Part 3
Between the breaking of the sixth and seventh seals of the scroll in Revelation, what can be so important that it will interrupt the continuity of the announcement of Christ’s coming and the outpouring of God’s wrath upon the earth?
Between the breaking of the sixth and seventh seals of the scroll in Revelation, what can be so important that it will interrupt the continuity of the announcement of Christ’s coming and the outpouring of God’s wrath upon the earth?
The First Six Seals
The sixth chapter of the Book of Revelation is a stunning, sobering, rapid-fire account of the major events leading to the second coming of Christ. The chapter is powerful in its prophetic message, priceless in its contemporary worth, and parallel to the Lord’s teaching in His Olivet Discourse in its scope (Matthew 24:1-31).
In the sixth chapter of Revelation, the Son of God begins to break the seven seals surrounding and securing the scroll He took from the right hand of His heavenly Father in Revelation 5:7. The importance of this scroll can never be overstated; it contains the title deed to Planet Earth. The one who can open the scroll by breaking its seals and bring to pass the events the scroll foretells will become the undisputed ruler of the kingdoms of this world (Revelation 11:15). A universal search is made in Heaven, on Earth, and beneath the earth for such a man. Only one man is found who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll. He is the Lamb of God – the Lion of the tribe of Judah (Revelation 5:5).
In sequence, these four satanically-empowered horses and riders will be the causal agents for the emergence of false Christs, war, famine, and pestilence. They will do their dastardly work during the first 3½ years of Daniel’s Seventieth Week (this seven-year Seventieth Week is popularly, but wrongly, called the “Tribulation” or “Tribulation Period”). By the time these four horses and riders gallop off the scene, much of the earth will be reeling from the chaos, devastation, and destruction they have caused.
Yet, in describing the devastation caused by the opening of the first four seals, amaz- ingly the Lord says this will only be “the beginning of sorrows,” or, more literally, “the beginning of birth pangs” (Matthew 24:8). The message is patently clear. As destructive as the four horses and riders will be, the worst is still to come. The first four seals are just for openers. The pressure against God’s people is going to increase dramatically with the breaking of the fifth seal.
The imagery intended by the Lord is critically important to grasp. Just as a pregnant woman must normally go through the beginning birth pangs, followed by hard labor before the birth of a child, so must the beginning birth pangs of the first four seals be followed by the hard labor of the fifth seal before Christ’s coming.
Unlike the first four seals, the fifth seal has no horse and rider associated with it. However, because the persecution of God’s elect is greatly increased in connection with this seal, the Lord calls the fifth seal the “Great Tribulation” (Matthew 24:9-22; Revelation 6:9-11).
The sixth chapter of the Book of Revelation is a stunning, sobering, rapid-fire account of the major events leading to the second coming of Christ. The chapter is powerful in its prophetic message, priceless in its contemporary worth, and parallel to the Lord’s teaching in His Olivet Discourse in its scope (Matthew 24:1-31).
In the sixth chapter of Revelation, the Son of God begins to break the seven seals surrounding and securing the scroll He took from the right hand of His heavenly Father in Revelation 5:7. The importance of this scroll can never be overstated; it contains the title deed to Planet Earth. The one who can open the scroll by breaking its seals and bring to pass the events the scroll foretells will become the undisputed ruler of the kingdoms of this world (Revelation 11:15). A universal search is made in Heaven, on Earth, and beneath the earth for such a man. Only one man is found who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll. He is the Lamb of God – the Lion of the tribe of Judah (Revelation 5:5).
When the first seal is broken, a white horse and its rider gallop across the earth.
When the second seal is broken, a red horse and its rider gallop across the earth.
When the third seal is broken, a black horse and its rider gallop across the earth.
When the fourth seal is broken, a pale, or sickly green, horse and its rider gallop across the earth.
In sequence, these four satanically-empowered horses and riders will be the causal agents for the emergence of false Christs, war, famine, and pestilence. They will do their dastardly work during the first 3½ years of Daniel’s Seventieth Week (this seven-year Seventieth Week is popularly, but wrongly, called the “Tribulation” or “Tribulation Period”). By the time these four horses and riders gallop off the scene, much of the earth will be reeling from the chaos, devastation, and destruction they have caused.
Yet, in describing the devastation caused by the opening of the first four seals, amaz- ingly the Lord says this will only be “the beginning of sorrows,” or, more literally, “the beginning of birth pangs” (Matthew 24:8). The message is patently clear. As destructive as the four horses and riders will be, the worst is still to come. The first four seals are just for openers. The pressure against God’s people is going to increase dramatically with the breaking of the fifth seal.
The imagery intended by the Lord is critically important to grasp. Just as a pregnant woman must normally go through the beginning birth pangs, followed by hard labor before the birth of a child, so must the beginning birth pangs of the first four seals be followed by the hard labor of the fifth seal before Christ’s coming.
Unlike the first four seals, the fifth seal has no horse and rider associated with it. However, because the persecution of God’s elect is greatly increased in connection with this seal, the Lord calls the fifth seal the “Great Tribulation” (Matthew 24:9-22; Revelation 6:9-11).
The fifth seal begins at the mid-point of Daniel’s Seventieth Week (Daniel 9:24-27). The catalyst for the Great Tribulation will be the abomination of desolation (Daniel 9:27; 12:11; Matthew 24:15). It is then that many believers will be martyred by the Antichrist because they will not take his mark or give him their allegiance. They will remain faithful to the Lamb of God who encouraged His followers with this promise: “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life” (Revelation 2:10). Again, He taught, “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord” (Revelation 14:13), or, literally, “living are the dead which die in the Lord.”
The Lord warned that if those days of Great Tribulation were not cut short, no “believing” flesh would survive. But, for the elect’s sake, those days will be shortened (Matthew 24:21-22). The fifth seal, which is the Great Tribulation, is commonly taught today to last 3½ years when in reality, according to the Scriptures, it is actually less than 3½ years for the elect. It is amputated, or “cut short,” before the end of Daniel’s Seventieth Week. Satan will empower the Antichrist for 3½ years (Revelation 13:5; Daniel 7:25), but his unobstructed power to kill believers during the fifth seal terminates with the opening of the sixth seal.
With the breaking of the sixth seal, suddenly and without advance notice, the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give her light, and the stars will fall from heaven (Matthew 24:29; Revelation 6:12-13). This will be a terrifying event for the unsaved world. This cosmic disturbance associated with the sixth seal is the clear indicator that the “Day of the Lord” wrath is about to begin (Joel 2:30-31; 3:14-15; Acts 2:19-20).
God’s wrath begins with the breaking of the seventh seal. But that is preceded by the resurrection of those who have died in Christ, immediately followed by the rapture of living believers, who are not appointed unto God’s wrath (Matthew 24:31; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18; 5:9-10). From the clouds with His angelic army, Jesus begins to punish the world for its sin through the destruction inflicted by the seven trumpet and seven bowl judgments.
A compendium from the prophets’ descriptions reveals that the Day of the Lord will be:
God is not mocked; people cannot turn up their noses at God and get away with it. Whatever a man, nation, or the world sows, it reaps in due season. The Day of the Lord will be the time for reaping – the time for God to be vindicated among His creation.
The apostle John wrote of the unsaved world’s response to the opening of the sixth seal:
It has often been said that “there are no atheists in fox holes.” The accuracy of this statement can be debated. However, one thing is absolutely certain: When the sixth seal is broken and the sun is darkened, the moon withholds its light, and the stars fall from heaven, there will be no atheists anywhere in the universe. Humanity will know the righteous wrath of God is about to begin – that time has run out.
The Lord warned that if those days of Great Tribulation were not cut short, no “believing” flesh would survive. But, for the elect’s sake, those days will be shortened (Matthew 24:21-22). The fifth seal, which is the Great Tribulation, is commonly taught today to last 3½ years when in reality, according to the Scriptures, it is actually less than 3½ years for the elect. It is amputated, or “cut short,” before the end of Daniel’s Seventieth Week. Satan will empower the Antichrist for 3½ years (Revelation 13:5; Daniel 7:25), but his unobstructed power to kill believers during the fifth seal terminates with the opening of the sixth seal.
With the breaking of the sixth seal, suddenly and without advance notice, the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give her light, and the stars will fall from heaven (Matthew 24:29; Revelation 6:12-13). This will be a terrifying event for the unsaved world. This cosmic disturbance associated with the sixth seal is the clear indicator that the “Day of the Lord” wrath is about to begin (Joel 2:30-31; 3:14-15; Acts 2:19-20).
God’s wrath begins with the breaking of the seventh seal. But that is preceded by the resurrection of those who have died in Christ, immediately followed by the rapture of living believers, who are not appointed unto God’s wrath (Matthew 24:31; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18; 5:9-10). From the clouds with His angelic army, Jesus begins to punish the world for its sin through the destruction inflicted by the seven trumpet and seven bowl judgments.
A compendium from the prophets’ descriptions reveals that the Day of the Lord will be:
- A time when God “ariseth to shake terribly the earth” (Isaiah 2:19, 21).
- A time of destruction from the Almighty (Isaiah 13:6; Joel 1:15).
- A time of divine wrath and fierce anger (Isaiah 13:13; Zephaniah 1:15, 2:2).
- A time when God punishes the world for its evil and the wicked for their iniquity (Isaiah 13:11).
- A time when God directs His indignation and fury against the nations (Isaiah 34:1-2; Obadiah 15; Zephaniah 1:14-2:3; Zechariah 14:3).
- A time when God reveals His vengeance (Isaiah 34:8).
- A time of darkness in the heavens (Isaiah 13:9-10; Isaiah 34:4; Joel 2:31; 3:15).
- A time of fire from the Lord (Joel 2:3, 5, 30; Zephaniah 1:18; 3:8).
- A day of clouds, thick darkness, gloominess, wrath, trouble, distress, and terror (Ezekiel 30:3; Zephaniah 1:15).
God is not mocked; people cannot turn up their noses at God and get away with it. Whatever a man, nation, or the world sows, it reaps in due season. The Day of the Lord will be the time for reaping – the time for God to be vindicated among His creation.
The apostle John wrote of the unsaved world’s response to the opening of the sixth seal:
And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne,
and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come [is about to begin]; and who shall be able to stand? (Revelation 6:12-17; see also Isaiah 2:11-22; Joel 2:1-3,
30, 31; Matthew 24:29-30;
1 Thessalonians 5:1-3).
It has often been said that “there are no atheists in fox holes.” The accuracy of this statement can be debated. However, one thing is absolutely certain: When the sixth seal is broken and the sun is darkened, the moon withholds its light, and the stars fall from heaven, there will be no atheists anywhere in the universe. Humanity will know the righteous wrath of God is about to begin – that time has run out.
No bunker will be thick enough, no fox hole deep enough, and no cave dark enough to shield humanity from the wrath of the Lamb. In that day, all that remains for the outpouring of God’s wrath is the breaking of the seventh seal. When the seventh seal, which contains the seven trumpets and seven bowls, is broken, the scroll will begin to be opened. It will be sinners in the hands of a righteous and, therefore, justifiably angry God. All which has defiled the earth since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden will be purged by fire (2 Peter 3:10).
To repeat, the first four seals are the beginning birth pangs (Matthew 24:3-8; Revelation 6:1-8). The fifth seal is the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:9-28; Revelation 6:9-11). The sixth seal is the cosmic disturbance indicating the Day of the Lord wrath is about to begin (Matthew 24:29-30; Revelation 6:12-17). Just prior to the opening of the seventh seal, the world will see the Lord coming in the clouds, to resurrect the dead in Christ, immediately followed by the rapture of living believers (Matthew 24:31; Revelation 7:9-14).
Believers are not appointed to God’s wrath (1 Thessalonians 5:9), but they are not exempted from Antichrist’s persecution. This is the most important truth presented in this article. And, however well-intentioned and sincere, arguments to the contrary will pose great danger to the generation of believers entering the Seventieth Week with the false hope of a pre-Seventieth-Week Rapture.
But what happened to the seventh seal? The first six seals were opened in sequence in Chapter 6; the opening of the seventh seal is not found there. Both logic and continuity suggest the seventh seal will be found at the beginning of Chapter 7. This is not the case.
Not until Chapter 8 is the seventh seal opened. John wrote of the Lamb of God: “And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour” (Revelation 8:1). The “silence in heaven” immediately prior to the beginning of the Day of the Lord is a prophesied event usually overlooked by Bible teachers. The prophet Zephaniah wrote: “Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord God: for the day of the Lord is at hand” (Zephaniah 1:7). The devastating divine judgment, which is about to begin on earth, brings silence to the angelic host of heaven and the newly-arrived resurrected and raptured saints.
Unlike the first six seals, which were consecutive and uninterrupted, the breaking of the seventh seal, which is going to unleash the wrath of God, is suddenly delayed by the events of Chapter 7. What can be so important that it interrupts the continuity between the sixth seal – which announces the coming of Christ and that His Day of the Lord wrath is about to begin – and the seventh seal, which – when broken – begins that wrath?
Urgent Angelic Restraint
In Revelation 6, with the opening of the sixth seal, we are told God’s wrath “is come”– that is, it is an overhanging event about to occur. In Revelation 8, with the opening of the seventh seal, God’s wrath begins immediately to fall upon the earth. Between the warning that God’s wrath is about to begin, in Chapter 6, and the actual beginning of that wrath, in Chapter 8, lies Revelation 7. This chapter presents a critical portrait of two distinct groups of people.
In Chapter 7, John sees “four angels standing on the four corners of the earth,” empowered to hold back the wind on the earth, “that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree” (Revelation 7:1). Then suddenly, John beholds another angel ascending from the East. Apparently, he is an angel of higher rank than the first four angels. He carries an urgent message in the form of a command: “And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, Saying, Hurt [damage] not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads” (Revelation 7:2-3). Hurting the earth is to be withheld until these servants of the Lord are sealed in their foreheads.
The word “sealed” is used 15 times in six short verses of Scripture (Revelation 7:3-8). The sealing of these servants of God is mentioned on another occasion when they are referred to as having their Father’s name written (sealed) in their foreheads (Revelation 14:1). Sealing carried with it two important concepts.
The first concept of “sealing” is ownership. Whoever’s name was on the seal owned what the seal was attached to or contained. In the case of the 144,000, their Father’s name was written on their foreheads. They belonged to Him. In Revelation 13, the Antichrist demands men and women have his mark, or name, or number of his name in their right hand or forehead. The purpose is to indicate that those who take his mark belong to him (Revelation 13:16-17) and can function in his short-lived kingdom by buying and selling. Taking the Antichrist’s mark guarantees eternal judgment and separation from God (Revelation 14:9-11) – an action no true believer will ever take.
The second concept of “sealing” is protection. Those who are sealed by God’s angels belong to God and are therefore protected by God. In one of the most exultant texts in the Word of God, the apostle Paul proclaims: “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39). Believers are sealed by the Holy Spirit at the time of salvation. Therefore, they belong to God and are protected by God (Ephesians 1:13-14).
Those who are sealed in Revelation 7 belong to God. He protects what belongs to Him. This is the basis of the urgent command to the four angels to cease and desist from hurting the earth until these servants of God are sealed. Those who are sealed are to remain on the earth during the Day of the Lord wrath – but they will be protected from that wrath. They will be the first fruit of many who will come to faith in Christ to enter His Millennial Kingdom in mortal bodies (Isaiah 65:17-25).
The 144,000 on Earth
Who are these sealed servants of God? They are said to number 144,000, and come from all the tribes of the children of Israel. The composition of the 144,000 sealed servants of God is said to comprise 12,000 men from each of the 12 tribes of Israel. Each of the 12 tribes is singled out for personal mention by using the formula: “Of the tribe of [insert the tribal name] were sealed twelve thousand.” The tribe of Judah is mentioned first because it is the royal tribe from which Jesus originates. The tribe of Reuben is mentioned second because Reuben was the firstborn. The tribe of Dan is omitted from the list because it was an idolatrous tribe. The tribe of Benjamin is mentioned last because he was the 12th and youngest son of Jacob. In between are found significant historic references concerning a number of the tribes.
John went to great lengths to clearly identify this group of servants of the Lord. They are 144,000 in number. They are sealed. They are from the children of Israel. There are 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes. If words are intended to convey truth – if they can be understood – then this much is clear: When John spoke of the children of Israel, he was speaking specifically of the children of Israel. When only two chapters earlier Jesus is referred to as “the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David” (Revelation 5:5), it was not symbolic. We were being told that Jesus is the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David.
It is sad that some commentators take the clear teaching of this portion of the Word of God and attempt, by what can only be termed “bizarre exegesis,” to explain it away. They do so because in almost all cases they blur the biblical distinction between Israel and the Church. Then they are forced to distort certain other texts in an attempt to keep their theological systems afloat.
One commentator has said, “The number twelve (the number of tribes) is both squared and multiplied by a thousand – a twofold way of emphasizing completeness.” A second has written, “The whole picture is symbolic. Twelve times twelve, multiplied by one thousand, or 144,000 is an ideal number denoting that the body [the Church] is complete.” Still a third has asserted that “the number 144,000 is made up of twelve multiplied by twelve– the perfect square – and then rendered even more inclusive and complete by being multiplied by 1,000.” Few people in the early Church could even read, let alone apply, mathematical formulas to understand the sacred text. More similar quotes could be added to the list, and all are simply parroting some earlier writer. To think this is how John expected his writing to be understood, or that this is how the early Church would have understood it, is far beyond plausible.
Exegesis means “taking out of a biblical text what is there.” Eisegesis is “reading into a biblical text what is not there.” The above quotes are classic examples of the latter. Their commentary is empty talk in a vain attempt to explain away the truth that the 144,000 are Israelites – 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes.
Some suggest that, historically, the 12 tribes of Israel ceased to exist as identifiable entities. They argue that, in 722 B.C., Israel (the 10 northern tribes) was taken into Assyrian captivity, leaving only the southern kingdom of Judah (the two southern tribes of Judah and Benjamin). And, in A.D. 70, the Roman legions captured Jerusalem, destroyed the Temple on Mount Moriah, and forced the Jews into a worldwide dispersion where they lost their tribal identity. Their conclusion is in conflict with what the Scriptures teach.
In a prophetic text of the last days, God said He will unite the 10 northern tribes of Israel and the two southern tribes of Judah into one nation (Ezekiel 37:16-19). The apostle Paul, in sharing his Jewish pedigree, said he was “circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin” (Philippians 3:5). Clearly, tribal records were still maintained and viewed as important in the first century. James, the half-brother of Jesus, began the New Testament book which bears his name with these words: “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad” (James 1:1). More than 700 years after the 10 northern tribes were taken into captivity, there were still identifiable Jews from all 12 tribes.
On an important occasion, the apostle Peter, representing the Apostles, asked the Lord: “Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee [unlike the rich young ruler]; what shall we have therefore?” Jesus answered them with these words: “Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Matthew 19:27-28).
Was the Son of God lying to or misleading His Apostles? God forbid! There is no precedent for this event in history. It will occur during Christ’s Millennial Kingdom. In the final analysis, the God who has the power to resurrect the believing dead of the ages, no matter how they died or where their bodies lie, will have no problem recognizing and sealing 12,000 Jews from the 12 tribes of Israel. During the Old Testament economy, the Jewish people were to be God’s witnesses to the world – they failed terribly! During the Day of the Lord, 144,000 Jews from the 12 tribes of Israel will take the Gospel of Christ to the Gentile nations of the world – this time they will succeed wondrously! The 144,000 will be the first fruits of a great harvest of Jews and Gentiles who come to faith in Christ (Revelation 14:4; see also Romans 11:11-12).
The Great Multitude in Heaven
A second group is now brought into focus. This group is called “a great multitude.” They are so large a multitude that “no man could number” them. Therefore, this multitude must be much larger than the 144,000 mentioned above. They are universal in scope and said to be from “all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues [languages].” They are seen standing in Heaven before the throne and before the Lamb. They are clothed with white robes. And they have palms (branches) in their hands (Revelation 7:9). But this great multitude is not silent. They are singing a psalm of praise to the Lord with a loud voice saying, “Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb” (Revelation 7:10).
This great multitude is not without an audience. All the angels, 24 elders, and the four living creatures “fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God” (Revelation 7:11; see also 4:4-6). They said, “Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever” (Revelation 7:12).
Some commentators insist this great multitude in Heaven represents those who were martyred during the Great Tribulation because they refused to take the mark of the Antichrist (Revelation 6:9). These teachers argue that John saw this multitude in Heaven. But when John was asked by one of the elders who they were, he acknowledged he did not know who they were or from where they came (Revelation 7:13). These teachers then conclude if John didn’t recognize who this great multitude was, it could not be the raptured Church, for surely John would recognize the Church he served most of his life. However, the exact opposite would be more logical. The Church John knew in the first century was very small in number, under severe persecution by Rome, surrounded by paganism and idolatry, and struggling for its very existence.
By contrast, what John saw in Heaven was a great multitude which no one could number, joyous and triumphant, representative of all nations, kindreds, people, and tongues; certainly not representative of the Church at the end of the first century. It is no wonder John could not recognize who the great multitude was. When this great multitude suddenly appears in Heaven, all the angels, elders, and living creatures are there to joyously greet them. Conspicuous by its absence is the Church. The Church was not part of the greeting committee because the great multitude just arriving is the Church. But more to the point, the Bible identifies this great multitude which came out of great tribulation as the Church. The Lord Jesus taught:
In Revelation, Chapter 6, with the breaking of the sixth seal, God’s wrath is about to begin. In Chapter 8, with the breaking of the seventh seal, God’s judgment of the earth begins. In between, in Chapter 7, 144,000 Jews are sealed for protection during the Day of the Lord. And a great multitude which no one can number, the raptured Church, is caught up to meet the Lord in the clouds.
The entire scene in Chapter 7 suggests a flawless passing of the baton. The Church will be raptured before the seventh seal is broken because she is not appointed unto God’s wrath. But immediately prior to the Church’s rapture, 144,000 Jews will be sealed for protection as they remain on the earth during the Day of the Lord.
To repeat, the first four seals are the beginning birth pangs (Matthew 24:3-8; Revelation 6:1-8). The fifth seal is the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:9-28; Revelation 6:9-11). The sixth seal is the cosmic disturbance indicating the Day of the Lord wrath is about to begin (Matthew 24:29-30; Revelation 6:12-17). Just prior to the opening of the seventh seal, the world will see the Lord coming in the clouds, to resurrect the dead in Christ, immediately followed by the rapture of living believers (Matthew 24:31; Revelation 7:9-14).
Believers are not appointed to God’s wrath (1 Thessalonians 5:9), but they are not exempted from Antichrist’s persecution. This is the most important truth presented in this article. And, however well-intentioned and sincere, arguments to the contrary will pose great danger to the generation of believers entering the Seventieth Week with the false hope of a pre-Seventieth-Week Rapture.
But what happened to the seventh seal? The first six seals were opened in sequence in Chapter 6; the opening of the seventh seal is not found there. Both logic and continuity suggest the seventh seal will be found at the beginning of Chapter 7. This is not the case.
Not until Chapter 8 is the seventh seal opened. John wrote of the Lamb of God: “And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour” (Revelation 8:1). The “silence in heaven” immediately prior to the beginning of the Day of the Lord is a prophesied event usually overlooked by Bible teachers. The prophet Zephaniah wrote: “Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord God: for the day of the Lord is at hand” (Zephaniah 1:7). The devastating divine judgment, which is about to begin on earth, brings silence to the angelic host of heaven and the newly-arrived resurrected and raptured saints.
Unlike the first six seals, which were consecutive and uninterrupted, the breaking of the seventh seal, which is going to unleash the wrath of God, is suddenly delayed by the events of Chapter 7. What can be so important that it interrupts the continuity between the sixth seal – which announces the coming of Christ and that His Day of the Lord wrath is about to begin – and the seventh seal, which – when broken – begins that wrath?
Urgent Angelic Restraint
In Revelation 6, with the opening of the sixth seal, we are told God’s wrath “is come”– that is, it is an overhanging event about to occur. In Revelation 8, with the opening of the seventh seal, God’s wrath begins immediately to fall upon the earth. Between the warning that God’s wrath is about to begin, in Chapter 6, and the actual beginning of that wrath, in Chapter 8, lies Revelation 7. This chapter presents a critical portrait of two distinct groups of people.
In Chapter 7, John sees “four angels standing on the four corners of the earth,” empowered to hold back the wind on the earth, “that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree” (Revelation 7:1). Then suddenly, John beholds another angel ascending from the East. Apparently, he is an angel of higher rank than the first four angels. He carries an urgent message in the form of a command: “And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, Saying, Hurt [damage] not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads” (Revelation 7:2-3). Hurting the earth is to be withheld until these servants of the Lord are sealed in their foreheads.
The word “sealed” is used 15 times in six short verses of Scripture (Revelation 7:3-8). The sealing of these servants of God is mentioned on another occasion when they are referred to as having their Father’s name written (sealed) in their foreheads (Revelation 14:1). Sealing carried with it two important concepts.
The first concept of “sealing” is ownership. Whoever’s name was on the seal owned what the seal was attached to or contained. In the case of the 144,000, their Father’s name was written on their foreheads. They belonged to Him. In Revelation 13, the Antichrist demands men and women have his mark, or name, or number of his name in their right hand or forehead. The purpose is to indicate that those who take his mark belong to him (Revelation 13:16-17) and can function in his short-lived kingdom by buying and selling. Taking the Antichrist’s mark guarantees eternal judgment and separation from God (Revelation 14:9-11) – an action no true believer will ever take.
The second concept of “sealing” is protection. Those who are sealed by God’s angels belong to God and are therefore protected by God. In one of the most exultant texts in the Word of God, the apostle Paul proclaims: “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39). Believers are sealed by the Holy Spirit at the time of salvation. Therefore, they belong to God and are protected by God (Ephesians 1:13-14).
Those who are sealed in Revelation 7 belong to God. He protects what belongs to Him. This is the basis of the urgent command to the four angels to cease and desist from hurting the earth until these servants of God are sealed. Those who are sealed are to remain on the earth during the Day of the Lord wrath – but they will be protected from that wrath. They will be the first fruit of many who will come to faith in Christ to enter His Millennial Kingdom in mortal bodies (Isaiah 65:17-25).
The 144,000 on Earth
Who are these sealed servants of God? They are said to number 144,000, and come from all the tribes of the children of Israel. The composition of the 144,000 sealed servants of God is said to comprise 12,000 men from each of the 12 tribes of Israel. Each of the 12 tribes is singled out for personal mention by using the formula: “Of the tribe of [insert the tribal name] were sealed twelve thousand.” The tribe of Judah is mentioned first because it is the royal tribe from which Jesus originates. The tribe of Reuben is mentioned second because Reuben was the firstborn. The tribe of Dan is omitted from the list because it was an idolatrous tribe. The tribe of Benjamin is mentioned last because he was the 12th and youngest son of Jacob. In between are found significant historic references concerning a number of the tribes.
John went to great lengths to clearly identify this group of servants of the Lord. They are 144,000 in number. They are sealed. They are from the children of Israel. There are 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes. If words are intended to convey truth – if they can be understood – then this much is clear: When John spoke of the children of Israel, he was speaking specifically of the children of Israel. When only two chapters earlier Jesus is referred to as “the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David” (Revelation 5:5), it was not symbolic. We were being told that Jesus is the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David.
It is sad that some commentators take the clear teaching of this portion of the Word of God and attempt, by what can only be termed “bizarre exegesis,” to explain it away. They do so because in almost all cases they blur the biblical distinction between Israel and the Church. Then they are forced to distort certain other texts in an attempt to keep their theological systems afloat.
One commentator has said, “The number twelve (the number of tribes) is both squared and multiplied by a thousand – a twofold way of emphasizing completeness.” A second has written, “The whole picture is symbolic. Twelve times twelve, multiplied by one thousand, or 144,000 is an ideal number denoting that the body [the Church] is complete.” Still a third has asserted that “the number 144,000 is made up of twelve multiplied by twelve– the perfect square – and then rendered even more inclusive and complete by being multiplied by 1,000.” Few people in the early Church could even read, let alone apply, mathematical formulas to understand the sacred text. More similar quotes could be added to the list, and all are simply parroting some earlier writer. To think this is how John expected his writing to be understood, or that this is how the early Church would have understood it, is far beyond plausible.
Exegesis means “taking out of a biblical text what is there.” Eisegesis is “reading into a biblical text what is not there.” The above quotes are classic examples of the latter. Their commentary is empty talk in a vain attempt to explain away the truth that the 144,000 are Israelites – 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes.
Some suggest that, historically, the 12 tribes of Israel ceased to exist as identifiable entities. They argue that, in 722 B.C., Israel (the 10 northern tribes) was taken into Assyrian captivity, leaving only the southern kingdom of Judah (the two southern tribes of Judah and Benjamin). And, in A.D. 70, the Roman legions captured Jerusalem, destroyed the Temple on Mount Moriah, and forced the Jews into a worldwide dispersion where they lost their tribal identity. Their conclusion is in conflict with what the Scriptures teach.
In a prophetic text of the last days, God said He will unite the 10 northern tribes of Israel and the two southern tribes of Judah into one nation (Ezekiel 37:16-19). The apostle Paul, in sharing his Jewish pedigree, said he was “circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin” (Philippians 3:5). Clearly, tribal records were still maintained and viewed as important in the first century. James, the half-brother of Jesus, began the New Testament book which bears his name with these words: “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad” (James 1:1). More than 700 years after the 10 northern tribes were taken into captivity, there were still identifiable Jews from all 12 tribes.
On an important occasion, the apostle Peter, representing the Apostles, asked the Lord: “Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee [unlike the rich young ruler]; what shall we have therefore?” Jesus answered them with these words: “Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Matthew 19:27-28).
Was the Son of God lying to or misleading His Apostles? God forbid! There is no precedent for this event in history. It will occur during Christ’s Millennial Kingdom. In the final analysis, the God who has the power to resurrect the believing dead of the ages, no matter how they died or where their bodies lie, will have no problem recognizing and sealing 12,000 Jews from the 12 tribes of Israel. During the Old Testament economy, the Jewish people were to be God’s witnesses to the world – they failed terribly! During the Day of the Lord, 144,000 Jews from the 12 tribes of Israel will take the Gospel of Christ to the Gentile nations of the world – this time they will succeed wondrously! The 144,000 will be the first fruits of a great harvest of Jews and Gentiles who come to faith in Christ (Revelation 14:4; see also Romans 11:11-12).
The Great Multitude in Heaven
A second group is now brought into focus. This group is called “a great multitude.” They are so large a multitude that “no man could number” them. Therefore, this multitude must be much larger than the 144,000 mentioned above. They are universal in scope and said to be from “all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues [languages].” They are seen standing in Heaven before the throne and before the Lamb. They are clothed with white robes. And they have palms (branches) in their hands (Revelation 7:9). But this great multitude is not silent. They are singing a psalm of praise to the Lord with a loud voice saying, “Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb” (Revelation 7:10).
This great multitude is not without an audience. All the angels, 24 elders, and the four living creatures “fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God” (Revelation 7:11; see also 4:4-6). They said, “Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever” (Revelation 7:12).
Some commentators insist this great multitude in Heaven represents those who were martyred during the Great Tribulation because they refused to take the mark of the Antichrist (Revelation 6:9). These teachers argue that John saw this multitude in Heaven. But when John was asked by one of the elders who they were, he acknowledged he did not know who they were or from where they came (Revelation 7:13). These teachers then conclude if John didn’t recognize who this great multitude was, it could not be the raptured Church, for surely John would recognize the Church he served most of his life. However, the exact opposite would be more logical. The Church John knew in the first century was very small in number, under severe persecution by Rome, surrounded by paganism and idolatry, and struggling for its very existence.
By contrast, what John saw in Heaven was a great multitude which no one could number, joyous and triumphant, representative of all nations, kindreds, people, and tongues; certainly not representative of the Church at the end of the first century. It is no wonder John could not recognize who the great multitude was. When this great multitude suddenly appears in Heaven, all the angels, elders, and living creatures are there to joyously greet them. Conspicuous by its absence is the Church. The Church was not part of the greeting committee because the great multitude just arriving is the Church. But more to the point, the Bible identifies this great multitude which came out of great tribulation as the Church. The Lord Jesus taught:
Immediately after the tribulation of those days [the Great Tribulation of the fifth seal; see Matthew 24:21] shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken [the cosmic disturbance of the sixth seal announcing the coming of the Lord to punish the world for its sin]: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn [they are mourning because they know His wrath is about to fall on them], and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds [this is the raptured Church, the great multitude which no one can number, from every nation, kindred, people, and tongue], from one end of heaven to the other (Matthew 24:29-31).
In Revelation, Chapter 6, with the breaking of the sixth seal, God’s wrath is about to begin. In Chapter 8, with the breaking of the seventh seal, God’s judgment of the earth begins. In between, in Chapter 7, 144,000 Jews are sealed for protection during the Day of the Lord. And a great multitude which no one can number, the raptured Church, is caught up to meet the Lord in the clouds.
The entire scene in Chapter 7 suggests a flawless passing of the baton. The Church will be raptured before the seventh seal is broken because she is not appointed unto God’s wrath. But immediately prior to the Church’s rapture, 144,000 Jews will be sealed for protection as they remain on the earth during the Day of the Lord.
Posted in End-Times, Rapture, Rapture & Wrath
Posted in 144000, Salvation, Rapture, Wrath, Revelation 7, 7 Seals
Posted in 144000, Salvation, Rapture, Wrath, Revelation 7, 7 Seals
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