This chapter is an interlude between the 6th and 7th seals - just as there are pauses after the 6th trumpet and 6th bowl judgments.
1After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, that no wind might blow on earth or sea or against any tree.
These angels could be the four horsemen of the apocalypse we saw in chapter 6.
Verses 2 - 3
2 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 the four angels who had been given power to harm earth and sea, 3 saying, "Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads."
The seal is the same seal used the seal up the scroll in chapters 5-6. A king would use his signet ring pushed into warm wax to signify ownership and protect the document’s contents. Here God is signifying His ownership of these people and protecting their hearts and souls from destruction. Ezekiel 9 shows a similar picture of an angel marking those who still believed in the one true God on their foreheads - people whose hearts are against evil and for the Lord - people who are then protected from the Lord’s judgment.
This seal will later be counterfeited by Satan (chapter 13).
Why the seal? It would assist the believers who come to Christ during the Tribulation. It will protect them from harm meant for the followers of the Beast. During the 5th trumpet, stinging locusts will descend on the earth, but will not harm these sealed by God. In Chapter 16 sores will break out only on those who have the mark of the Beast. But it won’t protect them from everything. Many of these we see here are killed by the Beast - but nothing can kill them ultimately and death is simply graduation.
By the way - did you know that all believers are "marked?" Ephesians 1 says the Holy Spirit has been given to us as a "seal." It is God’s guarantee that He owns us and will bring us safely to His kingdom.
Verses 4 - 8
4 And I heard the number of the sealed, 144,000, sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel:
512,000 from the tribe of Judah were sealed,
12,000 from the tribe of Reuben,
12,000 from the tribe of Gad,
612,000 from the tribe of Asher,
12,000 from the tribe of Naphtali,
12,000 from the tribe of Manasseh,
712,000 from the tribe of Simeon,
12,000 from the tribe of Levi,
12,000 from the tribe of Issachar,
812,000 from the tribe of Zebulun,
12,000 from the tribe of Joseph,
12,000 from the tribe of Benjamin were sealed.
The question here is: who are these 144,000 and how literal is this listing? Some suggest that the list represents the church as a whole and that number is symbolic (12x12x1000 = completeness). You’d have to stretch things pretty far to get that - and the fact that each tribe is mentioned specifically argues for it to be Israel, not the church. No where is the church called "the sons of Israel." But here these sons of Israel are called: "servants of God" which refers to saved individuals.
Dan is missing - perhaps because Dan was the first to go into idolatry and against the Lord. Joseph is mentioned instead of Ephraim because Ephraim rebelled as well. Judah is mentioned first because from this tribe comes the Messiah.
Now - as you may know, 10 of these tribes were "lost" when the Assyrians came and took them away around 722BC. The Assyrians resettled them in other nations and they never returned to Israel. But these tribes are not lost to the Lord - He knows every descendant and will call them back to Him during this time.
What is their job? To evangelize the world. It doesn’t actually say that - but it’s a safe bet. If this is the church - why only 144,000, why mention the tribes? If only these are sealed, then what about the promises to the church that we are "sealed" in Him (2 Corinthians 1:22)?
A side note - the cult The Jehovah’s Witnesses actually believe that only 144,000 will make it into heaven based on this verse. This is simply not true - and I know folks in our own body who, after hearing this false doctrine - came to the Lord.
Verses 9 - 14
9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!" 11 And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying, "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen."
13 Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, "Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?" 14 I said to him, "Sir, you know." And he said to me, "These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
People will come to Christ during the Tribulation - though it will be a terrible time to be a Christian. Many will give their lives to belong to Christ during this time - it says something to us, doesn’t it? Do we take for granted the salvation offered to us? For most, accepting Jesus might subject us to ridicule from friends - but not death.
But notice that though they come out of the worst time in earth’s history, they are still praising God! They have on white robes which represent righteousness, and carry palm branches - which signify victory. No forces of darkness can ever overcome someone who belongs to the Lamb: Jesus Christ.
Verses 15 - 17
15 "Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. 16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. 17 For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
During the Great Tribulation - people who come to Christ will not be able to buy or sell on the open market (13:17). They will be marked, hunted, and attacked. In all likelihood they will be left out in the elements to die, if they are not beheaded (20:4). There will be nowhere on earth for them to turn to escape this horrible end, and they will not be spared (except the 144,000 for a time, and the 2 Witnesses of chapter 11). There will be mourning and tears as families see their loved ones killed for their faith.
But look the promises of this section: God Himself will shelter them (verse 15), their lack will be made up (16), the elements will no longer harm them (16), they will have a guide, a provider, and a healer of their pain (17).
Conclusions
The most terrible thing that can happen to you is still in God’s control
I know for us sometimes this doesn’t make sense - but notice how God told the angels preparing to unleash the worst disasters ever on earth to wait until He had marked some for protection.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.
That verse goes on to say that there is a time to live and a time to die - but God is one who determines those times. Coming to Him does not exempt you from trouble.
Jesus said "in the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world" John 16:33
Paul the Apostle had some very rough times - but he said:
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness ." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
You may in for tough things - just know that God already knows what they are, will bring you through them, and use them to strengthen you, not destroy you - and that there is an end, and it’s a good one!
You aren’t just a faceless number to God
Sometimes we think that God doesn’t really pay attention to us - that we are in the big computer in heaven but can just go about our lives and no one up there really cares. Not so.
Jesus said that the very hairs of your head are numbered - and that no one falls unless the Father knows it (Luke 12:7).
God knows your name and your situation - and Hebrews 12:7 says that Jesus "always lives to make intercession" for you. He always listens, always cares, always answers. He knows you far better than you know yourself. Entrust yourself into His care, He won’t let you down.
When the going gets rough, the redeemed get worshipping
What’s your first inclination when problems come - hunker down, run away, fight back, despair and give up? How about worship? The people we see in this chapter are coming out of the worst possible circumstances. Instead of saying "what took you so long, God?" they are falling down and proclaiming praises to God.
Worship is one of the key activities in eternity - and that’s why it is such a priority for this church - worship that is genuine, and focused on the Lord.
I would encourage you to try worshipping the next time you run into trouble.
God’s Tissues are really absorbent
I know that sounds a little funny - what I mean is that there is no trouble that you can go through, no trial you can face, no difficulty you might endure - that God cannot provide comfort and healing in.
2 Corinthians 1:3-5 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.
In Heaven, tears will end, in Hell, they never stop
Matthew 13:40-42 Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the close of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, 42 and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
If you think the Tribulation will be bad - it’s spring break compared to hell - that place where everyone goes who rejects God’s gift of grace through Jesus Christ. Don’t go there - please! Why turn your back on a free gift? Yes - you will have to admit you don’t have all the answers and that there is evil in you - but it is so freeing to face that, turn away from it, and give yourself over to God through Jesus Christ.
Don’t shed another tear without Him at your side, let Him bear your sorrow and bring eternal healing and righteousness to your soul.
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