THE SAVED OUT OF THE TRIBULATION 131 7:16 The promise to these saints in heaven is the relief from “hunger… thirst… [scorching] sun…[intense] heat” that may indicate the means of their deaths or suffering during the first six seals of God’s judgment. This group is clearly not part of the Church, or the 144,000 that will appear in the second half of the Tribulation Period. The second half of the Tribulation brings another harvest of martyred believers who are terribly treated by the Antichrist for their belief in Jesus.
ETERNAL SHEPHERD
7:17
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. 7:17a He will “shepherd them and lead them…” (poimaino, “to feed, tend a flock, keep sheep”). To shepherd means that God will keep them in His care, even through martyrdom. Can you explain this. He will also “lead them” (hodegeo, “guide, escort, instruct in learning”), which He will give them reasons to be faithful, to suffer faithfully, and persevere. Reflection: If you were to go through persecution for being a follower of Jesus, what would you want Jesus to tell you that would keep you faithful? 7:17b “Springs of living water…” refer to the spiritual nourishment from the Lord’s presence. In Rev 22:17, “…let the one who is thirsty come, let the one who wants to take the water of life free of charge…” (See also 21:6: 22:1). Reflection: How would you explain the fulfillment of these promises? Did the hearers understand the idea of immediate thirst quenching? 7:17c “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes”: God does not promise to alleviate or eliminate the suffering, now or later, but He does promise to be with them “always” (Matt 28:19-20) through their suffering, then when life is ended and the pain goes on, especially for those left behind as they continue in the same emotional mind-set into heaven. So God promises to wipe away all tears once they arrive in heaven. He promises this again in Rev 21:4. Reflection: How do you think God will make crying a thing of the past?
Now the worse imaginable affliction to mankind is about to begin.