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good morning everyone let’s take our Bibles this morning turn to Revelation chap 7 Revelation chapter 7 now we have already been seeing in Revelation that God has already been pouring out his judgment remember we’re in the 7-year tribulation period where the Lord begins to uh pour out his wrath on the ungodly sinful Earth we are heading to chapter 8 which is verse number one says when the lamb broke the seven seal we’re not at the seventh seal yet we’re at The Sixth Seal amen and right before the seventh seal there’s an interlude there’s a parenthesis consisting here of the whole chapter 7 of Revelation so before the seventh seal is broken which of course will unleash the seven trumpets will then unleash the seven vials and we see that when we go through Revelation that the judgments become more rapid and more severe uh as God pours out his wrath upon the Earth so before the seven seal is broken which continues the vast final Devastation on the Earth where the intensity of God’s judgments become more and more severe in a moment of pause we see shining through the clouds of judgment God’s mercy Rises out of judgment God’s mercy Rises out of judgment God’s compassion is shown on sinful Humanity even the prophet habach in his prayer to God said Lord I have heard the report about you and I fear oh Lord revive your work in the midst of the years in the midst of the years make it known and then habach said this in Wrath remember Mercy now God generally Express his Mercy in two ways God extends his Mercy to us when we were dead in sin and Rebels to him to his very person where it says says in Titus he saved us not on the basis of Deeds which we have done in righteousness but according to his mercy so God’s mercy toward us his compassion toward us him not giving us what we actually deserve see we have to remember that every day and also God moves to meet our temporal needs in his mercy so God is merciful showing compassion on Sinners both in their physical life and also their spiritual life where he provides to them what they need and usually at the time they need it so here in chapter 7 of Revelation there is a lull in God’s judgment so that he can display his Mercy to his Saints before the final blast in other words it’s the come before the storm and we we’ll see here this morning the focus of our attention will be this Lord’s day on the display of God’s mercy towards his Saints during a difficult the most difficult time of human history we will see a display of the Lamb of God shepherding his people protecting them leading them providing for his sheep and that’s what he does that’s what he does remember there’s two flocks that need to be saved there’s the flock of Israel and there’s the Gentile flock God says I’m going to bring both of them in and I’ll become their one Shepherd now before I look at the text there was a party of tourists who were who were on their way to Palestine and the guide who was guiding them was showing them and telling them about some of the quaint customs of the East he said that when you see a Shepherd the shepherd especially when you see a Shepherd in the English part of the world like European part of the world that the shepherd follows his sheep through the English lanes and byways so out in the East however things are different for the shepherd who leads his sheep in the Middle East he goes before his flock and the Sheep follow him and they know his voice of course that’s a common theme in scripture especially from John chapter 10 so as the as he’s leading these people he’s telling them them these things and the party finally reached Palestine and to the amusement of the tour guide almost first sight they meet their eyes meet a flock of sheep that are being driven by a man not leading them but driving them and he’s he kind of got a little bit upset and the guide was astonished in a way and immediately went to the person to to the shepherd and started berating him about what he’s doing and he says to him how is it that you are driving these sheep he asked I have always been told the Eastern Shepherd leads his sheep the man said to him you are quite right sir the shepherd does lead his sheep but you see I am not the shepherd I am the butcher well we know from scripture that the Lord is not the butcher he is the one who leads us he doesn’t drive us he leads us so when we look at this text this morning in Revelation chapter 7 we were going to see some things that are very important for us to know how God displays his Mercy as a Shepherd to his people at different times in human history here is in the tribulation period and so the first point this morning I’ll bring up let me have a word of prayer first Lord the morning as we continue to look at this Epistle of revelation we thank you Lord for what’s contained in this book we already know Lord those who read it and listen to it and follow it are blessed we want to be those blessed people we want to see your plan as it unfolds Lord especially some of the things that have not unfolded yet we are before it but Lord we we pray as we look at scripture that we would see you in this process and that we will respect you more as our Shepherd than ever before because we thank you Lord that you lead us and you guide us and you direct us and Lord you will lead us through to Green pastors and quiet Dwelling Places we praise you for these promises to us as your people people and I pray in Christ’s name amen so the first the shepherding mercy of the Lamb is displayed first of all number one The Messengers of Israel are protected now no notice what it says in verse number one of Revelation 7 verse one and what we see here is that there’s four angels that hold back the winds Winds of judgment notice it says after this I saw four Angels standing at the Four Corners of the Earth holding back the Four Winds of the earth so that no wind would blow on the Earth or the sea or any tree now these angels control the natural elements of the earth both north south east and west so these four winds are used as the destructive agents of God these four angels have power over the Four Winds in order to hurt the Earth that’s going to be their job to hurt the Earth so these angels are ready at God’s command to pour out God’s judgment but are until that command comes are to hold back the winds on the earth of the Earth now why are these angels to hold back judgment on the great areas of the Earth the the Sea and the trees well God finds God actually sends a fifth angel from the East an angel of grace and mercy not an angel of judgment look at verse number 2 and three here’s the one angel that prevents harm especially the harm of The Messengers and look what it says in verse two and I saw another Angel ascend from the rising of the sun that’s the East having the Seal of the Living God and he cried out with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it has been granted to harm the earth and the Sea saying don’t do not harm the Earth or the sea or the trees and notice that what it’s says until we have sealed the bonder Servants of our God on their foreheads so that is what’s going on here these angels are holding back the Judgment of God so here’s the intermission that God gives showing his Mercy sending this Angel saying don’t do it yet and so the loud call is to wait for this special ceiling of God on the the bonder servants so before ecological judgments fall God sends his Mercy to them and this fifth angel we have noticed has the Seal of the Living God In His Hands God is identified as the Living God and of course that’s always in contrast to all other would be dead Idols that people worship especially during this time in human history he is the one who is involved with his people he is involved with his Creation The Wicked seek after dead Idols which they could mold and shape and control as they wish but The Godly they seek the true and living God it’s just like this what the psalmist says many times in in in the Psalms especially this one verse that’s that gives an expression of of a desire that a man has for God and he says it says in Psalm 42 as a deer pants for the water Brook so my soul pants for you oh God my soul thirst for God and then he adds this onto that for the Living God in contrast to all other gods God is the only one who is the living one and then he says when when shall I come and appear before God so these seals in Revelation were used historically for branding cattle for tattooing slaves seals in general and Soldiers the marks would be placed on the hand and the brown and the neck to seal them and identify them as one’s property showing ownership and sometimes membership the Bible uses here what what is called a Divine passive and it’s used uh to mean have sealed wi which indicates that God is the subject of the action of sealing the Seal of God is put in a very prominent place on the people that are sealed and you notice it’s right on their foreheads we we’re going to find out in Revelation that uh Satan tries to mimic this well he gives the uh seal of the 666 on their foreheads or the hands but here it is prominent on their foreheads right so the essential work of sealing God’s bonder servant is so that no influence whatever shall prevent the ceiling and the full number of these beloved s these beloved Saints to actually carry out the mission that God has for them now if you look back to Revelation 6 and verse number 17 remember that’s where I end it where it says for the great day of their wrath has come who is able to stand and I concluded there cuz that’s a question who’s able to stand and we conclude it no one’s able to stand well that’s not necessarily true at least completely because we see that these 144,000 are able to stand and they’re only able to stand because they are sealed on their forehead by God by the Living God as incredible as it may seem that these Servants of God are the ones that God are God is going to call to use in a very special way during the time of tribulation so who can stand before the Lamb’s wrath well no one can but in this case this group of people can because they are sealed by the Living God and are able to stand because this sealing implies protection the seal that God puts on and pro uh provides them protection and they are seen as triumphant at the end of the tribulation when Christ returns where it tells us in Revelation 14 then I looked and behold the lamb was standing on Mount Zion and with him 144,000 so in other words the the God is shepherding his people and displaying his Mercy to them by protecting them and he does the same with us he does the same for his church he even gives us double security as it says in John chapter 10 that no one could snatch us from the hand of Jesus and no one can snatch us from the hand of the father and then on top of that he seals us with the holy spirit so it’s kind of a triple sealing that we have as Christians that once we become Believers no one no one whatsoever can mess with God’s property because we are owned by him and so that’s a a a significant thought when we think about eternal security that we don’t keep ourselves saved God keeps us saved right once we become Believers so if you want to notice uh that if you look at chapter 14 in verse number one in that in Revelation chter 14 verse number one if you notice that the seal is the name of the lamb and the name of the father that the stamp of divine ownership notice in verse number uh the last part of verse number 14 verse number one it says his with the 144,000 having his name and the name of his father written on their foreheads so that’s what they’re stamped with they’re stamped with the his own seed the Seal of his his very name so this is protection from the Wrath that’s going to be poured out on the earth so God has to take these 144,000 all right and he has to seal them and protect them as they go into the middle part of the of the Reel um of tribulation which is the Great Tribulation because it is the wrath of God is going to be so severe on the earth if they’re not sealed then they’re going to end up being killed and many people die as I already mentioned during the tribulation period so that is the first thing that we see in Scripture that the messengers of Israel are protected now secondly the shepher in Mercy of the Lamb is displayed in that secondly The Messengers of Israel are selected notice it gives two things the number of who those who are selected and then also the names of those who are selected it says in verse number four of Revelation CH 7 and I heard the number of those who were sealed 144,000 sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel now here’s an incredible as in incredible as it may seem a good amount of commentators attempt to spiritualize away the literal obvious meaning of the plain and positive Des designation of the people that are sealed it cannot be the church because the church is already gone it is distinctly Israel 144,000 sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel now the term Israel remember must be referred to as the physical descendants of Abraham Isaac and Jacob Jacob’s name being CH changed to Israel so that that is the natural understanding and the words normal usage in the New Testament as well as the Old Testament but some say that the 10 and the 12 tribes 10 of the the 12 tribes lost their identity in the Assyrian captivity and the remaining two lost theirs when uh Jerusalem fell in 70 AD however God knows which Jews and or Israelites are descendants from each tribe does he not see the next verse makes it even clearer by giving a listing of the 12 tribes these are Israelites who accept Jesus as Messiah and savior and after this is after the Rapture of the church and the resurrection of the church they become The Godly Remnant in the end times at The Great Tribulation 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes of Israel are protected by the Angelic seal while they spread the gospel they will be set apart as a special Divine Remnant to be the testimony of God’s grace and mercy during this time of divine judgment 12,000 from each tribe are made secure 144,000 are those who are delivered from their persecutors and brought safely through the terrible time of tribulation so these ministers whom God will raise up in this time what will they do they will preach the kingdom gospel through which many Israelites will repent and confess Jesus Christ as Savior Messiah that’s what will happen in other words there’s going to be a Revival in the land of Israel where God has promised that he’s going to graft them back in as Romans tells us to the original Olive Tree which they were part of and he’s going to do that during this time of tribulation so there will be a great massive Revival of people that come especially from Israel to be saved now as we look at the list of names A Closer examination reveals that there are two names omitted Dan is omitted and Ephraim is omitted so in the place of Ephraim Joseph the father of Ephraim is put in that place now let’s look at the list in verse 5-8 these are the names the number is the 144,000 but these are the names it says from the tribe of Judah 12,000 were were sealed now Jud Judah is not the firstborn Reuben was the firstborn but he lost first place because of his sexual sin and also possibly Judah could be first because Jesus was born from the tribe of Judah if you look back to Revelation 5 verse number five in light of that passage it says Revelation 55 and one of the ERS said to me stop weeping behold the lion that is from the tribe of Judah so Judah is mentioned first and then notice secondly it says from the tribe of Ruben 12,000 from the tribe of GAD 12,000 from the tribe of Asher 12,000 from the tribe of Nepali 12,000 from the tribe of Manassa 12,000 now remember Manasseh and Ephraim were brothers well ephraim’s excluded here he’s not there and then number seven from the tribe of Simeon 12,000 from the tribe of Levi 12,000 from the tribe of ish ishar 12,000 from the tribe of zebulun 12,000 from the tribe of Joseph 12,000 from The Tribe of Benjamin 12,000 were sealed so now we see that this group of people that are from the nation of Israel from each one of these tribes are all sealed by God now the question is why would Dan and Ephraim be omitted well some have said Antichrist would come from the tribe of Dan and they say that based on Genesis 49 verse number 17 listen what it says it says dan shall be a serpent in the way a horn a horn snake in the path that bites the horse’s heels so that the writer Falls backwards now that’s not that view is not necessarily taken seriously uh it’s kind of fanciful uh that interpretation Dan also was the smallest number so classified with the tribe of Nepali another son of Jacob born to the same mother as Dan and then probably this is the reason why Dan and Ephraim are excluded because Dan was the first to go into idolatry Dan was the only tribe to fail to conquer their territory so they turned to idolatry as an alternative of obeying God so idolatry in particular was the blight upon the tribe of Dan Ephraim like Dan was addicted to idolatry so both of them because of idolatrous practices were excluded from being sealed by God during this time of history and some have concluded that in the future the Jewish Antichrist will introduce idolatry to Israel and in that regard they will follow the danites that was something that was common in people’s thinking historically also we do know that uh irus the 2 Century Church Father noted a pre-christian Jewish tradition that Antichrist would come from Dan even Aus wrote as Christ was born from the tribe of Judah so Antichrist will be born from the tribe of Dan now we can’t be sure about that those things they’re hard to prove and we do know that in scripture in the end Dan does get a portion of the land but the farthest removed from the temple of God that’s found in Ezekiel 48 he gets one portion so while some of these things are hard to verify what remains clear is that these Mighty sealed anointed witnesses will be God’s Remnant which will keep his Commandments and will hold to the test testimony of Jesus Christ during this Great Tribulation also the tribe of Dan does not have an opportunity to be sealed and preach the gospel of the Kingdom so we see secondly that God’s shepherding of his people is displayed in his selecting them and sealing them and using them as his servants now one person had said if you ever question the faithfulness of God to keep a promise look at Israel and why is why do they say that because Israel’s still here where are other all are all the other peoples that are mentioned in the Bibles where where’s the jebusites the hivites and all the other ones all the other ites that are mentioned in scripture the only ones left are the Israelites even to this day with all the persecution of Israel historically they’re still here and they’re in their land right so that means that prophetically God is keeping his promise and he he has sealed these 144,000 to actually preach the gospel so thirdly the shepherding mercy of the Lamb is displayed in that the multitude of saints are perfected now it switches from just the nation of Israel to the Gentiles the Gentiles are also going to get saved in the tribulation and if you notice in chapter 7 verse number n it says this it it gives actually the the nature and the number of of the people that will be saved it says after these things I looked and behold a great multitude which no one could num could count from every portion and all tribes and peoples and tongues let me just stop there for a minute so after the home Gathering of the church a Remnant out of every nation all tribes and peoples and tongues Jews and Gentiles specifically here Gentiles will turn to Christ and receive him as their savior in other words during the tribulation countless people of all Nations will come to Christ so God is showing his Mercy during the time of great judgment upon the Earth where he will bring people to himself especially those who are from the flock of Israel and then the fullness of the Gentiles that the Bible mentions in the gospels will come to pass right here in the Great Tribulation where God will bring all the rest of the Gentiles who are not saved under the church age will be saved here so think of that for a moment that the gospel of the land touches all people groups it’s calculated that at the pres in this present world right now there’s 11,243 people groups not only that but the gospel of the Lamb erases all racism all Prejudice all bigotry and anything that divides people see this is a unified group of people who have one specific thing in common that they believe Jesus is the Christ the Messiah and he is their Savior and they get saved and we do know that for every three people do get saved to get killed so Christ died so that there might be people from every people group among the people groups of the Earth from the inner cities from the neighborhoods from the suburbs from the country folk from the m mountain people from the desert people from remote tribes see Christ will purchase specific people from every tribe and tongue and people and Nations so that they all belong to him and it’s our job of course as in the church time to make sure that we are reaching the unreached people it looks like the sealed 144 4,000 will be the evangelists during the tribulation now in verse number nine It also says the saint gives us the Saints position and perfection in verse number nine it says that they’re standing that these are standing because they have come through the tribulation and their conversion is due to the missionary work of the Jewish elect that the fruit of the ministry of the 144,000 is a great multitude of Gentiles and Jews that get saved look where they’re standing in verse number nine they’re standing Before the Throne before the lamb they’re in heaven having lost their life for being a follower of Jesus evidently they died a martyr’s death and as a result it it’s a result of Satan’s war against them that tells us in Revelation that he wages war against the Saints and against even her children the children of Israel too he’s Waging War against them during this time remember his time is short during the tribulation and he’s he’s pouring out all he can to uh defeat the efforts of the Gospel preaching and he’s trying to for every person that do gets uh gets saved he he tries to kill them so even though this new world leader will eventually attempt to put all such professing Christians to death Millions upon Millions will turn to Christ and be saved During the period of the first six seals and just before the midpoint of Daniel’s 70th week which will be in the mid-tribulation so the Saints what are they doing here in Revelation 7:9 they’re wearing white robes and holding palm branches it says they’re clothed in white robes and palm branches were in their hands so they were wearing white robes washed in the blood of the Lamb so they are the Sheep saved after the church is gone they are clothed in the impu Ed perfect righteousness of the Lamb which is their perfection and then of course it says and palm branches were in their hands this is a sign of festal Joy it indicates their Triumph in fact it points to the Feast of Tabernacles which is a feast of rest after one goes through trouble they come to the place where we know that heaven is going to be our Sabbath rest where we rest from all our labors from all trouble from all persecution for from all pain from all suffering and that’s what they’re experiencing there this group of people that go through the tribulation and lose their lives are now before the throne in safety and are resting now and trusting have trusted God and now they are at the place of comfort and joy uh because they’re in the presence of God also what happens when you’re in that place when you’re in like some people say what what’s going to happen when we go to heaven well here’s a good picture of what’s going to happen because these Saints have a focused worship they have a a focused confession and that confession is listed here in our text so another words the Pains of the tribulation they did not Escape but the joy of being with Christ forever will be theirs that the multitude is exuberant in their celebration of its Victory and this loud Symphony of praise breaks out in heaven look at verse number 10 it says there it says and they cried out with a loud voice and here’s a very important statement in scripture salvation to our God who sits on the throne and to the lamb now let’s let’s all face the fact Brethren that deliverance from sin and victory over Satan our it is ours because the father is on the throne and the lamb is his by his side that is why we are saved we are not saved by anything we could have done or anything we did we are saved because of what he has done and what he has accomplished and this is the end result to be in the presence of God to be able to celebrate in the presence of God because of what God has done see salvation to our god it says this kind of focused praise and worship of our great God cannot be contained it breaks out in heaven and our text tells us that this worship spills over to the angels and to the elders and to the four living creatures who are around the Throne of God and it gives us a glimpse just a glimpse of the blessedness and the peace and the joy and the comfort and the Everlasting satisfaction there is in heaven in the while a person stands in the presence of the true and living God see that is where the shepherd brings us to that place the place that we all long for in our soul what will be after death well you’re looking if you’re a Believer you’re looking at it right here a joyous celebration in heaven for eternity amen and it doesn’t give us all the details of what how that’s going to go on but what it is is we’re going to be fully excited about being in God’s presence and we’re going to be glad about it see look if you look at verse number 11 the praise of the Heavenly Host it says all the Angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God and what do they say there’s a Sevenfold ascription of Praise they give to God and it’s sand it’s sandwiched in between two words you know what the word is amen amen so be it it could also be translated it is true it is finished it is done God has accomplished it so there’s the first amen before the doxology then look at the doxology saying amen blessing that’s a good word Glory the outshining of the Divine person and wisdom the divine knowledge of the outpouring of God’s Plan of Salvation that’s what they’re praising God about their salvation also Thanksgiving that’s the proper response to God’s work of Salvation Lord I am so thankful and then honor that the esteemed deserved recogn recognition of God and who he is and then power the ability to act as he Wills thank you Lord that you didn’t leave this up to us you did it all with your power and your grace and your mercy thank you and then might God’s Mighty acts in salvation’s history and it says at the end to be to our god forever and ever and then it ends with the amen so that praise is sandwiched in between two amens I don’t believe we find that anywhere in scripture except here it’s like a the top of the bread and the bottom of the bread and all the good stuff is in the middle right that’s what it here and and so if you don’t want to be a Christian you won’t get excited about this matter of fact if if you don’t want what the Lord’s offering then you’re not going to enjoy heaven so you might as well spend your time enjoying the Earth as much as you can but this is what’s in store for us and I believe that it’s going to be a time that we are going to definitely definitely um experience a level of joy and praise that we’ve never ever experienced before and that’s going to be from all eternity with no distractions no hindrances of the Flesh of the world of Satan none of that’s going to be there pure worship I don’t know about you but when you’re really worshiping God you’re kind of lost in another world almost right when when people are singing and praising God it is a beautiful thing to experience now could you imagine when you’re there when you’re there see this is what we have to look forward to but let me let me move on so I can finish the text it says the next thing in our text is this uh the Marty dead are identified in the tribulation in verse number 13 it says then one of the elders answered saying to me these are these who are clothed in white robes who are they and where have they come from and of course the Apostle John said to him Lord you know and he said to me these are the ones who come out of the Great Tribulation so these tribulation Saints remember they don’t get saved because they lay down their lives they lay down their lives because they are already saved because God saved them so this is a group of people identified as being special group of people to the Lord that God is shepherding his shepherding is displayed in his saving and perfecting his sheep and then there’s a last thing to mention in our text verse 14-1 17 the shepherding mercy of the Lamb is displayed in that the multitude of saints who are protected and promised or and provided for by the lamb now in this part we actually given six five promises with one crowning promise and what’s the first promise well the first promises that the lamb makes the Saints clean notice in verse number 14 in the middle of the verse and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb so this passage is talking about spiritual Purity and the only way sins can be washed away is through the precious blood of Christ and because of his death and sacrifice on behalf of his sheep we find that all over the word of God like in Hebrews it says all things are cleansed with blood and without the shedding of blood there there’s no forgiveness of sins and then Romans 5 much more than having now been justified by his blood we shall be saved from the wrath of God through him so it is the sacrifice of the Lamb upon the cross which supplies white garments for the Saints and this is the only reason a person can be present Before the Throne of God and remember this is not a different gospel this is the same gospel during the church age and during the tribulation the same gospel is preached it is the Gospel of Jesus Christ it is the gospel of the Kingdom so the first promise is is that God will make all his Saints clean by his own blood who he sheds on their behalf secondly verse number 15 the lamb gives the Saints a place of prominence notice it says for this reason they are Before the Throne this is a special group that are Before the Throne and then a third promise he gives them in verse 15 that this lamb lets them serve and they serve him day and night in his Temple so these Saints are given a place of privileged service and will continually serve the Lord unhindered by Earthly limitations all distractions all human restrictions and satanic Temptations are removed they are free at last here before the throne and then a fourth promise that the land gives the Saints his presence notice what it says verse 15 it says and he who sits on the throne will spread his T Tabernacle over them that’s an odd way of saying something the fras literally means to spread uh the phrase will spread his Tabernacle over them literally is translated will tent upon them it’s pointing to really God’s presence just as God’s presence is typified in the Sha shakina Glory Above The Mercy Seat in the Tabernacle in the holy of holies and the pillar of cloud by day and Fire by now showing the people of God that he is present with them he’s not going anywhere he’s there for your protection all the way through to the end so the bottom line would be God’s presence shall ever be with his Saints as though he spread his presence over them like a tent see the Saints are rewarded to be close to the lamb God spreads his tent over us matter of fact if he spreads his tent over us that means we’re in the tent you want to be in the tent you don’t want to be outside the tent that’s one way to look at it so God promises that he’s going to give his Saints his continual presence God will never leave us or forsake us we will experience that of course more when we are in his presence in heaven than ever before but he promises that to us now as a sheep right that I’ll never leave you or forsake you I’m going to be with you every step of the way I’m going to be with you through the valleys I’m going to be with you on the mountaintops I’m going to be with you in the middle of the mountain I’m going to be with you all the time because I’m your God I am your Shepherd and you are my sheep and I will lead you to the proper place at the proper time a fifth promise in verse number 16 of Revelation the lamb provides the Saints needs not notice the the blessedness of the Saints is stated in negative language in verse number 16 they will hunger no longer nor thirst anymore nor will the sun beat down on them nor any heat see this is uh this means for the saints that these negative influences are pasted and will not touch them ever again these have no place in heaven even the sweat and persperation that comes with trials and hardships and afflictions and pains and weariness will be nonexistent in the presence of God so what we have is true rest and peace and quietness of soul that will accompany all the saints because of the promise of the Lamb these promises but there I said there’s an overarching promise from the Lamb of God and what is that overarching promise verse number 17 the lamb promises the Saints to be their Shepherd notice what it says for the lamb in the center of the throne will be their Shepherd and will guide them to Springs of the Water of Life and God will wipe away every tear from their eye so the shepherd King the lamb shall Shepherd the Saints and shall lead them to the water Springs of Life Now why does he do that well all through scripture he is mentioned as the Good Shepherd in John chapter 10 I am the Good Shepherd and the Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep in Hebrews chapter 13 He is the great Shepherd now the God of Peace who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the Eternal Covenant and even Jesus our Lord he is the shepherd Guardian in First Peter chapter 2 for you were continually straying like sheep but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your soul he is the chief Shepherd in 1 Peter chapter 5 and when the chief Shepherd appears you will receive the unfading Crown of Glory and he is the he is most of all our Shepherd we read this morning in Psalm 23 The Lord is what my shepherd I shall not want that is the conclusion of the of the Shepherd that we will have no wants he is The Shepherd of no Sorrows no death no tears in fact he will be like a mother wiping away her child’s tears so a child smiles and Laughs Again The God Who will wipe away tears from their eyes all tears turn to Everlasting joy in the presence of the shepherd now some have attempted to draw from this passage that there will be actual Tears in Heaven and have implied that Saints will be shedding tears because of grief over wasted lives and unconfessed sin while on earth that is not the case here the point of the passage is that the grief and tears of the past are gone the grief and tears speaking of their trials and tribulations will be over when they get to heaven the Saints in glory will be occupied with beauty and with Wonder and with life and with the thrill of being led and care for by The Shepherd of their Souls Jesus Christ and be sure of this Brethren all that is good and pure and eternal about what we enjoy on Earth will be present in heaven in fact it will be enhanced and made more real and wonderful when we are in the presence of God who made those joys in the first place so eternity according to this passage scripture scripture is going to be quite amazing are you going there are you going to end up there are you being led by the shepherd now because that’s where the shepherd’s going to lead you if you go on your own you’re not going to make it here right you have to be led by the shepherd because once you’re a sheep you listen to the voice of the shepherd and you follow where he goes right now so that’s was going to be that’s what he Heaven is going to be somewhat like as mentioned here in this passage you know Jonathan Edwards the old uh Jonathan Edwards the the Theologian known to be maybe one of the greatest theological minds of our time seemed to grasp the principle of heaven when he was on his deathbed his wife was traveling abroad and what was not able to make it back to prin Princeton before he died Jonathan left her a note and he said to her because of our relationship I believe it such a spiritual one will endure and what he meant by that in other words I will see see my love on the other side our relationship will be made more real and wonderful in eternity that’s a kind of grasping a little bit of of what it what it is to um be led by a Shepherd through difficult times through this world to the end of our Lives into the his presence in heaven and even though this is speaking of a specific historical time of the Great Tribulation all believers can rest assured that the lamb will Shepherd his people into Green Pastures and Still Waters by protecting them by sealing them as his own by being present with them by providing for all their needs and by securing their future that’s what the lamb does so it’s worth it to follow Jesus Christ it’s worth it to serve him and in this case it’s even worth worth it to be persecuted if need be for him because he even has that taken care of amen amen let’s pray Lord this morning we thank you for your word we thank you Lord for the picture that we receive of the things that will happen during this time the people that you will use to minister on your behalf thank you Lord that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is still very much alive during this time and being preached and passed around thank you Lord for the multitudes that will get saved and thank you Lord that you will s you will save all that will be from the flock of Israel and you will save all that will be from the flock of the Gentiles thank you Lord that nothing will get past you everything that you promise will take place and that all you say in your word will come to pass we praise you for that in Christ’s name I ask it amen let’s Stand Together