LET US ALWAYS bear in mind that the chronological order of events as they will occur in the Tribulation is found in Revelation, chapters 6, 8, 9, and 16. The chapters intervening between these give side lights on the situation as it will exist during the Tribulation.

In our last study we saw that the seal Judgments found in chapter 6 cover a period of probably around a year and nine months, the first quarter of the Tribulation. At the breaking of each of the six seals something definite takes place upon the earth. At the conclusion of the sixth seal there is, so to speak, a lull in the storm. Then there is given a vision of the 144,000 Jewish people who will conduct the world-wide revival in the Tribulation.

After the giving of this vision the seventh seal is broken, which develops into the seven trumpet judgments of chapters 8 and 9.

Though the prediction of the world-wide revival occurs in chapter 7, let us not think that it begins only after the first six seals have spent their force. As we saw in the last study, the martyrdom of the saints under the fifth seal (Rev. 6:9-11) presupposes the breaking forth and the continuance of this world-wide revival. As to the exact time in the first part of the Tribulation when it begins, there is nothing to indicate. Someone, however, has beautifully expressed the thought in words similar to these: The 144,000 Jewish servants of God will grasp the banner dropped by the ascending church as it goes to meet the Lord in the air. These evangelists will carry forward the banner of Prince Immanuel to the ends of the earth and will bring about the world-wide revival.

When we study Revelation, chapter 7, we are led to the conclusion that the revival will reach its greatest intensity during the first half of the Tribulation, but it will likely go underground during the second half. That it will be stopped is set forth in Habakkuk 3:1, 2. In the midst of the years--the seven years of the Tribulation--the work of God, the great revival, will be brought to a sudden standstill. But it will be revived, not to blaze forth as a bright and shining light as in the first part of the Tribulation, however; but it will go underground and operate as the early church did during the days of the Roman persecutions. With these introductory remarks let us now proceed with the study of the chapter.

"Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to do service for the sake of them that shall inherit salvation?" (Heb. 1:14). On account of the abuse of the doctrine of angels and their ministrations by certain groups, many Protestants steer shy of anything that pertains to the ministry of angels. In the quotation just given, however, we see that they are the ones whom God dispatches to render various types of service to those who shall inherit salvation. One of the great services which they will render to the true worshiper is that they will camp round about those who fear God and deliver them (Ps. 34:7).

In Revelation 7:1 we see that there are four angels at the four corners of the earth holding back, or controlling, the four winds of the earth. In 10:1 we see a strong angel coming down from heaven. According to 12:7 Michael and his angels will go forth and war against Satan and his cohorts, driving them out of the presence of God. In 14:6 we see an angel proclaiming the everlasting gospel to all people, which, when properly interpreted, is an announcement made by the angels that the everlasting gospel will be preached throughout the Tribulation. In 16:5 we read of the angel of the waters. These references are sufficient to show that the angels will play a very vital part during the Tribulation. But they are now at the present time rendering service to the Lord in various capacities (Ps. 103:20).

In our present chapter "we learn that four angels, mentioned in 7:1, are stationed at the four corners of the earth, and that they hold back the four winds of the earth so that they shall not at that time blow upon the earth, sea, or any tree. Men have learned much about meteorology; and there is still much to learn. Scientists can predict to a certain extent, and in a general way, the type of weather that will exist in a given area for a certain time, but they have much yet to learn. God gave Job a questionnaire, none of the questions of which Job could answer fully and satisfactorily. Among these the Lord asked him;

"By what way is the light parted,
Or the east wind scattered upon the earth?" (Job 38:24).

This implies that there is some place from which the east wind comes forth and then is scattered over the earth. This type of language reminds one of such passages as Psalm 135:6,7:

"6 Whatsoever Jehovah pleased, that hath he done,
In heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps;
7 Who causeth the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth;
Who maketh lightnings for the rain;
Who bringeth forth the wind out of his treasuries."

According to this passage there is some place which could be designated as the "treasury of the wind." Where is this place and who is in control of it? How are the winds brought out of it and how are they directed into various directions? On this point one should study carefully Jeremiah 10:13. When we begin to examine this question, we go up a blind alley. Our minds bog down, for we do not know the ultimate in this sphere of investigation.

The angelic hosts that remain faithful and true to God constitute a well-organized host. As John looked at the vision which was before him, he saw another angel, a fifth one, that ascended from the sunrising with a shield of the Living God. Then he cried with a great voice to the four angels of whom we have just learned, commanding them not to hurt the earth, nor the sea, nor the trees, nor anything--until the sealing of the 144,000 servants of God is accomplished.

We read accounts of tornadoes on land and hurricanes on the sea, and of the mighty power and damage wrought by them. From the passage under consideration it appears that the angels have control of at least some of these tornadoes and hurricanes. It is hard for us to see this truth, but we must accept it by faith, especially so when we see such a passage as the following:

"2 Jehovah is a jealous God and avengeth; Jehovah avengeth and is full of wrath; Jehovah taketh vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies. 3 Jehovah is slow to anger, and great in power, and will by no means clear the guilty: Jehovah hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet. 4 He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers: Bashan languisheth, and Carmel; and the flower of Lebanon languisheth. 5 The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt; and the earth is upheaved at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein. 6 Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his wrath is poured out like fire, and the rocks are broken asunder by him. 7 Jehovah is good, a strong-hold in the day of trouble; and he Knoweth them that take refuge in him. 8 But with an over-running flood he will make a full end of her place, and will pursue his enemies into darkness" (Nahum 1:2-8).

When our Lord was asleep in the boat in which He was crossing the Sea of Galilee there arose a mighty tempest, which was about to destroy the boat in which the Saviour and the Apostles were sailing. The Apostles awakened Jesus. He then rebuked the wind and the waves. There was a mighty calm (Luke 8:22-25). Though the elements may seem, as men of the world express the thought, to go on a rampage, all the forces of nature are under the mighty hand of God who does many thing's that are hard for us mortals with our limited comprehension and understanding to grasp. He does all things well.

That these 144,000 servants are Jews is clearly stated in the context. There are 12,000 from each of the twelve tribes of Israel. There is not, therefore, a single Gentile in this group. The term Israel is used synonymously with Jews in this passage as it is in many others. Only the people who are known as Jews will be in this group.

These will be sealed by the angel in order to protect them from the dangers of the time. They will be immune from all dangers. The sealing of these reminds one of the sealing in the vision of the people of Jerusalem who were to be exempt from injury during a crisis that was coming upon the doomed city. Read carefully Ezekiel 9:3-8.

The 144,000 Jewish servants of Revelation, chapter 7, must be clearly differentiated from the 144,000 mentioned in Revelation 14:1-5. This latter group consists of people of all races for we are told that "These were purchased from among men, to be the first fruits unto God and unto the Lamb" (Rev. 14:4). Concerning them, in verse 3, it is said that "they that had been purchased out of the earth." This group consists of men, concerning whom it is said: "These are they that were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they that follow the lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were purchased from among men, to be the first fruits unto God and unto the Lamb. 5 And in their mouth was found no lie; they are without blemish" (Rev. 14:4, 5). These words mean exactly what they say. This statement being true, we say that the 144,000 of Revelation, chapter 14, is an entirely different group from the 144,000 Jewish servants of God given in Revelation, chapter 7.

After John gave us the list of those who will be sealed in the Tribulation, he gave us a vision of the world-wide revival, the like of which has never been before and never will be after that time. It is described as follows: "After these things I saw, and behold, a great multitude, which no man could number, out of every nation and of all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, arrayed in white robes, and palms in their hands; 10 and they cry with a great voice, saying: Salvation unto our God who sitteth on the throne, and unto the Lamb" (Rev. 7:9,10).

Continuing this quotation, note the fact that this is a great multitude that no one can number, and they come out of every nation, tribe, people, and tongue. Moreover, they are arrayed in white robes and have palms in their hands and they cry with a great voice: "Salvation unto our God who sitteth on the throne, and unto the Lamb." Without a doubt those who are seen in this vision are saved people, for John in vision saw them standing before the throne of God and before the Lamb, and they were arrayed in white robes, having palms in their hands. Their white robes indicate their having been washed in the blood of the Lamb, which made them white, clean, and pure as snow.

After this vision there was flashed before John's mind this mighty host of saved people from all climes, all the angels in heaven, the four living creatures and the four and twenty elders, who prostrate themselves before God and praise Him in the following words: ''Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen" (Rev. 7:12).

One of the elders, a member of this angelic host, inquired of John as to whether or not he knew who constitute this vast host of redeemed people whom he had just seen. John professed his ignorance. Then the elder informed him as to who they are, saying: "These are they that come out of the great tribulation, and they washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb" (Rev. 7:14). This language is clear and explicit. It should need no further elucidation. Nevertheless, there is much controversy regarding it; hence, we must look at the text more particularly.

John informs us that this vast throng of people washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb, and that they came out of the great tribulation. The idiom rendered "great tribulation," literally translated, is "the tribulation, the great." This idiom lays equal emphasis upon the adjective as well as upon the noun which modifies it. Thus John was talking of a specific time and period, which is properly designated "the great tribulation." This idiom lifts the period of which he is speaking from among ordinary times and raises it to a higher level, by emphasizing the thought that the suffering of that period will go far beyond all other times. Nothing like it has ever been and nothing will ever be like it after that. It will be the time of greatest sorrow to all.

This vast host turn to the Saviour, come to Him and wash their robes and make them white in the blood of the Lamb. They do not come to Him during the Christian Dispensation as has been supposed; but they accept Him during the Tribulation. Hence, they come out of the Tribulation after having washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb by having received Christ. In no sense can the church of the present day be said to come out of the Tribulation. It is true that all who live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. It is also true that through many tribulations we enter into the kingdom of God, which is the millennial kingdom. Only those who accept the Lord during the Tribulation are said to come out of it and to stand before the throne and the Lamb.

God announced in Genesis 12:1-3 that it was His intention to bless all nations in and through Abraham and his seed. This promise was reaffirmed to Isaac and to Jacob. All the spiritual blessings that we enjoy today have come from God through Israel to us. In this seventh chapter of Revelation we see people of all nations in an enormous multitude coming to God and being blessed by Him. Evidently, then, this is at least a partial fulfillment of the promise that was made to Abraham. The full and complete fulfillment will materialize when the remnant of Israel are led by the 144,000 Jewish evangelists at the conclusion of the Tribulation to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Then in answer to their pleading for Christ's return, He will do so and take the governments of the world in His hands, lift the curse, and establish His reign of righteousness. Then converted Israel will lead all men to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. When this is done, the promise made to Abraham will become a reality. Throughout the Millennium, the age of our Lord's reign upon earth, the people of Israel will be the priests and the ministers of our God. No Gentiles will then officiate in spiritual matters. The blessing of God, in the fullest sense of the term, will be flowing out to all the world--to all nations--through Israel, Abraham's literal descendants.

Israel at the present time does not have the truth of the gospel. We who know Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour, and who know the plan of God, should, at this time, bend every effort to get truth out to all Israel in this generation in order that they, Israel, may see the mistake of nineteen hundred years' standing and repudiate the national sin in genuine repentance, according to Isaiah 53:1-9 and Isaiah 63:7-64:12. When they thus repudiate the national sin and plead for Jesus Christ to return, He will do so.

When the church is raptured out of the world, before the Tribulation, its voice will cease. But we can leave behind a testimony in the form of properly written and edited books and literature, given to the Jews at the present time, so that now, not only will men be won from among Israel to the Lord Jesus Christ, but our message will also be in a permanent form in their hands--in the form of books and booklets. These they can and will read (devour, figuratively speaking) as soon as the Judgments of the Tribulation begin to come upon them. Then there will arise this army of 144,000 Jews who will conduct this revival.

My brother and sister in Christ, what are you doing to give the truth to Israel now? There is no greater investment that you can make than to proclaim the truth to God's Chosen People!