Revelation 7:1-8
After
these things I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth,
holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the
earth, on the sea, or on any tree. Revelation 7:1.
We’re
in a parenthesis. An interlude. Chapter seven is a parenthesis between the
sixth and seventh seals. Parenthetical.
Four
angels, four corners, four winds.
Chapter
six introduced four horsemen. Seven introduces four angels. The
sky has rolled back as a scroll, (Revelation 6:14). The mask is down, the
gloves are off the battle of Good versus evil is revealed.
Angels
are covering the globe, corner to corner, all directions, north, south, east
and west. The earth is surrounded. Shut up tighter than Joshua around Jericho,
not even the wind, goes out or in.
The
four angels are standing, at attention, holding their position.
Ready. A reflection on earth of what takes place in heaven, upon the
opening of the seventh seal; exactly one chapter from here (Revelation 8:1; we’ll
get to that later).
Sidenote:
AS I WAS highlighting, winds and wind in verse one, on my
BibleGateway app. a wind warning popped up on my screen:
Warnings
aren’t for scaring; but for preparing.
Are
you ready?
Then
I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God.
And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to
harm the earth and the sea, 3 saying, “Do not harm the earth, the
sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their
foreheads.” Revelation 7:2-3.
This
angel is “another angel” thus, similar to the other four.
He
tells them not to harm the earth, the sea, or the trees. Did
you notice the repetition? The four angels were holding wind, from
blowing on, earth, sea and trees. Now we learn they have power to
harm the earth, sea and trees.
Thus,
it appears, wind may represent, the soon to come, blowing, seven trumpet
judgements; not necessarily, actual wind.
The
angel says, our God, indicating these are good angels.
sealed
the Servants of God on their foreheads.
Those
getting sealed, are servants of God.
This
isn’t the first time God placed a seal of protection. He put a seal (a
mark) on Cain, proclaiming if anyone kills Cain, he will be avenged sevenfold.
(Genesis
4:15).
In Ezekiel’s vision a seal of protection was
placed on the foreheads of those who were grieved over the evil in the
land—all the rest were killed. (Ezekiel
9:4-6).
The
blood of the Passover lamb was a seal over the doorpost so the death
angel would see and pass over. Exodus 12:23.
This seal, will be a sign to the locust
released from the abyss, to pass over, and not harm, those who are sealed.
And it was commanded
them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing,
neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in
their foreheads. Revelation 9:4.
It
will be imitated by the imposter, the antichrist, with the mark of the beast.
And he causes all, both
small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right
hand, or in their foreheads. Revelation 13:16.
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. Revelation
7:4.
So,
now we know, 144,000, servants of God, from the tribes of Israel,
are the ones who are sealed.
Now, God articulates exactly who they are. (So
that we don’t get confused when the doorbell rings, and two really nice people with
white shirt and tie, want to talk about being one of the 144,000).
Revelation
7:5-8
of
the tribe of Judah twelve thousand were sealed;
of
the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand were sealed;
of
the tribe of Gad twelve thousand were sealed;
6
of the tribe of Asher twelve thousand were
sealed;
of
the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand were sealed;
of
the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand were sealed;
7
of the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand were sealed;
of
the tribe of Levi twelve thousand were sealed;
of
the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand were sealed;
8
of the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand were sealed;
of
the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand were sealed;
of
the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand were sealed.
You
Bible scholars, may have noticed, Dan is not in the list. Evidently, there were
not 12,000 servants of our God in the tribe of Dan. Some say because of
sin. Others say because antichrist will come from him. We don’t know. It
doesn’t say. It could be that all (or many) of the Danites were saved and taken
in the rapture. We know they’re not all lost, because they are included,
actually listed first, in the land allotment to the twelve tribes of
Israel during the millennial reign. Ezekiel
48.
If
you’re curious what the seal may look like; check out, Revelation 14:1:
Then I looked, and
behold, the Lamb was standing on Mount Zion, and with
Him 144,000 who had His name and the name of
His Father written on their foreheads.
So,
with that, some are saying, “See, God likes tattoos.”
Bottom
line is, those sealed are, 144,000 Jewish servants of God. Period.
Obviously,
they missed the rapture, but then, connected the dots, and realized, Jesus is
Messiah, and Lord. God in His awesome, tender mercy and loving kindness, grants
them the extraordinary honor of being His, fire-proof, bullet-proof, locust
repelling, servants of our God, end time evangelists for the greatest
harvest of souls, the world has ever known.
The
rest of the chapter paints a beautiful picture of what that looks like. Which
we’ll take a look at next time.
Let’s
pray.
Thank
You Lord, for Your Words and warnings. Not to scare us, but prepare us. We pray
You find us, serving You and ready.
CQLJ.
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