Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things . . . Psalm 119:18 (ESV) 

1. Sealing of 144,000 witnesses during the tribulation.
   • Revelation 7:4 (ESV) And I heard the number of the sealed, 144,000, sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel:

The topic of the last days is a constant subject among Christians today. We see so much change morally and intellectually. We have touched on the end times discussions numerous times over the last three years. The role of the church, the rapture, and traits of men in the last days as described in 2 Timothy chapter three.
Recently I was asked about the witnesses sealed in the book of Revelation. Consider the thoughts of a favorite writer from Dallas Theological Seminary, Roy Gingrich.  

              2.   The two visions connected with this interlude

             a.   The first vision—The vision of the sealing of the 144,000 (7:1–8)

     (1)  The four angels of judgment (7:1)
           These four angels hold back God’s judgments (the “four winds” from the “four corners of the earth”)     until God’s cup of wrath is full. Then they execute God’s wrath (which hurts the earth and the sea).

     (2)  The angel of restraint (7:2, 3)
            He restrains the four angels from releasing the four winds of judgment until the servants of God are sealed in their foreheads.

     (3)  The sealed one hundred and forty four thousand

          (a)  Who are they?
                   1).  Negative—This group is not the church, as some theologians teach, neither is it a cult group, or a group of sinless overcomers, as some cult leaders teach.
                    2).  Positive—This group are saved Israelites, 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes of Israel (they are called Christ’s “brethren” in Matt. 25:40).

Note that the tribes of Ephraim and Dan are replaced by the tribes of Joseph and Levi. Probably this is because Ephraim and Dan were the first of the 12 tribes to turn aside to idolatry in the Old Testament era. Note that they are again listed as two of the 12 tribes during the Millennium, Ezek. 48:1–5.
Also, note that God knows the location of the so-called “ten lost tribes” and that He knows the tribal identity of every living Israelite.

          (b)  Is the number 144,000 literal?
                      Yes. There is no good reason for believing otherwise.

          (c)  When were they saved?
They were saved during the first half of “the Seventieth Week of Daniel.” If they were saved before the beginning of the Seventieth Week, they would have been in the Rapture. If they were saved after the midpoint of the Seventieth Week, they would not be called “the servants of God” at the mid-point of the Seventieth Week.
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           (d)  How were they saved?
They were saved by the Holy Spirit through the word, the way all sinners are saved. The Holy Spirit will no longer be resident on the earth after the Rapture but in His omnipresence He will yet be present on the earth. During the whole period of the mediatorial Kingdom of Christ, the Holy Spirit has been, is, and will be, present to convict sinners and to regenerate them.

           (e)  How did they hear the gospel?
Through one or more of three ways: (1) through the testimony of church-age saints (before these saints were raptured); (2) through reading their Bibles (Bibles won’t be raptured); or through a personal revelation from Jesus Christ, Jn. 1:43.

           (f)   When are they sealed?
They are sealed “after” the opening of the first six seals, 7:1, but before the opening of the seventh seal, 8:1, which begins “the Great Tribulation.”

          (g)  Why are they sealed?
They are sealed that they may be made immune from death that they may be God’s witnesses throughout the period of “the Great Tribulation.” Many other saved Israelites, Zech. 13:8, 9; Ezek. 34:11–16, and many saved Gentiles, Matt. 25:31–46, will also come through the Tribulation without dying but the 144,000 are a special group chosen to carry out a special assignment, to conduct a worldwide revival before Christ comes in His Second Advent.

           (h)  What is the connection between this group and the 144,000 spoken of in chapter 14?
The 144,000 of chapter 7 and the 144,000 of chapter 14 are the same group. In chapter 7, this group is seen before the Great Tribulation; in chapter 14, this same group is seen after the Great Tribulation, in the Millennial Kingdom. In chapter 7, we see them ready to enter the fiery furnace (the Great Tribulation); in chapter 14, we see them emerged from the fiery furnace, unhurt.

We gain confidence in our present day situation from the Bible. God is in control! He knows what is coming and how it will be handled. We can be thankful for his promises.
 
Cathy and Danny Sartin
www.deeperstillmissions.com
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Gingrich, R. E. (2001). The Book of Revelation (pp. 45–46). Memphis, TN: Riverside Printing.
v  Dan. 8:17, 18; 10:9, 10, 15; [Luke 24:37; John 21:12]
v  Dan. 8:17, 18; 10:9, 10, 15; [Luke 24:37; John 21:12]
w  Matt. 17:7
x  ch. 2:8; 22:13; Isa. 41:4; 44:6; 48:12
y  Rom. 6:9; 14:9
z  [ch. 9:1; 20:1]
a  ver. 2, 11
b  ver. 12–16
 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Re 1:17–19). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
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Copyright © Danny Sartin. All Rights Reserved.Bible Nuggets are written for pastors, youth leaders and missionaries who desire to go deeper still in God’s Word. 
Re-Prints: Deeper Still Missions devotionals are protected by international copyright laws. To request reprint permission contact the offices of DSM. Permission is granted and encouraged to forward this post in its entirety to others without making any changes or deletions.

Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things . . . (ESV) 

2 Timothy 3:3 (NIV84)3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good,

The description of people in the end times comes from Paul's book to Timothy. There are nineteen traits listed between verse 2-4. Today is focused on the word for brutal. Most importantly Paul says, Mark this! People will be like this in the end times. Following is the Greek word and the meanings behind it.

ἀνήμερος, 2   anēmeros   wild, untamed*
In 2 Tim 3:3 with διάβολοι, ἀκρατεῖς, ἀφιλάγαθοι, and other words referring to human behavior in the “last days.”

     Balz, H. R., & Schneider, G. (1990–). In Exegetical dictionary of the New Testament (Vol. 1, p. 98).      Eerdmans.

20.5 ἀνήμερος, ον: pertaining to fierceness, in the sense of being wild and untamed—‘fierce, vicious, untamed.’ ἔσονται γὰρ οἱ ἄνθρωποι … ἀκρατεῖς, ἀνήμεροι, ἀφιλάγαθοι ‘for people will be … lacking in self-control, they will be fierce and hate the good’ 2 Tm 3:2–3.

      Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). In Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition., Vol. 1, p. 228). United Bible Societies.

Each of us has seen examples of this on the news. People killing people. Riots, destruction of property and attacks on others who do not use the correct words. The positive side of this reality is that Christ is coming soon. Maranatha .  . . Come Lord Jesus!

Cathy and Danny Sartin
www.deeperstillmissions@gmail.com
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The Holy Bible: New International Version (2 Ti 3:3). (1984). Zondervan.
Copyright © Danny Sartin. All Rights Reserved.Bible Nuggets are written for pastors, youth leaders and missionaries who desire to go deeper still in God’s Word. 
Re-Prints: Deeper Still Missions devotionals are protected by international copyright laws. To request reprint permission contact the offices of DSM. Permission is granted and encouraged to forward this post in its entirety to others without making any changes or deletions.

A Kingdom leader works hard to motivate himself and others. You will find the essence of motivation by remembering your stated goals, providing effective encouragement, supporting your team in tangible ways and reflecting on your attitude. You will see activation, persistence, and intensity. You will see goals accomplished that you set together.

What is the essence of motivation in your leadership? The elephant in the room is often a misplaced motive. Do you spur others to good works? Do you give them a good reason to do something? Do you give them the stimulus they need? Do you have clear goals that others can understand and adopt?

I find it interesting that the Lord weighs a person's motives. As a leader we can miss the mark of motivation by trusting in our position and not getting permission to lead. We can miss the hearts of our team by not listening to them.

Proverbs 16:2 (NIV84)
2 All a man’s ways seem innocent to him,
but motives are weighed by the Lord.

Cathy and Danny Sartin
www.deeperstillmissions.com
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The Holy Bible: New International Version (Pr 16:2). (1984). Zondervan.
 Copyright © Danny Sartin. All Rights Reserved. Photos taken by Cathy and Danny Sartin in Africa.
Kingdom Leadership is written for missionaries and ministers serving our Lord in various parts of the world.
Re-Prints: Deeper Still Missions devotionals are protected by international copyright laws. To request reprint permission contact the offices of DSM. Permission is granted and encouraged to forward this email in its entirety to others without making any changes or deletions.

Rare Photo of a Bushbuck
A bushbuck standing in a thicket is virtually invisible as long as it remains motionless!

On the Sabie river we came around a corner and surprised a bushbuck who was away from the thicket. He froze which is his standard reaction to a predator being near.

At night time its disruptive white markings help to conceal it from lions and hyenas who might be passing nearby. Once he is spotted a bushbuck races for the nearest cover. Then he becomes virtually invisible.

Calves dropped in dense cover, do not accompany their mothers into the open. They remain in the thicket for up to four months. The mother attends the baby regularly until it matures.

The creative design of our heavenly father is amazing. It is something to watch a bushbuck return to the thicket and disappear.

John 1:18 (NIV84)
No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, e f who is at the Father’s side, has made him known.

Cathy and Danny Sartin
www.deeperstillmissions@gmail.com
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e  Or the Only Begotten
f  Some manuscripts but the only (or only begotten) Son
  The Holy Bible: New International Version (Jn 1:18). (1984). Zondervan.
Copyright © Danny Sartin. All Rights Reserved.
Spiritual Safaris are written for those who support Deeper Still Missions and its goal of missionary retention. 
Re-Prints: Deeper Still Missions devotionals are protected by international copyright laws. To request reprint permission contact the offices of DSM. Permission is granted and encouraged to forward this post in its entirety to others without making any changes or deletions.