Thursday, 22nd September 2022
Sister Emily Huang
Section One V1-8 God Chooses God Protects
V1 ‘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.’ The angels have the authority to destroy the earth, but without the permission of God, nothing can hurt us.
V2-3 ‘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, saying, “Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.”’ As the servants of God, we cannot choose what we want to do and when we want to do it. But to be like Jesus, lay down of Himself, seek the Will of God to be done instead of His own Will. Are we willing to stay in the position God has given to us, use the gifts from God, serve others and reveal the love of Jesus? Do not think that being the servants of God will lose many things, because God will protect His servants, and He will seal us on our foreheads so everyone will know we belong to God.
In Revelation 6:10-11, it says, ‘And they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.’ A lot of times, we may face troubles and hardships, and we feel God is not helping us. We feel that we’ve offered a lot, sacrificed a lot, worked so hard, but still see no result.
We must know that God rules and reigns, everything is in His hands, and His plan is far more greater than anything we can imagine. Can we believe that His plan is the best plan? He will protect us to the end, and we will have a portion in the Kingdom of God. Therefore, do not be afraid, because we are chosen by God and protected by God, and the eternal blessings of the Kingdom are for us. What we have to do is to guard our hearts and fully submit to God’s guidance.
Section Two V9-17 Come Out of the Great Tribulation
V9-10 ‘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, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”’ Not just the people of Israel are saved and protected, but all of us believing in Jesus Christ will be saved. Because we are bought by the blood of Jesus, and our lives are no longer under the authority of Satan. In the past, we may have lived according to our own flesh desires, but after we are saved, we can live out the destiny God has prepared for us.
V11-12 ‘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, saying: “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, thanksgiving and honour and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen.”’ When we praise and worship, we only worship the God, who saves us. Even the angels, who are with authority and power, bowed down to worship God. We are not worthy, but He allowed us to come and give Him praises.
V13-14 ‘Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?” 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.”’ Through this path of following God, there are many trials and tribulations, which make the path of following God difficult. We want to follow God’s way, but at the same time, we strive to live a godly life, despite of all the trials and hardship along the way. Here we are encouraged that all these processes of following God and living a godly life are to help us to be more like Jesus, to be cleansed, so we can put on the white robe.
V15 ‘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.’ When we follow God, He promised us that He will dwell among us and be with us. God is always with us, sometimes we may not feel His presence, but He already promised us, and He always keeps His promises.
V16-17 ‘They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; 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.’ Nothing can hurt us anymore, we may feel tired and weary, we may think that the path of faith is full of obstacles, which make us feel defeated. But God is encouraging us today, do not be afraid, He will lead us to the living fountains of waters, which will never dry out. We will never be hungry and thirsty, furthermore, He will wipe away our tears.