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#30. The Sealing of the 144,000 (Rev. 7: 1-8).
pp. 161 166
Before the inspired record deals with the opening of the seventh seal, two episodes are
introduced, one, the sealing of the 144,000, the other, the great multitude before the
throne.
There is nothing in the wording of the passage to tell us definitely just where to place
these visions in relation to the seals. The words with which chapter 7: commences are
(according to the best texts and R.V.) after this, not "after these things"; there is therefore
no necessity to take the sealing as occurring after the sixth seal in point of time. In
verses 1 and 2 references is made to four angels who had received commandment to
injure the earth, the sea, and the trees by the instrumentality of the four winds of the
earth:--
"And I saw another angel ascending from the sunrising, 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: saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have
sealed the servants of God in their foreheads."
We do not read anything that exactly answers to this hurting of the earth, sea and trees in
any of the happenings following upon the opening the six seals. In the sixth seal there is
a most awful convulsion or shaking, but this seems to be the result of something other
than the wind. In chapter 9: the fifth angel sounds and locusts come out upon the earth:--
"And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither
any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in
their foreheads" (9: 4).
Here, by implication, we see the 144, 000, for they are contrasted with the unsealed ones.
Rev. 7: 1-8.
1. 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.