REVELATION 7

Between the opening of the sixth and seventh seals, John sees a vision of four angels, stationed at the four corners of the earth holding back the four winds of the earth. OK, we know there are not corners on a globe such as the earth. The four corners, like 4 points on a compass, imply the whole world. These angels appear to be possessing different responsibilities than the previous four. They are holding back more judgment, pending God’s sealing a select group of people, just prior to the mid-point of the Tribulation.

That the winds struggle to get loose is very picturesque in an apocalyptic way to refer to some plagues or judgments to happen to mankind shortly (Thomas). We will see that the seventh seal will usher in what we call trumpet judgments, and God must seal these servants first. They are the 144,000. If you want debate in Christian circles, bring up the 144,000, and see the opinions tossed around regarding who they are.

Keeping with our mode of interpretation, a consistent dispensational view of Scripture, these are literally 144,000 descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, believers of Jewish descent in the Tribulation. This group is selected to be set aside for the purpose of witnessing to the rebellious world in this time period. They are protected by God in order to do His work. The supernatural in effect and on display during the Tribulation will be remarkable, and the 144,000 sealed by God will give testimony to this.

John sees a multitude gathered before the throne, in white robes. When an elder asks John who they are, John turns the question back to the elder. “You know,” John says. They are a vast crowd of Jewish and Gentile believers who came out of the Tribulation, either martyred or who had died then. But what are they doing here?

They are praising God, along with the angels and elders. Look at the beauty of worship on display in verse 12 – blessing, glory, wisdom, thanksgiving, honor, power, might, with God eternal as the focus. Amen!

They (and us, believers) will serve God forever, in His glorious realm. After God shows His care for us, by “spreading His tabernacle over us”, verses 16 and 17 sum up the eternal environment quite well: no more hunger, or thirst, or beating sun, or heat; the Son will be our forever shepherd, providing eternal springs of life, and no more tears.

SO WHAT…?

So, these are tough images to comprehend. God is so good, and we have such an encouragement, no matter what life brings. He wants us to hide in Him.

So, I praise God that I have followed His way of escape from the horror of the end times. His Son, the Lamb, Jesus Christ, is that shepherd I follow.

So, I pray for those who are not yet following Christ to consider doing so. Let’s each of us make a list of those we know personally, and pray for them today.