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that other company specified in chap ter 14. Neither are they to be con founded with the Church, which is the Body and Bride of Christ, for the Church is with the Lord in the air. The scenes are: First: Of the work of grace carried on in the earth subse quent to the translation of the Church, and during the first part of the seven, years of the seventieth week of Daniel. There may be here two Jewish com panies of equal number,r^-the 144,000 of Israel enumerated here, and the 144,- 000 of Judah described in the 14th chapter. Distinct from the tribulation through which the Church has, always passed, there is a specific time, a period yet future, after the Church is translated, when the Jews are restored to their own land (as they are now beginning to be restored),— a period called “ The great tribulation,” which will include a period of persecution and suffering, an hour which will exceed in bitterness every other hour that has passed in the earth’s history, and which may close with the pouring out of the seven vials of wrath recorded in the 16th chapter of Revelation. Read the chapter carefully, together with Daniel 9:27, and Matt. 24:14-23. Note also Mark 13:19, where our Lord says: “ For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be.” Satan will then be on the earth per sonally directing the work of terror, which will include apostate Christendom and the Jewish people (1 Pet. 4:17). The multitude spoken of here will be those who have come out of “ The Great Tribulation” , and, of course, there will be also a multitude who will not come out, but who will perish with the wicked. The chief agent of Satan during this period will be the anti-Christ (Dan.
eighth chapter we have the opening of the seventh seal. Thus between the opening of the sixth
LESSON
EXPOSITION T. O. Horton
and seventh seals, but having no part with either, is recorded the events re ferring to the body of Jews and the body of Gentiles separately reviewed. Outline. (1) The Worship of the Lamb, vs. 7-12. (2) The Witness of the Saints, vs. 13-15. (3) The Wonders of His Salvation, vs. 16, 17. (1) THE WORSHIP OF THE LAMB, vs. 7-12. “ After these things” (v. 1) marks the vision of the sealed Israelites. “ After this” (v. 9) marks the vision of the tribulation saints. The word “ after” distinguishes between the multi tudes and separates them definitely. Bear in mind that the Church, in the Book of Revelation, is seen in the glory with the Lord from the beginning of the fourth chapter, having been caught up to be with Him, as recorded in 1 Thess. 4:13-18. We must distinguish the multitude here from the church and the early martyrs. “ These came out of the great tribulation.” Note the distinction which the Lord makes concerning the classes in Heaven and on earth as re lated to the throne. The two visions and the two sets of people here are seen, we believe, on earth. The four angels stand on the four corners of the earth (v. 1). Four is the world number, denoting here uni versality of action. Israel and Judah are included in those who are sealed. The outcasts of Israel, and dispersed of Judah (Isa. 11:11, 12). The company of persons spoken of in our lesson (vs. 9-17) are not included in that company seen in vs. 4-8, nor in
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