Pastor Barry's  "Chapter & Verse"  Day 187

July 9:   Revelation 7:4;   245/260(I);   ‘The Jewish Evangelists’

Revelation 7:4 And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed:

Remember, this is the revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ and what He will be doing during the seven year period of time called the tribulation.  During these seven years the Lord will be ‘pulling out all stops’ as He deals with Israel to be saved.  One of His means of evangelizing the Jews is the anointing He places on one hundred and forty four thousand Jewish ministers.  These evangelists are sealed by the Lord, for protection and a sign that they are His possession.  They go forth and preach the gospel.  Though their primary ministry is to the Jews, multitudes of people from all over the world will be saved through their ministry.  Though there will be means of protection for the Christian converts during the tribulation, multitudes will be martyred.  The forces of the devil will be persecuting those who refuse to take the mark of the beast (more on this in chapter 13).  Those who refuse the mark will not be allowed to have their basic needs met and eventually they will be hunted down and killed.  Stephen, in the Book of Acts, was comforted and helped by the Lord as the religious leaders stoned him.  Historically, men and women who loved Jesus, counted it an honor to die for Him.  During the tribulation, the grace of God will help those Christians who are martyred, to die.  A few moments of pain and then eternity with the Lord Jesus Christ.  If it sounds like it will be a very challenging time, it will be.  You can avoid all of this, make sure that you are Born Again now.  This way, when the rapture occurs, your will be translated to heaven to be with Jesus forever.