Clothed in white robes

Most Christians struggle with the purpose of the book of Revelation. Wanting to satisfy our insatiable appetite for knowing the future, we see Revelation merely as a source of information about what will happen as history moves toward its closing act. But that is not at all the purpose of the visions. No matter your view of the end times, Revelation is a love letter from God to his people, and it teems with incredibly encouraging implications for us as Christians. As we look at Revelation 7 this Sunday, we notice that it is a pause in the action between the opening of the sixth and seventh seals on the scroll. It is an interlude meant to provide us with additional and necessary information as we move forward. What we’ll see in the chapter are two separate and distinct visions that land at very different places on the timeline. Together, these visions assure us, as God’s own people, that he is firmly in control no matter how unravelled things may seem to us.

Series: Great& Amazing — Revelation (Part 2)
Todd Dugard
Message: 13 – Clothed in white robes
Harvest Bible Chapel
Text: Revelation 7:1-17
September 18, 2022

Grasp the nature of time:
(1) We live in time; God is outside of time.
(2) Time is a creation-act of God;
Genesis 1:5
(3) Time has a beginning and an end; eternity has neither;
(4) The redemptive plan, which from our perspective occurred on earth at a certain point in time, in reality was accomplished in eternity, outside of time;
Revelation 13:8
(5) Everything that John saw in the visions is already fully accomplished;
(6) John sees them in sequence because he, like us, is time-bound;
(7) Implication: believers should be hope-filled and confident in their faith no matter their earthly circumstances;
1 Corinthians 15:54-57

As one of God’s own people, I am…

…advantaged by his mercy (7:1)

We cannot too often emphasize that apocalyptic language does not convey its message in precise photographic style, but more in the style of modern surrealistic art with great fluidity and imagination. George Eldon Ladd

2 Peter 3:9

…sealed by his Spirit (7:2-3)

Ephesians 1:13

…aware of his grace for Israel (7:4-8)

Apocalyptic pictures are not meant to be photographs of objective facts; they are often symbolic representations of almost unimaginable spiritual realities.
George Eldon Ladd

Four part sermon series "The People of God" (2007; audio only)
https://www.harvestbarrie.ca/series/the-people-of-god-israel-the-church-and-gods-plan-for-his-own/

…standing with all nations (7:9)

…eager to join in worship (7:10-12)

…grateful to be cleansed of my sin (7:13-14)

…longing for the day to come (7:15-17)