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1. The Pause to Seal the Servants of God (Revelation 7:1-3)
REVELATION 7:1-3
1 After this, I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, so that no wind would blow on the earth, or on the sea, or on any tree. 2 I saw another angel ascend from the sunrise, having the seal of the living God. He cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was given to harm the earth and the sea, 3 saying, “Don’t harm the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, until we have sealed the bondservants of our God on their foreheads!”
The Results of the Enthronement of Jesus Christ: John, the patriarch of Asia Minor, while banished on the island of Patmos in the Aegean Sea, had seen a breathtaking vision of the enthronement of the Lamb of God in the throne room of heaven. He had seen and experienced the passionate hymns of praise of the twenty- four elders and the innumerable army of angels. The prophet had meticulously documented how the Lamb of God had begun, immediately following His assumption of office, to open the seven seals of the scroll that had been handed over to Him. It was the Lamb of God who had bid the four apocalyptic riders to ride forth out of their concealment.
When He broke the sixth seal John saw, in amazement, a wave of end-time catastrophes coming upon earth prior to the return of Christ. He heard the cries of previously unrepentant masters and servants who, convicted by their consciences, despairingly tried to flee from their judge. The angel of the Lord granted the prophet a comforting reprieve, before further visions of judgment were revealed.
The Symbolism of the Number Four: John saw at first (so J.A. Bengel) four evil angels, controlling and holding back devastating wind storms coming from all four directions under heaven. They would soon be falling upon depraved mankind.
In the book of Revelation the number four often points to matters of important earthly significance. The four living beings on the throne of God were representatives of the earthly creation (Revelation 4:6-8). The four apocalyptic riders had prepared the breaking forth of the four storms of judgment (Revelation 9:13-15; 20:8) The four storms, signaling end-time catastrophes, were already known to the prophets of the Old Testament (Jeremiah 49:36; Daniel 7:2; Zechariah 6:5). These prophets, too, had been shaken by the devastating power of these storms.
The description of all four directions under heaven suggests that the apocalyptic storms were not just local disturbances in individual countries. Much more, it appears the entire earth will be affected by the setting in of these catastrophes.
The Power of the Invisible World: Our earth is populated by more than six billion people. Because of widespread technical thinking many have, to a great extent, been blinded to a view of eternity. In reality, however, our earth represents neither the focal point of existence, nor of time. That which happens among angels and spirits in the invisible world has a much greater effect and influence than we suspect.
Despite the efforts of Bultmann and his students to demythologize, many people still subliminally suspect that there are myriads of spirits and restless dead. Insecure people, who have no hold in life, often attempt to establish contact with fallen angels, the dead, or even with Satan himself. In some school classrooms spiritual sessions with meditations are being tried. Bondage of the soul to enslaving powers is increasing. The pendulum of world view has reversed since the time of Bultmann. In the U.S.A., Russia, and in the Vatican university chairs in parapsychology have been established – all reflecting a new philosophy.
So called “Christian countries” are being increasingly infiltrated by spirits from Asia and Africa. Statesmen and political parties, by propagating a multi-cultural society, support this trend - the creating of a world in which all possible spirits, religions and cults are offered a rendezvous. This demonically driven syncretism purposes to establish an “intolerant tolerance” for the future world, ruled by dark spiritual forces. Alluring deceptions are on the prowl like spiritual tornadoes. They come upon us not just from the U.S.A., but from every direction under heaven, to sweep away every remnant of Christian culture.
Storms of Judgment over Christendom: At the time John saw the threatening storms the angels of wrath had not yet been permitted to let the disaster come upon the citizens of earth. A few years later, however, persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire began, which lasted for decades. They had not yet ended when hair-splitting Christian quarrels in the Middle East began tearing the church apart. Following that, the great antichristian power of Islam swept over North Africa and Asia Minor and Islamized the centers of early Christianity, such as Jerusalem, Antioch, Alexandria and Constantinople. In the words of Professor Karl Heussi, this was the greatest catastrophe in all of church history.
In modern times as well, one low point supersedes the next. The Crusades drove hundreds of thousands of Jews out of Europe. On the heels of Luther's Reformation followed the devastating thirty years war and the Counter-Reformation of Rome. Disgusted with the unbiblical shedding of blood, the Enlightenment declined – throwing themselves straight into the arms of the spirits of the antique. The French Revolution, in turn, swept away the feudal culture of Europe.
Finally, modern technology set socialism against capitalism. Two world wars destroyed the trust of the colonial nations in their white lords. The desire of developing countries was, with little effort, to quickly become rich and reach the economic level of Europe or the U.S.A.. The result was a worldwide economic crises whose end is yet to be seen.
Thunderstorms over the Sons of Jacob: The State of Israel “was, was no longer, and is again”! A whirlwind with increasing speed and intensity is underway in the Holy Land, dragging more and more states of the earth into its deadly swirl. The clouds of thunder in the Middle East are becoming more and more threatening. Stockpiled ABC weapons promise mass annihilation. At the same time, all are longing for peace and waiting for the strong man, who will change the laws of the Bible and the Koran, bring about a new world order and, from Jerusalem, reign over the whole world.
Viewed from Israel's perspective, or from the Island of Patmos, the prophecy of the four storms of judgment rising from all directions under heaven finds local explanations.
The previous “tornadoes” that broke over Israel, the Assyrians, the Babylonians, and the Persians, came from the East. Today it is the Iraqis, the Iranians, the Pakistanis, and soon to be the Chinese, who rise up as military powers east of the Holy Land.
At one time the all encompassing sandstorms came raging out of Egypt. Today they have been replaced by the great oil powers of the Arabian Peninsula and Libya.
From the west came devastating hail storms brought by the Greeks and Romans, attempting again and again to take rule over the land bridge between Asia and Africa. Titus conquered Jerusalem in 70 A.D. and destroyed the second temple. Today, increasing pressure on Israel from Europe and the U.S.A. to compromise and sign a dubious peace accord could, in view of a possible refusal on the part of Israel, heighten the threat of danger from the west. Israel, in the event of giving in to the pressure from oil dependent countries, would have to give back parts of the Promised Land, and by doing so lose the very foundation of their existence.
Today there not only comes the threat of Syrian onslaught from the North, but much more, the expectancy of Gog and Magog rising up out of Russia. Its invasion is seriously discussed in the synagogues of the Holy Land and in its press. Thirty rabbis asked their Covenant God at the grave of Abraham in Hebron to still grant them time. In the face of such a storm from the North breaking in the Covenant People would not yet be religiously and morally able to withstand such a great catastrophe.
The center of world events moved in the 20th century to the Middle East. In view of the book of Revelation, those living in Europe, the U.S.A., Africa, or Asia would do well to do some rethinking, and consider the coming developments from the center of world redemption. The battle for Jerusalem began a long time ago. It continues to grow in intensity and violence (Zechariah 12-14).
The Angel of Salvation Holds Back the Storms of Judgment: Into John's end time scenario an angel of salvation suddenly appeared, ascending from the light of the rising sun. With a strong voice he commanded the angels of judgment to wait before sending the destructive storms of wrath and armies of demons upon mankind.
The judgments of God do not randomly or uncontrollably strike the earth. Neither lands nor seas, neither forests nor deserts, are completely given over to Satan, even though he lays claim to being “the prince of this world”. The salvation of God is stronger than the devastation of demons.
The church of Jesus Christ will not be destroyed by the wrath of the Lamb. The gates of hell will not prevail against His church. The risen Lord, as the Good Shepard, leads and watches over His sheep even in times of storm. No one can pluck His followers out of His hand. The saving power of the reigning Christ strengthens His church throughout every imaginable, material and existential temptation. He most assuredly does not take His chosen out of the tribulation, but does keep them from falling away. The intensifying distress serves to activate their faith, love and hope.
Death and deprivation are not the real dangers of the end time, but demonic deception from anti-Christian world views, foul compromises of believers in time of persecution, and false trust in bank accounts or dazzling political deceivers. Jesus wants to be and remain our only Lord, Guarantor and King.
The Preservation of the Earth from Annihilation: The command of the angel of light to the four angels of judgment was: Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees! Although the commission given the four angels of destruction contained the power to trigger a catastrophe, they were still held back from annihilating the creation.
The recent diversion of the ocean current between Peru and Australia, called El Nino, the “Christchild”, brought with it devastations of draught, forest fires, terrible flooding and mudslides. If the Gulf Stream were ever to flow oppositely it would cause an unimaginable climatic catastrophe in Europe. We should thank God and His Lamb for the “balanced budget” of His nature, and not just consider clouds, wind and weather a matter of fore drawn conclusion (Genesis 8:20-22). The patience of the Lamb of God alone is what still holds back forces of destruction.
The Calm Before the Storm: The angel of salvation rising up out of the sunrise revealed to the prophet the reason why the tornados of judgment could not yet sweep over the earth. The mercy of Jesus Christ is the cause of the delay and the calm before the storm.
Since 1945 no new world war has devastated our earth. Yet who thanks the Lamb of God for this undeserved privilege of 60 years of relative peace? Local wars have again and again flared up since WW II in the Middle East, Africa and Asia, but a global destruction has not taken place. The knowledgeable, however, carry in themselves a subliminal fear of the worldwide misery that stockpiled nuclear, biological and chemical weapons, steered by precise micro chips, could cause. Indeed, few people in the face of this concealed threat show true repentance and with broken hearts turn to God and His Lamb.
The Sealing by the Holy Spirit: The angel of light revealed to John that the calm before the storm was for the purpose of calling, collecting and sealing the followers of Christ – both believers from the Old Testament Covenant, as well as from out of the nations. Before the outbreak of catastrophe the complete number of Christ's followers out of Israel and the church would need to be saved and sealed. For this reason the Lamb of God entrusted the seal of God to His messenger.
The sent angel did not claim that he alone would seal those “grounded in Christ”, but spoke in the “we” form. The leaders of the seven churches of Asia Minor were also described as “angels” of their churches. Since that time many servants of Jesus Christ on all continents are underway and involved in the worldwide missions’ movement. Like Jesus, they call sinners to repentance, and not the righteous! They lead all who are willing to renounce their pride and egoism to a total commitment to Christ, through baptism in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Faith and baptism bring about a spiritual renewal and new birth, which Paul described as the “sealing with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30; 2 Corinthians 1:21-22; 5:5; Romans 8:1-16). The anointing with the Spirit of the father and the Son signifies a down payment on the glory that has been prepared for us in eternity: Christ in you, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27). The indwelling of the Spirit of the Lamb in the followers of Christ signifies their sealing.
People far from Christ cannot comprehend this mystery, because the life of God does not indwell them. His Holy Spirit is eternal life in us. This grace is only realized in broken believers for the sake of Christ's atoning death. No bishop, priest, pastor, preacher or elder can of himself seal believers. It is the Holy Spirit who, through faithful Bible preachers, brings about loosing and binding, forgiveness and hardening (John 20:21-23; Matthew 18:18-20). The word of God possesses an authority that is not acquired by just any theologian, unless he subordinates his understanding and logic to the word of God. The Word of the Lamb of God has the power of the Holy Spirit to comfort, enliven, seal and preserve those despairing and searching (Matthew 4:4; Romans 8:14).
The Seal of Protection for the Searching, Suffering and Hopeful: The sealing of the servants of God in Revelation 7:3 signifies a special protection, a preservation, as previously described in Ezekiel 9:1-11).
The Old Testament prophet saw six messengers of God's judgment passing through Jerusalem. A seventh messenger received orders to place a clear mark on the foreheads of all those who feared God, of those who cried out to their God because of the godlessness of their capital city and the abominations in the temple. All other liberals, modernists, syncretistic, self- righteous, feminists, Satan worshippers, perverse and non believers were mercilessly killed by the Eternal One's executors of justice. These condemned bore no protective marking of God on their foreheads. The servants of God, however, were recognizable by the indelible mark that had been impressed on their foreheads. They no longer belonged to themselves, but to their Lord. He had, therefore, marked and preserved them. In the end time, however, not even this godly seal would protect the chosen from temptations and political or religious adversaries. It will, nevertheless, protect them from God's angels of judgment.
The blood of the slaughtered lamb, smeared over the doorposts of believing families at the time of the first Passover meal in Egypt, had a similar protective function. Wherever the angel of judgment saw the blood of the lamb he would pass over that house. The descendents of the children of Jacob were not better than the Egyptians, but in obedience they placed themselves under the power of the saving sacrificial blood, and thereby were protected from the wrath of God. We need to learn to fear persecution and opposition less, and the Holy God Himself much more. The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin (1 John 1:7). The Spirit of the Lamb of God remains our life power and our seal of protection in Judgment.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we magnify and thank You that Your angel prevented the destructive spirits from obtaining victory and from harming the earth until the repentant had been sealed to Your Lamb. We praise You because You give the corrupt world time to return that many will receive everlasting life.
QUESTION:
- What is the meaning of God's seal in sealing his bondservants?