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Introduction:

This chapter is a continuation of the sixth seal and will be followed by the seventh seal in the eighth chapter. In it we will see a special group of Jewish believers that God will use in the nations of the Antichrist as a final witness to those nations, they are referred to as the 144,000. They are the first-fruit of Israel according to Revelation 14: 4 that says they are the first-fruits unto God and the Lamb. Since they are not the first born of the Church they must be the first-born of Israel a special groups saved out of the nation of Israel that lives in what we have often called the land of Palestine.

In this chapter John has two visions one about the 144,000 and another concerning a number that no man can count that have come out of great tribulation.

The first vision in this chapter is all about the 144,000 who are Jews being sealed against the coming winds of the wrath of God.

The second vision is about a mixture of Jews and Gentiles who are saved during the great tribulation period which actually occurs over the last 3 ½ years.

The events in the sixth seal the Rapture signified by the great earthquake, the sun being darkened, the moon turning to blood, the stars falling from heaven, the heavens rolling back like a scroll and the people on the earth fearing the wrath of God tell us that this is the time of the end. The next event to occur will be the seventh seal which happens at the battle of Armageddon. So we must realize that the 144,000 are not being born again at this time. This happened before the middle of the tribulation. In this vision God is trying to show this elite group so that we will know about them. They will be protected from the wrath of God during the last 3 ½ years. However they will not be protected from the persecution of the Antichrist and will be martyred before the end comes.

All of God’s children are sealed from the wrath of God when they are born again by the Spirit of God. This happened to these people as they were being saved before the middle of the tribulation. This chapter works similar to the 5^th seal in the fact that it was written to cover a large portion of time leading up to a particular event. It is similar to vision of the martyred dead who were killed over a period of time beginning at the middle of the tribulation until the sixth seal in which God answers their prayers. This works the same way. God wants us to see this group of people that hold a special place in his heart.

In John’s second vision showing a number that no man can count we get a view of the millions of souls who are saved during the last seven years and before. All Christians go through persecution and trials if they are truly God’s people. So even though we are at the end of the great tribulation period only a portion of these people came out of the last seven years of persecution. A number that no man can count. Just as God had promised Abraham that his children would be as the sand of the sea and the stars of heaven.

1: And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.
John says, "And after these things" which is speaking of the visions that he had seen in the sixth chapter. We see four angels standing on the four corners of the earth.

The wind that is being held back by these angels is the wrath of God. This holding back is show through four angels. There are four angels, four-corners of the earth and four winds. The number four in this scripture is a mystery of the entire earth speaking of directions North, South, East and West. This simply means from every direction of the earth, the entire world. This is shown to us in symbols and it is to show us a mystery. The winds that are to blow on the earth, the sea and the trees is a series of events that are called the wrath of God which will occur during the last 3 ½ years of the tribulation period. These angels are not literally holding back the wrath of God, but this is showing us that they are there symbolically to remind God not to pour out his wrath until the 144,000 are saved.

2: And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,
The angel that is ascending down from the east is coming with instructions to the four angels who have the power to release the wrath of God to wait. This again is only a reminder that the wrath must not come until God has saved a particular group of people.

From the east--Greek, "the rising of the sun." The direction from which God's glory oftenest manifests itself. In fact Christ himself will come to us from the East.

3: Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
The angel was saying to the four angels who had power to release the wrath on the nations not to hurt, that is loose the destructive winds, on the earth, the sea, nor the trees until the servants of God are sealed.

This is typical of God in this respect that God has not appointed his children to wrath but rather to obtain salvation. All of God’s children are sealed against the wrath of God it comes with salvation.

Not that the children of God are exempt from trials: Revelation 7:14 proves that this would be contrary. The trying of the saints is different from the destroying judgments that fall on the world. As Israel was protected during the plagues of Egypt, especially from the last plague which was the death of the firstborn, God’s children are and will be protected. The thing that protected Israel was the seal of blood on the door-post and over the mantel from the pass-over lamb. This is how God seals and protects all of his children from the wrath that is to come upon the world. The Blood of Jesus is applied to our lives by faith. The forehead being used as the place to place the seal is symbolic of the unshakable faith and resolve of these believers to walk with God.

4: And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.
The 144,000 spoken of in these scriptures are the same as the man-child in Rev. 12: 5 who are the first-born of Israel. This does not mean the first-born of all the Jews who were ever saved. This means the first-born of the restored nation of Israel in the Holy Land. The woman in Rev. 12:1 is the nation of Israel, just as the many people of Israel are shown as a woman, the man-child is a 144,000 newborn Jews shown as a man-child. They are sealed or born again sometime before the middle of the last seven years. At that time they will escape the Antichrist to do a great work in the nations of the Antichrist.

The seven trumpets and seven vials of wrath will be poured out during the last 3 ½ years. The seven trumpets and seven vials of wrath are seven events rather than fourteen because they run parallel and are the same events with each event beginning and ending with the other. These first six vials of wrath are to be poured out on the Antichrist and his nations and will end with the seventh vial falling not only on him but all the nations as well. Christ has saved and sealed the 144,000 from his wrath just as he has saved all of his elect whether it is Jew or Gentile. All of his are to be protected from the wrath that is to fall on the earth.

5: Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand.
God chooses and saves 12,000 out each of the tribes of Judah, Reuben and Gad.

6: Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand.
God chooses and saves 12,000 out each of the tribes of Asher, Naphtali and Manasses.

7: Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand.
God chooses and saves 12,000 out each of the tribes of Simeon, Levi and Issachar.

The unusual thing about this scripture is that Levi replaces Dan. If you remember the Levites didn’t have an inheritance in the Land but were priests. Dan was an heir but sinned terribly through idolatry and became extinct. Gradually their tribe became part of the tribe Napthali.

8: Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand.
God chooses and saves 12,000 out each of the tribes of Zebulun, Joseph and Benjamin.

The unusual thing about this is that Joseph replaces his son Ephraim who was the possessor of Joseph’s birthright. Ephraim was protected from the curse that came to Israel his promised being used to bring in the Northern Kingdom of Israel including the 12 disciples in Galilee and to save all of the Gentiles through his birthright. God does not leave out the name of Ephraim to show his anger but rather to show that Ephraim’s name stands separate from Israel and he has became heir to the Gentiles from many nations (Gen.48: 19).

9: After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
John then had another vision in which he saw a great multitude of people. In fact they were so great that no man could count them.

This multitude is described as being from every nation, kindreds (tribes), people and tongues. This goes along with Matt. 24: 14: And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

This scripture is telling us that after the 144,000 have been born again that God is going to complete his great work of salvation upon mankind, both Jew and Gentile, with a tremendous surge of revivals and witnessing. This is to complete his promise to Abraham. The world is running out of time and God is going to save as many as he has chosen to salvation.

The white robes that these saints are wearing are a gift from God. They are clothed by his righteousness because they are believing on his Son Jesus Christ. This white robe is the imputed righteousness of the Lord. This is the only way anyone will be spared from the wrath of God, our righteousness is as filthy rags.

The palm branches that the saints are holding in their hands are the symbol of joy and triumph. It was used at the feast of tabernacles, on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when they kept feast to God in thanksgiving for the ingathered fruits.

Zechariah 14: 16: And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.

The palm branches in this is also speaking of the time that the people of Jerusalem met Jesus as he was coming in the gate to Jerusalem with palm branches to celebrate his entry. Here we are to see a heavenly multitude that is to celebrate the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

10: And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.
The multitude "cried with a loud voice" cried--Greek, "cry," in the three oldest manuscripts, A, B, C, Vulgate, Syriac, and Coptic. It is their continuing, ceaseless worship to God.

The term salvation to our God is literally translated as the salvation or all the praise of our salvation is to be given to God. In a similarity the palm bearing crowds at the Lord’s entry into Jerusalem were crying out "hosanna."
Hosanna means "save us now". It was taken from Psalms 118:25, in which Psalms 118:14,15,21,26 the same connection occurs between salvation, the tabernacles of the righteous, and the Jews' cry to be repeated by the whole nation at Christ's coming, "Blessed be He that cometh in the name of the Lord." [JFB]

11: And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,
In Revelation 5:11 we see many angels around the throne of God. In this verse we see all the angels which is symbolic of something great happening. And it says that they were standing around the throne, this also signifies a great event has taken place. Such as standing to give honor or tribute.

12: Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.
This is exactly what we were seeing in the former verse as the angels are to give honor to God through worship. The seven things that they glorify God with are symbolic of the totality and completeness of God. Let this be unto our God forever is their words, Amen.

13: And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?
One of the 24 elders speaks to John by asking him a question. It would be interesting to know which of these elders it was but we have no way of knowing. But it is only fitting that one of these elders should ask this question. These elders represent both Old and New Testament ministry and the elder who speaks is appropriate in acting as the interpreter of this vision.

"What are these" is to be understood as "who are they," which are dressed in white robes.

It was then concluded by, "where did they come from?"

14: And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
John answers with respect by calling the elder, "Sir or Lord" as some manuscripts read.

John in humility implies that since he is a man and the elder is in heaven that he would come closer to knowing the answer than he himself. Especially having knowledge that once we enter into heaven and have become like Jesus that our knowledge will be increased.

These are they which came out of great tribulation.

great tribulation--Greek, "THE great tribulation"; "the tribulation, the great one," namely, the tribulation to which the martyrs were exposed under the fifth seal, the same which Christ foretells as about to precede His coming (Matthew 24:21, great tribulation), and followed by the same signs as the sixth seal (Matthew 24:29,30), compare Daniel 12:1; including also retrospectively all the tribulation which the saints of all ages have had to pass through. The seventh chapter is a recapitulation of the vision of the six seals, Revelation 6:1-17, to fill up the outline that is given in that part of it which affects the faithful of that day. In other words the people we see in this chapter, the 144,000 and the great multitude of souls from all the nations of the world are the sum or results of the six seals that we have read in chapter six. There is only one more seal to go.

The great multitude are clothed with robes that have been washed white by the blood of the Lamb. Compare these scriptures

Revelation 1:5, Isaiah 1:18, Hebrews 9:14, 1 John 1:7; compare Isaiah 61:10, Zechariah 3:3-5. Our sins are washed away when we come to Christ by faith and are saved. By his sacrifice we are clean.

15: Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.
Because the blood of Jesus washes them, they are able to be in the presence of God and serve him continually. There will be no night in heaven for Christ will be the light of it but he will live with them forever.

16: They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.
In these scriptures we see the loving care of Jesus, the shepherd, to provide everything that his sheep will need for eternity. This is a fulfillment of Isaiah.

Isaiah 49:10: They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them.

17: For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
The Lamb, Jesus, as a shepherd will provide fountains of living waters to his sheep and will take away all the sorrows and the remembrance of them forever.

God Bless You
Tommie Spurgeon

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