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John’s descriptions of events that led up to the coming of Christ are not an escalating level of peace, but rather carry an escalating level of destruction on a world-wide basis. The opening of the sixth seal shows signs of abnormality in the physical universe around us; followed by great destruction as the face of Jesus is seen returning to the world. Perhaps it is for this reason, that John introduces a pause in these revelations, a respite from the chaos, to reveal an event of special significance. So in the 7th chapter of his book of Revelations of Jesus Christ, author of the weekly rest of the Sabbath at our creation, John seems to backtrack a moment in time and reveal this event. In verse 1 he writes … “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.” The phrase “and after these things” may well apply to this vision being granted after the tumultuous events described in the prior one of the opening of the six seals. For what is to take place here on earth, has more meaning if it precedes the coming of Christ, than after the destruction that accompanies his second coming.
John then describes seeing 4 angels positioned standing at the 4 corners of the world, or strategically located in order for us to understand that what they hold back is yet another global event. John tells us that these angels continue to hold back the “winds” in order that the earth, the sea, not even a single tree be hurt. He continues in verse 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, [verse 3] Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.” John now describes yet another angel who ascends from the east and carries the “seal” of the living God. In the time of John, rulers and kings carried a unique item carved with unique symbols and made of metals that when applied to warmed wet wax would form a unique indentation. The wax would dry with the imprint of the seal. This was usually done in order to keep the contents secured until the proper addressee could examine them. If the seal was broken, it meant that the contents were compromised. If the seal stood in tact, one could examine it and based on the unique symbols, could determine “whose” seal it was. Generally only the king or ruler was allowed to carry the seal, in order that only documents which came from him could bear his mark.
In this case, the 5th angel ascending from the east, is carrying the seal of the living God, the God of creation. He carries a message of delay to the 4 angels who are presently holding back the winds of destruction; that they should carry on holding them yet a while longer. Before massive destruction is unleashed upon the world, time is needed in order for the 5th ascending angel to press the seal of the living God into the soft foreheads of those who serve God, thus making an indelible impression upon them. Our minds are to be altered, to want different things, to view love differently, to see in harmony with our God of creation and life and love and truth. The process of our sealing, is to end the doubt. It is to end the vacillation, to end the back-and-forth of serving and backsliding. Our sealing is to put a final stamp on the destiny we have chosen. From this point forward, we are to become those who are holy still, rather than those who are unholy still. Once again, this is NOT a process we do to ourselves. We are not empowered to grasp His seal, and stamp ourselves with it. Instead this is to only be done by an angel commissioned with that work. It is done TO us, not by us. It is done FOR us, not because we have earned it. It is the mercy of God outstretched that we might find the greater faith that does not waiver any longer, but believes in the salvation of Jesus Christ with ALL its heart and mind and soul.
The servants of our God, are those who hold to His word, and the testimony of Jesus Christ – His word made alive in us by the power of His so great love. While still living, these servants share the characteristic of the martyrs who preceded them and whose blood cried out from beneath the alter in the opening of the fifth seal. The Word of God includes the stories of creation, of the establishment of the seventh day Sabbath, of the flood, of the patriarchs and prophets, of the Messiah, of the early church, and of the voice now given in end-time prophecies. The Word of God cannot be discarded in part, or thought of as only partially accurate, and still hold meaning. It is either the message of God to us in written and inspired form, or it is meaningless stories recorded for some unknown amusement. It cannot be both. There is a law of love that is outlined as a first step in the journey of what it means to love others, or the God who authored it is false. It cannot be both. The enemy would tempt the servants of God to discard His Bible as being simply inaccurate, so that salvation and re-creation are never sought or found. But the God who inspired His book, and through His Son enables us to live in harmony with it, would not have it so.
Before calamity strikes the world, before the holy angels who currently hold back the results of the evil so many embrace are told to loose their grip and end their interference, the people and servants of Christ are to be sealed. And what is the unique symbols that identify the true God from those who might try to pose as Him? Obedience and submission that results in re-creation so that true obedience is possible help compose it. His servants are brought into harmony with His laws through this process. It is then, that the mind begins to see the beauty of His laws that outline what it means to love God, and to love others, and not ourselves. The slavery of self-love and self-service are broken by the power of our God, not of ourselves. As we trust in His wisdom instead of our own, we are molded in His image and not of our own. We begin to be obedient, not through the power of our will, or the forced behavior of our hands, but because it becomes natural to us, it becomes a part of “who” we are.
We keep His laws, because we cannot imagine otherwise. We cannot imagine not taking time out to be with Him on the Sabbath; as we cannot imagine hurting another by stealing, or lying, or coveting, or killing. We honor our parents because we love them. We seek God first, because we know it is only through His power, that we can live as such, and have life worth living. We seek out no idols. We cherish no impure motive, nor cling to any once cherished sin; for through the salvation of Christ, we are remade in the here and the now, to be truly His servants. We choose to obey this God, and in so doing we bear the imprint of His seal. We prefer the edicts of God to the edicts of men, even if it causes men to seek our lives, like they did His, as a result.
To look upon the sealed servants of God, who are uniquely marked BEFORE the winds of strife begin to blow unrestrained by holy influence, is to find the unique symbols of our God. We see His laws engrained in us. We see His love engrained in us. We find a lack of condemnation, and an abundance of redemptive love seeking others to swell our ranks. We find these servants in harmony with the mission of their Lord. They do not seek to compel the conscience of others, but instead respond to the love of Christ that gave them reason to seek His salvation in the first place. While many will be redeemed and stand before the Lord on the sea of glass. There are those who will have the special honor of being sealed before He returns. They will live throughout the troubling times that are to come. They will carry His seal through this time, and have a special work to encourage the faithful throughout it. These may be the wise virgins who kept their oil and were prepared for the day that was to come. These may be those who serve Christ today, and know the power of His re-creation within us, that leads us away from the sins we would otherwise seek.
John notes that this sealing occurs before the earth is engulfed in the woe that evil brings with it. Today angels still hold the full winds of strife from wreaking their havoc across the earth. It is the love of God that restrains these winds. He holds back from us, the full weight of our sins, and the full weight of the woe they would result in. He keeps at bay the punishment we deserve and the natural consequences of the evil we choose. He does this in order to preserve us, so that we might still choose His redemptive love over the slavery of our self-service. But it will not always be so. There is an end to this period of probation, of testing, of opportunity. At some point in our not too distant future, the angels holding back these winds will be told to do so no more. At some point, the winds will be loosed. At some point those who are sealed will be sealed. By implication, when the sealing is completed, the winds will be set loose.
John then continues with what he sees as the numbers are described. He writes in verse 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 symbolism of the number 12 seems to represent a level of completeness. Perhaps in this number is intended to represent the whole of His servants, being 12 times 12 times a thousand. Or perhaps this is a literal number that is intended to represent a literal 144,000 servants who are sealed for a special work before the Lord. Perhaps these are they who represent the early victory through Christ of our salvation. They are re-created ahead of the remainder of the servants of God, and see the beauty of His salvation enacted in them, before the masses begin to appreciate it. So whether figurative, or literal, the number bears the symbolism of perfection and completeness as John continues to write.
In the next 4 verses beginning in verse 5 he outlines a breakdown of those who comprise the 144,000. John lists them in groups of three. Four groups of three tribes in each verse. They are NOT listed in order of birth. They are NOT listed as identical to the original 12 tribes of Israel. In verse 5 he begins … “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.” Rueben was actually the first born, so if this were a dissertation on the historical tribes of Israel, and done by right of birth, Reuben would have been listed first. He was not. John continues in verse 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.” Manasses was the son of Joseph, and the grandson of Jacob. So this was also not a listing of just the original 12 sons born to Jacob renamed Israel.
In verse 7 he continues … “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.” Neither Levi, because of the priesthood duties, nor Simeon who was absorbed into Judah over time, had any land to speak of in the nation of Israel. So this list was not meant to represent only those who had possession of land in the promised land after Moses led them to it, and Joshua led them into it. John continues in verse 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.” Joseph had been made viceroy of Egypt, or governor over all the land. He married an Egyptian wife, and had non-Canaanite children in the form of Manasses and Ephraim. But despite Joseph being perhaps as much Egyptian in life as he was Israelite by birth, He is included in this list. Joseph is also listed after his son Manasses which would again defy order by birthright. The tribe of Benjamin was always thought of as small, because it was nearly wiped out early in the land of promise due to an unfortunate incident with a prostitute. Yet although being small it is still included in the list. Ephraim Joseph’s other son is not listed here, despite being a historical tribe of significance, and owning land. Neither is Dan, a son of Jacob whose tribe also had occupied land in the promised land.
So, if the tribes do not represent the original list of sons from Israel in order of birth. If they are missing the historical Dan and Ephraim, but include Manasses and Joseph. Then there must be something more than just a description of inclusion strictly by birthright as thought of in ancient tradition. Perhaps these tribes are further symbols of the peoples they represent. Perhaps the characteristics of the servants of Christ at the time of this sealing are similar to the historical patriarchs and tribes represented in this list. The Lion of Judah, who is our Lord, and the Lamb, is listed as the first tribe from which 12,000 are sealed. Perhaps this is why it is listed out of order by birth. Joseph and Benjamin were the children of Rachel who held Jacobs greatest love, and they were the children of his old age. Perhaps that is why they are listed last. And perhaps they represent us in the last days of earth’s history, the remnant of His church, and His servants, who seek to be freed from self, and embrace His way of loving others. Since the nation of Israel, and the Jewish faith, has all but rejected Jesus Christ as its Messiah and Savior, it is difficult to believe the 144,000 are found in the historical descendants of these tribes, or in a faith that rejects Christ as its cornerstone.
Also we should note, that the timing of this Revelation given to John is just after he witnesses the sixth seal being opened, and represents a pause in what is going on. This would imply that the sealing is being done near the end of earth’s history, not before during the ascendancy of the Jewish nation before Christ first appeared. These sealed followers are perhaps those who will be translated to heaven without tasting death. They will have a special role here, and another one in heaven. They will stand before His throne day and night serving God, which is a place of infinite honor and fulfillment and represents no higher calling of any in existence. But in this sealing is revealed another dimension of mercy and love of our God. This is after all, another Revelation of Jesus Christ. That He would so honor us, as to see us redeemed to His service, and share with Him His message of redemption is yet another evidence of His so great love for us. The 144,000 are not alone in His heaven. But they are specially prepared and hold a special position as later writings will reveal …
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