Revelation 7:1-12
Revelation chapter 7 is notable in several ways. It speaks of angels holding back violent winds and sealing the saints. It includes an inspiring vista of rejoicing people from every nation, tribe and language. This chapter demonstrates that when God’s people praise God that the angels themselves respond with triumphant praise.
One of the ways that Revelation 7 is notable is what it does not say – or does not continue. You can see this for yourself by reading Revelation 6:17, “For the great day of His wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” Then turn over to Revelation 8:5 to see the continuation of that thought: “And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thundering, and lightning, and an earthquake.”
With those two verses in mind from Revelation 6 and Revelation 8, what would you expect Revelation chapter 7 to say? But it does not say what you might expect it to say. Yes, there is a tacit recognition of evil and adversity in the coming great tribulation (7:14). Yet this chapter describes a period of quiet preparation for the disasters that will come on the earth. You could call it “the calm before the storm.” Four angels will be charged with the task of harming the earth (7:2) using tornados, hurricanes – cyclones of all kinds. (This is a vivid reminder of just how horrible the great tribulation will be.) But Revelation chapter 7 reads like an island of majestic mercy in a turbulent sea of anger.[i] It is a peaceful parenthesis in the ongoing revelation of God’s wrath against sin. Those who dwell on the words of this chapter could learn how to quiet their noisy souls. In this passage we learn to love the Living God who protects His people and deserves all our praise.
Stillness before the Judgment from the Living God, 1-3
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. 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, Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. (Revelation 1:1-3)
Understanding John’s characteristic phrase, “after these things” we see that these events proceed in chronological (time) order. The vision in verse 1 occurs before the vision in verse 9 which begins with “after this.” In verse 1, John tells us that he saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds. “Winds” appears to be a reference harmful storms. But the main emphasis of the illustration is calm tranquility.
Isaiah 40:22 describes “the circle of the earth” and Revelation 7:1 pictures the four corners of the earth. In both cases, the emphasis seems to be on the whole earth, in its totality. So, the four corners would represent the four points of the compass: winds from the North, East, South and West. In John’s vision, he saw four angels holding these four winds to produce relative stillness.
Just try to imagine that. The noises produced by the wind are known as Aeolian sounds.[ii] These are the noises produced when strong gusts encounter an obstacle such as a building, or the leaves of a tree. It’s the aerodynamic sounds of lift and drag. The strong breezes rushing through the leaves of the trees this past Friday afternoon made sounds similar to the waves of the sea. But just try to imagine the calm pictured in these verses. It is possible that the reference to the four winds is symbolic of intense adversity (as it is in Jeremiah 49:36). But even there, the prophecy communicates a time of danger for the people of Elam (a country 200 miles south of modern day Iran). In the next verses in Revelation 7, we realize that this calm before the storm is designed by God to protect His people.
The Seal of the Living God, 2-7
The purpose for this time of relative calm is for God’s witnesses to be sealed. The four angels restrain the four harmful winds. A fifth angel comes from the direction of the rising sun (7:2) to place the seal of the Living God upon 144,000 Jewish believers.
Verse 3 describes this as a seal – a mark of authentication or a pledge. It may be a visible mark of ownership. But it is certainly a mark of protection and preservation of God’s witnesses in the coming times of adversity upon the earth. This seal stands in stark contrast to the mark of the beast – the insignia of the doomed – described in Revelation 14:9-11. But it’s important that we don’t get so focused on the seal that we miss the Sovereign. This is the seal of THE LIVING GOD. The God of the Bible is alive, in contrast to all the idols of men’s imaginations in the generations since Eden. The false prophet (Revelation 19:20) will deceive the people to make them think that the statue of the Antichrist is alive (Revelation 13:11-16). But his is the deadly deception of doom. We gather here today to celebrate and worship the Living God. The scroll was unsealed; the saints were sealed up.
In Revelation 7, this special seal from the Living God is presented in the context of the coming great tribulation (Revelation 7:14). But even in this present age, God seals His believers.
- Those who embrace (or “Amen!”) the promises of God in Jesus Christ glorify Him as the only way of salvation (2 Corinthians 1:20-22). They recognize that God promised them salvation if they call upon the Lord Jesus Christ who died for their sins and rose again. God establishes these believers and anoints them. And Paul writes that God “has also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts” (2 Corinthians 1:22).
- This corresponds to what we find in Ephesians 1:13, “In whom ye alsotrusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise.”
- In a practical appeal, the apostle wrote, “And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption” (Ephesians 4:30).
According to Revelation 7:2, the angel bearing the seal of the Living God will descend from heaven for the task of sealing that 144,000 from “all of the tribes of the children of Israel.” Later, in Revelation 14:1-4, we learn that these witnesses have the Father’s name written in their foreheads. They are male virgins who follow the Lamb. And our text in Revelation 7 emphasizes that they are Jewish. They number 144,000 with 12,000 from each of the following ethnic Jewish tribes: Judah, Reuben, Gad (v. 5), Asher, Naphtali, Manasseh (v. 6), Simeon, Levi, Issachar (v. 7), Zebulon, Joseph and Benjamin (v.8).
You don’t have to look very far to find those who play fast and loose with the Scriptures concerning these 144,000. The Jehovah’s Witnesses insist that this is the total number of people from all the ages who will receive eternal life. (This means that they ignore the next verses in Revelation 7!) A group who called themselves “Jezreelites” used their publication, “The Flying Roll” to teach that these 144,000 are British Israelites. (This is the belief that modern day Britain and America are the new Israel.) Others treat the 144,000 as entirely symbolic of the church. Yet the Scripture is very plain that they are from “the tribes of the children of Israel” even listing the specific ethnic tribes. As W.A. Criswell asked, “What is wrong with taking the text as it is? What is wrong with understanding it as it is worded?”[iii]
But again, don’t focus on the sealed and forget the Sovereign. The point is that this is the activity of The Living God. Throughout this age, some of the most powerful Christian witnesses have been Jewish. I have had the privilege of hearing Hyman Appelman[iv] preach, and every message was filled with power. If you want to read some fascinating stories of how Jewish people came to know the Lord, read “Some Jewish Witnesses for Christ” by Rev. A. Bernstein. You can access it online here. Marvel at the way that God has used His Word – especially Isaiah 53 – in bringing Jewish people to faith in their Messiah, Jesus the Christ.
At this present time, there is a veil upon the minds of many Jewish people (according to 2 Corinthians 3:12-16). But that passage is filled with hope: when one turns to the Lord, the veil shall be removed (v. 16). But how is it that 144,000 Jewish evangelists will go into action during the Great Tribulation? To answer that question, we need to turn back to the Old Testament prophet, Zechariah 12:9-10. “And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.” Near the time of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, the Jewish people will cry out to God, mourning over the One whom they have pierced. And according to Zechariah 13:1, “In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.”
There is a great revival coming among the Jewish people, according to these verses. Just think of what that will be like!
When the Lord pours out His Spirit, precious promise of His grace
Then His people shall behold Him and His welcoming embrace
Then the blessed house of David shall cry out and humbly pray
And a fountain for their cleansing shall be opened in that day
Those who pierced me shall behold me, mourning over all their sin
As Messiah, they shall know me as the Savior for all men.
From His side flowed blood and water and they pierced His hands and feet
As the Lamb went to the slaughter my sin’s payment was complete.
Precious Fountain, Son of David, gave His righteous life for me
For He paid, and I was pardoned! It was finished on that tree.
Oh the blessing of the Fountain that will cleanse my soul from sin!
For His death and resurrection are the blessings for all men
Blessed promise to His people, Abraham’s own righteous Seed,
Blessing all who trust His power, turning them from wicked deeds
To the blessed Son of David, sacrificed for even me
I will offer up my praises to the One who set me free
Praise the Lamb! The Son of David! Idols must be put away,
What a precious flowing Fountain, they shall see Him in that day.
Like those exiles to Babylon illustrated by the good figs in Jeremiah 24, those who turn to Him shall receive God’s greatest gift:
“And I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the LORD: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.”
Splendid Worship of the Living God, 9-12
“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” (Revelation 7:9). Verse 9 begins with the words, “after this,” introducing another vision after the first vision of the 144,000. This time, John saw a very large group of people – more than any human being could number. It will be comprised of people from every nation, tribe and language. They will all stand before the One upon the throne of heaven and the Lamb; they will be waving palm branches as we studied in the recent message, “Pilgrims with Palms.”[v]
And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. 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, Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. (Revelation 7:10-12)
The Cry of the Redeemed
According to verse 10, this multitude will cry with a loud voice, exalting the God who saves. They cry, “Salvation to our God who sits upon the throne and unto the Lamb.” When God’s people pray, as the prophet prayed in Daniel 10, God sometimes sends a majestic response. In Daniel 10, God stirred an angel from heaven to fight with the evil ones and answer Daniel’s prayer (See Seasons of Prevailing Prayer.) Dear friends, it’s time to pray, knowing that this is the right way to fight spiritual warfare and receive answers from God. The Lord may stir the angels of heaven in response to your prayers!
You may wonder, “What if those who have gone to heaven could send me a message? What would they say?” Verse 10 is a wonderful indication. They would say, “Salvation to our God who sits upon the throne and unto the Lamb!” They would want you to know the unique excellence of the Living God: He alone is the Savior. Salvation – deliverance from sin and death and hell – belongs to the Living God alone. They would want you to cry out to the Lord to save you as well.
The Response of the Angels and Elders
The angels, the redeemed elders and the living ones around the throne respond to the praise initiated by the redeemed multitudes. Their praise begins and ends with “Amen!” (We have discussed the significance of “the Amen” in an earlier message.[vi]) In the strongest possible terms, they agree with the redeemed saints and then began to amplify the meaning by magnifying the unique excellence of the Living God who saves. Humbling themselves before God and worshiping Him, they magnify 7 of His Exquisite Qualities. In the original language, each quality is preceded by the definite article (“the”).
The Blessing: The Living God is the Source and Sustainer of all blessing. He is the Blessed God of the blessed hope (Titus 2:13). He blesses believers with all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies (Ephesians 1:3). As Paul wrote, “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;” (2 Corinthians 1:3)
The Glory: The Living God is uniquely excellent. There is no other like Him (Jeremiah 10:6). His glory is above the heavens (Psalm 8:1). The glory of God is our passionate pursuit (1 Corinthians 10:31).
The Wisdom: The Living God is the only wise God (Romans 16:27). As the prophet said in Daniel 2:20, “Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are His:”
The Thanksgiving: The Living God deserves all of giving of thanks. We magnify Him with thanksgiving (Psalm 69:30).
The Honor: The Living God is clothed with honor and majesty ((Psalm 104:1). As Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 1:17, “Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
The Power: The Living God is exalted in His power (Job 36:22). Power belongs to God (Psalm 62:11).
The Might: The Living God is the God of might. “Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might” (Ephesians 6:10).
In this passage we have learned to love the Living God who protects His people and deserves all our praise.
Hear the loud cry, God’s salvation proclaiming
Hear the redeemed, all exalting their Lord
They honor Him on the high throne of Heaven
They praise the Lamb, as the great Living Word
This is the Living God who saves His people
Praising Him stirs all the angels above
They fall before Him to worship His splendor
Saying “Amen!” to the Lord whom they love
Blessing and honor and wisdom, thanksgiving
Honor and power and might they proclaim
Unto our God, yes, forever and ever
Unto the one Living God, yes, Amen!
Today, let us love the Living God who protects His people and deserves all our praise.
Pastor Gordon Dickson, Calvary Baptist Church, Findlay, Ohio www.cbcfindlay.org 05/22/22
[i] Lamentations chapter 3 functions much the same way.
[ii] Aeolian sound, Encyclopedia Brittanica, accessed at https://www.britannica.com/science/eolian-sound
[iii] W.A. Criswell, Expository Sermons on Revelation, Dallas: Criswell Publishing, 1995, p.138.
[iv] Hyman Appelman, Sermon index, accessed at https://www.sermonindex.net/modules/mydownloads/viewcat.php?cid=1439
[v] “Pilgrims with Palms,” accessed at https://www.cbcfindlay.org/pilgrims-with-palms/
[vi] “And All God’s People Said” accessed at https://www.cbcfindlay.org/and-all-gods-people-said/