> [!note] Two Important Questions > Chapter 7 serves as a pause between the sixth and seventh seals to answer two key questions: > > 1. Who can stand in the day of God’s wrath? (see [[Revelation 6.17|Revelation 6:17]]) > 2. What happens to God’s people in tribulation? > ![[The Sealed of Israel 7.1-8#^89134b]] The vision opens with four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth. ***What do the four corners represent?*** The four corners are not literal. They represent the cardinal directions and communicate the idea of all of the earth or “everywhere.” ***What do the four winds represent?*** Wind is used in scripture to describe different things. Jesus used wind as an illustration to describe the working of the Holy Spirit in His conversation with Nicodemus ([[John 3.5-8|John 3:5-8]])[^storm]. Winds are also connected to storms and tribulation ([[Luke 8.22-25|Luke 8:22-25]]). Wind is also associated with judgment, like when the wind brought in locusts in Egypt or when God said that He would scatter the people *like stubble that passes away by the wind of the wilderness* ([[Exodus 10.12-15|Exodus 10:12-15]], [[Jeremiah 13.22-24|Jeremiah 13:22-24]]). In this passage, based on the context, the winds represent judgment. ***How long were the winds held back and why were they held back?*** Judgment, i.e. the winds, was to be held back until the servants of God were sealed. ***What does it mean for the servants of God to be sealed?*** The word seal is also referring to a mark or an impression made to identify something. We will see this idea again in [[Revelation 13]] with the mark of the beast. > [!bible] **Revelation 13:16 NKJV** > > He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, These are different greek words but carry a similar idea. The seal of God is on the foreheads of his servants. The mark of the beast is on the right hand or the forehead of those who serve him. > [!hyperlinks] Hyperlink: Marked for God > In [[Ezekiel 9.3-6|Ezekiel 9:3-6]], God shows Ezekiel a vision where a man was sent to mark the foreheads of the men who “sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it.” Then God command others to go through the city and kill in judgment all those who did not have the mark. > > There is a similar picture in the Exodus story. For Passover, the people needed to mark their doorposts with the blood of the sacrificial lamb. This would prevent judgment and cause the angel of death to "pass over" their homes ([[Exodus 12.12-13|Exodus 12:12-13]]). > > In both of these stories, ***what did the mark represent?*** It served to identify those who were righteous and protect them from the judgment. > [!todo]- For Further Study: Sealed by the Spirit > The New Testament repeatedly states that the believer is sealed by the Holy Spirit. Do a topical search on this subject (here’s [an example](https://www.blueletterbible.org/search/search.cfm?Criteria=sealed+Spirit&t=NKJV#s=s_primary_0_1) to get you started). What do passages like [[Ephesians 1.13-14|Ephesians 1:13-14]], [[2 Corinthians 1.21-22|2 Corinthians 1:21-22]], [[Ephesians 4.30|Ephesians 4:30]] and others that your search teach us about being sealed with the Holy Spirit. When do you think that happens in the life of the believer? There are 144,000 people identified as those who will receive the seal of God on their foreheads. ***Is this a literal number of people or a symbolic representation of people?*** It could be literal. It’s likely that it is symbolic. The are 12,000 people from each of the twelve tribes. ***What happened to Dan and Ephraim? Why are they not listed here?*** One of the key thoughts about the absence of Dan is tied to the Jewish tradition that the anti-christ would come through the tribe of Dan. This comes from the prophecy declared over him:[^serpent] > [!bible] **Genesis 49:16-17 NKJV** > > **16** “Dan shall judge his people As one of the tribes of Israel. **17** Dan shall be a serpent by the way, A viper by the path, That bites the horse’s heels So that its rider shall fall backward. Secondly, both Dan and Ephraim were tribes through which idolatry entered the land. God is faithful, and per His promise, Dan is allotted land in the millennium so we know that the tribe is not completely rejected or lost (cf. [[Ezekiel 48.1|Ezekiel 48:1]]). > [!todo]- For Further Study: Lists of the Tribes > The tribes of Israel are listed in Scripture about twenty times. Do a search of those lists. Are the tribes listed in the same order each time? Are all of the tribes always represented in the list? For example: when listing the tribes for battle, the Levites would not be counted because they were exempt from military duty. What are some observations that you can make based on these lists? ***Are the 144,000 people Jewish believers or the Church?*** There are different views on this question based on a couple of Scriptures. The Apostle Paul gives us insight into this in the book of Romans. First, he makes the argument that not everyone who is of the seed of Abraham or children of the flesh, i.e. natural Israel, are the children of God ([[Romans 9.6-12|Romans 9:6-12]]). Further He explains that Israel had to fall away so that the Gentile nations could come into the kingdom. Despite this, the church did not replace the Israel of God. They were grafted in because of grace. God did not cast away His people, and will once again restore them once the fullness of the Gentiles come in ([[Romans 11.1-5|Romans 11:1-5]], [[Romans 11.11-29|11-29]]). It seems that the 144,000 are most likely faithful people from Israel, but it could include the church. ![[A Multitude from the Great Tribulation 7.9-17#^0ed4d3]] After the 144,000 are sealed, John sees a great multitude *which no one could number* standing before the throne and worshipping God with the angels, the living creatures, the elders, and some people specifically clothed in white robes. ***What does the multitude represent?*** This multitude that cannot be numbered seems to point back to God’s promise to Abraham ([[Genesis 13.14-17|Genesis 13:14-17]], [[Genesis 32.12|32:12]]). The multitude are clothed in white and waving palm branches. ***What does that tell us about them?*** This points us to the Triumphal Entry of Jesus and the people crying out “Hosanna” and recognizing Jesus as the King in the line of David ([[John 12.12-13|John 12:12-13]]). The saints are clothed in righteousness (cf. [[Revelation 19.8|Revelation 19:8]]). The elder turns to John and asks him who the ones clothed in white were. John responded with humility. These people were those *who came out of the great tribulation*. They have joined with the other martyrs before the throne of God ([[Fifth Seal The Cry of the Martyrs 6.9-11|Revelation 6:9-11]]). Those before the throne of God serve Him day and night in His presence. And they will never hunger nor thirst. Jesus will shepherd them and lead them to the River of Life. And every tear will be wiped away from their eyes. ***What are some applications or concluding thoughts on this chapter?*** We should seek to know God now, to walk in salvation now, instead of risking the chance of going through the tribulation. We should live as those marked by God, people who reflect His character, love others, obey God, and represent Christ. We should remember that God is faithful to keep His word to His people and that no matter what we face in this life, we are safe in the hands of God and destined for an eternity with Him full of glory and beauty. --- [[Studies]] | [[Revelation]] | [[Revelation Chapter 6]] | [[Revelation Chapter 8]] [^storm]: This also can be reflective of a demonic attack. In this story, Jesus *rebuked* the winds and *commanded them* just as He would a demon. [^serpent]: Consider the similarities between the prophesy over Dan and what God declared over the serpent in the garden ([[Genesis 3.14-15]]).