Too often brethren look at a passage, define a word or two, and then think they understand the application of said text.  Let me give an example.  Paul wrote a powerful instruction to the churches in the area of Galatia: “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted” (Galatians 6:1).  Clearly, we have a responsibility throughout the New Testament to help our brethren when they have fallen (Luke 17:3-4, James 5:19-20, etc.).  How we do so is to be done in meekness (II Timothy 2:24-26).  Some, through mere ignorance of the word of God, will say that being meek and gentle means to be soft with said sinner.  “Don’t offend them by being too direct” they will say.  They think you take many weeks, months, or even years to slowly guide that person back.  To rebuke in a sharp manner is error to those who think this way.

Jesus is meek (Matthew 11:29).  Let me lay some background to one example I am going to use for this brief study.  In Matthew 16:17 Jesus said Peter was blessed.  In verse 19 of that same chapter Jesus gave Peter the keys of the kingdom.  Three verses later, Peter rebuked our Lord telling Jesus that he would not let him die.  In the very next passage, Jesus said this to Peter: “But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men” (Matthew 16:23).  Did Jesus stop being meek and sin here?  Did Jesus fail to be meek when He strongly condemned the Pharisees, Sadducees, Scribes, and Chief Priests (Matthew 22:23-46, Matthew Chapter 23, Mark 7:1-9, Luke 13:14-16, and John 8:32-47)?  Our Lord said this to the church at Laodicea: “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent” (Revelation 3:19).  To be meek and loving is to be like our Lord.  That means we cannot sit back idly and watch our brethren err (Ezekiel 3:18).

Peter understood what it meant to bring back erring brethren.  That’s why he sharply rebuked a new convert named Simon (Acts 8:18-24).  Paul understood that souls in error will go to Hell in the Judgment Day, such is why he wrote and preached sharply to correct the errors of the saints and those of the world (II Corinthians 5:10-11; cf. Acts 17:22-31, Romans 2:1-3, I Corinthians 3:1-3, and I Corinthians 5:1-13).  Did Peter and Paul fail to be meek when they spoke boldly and plainly against the sins of those they addressed?  If so, why could Paul say what he was doing was by the meekness and gentleness of Christ (II Corinthians 10:1-2).

Subtlety is a tool of the devil (II Corinthians 11:3).  We do no favors for our brethren when we try to teach in a subtle way.  Open rebuke is better than secret love (Proverbs 27:5).  Beating around the bush gets you going in circles, not being upward bound.  How can anyone claim to love somebody when they will not help them to correct their sins immediately?  Life can end without a moments notice (James 4:13-14).  Care, compassion, and love are getting people ready to be judged (Amos 4:12), not misleading them through silence.  Being meek is being like our Lord.  He certainly never let sin go on without rebuke!  – B.A.Y.

Chapter six concluded with the opening of the sixth seal and the question: “who shall be able to stand?”  We will now take our focus from the Heaven above and place it to the earth beneath in the first half of this chapter.  John will reveal in this chapter God’s protection of His people.  Let us remember that the book of Revelation is set in a period of trials and tribulation for God’s people and more to come (1:1; 2:10; 3:10; 6:10-11).  As Christians we long to finish this life to reach our home eternal in the Heavens (John 14:1-3 and II Corinthians 5:1).  This chapter also is a dwelling place for Premillennialists.

We would do well to recall that Premillennialism teaches the kingdom is yet to come (will come at the return of Christ), the there are 144,000 who will be eternally saved in Heaven, there will be a battle on earth, and that Christ will reign on earth for 1,000 years.  Some Premillennialists also attempt to say the book of Revelation (along with Daniel and other prophesies) show us when Christ will return.  These doctrines are simple to prove false.  The kingdom has come (Isaiah 2:2-3, Daniel 2:31-45, Mark 9:1, Acts 1:8, Luke 24:47, Acts 2:1ff., Colossians 1:13, and Revelation 1:9).  God has not chosen 144,000 to be saved, but is willing that all should be saved through the Gospel (Matthew 28:19, I Timothy 2:4, and II Peter 3:9).  If God has already chosen His list of the saved - the preaching of the Gospel would be in vain.  We know that Christ will not lead a battle on earth or set His kingdom upon the earth, for He himself will never step foot on this earth again (I Thessalonians 4:13-18, Hebrews 4:14, 7:14; 17, and 8:4 cf. John 18:36).  It is also clear that Christ is not aware of the time of His return (Matthew 24:35-36).
 

7:1 “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.”

• As we read verse one we realize that this is another part of what John has revealed unto him.
• John saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth to prevent the four winds from blowing on the earth and sea.  We see in the Old Testament that these winds represent God’s power of destruction (Jeremiah 49:36).  Also, when we read of the destruction of Jerusalem we see the four winds and the involvement of the angels (Matthew 24:31).  We should recall that there was to be a great hour of trial upon the whole world (Revelation 3:10).  This of course shows it is not just Jerusalem, but the power of the Roman army and their destruction on the kingdoms of the earth.
• In verse two we learn that these four winds are designed to hurt the earth as we have seen throughout the prophets of old and the words of Christ.

• In these two verses we find the destruction of God upon the earth (not the final destruction) being held back until the servants of God are sealed.
• This seal of protection is not different from what God has done in the past (Ezekiel 9:4-5).  A seal shows such things as ownership (Song of Solomon 8:6) and sanctification [being set apart] (Ephesians 1:13-14).  We have a seal (confirmation, authentication, or proof) that God knows those whom are His (II Timothy 2:19).
• With the information we have gathered we can conclude that the seal the angel is wanting upon the figurative foreheads of the elect is the confirmation of those who belong to the Lord and will be protected from God’s judgment on this earth.  This is similar to what Moses had the children of Israel do during the Passover (Exodus 12:1-12).

• Two groups of people are written about in the book of Revelation when you break it down.  Those sealed of God (such as in this context) and those with the mark of the beast (Revelation 13:15-18).  The number of the mark of the beast symbolizes three times imperfection (666; Revelation 13:18), while the 144,000 is 12 x 12 x 10 x 10 x 10.  Twelve is multiplied by itself and then three times the complete number (10).  The two times multiplied number of twelve represents the foundation of Israel (12 tribes) and the foundation of the church (12 apostles).  We have talked about the twenty-four elders and how they represent both dispensations (5:8).  Consider these passages in light of the sealing upon the forehead (Romans 12:2 and Revelation 22:4).
• This number of saved (144,000) is made up of those in Heaven and those on earth.  To take the number literally here the other reference(s) would have to be literal later in John’s revelation as well (14:1-4).  This poses numerous problems to all the Premillennial false doctrines.
• While the twelve tribes listed most certainly has a ringing of the Old Testament, we cannot overlook the fact that Christians are referred to in the same light as we are the Zion of God today (James 1:1).  Thus, the 144,000 symbolically represents God’s children including all Christians.
• The names given above are those of the decedents of Jacob and Joseph.  Ten of the tribes were the children of Jacob (I Chronicles 2:1-2) with the exception of Levi who would be a people of the priesthood (Deuteronomy 10:8-9).  Joseph was not a tribe throughout the Old Testament, but his children were.  However, you will note in John’s rendering here that both Dan and Ephraim are not listed.  Dan (a child of Jacob) left his inheritance (Judges 18) and Ephraim (a child of Joseph - Numbers 1:10) led Israel away into idolatry through Jeroboam (I Kings 11:26; 12:27-28).  Thus, Levi is listed as is Joseph to make the twelve.

• Now John sees an innumerable (notice it is not just 144,000) amount of saved individuals standing before God from all nations.  Why many nations?  First off, God promised His kingdom would be numbered from all nations (Micah 4:1-2).  Secondly, the Gospel of Christ that brings salvation is to be preached to all nations giving everyone the opportunity to have Heaven as their eternal home (Matthew 28:19, Mark 16:15-16, Romans 1:16, and Titus 2:11-14).

• This joyful praise of “Salvation” is sung to God the Father and the Son by the innumerable saved from among all nations.

• That which John writes here is similar to what we saw in chapter six.  The elders and the angels are praising and worshipping God in Heaven.

• John is asked by one of the elders to identify those whom are in white robes and John returns the question back to the elder.
• Clearly, those who spoken of are the faithful saints who made it through the Christian life which is full of trials (Acts 14:22, Romans 5:2-5, II Thessalonians 1:4-8, and II Timothy 3:12).
• We as Christians are they who have been washed in the blood of the Lamb (Matthew 26:28, Acts 2:38, and Revelation 1:5).

• Finally, we conclude this chapter with the awesome fact that eternity will be a time of worship wherein we shall no longer be plagued with the sufferings of this life.  We will be in the presence of Him whom the faithful long to see.  It is now that we walk by faith (II Corinthians 5:7); it will be then that we see what we have had our hope in.  Thus, all the trials of this life are well worth it.