Revelation 7. The cycle of the Seven Seals ends with the sixth seal and the question ringing out across the earth on the Day of the Lord’s judgment, “Who can stand?!” (6:17). Revelation 7 is a pause (an interlude) while this question is answered.

John sees four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth (7:1). This essentially indicates that there are angels whose control is over the whole earth, and they are holding back – limiting – the destructive effect of the four winds, which is likely a reference to the four horsemen (6:1-8) who bring death and destruction.

A voice calls out “do not harm… until we have sealed the servants of God on their foreheads” (7:3). Note therefore that there is a holding back – a restraining – of the destructive tribulation, and there is a form of protection for those who belong to God.

Who then belongs to God? John hears the number of those sealed: 144,000. It’s a symbolic type of perfect census of twelve thousand from each of the twelve tribes of Israel. But here’s the interesting thing, the number of this army is what John heard (7:4), just like he heard about the conquering lion of Judah (5:4). In both cases, when John turned, what he saw was different than what he heard and expected.

John looks and does not see only a physical Israel – he sees “a great multitude that no one can number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb” (7:9). John sees the great multi-ethnic spiritual kingdom of those who have been redeemed by the blood of the Slain Lamb. It’s made up of people from all over the world, fulfilling God’s ancient promise to Abraham.

This great multitude is marked – protected and sealed – and they “have come out of tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” (7:14) The white robes generally symbolize those who have been justified and made righteous by the blood of the Lamb. They do not thirst, or hunger anymore, or suffer under the scorching heat, or cry any longer. (See Isaiah 49:10) They are sheltered by the presence of God (7:15) and the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd (7:17).

This great protected multitude of the kingdom of God, they are the overcomers, the ones who have triumphed by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony. Remember the seven churches of Revelation 1-3? They were promised these great rewards if they overcame – which was achieved by clinging to the work of Jesus Christ while enduring tribulation.