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| Photo of Jon Tracy, by Jim Tracy |
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.
These are the winds of the earth, not the winds of heaven. They are false doctrine. God held the great heresies that would conquer the earth in check for a while to give the true church time to be established.
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,
A seal was a device which a ruler used to mark something with his approval; usually a flat, carved stone or metal ring. It held a design unique to the ruler, so when pressed into soft clay or warm wax it would leave that rulers unique mark.
3 Saying, “Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.”
This angel is commanding the angels holding the wind of heresies to keep holding them until he had had time to mark all those who really loved and served God with His unique mark.
The ancient Romans branded their slaves with some sort of identifying mark in their foreheads or right hands.
4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed a hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.
5 Of the tribe of Judah 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 Asher were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim 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 Zebulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand.
Notice the tribe of Dan is omitted. Possibly they no longer existed. Members from all twelve tribes are mentioned in the Bible as having returned from the Babylonian captivity, but it is possible Dan has since died out. Or they were so far into idol worship that they were beyond seeing God.
These numbers are assumed to be symbolic. God is saying there are a few from all of Israel who will be saved. In fact, from Christ to the time of Cornelius only Israelites and Proselytes were saved (the last half of Daniel’s seventieth week). Even after that, though The Gospel spread throughout the known world, Jews still made up the largest group of converts (the church at Jerusalem alone is estimated to have had more than 50,000 members). These Jews converted before AD70 are both the remnant of the nation Israel and the first-fruits of the Christian church.
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;
After AD70 the Christians in Jerusalem fled to the very corners of the known world, taking the news of salvation with them. The result was untold numbers of gentiles being saved from every type of people, every nation, right up to today.
10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.
Imagine the multitudes from all ages worshiping our Lord! What a sight to behold! I can’t wait!
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 worshiped God,
12 Saying, “Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.”
Angels surround the church and ministers of God, praising Him.
13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, “What are these which are arrayed in white robes? And whence came they?”
The questioner knows the answer to his question, but wants to start a conversation with John about it.
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.”
The Great Tribulation began in AD64. Those souls under the throne who were given the white robes were those Christians who were killed during this tribulation begun by Nero. Their robes were not made white by anything they did, not even their sacrifice; but by the sacrifice of Christ.
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.
These have a special place of honor with God.
They serve God full time.
16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.
These (and all) who die in a saved condition due to persecution will know no hardship ever again. They will never be uncomfortable but will be able to concentrate on worshiping God.
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.
God Himself will take care of them.