Chapter 7 serves as a parenthesis between the sixth and seventh seal; that is chapter 7 is an interlude between the sixth and seventh seal. This chapter informs us that there will be many believers who shall go through the Tribulation Period without dying. More judgment will be poured out upon the earth, but before it is implemented, the servants of God are to be sealed as they go through the terrible Great Tribulation Period. In Revelation chapter 6, we saw the horrific conditions resulting from the opening of the first six seals. We noticed that there will be war (vv. 2-4), famine (vv. 5-6), death (vv. 7-8), martyrdom of believers (vv. 9-11), and physical disturbance (vv. 12-17).
Just before the seventh seal is released, there is a great pause. The seventh seal judgement is suspended for a moment! As stated, Chapter 7 informs us of those believers who are specially protected by God during the Great Tribulation Period. Chapter 7 may be outlined as follows: I. God’s Special Protection of the One Hundred Forty-Four Thousand, Revelation 7:1-8; II. God’s Saving of a Multinational Group, Revelation 7:9-17.
- God’s Special Protection of the One Hundred Forty-Four Thousand, Revelation 7:1-8
An important question was raised in Revelation 6:17 in which Revelation 7:1-8 answers. Although many of God’s people will die for their faith (Revelation 6:9-11; 7:13-14), God will protect a specified number of godly Israelites. The seventh seal (Revelation 8:1-2), which introduces the seven trumpet judgments, will be opened only after God has protected some of His chosen people. In verses 1-3, special instruction is given to the four angels to suspend judgment on the earth until the servants of God were sealed. God will protect His people!
The bible records many instances of how God protected His people. He protected Noah and his family from the flood; He protected the Israelites in Egypt; He also protected Rahab and her family in Jericho. God has always been faithful to His people. Even if believers must face persecution or death, God will never allow the trial to be so great that they will be unable to bear it (I Corinthians10:13). God’s grace is always sufficient to meet our needs! From Revelation 7:4-8, the Apostle John indicated that there will be one hundred forty-four thousand Israelites saved, twelve thousand from each tribe. These hundred forty-four thousand Israelites will be specially protected by God during the Great Tribulation Period and will have a significant service to perform for God. These Jews will bear a special seal on their foreheads that will protect them from the judgments that God will send to hurt the earth.
- God’s Saving of a Multinational Group, Revelation 7:9-17
The Apostle John is given a vision of vast multinational group that no man could number of all tribes and nations of the world. The Apostle John was asked by one of the elders who were these believers! The Apostle John simply replied to the elder, “Sir, thou knowest” (v. 14). According to verse 14, there will be believers who will come out of the tribulation through martyrdom (Revelation 6:9-11). Because of the great price they paid for their faithfulness, the Lord will give special recognition to them. In heaven, these believers will be occupied in serving the Lord. In heaven, things that caused heartache and pain on earth are gone.
May God Bless!
Dr. Johnny Calvin Smith
