Paradise Then, Wilderness Now

At the end of chapter six, the people in the midst of God’s judgments ask the question about who can stand in the face of Christ and the Father’s judgment. In chapter seven, we see two vital pictures of the church that are essential for us to live in between Christ’s first and second comings. The 144,000 gives a picture of the church on the earth in a wilderness in a mission of gospel conquest with much danger and pain. The vast multitude before the throne in heaven speaks about the church triumphant in its eternal destiny. According to Revelation the church must see its present wilderness in light of its gospel guaranteed paradise. (Rev 7:12-17)