Interlude of Grace and Mercy

The Lamb opened six seals during what He titled "the beginning of sorrows" or the first 3 1/2 years of the seven-year Tribulation. He called it that in Matthew 24.8. We expect to go straight into the seventh seal, but there is a pause. Revelation 7 is an interlude of grace and mercy.

The earth-dwelling rebels asked, "Who is able to stand?" at the end of Revelation 6. The answer is that not one among their number is able to stand. However, Revelation 7 makes it clear that some will stand because the Lamb will cause them to stand. That is, there are people who will be saved during the Tribulation period. Revelation 7 tells us who these people are. They are divided into two groups: the 144,000 sealed on the earth and the great multitude already safe in Heaven.