” He may be quite but He is not happy. He knows that somebody will pay.
The devil doesn’t yet have permission to torment you; he is invading into your life. Keep on, Hold on; Hold onto the cross.
I remember 2 Timothy 4 Paul says “Timothy my brother hold onto your faith. Your faith is your crown.” Paul was crying when he said this. He said “I know my head will be cut off.” Timothy says “Don’t go”, and he says “I must go because if I don’t go I won't receive my crown.” You can’t receive the crown if you are alive. Irrespective of how death comes, you will receive your crown after death. He says “I am going to Rome, if it is my time to die, I will go. If I can’t escape it I will die.” He went to Rome and when they arrested him, he said “I have played my part.” You need to die in the Lord.
Paul went to the Island of Patmos, they said “We are cutting your head off” and he replied “I am ready. My death is my gain!” and they cut off his head and crucified him upside down.
It doest mater how you die but die in the Lord. The secret of the death of a Christian is that when a Christian dies, two angels come within the tickle of an eye. Grace and mercy. Once a Christian dies they quickly come and pick up the spirit of the Christian. Why? Jude tells us that there was a fight for the body of Moses. The devil wants to take the dead Christian to hell. The body of Moses was retrieved from hell. You are so opportune that now God has changed this and sends his two angels to come pick you up.
It is important that when a Christian dies, a pastor is called to pray for him or her. It prevents the demonic spirits from stealing the spirit before the angels comes. It is important to live a Godly life.
In Acts 2, on the Day of Pentecost all the disciples were empowered and did not care the type of death they would face. Some were cut into pieces, some pierced by arrows, they died worse than Christ. They cut them into pieces because they were afraid that they would be resurrected like Jesus Christ.
The day of terror is coming.
One day the master Jesus will come back. No matter the situation He will come back, it may either be a good or bad situation, He will come back. Whether you forget it, or ignore it, He is coming back. He has never lied. He said “I am going to my Father but I will come back and take you so that you can stay where I am.”
The question is “When He comes back, where will He find you?” backslidden, inside the house of God or on leave from the church?
Revelation 6:17 “17 For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?"” Rev 6:17, NKJV.
OTHER VERSION: “17 The terrible day of their anger is here, and who can stand up against it?"” Rev 6:17, GNT.
The bible says the terrible day is here. When we talk about terrible we mean something serious, anger, wrath.
When John speaks of the terrible day it means that day, shall be terrible. On that day there shall be problems. Even if Jesus was used to laughing, He won’t be laughing on that day.
If you are used to mock Him, that day you won’t do it. If you used to ignore Him that day you won't do it, because it is a terrible day. There will be no laughter, no joy, no peace, because it is the day of the revenge.
Jesus will be coming to revenge. Now, those who claim to be Christians are you prepared for the terrible day? When we talk about bitterness we talk about pain inside. Inner pain makes the body to react as the body responds to the pain coming from inside. If the spirit is in pain it provokes the body to react.
Now He resembles like a lamb. Even when He was slaughtered He looked like a lamb. He knew He was not dying for Himself. He knew that “If these people cannot acknowledge my death, I am going to revenge. I am going to be slaughtered for their sins and if they don’t do anything, I am going to revenge.”
He knows that that day is coming and on that day He will be given authority to fight with those who fight with Him.
We are going to read from the book of Rev 7:1-14.
The book of revelation needs to be read carefully, it is the book that tells us what will happen. In this book John is telling us what he saw. He is telling us the reality of what will happen.
The devil doesn’t want you to know about the terrible day. The devil wants you to relax and forget the future, be ignorant of the terrible day that is coming.
That is why Jesus said some of you will say “We prophesied and preached in your name and I will tell them I don’t know you!”. You can’t play with Jesus. Remember the painful death He died for us? He allowed Himself to be nailed to the cross. He never insulted anyone, including those who were killing Him; He never uttered a single word. What I know is that when He was dying He said “God forgive them for they know not what they do.”
How on earth can you forgive the one who is busy nailing you to the cross? But Jesus forgave them. God wants us to do the same. Why? If Jesus did it, and we are really serving Him, even if it painful, let us try and let’s do our best.
I am concerned, should Jesus Christ come for the terrible day and find you with the problem of not forgiving others. He will say to you “Do you know your sins? How many are they?” He will ask us about our sins. How many sins have we committed? If He counts them for you and He compares your sins with the brother you say you can’t forgive, then what? Jesus preached forgiveness. Even on Calvary He preached forgiveness, “God they don’t know what they do, but forgive them”. But we stand in church and say “This one I can forgive Him.”
Should the terrible day come and find you in your unforgiveness, you have wasted your time in your Christianity and with all your fastings and praying.
The terrible day is coming! Maybe you have built yourself a small heaven, the terrible day is coming. It will find you in your small heaven. The bible calls it the “terrible day”, the bible never say the “good day”. We can never write our own bible. Verse 17 says the terrible day is coming.
1 Corinthians 3:13 “13 each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is.” 1 Cor 3:13, NKJV.
Listen to the word of God, Paul says that on this day, the terrible day, every works of each individual will be exposed and unfortunately, it will be exposed on the terrible day. Think about it “a terrible day, exposure of your sins, when all your sins are brought to light, unfortunately on the terrible day.” In other words there shall be no mercy. If the day is already declared to be a terrible day, it means, there is no chance to ask for forgiveness. No chance. Why? That day has been declared and nobody can change that day. The good part you can use today to ask forgiveness from heaven but not on that day.
The terrible day is a terrible day and will be bringing bad things. It has been declared to be a terrible day. On that day only wrath will be at work; revenge and wrath!
On that day all the witches and wizards will be exposed in front of everybody. Do you think God is happy about the people who are being tormented by the witches and wizards? No, He is taking a record of all these people and what they are doing.
According to Paul the word of God says everything will be brought to light. Even those who are bewitching you at night will be shown, including the teaspoon they are using at night to fly to and fro their destinations. All the works shall be tested by fire. All the works, not some but all. All works shall be tested by fire. Including those hidden things, that is why you are given the opportunity to confess them and bring them to light before the day of terror.
It will be unfortunate, if the day of terror finds you hiding something in you. Even if your record is clean in terms of going to church, faithful tithing, offering nicely, giving to other people, you are nullifying everything because of that hidden thing. That very secret that you can’t even tell your husband or wife. Release it, and you must do it now as we don’t know when the terrible day will come. Maybe you know! But if you don’t know then you are walking on a time bomb that can explode at any given moment.
What is in your heart that you can’t even share with other people? You can find a husband and wife with secrets in their hearts. Sometimes we are surprised when one partner dies and is buried shabbily whereas the husband has hidden a lot of money in investments. I hear these things everyday when I counsel people.
One business man was buried without a tombstone and later we discovered he had 20 million rands and the wife never knew of it. When the wife now wanted to erect the tombstone people were already gone; Because of secrets. Some people will faint when the terrible day comes.
When this terrible day comes, especially for husband and wives, these things are going to be revealed; the one partner will see the secrets of the other partner and will faint.
Even the young people, that day will bring all your secrets out. You will stand in front of everybody with your pastor near you and Jesus says “Look at this film”. If it was during the day, He will call the night, “Night re-play the film”, if it is during the day, he will say “Day re-play the film.” It means those witches and wizards will be exposed and it won't be dark on the film, everything will be clear for all to see. The night knows people’s secrets, it was there. Even something you do behind closed doors. You can’t mock God. People even hide from the Lord.
Have you seen small children playing hide and seek, You will see one of them saying “I am hiding” but the head is out. Even if you are a soldier and you want to check something by seeing it, your head must first come out. In other words you can’t hide. You are hiding but you want to see, then you must lift the head for the eyes to see.
The day of terror within coming.
Rev 7:1-7 “After these things I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, on the sea, or on any tree. 2 Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, 3 saying,"Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads." 4 And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed: 5 of the tribe of Judah twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand were sealed; 6 of the tribe of Asher twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand were sealed; 7 of the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Levi twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand were sealed; 8 of the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand were sealed. A Multitude from the Great Tribulation 9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, saying,"Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!" 11 All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying: "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen." 13 Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, "Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?" 14 And I said to him, "Sir, you know." So he said to me,"These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” Rev 7:1-7, NKJV.
I was laughing when this scripture was read. This is the book of revelation, the book that tells what will happen. The bible says “after this I saw four angels.” There are certain numbers that God uses much, four, seven and twelve. God uses them mightily.
John says after I saw four angels, the earth has four corners. In creation there are four wings that will come from each corner. There are four angels. These 4 angels are the guards of the earth. 7 is the number of completion. God created everything and completed it on the 7th day.
12 is a prophetic number. He used the twelve tribes. Even Jesus when He nominated the disciples he used the same principle of twelve. That is why in each of the tribes; only 12,000 were recognised to see heaven.
If you multiply the twelve thousand you will get 144,00 from the nation of the Israelites. Why? The children of Israelites are the ones who know God but they rejected Him even when they had seen the miracles.
The four angles were assigned to stop the four winds not to blow upon the earth. You can see the power of the order. Verse 2, says I saw another angel coming from the East, having the mark of the living God. I want to dwell on the mark. If you are a child of God and you don’t have the mark of God on you what will happen to you when Christ comes back? When Jesus Christ comes back on the terrible day He will see the mark of the Lord on you.
In verse He says please don’t do anything before we put the mark of the Lord so that when the angel of death comes.
Rev 7:3 “"Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads."” NKJV. We must first put a mark on the foreheads of the Christians. If you are a Christian allow yourself to be marked of the Lord.
Do you know a mark? Say you buy a cow from me, that cow will be marked, with my mark. If you then don’t change the mark, and leave my mark as it is what will happen? In other words after 2 months I can go to the police and tell them you have stolen my cow. The police will ask you “When you bought the cow, did it have a mark?” “Yes it had” “Why did you not put your own mark?” When you say “I forgot” the police will say, “You have stolen the cow!”
A lot of people are coming to Christ with the mark of the devil and want to be recognised as Christians. The devil will go to God and say, “This is my mark, where is yours?” and He will say to God “This one is mine.” A lot of people are being claimed by the devil whilst in church because of the powerful marks he has put on you.
The devil will end up saying to Jesus Christ “No, last night this person was flying with my teaspoon.” and he will say “Call the night to testify”. Jesus Christ will have nothing to say. The devil will then say “Call the day to testify what happened on Sunday” and it will show you worshipping God on Sunday in church. Can you mock God? The devil will say “Jesus speak, This one is ours”.
Do you have a mark?
Rev 7:4 “4 And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed:” Rev 7:4, NKJV.
This was pathetic. I don’t know if since this revelation these people are repenting so that the number can increase or is it now reducing? Do you mean out of the Israelites, only 144,000 will go the heaven? This means that billions and billions of people will go to hell.
This means that when this number was recorded, it doesn’t mean the Israelites were not worshipping God but this is the number recognised by Jesus Christ. Most of the people are in church today but they are worshiping God not Jesus. They believe in God but not the one God sent, Jesus.
The same can happen to you, you can believe in God but not Jesus but Jesus says no one can come the Father, except by me, This number is pathetic. John 14:6 “6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6, NKJV.
When Isaiah prophesied that the son of Man is coming through the loins of Joseph they said, “Don’t tell us about Joseph the carpenter”. If you believe in God but not Jesus you are waiting your time and are going to hell.
In John 14: Christ says “I am the way the truth the and the life, because I died for everybody not only for Christians”. John says he died for all the sins.
John 3:16 says “16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16, .NKJV.
This qualifies Him to judge everyone. The Jews will stand before the throne on the terrible day.
Rev 7:9 “9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands,” NKJV.
The terrible vision is in verse 9. Will you be part of this celebration when verse 9 is no longer talking about the twelve tribes of Israelites it is including the Gentiles, the Zulu, Venda, Shangaan, Swazi, Afrikaans, Shona, Ndebele, etc. All shall stand before the throne.
The response was of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. It means even “you” were there standing before the throne. I can see the master looking at all the people, searching for the mark, “Where is the mark?”
Rev 7:10 “10 and crying out with a loud voice, saying,"Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!"” Rev 7:10, NKJV.
In other words those multitudes have the mark otherwise they can’t worship Him if they don’t know Him. The bible says they started to worship. If you don’t have the mark, you can’t worship Him, you will be ashamed.
1 Cor 3:13-15 “13 each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.” NKJV.
A person who has survived fire will have burn marks. Even if you can find yourself in the multitudes, the burn mark will be there and the bible says you won't receive the crown but you will be saved.
The bible says all works will be tested by fire. I don’t know the format to be used or maybe God will say “Jump over this fire!” and your sins will make you heavy and fall into the fire and then Jesus will say “Through mercy let that one live!” but by then you will have been burnt and you will be smelling. All those before the throne will be given a crown and you will not be given a crown and that is where the shame will come and you will be saying “You are holy”, in shame.
The bible is telling us in advance. Look at those given the crown.
Rev 7:12 “12 saying: "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen."” Rev 7:12, NKJV.
This is for those with the mark.
The Jews forgot about the Gentiles. That is why they even wrote some laws to say these Gentiles are sinners. This turned the Jews into sinners because Jesus came to save the Gentiles. That is why they can’t recognise this merciful God who saved even the Gentiles. The problem they don’t believe Him is that He came even for the Gentiles. If He had come only for them, they would have believed and accepted Him as Lord and Saviour. Now in revelation they are surprised, “Where is this multitude coming from, they are not from the twelve tribes.”
Listen to the answer Rev 7:14 “14 And I said to him, "Sir, you know." So he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” NKJV.
In this life you are in great testing, and this great testing and pain is acknowledged in heaven. So if you can prevail against them, then this prophecy is talking about you. If you stand then the prophecy is talking about you.
There are a lot of people who are suffering every day, you look good but you are being tormented. Fight and sustain, you will prevail. "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Make sure these troubles find you covered in the blood of Jesus; find you worshipping God, and then you will have washed in His blood. Don’t let these tribulations seduce you away from Jesus. Jesus is watching and He sees what they are doing to you and He says “These people and their terrible spirits, the terrible day will come and they will pay for what they have done to my child.” He may be quite but He is not happy. He knows that somebody will pay.
The devil doesn’t yet have permission to torment you; he is invading into your life. Keep on, Hold on; Hold onto the cross.
I remember 2 Timothy 4 Paul says “Timothy my brother hold onto your faith. Your faith is your crown.” Paul was crying when he said this. He said “I know my head will be cut off.” Timothy says “Don’t go”, and he says “I must go because if I don’t go I won't receive my crown.” You can’t receive the crown if you are alive. Irrespective of how death comes, you will receive your crown after death. He says “I am going to Rome, if it is my time to die, I will go. If I can’t escape it I will die.” He went to Rome and when they arrested him, he said “I have played my part.” You need to die in the Lord.
Paul went to the Island of Patmos, they said “We are cutting your head off” and he replied “I am ready. My death is my gain!” and they cut off his head and crucified him upside down.
It doest mater how you die but die in the Lord. The secret of the death of a Christian is that when a Christian dies, two angels come within the tickle of an eye. Grace and mercy. Once a Christian dies they quickly come and pick up the spirit of the Christian. Why? Jude tells us that there was a fight for the body of Moses. The devil wants to take the dead Christian to hell. The body of Moses was retrieved from hell. You are so opportune that now God has changed this and sends his two angels to come pick you up.
It is important that when a Christian dies, a pastor is called to pray for him or her. It prevents the demonic spirits from stealing the spirit before the angels comes. It is important to live a Godly life.
In Acts 2, on the Day of Pentecost all the disciples were empowered and did not care the type of death they would face. Some were cut into pieces, some pierced by arrows, they died worse than Christ. They cut them into pieces because they were afraid that they would be resurrected like Jesus Christ.
The day of terror is coming.