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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadBob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - Revelation 7:1 - 7:3
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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Rev_7:1-3
1After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, so that no wind would blow on the earth or on the sea or on any tree. 2And I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, having the seal of the living God; and he cried out with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, 3saying, "Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees until we have sealed the bond-servants of our God on their foreheads."
Rev_7:1 "I saw four angels. . .standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth" In OT number symbolism, four referred to the whole earth (cf. Isa_11:12; Jer_49:36; Dan_7:2; Zec_1:8; Zec_6:1; Zec_6:5; Mat_24:31, see Special Topic at Rev_1:4).
There have been several interpretations of these four winds.
1. the rabbis viewed the quarterly winds as evil (cf. Act_27:14)
2. some refer it to the evil winds or possibly the judgments of God of Jer_49:36 and Dan_7:2
3. some see it as an allusion to the number four in Zec_1:8; Zec_6:5, where the four horsemen and four chariots are servants of God throughout the world (cf. Mat_24:31)
▣ "no wind would blow on the earth or on the sea or on any tree" This, like Rev_6:6; Rev_6:8, shows a limited judgment (cf. Rev_7:3; Rev_9:4).
Rev_7:2 "saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun" The east (sun) was a symbol of life, health, or a new day.
▣ "having the seal of the living God" God's seal is referred to again in Rev_9:4; Rev_14:1 and probably Rev_22:4. Satan's seal is mentioned in Rev_13:16; Rev_14:9; and Rev_20:4. The purpose of this seal is to identify God's people so that the wrath of God will not affect them. Satan's seal identifies his people, who are the object of God's wrath.
In Revelation "tribulation" (i.e., thlipsis) is always unbelievers persecuting believers, while wrath/anger (i.e., orgç or thumos) is always God's judgment on unbelievers so that they might repent and turn to faith in Christ. This positive purpose of judgment can be seen in covenant curses/blessings of Deuteronomy 27-28.
The phrase "the living God" is a word play on the title YHWH (cf. Exo_3:14; Psa_42:4; Psa_84:2; Mat_16:16, see Special Topic at Rev_1:8). This same word play is often found in biblical oaths, "as the Lord lives."
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▣ "the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea" This is an aorist passive indicative. God is in control of the judgments on the earth and unbelievers. His limits on judgment have two purposes:
1. that believers will not be hurt by them
2. that unbelievers might repent, call upon His name, and give Him glory (cf. Rev_9:20-21; Rev_14:6-7; Rev_16:9; Rev_16:11; Rev_21:7; Rev_22:17)
Rev_7:3 "until we have sealed the bond-servants of our God on their foreheads" This is an allusion to Eze_9:4; Eze_9:6 (cf. Rev_9:4; Rev_14:1). The opposite of this sealing is Satan's sealing, the mark of the beast (cf. Rev_13:16-17; Rev_14:9; Rev_14:11; Rev_16:2; Rev_19:20; Rev_20:4).