The Revelation Of Jesus Christ – Chapter 7 Series

The Revelation Of Jesus Christ – Chapter 7

I. Things Which Thou Hast Seen – Rev 1

II. Things Which Are – The Church Age – Rev 2-3

III. Things Which Are To Come – Rev 4-22

A. The Throne Of God – Rev 4

B. The Seven Seals Book – Rev 5

Last week we looked at:

C. The First Six Seals Are Opened – Rev 6

If you recall the first six seals were opened:

1. The Opening Of The First Seal – CROWN GIVEN – Rev 6:1-2

2. The Opening Of The Second Seal – WAR -- Rev 6:3-4

3. The Opening Of The Third Seal – FAMINE – Rev 6:5-6

4. The Opening Of The Fourth Seal – DEATH – Rev 6:7-8

5. The Opening Of The Fifth Seal – COMFORT FOR THE MARTYRED SAINTS – Rev 6:9-11

6. The Opening Of The Sixth Seal – THE DAY OF GOD’S WRATH – Rev 6:12-17

Before we get to the seventh seal we have a chapter that deals with the sealing of the 144,000. Here is the:

Basic Outline Of Chapter Seven

God Dealing With The Nation Of Israel Rev. 7:1-8

God Dealing With The Other Nations Rev. 7:9-17

Revelation 7:1-17

God Dealing With The Nation Of Israel Rev. 7:1-8

D. The Sealing Of The 144,000 – Rev 7

Rev 7:1 (NASB) “After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, so that no wind would blow on the earth or on the sea or on any tree.”

1. The Season Of The Sealing – Rev 7:1

(a) After the 6 seals are opened

2. The stillness at the sealing – no wind blows

This reminds me of the eye of a hurricane. Some folks think that when the eye comes the storm is over. It is not over is it? You are really in the middle of it. In this case when it comes to the judgment of God it is going to get a lot worse. Why is their stillness? Four angels are holding back the wind.

Rev 7:2-3 (NASB) “And I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, having the seal of the living God; and he cried out with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, saying, "Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees until we have sealed the bond-servants of our God on their foreheads."

(a) The Four Angels hold the wind from blowing – v.1

Angels are spoken of much in the book of Revelation. They are pictured as agents of God used to judge – here hurting the earth and the sea. This passage is saying the judgments – earthquakes, darkness, and such now suddenly stop. A stillness comes – WHY – God has sent a angel to make it so……

(1) Who are standing at the four corners of the earth

Mat 24:31 (NASB) "And He will send forth His angels with A GREAT TRUMPET and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.”

(2) Who were given to hurt the earth and the sea

(b) For the Angel ascending from the East has commanded it so – v 2-3

This other angel appears to have authority over the four. He speaks and they stop. Note this angel ASCENDS from the rising sun – the East – he does not descend from heaven.

(1) The wind should not blow on the earth, sea, nor tree

(c) The term of the tranquility — “till we have sealed the servants of our God”

Rev 7:4-8 (NASB) “And I heard the number of those who were sealed, one hundred and forty-four thousand sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel: from the tribe of Judah, twelve thousand were sealed, from the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand, from the tribe of Gad twelve thousand, from the tribe of Asher twelve thousand, from the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand, from the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand, from the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand, from the tribe of Levi twelve thousand, from the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand, from the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand, from the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand, from the tribe of Benjamin, twelve thousand were sealed.”

3. The sealing of the Sons of Israel – Rev 7:4-8

(a) The nature of the sealed and the seal

(1) They are servants of our God

(2) The seal itself is in their forehead – v 3

The seal itself is a mark of ownership and protection. Some believe it is a physical mark upon the forehead. However – in scripture we find other places where Christians have been sealed.