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.