chapter 7, Revelation chapter
7. Another name for the church,
Revelation chapter 7. The Lord has encouraged his people
in many ways, and in this section of scripture he encourages his
people by letting them know the permanency of the church, the
total number of the church, that not one will be lost, all will
be brought in, an encouragement to all the people. Whatever happens,
God will bring his church in. Now, with your finger there,
turn with me back to the book of Luke chapter 10, and I'd like
to read three or four verses there. Luke chapter 10, verse
17 through 20. In this passage of scripture,
the Lord has sent out 70 disciples, two by two, and he's told them
to go preach the gospel. in the various cities, go to
the lost sheep of the House of Israel, and we cannot imagine
their success unless you've been to a Sunday
morning service here. They preached the same thing.
The Lord blessed as he blesses, and they came back greatly encouraged. Now I've never, and I hope you've
never, attempted to deal with demons, things like that. I don't know the extent of those.
I've had a lot of people talk to me about them. So far, I just
think that they were during Bible times. That's my opinion. But notice here in Luke chapter
10, verse 17, And the 70 returned again with joy, saying, Lord,
even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. And we're
going to find over in the book of Revelation that the saints
overcame Satan by the blood of the lamb. We do the same today,
preaching the blood of the lamb, the cross of Christ, has the
same victory over every enemy of the church that it had then.
And then it says, and he said unto them, I beheld Satan as
lightning fall from heaven. Behold, I give unto you power
to tread on serpents and scorpions and over all power of the enemy.
Nothing shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding, in this
rejoice not. that the spirits are subject
unto you, but rather rejoice. This is what the Lord's gonna
do with us. And those saints in the seventh chapter of the
book of Revelation, rather rejoice. Now it's good wherever the Lord
blesses us. It's good in how the Lord blesses
us. It's good in his providence.
It's good in his oversight of all things. It's good in whatever
he does. It's good, but in this rejoice
in a special manner, in this receive a special blessing, in
this receive God's extra special blessing over the church. What
does it say? But rather rejoice because your
names are written in heaven. Now you didn't have anything
to do with writing it, but they're written. I wrote them in the
Lamb's Book of Life before the foundation of the world and rejoice
in this special blessing given to you. Now that's exactly what
we find over here in the seventh chapter of the book of Revelation,
is that this whole passage of scripture shares with us the
number of elect. This whole passage of scripture
shares with us a view of the elect. And in this, the saints
that were written to here in the letter of revelation, Those
seven churches and all the hundreds and hundreds and thousands of
churches since that time have received a blessing by reading
in the Word of God, in the Book of Revelation, that God has a
people. It's a particular people, a peculiar
people, a people that he has purchased with his own blood,
a people that rejoice in the salvation that God has given
to them. But there is a particular number known only unto God, and
His word will be fulfilled towards them, not one of them will be
missing. They shall all, even the chiefest
of sinners, will be brought to the throne of God. Even the worst
of the sinners will be brought to God. Even all, and we find
in this passage of scripture that there is a number And then
there is a view of that number, and to God he has a number known
unto him before the foundation of the world. All of them have
been written down in the Lamb's Book of Life, but our view of
them is a number that no man can number. And that will represent
every kindred, nation, people, and tongue. And rejoice in this,
that your names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life. Rejoice
in this, that your names are written in heaven. And this is
a point of rejoicing. The church is a valuable item
to the Lord Jesus Christ. It was his reason for leaving
glory and coming to this earth. It wasn't a random thought. It was a purposeful thought on
the part of God to redeem a number of people out of every kindred
nation, people, and tongue. They're represented in this passage
of scripture as being 12,000 from these 12 groupings of people,
that represented the church in the Old Testament. And now he
speaks to us about the church and says, this is the elective
God out of every kindred nation, people, and tongue, the Jews
and the Gentiles, as he wrote in the Old Testament with regard
to who would be saved. Revelation 7, verse 4, the scripture
says, I heard the number of them that were sealed. Now, the previous
three verses, we find that the wind is going to be held back
until every one of God's elect are sealed. It says there in
verse three, saying, hurt not the earth, neither the sea nor
the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God in their
foreheads. And I heard the number of them
which were sealed. Now from the time of Abel, Abel
was not going to die. until regeneration was made known
unto him. Now it was in God's eternal everlasting
purpose that Abel be the first man that ever lived that died
a physical death on this earth. His father was the first man
that died a spiritual death. and many years in the future
he died that physical death, but Abel, it was determined by
Almighty God, would be the first man that would die a physical
death on this earth, but he would not die. He was immortal, if
you please, until God passed on him the purpose of grace,
regeneration, and then his brother raised up his heel against him.
Now we just follow that all down through the ages, through the
ages that those people that God determined to be saved would
not die in the worst accident until God applied the message
of grace to them. So we have that number. I heard
the number of them, verse four, which were sealed and they were
sealed 140 and 4,000 of all the tribes of the children of Israel.
Now there's a mark on them. God has sealed them. Their names
are written down. There's a mark on them. God knows
that mark. God knows them intimately. He knows them so much that their
names are written on the palms of our Savior's hand. They're
known so much that their names are written on the breastplate
of the Lord Jesus Christ in his high priestly apparel. It was
spiritual, but it's far more interesting to the church to
have that spiritual apparel on this spiritual high priest than
it ever was to see it physically on Aaron. Aaron's going to die. Our high priest ever liveth to
make intercession for us. So he has the names graven on
the palms of his hand. He has the names on his high
priestly apparel. He has it on the breastplate.
It's in his memory. It is in his understanding. It was in his purpose when he
came to this earth. He didn't come here and set his
face as a flint towards Jerusalem just to die on the cross, but
he had a purpose in who he was going to lay down his life for,
and he mentions that, I lay down my life for the sheep. The church gets encouragement
for that. He did things on purpose. It
wasn't by accident, but it was on purpose. Now it says here
there was 144,000 of all the tribes of the children of Israel.
Now, that's just a complete number for the Church of the Living
God. That's just a statement that God knows all of them. He
has them out of every kindred, people, and tribe. There are
religions built upon 12,000 of each tribe. We're not going to
go into it because we could waste a lot of time by figuring out
what other people believe. But we find in the scripture
that this number is the number that represents the church of
the living God. Abel is there, and David, and
Solomon, and all those Old Testament saints. I think I mentioned, I was talking
to Brother Wayne about, so often it's mentioned the New Testament
church. Well, it's the church. There are those who were under
the Old Testament economy. There are those under the New
Testament economy. But in the eyes of the Lord,
it's called the Church of the Living God. And his son is the
head of the church. Of the tribe of Judah, it says,
there were sealed 12,000. Of the tribe of Reuben, there
were sealed 12,000. Of the tribe of Gad there were sealed 12,000. Of the tribe of Asher were sealed
12,000. Of the tribe of Naphtali or Naphtalem
were sealed 12,000. Of the tribe of Manassas was
sealed 12,000. Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed
12,000. These are those that we just
read about in verses 1, 2, and 3 of this chapter when the wind
will be held back, The Sirocco. That very hot, unpleasant wind
of judgment of God will be held back until such a time that all
those of God's will be sealed. And this sealing is by the Holy
Spirit of promise. And they're marked in their foreheads
with the name of God. I don't know what it looks like.
I just appreciate it's there. I don't know what God's seal
looks like. I just appreciate it. It's the
down payment of my eternal inheritance. I don't know all there is to
know about it, but I appreciate and I'm thankful for everything
God has done for me to let me know that I'm in the church of
the living God. He bears witness with my spirit
that I am a child of God. He testifies to that fact. He witnesses to that fact. I'm
a very poor witness for Christ, but he is an excellent witness
for the church. He stands up every day defending
us in the council halls of eternity and before and after he has continuously
witnessed on the behalf of his children. Who shall lay anything
to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifies. My
goodness, that encourages me. I am a terrible witness for the
Lord, but he is an excellent witness on the behalf of the
church. He testifies with regard to his church on every page of
this book. And he sent his only begotten
son to die for everyone that has ever belonged to him. In
eternity past, when he chose him out of all people, he testified
to the fact I will ever be their witness and I will stand up for
them at every time and at all costs. And the Lord Jesus Christ
paid for the privilege to stand up for us with his dear blood.
And now he ever liveth to make intercession for the church.
Every one of these out of the tribe of Simeon sealed 12,000
of the tribe of Levi were sealed 12,000. Now we had a chart up
here. We'd make some long statements about Levi being in here because
he's never mentioned in the Old Testament. My goodness, the tribe
of the priests. Jesus Christ said that we are
made a kingdom of priests, right here in the book of Revelation.
Kings and priests of the Lord Jesus Christ. So all of his people
are priests. They have the privilege of coming
before him directly in prayer. They come before him with the
word. He represents us. And then it
goes on to say, the tribe of Issachar were sealed 12,000.
The tribe of Zebulon were sealed 12,000. The tribe of Joseph were
sealed 12,000. The tribe of Benjamin were sealed
12,000. We're not gonna go back to the
Old Testament and go through these tribes. They're representative. Their spiritual statements about
every one of God's people are marked down, and he knows them,
and he has sealed them, and there will not be a breath of hot air
against this whole world until everyone is saved. Now, he said,
once in a while we see his judgment. We see it. It's about us. He
said that during his own ministry. There was judgment against this
group and a judgment against that group, but not like came
during the great flood. And when it is broke loose, when
the last elect is saved and this world is hit with the Sirocco
fire of God, every one of his people will be with him. And
this world will be cleansed. Now, I just like this. Verse 9, it just makes all that
have some sense about it. It interprets what we just read.
We read there in verse four, I heard the number. We went through
and heard all the names and all that were saved out of every
tribe, heard the number. Now, what does that mean? Well,
verse nine, John got to turn around and see what that number
represents. He says, after this I beheld,
and lo, a great multitude that no man could number. Look at the same group of people.
One is the number, it's the total number, it's the complete number,
not one over, not one under, not one left out. It is the absolute
total number of all that Jesus Christ died for on the cross,
all that were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the
world, all that he intended to save, not one extra, not one
over. He didn't have, well, he doesn't
have a baker's dozen. He has 12. thousand out of every
tribe. And then I beheld, and lo, a
great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations,
and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne,
and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in
their hands, and cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our
God, which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. Now that's
just sweet, isn't it? What a song gets to be sung,
and we get to sing it every day. We get to sing the sweet songs
of Zion. We get to sing the sweet psalms
of Christ and his glory every day. As we go through here, we
find these glorious songs that we get to sing. It's just God's
people in communication with God. Thank you, God. You are God, and you've saved
a people. You're God, and you saved this
people. You're God, and you saved me.
Thank you. You're a great God. It took a
great God to overcome great sinners, and he only saves great sinners.
takes a great God. Now this list here and this number,
this great multitude, and this number of people represents the
church. Now the church is known by many
names. I'm just going to bring up a
few, but it's known by many names in the scripture. The Old Testament,
oftentimes we find it's mentioned as Israel. And even in the New
Testament, we find it's mentioned as Israel. In the Old Testament,
we find sheep. In the New Testament, we find
sheep. In the Old Testament, we find
elect. In the New Testament, we find elect. There is a trend
here. We find in the Old Testament
a holy nation. We find in the New Testament
a holy nation. We find in the Old Testament
a peculiar people. We find in the New Testament
a peculiar people. There is a trend here. The Old
Testament speaks of Israel as a type and a shadow and a picture.
And in the New Testament, we find the reality is found in
the everlasting covenant on behalf of the church of the living God.
They are called by identical names. The Old Testament is a
picture. But there was those in Israel
that knew Israel, was of Israel, just like there is today. Now,
turn with me, if you would, over to the book of 1 Peter 1. 1 Peter 1, and here we have a
name given with regard to the church. Now, I don't know. Husbands? You probably have a name that
very few people have ever heard about, sweet name, about your
bride. It's that name between you and
her. And wives, you probably have
names, sweet names now, for your husbands that very few other
people know. You know, that's just good. That's
scriptural because there are names mentioned in the Bible.
That's a name that Christ mentioned with regard to the church and
the church with regard to Christ that the world does not know. They may use it, but they don't
know it. Now notice here in the book of first Peter, first Peter
chapter one. Right here, the Lord, through
this great apostle, this secretary of the word of God, 1 Peter 1,
verse 2, we have this name with regard to the church. Now this
is a glorious name. If it wasn't for this purpose
and this principle in scripture, then every seat in heaven would
be empty. God could prepare a banquet and
nobody'd show up. He shows that with regard to
Israel. He said he made a great feast and he sent out invitations
and no one came. What does he mean? He sent out
the general call and no one came. No one. Can you imagine it? We have excuses given. Well,
I just bought some property and I need to go take a look at it.
And I just bought a yoke of oxen. I've got to go try them. And
I just got married, therefore I cannot come. Excuses, excuses,
excuses. Now, then he says, I'm gonna
get serious. And I'm gonna send out my spirit,
and my spirit's gonna find my elect, and they're gonna come
in. And he sent the spirit, his servant, out to the highways
and byways, brought in the halt, the lame, the blind. And they
came in, and they rejoiced with all that food. Now this is what
they're called. Elect according to the foreknowledge
of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience
and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ, grace unto you,
and peace be multiplied. Now in that verse, the Godhead
shares with us what they do on our behalf. God the Father chose
a people, and He gave that people to His Son, the Lord Jesus. And
the Lord Jesus, our Savior, said, I will take the contract. I will
ransom them. I will buy them back. I will
lay down my life for ransom for many. And then the Holy Spirit
in covenant mercy said, I will go find all those that you chose
and you died for. I'll retrieve them. I'll be the
hound of heaven. I'll find them. They got a mark
on them. They've been sealed and I'll
find them. And I'll make sure that they
and the gospel match up. I'll get the gospel to them.
And then God, the Holy Spirit, God, the Son, and God, the Father,
in regenerating grace comes upon them and gives them the new birth.
And it is then they realize they are there because of the election
of grace. The call went out and no one
came in. The call went out and all that
God intended came in. And that's the elect according
to grace. Elect according to the foreknowledge
of God the Father through sanctification. What a glorious statement God
has made with regard to the church. Call them the elect. No greater
term of endearment can be given to anybody than to have God call
them his elect. chosen before the world began,
and without this, not one would come in. We are absolutely, it
is essential, it is essential for us to be the elect of God. It's essential, and what a delight.
God's people just thank him for that great work he did on our
behalf, because without it, we would not come in. Now that's encouragement, God
having an interest in us before the world began. Then if you
turn with me to the book of Galatians chapter 6, Galatians chapter
6, over in the Old Testament there so often the Lord expresses
his blessing upon Israel. Time and time again. Now, they
didn't have much respect for him, but he had respect for them
in this, that they were a picture of the church and all that God
did for them. He led them, he fed them, he
overshadowed them, he protected them. Everything that God did
for Israel as a type and a shadow, he fulfills completely and totally
on the behalf of the church. Now look here in Galatians, Galatians
chapter six, verse 16. Scripture says, as many as walk
according to this rule, peace be on them and mercy and upon
the Israel of God. Now every blessing that God gave
physically to Israel is given spiritually to the church. So
we find it comforting to be called the Israel of God. Oh, it's a
chew inward. You mean I don't have to be related
to Abraham in the flesh? Yes, that's right, you caught
it. I'm related to Abraham and the
Spirit. Yes, because it is said of Abraham
in the Old Testament. What an illustration. Abraham
believed God and it was counted unto him for righteousness. The
Israel of God, every blessing is given to Israel of God. The Son of God is given on their
behalf, the foresight of God, the interest of God, the election
of God, the grace of God, the mercy of God, and every spiritual
blessing is given unto the Israel of God. And so we just say, oh,
let me rest under my vine. I'm going to sit and cogitate
about this. What a blessing it is to God's
people to realize that they are the elect of God, the chosen
of God, and that they're the Israel of God. That they, he
made an interest in it. He separated them out of Egypt. And it doesn't take us very long
to go back and say, well, he separated me from this world.
And let me, now the difference between the church and national
Israel is the church is in compliance. The church is in compliance to
Christ. Now when we're not, he makes
up for it. We sin every day, but he makes
up for it. We go astray every day, but he
makes up for it. He never did that for national
Israel. He can continue to lead them,
but he didn't make up for that. The church, every sin he's made
up for, every straying he's made up for, every backsliding he's
made up for, he has promised that he will give unto us his
eternal will and purpose, and that we'll do it in Christ Jesus. And everything that was lost
in the fall will be gained in Christ. Everything. So he makes up for it. He fills
in. We have nothing to offer. He
has everything to offer. He fills it in. We're along for
the ride. Resting in him. If you'll turn
with me to the book of Romans, Romans chapter one. There's a
term used many times in the Old Testament. It's the word saint.
Saint. Now, there are those who want
to be called Latter-day Saints. I just want to be called a present-day
saint. God's people are present-day
saints. Now, it doesn't mean that we are better. It means
we have this statement about us. Set aside ones. That's what saints are, set aside
ones. What's that mean? He set his people aside. They didn't do it on their own,
they can't do it on their own. Romans chapter one, Romans chapter
one here, and verse seven, it says, to all that be in Rome,
beloved of God, now we can stop and visit that for a while, because
that's another name for the church, but notice this, call to be saints. Grace to you and peace from God
our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, beloved of God, called
to be saints. Now, he issues the call and he
helps us answer the call. He gives us the interest to answer
the call. He gives us the ability to answer
the call. He gives us the faith to answer
the call. He gives us the repentance to answer the call, but we're
called to be saints. Set apart ones, set aside ones,
and set aside in Christ before the foundation of the world.
Now that just is a blessing for the church to know. He's taken
care of that too. Call to be saints. And earlier
in that same verse it says, beloved of God. And you know what the
counterpart of that is? God lovers. Romans chapter 8
verse 28. Beloved of God God lovers turn
with me if you would to the book of first or excuse me Ephesians
chapter 1 Ephesians chapter 1 now this This is so good I'm still trying to understand
this but it said several times here in the New Testament. This
is our part of I don't, it's bigger than me. What's it say
here? Ephesians 1, verse 17. It says that the God of our Lord
Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit
of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him. That fits right
in there with 1 Corinthians 1, verse 30. He's our wisdom. He
gives us the understanding with regard to the scriptures, spiritual
meaning. The eyes of your understanding
being enlightened, That you may know, and I think that word enlightened
right there is the same word for revelation. I think it's
apocalypso. Boy, that means war, doesn't
it, to be enlightened. that you may know the hope of your calling
and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints
and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us were to believe
according to the working of his mighty power which he wrought
in Christ when he raised him from the dead and set him on
his own right hand in heavenly places far above all principality
and power and might and dominion and every name that is named
not only in this world but that which is to come and hath put
all things under his feet and gave him to be head over all
things to the church, which is his body." Now, I haven't got
around that yet. Which is his body? And I think that that's more
than just a body of people. I think it is speaking of a spiritual
relationship that we have as being his spiritual Now, God's
gonna get things done without our hands. There's a poem written,
and a bunch of churches got involved in that. God can't go unless
you go. God can't serve unless you serve.
All this, oh my, it's just terrible. It's so unchristian, but God
has a body made up of his people, and the head is Christ, and the
people are his body. I just haven't got a hold of
that, but I like it. I'm enjoying it. I'm enjoying
that relationship. He is going to keep his body
from going astray. He is going to keep his body
headed towards him. That's our only hope, to be in
that body, and he's walking in his direction. and he's moving
towards glory, and he has all his people in him, and he's the
head. And I was watching a movie the
other night, the guy told a bunch of guys, he says, now I'm gonna
pay you, I get 50%, and the rest of you get the 50% to divide,
because I'm doing the thinking, and you won't have to do any
thinking, and I like that about Christ. Christ is saying, I'm
doing the thinking and you won't have to do any thinking. Now
he enlightens us and lets us see the scripture, but isn't
it pleasant that we don't have to figure out how we're going
to make it to the end. We don't have to figure out how
we're going to get more knowledge about Christ. We don't have to
figure out what he did. He reveals it. He enlightens
us with it. He shows it to us. He takes off
the fog. He opens up our understanding.
He lets our eyes be enlightened. That's a glory. And he says here
that this is the body of Christ, which is his body, the fullest
of him that filleth all and in all. I don't understand all I
know about that, but I like it. That's an encouragement to the
people of God to know that he is the head and his people are
his body and he's leading them in the right direction. He's
not going to get his head turned around backwards. He's taken them to glory, every
one of them. Now, turn with me, if you would,
to 2 Peter 2, verse 9. 2 Peter 2, verse 9. I heard the number of them. I
beheld a great multitude. I heard 144,000. I saw them,
and there was a number that no man could number. I heard twelve
of each tribe. I saw, and there was people out
of every kindred nation, people, and tongue, and all of them were
doing the same thing, praising God, thanking Him. Now here in the book of 2 Peter,
2 Peter chapter 2, we read this with regard to another name that
the Lord has chosen to call His people by. Second Peter chapter
two and verse nine, the, hmm. It's supposed to say holy nation. Pardon? Holy nation of peculiar people.
First Peter, thank you. First Peter chapter two and verse
nine. Yes. You're listening to this CD,
you'll find that I make these mistakes all the time. But you're
a chosen generation, a royal priesthood. a holy nation, a peculiar people,
that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called
you out of darkness into his marvelous light." Now, this is
a quote from the book of Exodus, chapter 19, with regard to national
Israel. And when it was applied to them,
it didn't mean much. But when it's applied to the
church, it means everything. Peculiar doesn't mean odd, peculiar
means chosen out, special. It fits right in with the term
particular redemption. That's what goes right along
with it. A holy nation, God has chosen a holy nation. I don't
know about you, but sometimes it just looks awful sad looking
around us. But then, when we find out what
we really have, he says, you are a holy nation. And that's
God saying that about his people, a holy nation. And everything
else that fits, if that's in that verse of scripture, a royal
priesthood, a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation,
a peculiar people, that you may show forth the praises of him
who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." What
a joy. Verse 5 of that same chapter
says, you also as lively stones are build up a spiritual house.
You go to the Old Testament, we had the tabernacle and we
had the temple. but they were just types and
shadows and pictures of this. They types and shadows and pictures
of Christ and types and shadows and pictures of this. You are
a holy nation, verse five, or excuse me. Chapter 2 and verse
5, your lively stones are built up a spiritual house, a holy
priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God
by Jesus Christ. We're a spiritual house, a holy
priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices, living stones. And
we never lifted ourselves into the house. He's put it there
on purpose. And then if you would turn with
me one more time to the Psalms, Psalm 79. Psalm 79. Another name, many names in the
Bible with regard to the church, to the assembly. The word church
means assembly, called out, and we assemble at one place. Now
we have a local assembly, that's true. But every one of us hope
to assemble at one place. Whenever we assemble here, we
hope and pray to be assembling at one place. And that one place
is at the feet of Jesus. We desire to be assembled at
the feet of Jesus. We want to be assembled at the
feet of Jesus. And what do we say when we're
assembled there? Worthy is the lamb that was slain. That's what we say when we are
assembled there. Now, I love assembling here. I love visiting with my brothers
and sisters in Christ, my family. But the intent would be lost
if we have no interest of assembling at the feet of Jesus. That's
our goal. That's our goal, when we step
through those doors, whether we're stepping through those
doors or any other door, when we assemble together under an
oak tree, and I hope we don't have to, I kind of like comfort,
I like warm, and I like cool in the summer, when we step through
those portals. It's our desire to go one step
further than just visiting. That's to sit at the feet of
Jesus. What did Jesus tell that lady,
the sister that was all concerned about having food fixed? She
said, your sister had chosen the better part, to sit at the
feet of Jesus. That's where we assemble to hear
the gospel, sit at the feet of Jesus. All right, Psalm, Psalm
79, and verse 13. So we thy people, Boy, we spend a lot of time on
that. We, thy people, to be called
his people, and the sheep of thy pasture. Now, there's not
one of us that I've ever talked to that thought sheep were real
pleasant critters. There's only four kind of meat
that I don't like, and that's lamb, ram, sheep, and mutton. I've been around them when they
got rained on. Oh, that wool doesn't smell good. Dumb as a post. And then God, and we love it,
call me your sheep. Why? Because I died for the sheep. I laid down my life for the sheep.
I love the sheep. You're the sheep of my pasture.
We just love it as it says here in Psalm 79 and verse 13. So we thy people and the sheep
of thy pasture will give thee thanks forever. That's what they're
doing over there in the book of Revelation chapter 7. They've
been doing it. We've watched them do it. They're
doing it now and they're continuing to do it in the book of Revelation.
The church continues what? We will show forth thy praise
to all generations. We'll give thee thanks forever.
We will show forth thy praise to all generations. And that's
what they're doing. I heard the number 144,000. 12,000
times 12 is 144,000, not plus one or minus one. It is 144,000.
Symbolic. everyone that God chose before
the foundation of the world written down in the Lamb's Book of Life.
Jesus Christ died for every one of them and the Holy Spirit is
about saving them and has said hold back the wind until everyone
that is marked is brought in and when that's over we're gonna
see what happens. Heck breaks loose. And then, as we read over there,
it says that 144,000, that number that no man can number, out of
every kindred of nations and kindred and people and tongues,
stood before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white
robes, robes of righteousness, and palms in their hands, and
cried with a loud voice, saying, salvation to our God that which
sitteth upon the throne and to the Lamb, And all the angels
stood around the throne and about the elders and four beasts and
fell before the throne on their faces and worshiped God saying,
Amen, blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor
and power and might be unto our God forever and ever. Amen. That's what the church gets to
do. It's a privilege. It's not a job. It's a privilege. It's not work. It's a privilege. It's not required. But God's people are going to
do it. The church of the living God, the sheep of his pasture,
the elect, his church, his body, and all of the other names throughout
the scripture that he's called. Calls him holy nation, royal
priesthood. He never calls us by a bad name. Well, I like them, but there's
just one thing I just can't stand. Never hear it. Never hear it. I love them to the bone, he says.
I love them from eternity, he says. I can find no fault in
them, he says. I'll present them spotless, he
says. There's nothing about them that
I find distasteful, he says. They're just wonderful. Well,
we know what we are, but I like when he talks about us. There's
not a disparaging word about it.