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Revelation: Sealing of 144,000
How can a spherically shaped Earth have four corners?
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Revelation 7:1 After this, four messengers stood on the four corners of the earth, restraining the four winds there, so all was calm on land and sea. Nothing rustled the leaves on the trees.
King James
Revelation 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.
Why do you think Earth’s winds were calmed? What might weather forecasters say about this phenomenon?
Author’s Thoughts
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Author’s Paraphrase
Revelation 7:1 After this, four messengers stood on the four corners of the earth, restraining the four winds there, so all was calm on land and sea. Nothing rustled the leaves on the trees.
King James
Revelation 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.
Why did one messenger have power over the four, telling them what to do?
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Revelation 7:2–3 Another messenger, wearing the signet ring of the living God, rose from the eastern horizon and shouted to the four messengers who had power to harm the land and the sea, saying, “Do not harm the land and the sea. Don’t touch the trees until God’s servants have been identified—a seal placed upon their foreheads.”
King James
Revelation 7:2–3 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.
What do you think the “seal” on God’s servants looked like?
Author’s Thoughts
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Author’s Paraphrase
Revelation 7:2–3 Another messenger, wearing the signet ring of the living God, rose from the eastern horizon and shouted to the four messengers who had power to harm the land and the sea, saying, “Do not harm the land and the sea. Don’t touch the trees until God’s servants have been identified—a seal placed upon their foreheads.”
King James
Revelation 7:2–3 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.
Was 144,000 a precise number of individuals, not one more or less, an approximate number, or a representation of a spiritual reality? Why?
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Revelation 7:4–8 A voice revealed the number who would be sealed: 144 thousand of all the tribes of Israel— twelve thousand from each tribe: Judah, Reuben, Gad, Asher, Naphtali, Manasseh, Simeon, Levi, Issachar, Zabulon, Joseph, and Benjamin.
King James
Revelation 7:4–8 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 Nepthalim 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.
What is the significance of the palm branches held by an innumerable multitude? Where did the branches come from?
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Revelation 7:9–10 After this, I saw an innumerable multitude from all countries, races, cultures, and languages, standing before the throne and the Lamb, wearing white robes, holding palm branches. “Salvation comes from our God,” they shouted, “he who sits on the throne and the Lamb.”
King James
Revelation 7:9–10 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.
Why did the messengers, elders, and creatures bow before the throne?
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Revelation 7:11–12 All the messengers, the elders, and the four creatures bowed before the throne, with their faces to the ground, and worshiped God, saying, “So let it be: all glory, honor, and praise, all blessing, wisdom, authority, and power be unto our God forever. So it must be.”
King James
Revelation 7:11–12 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.
John said he couldn’t identify the multitude in white robes. Why didn’t he offer a guess?
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Revelation 7:13–14 One of the elders said to me, “Do you know who these people are, who are dressed in white robes? Where did they come from?”
“Sir,” I said, “you know, but I don’t.”
“They came out of great suffering,” he said, “their robes made white through the sacrifice of the Lamb.
King James
Revelation 7:13–14 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.
How did the sacrifice of the Lamb make the robes white?
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Revelation 7:14 “Sir,” I said, “you know, but I don’t.”
“They came out of great suffering,” he said, “their robes made white through the sacrifice of the Lamb.
King James
Revelation 7:14 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.
In what ways could the multitude be serving God day and night?
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Revelation 7:15–16 That’s why they can stand before God’s throne, living in his presence, serving him day and night, never hungry or thirsty, never suffering from the sun’s blistering heat.
King James
Revelation 7:15–16 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.
By what means could the Lamb supply food and water? Was this food and water a physical or spiritual reality? Why?
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Revelation 7:17 The Lamb, who is before the throne, will supply their food and lead them to springs of living water. God will wipe every sorrowful tear from their eyes.”
King James
Revelation 7:17 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.
What is the difference between tears of sorrow and tears of joy?
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John 16:22 “Right now, you have sorrow. But when I see you again, you will rejoice, and no one will be able to take that joy away.”
Revelation 7:17 The Lamb, who is before the throne, will supply their food and lead them to springs of living water. God will wipe every sorrowful tear from their eyes.”
King James
John 16:22 And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.
Revelation 7:17 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.