[Read Revelation 7]
The last chapter ended with some haunting words: Who can stand? I don’t know about you, but those words have haunted me over the years. Who can stand? Who can endure? Am I strong enough to keep going?
Early in my ministry, I read the book “Tortured for Christ” by Richard Wurmbrand. As I read this book, that question—Who can stand? Could I stand?—repeatedly ran through my mind. I brought shivers up my spine. Even this week, as I re-read portions of the book, shivers rose up my spine and I found myself asking—Could I stand?
Here’s a portion from the book:
“A pastor by the name of Florescu was tortured with red-hot iron pokers and with knives. He was beaten very badly. Then starving rats were driven into his cell through a large pipe. He could not sleep because he had to defend himself all the time. If he rested a moment, the rats would attack him.
“He was forced to stand for two weeks, day and night. The Communists wished to compel him to betray his brethren, but resisted steadfastly. Eventually, they brought his fourteen-year-old son to the prison and began to whip the boy in front of his father, saying they would continue to beat him until the pastor said what they wished him to say. The poor man was half mad. He bore it as long as he could, then cried out to his son, ‘Alexander, I must say what they want! I can’t bear your beating anymore!’ The son answered, ‘Father, don’t do me the injustice of having a traitor as a parent. Withstand! If they kill me, I will die with the words, “Jesus and my fatherland.”’” (p. 34).
Who could stand? Could you stand?
The answer to those questions is given in this chapter of Revelation. John is given another vision. Many call this an interlude. There’s a break. The scroll has seven seals and Jesus has been opening them one right after the other, but before he gets to the seventh there’s this break and John is given another vision. We know it’s another vision because John uses the phrase, “After this…” (Revelation 7:1, ESV). Whenever he uses that phrase he’s saying, “After this vision, I had another vision.”
And when he is given this vision he writes, “After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, that no wind might blow on earth or sea or against any tree.” (Revelation 7:1, ESV). Again, we notice the repeated number 4, which is the number of the earth. Something is going to happen across the earth, the wind is going to blow and cause some problems, but the angels are holding it back—not letting it break free. This is another image describing the previous chapter and the judgements and turmoil that is taking place across the earth. Rather than being described as horses with riders and God’s people killed and the earth falling apart, this time is described as the four winds about to sweep across the whole earth—bringing all of this difficulty with it. Who will be able to stand when this turmoil comes?
Then John sees and hears something, “Then I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, with the seal of the living God, and he called with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm earth and sea, saying, “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.”” (Revelation 7:2–3, ESV). The angel is saying, “Don’t let this turmoil happen—don’t release the wind—until we’ve sealed the servants of God on their foreheads.
What does it mean for the servants of God to be sealed? Seals were used for a couple purposes. They were used to protect things and to show ownership. So, if someone wrote a letter and they wanted the contents protected, they would place a seal on it. The seal also contained a symbol that showed who owned that document. So, protection and ownership.
What we’re seeing here is a powerful image of God’s protection of his people. Before the turmoil and trials and difficulties break out, God places a seal upon his people. That seal provides a level of protection for God’s people and marks them as His People. They are His people, and He is their God. And NOTHING is going to happen to them apart from His will. This reminds us of God’s protection of his people during the plagues of Egypt—how the blood of lamb over the doorposts protected them from the Angel of Death. In Ezekiel God marks the foreheads of those who hate sin before he brings judgement against sin. It’s a mark of protection and ownership.
And this mark of protection and ownership is placed on ALL of God’s people. That’s who the 144,000 represent. All of God’s people. It is 12 x 12 x 10 x 10 x 10. That’s 12 from the old, 12 from the new, times 10 three times. This group contains all of God’s people. All receive this seal that brings protection and shows ownership.
And, do you know what that seal is? Listen to 1 Corinthians: “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,” (Ephesians 1:13, ESV). The seal is the Holy Spirit. This passage says when we hear the truth of the gospel, and believe in Jesus Christ, we are sealed with the Holy Spirit. We are filled with the Holy Spirit and He marks us as God’s people and protects us.
And here’s the powerful part of this, God makes sure this happens BEFORE the turmoil breaks loose—before the wind sweeps across the earth. He looks at his people and says, “You are MINE! I’ve got you. Nothing will happen to you apart from my will. I will protect you!” That doesn’t mean the wind isn’t going to blow. That doesn’t mean trials are not going to come. That doesn’t mean we will never face difficulty or be thrown in jail or persecuted for our faith. It DOES mean that when we go through these things, God is with us. It DOES mean that we will make it through to the end—not because we are strong enough, but because GOD HAS SEALED US and will bring us through to the end.
Yet, we are not just sealed to hide in a closet until the difficulty goes away. You may wonder why the 144,000 are broken down by tribe. Why not just say 144,000 and move on? Take a moment to think about other times in the OT when you see lists like this, describing numbers from each tribe of Israel. We see these lists when Israel is building an army, preparing for battle. That’s the imagery here. God is placing a seal upon his people to protect them and mark them as his own, BUT they are also lined up, ready for battle. This is another image of the white horse, riding out to conquer in the midst of the chaos.
Now, we’re given a different image. God’s people lined up on the eve of battle. The enemy is coming, marching across the hills. As the enemy approaches, God’s people are nervous, twitching, unsure about what may happen. So, God comes to his people and places a seal upon them. He reminds them they are His people and He will protect them. That DOESN’T mean they won’t have to fight in the battle. That DOESN’T mean they will retreat and hide in a bunker until the war is over. It MEANS they will fight, they will struggle, they will suffer, but THEY WILL ENDURE and THEY WILL WIN!
And we know that because of the next vision. John writes, “After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”” (Revelation 7:9–10, ESV). Later in the passage, one of the elders asks, “”Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” (Revelation 7:13–14, ESV).
This is the same group of people, but from a different point of view. I know that many interpret this “great tribulation” as a period of seven years before Jesus comes. Yet, when John writes this letter to the seven churches he calls himself a “partner in the tribulation” (Revelation 1:9, ESV) and when he writes to these seven churches he says, “I know your tribulation…” (Revelation 2:9, ESV) and “you will have tribulation” (Revelation 2:10, ESV). The tribulation he is talking about wasn’t a future thing. It was happening when he wrote the letter. It’s still happening right now. The Great Tribulation is the time between Christ’s death and resurrection and his second coming. The time when the church is on earth and still in the midst of the fight.
That’s why I say this is the same group of people, but from a different point of view. Before, they were lined up on the eve of battle, the enemy approaching. Now, we see them in heaven, before the throne of Jesus Christ, wearing white robes with palm branches in their hands and crying out, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” (Revelation 7:10, ESV). They’re crying out, “God has won! Jesus has won! They have brought salvation!” In this vision, we get a glimpse of the end of the story. Those that were sealed by God and had to endure the difficulties and trials of the world, overcame by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony. They made it through to the end.
And notice what their worship said, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” (Revelation 7:10, ESV). This is in response to the question, “Who can stand?” When the church makes it through the difficulty of this life and the battle here on earth, they do NOT rejoice by saying, “We did it! We did it!” NO. They recognize that they DIDN’T do it. They weren’t strong enough. They couldn’t do it. GOD DID IT. SALVATION belongs to HIM.
This is extremely important for us to remember and acknowledge. When we hear stories of Christians being tortured and we react by thinking, “I’m not strong enough to endure that” we are RIGHT. We’re not strong enough. We can’t do it on our own. And THANK GOD salvation doesn’t belong to us. It belongs to our God and Jesus Christ. They ARE strong enough. They WILL bring you through. They WILL make sure you overcome and join the multitudes praising Him in heaven for eternity. Apart from them we could never stand, but because of them we WILL stand no matter what comes our way.
And let me tell you something, THAT’s true strength. The world wants you to wake up every morning and tell yourself, “I am strong. I am capable. I can do this. I can stand.” Yet, that’s not what scripture tells you. It tells us to wake up every morning and say, “I am weak. I am vulnerable. I will not be able to stand. But, my God is strong and powerful and will hold me up. In my weakness his power is made perfect. So, I step out into whatever circumstance faces me with confidence and boldness because my God is with me.” THAT is true strength and power.
And then we’re given this beautiful picture of what we receive when we overcome: “Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” (Revelation 7:15–17, ESV). They are no longer at war. All of their needs are met. They are fully protected. They are in the presence of God serving and worshiping him for all eternity.
People of God, that’s on the other side of the battle. Right now, we’re in the midst of battle. There is struggle and difficulty and trials and turmoil. There are times when we feel like we may lose our lives in the battle—times when we don’t think we can keep on fighting. We’re too tired. We’re too weak. We’re exhausted. The enemy is too strong.
Then we hear Jesus say, “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33, ESV). Not only has he overcome the world, but he has placed a seal upon you so that you can overcome the world. He will not let your foot slip. He will not let you fall away. Of course, you’re too tired, too weak, too exhausted. Jesus isn’t. He has overcome and has promised that you will also overcome if you put your faith and trust in Him. Because of Jesus we can continue to fight in this battle—not in our own strength, but His strength. Because of Jesus we can have CONFIDENCE that we will overcome in this battle—not matter how difficult things get—and will spend eternity with God’s people “crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”” (Revelation 7:10, ESV).