And I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, having the seal of the living God. He cried out with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to harm the earth and the sea, saying, "Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God upon their foreheads." Rev. 7:2, 3.
The setting of Revelation 7 appears in the last verse of chapter 6. "For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?" (Rev. 6:17, NKJV). The purpose of Revelation 7 is to provide the answer to this question at the end of Revelation 6: "Who [at the time of the end] is able to stand?" The answer comes in two parts: the 144,000 (Rev. 7:1-8) and the great multitude (verses 9-17).
This passage has a chilling background. The scene is Jerusalem, the year probably 586 B.C. In a vision Ezekiel's companion summons the guards of the city. The prophet watches as six terrifying men approach the Temple from the north with deadly weapons in their hands. A seventh man accompanies them, and he has a writing kit at his side. The seven men enter the Temple courts and stand by the altar of burnt offering (Eze. 9:1, 2).
Then a stunning thing happens. Visible to all, the shekinah glory of God rises up from the ark and exits the door of the Temple! God Himself calls out to the man with the writing kit and says, "Go through the city of Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of those who grieve and lament over all the detestable things that are done in it" (verse 4, NIV). Then He orders the other six to follow him and slaughter old and young, male and female, without showing pity of compassion. "But do not touch anyone who has the mark. Begin at my sanctuary" (verse 6, NIV). And the men begin to slaughter among the elders standing in front of the Temple (verse 7).
The scene is one of the most frightening and sobering ones in all the Bible. It is a symbolic description of events that took place almost literally in the destruction of Jerusalem in Ezekiel's day. God drew a distinction between those who were on His side (sighing and crying for the abomination of the people) and those who would perish.
Revelation 7 seems to offer a glimpse of the last events of earth's history: a final proclamation, symbolic marks on the foreheads, the world called into judgment, and God rescuing His people. In the end His discerning eye can tell who is committed to Him and who is not. His people have often suffered at the hands of others in His name. At the end God will make it clear to all exactly who belongs to Him.
Lord, this scene of judgment is sobering. Help me not to respond in fear, but in the sober sense that every choice and every decision matters to You. I want Your seal even more than life itself.
The setting of Revelation 7 appears in the last verse of chapter 6. "For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?" (Rev. 6:17, NKJV). The purpose of Revelation 7 is to provide the answer to this question at the end of Revelation 6: "Who [at the time of the end] is able to stand?" The answer comes in two parts: the 144,000 (Rev. 7:1-8) and the great multitude (verses 9-17).
This passage has a chilling background. The scene is Jerusalem, the year probably 586 B.C. In a vision Ezekiel's companion summons the guards of the city. The prophet watches as six terrifying men approach the Temple from the north with deadly weapons in their hands. A seventh man accompanies them, and he has a writing kit at his side. The seven men enter the Temple courts and stand by the altar of burnt offering (Eze. 9:1, 2).
Then a stunning thing happens. Visible to all, the shekinah glory of God rises up from the ark and exits the door of the Temple! God Himself calls out to the man with the writing kit and says, "Go through the city of Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of those who grieve and lament over all the detestable things that are done in it" (verse 4, NIV). Then He orders the other six to follow him and slaughter old and young, male and female, without showing pity of compassion. "But do not touch anyone who has the mark. Begin at my sanctuary" (verse 6, NIV). And the men begin to slaughter among the elders standing in front of the Temple (verse 7).
The scene is one of the most frightening and sobering ones in all the Bible. It is a symbolic description of events that took place almost literally in the destruction of Jerusalem in Ezekiel's day. God drew a distinction between those who were on His side (sighing and crying for the abomination of the people) and those who would perish.
Revelation 7 seems to offer a glimpse of the last events of earth's history: a final proclamation, symbolic marks on the foreheads, the world called into judgment, and God rescuing His people. In the end His discerning eye can tell who is committed to Him and who is not. His people have often suffered at the hands of others in His name. At the end God will make it clear to all exactly who belongs to Him.
Lord, this scene of judgment is sobering. Help me not to respond in fear, but in the sober sense that every choice and every decision matters to You. I want Your seal even more than life itself.
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