Subj:Revelation 7:1-3
Date:10/26/97


 The outline is this.

chapter 7:1-3
Things have to happen before the test.
chapter 7:4-8
The protection against the test.
chapter 7:9-17
The reward of those that overcame the test.

Let us go through each part of chapter seven.

The holding up of the test.


Revelation 7:1
	"And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth,
"

     After John had been shown the sixth seal in chapter six, he
was shown the ones that were stopping the test from beginning yet. Remember, I told you
that the first four seals were directed at the earth. These four angels are the first four
trumpet angels.

      These four angels are in the four corners of the earth, which means they will effect the
whole earth, not just part of the earth.  One is in the north, one in the south, one in east,
and one in the west.

"holding the four winds of the earth," that the wind should
not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree."

     These four angels are told to hold back the winds, so that the
test would not begin yet.  What will happen when these four winds are let loose?

     The four winds will be brought upon "elam" or "the hidden ones".

Jer 49:36-39
36	And upon Elam will I bring the four winds from the four quarters of heaven, and
will scatter them toward all those winds; and there shall be no nation whither the outcasts
of Elam shall not come.
37	For I will cause Elam to be dismayed before their enemies, and before them that
seek their life: and I will bring evil upon them, even my fierce anger, saith the LORD; and
I will send the sword after them, till I have consumed them:
38	And I will set my throne in Elam, and will destroy from thence the king and the
princes, saith the LORD.
39	But it shall come to pass in the latter days, that I will bring again the captivity of
Elam, saith the LORD.


    The four winds are going to bring the four beast.

Dan 7:2-3
2	Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of
the heaven strove upon the great sea.
3	And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.

   The purpose of these winds is to bring the test to earth.  Which is the reign of Antichrist
or Satan whatever you want to call him.



Revelation  7:2
2	And 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 given to hurt the earth
and the sea,

     We now see a fifth angel.  This angel is one of God's children. 
He knows  what the Word of God says. He spoke boldly to the four angels, that were
allowed to test the earth.


Revelation 7:3
3	Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the
servants of our God in their foreheads.

        The fifth angel that spoke boldly to the four trumpet angels,
told them not to start the test, until the servants of God know the Word and what will
happen during that time.  Remember the purpose of the book of Revelation;
Rev 1:1
1	The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his
servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel
unto his servant John:  (God told Jesus what was going to happen in the end.  So that his
servants would be prepared.  He told his servants by sending an angel to John.)

    So as you can see chapter seven is talking about the same thing.  It Just gives us more
detail into who the servants of God are.

"Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees,"

     The test or tribulation or trial, the word means the same in the
greek, will effect the earth, the sea, and the trees.  God is in control, he tells them what
they can do and he tells them what the can hurt and when they can hurt.  God wouldn't let
them do anything until it is the right time.  This means we don't have to fear anything on
this earth, the Father will protect us through his word.  You understand the word, you
won't be  tested in anyway.  The test is for those that haven't prepared themselves in his
word.


Let us look at the next part of the verse. Since this connects to what we are talking about.
You need the knowledge to overcome in the end.     

"sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads."

      This says the servants of God will be sealed in their forheads. 
What is in your forehead?  It is your brain.  So the servants of God will have the
knowledge to overcome during the time Satan is on earth, because  they know the Word
of God and what will happen during that time.  These people will not be going around
with a visible mark on their heads.  God is a natural.  He doesn't go around putting marks
on people.  Because that is against his law. (Lev 19:28)

     Let us look at what will protect his servants in the end.
Rom 5:9
9	Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath
through him. (Paul is saying we will be protected from the anger of God, by Jesus the
Word of God.  We all know Jesus is the Word of God, that was put in the flesh.) 


1 Cor 15:1	Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto
you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

2	By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless
ye have believed in vain.  (Paul is saying I told you what the Word said, and you took it in,
and you stay in the Word. The Word is going to protect you, IF you keep what
you learned in your mind,  unless your faith is not real. You have to believe in what the
word says to be protected.  If you don't believe what the word says then you will not
overcome.)

     The Word tells us we have to endure to the end and then we will be protected.  What
happens to those that do not endure to the end?

Matt 10:22	And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth
to the end shall be saved.

Matt 24:13	But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

Mark 13:13	And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall
endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

     What do the overcomers receive?

Rev 2:7	He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To
him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the
paradise of God.

Rev 2:11	He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He
that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

Rev 2:17	He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To
him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white
stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that
receiveth it.

Rev 2:26	And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I
give power over the nations:

Rev 3:5	He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will
not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father,
and before his angels.

Rev 3:12	Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he
shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the
city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God:
and I will write upon him my new name.

Rev 3:21	To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I
also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

Rev 21:7	He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he
shall be my son.

In His Service

Chapter 7:4