Revelation 6 closes with the truly awful sixth seal, the cumulative horrors of the former five seals busting upon an affrighted world, so much so that men universally think the great day of the wrath of the Lamb has come.
Revelation 8 gives us the opening of the seventh seal, not so much a judgment in itself as releasing the seven trumpets—judgments more directly from the hand of God than the providential seal judgments, more intense and terrible in their character.
If the past was terrible, what heart can contemplate the more terrible future without quailing? It is just at this point Revelation 7 comes in. It is PARENTHETIC in character. In it the prophet sees in vision an election of (1) Jews, and of (2) Gentiles, both of whom are to be preserved through the terrible tribulation about to devastate the earth.
First of all John sees 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. This symbolizes a providential restraint of judgment for the object of sealing the servants of God in their foreheads. If Antichrist will seal his servants in their foreheads (see Revelation 13:1616And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: (Revelation 13:16)), God will seal His servants and preserve them.
The four angels, the four corners of the earth, the four winds of heaven, speak of that which is universal.
The angels holding the four winds indicate a new feature. The seal judgments, whilst permitted of God, are of a providential character. The trumpet judgments about to commence are of a character indicative of direct heavenly intervention. Hence we find angels are the instruments of their execution.
Another angel, having the seal of God, is heard. He cries that the earth (the ordered state if society), the sea (the masses without principle), the trees (prominent rulers and the like) shall not be hurt till the servants of God are sealed in their foreheads. These are described as one hundred and forty-four thousand of the tribes of Israel, twelve thousand for each tribe. It may be mentioned that Joseph's name is substituted for Ephraim's, and that Levi, who was not a territorial tribe, is given, and Dan's name left out. We cannot explain the reason for this omission, unless it be that the tribe of Dan was notorious for its idolatry.
We believe the number is not an exact number but symbolic. It is a solace and stay to know that God can and will preserve His people.
Now John sees a great multitude of every nation, kindred, people, and tongue. They are clothed with white robes, and have palms in their hands, speaking of victory. We are left in no doubt as to them, for one of the elders informs John that this multitude has come out of great tribulation.
Evidently it is composed of those who are blessed under the preaching of the Gospel of the Kingdom, after the Church is caught up, and who are preserved in the faithfulness of God.
How terrible the tribulation will be is evident when the Lord tells us in Matthew 24:2222And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. (Matthew 24:22) that “for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.” How comforting in the contemplation of it to behold the vision of the preserved companies, witnesses of God's care for and over His own.