The focus of the book of Revelation is the remnant of Israel, during the tribulation period, the time of Jacob's trouble (Jeremiah 30:7). In the tribulation, Israel will be prepared for the restoration of their kingdom (Malachi 3:2-3).
Revelation 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
Israel was washed of their sins by the Lord Jesus, who shed his blood for the new testament; Jesus redeemed the transgressions Israel committed under the first testament (Hebrews 9:15 1 John 1:7).
Revelation 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Only Israel was promised to be a holy priesthood, to be a holy nation of kings and priests unto God (Exodus 19:5-6 Revelation 20:6 1 Peter 2:5 1 Peter 2:9).
Revelation 5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
The remnant of Israel will reign on the earth (Revelation 22:5 Daniel 7:18).
Revelation 7:4 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.
The hundred and forty and four thousand are from the tribes of Israel.
Revelation 7:14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
The remnant of Israel has come out of great tribulation (Revelation 6:11 Revelation 15:2).
Revelation 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
The dragon made war with the remnant of Israel, who keep the commandments (Revelation 14:12 Revelation 22:14 Matthew 28:19-20).
Revelation 14:3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.
14:4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.
The hundred and forty and four thousand are said to be the firstfruits: James says that believing Israel is a kind of firstfruits as well (James 1:18). Could it be, that the hundred and forty and four thousand, are the remnant of Israel who believed the preaching of Christ and the twelve during his earthly ministry?
Revelation 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
14:7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
Paul said in Galatians 1:8, "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.", yet here is an angel, preaching another gospel: I would have to conclude that the gospel of grace, that Paul preached, is no longer being preached. The church, the body of Christ, has been caught up to be with Christ; the body is not appointed to the wrath of the tribulation (1 Thessalonians 4:17 5:9). I understand that the gospel of the kingdom is, once again, being preached according to Matthew 24:14.
Revelation 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
The remnant of Israel was to be patient to enter the promised kingdom on earth (Luke 21:19 Luke 8:15 Romans 2:7 Hebrews 10:36).
Revelation 15:4 Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.
The Gentile nations that enter the kingdom along with the remnant of Israel will come and worship before the Lord in the kingdom on earth (Psalm 86:9 Isaiah 2:2 Zechariah 8:22-23 Zechariah 14:16-17).
Revelation 16:15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.
Israel was admonished to watch for the Lord's coming in Matthew 24:42-51, and be found faithful in order to enter the kingdom.
Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
The remnant of Israel will have part in the first resurrection, and will be priests of God and of Christ in the kingdom, and will reign with Christ for a thousand years (Revelation 1:6 Revelation 5:10 Revelation 20:4 Isaiah 61:6 1 Peter 2:5).
Revelation 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
The remnant of Israel shall be the people of God (Genesis 17:7-8 Jeremiah 31:33 Jeremiah 32:38 Zechariah 8:8 Zechariah 13:9 Hosea 1:9-10 Hosea 2:23).
Revelation 21:12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:
Revelation 21:14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
The new Jerusalem that comes down from heaven (Revelation 21:2) displays the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve apostles to Israel.
Revelation 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
To enter into the kingdom, Israel had to do his commandments (Psalm 106:3 Matthew 7:21 John 15:14 Matthew 5:20).
Revelation 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
Israel was washed of their sins by the Lord Jesus, who shed his blood for the new testament; Jesus redeemed the transgressions Israel committed under the first testament (Hebrews 9:15 1 John 1:7).
Revelation 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Only Israel was promised to be a holy priesthood, to be a holy nation of kings and priests unto God (Exodus 19:5-6 Revelation 20:6 1 Peter 2:5 1 Peter 2:9).
Revelation 5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
The remnant of Israel will reign on the earth (Revelation 22:5 Daniel 7:18).
Revelation 7:4 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.
The hundred and forty and four thousand are from the tribes of Israel.
Revelation 7:14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
The remnant of Israel has come out of great tribulation (Revelation 6:11 Revelation 15:2).
Revelation 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
The dragon made war with the remnant of Israel, who keep the commandments (Revelation 14:12 Revelation 22:14 Matthew 28:19-20).
Revelation 14:3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.
14:4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.
The hundred and forty and four thousand are said to be the firstfruits: James says that believing Israel is a kind of firstfruits as well (James 1:18). Could it be, that the hundred and forty and four thousand, are the remnant of Israel who believed the preaching of Christ and the twelve during his earthly ministry?
Revelation 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
14:7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
Paul said in Galatians 1:8, "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.", yet here is an angel, preaching another gospel: I would have to conclude that the gospel of grace, that Paul preached, is no longer being preached. The church, the body of Christ, has been caught up to be with Christ; the body is not appointed to the wrath of the tribulation (1 Thessalonians 4:17 5:9). I understand that the gospel of the kingdom is, once again, being preached according to Matthew 24:14.
Revelation 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
The remnant of Israel was to be patient to enter the promised kingdom on earth (Luke 21:19 Luke 8:15 Romans 2:7 Hebrews 10:36).
Revelation 15:4 Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.
The Gentile nations that enter the kingdom along with the remnant of Israel will come and worship before the Lord in the kingdom on earth (Psalm 86:9 Isaiah 2:2 Zechariah 8:22-23 Zechariah 14:16-17).
Revelation 16:15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.
Israel was admonished to watch for the Lord's coming in Matthew 24:42-51, and be found faithful in order to enter the kingdom.
Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
The remnant of Israel will have part in the first resurrection, and will be priests of God and of Christ in the kingdom, and will reign with Christ for a thousand years (Revelation 1:6 Revelation 5:10 Revelation 20:4 Isaiah 61:6 1 Peter 2:5).
Revelation 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
The remnant of Israel shall be the people of God (Genesis 17:7-8 Jeremiah 31:33 Jeremiah 32:38 Zechariah 8:8 Zechariah 13:9 Hosea 1:9-10 Hosea 2:23).
Revelation 21:12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:
Revelation 21:14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
The new Jerusalem that comes down from heaven (Revelation 21:2) displays the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve apostles to Israel.
Revelation 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
To enter into the kingdom, Israel had to do his commandments (Psalm 106:3 Matthew 7:21 John 15:14 Matthew 5:20).
