Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadQuiet Talks by Samuel Dickey: Gordon, Samuel Dickey - Quiet Talks About Our Lord's Return: 35. First Full View
TOPIC: Gordon, Samuel Dickey - Quiet Talks About Our Lord's Return (Other Topics in this Collection)
SUBJECT: 35. First Full View
Other Subjects in this Topic:
First Full View
The One who has taken the sealed roll begins breaking the seals, and with the going forth of a Conquering One, [Note: Joh_6:1-2.] there follows down on the earth a time of war, [Note: Joh_6:3-4.] famine, [Note: Joh_6:5-6.] death, [Note: Joh_6:7-8.] and persecution and killing of Christ's followers. [Note: Joh_6:9-11.] This is followed by a great earthquake, and a terrific disturbance of the heavenly bodies, which bring utmost consternation to men of all classes on the earth. [Note: Joh_6:12-17.] This is clearly a final scene, and coincides with the closing event of the tribulation in the Olivet Talk. Working backwards from this final event, as characterized in the Olivet Talk, this whole thing is seen to be a general description of the tribulation period.
Then there is a parenthesis of great interest that clearly belongs with these. [Note: Chapter 7.] It begins with a command that the earth and the sea be not "hurt" until certain things have occurred. This fits the parenthesis in just before where the hurting of both earth and the heavenly bodies occurs, that is between verses eleven and twelve of chapter six. It is put thus by itself afterwards, following the general plan of the book, that keeps by itself or together each thing, or group of similar things, a simple teaching rule to give clearness.
There are two items in this parenthesis. The first describes the sealing of a certain number of the Hebrew tribes. Twelve thousand of each tribe are sealed, making a total of one hundred and forty-four thousand. The word "seal" is used in two senses in the Bible, as the means of fastening up a roll or writing; and, in the New Testament, for the presence of the Holy Spirit in believers. The seal in this latter sense was a mark of ownership. Paul tells us that we are sealed with the Holy Spirit, [Note: 2Co_1:22; Eph_1:13; Eph_4:30.] which means that the Holy Spirit given to us is the Lord Jesus' seal that we belong to Him. If this simple, natural meaning be taken here it means that at this time the Holy Spirit is poured out upon the Hebrew people.
The numbers used are significant. Twelve is commonly used in Scripture as the number of corporate completeness. Twelve times twelve thousand would simply represent a fully completed corporate number. Upon the whole body of Jews then living on the earth the Holy Spirit is poured, thus sealing them once again as God's own peculiar people, restored fully to favour after the long rejection.
The second item is of equal interest. From his place of observation up in the heavens in view of the throne of God, John is suddenly startled to see there vast multitudes of people, literally countless, out of every nation and of all tribes and peoples and tongues, a great world-company, clothed in white, and with the conqueror's palm in their hands, and singing joyous praise. They suddenly appear standing before the throne in heaven. John is gazing spellbound, wondering who these are, and whence they have come, and what it means. Then he is told, "these are they that came up out of the tribulation—the great one, and they washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." Then is described in a few heart-touching words their longed-for bliss in the presence of God. Note that this scene likewise is a final one, a scene of final blessedness.
These two items in the parenthesis occur in connection with the earthquake and the shaking of the heavens. In connection with the closing of the tribulation time occurs this double event, the conversion of the Jews down upon the earth, and the catching away from earth to heaven of the followers of our Lord Jesus. In the account of Paul's conversion, the change in him was effected by the appearance to him of the glorified Jesus in the heavens. In the Olivet Talk the gathering of His followers to Himself in the heavens occurs at the time of our Lord's coming. These two events taking place here indicate that at this point the Lord Jesus' coming has taken place on the earth. In the vision, John being in the heavens sees things as they appear there, not as seen on the earth.
Thus the first vision or view begins with the moment up in heaven when our Lord begins to act, describes the general run of the tribulation on the earth, and closes with the national conversion of Israel, and the catching away from the earth of Christ's true followers.