In light of the intense effects of the 6th seal judgment seen in Revelation 6:12-17, our study this morning ends questioning who is able to stand the day of the Lamb’s wrath. Contextually, the flow of the book leads right into the sealing of 12,000 male Jews from the 12 tribes of Israel who are sealed with the seal of The Living God (Revelation 7:3,4). We know from Revelation 14:1 that these 144,000 sealed Jews survive the great tribulation period unscathed by the powers of antichrist, and remain standing with The Lamb.
How comforting it is to know that we as followers of Jesus Christ can rest in His sealing power (Ephesians 1:13,14, 4:30). However, until we go to be with The Lord, there remains the corruption of sin in my flesh (Romans 7:18) and an ever present battle against spiritual wickedness in high places (Ephesians 6:10-18). In this battle we are told that “having done all,” we can stand (Ephesians 6:13). This reminds us of our constant need to be vigilant and sober in our day-to-day living (1 Peter 5:8,9).
We can only stand in The Lord when we are standing in the grace of God (Romans 5:2) and the gospel which was preached by the apostles (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). We stand by faith, beloved (2 Corinthians 1:24); not faith in our own faith, but “faith in The Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20) A divided heart will not stand (Matthew 12:25) against the wiles of the enemy, nor be able to resist the strong pulls of fleshly lusts (1 Peter 2:11). It is tragic to hear of people building their lives upon the philosophies and rudiments of this fallen world instead of the wisdom and knowledge of Jesus Christ (Colossians 2:8,3).
Are you building your life on sand or obedience to God’s word (Matthew 7:24-27)? Let’s remember the sobering words that God spoke to the wayward nation of Israel: “‘For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and hewn themselves cisterns, broken cisterns that can hold no water.'” (Jeremiah 2:13) Reader, what power does your life stand upon, the wisdom of man or the power of Almighty God (1 Corinthians 2:1-5)?
