Before the Storm: God's Preparation
Revelation 7:1-3
Introduction: A Storm Is Coming
Storms are a part of life. Whether physical, emotional, or spiritual, we all face times of great turbulence. Imagine a family that has been warned about an impending hurricane. They board up their windows, stockpile supplies, and make sure their loved ones are safe. In much the same way, God does not allow storms to come without first making preparations for His people.
In Revelation 7:1-3, we see a moment of divine pause before great tribulation unfolds. God, in His sovereignty, ensures that His servants are sealed and protected. This passage reminds us that God is in control, He marks His own, He grants time for repentance, and He prepares His people. Let us explore how God prepares us before the storm.
1. The Calm Before the Storm: God's Sovereign Control
Reference: Revelation 7:1
"After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth..."
Before the storm of judgment arrives, we see a divine pause. The four angels stand at the four corners, symbolizing God’s complete authority over the world. The winds, often representing judgment and chaos in the Bible (Jeremiah 49:36; Daniel 7:2), are restrained by God’s command.
This demonstrates that no storm can come upon the earth without God’s permission. We may feel overwhelmed by global or personal crises, but this verse reassures us that God remains in control. Even in moments of delay, God is working behind the scenes, ensuring His plans unfold according to His perfect timing.
John's vision reveals four powerful angels positioned at what he describes as the "four corners of the earth." While we understand our planet is spherical, this ancient expression simply encompasses the entirety of creation—north, south, east, and west—nothing escapes God's authority. These mighty angels stand as sentinels, restraining the destructive winds that await God's command.
Consider what this teaches us about God's sovereignty: Even forces of destruction must await divine permission. The winds of judgment do not blow indiscriminately or prematurely. Nothing in our universe operates outside of God's ultimate control.
In Psalm 104:4, we read that God "makes the winds his messengers." These are not ordinary winds but represent divine judgment—similar to the plagues of Egypt or the flood in Noah's day. Yet here, remarkably, they are temporarily restrained.
I'm reminded of a story about a missionary family in the Philippines who experienced a devastating typhoon. As the storm approached, they gathered to pray, not for the storm to pass them by, but for God's protection within it. When morning came, they discovered their home was the only one in the village left standing. The winds that demolished everything around them seemed mysteriously directed away from their humble dwelling. One neighbor said, "It was as though invisible hands held back the storm from your home."
Like those missionaries, we live in a world where destruction seems inevitable. Yet God sovereignly controls when, where, and how judgment falls. This should both comfort and challenge us. We are comforted knowing nothing touches us without passing through His hands first, but challenged to live with the awareness that judgment, though delayed, will surely come.
Illustration: Imagine a pilot navigating an airplane through turbulent weather. He instructs the passengers to remain seated and buckle up, reassuring them that he has control. In the same way, God holds the turbulence of life in His hands, guiding us safely through it.
2. The Sealing of the Servants: A Mark of Divine Protection
Revelation 7:2-3
"Then I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, with the seal of the living God, and he called with a loud voice... to seal the servants of our God on their foreheads."
As the four angels stand ready, another angel appears with the seal of the living God. This is no ordinary seal. In ancient times, seals served multiple purposes: they indicated ownership, authenticity, protection, and authority. The Roman emperors would seal documents with their signet rings, declaring, "This belongs to me. This carries my authority."
God's seal on His servants accomplishes something far greater. It doesn't just mark them as His own—it provides supernatural protection in the midst of coming judgment. This recalls the Passover in Egypt, where the blood on the doorposts protected the Israelites when the angel of death passed through (Exodus 12:13). It reminds us of Ezekiel's vision where those who grieved over sin received a mark of protection before judgment fell (Ezekiel 9:4-6).
Today, we bear a different but equally significant seal. Ephesians 1:13-14 tells us: "In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance."
Several years ago, I visited a wildlife conservation area where researchers were tagging endangered sea turtles. Each turtle received a small identification marker that would track their movements and protect them from hunters. The researchers explained, "Anyone who sees this tag knows this turtle is accounted for, monitored, and protected by international law."
God's seal on our lives functions similarly but infinitely more effectively. It doesn't guarantee the absence of suffering, but it ensures divine presence within it. It doesn't remove us from the storm, but it anchors us through it.
Consider how Paul describes this reality in 2 Corinthians 4:8-9: "We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed." This is the confidence of those who bear God's seal.
Application: Today, believers are sealed with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13). This mark is not just for the future; it is a present reality. God knows His own, and no force of evil can ultimately harm them (John 10:28-29).
Illustration: Consider the Israelites in Egypt. When the final plague was about to strike, those who had the blood of the lamb on their doorposts were spared (Exodus 12:13). Likewise, God's seal marks His people, ensuring they are covered by His grace and protection.
3. Four Winds Held Back: A Time for Grace and Repentance
2 Peter 3:9
"...not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance."
Why does God delay judgment? Because He is merciful. The holding back of the four winds is not just an act of restraint but an extension of grace. Every moment of delay is another opportunity for people to turn to Him.
While judgment waits, mercy speaks. The pause before judgment isn't divine hesitation—it's divine compassion. God holds back the winds not from indecision but from incredible patience.
"The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance." (2 Peter 3:9)
Every delay in judgment is an extension of God's grace—another opportunity for those without His seal to receive it through faith in Christ. God doesn't delight in judgment; He delights in mercy.
This reminds me of Abraham's conversation with God about Sodom in Genesis 18. Abraham boldly negotiated with God, essentially asking, "Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked?" God's willingness to withhold judgment for even ten righteous people reveals His heart—judgment is His strange work, but mercy is His delight.
History provides a sobering illustration. Before Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD, destroying Pompeii, the mountain rumbled and smoked for days. Most residents ignored these warnings, continuing their daily lives, while others fled to safety. Archaeological evidence shows some people were found clutching their valuables when death came—they prioritized possessions over preservation.
Similarly, Noah preached righteousness for decades while building the ark. For years, the impending judgment was announced while the door of the ark remained open. But when the rain finally came, the opportunity for escape had passed.
We live in a similar moment—a divine pause before cosmic winds are unleashed. Every day, God's patience extends the opportunity for repentance. As Jesus said to the church in Sardis, "Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you" (Revelation 3:3).
The question isn't whether the winds will blow, but whether we'll heed the warnings before they do.
Biblical Example: In the days of Noah, God waited while the ark was being prepared (1 Peter 3:20). Though judgment eventually came, God gave time for repentance.
Application: Some may ask, "Why hasn’t Jesus returned yet?" The answer lies in God’s patience. He desires that more people come to salvation. Let us use this time to share the Gospel and strengthen our faith.
Illustration: A firefighter sees a burning building but hears cries from within. Instead of letting it collapse immediately, he holds back the flames as much as possible to rescue those inside. This is God’s heart—delaying judgment so that many may be saved.
4. God's Preparatory Plan: A Pause for His People
Reference: Isaiah 43:1
"Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine."
God’s preparatory work is not random; it is personal. He calls His people by name, ensuring that they are ready before the storm comes. Just as He prepared Joseph for famine (Genesis 41) and Elijah for drought (1 Kings 17), God prepares His children spiritually, mentally, and emotionally.
God's pause before judgment isn't just for the unsaved to repent—it's also preparation time for His people. The sealing described in Revelation 7 prepares God's servants not just to endure but to fulfill their purpose during challenging times.
Throughout scripture, we see God preparing His people before sending them into difficulty:
• Moses spent forty years in Midian before confronting Pharaoh
• David was anointed years before ascending to the throne
• Jesus spent forty days in the wilderness before beginning His public ministry
• The disciples waited in Jerusalem until they received power from on high
• Each preparatory season seemed like a delay but was actually divine equipping.
I'm reminded of the story of Corrie ten Boom, who, with her family, hid Jews during the Holocaust. Years before Nazi occupation, her father had built a secret room in their home—not knowing its future purpose. Later, when asked how she found courage during those terrifying times, Corrie said, "God prepares us for what He prepares for us." Her father's seemingly random construction project was God's preparation for their life-saving ministry.
Similarly, Joseph's words to his brothers reveal God's preparatory work: "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive" (Genesis 50:20). What looked like betrayal and imprisonment was actually divine preparation for preservation.
What might God be preparing you for in this season? The skills you're developing, the trials you're enduring, the lessons you're learning—none are wasted. Philippians 1:6 assures us, "He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ."
When God pauses before judgment, He's not just holding back destruction—He's actively equipping His people for their divine assignments.
Application: If we are experiencing a season of calm, it may be a time for spiritual preparation. Are we growing in faith? Are we deepening our walk with Christ?
Illustration: Before an army goes to battle, they undergo intense training. Likewise, God prepares us so that when the storm arrives, we are not shaken but stand firm on His promises (Matthew 7:24-25).
Conclusion: Ready Before the Storm
Revelation 7:1-3 reveals God’s preparation before judgment comes. He holds back the storm, marks His own, gives time for repentance, and personally prepares His people. The world may feel chaotic, but we can take refuge in knowing that God is in control.
If you have not yet placed your trust in Christ, now is the time. Do not delay; the opportunity for repentance is still open. If you are already a believer, let this be a reminder to stand firm, knowing that God's seal of protection rests upon you.
Altar Call: If you need God’s seal in your life, if you want to rededicate your life to Him, or if you simply need strength to stand before the storm, come forward. Let us seek the Lord together, knowing He is our refuge and strength.
Closing Prayer: Lord, we thank You for Your sovereignty, Your seal of protection, Your patience in judgment, and Your preparation for us. Help us to stand firm, trust in You, and be ready before the storm. In Jesus' name, Amen.Final Thought: Just as Noah built the ark before the flood, let us prepare our hearts before the storm. God’s delay is not denial—it is preparation. Let us use this time wisely, trusting in His plan and proclaiming His name.
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Blessings,
Pastor JM Raja Lawrence
Andaman & Nicobar Islands
email: lawrencejmr@gmail.com
Mobile: +91 9933250072
