Read CHAPTER VII of The Revelation Explained, free online book, by F. Smith, on ReadCentral.com.

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.

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.

3. Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.

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.

5. 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.

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.

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 Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand.

A clear understanding of the two visions in the chapter before us can be obtained only by considering the plan of the prophecy already referred to. The events are narrated by series. A particular theme is taken up and followed through to its completion; then the narrative returns and another theme is introduced. But this is not all. Whenever the history of abounding error or iniquity is set forth, we have in immediate connection and in perfect contrast therewith a history of the true people of God; thus, the contemporaneous history of righteousness and iniquity, truth and error, a true church and a false one. The visions of this chapter cover the same period of time as the events described in the preceding chapter, but form the most perfect contrast. The student of Revelation who unfolds the dark history of apostasy and iniquity contained in the preceding seals might naturally be led to ask, Is this the melancholy end of God’s church? Does it deteriorate rapidly and turn out so badly, after all? As an answer to these questions, God gives us next a history of his own people, showing that he preserved his own church complete, although Antichrist reigned in power.

The principal points in the vision before us are the tempestuous winds about to descend upon the earth, and the sealing of God’s servants. The first of these, being drawn from nature, would lead us to look for its fulfilment in political events; while the latter, derived from human life, directs us into the affairs of the church. The “four winds of the earth” from the “four corners of the earth” signify all the winds from every direction the cardinal points of the compass; while the four angels signify all the agencies that have control of these winds, which for the present are held in restraint in order to give opportunity for the sealing of the Lord’s servants. Angels in the Scripture is frequently used to denote evil agencies as well as good, the context determining which is meant. See Chap 12:7. The design of the winds was to “hurt the earth, the sea, and the trees.”

What, let me ask, in the political world is analagous to tempestuous storms sweeping over the earth? What but huge masses of men, excited by fierce passions, precipitating themselves upon the inhabitants of an empire, sweeping everything before them in the fury of their march and spreading desolation on every side? In the symbols of the next chapter we find that just such hordes of men barbarians under their angels, or leaders, precipitated themselves upon the Roman empire; and the fearful effects upon the earth, the sea, and the green trees produced thereby, is particularly detailed. For the present, however, they are held under restraint until the sealing of the servants of God should be accomplished, then they were to go forward in their work of destruction.

The sealing of the servants is not making them the people of God, but rather marking or designating them as such, just as later we find the devotees of a corrupt apostate church specified as having the “mark of the beast.” Considerable light can be thrown upon the subject of the sealing of God’s servants and of the mark of the beast by consulting Roman history for the origin of such expressions. The many conquests of the Roman arms furnished so many prisoners that they became a drug in the slave-markets of the world, and were so numerous that in many places they outnumbered the Roman citizens ten to one. In the first century before Christ it is said that some Sicilian estates were worked by as many as twenty thousand slaves. “That each owner might know his own, the poor creatures were branded like cattle.” The “mark of the beast” possessed by the followers of a false communion will be found to consist of an Antichristian spirit by which they are filled with “doctrines of devils.” So, also, “the seal of the living God” consists of the giving of the Holy Spirit, by which his people are led into all truth. See John 14:26. While Sabbatarians vainly try to prove that keeping the seventh day is the seal of God in this dispensation, yet there is not one text of Scripture that hints such a thing, but, on the contrary, the Scriptures are against them. “Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” Eph 4:30. Again, the Word of God says, “Now he which stablished us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us is God; who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.” 2 Cor 1:21, 22. The time this sealing of the people of God takes place is thus described: “After that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise.” Eph 1:13. The winds of heaven were restrained until the work of full salvation could be firmly established in the earth. When Christ appeared, the Roman empire was in a state of comparative quiet, and the immense hosts of foreign invaders did not appear until the firm establishment of Christianity, being held back by the power of God until his work should be accomplished.

In the description of the sealing given, twelve thousand were selected from each of the twelve tribes. Some have supposed this to have reference solely to salvation work among the Jewish nation; but that would be adopting the literal mode of interpretation, thus destroying its symbolic character. The twelve tribes are chosen from the proper department to represent the church or “Israel of God” in this dispensation, irrespective of nationality. The twelve gates in the wall of the heavenly city are named after the twelve tribes of the children of Israel (Chap 21:12), showing that it is only through “Israel” that any one can enter the New Jerusalem. Since the gospel is given to all nations, this can not signify literal Israel. “The children of the promise are counted for the seed.” Rom 9:8. “If ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Gal 3:29. Since the vision is symbolical, we are to consider the numbers given as symbolical also, the definite number of twelve thousand from each of the tribes showing that the church of God was complete and perfect, no part being omitted.

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;

10. And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.

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 worshipped 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.

13. And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?

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.

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.

16. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.

17. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living mountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

In this scene the vision is carried forward to the close of the long period of tribulation and persecution to the church of God, when all her enemies are finally overthrown; and here are the glorious results, the harvest gathered: a great multitude whom no man can number, gathered out of all nations, and kindreds, and peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands, the symbols of their victory. The scene is laid in heaven, and refers undoubtedly to the end of time when the heavenly world will be opened up to all the faithful who have suffered for Christ amid the trials and the oppositions through which his church is called to pass in this present world. We are expressly informed by one of the elders who these are in white robes and whence they came, so there can be no question respecting them. This is the glorious company of the redeemed of all ages who “came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore they are 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. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.” What a contrast with the scenes of earth, when oppressed by famine, and cold, and nakedness, and peril, and sword, they were killed all the day long! But their sufferings are over; “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.”

This redeemed company is represented as uniting in a song of praise and thanksgiving to God for bringing them through their long period of trial, “saying Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb”; while heaven resounds with universal praise as the angels and all the redeemed host take up the chorus and swell the mighty anthem “saying, Amen; blessing, and glory, and wisdom and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might be unto our God forever and eVer Amen.”

It is clear that, in this chapter and the one preceding, we have two grand parallel and comprehensive histories in one, the process of corruption in the so-called church and the final judgments that overtook these cruel persecutors of the Lord’s people; in the other, the setting apart and sealing of God’s servants, their preservation from the contaminations of an apostate church, and the final glorious triumph of all who endure unto the end.

This vision has often been applied in a figurative manner to the spiritual reign of God’s people on earth before the end of time that they are overcomers through the blood of Christ, that God dwells with them in his church, that their spiritual needs are all supplied so they hunger and thirst no more but a careful study of the plan of the prophecy will show that its real signification is the heavenly state at the end. As the sixth seal describes the final overthrow of all the antichristian powers that have oppressed God’s people on earth; so this vision describes the great white-robed company gathered out of every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, who have been preserved faithful through all these trials and tribulations, and who receive at last the crown of everlasting life. This last vision will be more fully described under certain symbols contained in the last two chapters of this book; while the earthquake, the falling of the stars, etc.