-
Revelation 7-1-5 – After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth to prevent any wind from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree. 2 Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea: 3 “Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.” 4 Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel. 5 From the tribe of Judah 12,000 were sealed, from the tribe of Reuben 12,000, from the tribe of Gad 12,000, 6 from the tribe of Asher 12,000, from the tribe of Naphtali 12,000, from the tribe of Manasseh 12,000, 7 from the tribe of Simeon 12,000, from the tribe of Levi 12,000, from the tribe of Issachar 12,000, 8 from the tribe of Zebulun 12,000, from the tribe of Joseph 12,000, from the tribe of Benjamin 12,000.
“After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth.” Doubters think they can, at the expense of scripture, say here, “Aha!” They point to this scripture and think they find an error in the Bible because of the mention of “the four corners of the earth.” That’s just silly. This is still a common expression that may be heard in the news, or read in a newspaper or book, or heard in a conversation. It merely means that the entire world is being referred to. No problems here.
“…holding back the four winds of the earth to prevent any wind from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree.” The four angels are stationed in position, overseeing the entire earth, to prevent harmful winds from coming. The “action” in chapter six was coming fast with terrifying judgements. Now we see these four angels holding back four winds. There is a calm before the following storm. The Word used here anemos (transliteration) is here used as a type for judgement. This coming judgement that will bring great harm on the lands, on the seas and on the trees of the earth.
“Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea…” Another angel appears. That the angel comes from the east may mean that it comes from the source of blessings. Eden was in the east (Genesis 2:8). In Ezekiel 43:2 the glory of God approaches from the East. The Magi that came to worship baby Jesus, bearing gifts for Him were from the East (Matthew 2:1-2, 11). This fifth angel had the authority to hold back the four strong and violent winds that were straining to burst forth upon the earth. But God has a reason for holding them back for a time. God is still, is always, in control.
““Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.”” God in control, holds back the coming harm to the world so that He can put a seal of ownership of the ones who are the following listed. Again we see the protection of God for His remnant. God is the only true Savior and here He is saving.
It is interesting that He had not previously put the seal of ownership and protection on this people. We know that God knows all and that He knows best. Why did He not seal these people sooner, maybe before the start of the judgements? It seems that He now seals His servants because as bad as the previous judgements were, and they were overwhelming and terrifying to those on the earth, the judgements coming are stronger, more terrifying and His servants now need to be sealed that the coming judgements do not harm these servants. Yet then again, we must always remember that God has from eternity past always known those who are His, so He protects them even before they are born. Family, we see that the evil that is coming may not rush in as they may like, but will only be released in God’s perfect plan. God is still, is always, in control.
In scripture a seal indicates ownership and protection. Ephesians 1:13-14 states that all the people of God are sealed with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit entered us (the unredeemed are called by the Holy Spirit, but He does not live within them) and is a deposit guaranteeing that we belong to God and we are protected by God. Let’s say that again. We belong to God. We are protected by God. See, the people who are about to be sealed by God are clearly seen by the approaching evil to be God’s servants. Because they are, they are protected by God and the harm that is coming cannot harm them.
Who sees this seal? It is evident that God is not placing a physical wax seal on their foreheads that all the world can see. No, the unbelieving man will not see the seal of God. Just like unbelieving men of our day cannot see that we have been sealed by God. They have no idea who we are (1 John 3:2). The unbelieving man, by his own design, is clueless now and then. It is the evil that is coming on the world that will see the seal of God and avoid all who bear it. There will be no error. There will be no sealed servant of God who will be picked off by the enemy. Just as Jesus loses none (John 6:39) of His, none of these servants will be lost. How do we know this? In Revelation 14:1-3 we see them standing on Mount Zion with the Lord. All of them are there. None have been lost! Praise the Lord! He loses none of them and He loses none of us! Praise the Lord!
That the sealed of God are not harmed in the midst of the horrors of the time surely cannot be entirely missed by those who oppose God. While the unregenerate world is suffering and dying, those who belong to God are spared the then present evil. It will be obvious to all, and all are suffering, that certain people are not suffering from the judgement that is on the earth. Just as the death bypassed the Jews in the Passover (Exodus 12:12) the judgement on the earth shall also bypass these sealed servants of God. God is faithful and sure! He is also consistent. Praise the Lord! While the unredeemed cannot see the seal on the servants of God, they will hear and see the strong witness of God that they live out. Oh that we all may live a life that so clearly shows we are God’s children.
Family, God is faithful even though we often are not (2 Timothy 2:13). He is faithful to us and He will be faithful to these servants. Our situation and circumstances here on earth are not what is important. What is important is our God who is control and loves us. God has always protected His own and He always will. That does not mean that trouble will not come upon us, what it means is that the biggest and best promise that God has given us, eternal life with Him, cannot be taken. Also that if harm comes our way, we know God is watching and controlling. If we should suffer trials or harm and God will be glorified, that His will be fulfilled, we should all say “Yes and amen” to God (1 Peter 4:12-13). Our job is to believe in God and to follow where He leads. Let’s let go of worrying, God takes care of His own! We are His very own! Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.