This interlude in the seals is for them to mark the foreheads of twelve thousand bond-servants of our God from the tribes of Israel. For the reason of protection and ownership. Keep reading because there is more to say on this.
Revelation 7 – Amplified Bible
Please read Revelation 7:1-3
An Interlude
1 After this I saw four angels stationed at the four corners of the earth, holding back the [a]four winds of the earth so that no wind would blow on the earth or on the sea or on any tree. 2 Then I saw another angel coming up from the rising of the sun, holding the seal of the living God; and with a loud voice he called out to the four angels to whom it was granted [to have authority and power] to harm the earth and the sea, 3 saying, “Do not harm the earth nor the sea nor the trees until we [b]seal (mark) the bond-servants of our God on their foreheads.”
No wind anywhere. Can you even imagine it? But not forever, just long enough for the angels to mark the bond-servants of God. Just until they are finished. Now before you think how unfair it is that only those of Israel get marked, you should also know, these are God’s bond-servants, not those of us who belong to Jesus. As part of the ecclesia of Jesus, we are already sealed, see Ephesians 1:13
13 In Him, you also, when you heard the word of truth, the good news of your salvation, and [as a result] believed in Him, were stamped with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit [the One promised by Christ] as owned and protected [by God].
Please read Revelation 7:4-8
The 144,000
4 And I heard how many were sealed, a hundred and forty-four thousand; [twelve thousand] sealed from [c]every tribe of the sons of Israel:
5 Twelve thousand were sealed from the tribe of Judah, twelve thousand from the tribe of Reuben, twelve thousand from the tribe of Gad,
6 twelve thousand from the tribe of Asher, twelve thousand from the tribe of Naphtali, twelve thousand from the tribe of Manasseh,
7 twelve thousand from the tribe of Simeon, twelve thousand from the tribe of Levi, twelve thousand from the tribe of Issachar,
8twelve thousand from the tribe of Zebulun, twelve thousand from the tribe of Joseph, and twelve thousand from the tribe of Benjamin were sealed (marked, redeemed, protected).
Please read Revelation 7:9-10
A Multitude from the Tribulation
9 After these things I looked, and this is what I saw: a vast multitude which no one could count, [gathered] from every nation and from all the tribes and peoples and languages [of the earth], standing before the throne and before the Lamb (Christ), dressed in white robes, with [d]palm branches in their hands; 10 and in a loud voice they cried out, saying,
“Salvation [belongs] to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb [our salvation is the Trinity’s to give, and to God the Trinity we owe our deliverance].”
See, this is where we will be. Because we belong to Jesus. And the palm branches… remind you of anything? The Triumphal Entry in the gospels includes palm branches waving in people’s hands praising Him.
Please read Revelation 7:11-12
11 And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the [twenty-four] elders and the four living creatures; and they fell to their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying,
“Amen! Blessing and glory and majesty and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might belong to our God forever and ever. Amen.”
Can you even imagine how many people are here now? Yet the praise is ongoing. What the sound must be like?
Please read Revelation 7:13-17
13 Then one of the elders responded, saying to me, “These who are dressed in the long white robes—who are they, and from where did they come?” 14 I said to him, “My lord, you know [the answer].” And he said to me, “These are the people who come out of the great tribulation (persecution), and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb [because of His atoning sacrifice]. 15 For this reason, they are [standing] before the throne of God; and they serve Him [in worship] day and night in His temple; and He who sits on the throne will [e]spread His tabernacle over them and shelter and protect them [with His presence]. 16 They will hunger no longer, nor thirst anymore; nor will the sun [f]beat down on them, nor any [scorching] heat; 17 for the Lamb who is in the center of the throne will be their Shepherd, and He will guide them to springs of the waters of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes [giving them eternal comfort].”
Blessed be His Name. We are washed white as snow in His blood. We are atoned by His sacrifice. We are His wholly and completely. And every day we live on earth we are not just protected but grown more like Him through His sanctifying work in our lives. Specifically you can read particularly what gift this faith in Christ is, Ephesians 2:5-10 are particularly helpful.
Footnotes
[a] Revelation 7:1 The Jews and other ancient peoples were very observant of the four winds, that is, the winds that came from each point of the compass. It was said in the Talmud that if the winds ceased to blow, the world could not continue to exist.
[b] Revelation 7:3 – “Do not harm the earth nor the sea nor the trees until we [b]seal (mark) the bond-servants of our God on their foreheads.” – The seal indicates both ownership and protection by God.
[c] Revelation 7:4 – [twelve thousand] sealed from [c]every tribe of the sons of Israel: – The tribe of Dan is omitted from the following passage without explanation. The tribe of Manasseh, Joseph’s older son, replaces Dan, so the count remains at twelve.
[d] Revelation 7:9 – with [d]palm branches in their hands – I.e. symbols of victory and joy used on festive occasions.
[e] Revelation 7:15 – and He who sits on the throne will [e]spread His tabernacle over them – Lit pitch His tent.
[f] Revelation 7:16 – nor will the sun [f]beat down on them – Lit fall.
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