Welcome to our study of the Revelation of Jesus Christ given unto Apostle John.
I am Phillip Smith, your host and fellow servant of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
As we continue our study in the Revelation of Jesus Christ, as given to John, we begin in chapter 7.
An additional event is to take place included in the sixth seal.
Rev. 7:1-3. 7 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. 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, 3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
Four angels are given power over the four winds of earth–North, South, East, and West winds. The wind is an identifier of the Holy Spirit. In John chapter 3, Jesus is speaking to Nicodemus concerning Spiritual things (being born again). Let us read verses 1-12. 3 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. 3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. 9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? 10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? 11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. 12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
Notice again verse 8. 8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. Jesus is speaking in Spirit because he says in verse 11, 11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. The things he has seen and testifies is of Spirit nature and man, Nicodemus, does not understand; …12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
These angels control the Spirit Nature on earth of which God created in the beginning. All natural phenomena occur because of God’s creation and His giving authority to angels to perform these tasks. These angels are commanded not to hurt anyone on the earth with complete utter destruction until the servants of God are sealed in their foreheads. This might represent the phrase ‘the vine is fully ripe’. (Rev. 14:18) However, a more direct description is spoken in verses 4-8. The tasks of which these angels were to do was postponed for a little time to have another task accomplished; mark the servants of God. (vs. 3)
These angels were to allow the natural things of earth to hurt mankind in a natural pattern set forth by God. Remember the fourth seal? (chapter 6:8) Death to mankind was to be a natural thing and authorized by God to the one holding the fourth seal.
Could this be the time between Dispensations, during the time between the death of Jesus and Pentecost? The new Christian age had not begun; the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, had not come as Christ spoke. Mankind had been left alone and subject to the natural elements authorized to the angels of the four winds.
This does not seem to be the Seal of the Holy Ghost which had to be performed giving miraculous powers to first the Apostles, then to whom they performed the ‘laying on of hands’. After that the seal was given to all who were baptized into the body of Christ and God added to the church such as were being saved. This was after the first Pentecost.
Let us see which sealing this was to be.
Rev. 7:4-8. 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. 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. 6 Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nephthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand. 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. 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.
We need to identify symbolism here. From each tribe of the children of Jacob–Israel is identified with symbolic figures–12 and 1,000.
The figure 12 represents ‘belonging to God’. Of Jacob's children, his twelve sons became a great nation named Israel. They were God’s chosen people. Therefore, this seal is marking the foreheads, for rapid identification by the gathering angels, God’s chosen from the first dispensation–Mosaic. They lived under a different set of Laws by which they would be judged.
The figure 1,000 represents ‘a very large innumerable amount’. From each tribe, God chose an innumerable number of righteous persons. Of the known census in Exodus and Numbers when Moses numbered the men only twenty and above, there were hundreds of thousands then. In all the next generations, there is an innumerable figure to be counted. We know God does not lie and He promised Abraham his seed would be as numerous as the sand of the sea. (Genesis 17) It becomes improbable to assume this to be a literal figure.
An Innumerable Number Of Saints In White Robes
Rev. 7:9-12. 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; 10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. 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, 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.
Within the scroll with seven seals which Jesus opened, the sixth seal also shows us the spirit end of all the saints. They are found in Heaven worshiping God. It is a ‘great multitude’ which no man could count.
Once again, this shows the fulfillment of the promise unto Abraham and the many nations which would come from his loins. With developing faith such as Abraham, we Gentiles are numbered in these saints gathered around the throne for eternity. Remember, eternity in Heaven is a spirit world. The Revelation of Jesus Chrit to John for all the saints is a spiritual literary document, meant for the saints to comprehend. It is speaking of the Spirit realm.
Let us prove this.
Rev. 7:13-17. 13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? 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. 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. 16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. 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.
In our passage we see the term ‘tribulation’. Strong’s Lexicon for tribulation used in the Hebrew language defines tribulation (H6869) as: adversary, adversity, affliction, anguish, distress, tribulation, trouble. The Greek term (G2347) is defined as: afflicted(-tion), anguish, burdened, persecution, tribulation, trouble.
Matthew 24 speaks of the times in which we live are called a tribulation. Therefore, if the term tribulation means a time of affliction, anguish, burden, persecution, trouble, we are guaranteed these things for being believers and followers of Christ. 2 Tim. 3:12. 12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. Living for Christ will bring persecutions upon the believers until the end of time. These saints seen by John have come out of the great tribulation–the Christian Dispensation. The end of time has come and Judgment Day has happened. This is the spiritual description of the entire spirit world including after the End of Time for all the earth.
And, God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. Jesus shall provide everything the saints need; They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: (vss. 16-17)
