“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. 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, Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. 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. 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. Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nephthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand. 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. 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. After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.

And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.” (Rev. 7:1-17)

“And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.” (Rev. 14:1-4)

When trying to understand the 144, 000 referenced in Revelation 7, and Revelation 14, some important concepts must be kept in mind.

First, by way of interpretation, in the first century AD, every verse in every chapter of the Revelation was written to the Seven Churches of Jesus Christ to be a blessing to them.

Second, by way of application, every verse in every chapter of the Revelation was written to be a blessing to anyone in every generation in every century.

Before any specific local congregation is mentioned, we read, “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand” (Rev. 1:3).

For the past two thousand years, Christians in every generation have been able to say, “God is speaking to me, by His Spirit and through His Word.” He that has ears to hear, let them hear what the Spirit has to say.

The people of God, the Church, the ekklesia, in every generation has been exhorted to live with a sense of urgency regarding salvation and sanctification “for the time is at hand.” “Behold, now is the time of favor; now is the day of salvation!” (2 Cor. 6:2, Berean Standard Bible).

Third, because the Revelation was largely written in symbolic language, care must be taken not to let contemporary events, or an over active imagination, run wild. “The time will come,” wrote Paul, “when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear” (2 Tim. 4:3).

That time is now. Today, itching ears want to hear that the world is coming to an end in bloodshed and  violence, but the Church should not care because it will not be here. Some are saying the world will end as soon as April 8, 2024 when a full solar eclipse is set to take place.

Sound doctrine tells the Church what Jesus said. “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

Sound doctrine tells the Church what Jesus prayed. [“Father,] I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil” (John 17:15).

In the Revelation, the Evil One is the Beast from the Land, the Beast from the Sea, and the Dragon, that Old Serpent, the Devil, that energizes his political and religious leaders, in every generation.

Revelation 7 and Revelation 14 reaffirms the teaching of Jesus that God’s people will  be kept, not by translation, but by Divine sealing.

“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.” (7:1)

The symbolic language of chapter 7 begins in verse 1, reflected in the fact the earth does not have four corners; it is a sphere.

However, four corners indicate the direction of the compass: North, South, East, West.

The angels are present to circle the earth to protect it from the impending turbulence to be unleashed by the wind that would blow on the earth, sea, or tree.

The devasting wind of a cyclone, typhoon, tornado, or hurricane can do much damage illustrated by Camilla (Biloxi, Miss, 1969), and Katrina (New Orleans, La, August, 2005).

In the Bible, wind is a symbol of destruction. “In [c. 553 BC] the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters. 2 Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea” (Dan. 7:1-2).

The prophet Jeremiah warned of the winds of destruction that would blow across Elam (W Iran,  Jer. 49:36).

In John’s vision, four angels are seen holding the winds of destruction from blowing upon the earth.

“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,” (7:2)

A fifth angel comes into view in John’s vision, from the East.

Because he was on the isle of Patmos, John was able to orient himself by facing eastward toward the sun; behind was West where the sun sets.

On John’s left hand would be North and on his right hand would be South.

In this, the Hebrews differed from the Egyptians who oriented themselves to the South, the source of the Nile River.

The fifth angel carried the seal of the living God.

John was familiar with a variety of literal seals which were used to verify a bond, a deed, or a will.

John also understood how the term “seal” was used figuratively. Jesus used this word in John 6:27 to speak of His own sealing by God the Father. The Father confirmed Jesus was sent from heaven into the world by the miracles He performed, which           authenticated the doctrine He taught. For the Christian, the seal of the living God is the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. “[God] hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts” (2 Cor. 1:22). Study Eph. 1:3, 13; 4:30).

“Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed [marked] the servants of our God in their foreheads.” (7:3)

The Fifth Angel instructed the Four Angels, who had power to hurt the earth and the sea, to wait until holy angels (“we”) sealed the servants of God in their foreheads. In John’s vision, God used angels to place another seal on the believers, a mark on their foreheads. One day, the Church will judge the angels; today, the angels come to minister to the saints. So, the believers in John’s vision were sealed by the Holy Spirit, and then sealed again by holy angels.

The divine mark of God is placed on the forehead where the soul resides, comprising will (choices), emotions, and intellect (thoughts), These facets of the soul are to be brought into captivity for Christ (2 Cor. 10:5).

Turning for just a moment to Revelation 14:1, something else is revealed about the foreheads of the saints. John sees the name of Jesus and the Father’s name written on the foreheads of those who are sealed. Unfortunately, this truth is not brought out in the KJV translation. Other translations are more faithful to the Greek text such as the New American Standard Bible: “Then I looked, and behold, the Lamb was standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His name and the name of His Father written on their foreheads” (Rev. 14:1, emphasis added).

The allusion to the forehead reminds the people of God of the holy turban worn by the High Priest. Engraved on the turban were written the words in gold, “Holy to the LORD.”

“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. 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. Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nephthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand. 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. 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.” (7:4-8)

Returning to Revelation 7, in verses 4-8, we read that twelve thousand male virgins are extracted from each of the Twelve Tribes of Israel. What is to be made of these verses? Perhaps the best understanding of the 144, 000 is to keep the following in mind. John sees his vision as both a Jew and as a Christian.

Like Paul, John had a heart for his Jewish brethren to whom God entrusted the Law, spoke through the prophets, and produced the Messiah. Like Paul, John was wondering if the Jews were cast off forever. The vision declares, No! God has not forgotten Israel. From every tribe God has a remnant according to the election of grace. Study Romans 10:1—11:36. 

To the Jewish exiles in Turkey and elsewhere, John has a message of hope. God knows who His Israeli people are, in every tribe. They are those who have the faith of Abraham, and like father Abraham, they rejoice to see the Messiah. God will seal and protect any ethnic Jew, in every generation,  who follows the Lamb.

But the vision does not stop with the redeemed Jewish people. There is something to be said to the Gentile audience as well. They too shall be saved, sealed, and found serving the Lord of Glory.

“After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;” (7:9)

The Jewish people whom God has gathered in Revelation 7 are united withthe Gentiles from every nation. The same two groups are found together in every generation throughout history, in the Old Testament, and in the New Testament. They are found together in the 1^st century and in the 21^st century. Consider the characteristics of God’s assembled people.

The 144,000, and those from every nation, are an identifiable people. They have a distinguishing mark of identification for they have the name of God written in their foreheads (Rev. 1:3; 14:1).

The 144,000, and those from every nation, are a sealed people. Not one of them is lost. “And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day” (John 6:39).

The 144,000, and those from every nation, are said to be a gathered people (Rev. 7:9).

The 144,000 and those from every nation, are a suffering people; together they have gone through great tribulation (Rev. 7:14). God’s people have never been completely removed from great tribulation that comes on the earth because, Jesus prayed that all His followers not be taken away, even though they are hated. “[Father], I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil” (John 17:14,15).

The prayer of Jesus is answered. “And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (Rev. 7:14).

The 144,000, and those from every nation, are a witnessing people. They make a bold and open profession of their faith in God and in Christ (Rev. 7:10).

The 144,000, and those from every nation, a loud people in worship. They sing their praises loudly, as thunder, or as the voice of many waters (Rev. 14:2a).

The 144,000, and those from every nation, are a musical people. They accompany their singing with the harp as an instrument of praise (Rev. 14:2b).

The 144,000, and those from every nation, are a singing people. They sing songs of praise before the throne (Rev. 14:3).

The 144,000, and those from every nation, are a spiritually “virgin” people (Rev. 14:4). They have not defiled themselves either with corporal or spiritual adultery. They have kept themselves clean from the abominations of the antichristian generation.

The 144,000, and those from every nation, are a faithful people. They follow the Lamb wherever He goes (Rev. 14:4).

The 144,000, and those from every nation, are a redeemed people.

They are redeemed from among men, to be the first fruits of God and to the Lamb (Rev. 14:4).

The 144,000, and those from every nation, are an honest people. They are without guile and without fault before the  throne (Rev. 1:4).

Ideally, in every generation, what is said of the representative 144,000 can be said of those whom the Lord has called from every tongue and tribe and nation, that is, the Church.

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.