Lesson 18Revelation 7: 1-4 |
In Revelation 7, we have moved into a new phase of God's plan to reach humankind. As we saw in the last chapter, there are people who know that it is God reaching for them, but they would prefer to pray to the rocks. They ask the rocks to hide them from God, when all they have to do is, ask Jesus into their lives. Why would people willingly prefer to suffer than be safe? We know that the Christians of this time will have pain and death, but they know that Heaven is waiting on them. We can ask the same question today, why would people willingly prefer to suffer than be safe?
In chapter 7:1, the scene is back in heaven but looking toward the earth. Also, we have a break in God's hard lessons to bring the world home to Him. Some call this chapter the "grace" or parenthesis point, or interlude. This just goes to show us that God is not interested in punishing them, but bringing them to a saving knowledge of Himself. We have four messengers standing on the four corners of the world. Yet this is the first time in Revelation that we are told that they will affect the whole world, not just the land. They are to hold back the wind from blowing on the earth (land), sea, and trees. Do not miss the effect of this action. What do we know about the wind? Can airplanes fly without wind? Can the birds fly? What else is there about wind that we know and need? Is not our weather controlled by the wind? Remember, at this time the four horsemen are on the scene, so picture all of those dead bodies laying around and the wind cannot remove the stench. The moon and sun are still out of their normal locations, affecting the climate and the air. Have you ever been in a room in which the air is not moving? This seems like what is happening but it is not the case. Read verse 1 again, carefully. The messengers are holding the winds and keeping them from blowing on the world. Therefore, these winds are more than the air. You ask what does this mean? Then let us look and see.
In order to examine this more closely, let us go back to Daniel 7:2 & 17, here we have the four winds, which stand for four kings. So the winds represent political entities. The kings are four different political groups and with them come strife, commotion, and war. What this means in Revelation 7:1, is that these messengers are about to add strife, war, and commotion into the political scene. Therefore, everything will be out of order and there will be no sign of peace any where in the world. There is no safety anywhere, not even in the forests, hiding among the trees.
Now you have a picture of how the whole world would be at this time, if it were not for the messenger that comes from the east (Revelation 7:2). This messenger holds a signet from the living God, which lets the messengers know that they must follow his orders. We get the picture that these four messengers are about to carry out their orders, because he screams with a loud voice. "Do not hurt the land or sea or trees until the servants are stamped in the forehead." This stamp would be like protective seals, like the protection experienced by the children of Israel in Egypt. When they were in bondage in Egypt, they were kept from the plagues that affected the Egyptians. There are two groups of people in that get the stamp: one group is from the Jews, and the other group is from the Gentiles.
These special people of God will be given a stamp in their forehead to protect them from these four winds. Even with this God is trying to show the rest of the world that "I am the way and the truth, just come to Me and be safe." Yet, there are people who will not say yes to Him. Just like today, when we have the HOLY SPIRIT to help us, there are still those who will reject God. Before we look at others, ask yourself if you are letting the Holy Spirit lead you in your relationship with God. It is so easy to find errors or faults with others, but what about self? How many of you are carrying out your ministries (at work, home, school, neighborhood, at the store, or with your spouse) or are you saying it's not your duty? In Ephesians 1:13 and 4:30, II Corinthians 1:22, we are told we are sealed, but often we do not act as if we are sealed.
These saints in Revelation 7 do not have the Holy Spirit, but they are living in such a way for the Lord that an angel is sent to stop the other messengers until they get their seals. These folks have been going through the same things the rest of mankind have been suffering, yet they do not lose their faith in God nor His Word. We get the feeling that they dig deeper into the Word to find answers.
So today, why do we often do just the opposite of these saints?
Which one of the seven churches are you?
Do not think that God is going to stop showing us where our relationship is with Him. Please do not rush pass this point thinking you will deal with it later, because you know you will forget all about it. So take the time to deal with it right now.
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