A VISION FOR THE CHURCH: Revelation in Pictures

Read Revelation 7:9-17

For a review of where we have been, read the blog post on Revelation 1 and the one on Revelation 5.

Revelation 6 opens with all chaos breaking out. There are the 7 seals of destruction (similar to the plagues in Egypt). There is also the “sealing” of the 144,000 people of God representing the perfect number of Jews and Gentiles as part of the kingdom of God. (This is also something similar to the Old Testament. See Ezekiel 9:4).

Starting in verse 9, in chapter 7, we see another “intermission” to demonstrate the worship that is going on in the heavenly realm. All of this points us to the fact worshipping God keeps our focus on the One who gives us the peace and strength to endure what comes at us.

Quick note: Just about every time, in Revelation, you see something about destruction, there is always worship before and after. This is because we should focus on Jesus.

Since Revelation was written to strengthen and edify believers in Christ, we can see how important worship is. Living a life of worship helps to keep our perspectives correct and focused on Jesus. The believers needed to remember all about how God has worked in the past, and how God is working in the present, and will work in the future.

When John wrote to them, he had to be pictorial in his language so the Romans would not be able to fully grasp what John was saying. The original readers would have been cognizant of the fact John was writing in code to help them see the troubles they are going through are not the end. Things will truly be okay because God is working to bring about the transformation and grace needed for the believers to withstand the trials they were facing.

These believers are now reminded they have been marked by God. Not only that, but they are together. They are part of something bigger and grander than anything they could have imagined. So what we see here is a picture of those who worship Jesus as Lord, the true Lord.

In other words, the picture we have in Revelation 7 is what the church should be. We also see how God is faithful…how God provides…how God protects his people. (See also Psalm 23, Psalm 91, John 10).

See, the church is God’s people. The church is the body of Christ. The church has been “washed in the blood.” The church (God’s people) have been saved for Jesus and from sin by the work of Jesus. In the end, the church is pure and spotless and the mission of the church brings all people together to praise Jesus and works for and toward reconciliation. The church also knows that God is on the other side of hardship. (See Romans 8:28). This is the church surviving and persevering through anything the world throws at her.

So what does the church do?

2 Corinthians 5 says the church is in the ministry of reconciliation. Our job, as the church, is to bring people to Jesus Christ, to help them experience his joy, his presence, his grace, his forgiveness, his salvation.

The Church is also in the business of joining in the work God is doing here on earth (see John 5).

The church is to proclaim the triumphant victory of Jesus in everything we do!

The Church can do all this because:

• God “seals” his people with the promised Holy Spirit
• God protects his people
• God cleanses his people from sin
• God provides for his people in ways they/we may not know

So Revelation 7? This is the picture of how the church should be and is being transformed to be.

Two things that are important for the church:

1. Christ is the focus
2. Christ hold all things together.

How will your worship (individual and in community) be different now?