Yesterday our pastor, Jerry Jeter, brought us a message on servants, and although it did not touch on what I am going to share with you here; still it got me to thinking about our times in light of who we are in Christ.

Of God’s servants it is said: that they must be sealed before any harm can come to this earth. This statement is found during the Tribulation. This is God’s command through the angel in the book of the Revelation chapter 7. And this sealing of God’s servants happens at a point after the Tribulation is under way. So who are these servants?

Isiah 54 which makes evident that the coming redeemer will increase the occupation of the tent of Israel, who was widowed; also makes clear our heritage as servants of the Lord.

Isaiah 54:17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD. (KJV)

In considering this question I want us to first understand a well known fact within Scripture. Jesus was called by Peter “The Christ” in answer to His question “Who do you say that I am?”. Jesus as we know has many names in Scripture, and each is revealing. Each tells something about Him. He is called Messiah; savior; the root; the Word; creator; the coming King; the Rose of Sharon; the bright and Morning Star, and many many more.

Just as He is called by many names revealing who He is, so are we. As His People we are called by many names including the term His People. We are called the Church; Believers; saints; the Bride; little children; brethren; and many more. But among them is this name Servant. Jesus also is called Servant. So appropriately this is also to depict us. because we are to be like Him.

Also remember as an important point to what we are discussing, that it is the servants of God to whom the book of the Revelation is written:

Revelation 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: 2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. (KJV)

So can servants represent the very people to whom this book is written in all cases? They are also those who will read and understand it as we saw in this verse, and they are representatives of Gods people who are present on earth within the time of the Tribulation. Listen:

Revelation 7:3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. 4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. (KJV)

So if I ask you who are these? You would answer they are a representative portion of Israel. If you are Dispensationalist you would believe them to be Jewish evangelists sent to convert those to be saved during this Tribulation. Yet scripture does not make that point anywhere within it’s covers. So does what I have said come out of scripture, or is it just a nice thought? I have stated that these servants are to be or are a representative of the church. I have said this both here and elsewhere in my posts that it is we who are spoken of as these “servants”.

But, which of these statements is true to the word? Certainly the servants are stated to be of the tribes of Israel. The actual statement and numbers of them are believed by many scholars to be allegorical. So do they represent all of Israel to be saved? There is nothing anywhere in scripture to tell us that they are evangelists. So I conclude that that statement by Dispensationalists is an addition to scripture and an addition to this book which is a condemned practice with very serious consequence. Jesus condemns any addition. I take that to mean — any addition not in the scriptures themselves. Scripture does interpret scripture. I therefore will not knowingly do what the Dispensationalists have done with my conclusion.

So what then is my scriptural proof that these could represent us? In Ephesians we learn that we are considered as being “in Christ” and as such we now are part of the commonwealth of Israel (Eph.2). Paul tells us in Romans that the true Jew is one whose heart has been circumcised. We are then true Jews by adoption into the olive tree, which is supported by Christ, who is the root. We are then Servants throughout Scripture, and we are part of Israel.

So my case is on much more firm a foundation than is the case for these being evangelists.

If I am understanding this correctly we then are placed in the midst of the Tribulation by biblical definition as being servants, and being one new man with Israel and the true Jew as Paul teaches.

Now if we consider additional facts from the Revelation such as:

— The bride is said to make herself ready following Tribulation in chapter 19.

— the churches are told that they will learn from seeing the judgment portrayed during Great Tribulation in chapter 2:22.

— Jesus tells us that He is coming as a thief and His statement is connected with Armageddon in Rev. 16.

— The seventh Trumpet sounded in Rev. 11 is the last Trumpet sounded in scripture, and is announcing His reign and shows wrath poured out making its association with a post Tribulation Coming.

— Revelation also associates believers as being present and overcoming Satan with the blood of the Lamb and the word of their Testimony.

— finally if we consider that nowhere in John’s writings either within or outside of Revelation does he use “Church” the word itself to describe the body of Christ. John uses the word church to mean a local body — always.

All of this then would recognize that a proof of the church presence is recorded within the Tribulation to occur after the speculated pre-Trib rapture has concluded. These things are significant to our time upon this earth. We can agree that the Lord’s coming is near, but what could that mean for us? Even so come quickly Lord Jesus.