Multitude from the Great Tribulation (Revelation 7:1-17, Mark 11:6-10, Matt 27:51-54)

Four Angels held the corners of the earth to stop the wind.
“Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees
till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.”
World Map

After the rapture, when believers disappear; the great tribulation will set in.  It's not going to be fun.  I saw on TV that Willie Robertson, one of the Duck Dynasty guys is helping to put out a new movie, Left Behind with Nicolas Cage (link).  The "Left Behind," movie illustrates what it could be like during Revelation 7.  Kirk Cameron was the one who originally made the movie.  I believe what really happens with God will be so amazing, it's beyond our imaginations on earth.  I do enjoy seeing the possibilities in these movies.  I'm happy to see the Duck Dynasty guys contributing to Christian movies (that's very cool)!  There's another new Christian movie called, "The Song."   That's coming out soon too.  The main actor refuses to kiss an actress and said he will only kiss his wife in a scene.  It turns out the Christian movies are box office hits : )  People can sense things aren't right in the world and want to understand.  I remember seeing "The Greatest Story Ever Told," in 1965.  I was 5 then and can still remember it.

Revelation 7

The Sealed of Israel
1 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:
The Lord won't allow the time of tribulation to occur until after the remnant (144,000) of Israel are protected.  There will be 12,000 from each tribe.  I noticed that the angels are standing at the "four corners" of the earth.  This is apocalyptic symbolism.  Man didn't know the earth was round until the time of Columbus in the 1600's.  God did of course, but Revelation is written for humans.

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.
Benjamin was the younger brother of Joseph. After the older brothers lost Joseph, Jacob (known as Israel) refused to let them take Benjamin. It has been prophesied that not all of the Jews will come to Christ in the end.  A remnant of 144,000 have the seal to be saved.

John is so blessed to be able to see all of this.  A great and amazing number of people from all the nations, tribes, languages, came to stand in God's throne room!  
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.”
What this tells me is that after the rapture, those who are left behind will still be able to accept Christ's gift of salvation and be saved.  However, it will be much less painful to do it before the rapture.  John looks and sees a multitude of people wearing white robes and carrying palm branches. People didn't wear white robes when Jesus rode the donkey into Jerusalem, but they did wave palm branches and said, "Hosanna," to Jesus.  The multitude in verses 9-12 are the martyrs from chapter 6.

4 So they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door outside on the street, and they loosed it. 5 But some of those who stood there said to them, “What are you doing, loosing the colt?”
6 And they spoke to them just as Jesus had commanded. So they let them go. 7 Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes on it, and He sat on it. 8 And many spread their clothes on the road, and others cut down leafy branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 Then those who went before and those who followed cried out, saying:
“Hosanna!
‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! ’
10 Blessed is the kingdom of our father David
That comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest."
(Mark 11:6-10 NKJV)

In Matt 27:51-54, after Jesus was crucified dead were also raised:  51 Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, 52 and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; 53 and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.

I love these verses.  Saints who had died before Jesus, went to visit the holy city in Jerusalem.  I'd love to have seen the looks on people's faces!

One of the elders asked John about all these people.  I believe those who go through the great tribulation and become Christians will become martyrs.  The anti-Christ will destroy as many Christians as it can.  These would be people that were not in the Church.  As Chuck Smith noted, John always recognized the Church.  He also saw Jesus, Moses and Elijah on the Mt. of Transfiguration.
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. 15 Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. 16 They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; 17 for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.
(Revelation 7:1-17 NKJV)
These verses are some popular favorites : )  They are so comforting.  This world will end, despair will turn to joy.  Fear to courage and hope.

Here's a song from Third Day, "I need a miracle (link)"  We all need a miracle now and then.

A new song (Revelation 5, Romans 3:22-26, Ezekiel 28:13-19)

"Sing to the Lord a New Song"
from our concert in Carnegie Hall 2013

We decided not to do the concert this year.  It was pretty exhausting.  But totally worthwhile.  It was so amazing.  Singing in Heaven's throne room must be WOW!!!

1 And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. 2 Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?” 3 And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it.
It's interesting, I always think of those in Heaven as being perfect.  But, according to these verses they aren't all perfect.  We know that satan was a beautiful, favorite angel that fell from Heaven and became a serpent that tempted Adam and Eve. 

Fall of satan:
13 You were in Eden, the garden of God;
Every precious stone was your covering:
The sardius, topaz, and diamond,
Beryl, onyx, and jasper,
Sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold.
The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes
Was prepared for you on the day you were created.
14 “You were the anointed cherub who covers;
I established you;
You were on the holy mountain of God;
You walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones.
15 You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created,
Till iniquity was found in you.
16 “By the abundance of your trading
You became filled with violence within,
And you sinned;
Therefore I cast you as a profane thing
Out of the mountain of God;
And I destroyed you, O covering cherub,
From the midst of the fiery stones.
17 ‘Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty;
You corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor;
I cast you to the ground,
I laid you before kings,
That they might gaze at you.
18 “You defiled your sanctuaries
By the multitude of your iniquities,
By the iniquity of your trading;
Therefore I brought fire from your midst;
It devoured you,
And I turned you to ashes upon the earth
In the sight of all who saw you.
19 All who knew you among the peoples are astonished at you;
You have become a horror,
And shall be no more forever.”
(Ezekiel 28:13-19 NKJV)

satan's biggest mistake was his pride and arrogance.  Somehow he thought he was better than his creator.  Sounds familiar, like something we would believe at times.  Humans are blessed to have lots of people help us remember our true position in life : )  Yet pride and a desire for ultimate beauty is still what some crave.  

4 So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it. 5 But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.”
John was heartbroken.  He knew he wasn't worthy.  He called himself the disciple that "Jesus loved."  Jesus made everyone feel they were loved.  Now he's been given the task of writing the book of Revelation and he can't.  Because no one is worthy to open the scroll.  He must've felt so hopeless. If only he hadn't sinned.

For there is no difference; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
(Romans 3:22-26 NKJV)

6 And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, (wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, and the fear of God Isaiah 11:2) sent out into all the earth. 7 Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.

Ok, this is definitely apocalyptic literature.  Seven is the heavenly number.  Six is satan's. As I read this, I think about how the lamb was slain on the cross.  He is the final required sacrifice for man's salvation.  The scroll is the deed to earth.  Jesus sacrifice broke the hold on earth and set earth free to be God's again.  God hasn't taken ownership back yet.

A New Song

8 Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty- four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 
Wow!  They keep our prayers in golden bowls in Heaven.  Very cool!  This must be part of the chain reaction when we pray and praise up to God's throne room.

9 And they sang a new song, saying:

“You are worthy to take the scroll,
And to open its seals;
For You were slain,
And have redeemed us to God by Your blood
Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
10 And have made us kings and priests to our God;
And we shall reign on the earth.”
11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice:
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
To receive power and riches and wisdom,
And strength and honor and glory and blessing!”
13 And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying:
“Blessing and honor and glory and power
Be to Him who sits on the throne,
And to the Lamb, forever and ever!”
14 Then the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the twenty- four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.
(Revelation 5:1-14 NKJV)
Verses 9-14 sounds like the Church will be in Heaven during the tribulation.  There are a lot of beliefs about this.  It makes sense because all creatures alive and dead will be praising God.

This was on Godtube.  Girls weren't meant to be disposable people, used, and thrown away.  We are important to God.  Be safe and find family.  That's what God wants.  Nothing's easy but it's worth the effort.  I was very impressed by this:

Teenager's Message to Her Generation (link)


Dear Heavenly Father,
I lift up Israel, Turkey, Iraq, Jordan and Ukraine.  I pray You will pour out your blessings on these nations that they will not be harmed.  Thank You Father for those in Arabia and others who are willing to keep the middle east safe from harm.  I pray terrorism will be stopped.  Bless all on the side of good and not evil.  Thank You for hearing our prayers Father and saving them in bowls of incense.
In Jesus Name,
Amen

God's Throne Room (Revelation 4, Isaiah 11:2, Hebrews 12:2)

"When things are down, remember to look up"
Luray Caverns, Virginia USA
Canon Rebel t1i

© Karen Kyle Ericson, all rights reserved.

2 ...looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
(Hebrews 12:2 NKJV)

We were on vacation this week in Virginia.  We stayed in a nice cabin by the Shenandoah River.  It was really great.  We had our meals at, "Uncle Buck's," a local restaurant in Luray.  It was fun swapping stories with the waitresses.  New Jersey has a, uh, reputation after all : )    After dinner one night we had a problem with my husband's GPS.  It sent us on a one-way gravel logging road over the Blue Ridge mountains.  We were both wondering if we'd ever see the cabin again!  Eventually we made it.   Then driving home we wound up in Washington DC.  So, as a last resort, I suggested we look at paper maps.  And prayed!  DC isn't the best place to be lost.  Eventually, we got home safe.

We took a tour in the Luray Caverns.  It's amazingly beautiful.  I looked around and wondered if God had a lot of fun creating this place : )  I found all sorts of cartoon characters in here: a dwarf, dragon, ice cream cone, carrot, and the list goes on...

"Dual Image- reflection off a cavern lake"
Luray Caverns, Virginia USA
Canon Rebel t1i
© Karen Kyle Ericson, all rights reserved.

On Friday we went to see, "Moses," at the Sight and Sound Theatre in Lancaster, PA.  It was so cool.  They did an excellent job.  Moses stuttered like in the Bible : ) Lots of great music and animals.  I felt like I was there with Moses. There's another theatre in Branson, MO.  

So here we are in God's Throne Room, in Revelation.  Some of this is a little hard to understand.  Like these caverns, we understand the scientific explanation but not the whole reason God created them.  I think He's a master artist personally.  

Chapter 4

1 After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.”
The voice must have been loud and enthusiastic.  Jesus is excited to show us what happens next.

2 Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. 3 And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald. 4 Around the throne were twenty- four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty- four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads. 5 And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
To me, "being in the Spirit," meant John was having a vision.  Jasper can be red, brown, or green.  Sardius is the color of rubies.  The lamps represent the seven spirits of God:  

the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD. (Isaiah 11:2)

God is good and full of wisdom, understanding, counsel and might.  So why should we fear Him?  I believe this means a healthy respect.  Sometimes we get into a rut thinking God is a magic genie and if we ask exactly the right way our wishes will come true.  He's not like that.  He knows our thoughts before we think them.  God truly wants us to trust Him and ask for His guidance.  Some of my worst nightmares came from things I thought I desperately needed but really didn't.  (Like a GPS that sends you in the wrong direction)!  In the Narnia Chronicles, C.S. Lewis wrote that Aslan is not a tame lion.  Our God is not a tame God.  He is power, might, and this incredible love.  He decides whom He will bless and how.  He loves our prayers and answers them as a loving Father.

6 Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back. 7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. 8 The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying:
“Holy, holy, holy,
Lord God Almighty,
Who was and is and is to come!”


9 Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty- four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying:
I have a feeling that "the living creatures" in this verse are us.  When we give God glory, honor and thanks a chain reaction happens in God's Throne Room!  That's pretty amazing. The elders fall before Him in worship.  We know that angels exist but we usually can't see them (wouldn't recognize them if we did).  God knows the difficulty of the faith we endure on earth.  We want to believe all the time and know His joy.  But we are tested.  We see and experience illness.  There are bad guys on earth.  Yet we believe God is not dead nor does He sleep.


11 “You are worthy, O Lord,
To receive glory and honor and power;
For You created all things,
And by Your will they exist and were created."
(Revelation 4:1-11 NKJV)


This is written in the book of Isaiah.  The prophecies about the second coming are written throughout the Bible.  My very favorite old hymn is, "Holy, Holy, Holy."  It's a great worship song. The words are also in Revelation 4:8 it's one of the common threads in the Bible.  

1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. 2 Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one cried to another and said:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;
The whole earth is full of His glory!”
4 And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke.
5 So I said:
“Woe is me, for I am undone!
Because I am a man of unclean lips,
And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips;
For my eyes have seen the King,
The Lord of hosts.”
6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. 7 And he touched my mouth with it, and said:
“Behold, this has touched your lips;
Your iniquity is taken away,
And your sin purged.”
8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying:
“Whom shall I send,
And who will go for Us?”
Then I said, “Here am I! Send me!"
(Isaiah 6:1-8 NKJV)

Here's a song by CentricWorship, Holy Holy Holy (link)